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[ "I quit drinking in 2007 so thankfully none." ]

[ "You can easily tell when they are on something but you obviously can't tell exactly what they are on.", "They are still telling stories about winning the state championship when they are in their 30s.", "That being an adult would be cool, you could do what you want and no one could tell you what to do.", "Here's what you do: Be mature and tell them the truth.", "> Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me.", "The freedom to do what you want when you want", "if you’re happy doing what you’re doing then nobody can tell you you’re not successful", "Fuck you i wont do what you tell me - Rage against the machine", "I can always tell when a dinosaur in a movie is fake.", "Because the casinos always have a built in advantage, no matter what some YouTube Schlub is telling you.", "So how do you tell what is gods word or not? How do you know its not all fake?", "No. When they ask what happened tell him that's between you and the last guy that didn't hire you.", "Your boss is telling you what to do, you pause him and the whole company, and do the job. You unpause him and the company and when he finished his sentence, boom, job is already done.", "When was it With?\nI'l do you one better, WHAT WAS IT WITH?", "Wait what do you do with them when there isn’t a lockdown?", "If the card doesn't specifically tell you not to, then yes you do. All rules are always in play, unless you're specifically told otherwise.", "Find your parents and tell them that this is what you spend your time doing", "Adults are smart, and always know what to do.", "Yea but his goth phases were a story the Jedi won’t tell you.", "What sex do you sex when you sex your sex?", "Passive aggressive is when you \"punish\" someone without telling them. \nSarcastic is when you mean the opposite of what you are saying and you want them to know.", "This isn't true.\n\nThey will always see you as their child but it's up to you to show them maturity.\n\nWhen you do they will see it.", "You don’t. They’re what make you, you; and you are beautiful just the way you are. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. :)", "Yeah programming in schools always is unclear, for example if they told you you had to use loops then it will be clear what to do", "“if an adult tells you to do something, do it”", "I’d try not telling people you have a beard when you don’t. What did you expect to happen next", "Trust cops and the courts. They’ll always do what’s right.", "What do you think about when you have nobody to talk to?", "I'll tell you when it happens", "YOU'RE NOT MY MUM! YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I HATE YOU!\n\n*Storms back to bedroom teenagerily*", "What tells you we didn't?", "When they do something outside of what you like them for, and how you react to it." ]

[ "Gurgaon" ]

[ "Where It's At", "Where's the beef?", "Where Is the Love?", "movement", "Where's Waldo?", "Where I'm From", "Where Are Ü Now", "Where It All Begins", "Where I Belong", "Where's Your Love", "where they terminate", "Where Love Lives", "Where Are the Children", "Where I Wanna Be", "Where Rainbows End", "Where the Wild Things Are", "Where I Ought to Be", "Where the Air Is Clear", "Covelli Centre", "Where the Bullets Fly", "dead centre", "Where in North Dakota", "A colocation centre", "Where We're Meant to Be", "The Sears Centre", "Where the Sidewalk Ends", "Casman Centre", "Where the Columbines Grow", "Where We Land", "centre of the nave", "Where It All Began", "Brandt Centre" ]

[ "Alan Cumming" ]

[ "plays", "The Girl Who Played with Fire", "instant streaming of television series", "play", "high - definition television", "playing high school football", "Play On", "series", "Who Made Who", "Serie A", "No Television", "slowing the play", "Played on Pepper", "Playing with Fire", "Play age", "Press to Play", "12 Play", "Play No Games", "musical play", "the order of play", "playing technique", "Press Play", "Playing in the Shadows", "the playing card", "Power Play", "The Play of Adam", "The Play of the Weather", "play song", "The Band Played On", "Google Play", "Price to Play", "stroke play" ]

[ "After pushing back its own deadline, Iraqi negotiators work toward completing a draft of the country's new constitution into the evening. Talk of the Nation looks at some of the sticking points, and why Iraqis may be wary of certain tenets of Western-style democracy. Guests: Chris Allbritton, Time magazine correspondent covering the drafting of Iraq's constitution Adeed Dawisha, political science professor at the University of Miami in Ohio; author of Arab Nationalism in the Twentieth Century: From Triumph to Despair" ]

[ "The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, is a familiar face to many Iraqis -- some say too familiar. As the constitution is being drafted, there are concerns among Iraqis that Khalilzad's omnipresence is a sign of excessive U.S. influence.", "The vote on Iraq's draft constitution is a major test for a country trying to rebuild itself after years of rule under Saddam Hussein, and then invasion by the United States. People on all sides are watching to see if the outcome offers any clues to Iraq's future. Here are answers to some of the basic questions surrounding the referendum: Who drafted the constitution? A constitutional assembly appointed by Iraq's Transitional National Assembly drafted the constitution. Although the drafters had an August deadline, difficult negotiations resulted in delays and changes to the constitution right up until several days before the Oct. 15 public referendum on the document. The primary reason for what amounts to rolling negotiations has been the Sunni Arab minority's unwillingness to support the draft document. The United States sees Sunni Arab participation as key to Iraq's future stability and has pushed Shia and Kurdish representatives to make compromises aimed at bringing Sunni Arabs into the constitutional process. What were the changes made just days before the vote? With significant U.S. pressure, in the form of Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Iraqi negotiators made changes to the draft constitution just days before the Oct. 15 national referendum. The changes were a last-ditch effort to win some Sunni Arab support for the charter. The most important change was an agreement that the constitution -- if it passes -- could be opened up to new amendments in early 2006, after elections and the seating of a new National Assembly. Previous versions had called for a waiting period of eight years before amendments could be considered. Two changes were made regarding former Baath Party members. A declaration was inserted saying that mere membership in the Baath Party was not grounds for prosecution. And a clause was added giving a parliamentary committee oversight of the de-baathification process in Iraq. Other last-minute changes to the document included a statement on Iraqi unity and a declaration that Arabic would be an official language in Iraq’s Kurdish regions, along with Kurdish itself. The upshot of these changes is that some Sunni Arabs switched their positions and announced support for the draft constitution. Many others continue to object to the charter. What security measures were taken for the vote? A four-day public holiday began Thursday, with nightly curfews and a ban on carrying weapons, even licensed weapons. Movement between provinces was banned, and international borders were closed on Friday. On voting day Saturday, traffic was barred in an effort to prevent suicide attacks. U.S. and Iraqi forces also conducted large offensives in western Iraq -- where Sunni Arabs predominate and insurgents are strong -- hoping to disrupt the insurgents' movements ahead of the referendum. What will it take to pass the constitution? The draft constitution passes unless a simple majority of voters goes against it, or two-thirds of voters in any three of Iraq’s 18 provinces say \"no.\" Support for the charter in the Shia and Kurdish communities -- a majority of Iraq's population -- makes it highly unlikely that more than 50 percent of Iraqi voters would go against the constitution. It is possible that Sunni Arab voters could block the constitution in three provinces. But the consensus view is that this is unlikely to happen since most provinces have mixed populations, making a two-thirds vote against very difficult to achieve. What happens next if the constitution passes? General elections will be held on Dec. 15 for a full-term parliament. Parliamentary elections will then be held every four years. The new parliament will be charged with passing something between 50 and 60 pieces of legislation to fill in the holes in the constitution. Indeed, the focus in Iraq will immediately turn to the December elections. They will be conducted under a different election law than the one that produced the Transitional National Assembly. The election law in January was proportional representation; everyone had to run on a countrywide list. That gave advantage to people who were well organized. The upshot being that it helped create ethnic and sectarian blocs. Kurds voted for Kurds; Shia voted for Shia. The new election law puts much more emphasis on the local district, the local province. So every list has to run in a province, and every province will have seats in the new assembly. That should should ensure more Sunni Arab representation in the parliament than they have now. What if it fails to pass? If the \"no\" vote wins the day, parliament will be dissolved and another Transitional National Assembly elected in December. That body will then draw up another constitution. If that constitution passes, elections will be held to produce a full-term parliament. The run-up to the current referendum, however, has shown that politicians in Iraq are not beyond bending, or ignoring, the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) that currently sta", "For all who wish the Iraqis well in their struggle to create a constitutional democracy, these are discouraging days. The constitution-drafting leaders who labored bravely through the 120-degree days of a Baghdad summer have failed to resolve the basic disagreements that divide the regions and religions of Iraq. It's been apparent for some time that key issues -- such as power sharing between Baghdad and regional governments -- have been too thorny for the 275-member National Assembly. But this fact will be noticed much more widely this week with the passing of the Aug. 15 deadline for a draft of a permanent national constitution. American advisers made great efforts over the final weekend to force a deal by Aug. 15, a date set by the interim constitution and regarded as sacrosanct by the Bush administration. But the deadline passed without agreement, and Iraq's parliament extended it by seven days. Americans should have some sympathy. The issues keeping the Iraqi factions apart have historical analogs in the U.S. constitutional convention of 1787. The claimed right of states to defy the federal government -- or even to leave the Union -- caused bitter division among the American founding fathers, roiled the young nation's politics for generations and led to our Civil War in 1861. Given the knotty problems at hand, an agreement in principle (with the big disputes postponed) would at least pay respects to the deadline and show a commitment to going forward. This might dull the disappointment at the American embassy and in Washington, where the administration could do its best to put a good face on it for domestic consumption. But settling for anything less than a true agreement on the major issues will probably do little to reassure Iraqis, who from the start have regarded the deadline as an American obsession that matters far less to them than their own interests. The Bush administration pressed for the Aug. 15 date in part to put a limit on what could have been endless debate. But they have also urged a date certain for the drafting so that the new constitution could be sold to the citizenry. This is crucial to holding a ratification vote on schedule this fall and new elections in the winter. All these have become checklist items for the Bush administration, which cites them regularly. They are the breadcrumbs on the trail by which the U.S. hopes to find its way out of Iraq. With a new constitution ratified and a new government elected -- and assuming Sunni involvement in both -- the U.S. will have met most of its own preconditions for a phased withdrawal. The last hurdle will be the readiness of the new Iraqi army and police to defend the new government and keep the peace. This last precondition is, of course, ultimately the most important. But if Sunnis have a role inside the power structure come 2006, the Sunni-based insurgency should weaken (at least according to current military analysis). That would allow the United States to begin pulling its own troops out, which may be the one thing all involved now want most. Republicans in Congress would be especially appreciative if this could happen well before the midterm elections of November 2006. It is worth reflecting how this differs from three years ago, when Bush administration thinking was dominated by notions of a new Iraq leading to a transformed Arab world. Many of those responsible for this vision, including Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith at the Department of Defense, are now gone. We should note that President Bush continues to espouse a policy of total commitment in Iraq, most recently in his Saturday radio address of Aug. 13. Meanwhile, however, Pentagon generals let it be known they are planning for reduced troop levels, and unnamed administration officials tell newspaper reporters on background that the U.S. has come to a new, more realistic agenda for its mission in Iraq. The president is right to say that setting a timetable for a U.S. departure would be an encouragement to the insurgency. But the difference between a timetable and the kind of withdrawal the U.S. now seems to be pursuing may get harder and harder to discern. So whatever pressure Americans bring to bear on negotiating factions in Baghdad right now, Iraqis will know it's pressure from a foreign power that will depart as soon as possible. That could be one more reason why their own separate and divisive interests remain more important to them than our deadline.", "Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, discusses the Iraqi draft constitution, the latest military operations against insurgents in Tal Afar and the October elections.", "A draft agreement calling for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq by the end of 2011 is more realistic and feasible than President-elect Obama's 16-month withdrawal plan, a former Iraqi representative to the United States says. Rend Al-Rahim, now executive director of the Iraq Foundation, tells NPR's Robert Siegel that Iraqi officials would be happy with the plan specified by the draft status of forces agreement and that the 18-month difference between the agreement and Obama's plan is significant to Iraqi politicians. \"The Iraqi security forces still need support and training in a number of areas,\" says Al-Rahim, who was Iraq's representative to the U.S. after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. \"There is some doubt here about the cohesiveness of the … Iraqi security forces as a national force that is politically neutral and that actually protects the state and the constitution,\" as opposed to one political party over another. Al-Rahim says some political groups in the country feel vulnerable and perceive the U.S. presence in the country as a buffer. They fear that a rapid disengagement of U.S. forces would put them at risk, she says. The notion that a lack of a timetable will slow the transition because it doesn't provide an impetus for Iraqis to take control \"doesn't make any sense,\" Al-Rahim says. \"There are lots of internal political issues that are brewing,\" she says. \"The Iraqis have been able to solve some and not solve others, and I don't think that's contingent or determined by U.S. presence or nonpresence. I think that actually a rapid U.S. withdrawal will exacerbate the differences and will increase foreign pressure on political groups in Iraq, and therefore reduce the possibility of dialogue and consensus and negotiation.\" There is a decreasing need for combat operations by the multinational forces in the country, she says. \"What is needed now is much more stress on the political process. We still have not built a state in which everybody feels included, everybody feels there is an equal chance for them to play a role. The U.S. military and civilian presence should focus more on providing that confidence-building, the deterrence against internal conflict and to safeguarding the political process.\"", "Civil society in Iraq is still weak and vulnerable, constrained by the violence and a lack of resources. But despite those challenges, the dominant features of Iraqi civil society are its energy and dynamism. From my post in Iraq, I hear the country's future in the voices of its activists. Take these conversations, from a brief walk down a corridor at a recent conference. A middle-aged man took my notebook to sketch a diagram of the relationship between economy, media, and military power, lecturing me that it was essential to separate control of each area in order to avoid dictatorship. A young woman stepped out of a conversation on women's rights to explain that the minimum age of 30 for election to the National Assembly would muffle the voice of a new generation of leaders representing the most dynamic constituency in the society. A local official in a three piece suit told me he was worried his community would not have a say in writing the new constitution because of its low turnout in elections and wondered what other mechanisms could protect the rights of this minority. While much of the world debates whether Iraq is on the verge of a civil war or a new dictatorship, many Iraqis are making plans for a democratic future. That they do this in a climate of fear, violence, and constant struggle to access basic public services is a testament not only to their belief in the value of that future, but to their confidence that they will ultimately reach it. The excitement about the future is not limited to a small circle of elites and activists. The pride so many Iraqis took in the election -- as well as the frustration expressed by those who were unable to vote -- are expressions of the same national characteristic: a fierce determination never to be left out of their own government again. Iraqis have launched an array of projects to achieve their goals -- forming organizations ranging from human rights groups to teachers associations to anti-corruption watchdogs. But so far, these organizations have had limited success, due to lack of resources and expertise on techniques for political advocacy. While a number of U.S. initiatives have made supporting these Iraqi efforts a priority, the demand for training, materials, and grants far outstrips what the international community has to offer. In my work here with the US Institute of Peace, I interact daily with Iraqis who are in desperate search of tools needed to bring about change. Dozens of academics jumped at a chance to attend our conference on the role of the universities in supporting civil society development. One of them told me it was a chance to “declare our imaginations” on what universities could do to serve the people of Iraq. The Institute finds the same response to all its Iraq initiatives: political party representatives are fascinated with comparisons of constitutional processes from around the world; local officials eagerly study conflict management techniques in order to conduct workshops in their own communities; and religious leaders are hungry for books and materials that help them to reduce ethnic and religious tensions among their followers. These same new leaders and activists are the ones often targeted for violence. In the coming months, the constitution-making process offers the Iraqis and the international community an irreplaceable opportunity to make inroads on challenges of democracy and ongoing violence. It can be used to address concerns about minority rights and about the allocation of resources and decision-making power that fuel much of the insurgency. All of this can help isolate the hard-core elements advocating violence. At the same time, the constitution process creates a demand for new mechanisms for public education and consultation. Civil society organizations have plans for newspapers dedicated to the constitution process, for public conferences to debate issues like federalism and the relationship between religion and state, for advisory boards that will funnel information between citizens and the drafting body. These are precisely the tools for political advocacy that will allow Iraqis to hold the government accountable to the people in the future. The international community is needed to provide the resources to support these activities. If they step up, the constitution making process can serve as the crucible for Iraqi civil society to be the guardian of democracy in Iraq.", "Peter Galbraith, a former U.S. diplomat and longtime adviser to ethnic Kurdish leaders in Iraq, is defending himself against accusations of a conflict of interest over a business deal he made with a Norwegian oil firm. Iraqi officials have criticized Galbraith for having a financial stake in Kurdish oil because he served as an unpaid adviser to the Kurdish regional government while it was involved in negotiations over the drafting of a new Iraqi Constitution. The Kurds control parts of oil-rich northern Iraq, also known as Kurdistan. In an interview with NPR's All Things Considered, Galbraith acknowledged having a financial arrangement with DNO, a Norwegian oil company that has a stake in a promising oil field in Kurdistan, but denied any conflict of interest. \"When I was asked by them to advise them on the constitutional negotiations in 2005, they knew that I was being paid by DNO and by, in fact, other clients,\" Galbraith told co-host Melissa Block. \"They knew of my business activities. They sought my advice anyhow.\" He added, \"There is no conflict between the role and help I provided to the Kurds on what was their agenda, not my agenda, and the work I did helping to create an oil industry in Kurdistan.\" The New York Times reported Wednesday that Galbraith received rights to a large stake in at least one Kurdish oil field in 2004 after helping DNO negotiate a lucrative drilling contract. Galbraith told the paper that he maintained an \"ongoing business relationship\" with the company throughout the constitutional negotiations in 2005 and later. Reidar Visser, a research fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, has been following the developments since the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv first reported the business arrangement last month. \"That is new, the fact that he actually received payment from a Norwegian company at the same time that he was sitting in on key sessions related to the drafting of the Iraqi Constitution, from which, in fact, many Iraqi politicians were excluded,\" Visser told NPR's Michele Kelemen. \"But Galbraith participated, with his ownership share, and that is quite scandalous, certainly if you look at this from an Iraqi point of view.\" The draft constitution that Galbraith was helping with included provisions that he and Kurdish officials argue gives control of oil finds in Kurdistan to Kurdish leaders rather than to the central government in Baghdad. Galbraith told NPR that he did not have an official role in the drafting of the constitution and that he was a private citizen at the time. \"I want to emphasize that I myself did not participate in the negotiations,\" Galbraith said. \"I wasn't a negotiator. I provided advice to people who knew I had business interests.\" The oil field, which is in the Dohuk region of Kurdistan, has proven reserves of about 230 million barrels, and The New York Times estimated that Galbraith's stake could be worth more than $100 million. Galbraith said that he could not provide any details of his arrangement because of a confidentiality agreement, but he disputed the estimate of its value. \"I wished it were true,\" Galbraith said. He did acknowledge a dispute over what he calls his \"business arrangement.\" \"There's an arbitration that's under way in London,\" he told NPR. \"It's a confidential process. The first round has been concluded, and now the arbitration is looking at damages.\" Galbraith, 58, son of the prominent 20th century economist John Kenneth Galbraith, served for many years on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and from 1993 to 1998 as U.S. ambassador to Croatia. He has also been in the news recently because of his role in Afghanistan. Peter Galbraith was fired in September from a senior post at the United Nations mission there after accusing his boss of ignoring fraud in Afghanistan's recent troubled presidential election.", "The Kingdom of Bhutan lies nestled in the Himalayas between India and China. It has an official religion: Tantric Buddhism. The country, which has long isolated itself from outside influences, has begun to open up. On a recent visit, commentator Paul Rosenzweig witnessed the unveiling of Bhutan's new draft constitution. The document incorporates the ethics -- and humanistic goals -- of Buddhism. Rosenzweig is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. MICHELE NORRIS, host: The Kingdom of Bhutan lies nestled in the Himalayas between India and China. It has an official religion, Tantric Buddhism, and it has long isolated itself from outside influences. But in the last 30 years, Bhutan has slowly been opening up to the rest of the world. Recently, commentator Paul Rosenzweig paid a visit. While he was there, he met the prime minister, the labor minister and the chief justice, and he witnessed the unveiling of Bhutan's new draft constitution. PAUL ROSENZWEIG: A new constitution is a revolutionary moment in any country. Many are drafting new constitutions around the world these days: Iraq and Afghanistan right now, South Africa just a few years ago. And it's a hard enough job as it is. Now imagine that your country has been isolated from the world for hundreds of years and is steeped in Buddhist religion and culture. The result is an amazing, fascinating new type of revolution, and you can see it today in the draft of the first constitution for Bhutan released in March. Portions of the constitution would look familiar to Westerners. It proposes a parliamentary democracy and protects many of the same fundamental rights found in the American Constitution: freedom of speech and the press, for example. But amidst all that familiarity, the Bhutanese draft constitution is fundamentally different, and most of the differences can be traced to the Buddhist religion. America, more than 200 years after our Constitution was drafted, is still struggling to decide how religious our official society can be. Iraq, as it drafts its new constitution, is trying to decide how much of Islamic law to adopt as secular law. Bhutan has made its choice clear. Buddhism, they say, is the spiritual and cultural heritage of the country, and that means that Buddhism is an integral and vital part of the new constitution. Take one fascinating example. Buddhist theology finds its way into the constitution in the form of a state commitment to maximize gross national happiness. It is hard to conceive of a country where the stated purpose is to make the citizens happy. But there it is in Bhutan. Another example: Right next to the section on fundamental rights, there's a section on fundamental duties, and most of those duties are derived from Buddhist culture. So the constitution, in a requirement that is very unusual to Western eyes, actually requires citizens to be Good Samaritans. It says, `A person shall have the responsibility to provide help to the greatest possible extent to victims of accidents and in times of natural calamity.' There's also a constitutional duty to be a pacifist, to uphold justice and to act against corruption. I can't even begin to imagine provisions like that in a Western constitution. Bhutan is at a remarkable moment in its history: starting with a constitution based on underlying Buddhist principle, a mixture never before tried in human history. NORRIS: Paul Rosenzweig is a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation. You're listening to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.", "Scott Simon reviews the week's news with Daniel Schorr, senior news analyst. Topics include the drafting of an Iraqi constitution; speculation about troop withdrawals; the Gold Star Mothers' protest; Iranian nuclear ambitions; and North Korean nuclear talks; and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.", "Noah Feldman is a professor of the New York University School of Law with a doctorate in Islamic Thought from Oxford. Until recently he was head of the constitutional team with the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance in Iraq. He is serving as an adviser as Iraq seeks to draft a new constitution. Feldman is also the author of the new book, <EM>After Jihad: America and the Struggle for Islamic Democracy</EM>. In the book he argues that it is time for Islamic democracies.", "Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr calls for calm after violent clashes between his supporters and a rival militia. This rift within Iraq's Shia erupted at an acutely sensitive time -- Iraq's politicians are supposed to agree on a draft constitution by midnight Thursday.", "Senior leaders from Iraq's dominant factions emerge from a special meeting saying that they are newly committed to sharing power in a collective government. Those in the session included Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jamal Talabani, and other Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders. The announcement came amid growing pressure from Washington to see political progress in Baghdad. That pressure was evident from comments like those made by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Fox News Sunday. \"The Iraqi government is still pretty much a disaster,\" McConnell said. \"I mean, they haven't done any of the things at the central government level that we had anticipated.\" The Iraqi officials announced plans for drafting laws dealing with a range of lingering issues, from the need to free detainees held in Iraqi jails without charges to a draft plan for Iraqi oil revenue-sharing. But soon after the announcement, a major Sunni party quickly denied its contents, saying that Talabani's office is engaging in a public-relations move, and that there are no plans for working together. Aside from announcing a consensus on sharing power and addressing concerns held in Washington and elsewhere, the leaders will need to submit their plans to Iraq's parliament.", "The U.S. and Iraq closed in Thursday on a security deal that may involve the withdrawal of American troops from Iraqi cities by next June. The agreement is set to define the status of U.S. forces in Iraq once the current U.N. mandate runs out at the end of this year. In a surprise visit to Baghdad, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the two sides have agreed on a final draft, which must still be approved by both governments. \"The United States, I think, has shown great flexibility. I think the Iraqis have shown great flexibility,\" Rice said. \"And this ... will be an excellent agreement when we finally have agreement.\" NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, who is in Baghdad, said the draft is a complicated document with several provisions. She says it stipulates a scenario for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops by the end of next June from Iraqi cities. \"That would essentially fully reverse the strategy that the U.S. has been adopting under the surge, where small groups of soldiers live in so-called combat outposts among the communities in Iraq,\" she told Robert Siegel. \"By next June, U.S. troops would essentially withdraw to their bases and act in a support role.\" Garcia-Navarro cites Iraqi sources close to the negotiations as saying the next step — security conditions permitting — is a possible full U.S. withdrawal by 2011 to 2012. \"If security deteriorates and the Iraqis want the U.S. to stay longer, they could,\" she said. The agreement now will need to be reviewed at the highest levels of both governments. \"The U.S. has already said that they are happy with what's been hammered out, so approval by President Bush is pretty much a given, it seems,\" Garcia-Navarro said. \"The question is: What will the Iraqis say?\" The agreement will be examined by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, his security cabinet and the heads of all the political parties. It then has to be ratified by Iraq's parliament. \"We know from past experience, things can get stuck at any stage in that process,\" Garcia-Navarro said. This being an election year in Iraq, no one wants to support something that makes them possibly look weak, Garcia-Navarro said. Already, concern is being raised about several provisions of the draft, including immunity for U.S. troops. \"The United States has been pretty adamant that they do not want American soldiers to have to face trial in an Iraqi court,\" she said. \"The Iraqis have been equally adamant that they want to have some accountability for the actions of U.S. troops here. \"What seems to have been hammered out, we are being told, is that there will be some kind of joint committee that will review the issue if it comes up. But, again, it is still one of the issues that is outstanding.\"", "Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani is the influential Shiite Muslim cleric who is insisting that the new Iraq constitution be drafted by elected, rather than appointed, Iraqi representatives. For a better picture of the Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Yitzhak Nakash, Chair of the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program at Brandeis University. Nakash is also author of <EM>The Shi'is of Iraq</EM>.", "Regional autonomy is one of the more contentious issues facing negotiators who've been given an extra week to finish Iraq's draft constitution. Kurds and Shias harbor visions of some independence from Iraq's future government, but what would that mean to the Sunni population -- and to U.S. hopes of democracy in Iraq? Guests: Ellen Knickmeyer, Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post Qubad Talabani, U.S. representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government; son of Iraq President Jalal Talabani Edmund Ghareeb, Distinguished Professor at the School of International Service at American University; co-author of the Historical Dictionary of Iraq Larry Diamond, senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution; advised the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad from January to April 2004; author of Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq", "American U.N. Ambassador John Danforth says the United Nations has an important role to play in the newly sovereign Iraq. He hopes U.N. officials will help Iraqis draft a permanent constitution, set up elections and move forward with a range of reconstruction projects. Hear Danforth and NPR's Steve Inskeep.", "Egyptians are deeply divided over a draft constitution that will be put to a nationwide referendum starting Saturday. The document was drafted by an assembly dominated by Islamists. Most secular members of the panel, along with women and Christian representatives, walked out in protest before the draft was complete. Critics say the draft gives key Islamic scholars too much power on a broad range of legislative issues, but it's still unclear what that would mean in practice. Islamic law, or Shariah, has long been a central part of the Egyptian legal system. If voters approve the new constitution, that role will be expanded. The constitution calls for religious scholars at Cairo's Al-Azhar University to weigh in on national legislation. The school is the seat of Sunni Islam, where scholars propagate Islamic religion and culture worldwide. Al-Azhar, an institution more than a thousand years old, is seen as relatively moderate in its read of Shariah. On a recent afternoon, Al-Azhar clerics, in long robes and red and white turbans, lined a busy Cairo street. They chanted \"Al-Azhar says yes to the constitution.\" But even Al-Azhar is divided on the issue: A smaller group of its clerics marched in a rally against the draft, which was videotaped and posted on the website Ahram Online. Who Would Have The Final Say? The draft constitution gives Al-Azhar's clerics an advisory role in matters related to Islamic law, although it does not say that the clerics' opinions are binding on the Constitutional Court, Egypt's highest judicial body. \"The Constitutional Court does not eliminate Al-Azhar's role; neither does Al-Azhar eliminate the Constitutional Court's role,\" says Atteya Fayyad, a professor at Al-Azhar who was a member of the assembly drafting the constitution. He sees the two institutions working smoothly together, and points out that the court has asked Al-Azhar for its opinion in the past. But Nathan Brown, a professor at George Washington University, says the issue will arise even if Al-Azhar's opinions aren't binding. \"Anytime you have Al-Azhar weighing in on a topic, it's going to be difficult for any political force or party or leader to go against it,\" Brown says. Khaled Fahmy, the chairman of the history department at the American University in Cairo, says there's a dangerous loophole in the Al-Azhar clause. He says the draft isn't clear about whether the court or Al-Azhar holds final authority. \"This means that the Egyptian legal and constitutional framework is now subject to enormous pressure, because we can have now two bodies in the country, with equal weight, with different reference points, on which to interpret that central text,\" Fahmy says. \"This is a recipe for disaster.\" Shariah Provisions Unclear Some Egyptians are worried about what an expansion of Shariah in legislation would mean for them. \"Any people different than the Islamist fundamentalists would be persecuted under the Shariah law,\" computer programmer Mina Samy said at a recent protest. But historian Fahmy says it's unclear what the Al-Azhar provision, and another clause that defines the principles of Shariah, would mean in practice if the draft constitution passes. \"What exactly is meant by Shariah is a key question, and so far no one has dared to give a precise answer to this question,\" he says. Nathan Brown says he expects little would change overnight. \"What I would expect, however, would be a slow move toward drawing much more on Islamic law when making ordinary Egyptian legislation,\" he says. Brown says the provisions may open the door for Shariah to influence other legal areas, like criminal law. This would be a break from the past, when Shariah was pre-eminent mostly in personal status issues. \"I think where that will clash most with the aspirations of liberals and human rights groups and so on might be in areas of gender equality, and it might be in issues of sort of cultural expression — novelists, filmmakers might find a bit more of a restrictive environment,\" he says. Analysts in Egypt say the impact of these provisions depends largely on whether Islamists continue to dominate the government.", "Gunmen in Yemen have abducted President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's chief of staff from his vehicle in the center of the capital, Sanaa, according to security officials who blame Shiite Houthi rebels for the kidnapping. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak and two of his body guards were seized early Saturday, officials say. The Associated Press quotes unnamed officials as saying the three were kidnapped when they stopped their car in the capital. No ransom demand has been made and so far no one has claimed responsibility. According to AP: \"The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists, said they suspect his kidnappers are Shiite Houthi rebels. The Houthis seized large areas of Yemen, including Sanaa, last year as part of their protracted power struggle with President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.\" Reuters quotes one source as saying that Bin Mubarak was kidnapped \"to stop him from presenting a draft of a new constitution to a presidential meeting.\" Reuters reports: \"The Houthi militia, which controls Sanaa, has denounced leaked details of the draft, which President Hadi has said will ensure the country does not fragment into two regions based on the former states or north and south Yemen.\" The AP reports: \"Bin Mubarak is personally at odds with the Houthis. He was the president's choice for prime minister last October, but his nomination was derailed after Houthis opposed him for his ties to the president.\" Update at 4:15 p.m. ET. Houthi Rebels Claim Responsibility: Reuters reports that the Houthi rebels, who claim to be fighting for the rights of the country's Zaydi Shiite Muslim sect, claimed responsibility for kidnapping Bin Mubarak, saying gunmen from the group \"arrested\" the presidential aide. The news agency says: \"In [a] statement on the al-Maseerah television channel, the [Houthi] militia said it had become aware of what it called irregularities in both the draft constitution and how the government was attempting to make it law. \"Houthi representatives also pulled out of a meeting with Hadi and the country's other main political and regional factions to discuss the constitution, two attendees at the meeting told Reuters.\"", "Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has annulled a decree that gave him sweeping new powers last month, an official announced overnight in Cairo. The referendum on the draft constitution is still set for Dec. 15. NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson says Morsi had been saying recently he would give up his expanded powers after the referendum. \"In the end, the impact is that he has moved up by one week what he was planning to do anyway,\" she tells Guy Raz, host of weekends on All Things Considered. Outrage had been spilling into the streets and around the presidential palace in Cairo over Morsi's executive decree and the proposed constitution, which the opposition says leaves out the rights of women, secular Egyptians and Christians. The Egyptian military said Saturday there would be \"disastrous consequences\" if the crisis isn't resolved, according to The Associated Press. This morning, NPR's Korva Coleman reported that Morsi was holding a dialogue between his party and opponents, though Nelson reports it mostly consisted of Islamists. She says the official who made the announcement about the rescinded powers was part of this dialogue. Gamal Fahmi, a member of the Constitution Party, told Al Arabiya that the new declaration was not sufficient. \"The ceiling of the people's demands is very high,\" he said, \"and this constitutional declaration does not answer people's demands.\" Nelson said, given the timing of the announcement, more time would be needed to see how the protesters will react: \"Obviously people were not expecting it, and so it's taking some time for people to digest what has been said to see whether there in fact has been significant change.\" Update at 7:28 p.m. ET. Changes That Remain: NPR's Kimberly Adams tells our Newscast Desk that despite the \"annulment,\" Morsi has retained some of the gains he's made since he made the decree in November. Adams reports: \"The new decree loses controversial articles granting Morsi sweeping powers. But it also allows Morsi to keep political gains, such as his appointment of a new prosecutor general.\" Nelson reports that the initial decree in November shielded Morsi from judicial oversight, kept the upper house of parliament from dissolution by the courts, and helped him push through the contested draft of a new constitution. But withdrawing the expanded powers does not retroactively nullify the actions that have already been taken. For example, the draft constitution is still set for a referendum next week. The AP says the decision is \"unlikely to appease the opposition,\" reporting: \"Gamal Eid, a human rights lawyer, said the recommendations to rescind some powers were a 'play on words' since Morsi had already achieved the desired aim of finalizing the draft constitution and protecting it over the past weeks from a judicial challenge.\"", "President Bush says he takes ultimate responsibility for shortcomings in the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, saying the storm had \"exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government.\" The president's comments marked a shift in tone for the White House, which has sought to deflect criticism of recovery efforts. Bush's remarks came as he wound up a meeting at the White House with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. ROBERT SIEGEL, host: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Robert Siegel. MELISSA BLOCK, host: And I'm Melissa Block. The number of dead from Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath is rising. Louisiana's Health Department announced that the death toll in that state has climbed from 279 to 423 since yesterday. At the White House, President Bush said today that he is ultimately responsible for the federal government's failings in response to Hurricane Katrina. President Bush's comments at the White House marked a shift in tone. He and his allies had sought to deflect the sharp criticism of federal recovery efforts. Mr. Bush's remarks came as he stood next to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. The two met today, as NPR's David Greene reports. DAVID GREENE reporting: At the White House, the subject of Iraq has been overshadowed by Hurricane Katrina for two weeks. Even a visit from the president of Iraq could not change that. Mr. Bush and Jalal Talabani walked down a hallway lined with American and Iraqi flags and took their place behind podiums. President GEORGE W. BUSH: For President Talabani and his fellow citizens, the day Saddam was removed from power was a day of deliverance, and America will always be proud that we led the armies of liberation. GREENE: Talabani had a broad smile on his face as Mr. Bush spoke. When his own turn came, Talabani offered a 12-minute opening statement full of emotion. President JALAL TALABANI (Iraq): To those in America and other countries still ask of war of liberation in Iraq if it was the right decision, I say, `Please, please come to Iraq to visit the mass graves, to see what happened to the Iraqi people and to see what now going on in Iraq.' GREENE: Mr. Bush then invited reporter Nedra Pickler of The Associated Press to ask the first question. Ms. NEDRA PICKLER (The Associated Press): Mr. President, given what happened with Katrina, shouldn't Americans be concerned that their government isn't prepared to respond to another disaster or even a terrorist attack? Pres. BUSH: You know, Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government. And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility. GREENE: Mr. Bush did make clear that he only takes responsibility for what the federal government did wrong, and he has said he's still waiting to learn more about that. The president's statement comes at a time when his approval rating in most national polls has hit an all-time low. The White House announced he'll be in Louisiana again on Thursday to deliver a prime-time speech. In the East Room today, the two leaders did talk about foreign policy. Talabani brought up his country's draft constitution, which faces opposition among Sunni Arabs. Pres. TALABANI: We have agreed a draft constitution. Of course, it is not perfect document, but, you see, I think it is one of the best constitutions in the Middle East. Of course, we didn't solve all problems; we have some problems. GREENE: Talabani had told The Washington Post he could see as many as 50,000 American military personnel withdrawing this year, but today he said setting timetables only serves to help terrorists. This afternoon, the president left for New York to join other world leaders at a plenary summit at the United Nations. While he's there, he plans to thank nations that have sent help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. David Greene, NPR News, the White House.", "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld makes an unannounced visit to Baghdad, where he urged Iraqi negotiators to complete work on a draft constitution by the August deadline. The top American military commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, said U.S. troops could begin withdrawing by next spring or summer if all goes well.", "Protesters have streamed into Cairo's Tahrir Square again today, correspondent Merrit Kennedy tells our Newscast Desk. She says they're there both to demonstrate again against President Mohammed Morsi's decree giving himself sweeping new powers and to express concern about a draft constitution passed early today by Egypt's constitutional assembly. As The Associated Press reports, Islamists approved the draft \"without the participation of liberal and Christian members, seeking to pre-empt a court ruling that could dissolve their panel with a rushed, marathon vote that further inflames the clash between the opposition and President Mohammed Morsi.\" And, AP adds: \"The move advanced a charter with an Islamist bent that rights experts say could give Muslim clerics oversight over legislation and bring restrictions on freedom of speech, women's rights and other liberties. The draft must now be put to a nationwide referendum within 30 days. Morsi said Thursday it will be held 'soon.' \" Al-Jazeera writes that: \"Sherine Tadros, reporting from Tahrir Square, said the draft was being viewed as the 'Muslim Brotherhood constitution.' \" 'People have already gathered here to join the thousands gathered in a sit-in for much of the past week,' she reported. 'They're here to protest against the recent decrees of the president, but also now against this draft constitution passed last night by the constituent assembly.' \" On Morning Edition, NPR's Leila Fadel reported that while Morsi says that when the constitution is ratified his decrees will \"no longer apply,\" the president's opponents don't trust that will happen. According to Leila: \"Critics say it's not just that the president is rushing through an imperfect document, but one that could be dangerous. For instance, the draft constitution has preserved broad powers for the president although it does stipulate four-year term limits. There is still little civilian oversight of the military. And perhaps the most controversial part is the slightly expanded role and influence of Islam, which gives clerics a consulting role on legislation. \"For all the hope of change, observers say the document is quite similar to the 1971 constitution it's expected to replace.\"", "In Egypt, unofficial results show the country's controversial draft constitution was narrowly approved in the first stage of a referendum held this past Saturday. The draft constitution has deeply divided Egyptians. The second round of voting will take place this Saturday.", "Reformers are taking aim at Alabama's state Constitution, which is the longest in the country with more than 700 amendments. The document was drafted in 1901 and still contains the racist language of the post-Reconstruction South. But those in power are reluctant to change the state's charter. NPR's Debbie Elliott has the story.", "Today the people of Libya are voting to elect the people who will draft a new constitution. It has been three years since the start of the revolution that toppled Moammar Gaddafi, and the country still doesn&#8217;t have a constitution. The constitutional assembly that is being voted on today will be made up of 60 people from the three regions of Libya who will be asked to write the country&#8217;s new constitution. But with all the violence and uncertainty that remains in Libya, many people are divided over the way forward. The BBC&#8217;s Rana Jawad has this report from Tripoli. Guest\n\nRana Jawad, BBC correspondent in Tripoli. She tweets @Rana_J01.\n JEREMY HOBSON, HOST: This is HERE AND NOW from NPR and WBUR Boston. I'm Jeremy Hobson. Today, the people of Libya are voting to elect those who will draft a new constitution. It has been three years since the start of the revolution that toppled the long-time Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and the country still does not have a new constitution. The constitutional assembly that's being elected today will be made up of 60 people from the three regions of Libya who will be asked to write that constitution. But with all the violence and uncertainty that remains across Libya, many people are divided about the way forward. The BBC's Rana Jawad has this report from Tripoli. RANA JAWAD: At a bustling cafe in downtown Tripoli, Louay Alghawy, the owner, is busy socializing with his customers. He's an ex-fighter from the war that toppled a 42-year dictatorship but has since returned to civilian life. Louay struggles these days as he safeguards the freedoms he fought for. LOUAY ALGHAWY: Voting is the most important thing for me and for the - all the Libyan people. The fighting and the revolution was something, like, exception in my life. If I didn't vote and everyone didn't vote, Libya is not going to be a country. This is the most important thing, and the Libyan people should know that. This is our chance. I think it's the last chance to help our country. JAWAD: And one of his customers agrees. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Constitution is very important for every country. So a constitution will make sure we'll save our rights and our obligations. Before, we cannot speak to radio or any international radio. But now, we are free, and it's a pleasure that you could - to be - you can speak. But - so now, it's important to join the voting and to build our country. It's time now to do it. JAWAD: For others, like the Alzandah family, the turmoil in Libya since the end of the war gives them little confidence in any elected body. Najib lost his 27-year-old son in November during the confrontation between the militia and protesters trying to evict them from their base in Tripoli. Mr. Alzandah is angry at the lawlessness they live in today. NAJIB ALZANDAH: Every day there have been killing, every day. When without Gadhafi, we thought that we would live in safe place and peaceful place and things like these, but this is not the truth. Now, it's worse. JAWAD: Have you somewhat given up on the current powers that be, those in power? You're holding the elections this week for a constitutional assembly. Do you still believe in that system? ALZANDAH: No. I don't believe in it. Because even there's no resistant, what's the use? What's the use? JAWAD: Walking down any streets in the capital, there are few signs around that make it feel or sound like Libyans are about to elect a body that will be tasked with shaping this country's future and the rights of its people. Voter registration has been low, and observers are expecting an even lower turnout. It's not because Libyans don't care. People are boycotting it for different reasons. Most will simply say they just don't trust the candidates who are running for the assembly. HOBSON: That's the BBC's Rana Jawad reporting from Tripoli in Libya where, today, people are voting, as we heard, on a new constitutional assembly to create a new constitution for that country three years after the beginning of the revolution there. This is HERE AND NOW.", "Thai voters have overwhelmingly backed a new constitution drafted by the military government. The document's critics say it enshrines the power of the military in a way that is harmful for Thai democracy, while supporters argue it provides stability to the country. \"The Thai military seized power from a democratically elected government two years ago, promising a return to clean governance and political stability,\" reporter Michael Sullivan, who is in Bangkok, tells our Newscast unit. But, he adds, opponents of the charter say it dilutes \"the power of elected officials in a watered down form of democracy.\" It passed by a wide margin, Sullivan reports. \"With more than 90 percent of the vote counted, the Thai election commission says roughly 60 percent of those who cast ballots voted for the new constitution while roughly 37 percent voted against it,\" he says. In essence, this constitution will \"lay the foundation for a civilian government influenced by the military and controlled by appointed rather than elected officials,\" as The Associated Press reports. Independent election observers had asked to monitor the poll, \"but this was not granted by the Election Commission,\" as the BBC reports. And \"public discussion or criticism of the proposed constitution was banned by the junta in the run up to today's vote,\" Sullivan says. Human Rights Watch recently expressed alarm that the military government has brought sedition charges against some critics of the draft document, saying it \"creates a climate of fear.\" According to the BBC, dozens were detained for campaigning against the document. The rights group explains: \"The junta has deemed criticisms and dissenting opinions about the draft constitution to be 'false information' and a threat to national security. As a result, the only sources of information for many voters about the draft constitution now come from government agencies – all of which have taken the position that the proposed constitution would benefit the Thai people.\" The limitations on public debate have had an impact on public awareness of the charter — indeed, as the BBC's Jonathan Head reports, \"many Thais say they have little idea what is in it.\" During voting, one student activist was arrested after destroying his ballot in protest while shouting, \"Down with dictatorship and long live democracy,\" as the AP reports. Destroying voting documents is illegal, the wire service adds, and \"at least 20 other people were detained for destroying their ballots, apparently accidentally because they were confused about the voting procedure.\" Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha had said \"he has no plans on stepping down if the new constitution is rejected,\" and \"he still plans on holding a general election next year,\" as Sullivan reports.", "Jeff Schultz, a sports columnist for the <em>Atlanta Journal-Constitution</em>, talks about Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. Schultz tells Steve Inskeep that Vick's leadership ability is still a question mark. Vick was drafted first overall in 2001.", "The United States and Britain prepare a draft U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq that would endorse the installation of an interim Iraqi government on June 30. The draft also gives U.N. approval for U.S. and other foreign troops in Iraq. It is not likely to be finalized until U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi names the leaders of a caretaker Iraqi government. Hear Peter Kenyon and NPR's Vicky O'Hara.", "With a single line, President Trump fanned the flames of a push in Iraq to expel U.S. forces, just as he declared he wanted to keep troops in the country. \"We spent a fortune on building this incredible base. We might as well keep it,\" Trump said in a CBS interview on Feb. 3, referring to the Ain al-Asad military base in Iraq's western desert. \"And one of the reasons I want to keep it is because I want to be looking a little bit at Iran because Iran is a real problem.\" The Pentagon has described the mission for the several thousand U.S. troops stationed at the Iraqi base as helping Iraq fight ISIS. Trump's comment has raised Iraqi fears that the U.S. could draw it into conflict with neighboring Iran. It has also left U.S. officials, including the acting defense secretary, scrambling to reassure Iraqi leaders that the United States respects Iraqi sovereignty. That wasn't the first time the president has mentioned this alternative motive. When Trump flew into the Ain al-Asad base for a Christmas visit, he told U.S. service members he planned to keep forces in Iraq to protect U.S. interests, monitor \"any potential reformation of ISIS and also to watch over Iran.\" It also angered Iraqis who viewed Trump's failure to drop by Baghdad to meet the country's leaders as a breach of sovereignty. But those December comments, overshadowed by the surprise visit itself, failed to elicit the media coverage or the firestorm of criticism that Trump's later statement has drawn. While Iraq's prime minister maintains his country still needs U.S. military support, a number of Iraqi politicians want the U.S. out. Several opposing parties are now increasing efforts to move parliament to a vote on ending the U.S. presence when lawmakers reconvene in March. \"We have submitted a proposal to parliament to cancel the agreement with the U.S.,\" Sabah al-Saedi, head of one of the biggest blocs in parliament, told NPR. \"The remarks by President Trump show a lack of realization that such statements will increase mobilization to get American forces out of Iraq.\" The Trump administration has made limiting Iran a centerpiece of its foreign policy. Iraq, which has strong security, economic and political ties with Iran, has made clear that it will maintain those links. Iraq's 2005 constitution, drafted with the help of the United States, forbids using the country's territory to harm its neighbors. \"The recent statements by the U.S. president on reasons for the U.S. military presence in Iraq reveal the real reason behind this presence,\" said a statement from Sairoon, the political coalition loyal to Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. \"It has nothing to do with providing assistance to the Iraqi security forces but it is intended to use Iraq as a starting point to attack the interests of neighboring countries.\" Trump's remarks prompted public rebukes even from pro-Western Iraqi leaders. \"Don't overburden Iraq with your own issues,\" said President Barham Salih, stepping out of his usual diplomatic phrasing. \"The U.S. is a major power ... but do not pursue your own policy priorities. We live here,\" he said at a forum of an Iraqi think tank, the Rafidain Center for Dialogue, last week. Salih said the troops were in Iraq on a mission to fight ISIS and any other actions were unacceptable. He made clear that Trump had not discussed with Iraqi leaders using Iraq as a watch post. Even Iraq's most revered Shiite religious scholar entered the fray. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, whose words carry immense weight in the country and who normally avoids political issues, emphasized that Iraq wants good relations with all countries without interference in its internal affairs. \"Iraq rejects being a station for harming any other country,\" his statement said. Acting U.S. defense chief Patrick Shanahan tried to conduct damage control during a visit to Baghdad this week. \"I made very clear that we recognize their sovereignty, their focus on independence and that we are there at the invitation of the government,\" Shanahan told reporters. U.S. military and State Department officials have also sought to make clear that despite Trump's having declared ISIS defeated, the militant group still poses a significant threat. There are between 5,000 and 6,000 U.S. troops in Iraq as part of an agreement with the Iraqi government to advise, assist and support Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS. The issue has put Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi in a difficult position. Unlike previous parliaments, the current one has no majority coalition. Some of the most powerful of the diverse political blocs are Iranian-backed and have military wings. One of the most vocal critics of the U.S. military presence is Qais al-Khazali, head of a prominent Iran-backed militia called Asaib Ahl al-Haq. Khazali was jailed by U.S. forces for ordering an attack that killed five U.S. military personnel in central Iraqi city of Karbala in 2007. He was released in 2009 in a swap for British pri", "U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) will propose that the military draft be reinstated so that every American must consider the human cost of ousting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Rangel, a military veteran, opposes a strike against Iraq. There appears to be little support in Congress for his draft plan. Rangel speaks with NPR's Juan Williams.", "The power struggle between the military leaders who have been running Egypt since the spring 2011 toppling of President Hosni Mubarak and newly elected lawmakers escalated further today. Members of parliament's lower house met in defiance of an order from the nation's highest court to disband. Merrit Kennedy reports for our Newscast Desk that, in response to a call from also newly elected President Mohammed Morsi, about two-thirds of the lawmakers entered parliament. In a 15-minute session, she says, they \"voted to send the constitutional court's decision to a court of appeals, and then adjourned indefinitely.\" The New York Times calls this \"a raw contest between Egypt's competing centers of power.\" As it says: \"The power struggle reflected dueling claims to Egypt's emerging politics, with each side trying to frame the debate as a contest for ideals, legitimacy and democracy. The generals, backed by the court, argue that the new president must respect legal precedents and the institutions of the state. The new president, in turn, is calling on the generals to respect a popular will that was expressed through free elections.\" As the BBC notes, \"it is unclear how events will unfold as the situation — with the new president elected without a new constitution being drafted, and the parliament theoretically dissolved — is unprecedented, analysts say.\" With that story, the BBC also has a quick look at \"Egypt: Who holds the power?\" The players: -- The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has \"complete legislative power until a new parliament is elected and gives it a strong voice in the constitution-writing process.\" -- The president, who \"has authority over administrative and domestic affairs.\" -- Parliament, which has effectively been suspended. -- The Supreme Constitutional Court, which \"decides cases in which the constitutionality of a law or regulation is challenged. Its current president ... was appointed by Hosni Mubarak. His successor was selected by the court.\" On June 14, in what some Egyptians have said was a \"smooth military coup,\" the court ruled that last year's parliamentary vote was unconstitutional because some candidates who were elected had run with the support of political parties for seats that were supposed to be reserved for independent candidates.", "Yanar Mohammed, an internationally renowned Iraqi activist, founded the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq to advocate for women's rights. It's an uphill fight: From the 1950s to the 1970s, Iraqi women could legally work, study, marry and divorce, and wear what they wanted, but the new constitution in Iraq, based on the Islamic Sharia law system, denies women the civil and social rights guaranteed to men. As repressive attitudes have re-emerged, atrocities against women have increased. Several of Mohammed's colleagues have left the country, and Mohammed herself has been the target of death threats. Still, she stays, and her organization has set up a network of women's shelters, along with a kind of Iraqi Underground Railroad, to protect women who have been abused or become targets of \"honor killings.\"" ]

[ "Washington -- Congressional Democrats on Monday blasted the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman&#39;s proposal for breaking up the CIA and Defense Department spying operations, while the party&#39;s presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry, praised it." ]

[ "(Washington) 365Gay.com has learned that the GOP outrage over Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry&#39;s remarks about Mary Cheney was orchestrated by Mary herself.", "As Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] struggles to revive his flagging White House bid with a new line of attack on President Bush&#39;s Iraq war policies, he got a boost yesterday from a surprise source: three top GOP senators.", "The mission is to fix Canada&#39;s much-vaunted, but ailing, health system for a generation, but federal and provincial governments looked hopelessly divided on Friday", "The European Union has imposed a 222.3-million-euro (151 million pound) fine on Europe&#39;s main makers of copper plumbing pipes for fixing prices and dividing up the market.", "Nick Clegg marks new leadership of Lib Dems by enlisting Brian Eno to help fix Britain's 'broken politics'", "GOP DIVIDE: The pivotal building blocs of the Republican Party, including white men, conservatives and evangelicals, are divided among the party's leading contenders for president, the latest Associated Press-Ipsos poll shows.", "Two more of America&#39;s top spies were reported yesterday to be leaving the CIA, as an attempt to fix the troubled agency appeared increasingly to be dividing its ranks and driving out its most experienced officials.", "The proposed legislation would break up the C.I.A. and divide its responsibilities among three new spy agencies.", "The GOP hustled the Idaho senator off the stage as soon as news of his arrest in a Minneapolis airport men’s room came to light. But Craig isn’t going gently. The fallout could help the Dems win the White House next year.", "A GOP delegate handed out bandages with purple hearts on them Monday night at the Republican National Convention in a swipe at Democratic nominee John Kerry's war record, but national GOP officials have asked him to stop.", "Initiatives in 11 states are dividing electorates and shaping the Bush-Kerry race.", "President Bush and Sen. John Kerry could end up dividing Maine's four electoral votes.", "WASHINGTON - Officials reacted warily to a proposal by key Republican senators to transfer the nation's major intelligence gathering from the CIA and the Pentagon to control by a new director. The warmest response, in fact, came from the camp of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry...", "Assessments of the impact of Yasser Arafat&#39;s death are as divided as earlier explanations of the Palestinian leader&#39;s motivations, intentions, and actions.", "Healthcare issues clearly demonstrate the ideological divide between Kerry and Bush.", "Jim Rassmann, saved by John Kerry after being blown off Kerry&#39;s boat during a 1969 Vietnam firefight, said Friday a Sinclair Broadcast documentary critical of Kerry&#39;s", "WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry sought to make President Bush pay a political price Monday for the expiration of a partial assault weapons ban, but other Democrats reacted warily on an issue that has hurt the party in recent elections...", "With a deadline looming, President Bush and congressional Democrats are locked in a standoff over the government's authority to spy on foreign phone calls and e-mails that pass through the United States.", "The White House and Senate Republicans who revolted against the president's proposal on tough CIA interrogations of terrorism suspects said on Sunday a compromise was possible to heal a party rift over treatment of prisoners.", "No one expected Kentucky&#39;s Senate race to be competitive, not until incumbent GOP Sen. Jim Bunning insisted on using", "Democrats and Republicans are urging President Bush to press holdout GOP lawmakers to get compromise legislation overhauling US intelligence agencies passed this year.", "Many people agree that America&#39;s health-care system needs fixing. Few agree on how to fix it. During last week&#39;s debate and in a flurry of political ads that will become more intense as the Nov.", "Republican misgivings over President Bush's new war strategy are increasingly dividing the GOP as the Senate moves toward a showdown over the deployment of 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.", "Republicans and Democrats on Wednesday clashed over whether Porter Goss was the right man to lead the CIA through intelligence reform as President Bush's nominee moved toward winning Senate confirmation.", "The leaders of Cyprus&#39;s divided communities failed to make progress on Wednesday in relaunching stalled peace talks harming Turkey&#39;s EU accession bid.", "&#39;It&#39;s clearly a very powerful tool for locating information on the computer. On the flip side of things, it&#39;s a perfect spy program.", "It&#39;s late August, and someone in America decided it&#39;s time to scrutinize John Kerry&#39;s life story on television. For a week in Boston, John F. Kerry wrapped himself around a war effort", "A plan to overhaul U.S. spy agencies died on Saturday in the face of opposition from key Republicans just hours after congressional negotiators thought they had clinched a deal backed by the White House on the post-Sept. 11 reforms.", "The new proposal by eight Republican senators to break up the CIA and the Pentagon&#39;s virtual lock on intelligence met with sharp opposition yesterday", "Talks over legislation to reform U.S. spy agencies after the failures exposed by the Sept. 11 attacks stalled on Wednesday in acrimony, with Democrats accusing President Bush of \"failed leadership.\"", "Top US lawmakers on Sunday blamed &quot;turf wars&quot; for the unravelling of a long-awaited intelligence reform bill, and said a post-September 11 overhaul of America&#39;s spy network was stymied by allies of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.", "(Washington-AP) Nov. 21, 2004 - Opinions in Congress are split over whether lawmakers will pass a major intelligence overhaul plan before the year is out." ]

[ "A new report by the U.N.&#8217;s Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change explains the link between land use and the impacts of climate change. One crucial land mass undergoing major change is the Amazon rainforest. Here & Now&#8216;s Jeremy Hobson speaks with Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist in Brazil, about why deforestation has spiked and how it could impact carbon absorption. This article was originally published on WBUR.org." ]

[ "Though Brazil's Amazon has been the focus of environmental groups for decades, the deforestation rate there has fallen dramatically in recent years as clear-cutting of Amazonian jungle in eight other countries has started to rise. As a result, the 40 percent of Amazonia located in a moon-shaped arc of countries from Bolivia to Colombia to French Guiana faces a more serious threat than the jungle in Brazil. The culprits range from ranching to soybean farming, logging to infrastructure development projects. And in no other country is the problem as serious as in landlocked and remote Bolivia. Though better known for its bleak and haunting highlands, 70 percent of Bolivia's land mass is part of the Amazon basin, from biodiverse foothills to lowland jungles. It's an area bigger than California; but every year, nearly 1,400 square miles are deforested, about two-thirds the size of Delaware. Bolivia, which is vast but has barely 10 million inhabitants, has among the highest per capita deforestation rates in the world. \"It's the highest in the Amazonian basin,\" says Eduardo Forno, director of Conservation International in La Paz, Bolivia's capital. \"We have to ask why. I think it's related to institutional weakness and the vision the country has, to extract resources.\" Loggers: Forests Are Disappearing It is a vision that is plainly evident in the farms and forests around Ascencion, about 200 miles north of Santa Cruz, a regional capital in the country's east. On a recent day, logging crews work deep in the jungle in Amazonia's far southwestern corner, looking mainly for hardwoods that will be sawed into planks and shipped to China. Led by Agustin Villa, a two-man crew — with a single chain saw and plenty of gasoline — works in a ravine filled with heavy brush and big trees. They take down about 25 trees a day, from silk-cotton hardwoods to figs to ceibas, some of them 80 feet tall and decades old. In the distance, other workers drive earth movers, cutting a path into the forest that will be used to drag out trunks that Villa and his partner saw into big chunks. \"There are areas here that have disappeared, and parts that are fine,\" Villa says. He then ticks off many stretches of the forest that have been cleared of trees. Brazilian Deforestation Under Control For decades, environmentalists had focused much of their attention on Brazil's Amazon, which is bigger than all of Western Europe. They had reason to — just a few years ago, an area the size of Maryland was clear-cut every year, the trees falling to cattle ranchers, soy producers and peasant farmers. That has changed as Brazil's government began to stringently enforce land-use laws, and farmers and cattlemen began adopting policies that better employ already cleared land. Deforestation fell by 76 percent between 2004 and last year, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research. \"In the last five or six years, there has been a phenomenal change in Brazil with respect to the development process,\" says Timothy Killeen, an ecologist who has worked for 25 years with major environmental groups across the Amazon. \"With Brazil deforestation rates going down and the Andean deforestation rate going up, there's probably more deforestation in the Andean Amazon than in the Brazilian Amazon.\" But Thomas Lovejoy, an expert on Amazonian deforestation at George Mason University, points out that it's Brazil's government and Brazilian companies that are funding development such as highway and hydroelectric dam construction in parts of the non-Brazilian Amazon. \"Brazil beats its chest about lowering deforestation rates, but there has to be reconciliation with what Brazil is doing in some of those countries,\" he says. New Bolivian Forest Policy Needed In much of the non-Brazilian Amazon, environmentalists say, the development is disorderly, with peasants burning the tree cover and mining companies easily winning permits to carve out a diverse mix of projects. In Peru, trees are making way for pipelines and dams, while in tiny Ecuador oil companies are expanding their reach. Colombia is trying to develop a region in its far southeast for farming, while producers of African palm oil have been among the big drivers of deforestation. Throughout the whole region, small, poorly regulated artisanal mining, often for gold, brings settlers and destruction. In Bolivia, as in other places, the deforestation comes from a combination of factors, some illegal and some carried out by the book. The soy farming that is responsible for much of the deforestation, for instance, is driven by farmers and companies that buy up land as part of a policy that Bolivia's government has long encouraged. Much of the logging in Bolivia is also legal. Diego Pacheco, an adviser on environmental matters to Bolivia's Foreign Ministry, says the government wants to better regulate land use and find a way to both promote sustainable projects and protect the forest. Pacheco says a new forest policy is in", "Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is an ongoing ecological disaster, causing massive biodiversity loss and major carbon-dioxide emissions. But unfortunately, there are also strong economic incentives for rural Brazilians to hack down rain forest. Not only can they make money selling the timber, but they can then raise cattle and plant crops on the cleared land. But here's a question: Has all this deforestation produced any sort of sustained economic growth in Brazil's hinterlands? A recent paper in Science, based on a study of 286 Brazilian municipalities with varying histories of deforestation, has concluded that it has not. Areas that cut down their rainforest do see a short-term boost in per-capita income, life expectancy, and literacy rates. But once the trees are gone, those gains disappear, leaving deforested municipalities just as poor as those that preserved their forests. It's a stunning find. After all, shouldn't cleared rainforest land that's been converted to farming or ranching continue to produce income more or less indefinitely? As it turns out, no. Soil in the Amazon region is fairly poor and starts to decline in productivity after a few years of farming. This depletion of the soil is a major reason why per-capita income generally ends up dropping to pre-deforestation levels. So if deforestation in the Amazon is a lose-lose proposition in all but the most shortsighted of timeframes, what can be done to stop it? There's no shortage of proposals for forestry-based carbon offsets and other systems of paying people to leave the forest intact. But in order for these payment systems to work, it's necessary to determine who actually owns which parts of the forest in the first place. In Brazil, that's easier said than done. A recent Economist article cited a study finding that only 14 percent of private land in the Amazon is backed by a secured title. The rest of the privately controlled land in the region is either \"owned\" on the basis of fake documents or simply occupied by squatters. The Brazilian legislature recently passed a land-reform law that would attempt to bring some order to this free-for-all by granting formal titles to most of the current occupants of land in the Amazon, while returning the largest squatter-occupied parcels—those in excess of 1,500 hectares—to the government. Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is likely to sign the bill, though he plans on vetoing provisions that would allow corporations and foreigners to receive titles to Amazonian land. Environmental groups are divided on whether land reform is a good idea. On the one hand, it's difficult to regulate land use—or incentivize conservation—in the absence of clear land ownership. On the other hand, giving titles to squatters could encourage others to start squatting on remaining government land even deeper into the Amazon. The key to making land reform work will be figuring out how to keep these future squatters at bay. It won't be easy: As this New York Times article relates, the Brazilian environmental protection agency is almost comically understaffed for cracking down on illegal logging and settlement in an area as large as the Amazon. But until Brazil can get control of its forest frontier, the environmental devastation will continue, leaving nothing but the same old poverty in its wake.", "\"Hello, planet! Wake up! Without the Amazon, you can't breathe!\" protesters chanted Friday in Rio de Janeiro, as they filled the front steps of city hall carrying painted crosses traditionally seen at funerals. That night, they were mourning the rainforest. More than 30 protests took place across Brazil this weekend to voice outrage over fires burning through the Amazon. At another Rio protest on Sunday, thousands of demonstrators marched along Ipanema beach, chanting, \"The Amazon stays, out with Bolsonaro,\" a reference to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Protesters swarmed the main bus station in the capital city of Brasília, packed over six blocks of downtown São Paulo and filled plazas across the northern cities of Recife, Manaus and Belém. The mounting public uproar — including efforts at the G-7 summit in France to address a spike in Brazilian forest fires — pressured Bolsonaro to change his tone. After scoffing at his critics previously in the week and suggesting without evidence that environmental nongovernmental organizations could be setting the fires, the president gave a somber prime-time television address on Friday night pledging to combat fires and illegal deforestation. TV viewers banged pots and pans, a signal of discontent with the political leadership. \"Both internationally and domestically, it marked a low point for his presidency,\" said political scientist Karla Gobo of Brazil's Advanced School of Propaganda and Marketing. Inside Brazil, mobilization for the Amazon over the weekend included opposition politicians, who have called for a congressional investigation into the causes of the fires, as well as a wide array of student activists, health workers, lawyers and indigenous organizers. Leading chants at both Rio protests was Michael Oliveira, an indigenous Aruak man who came to live in Rio from the Amazonian city of Manaus. He spent several years living on the city's streets before becoming a schoolteacher. \"We are a nonpartisan, broad coalition of environmentalists,\" 23-year-old law student Luísa Daher said into the microphone at the Rio protest to cheers. \"We're just getting started.\" The number of fires in the Amazon so far this year is 35% higher than the historical average for the same period over the last eight years, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research. On Friday, Bolsonaro suggested that high temperatures this year are behind the increase in fires, but scientists say that this does not fully explain the problem. They point to deforestation, which is often carried out illegally and which removed over three times as much forest last month as in July 2018, according to preliminary data from the research institute. The 10 Amazon municipalities with the most fires this year are the same ones that have seen the most new deforestation, according to researchers from the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, who said in a technical note that the data represent \"a strong indicator of the intentional character of the fires: clearing recently deforested areas.\" Critics say the government has given a pass to farmers and loggers to slash and burn trees in the rainforest without seeking a required license. Bolsonaro pledged to roll back forest protections during his campaign, and since taking office, he has defunded and politically sidelined government oversight of the environment. If Bolsonaro's election last year suggested political weakness in Brazil's environmental movement, the new wave of protest for the Amazon shows that many Brazilians are desperate for political action to conserve the forest. \"Our goal is not to advance a certain political party but to build consciousness, be broad and be participatory,\" said Daher. \"We're listening to advice from veterans of environmental and indigenous movements.\" Several protesters said they admired the activism occurring in climate movements in other parts of the world. \"It's my role as a young person and as a Brazilian to show up too and put this issue on the political agenda,\" said political science student Cíntia Lucena, 20, who protested in Brasília. \"When the sky in São Paulo turned black from soot on Monday afternoon,\" said Henrique Bezerra, 35, a corporate consultant who was protesting in São Paulo on Friday, \"I think that scared the reality into a lot of people.\" Still, even with increased domestic and international pressure, conservation specialists warn that meaningful steps to better protect the Amazon will likely be difficult to achieve under Bolsonaro's administration. Bolsonaro appointed an environment minister convicted of illegally approving a mining project in a conservation area and a foreign minister who has described climate change as a Marxist plot. Brazil's environmental agency, its budget reduced, reported it has issued one-third fewer environmental fines so far in 2019 compared with the same period last year. Pledges of action Brazil's federal government has announced it will help fight fires", "An annual study released by the Brazilian government estimates that the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has increased by 29 percent over last year. That's the second year in a row that deforestation in the Amazon quickened; last year, the pace rose by about 24 percent. The estimated deforestation rate, released Tuesday by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), is based on satellite imagery. The institute found that from August 2015 to July 2016, the Amazon rainforest was deforested at an estimated rate of 7,989 square kilometers (more than 3,000 square miles). The year before, it was 6,207 square kilometers. Two years ago, it was barely over 5,000 square kilometers. INPE acknowledged the increase but noted that \"the current rate represents a decrease of 71%, when compared with 2004.\" That was the year the government implemented a policy designed to curb deforestation; from 2004-2007, the rate of deforestation dropped rapidly. But the rate now detected is the highest for any year since 2008. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro, who has reported on deforestation in the Amazon, called it a \"huge jump\" in the deforestation rate. The Brazilian newspaper Estadão reports that many observers had been prepared to see an increase in deforestation, but not one this high. Here's more from the newspaper, translated from Portuguese by NPR's Martin Kaste: \"Environmentalists working in the region had already been sounding the alarm, and in recent months the federal government had already been working on the assumption that the loss of forest would increase above the average of the last years, which has been below 6,000 km^2. But this number came as a surprise. ... \"The policy director of Greenpeace, Marcio Astrini, says among the causes of the increased deforestation were actions taken by the federal government between 2012 and 2015, such as the waiving of fines for illegal deforestation, the abandonment of protected areas — that is, 'conservation units' and indigenous lands — and the announcement, which he calls 'shameful,' that the government doesn't plan to completely stop illegal deforestation until the year 2030.\" Estadão also notes that the rise in deforestation is raising concerns about Brazil's ability to meet its commitments as part of the international Paris Agreement on combating climate change. Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change, and Brazil's success in reducing deforestation from 2004 to 2014 was seen as a model for other developing countries, Estadão writes. Also on Tuesday, Reuters reported that a lack of funding has hampered the organization that's tasked with stopping illegal logging efforts. The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, or Ibama, has struggled with budget cuts as Brazil grapples with a recession, Reuters writes: \"Hampered by poor radios with a maximum range of just 2 km (1.3 miles) and pick-up trucks easily recognised by those who cut down the forest, the exhausted Ibama agents were too often chasing shadows. \" 'The loggers are better equipped than we are,' said Uiratan Barroso, Ibama's head of law enforcement in the state capital, Santarem. 'Until we have the money to rent unmarked cars and buy proper radios we won't be able to work.' ... \"A 30 percent cut in Ibama's budget has meant fewer operations this year. Helicopters and jeeps have been idle due to a lack of fuel. \" 'We haven't even had enough money to pay for aptitude tests to allow our agents to carry guns,' said Barroso, adding the tests only cost 200 reais ($60).\"", "Picture, for a second, just how vast New York City is. All told, including Staten Island, the Bronx and every block in between, the massive metropolis takes up more than 300 square miles. Now, try to picture a hunk of land more than 12 times that size. That's about how much of the Amazon rainforest was destroyed in just the span of a year, according to Brazilian authorities. The country's National Institute for Space Research, or INPE, released data Monday revealing that 3,769 square miles of rainforest were lost to deforestation in a 12-month period ending in July. That marks the highest rate of deforestation since 2008 — and a nearly 30% spike over the rate recorded by INPE during the previous yearlong span. At a news briefing Monday, Brazil's environmental minister, Ricardo Salles, vouched for the accuracy of the stark numbers and said authorities are considering new ways to combat the illegal logging and mining operations that he blamed for the rising tide of destruction. Those comments are unlikely to inspire confidence among critics of Salles or his boss, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has not yet commented publicly on the new set of numbers. Since the right-wing politician took office at the start of this year, his administration has slashed budgets and sidelined staff at the environmental regulatory agencies responsible for targeting illegal logging and ranching in the rainforest. Bolsonaro has labeled these regulations impediments to Brazil's economic growth. But critics have pilloried these policies as a principal cause of the soaring deforestation rates recently. That criticism only grew louder over the summer, when a series of major fires ravaged large swaths of the Amazon and attracted international concern. By late August, researchers had already seen an 80% leap over last year in the number of wildfires that had erupted across the country. Bolsonaro, a climate skeptic, has repeatedly cast doubt on the numbers put forth by the INPE, and earlier this year he fired the agency's director, Ricardo Magnus Osório Galvão. The erstwhile agency leader told local media he was dismissed for questioning how the Brazilian president was using INPE's data. Disputes over the government's environmental policies have also erupted between Bolsonaro and other world leaders, some of whom — including French President Emmanuel Macron — offered Brazil at least $22 million to help fight the wildfires. Bolsonaro angrily rebuffed that offer, demanding a personal apology from Macron as the condition for him even considering it. \"President Bolsonaro's anti-environmental agenda favours those who practice environmental crimes, and encourages violence against forest people,\" Cristiane Mazzetti of Greenpeace said in a statement released Monday. \"His administration is trashing practically all the work that has been done in recent decades to protect the environment and end deforestation.\" Brazil's Climate Observatory, a network of environmental advocacy organizations including Greenpeace, said the data INPE released Monday don't just represent the highest rate of deforestation in Brazil in 11 years; the network says these numbers also mark the third-highest ever on record. \"The question that remains,\" said Carlos Rittl, the Climate Observatory's executive secretary, \"is how long Brazil's trading partners will trust the promises of sustainability and compliance with the Paris Agreement, as forests fall, indigenous leaders are killed and environmental laws are shattered.\" At his briefing Monday, Salles, the environmental minister, pledged to seek solutions at an upcoming meeting with leaders of local governments.", "Fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest are proliferating at an alarming rate. That's the gist of an announcement this week by the country's National Institute for Space Research, or INPE. According to the agency, there have been 74,155 fires in Brazil so far this year — most of which erupted in the Amazon. That represents an astonishing leap of more than 80% over last year and by far the most that the agency has recorded since it began compiling this data in 2013. About half those fires, or nearly 36,000 of them, have ignited in just the past month. That's nearly as many as in all of 2018. Smoke from the fires has darkened the skies over major Brazilian cities, such as São Paulo. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has signaled unconcern about the situation. The far-right leader, who took office in January, has repeatedly lambasted Brazil's environmental regulations as an impediment to economic development, and under his tenure environmental agencies have seen diminished staff and funding. That includes INPE itself, whose leader, Ricardo Magnus Osório Galvão, was canned this month because — according to Galvão — he questioned how Bolsonaro was using his agency's data. Asked about the fires by local media, Bolsonaro baselessly suggested that nongovernmental organizations have been setting the fires themselves as retaliation for the scaling back of Brazil's usual funding support for them. He posited that these groups are trying to increase international pressure on his government — but when reporters pressed him on the point, he didn't name any specific NGOs or offer any proof for his assertion. \"So, there could be ... I'm not affirming it, criminal action by these 'NGOers' to call attention against my person, against the government of Brazil. This is the war that we are facing,\" he said Wednesday in a Facebook Live video, according to a translation by the BBC. He added that his government is \"not insensitive\" to the fires and that his government may look into measures to combat them. In a tweet Tuesday, Brazil's environment minister, Ricardo Salles, attributed the fires to \"dry weather, wind and heat\" and said federal officials and equipment are available to help and \"already in use.\" But a lot of deforestation has less to do with natural factors and more to do with human activities. INPE says the amount of land that was deforested last month alone represented a nearly 300% surge over deforestation in June 2018. As NPR reported in 2015, deforestation such as this is often tied to subsistence farming and ranching, which uses more than two-thirds of Brazil's deforested land — and which has tripled the number of cattle in the country in the past three decades. \"We estimate that the forest areas in the Brazilian Amazon have decreased something between 20 and 30% compared to the last 12 months,\" Carlos Nobre, a researcher at the University of São Paulo, told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. Fluvio Mascarenhas, who works at a government agency called the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, told NPR's Philip Reeves that operations that the agency usually carries out against illegal loggers and ranchers have been drastically scaled back this year. And that, he says, together with Bolsonaro's comments, only encourages further illegal activity in the rainforest. And that has him afraid. \"Every time you look at a satellite image of the forest,\" he tells Reeves, \"you see another little piece missing.\"", "Updated at 8:05 p.m. ET Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has responded to growing international condemnation over the fires sweeping through vast swaths of the Amazon rainforest by announcing that the army may be sent in to tackle them. He said Friday that protecting the rainforest is \"our duty\" and he is acting to combat \"criminal activities.\" His comments mark a distinct shift away from his initial reaction to the crisis in which he downplayed the gravity of the situation but also caused widespread astonishment by suggesting that nongovernmental organizations may have set fires in the forest to discredit him. Faced with a spiraling environmental and political disaster, Bolsonaro met with his ministers Friday to discuss the fires, after government data revealed that there are far more of them within the forest this year than last. Environmental and climate change experts say there is abundant evidence that the fires are mostly caused by humans — notably cattle ranchers — and that these illegal operators are being encouraged to clear land by the policies of Bolsonaro, who is eager for Brazil to exploit the Amazon's agricultural and mineral wealth. Brazilians are gearing up for a weekend of protests in dozens of cities, highlighting the destruction being wrought in the rainforest and demanding that Bolsonaro's government takes decisive action to curb the fires. Satellite data from Brazil's National Institute of Space Research shows that there have been more than 74,000 fires this year, many of them in the Amazon. The demonstrations are \"in defense of the Amazon and our future,\" according to organizers. Over the past few days, international pressure has been steadily growing on Bolsonaro over his handling of the issue, especially from European leaders. A spokesman for Britain's newly installed prime minister, Boris Johnson, said he was \"deeply concerned\" about the fires and \"the impact of the tragic loss of these precious habitats.\" French President Emmanuel Macron plans to highlight the Amazon crisis at this weekend's G-7 summit in Biarritz, France, after sending out a tweet describing them as \"an international crisis\" and declaring: \"Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest — the lungs which produces 20% of the planet's oxygen — is on fire.\" Macron raised the pressure on Brazil on Friday, issuing a statement accusing Bolsonaro of lying to him about his position on climate change and announcing that France has withdrawn its support for the Mercosur trade deal between the European Union and a South American bloc that includes Brazil. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar warned that Ireland would pull out of the Mercosur agreement if Brazil did not take action to protect the rainforest, according to Reuters. Bolsonaro has made clear that he considers the Amazon rainforest — 60% of which is in Brazil — to be an issue of national sovereignty, and he makes no secret of his resentment at what he deems to be foreign interference driven by a desire to hold back Brazilian agrobusiness from competing in international markets. In recent weeks, he has alienated Germany and Norway, the two main contributors to the Amazon Fund, which supports forest preservation initiatives, prompting them to withhold tens of millions of dollars. His approach has won applause from his supporters on the far right, but is also causing widespread fears among Brazilians that it is proving highly damaging to the country's international standing and may prompt a backlash that could impact exports. \"The image of the burning forest ignites public opinion and incinerates Brazil's reputation,\" wrote Ana Lucia Azevedo, a columnist for O Globo. She warns that the crisis is wrecking \"the prestige and credibility\" acquired by Brazil after 2005, when deforestation rates dipped sharply. Another commentator, Vinicius Torrer Freire, wrote: \"Within a few months, especially in recent weeks, he has knocked down two decades of improvements in Brazil's international image regarding the environment.\" Bolsonaro argues that it is possible simultaneously to develop the Amazon and preserve the forest. His critics point to his record of relentlessly undermining institutions responsible for preserving and monitoring the Amazon. Since taking office in January, he has severely weakened government environmental enforcement organizations, by cutting budgets and laying off staff. When Brazil's National Institute of Space Research released satellite data showing a sharp month-on-month rise in deforestation over last year, Bolsonaro dismissed this as \"lies\" and replaced the director with a military official. His approach is causing deep concern among professionals fighting to protect the forest, who argue that these moves send the wrong message to illegal deforesters. \"They feel emboldened to carry out more deforestation,\" said Fluvio Mascarenhas, who works for the Chico Mendes Institute for the Conversation of Biodiversity — a government monitoring agen", "Brazil isn't lying to the world about how bad deforestation is in the Amazon. But it is, according to the very people employed by the government to protect the rain forest, \"misleading\" the international community. According to the government figures, the rate of deforestation is down dramatically over the past decade. And there's a general consensus this is true. But critics say the numbers don't tell the whole story because so much of the Amazon has already been damaged or destroyed. And the country is still losing about 2,000 square miles of jungle each year. The problem is that Brazil's Amazon region has a dual identity. On one hand, it is sovereign Brazilian territory. On the other, the world claims it as something vital for all of humanity. The Brazilian government is caught in the middle. It needs to develop the economy in a country where many still live in poverty. Much of that growth comes from soy and cattle ranching — activities that directly lead to the cutting of trees. But Brazil's government also needs to satisfy the international community that it is a good steward of the environment. Many governments around the world actually pay for Brazil to do that — Norway, for example, has given Brazil $1 billion to protect the rain forest. Our time with the environmental police demonstrated how difficult protecting the rain forest is when there are so many competing interests. Trees were burning all around us. The heat was too intense to continue. And the authorities say they are greatly outnumbered by illegal loggers, farmers and others who are tearing down the jungle. Some news reports will show flashy raids by helicopter on illegal logging camps deep in the forest. You won't hear about that below. In Rondonia, a small Amazonian state in western Brazil, the environmental police just had their only helicopter taken away in budget cuts. The people on the ground tell us that deforestation is \"out of control.\" Listen to the story. RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: Here's what we know about the Amazon rainforest. It's huge, and it's disappearing. Every year, in Brazil alone, jungle, about 2,000 square miles of jungle, is being lost. NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro recently spent time there. This morning, she tackles this question. How do you stop deforestation? LOURDES GARCIA-NAVARRO, BYLINE: To figure that out, we embedded with the people tasked with protecting the forest. We were driving in a convoy in a federal forest reserve in the Brazilian state of Rondonia. But instead of thick jungle... The smoke is so thick. The trees were burning all around us. We had to turn around because it was too hot to continue. We stopped next to a huge swath of land that was scorched black. The trees had been cut and stacked up in piles like a dozen funeral pyres. This group of environmental police and federal agents is supposed to stop something like this from taking place. MARK JAMES: (Speaking Portuguese). GARCIA-NAVARRO: One of the officers, Mark James, walked over and pointed at the blaze. I'm interpreting what he tells me in Portuguese. JAMES: (Speaking Portuguese). GARCIA-NAVARRO: \"Look at those trees there. Some of those are Brazil nut trees. They're valuable, and they just cut them down and burn them as if they were nothing.\" James told us they just don't have enough staff. There should be 560 cops working on environmental protection in the state. They only have 170. IBAMA, the federal agency that's tasked with stopping deforestation, just lost its only helicopter in the state in budget cuts. James said he's frustrated. So I asked him a question. JAMES: (Speaking Portuguese). GARCIA-NAVARRO: I asked him if he thought that the outside world really understood what was happening here, and he said, no, because if they really knew what was happening here, they wouldn't stand for it. Deforestation here is out of control. There is one big reason the world doesn't know the reality of how damaged the rainforest really is. Here's Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, speaking during a meeting in Brasilia with Germany's chancellor this year. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) DILMA ROUSSEFF: (Through interpreter) We have made a huge effort, and we have reduced by 83 percent illegal deforestation in the Amazon. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So this is the narrative in Brazil. Politicians, even heads of certain environmental NGOs, will say Brazil has done an amazing job curbing deforestation. If you just look at the last 10 years, they'll say, deforestation in Brazil has gone down some 80 percent, 80 percent, which is indeed amazing and true. But that's not the whole story. To understand what those numbers really mean, we went to the Brazilian Ministry of Defense's Amazon monitoring body in Rondonia. It's called SIPAM, and they get satellite information in real time, showing what's happening on the ground regarding deforestation and forest fires. The satellite's going over right now. Almost every room has these large screens showing streams from different", "Global trade practices are increasing the pressure on tropical forests, a major storehouse of the carbon that contributes to global warming. In Brazil, a fast-growing soybean industry is fueled by demand from Europe and China. But foreign consumers are also putting pressure on Brazilian farmers to stop clearing forests. MICHELE NORRIS, host: One of the big worries among scientists talking about climate change is the fate of the world's tropical forests. They're among the biggest storehouses of carbon on the planet. And when the forests are cleared, that carbon goes up into the atmosphere where it warms the climate. NPR's Christopher Joyce reports that in Brazil's Amazon Forest, some of that clearing is driven by the world soybean trade. CHRISTOPHER JOYCE: Any modern-day epic of life in the Amazon would have to feature the sound of chainsaws as its theme song. (Soundbite of chainsaw buzzing) JOYCE: They're as common here in the state of Mato Grosso as dust devils and pickup trucks. (Soundbite of tractor engine) JOYCE: But the chainsaw is giving way to new invaders, tractors and combines, the instruments of the soybean revolution. Brazil is on track to become the world's leading soy exporter. Among the biggest growers is a Brazilian company called Grupo Maggi. The company has a reputation. Greenpeace awarded it a golden chainsaw recently for cutting down so much forest. The company's environmental director, Josemir de Vela(ph) says they got the message. Mr. JOSEMIR DE VELA (Environmental Director, Grupo Maggi): (Speaking in foreign language) JOYCE: Grupo Maggi is a family-owned company and we really know how to raise soybeans. But if we don't worry about the future quality of the climate and the water and environmental sustainability, we won't be able to produce soy in the future. In fact, the company now observes a temporary moratorium on cutting down more forest. And here's why. De Vela says foreign consumers don't like deforestation. Mr. DE VELA: (Speaking in foreign language) JOYCE: World consumers, especially from Europe, are paying the premium for our products so long as they know those products are from agriculture that conserve the environment and provides a fair social system. And Brazil has worked hard to cater to those foreign consumers. For example, in the European Union, buyers prefer Brazilian soy because it's not genetically modified. And Brazil has cultivated the Chinese market, too. Wealthier consumers there want more pork and poultry grown on feed from Amazonian soybeans. Conservation scientist Claudia Stickler of the University of Florida calls this international influence over the Amazon, teleconnections. Dr. CLAUDIA STICKLER (Conservation Scientist, University of Florida): China and the E.U. and a number of other emerging industrializing countries have basically adopted Brazil as their bread basket. They don't have the capacity for a number of reasons to produce that kind of volume of food on their own, and so they're looking to countries like Brazil to do it for them. JOYCE: Conservation scientists say to protect the climate, Brazil must protect the Amazon from these teleconnections. Here in Mato Grosso, Dan Nepstad of the Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts visits forests owned by soy growers and advises them to cut less by getting more out of land that's already been cleared. But he agrees that the world economy has numerous tentacles. Take the ethanol-fuel boom in the U.S. that's driving up the price of North American corn. Dr. DAN NEPSTAD (Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Research Center): The price of corn affects this forest right here. Because as we put a premium on ethanol, what we're doing is driving up the price for corn, displacing soybean in the United States. And that translates into changes in the way farmers in South America think. JOYCE: As North American farmers plant less soy, South American farmers clear more of the Amazon to fill the demand. Dr. NEPSTAD: We're moving into a world where there's growing demand for that land in the Earth's surface that can be mechanically cultivated, that can be plowed and put into crops. JOYCE: Brazil has had some success lately reducing the rate of deforestation. Brazilian officials say they've locked up a lot of illegal loggers and land grabbers who burn land. But conservationists say the demands and requirements of consumers worldwide are what may determine the fate of the Amazon's forests. Christopher Joyce, NPR News. NORRIS: And you can see a photo essay on Amazon Forest and get the latest Climate Connection stories from National Geographic magazine at our Web site, npr.org.", "An update on rainforest destruction in Brazil's Amazon region. Are international efforts to rein in deforestation in the region successful? Guest: William Laurance, staff scientist, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. President-elect, Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation in Balboa, Panama. IRA FLATOW, host: You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION/SCIENCE FRIDAY. I'm Ira Flatow. Up next this hour, a story, as I say, that we regularly revisit, and that is the state of the Amazon rain forests. How much more of the rain forest is being chopped or burned down? Last year when we checked, the news wasn't good. Over six million acres gone in 2003. To give you an idea, that's about the size of Massachusetts. And now the latest figures are in, and the picture is even worse. We're up to 6 1/2 million acres lost in 2004. And according to a story in the LA Times this week, the Amazon is now a major source of world air pollution. The burning of the forest releases hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the skies each year, and according to the Times, that makes Brazil one of the world's leading producers of greenhouse gases. So instead of soaking up carbon dioxide in all those trees, the Amazon has gone from becoming the world's lungs to the world's ash tray. Joining us now to talk more about what is happening in the Amazon is my guest, William Laurance. He's staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. He's also president-elect of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation. He joins us from Panama. Welcome back to SCIENCE FRIDAY, Dr. Laurance. Dr. WILLIAM LAURANCE (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute): Thanks, Ira. FLATOW: Give us the bad news first. How much of the Amazon did we lose? I said--What?--six and a half million acres. Dr. LAURANCE: Yeah. That's about right. It looks like we're probably looking at the last three years being probably the worst three consecutive years of deforestation that--in the history of the Amazon, or certainly going back to 1988 when they started taking annual estimates of deforestation. So as you mentioned earlier on, going back to the early 1990s, we were losing about 3 1/2 million acres of forest a year in the Brazilian Amazon. That went up to about 4 1/2 million acres a year in the late 1990s and the early part of this millennium. And then the last three years, about 6 1/2 million acres per year. So just in intuitive terms, that's going from about five football fields a minute in the early 1990s to about seven football fields a minute in the late 1990s to about 10 football fields a minute in the last three years. So it's not a very good picture at all. FLATOW: How could this drop off the radar screen? Dr. LAURANCE: Well, I don't think it's completely dropped off the radar screen. It's just that--I mean, the story does sort of reappear now and then, and, you know, it's one of those things that just sort of is continuing on over time, and I think that we certainly do--I mean, it's obviously a positive thing to try to raise this on the radar screen and get people thinking about it more. FLATOW: And what is driving this destruction? Is it the attempt to build more acreage for crop growing? Dr. LAURANCE: Well, it's a combination of factors. I think, you know, actually, the Lula administration in Brazil has been perplexed, to some degree, by these increases in deforestation. To some degree, I mean, that administration has focused a lot on poverty alleviation, and they have done some positive things for the environment. They've increased the staffing of their National Environment Agency, and I think the director of that agency, Marina Silva, is good. But in a more reactive way, they've set up some new reserves. They've allocated some new funds for monitoring and enforcement in the Amazon. They've also tried to crack down on corruption. But I think that these have been more reactive than proactive in the sense of reacting to things like the increasing deforestation and also the very tragic murder of the American nun, Dorothy Stang, the 74-year-old nun who was an environmentalist and an Amerindian activist in the Amazon. So I don't think so far, there's been--unfortunately there's been nearly enough attention being paid to addressing what I'd call the fundamental root causes of deforestation. One of the most important of these is the massive increase in highways, in railroads, and river channelization projects and hydroelectric dams, and other kinds of infrastructure within the Amazon. We're just talking about the--it looks like", "Portions of the Amazon rainforest are now releasing more carbon dioxide than they absorb, disrupting an important balancing act that signals a worsening of the climate crisis, according to a new study. Findings from the nearly decade-long research project, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, suggest that deforestation and fire, among other factors, have dramatically undercut the Amazon's ability to absorb heat-trapping carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Researchers who routinely tested the atmosphere at four areas in Amazonia twice a month over a nine-year period found that not only are carbon emissions higher in the eastern areas of the rainforest than in the western areas, but that the southeastern area is putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than it absorbs. The eastern Amazon is a hotspot of deforestation to facilitate logging and agriculture, including cattle ranches. In addition to deforestation and fires, the study says the rise in emissions from the Amazon has been accelerated by warming temperatures and \"moisture stress\" during the dry season. The eastern areas have less moisture than the west during already-difficult dry periods, which now have become drier and have lasted longer due to climate change. The Amazon may no longer be a reliable carbon sink For generations, Amazonia, which spans more than two million square miles, was a reliable carbon sink, meaning that it naturally absorbed high levels of carbon dioxide from the air, and it played an important role in keeping the global environment stable. However, in recent decades, humans have increasingly contributed to the degradation of the Amazon, upsetting a crucial natural balance. Of the 17% of forest reduction that occurred over the last 50 years, about 14% of that loss to the agricultural industry, which has burned the land and used it for crops and livestock, the report states. Burning the rainforest to make room for crops or livestock can pose dangers for the climate, even decades after those fires occur. Research shows that areas that were burned as long ago as 30 years back — and the accompanying decomposing trees — were still considerable sources of carbon dioxide. Past fires and other factors like logging can also degrade nearby areas that were previously untouched and make those areas more susceptible to burning, according to the study. The report confirms scientists' worse fears What's happening now is a domino effect of destruction, one that scientists say needs to be curbed — sooner rather than later. \"The Amazon is a carbon source. No doubt,\" Luciana Gatti, a researcher at Brazil's National Institute for Space Research who led the study, said in an interview with environmental news site Mongabay. \"By now we can say that the budget for the Amazon is 0.3 billion tons of carbon per year [released] into the atmosphere. It's a horrible message.\" Gatti said that were it not for the emissions from man-made fires, the southeastern part of the Amazon could have continued to be a \"carbon sink,\" meaning it absorbs more CO2 than it lets out. The region is now at a \"tipping point,\" Gatti said. But when faced with the question of whether these disastrous effects could be reversed if we started now, she answered, \"I don't know.\" Brazil's president has faced criticism for deforestation Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been criticized for years for his environmental policies and aggressive deforestation of the Amazon. But in 2019 he described troubling deforestation data as \"lies.\" \"You have to understand that the Amazon is Brazil's, not yours,\" Bolsonaro said, according to The Guardian. \"If all this devastation you accuse us of doing was done in the past the Amazon would have stopped existing, it would be a big desert.\" The following year, deforestation numbers in the region were the highest they'd been in 12 years.", "As you walk into the office of Brazilian Sen. Ivo Cassol, there is a giant picture of him on the side of the door. A Bible sits on his office coffee table and pictures of his family adorn the walls. He's charming, with a wide, toothy smile and a firm handshake. \"Darling,\" he calls me. Why are we meeting Ivo Cassol? He sits on the Senate's environmental committee. That committee will have a say in any deal reached at the international climate control talks in Paris, where representatives of almost every country in the world are meeting at the end of this month to try to hammer out an agreement on climate change. Already, 146 countries have submitted their targets to reduce carbon emissions. That includes Brazil. It may seem strange, but the opinion of one politician from one small Brazilian state in the Amazon matters. That state is called Rondonia, and it's in western Brazil. It's one of the areas that have been most damaged by deforestation. Cassol has the dubious distinction of being called one of the Amazon's \"founding fathers of deforestation.\" To see what that deforestation looks like from the air, I take a flight in a tiny, twin-engine plane. As we soar over the northern part of the state, the forest is patchy. Swaths of green jungle are surrounded by cattle ranches and farms. Trucks laden with freshly cut logs feed massive sawmills. Rondonia was once covered almost entirely by the Amazon rain forest, but now it looks like the agricultural state it has become. And there is something else you can see from above. The buildings of Rondonia's state legislature form the letters \"IC.\" Back when Cassol was a two-term governor, he used public money to build those offices in the shape of his initials. And that says a lot about the man, according to those who know him. \"When he talks to the public, he holds a hat. And [wears] very common clothes to make him look like a normal person,\" says Gudemberg de Oliveira, who works at the prosecutor's office in Rondonia. He explains that Rondonia is the newest state in Brazil, established in the 1980s. People moved here from other parts of country to make their fortunes. And many, like Cassol, who comes from the coastal state of Santa Catarina, did just that in cattle ranching and logging. This has made Cassol one of the wealthiest men in the Senate. But, says de Oliveira, \"He speaks in the 'wrong' way, so people can see him as a person of the people, and he does that intentionally and people say, 'Wow, this guy really represents me.' \" Cassol settled in Rolim de Moura, which is cattle country. He started his political career here, becoming the mayor. In the town square, a group of older men, wearing cowboy boots and baseball caps, sits in the shade listening to sertaneja, the music of Brazil's countryside. They know Cassol personally. They speak over one another to sing his praises. He built roads. He changed the state. If he ever runs again, he'd win in a heartbeat, they say. But according to Brazil's Supreme Court and the prosecutor general, Cassol is also a criminal. He was found guilty of fraud, though he's appealing his almost five-year prison sentence on technical grounds. According to the indictment, Cassol gave government contracts to associates, friends and family members when he was mayor. But to the many people here, it doesn't matter. He's a champion who fought for their interests. And those interests often clash with preserving the rain forest. \"Unfortunately, all our politicians, just like Ivo Cassol, make their money from logging, from cattle ranching. They all own land,\" says Herminio Coelho, one of the few opposition politicians in the state legislature. Coelho, who belongs to a leftist party, is pretty plainspoken. He calls the local assembly to which he belongs \"a whorehouse.\" \"Our assembly is a criminal enterprise. No one is interested in helping the environment and if it was up to the state assembly, there wouldn't be a single tree left in Rondonia,\" he says. The situation in Rondonia is not unique. Brazil is an agricultural powerhouse, one of the breadbaskets of the world. One of the few bright spots in its struggling economy right now is agricultural exports like meat and soy. These products require large tracts of land and lead to greater deforestation. Cassol is part of the large and powerful rural caucus in the National Congress, which has its own ideas about any deal Brazil makes with the outside world. The capital, Brasilia, was a city built from scratch to be the center of government. And its striking architecture, the work of Oscar Niemeyer, is designed to show man's dominance over the land. There are wide concrete esplanades — and not a tree in sight. Cassol's office is perched above it all. When we sit down to talk, I tell him that he seems to have a lot of support in Rondonia. \"I am actually grateful for the recognition of society, the people of my state. I always say the following: When you plant a good seed, you reap up good fruits,\" ", "Environmentalists in Brazil are mourning the death of a leading expert on uncontacted tribes in the Amazon, who was killed by an arrow that struck him in the chest. Friends of Rieli Franciscato say he died inside the rainforest while on a mission to shield an isolated indigenous group from a possible hostile encounter with outsiders. It happened on the edge of the Uru Eu Wau Wau reservation in the western Brazilian state of Rondônia, an area in which the forest has suffered heavily from invasions by illegal loggers and miners, and also from ranchers setting fires to clear land. The killing prompted speculation that Franciscato was shot by the uncontacted group after being mistaken for an invader. His death, on Wednesday, was witnessed by a policeman, Paulo Ricardo Bressa, whom Franciscato had asked to accompany him on his expedition into the area. Bressa says that Franciscato climbed a hill to see if he could verify whether isolated tribal people were moving through the area. \"We heard the noise of an arrow that hit his chest. He let out a cry, pulled out the arrow, and came running back. He managed to run 50 to 60 meters and then he collapsed, lifeless,\" said Bressa, in an audio message posted by Brazilian media. Franciscato, 56, spent his career working for the Brazilian government's indigenous affairs agency, Funai, and earned a reputation as a tireless defender of isolated indigenous groups and their forest lands. Survival International, an organization that campaigns for tribal peoples' rights, described his death as a \"tragic and immeasurable loss.\" \"He refused to accept the violent greed destroying the Amazon rainforest and its best guardians,\" it said, \"He worked tirelessly to protect the lands of uncontacted tribes from outsiders. \"He dedicated his life to it, working on the front line to combat the illegal invasions by loggers, ranchers and miners who threaten to wipe out the most vulnerable peoples on the planet.\" Franciscato's death is reinforcing concern among forest protectors about the policies pursued by Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro, who advocates the integration of the indigenous into broader Brazilian society and wants to exploit the Amazon's natural resources. They accuse Bolsonaro of fueling violence in the Amazon region by cutting back government environmental protection agencies, and emboldening groups intent on invading indigenous lands. As evidence, environmental activists point to the number of fires now burning within the Brazilian Amazon. In the first nine days of this month, satellites used by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research detected 12,412 fires — more than double the number during the same period last year. Many of these are set by illegal ranchers clearing already deforested land.", "For years, environmentalists have accused Brazil of putting development ahead of the environment. Unrestrained deforestation, they say, made Brazil a major producer of greenhouse gases. But in one town, farmers are now replanting native vegetation in a new initiative that could become a model for the rest of the country. Darci Eichelt cleared and plowed as much land as he could when he first arrived in Lucas do Rio Verde in central Mato Grosso state more than 20 years ago. Now, a sea of soybeans covers his 6,000 acres, as in all the surrounding farms in Lucas. Eichelt says people like him are proud of being pioneers who built a tiny outpost in the middle of an oven-hot mosaic of savannas and forests. Today, Lucas is a far different place, one that's a lot like Iowa. The town is filled with mom-and-pop stores, grain silos and a dealership selling John Deere and Casey tractors. The fields beyond are plowed with cash crops as far as the eye can see. It's one of the most prosperous farm towns in a big, booming country. It's also the epicenter of what could be an environmental revolution. Reviving The 'Forest Code' On a recent day, Eichelt walks to the edge of his farm, toward a clump of trees. They are trees he is now planting, where he could be growing soybeans. In fact, Eichelt is setting aside one-third of his farm for native vegetation. \"Can you imagine all this in 10 years? It's going to be beautiful. All these trees growing, and fruits and seeds will turn into a very attractive place for birds,\" he says. Eichelt is one of 670 farmers in Lucas who are starting to observe a decades-old environmental law as part of new government efforts to stem deforestation. It calls on farmers in regions like this to set aside up to 35 percent of their farms for native plant species. The initiative in Lucas has an innovative component, since much of the land was cleared for farming years ago. Farmers can compensate for deforestation by paying to protect pockets of wilderness located miles from their farms. Lucas' environmental secretary unfurls a satellite map showing farms and forests around the town. Luciane Bertinatto Copetti says that unless they comply, farmers could face economic sanctions. Those farmers know all too well that Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland Co. now require that the products they buy from local farmers be certified as environmentally friendly. Those American exporters — and other big agricultural companies that are heavily invested in Brazil — had been pressured themselves to enact such a policy. Bertinatto Copetti says the Brazilian state is also more aggressively enforcing the law. \"I know each one of the owners, and we've adopted a system. Instead of punishing them, we help them to get on the legal side and comply,\" she says. That entails meeting one on one with each farmer and discussing how best to meet the so-called forest code. \"Nobody wants to have problems with the environment. And we have a cast of farmers who want to solve their problems and sleep soundly at night,\" Bertinatto Copetti says. More Signs Of Progress Against Deforestation The program in Lucas may seem like a small step in a country as big as Brazil, which remains one of the world's biggest producers of greenhouse gases. Deforestation releases carbon emissions through the fires used to clear forests. The loss of habitat also means fewer trees to absorb carbon dioxide. New highways continue to go through the Amazon, and Brazil is building dams in pristine rainforests. But some environmentalists see hope. David Cleary of The Nature Conservancy is working with farmers in Lucas on the environmental initiative. He is also watching to see what Brazil's government announces at the global warming conference in Copenhagen. \"Brazil, it seems, is likely to go to Copenhagen with really quite impressive commitments in getting deforestation down. Indeed in the last few years, deforestation levels have fallen in the Amazon quite dramatically,\" Cleary says. In the late 1990s, a swath of forest the size of Maryland was deforested annually in Brazil. Now, it's a little more than half as much, according to the government. Brazil is also pledging to reduce gas emissions by up to 39 percent from the levels projected for 2020. \"I think what they are moving towards is essentially a no-deforestation position by 2030,\" says Cleary. \"The projections that I have seen by the Ministry of Environment do those sorts of commitments. It's way, way beyond any commitment that Brazil has made in deforestation before.\" Duty To Restore Nature Less than 30 years ago, though, Brazil wanted to develop the area around Lucas fast. Settlers came for cheap land, and families scraped by, some of them living in tents. Now, immaculate public schools boast big swimming pools. The streets are paved, as wide as the ones in the American Midwest. Booming business is attracting 400 new residents a month. Many of them move into new homes, bought with cheap government loans.", "High in the Andean mountains, in the tiny community of Munapata, it's easy to miss a marker for one of the largest infrastructure projects in Peru's history. At the corner of an inauspicious turnoff onto a narrow road lined by a few simple houses sits a signpost reading: \"Welcome to the Interoceanic Highway South. Sao Paolo, Brazil 4601 kilometers.\" The sign marks the beginning of a stretch of road that, when completed, will provide the final link to a highway that will stretch from Brazil's Atlantic coast to Peru's Pacific ports. The project recalls the 19th-century American notion of Manifest Destiny — the idea that U.S. expansion across North America was ordained, pre-determined and inescapable, says Bruce Babbitt, former secretary of the interior during the Clinton administration. \"Manifest Destiny said we will cross the continent on the way to China because we cannot be a complete nation until we straddle two oceans and face out into the Pacific,\" he says. Babbitt was part of a small group of conservationists and journalists who recently took a fact-finding trip down the Peruvian portion of the highway. The road will bring goods, work and other opportunities to those living in Peru's remote Andean communities. But it also is fueling concern among conservationists anxious over the potential impact on Peru's Amazon rainforest, one of the most biodiverse places in the world. Brazil's Cautionary Tale Babbitt says the highway construction is being promoted and partly financed by Brazil — the regional economic superpower — \"to finally reach the dream of three centuries, which is that even if there is not a Brazilian flag, at least there will be a Brazilian economy on the shores of the Pacific.\" The highway is part of a massive infrastructure pact between Brazil and Peru. Along with the road and two others that are now being paved linking the two countries, Brazil has agreed to finance five massive dams in Peru. They will be used almost exclusively to satisfy Brazil's growing energy needs. Conservationists are concerned about how these projects will affect the Peruvian Amazon, says Babbitt, now chairman of the World Wildlife Fund in the U.S. Peru's Amazon is the \"greatest source of untrammeled wilderness and biodiversity and extraordinary geological and cultural tectonic reality in this whole planet,\" Babbitt says. He adds that what happened to Brazil's Amazon in recent decades is a cautionary tale. Brazil built its trans-Amazonian highway in the 1970s. The goal was to integrate the remote and poor Amazon region with the rest of the country. An unintentional consequence: It opened up large tracts of pristine jungle to exploitation by farmers, ranchers and loggers, leading to almost unchecked deforestation. Already, the Interoceanic Highway has made it easier for the expansion of illegal gold mining. Gold prices are at record levels, and the possibility of striking it rich has drawn hundreds of impoverished Peruvians into the jungle lowlands in search of a livelihood panning for alluvial gold — the type of tiny deposits found in the soil of riverbeds. Road Brings Prosperity In Munapata, the highway project is welcomed by locals who believe the road is carrying benefits to the town. Shopkeeper Justina Yupanqui says the road means prosperity. She opened her small store over the summer and primarily sells drinks and snacks to passing drivers. Further east along the highway, the Interoceanic cuts through the dramatic, breathtaking scenery of the Andes Mountains, with its snowcapped peaks and deep ravines powdered with clouds. Most of the road work in this area is completed. As the road winds its way down the slopes, the dazzling scale of the engineering project becomes visible. A string of massive camps housing thousands of workers line the highway. The men and women living here work in day and night shifts using heavy machinery and backbreaking labor to carve the road into the brutal rock face of the Andes. The company that is overseeing all this is Odebrecht, an enormous Brazilian engineering and construction firm. \"They are, in a sense, a partner to the Brazilian government, and at least in this area they are the lead partner in the geopolitical vision in Brazil's march to the Pacific. They are really the spearhead,\" Babbitt says. Paulino Ccapcha works for Odebrecht overseeing one of the work crews. He says he has worked on many road projects, and that wherever roads go, prosperity follows for the communities who live along it. \"It's important to have this road for the development of our country and this region,\" he says. \"It's an important route that will open up trade between Brazil and Peru.\" But High Prices, Vice Follow As Well But some along the road worry about the undesirable changes that the Interoceanic Highway already has brought. In her beer warehouse in the town of Quincemil, Rocio Ramirez sits in a plastic chair watching the water sluice down the dirt road. Her slight, 23-year-old frame is folded ", "With Meghna Chakrabarti The Amazon in Brazil is on fire. We look at deforestation, climate change and what’s at stake for the planet. Guests Jake Spring, correspondent for Reuters. He recently returned from a reporting trip to the Amazon where he witnessed the fires firsthand. (@jakespring) Robin Chazdon, professor emerita in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut (@UConn).  She’s been studying tropical forest ecology for more than 45 years. Senior fellow with the World Resources Institute&#8217;s Global Restoration Initiative. Senior research associate with the International Institute for Sustainability in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Joshua Busby, associate professor of public affairs at the University of Texas Austin. Senior research fellow with the Center for Climate and Security. (@busbyj2) From The Reading List Reuters: &#8220;Warplanes dump water on Amazon as Brazil military begins fighting fires&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;Brazilian warplanes are dumping water on the burning forest in the Amazon state of Rondonia, responding to a global outcry over the destruction of the world’s largest tropical rain forest. &#8220;As of Sunday, President Jair Bolsonaro had authorized military operations in seven states to combat raging fires in the Amazon, responding to requests for assistance from their local governments, a spokeswoman for his office said. &#8220;Reuters accompanied a firefighting brigade near the state capital of Porto Velho, where there were areas larger than football fields that had been charred, but active fires were contained to small areas of individual trees. &#8220;The dozen or so yellow clad firefighters from environmental enforcement agency Ibama easily cleared brush from around a burning stump with a leaf blower, doused it with jets connected to water packs mounted on their backs and covered it in earth.&#8221; NPR: &#8220;Macron Urges G-7 Members To Put Amazon Fires At Top Of Agenda&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;French President Emmanuel Macron is calling on world leaders to place the massive fires destroying Brazil&#8217;s Amazon rainforest at the top of their agenda as they gather in France&#8217;s southwest for the Group of Seven summit. &#8220;&#8216;Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest – the lungs which produces 20% of our planet&#8217;s oxygen – is on fire,&#8217; Macron wrote in a tweet Thursday. &#8216;It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let&#8217;s discuss this emergency first order in two days!&#8217; &#8220;France is hosting the summit in the city of Biarritz, on the Atlantic coast, which begins on Saturday. President Trump and leaders from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom will also attend. &#8220;U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres echoed Macron&#8217;s statement, saying in a tweet that &#8216;we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected.&#8217; &#8221; BuzzFeed News: &#8220;Brazil&#8217;s Government Is Wrong About The Fires In The Amazon, And This Data Proves It&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;Brazil&#8217;s government has offered up several explanations for the record number of fires that have been burning through the Amazon rainforest for weeks, including a theory from the country&#8217;s president that environmental NGOs could have set the blazes to embarrass him. &#8220;But scientific data and experts point out that — counter to recent claims from the far-right government&#8217;s environment minister — 2019 isn&#8217;t actually a year of extreme drought. If that were the case, the number of forest fires would actually be double what we&#8217;re seeing today. &#8220;According to data from the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), there&#8217;s been a 70% increase in fires in the rainforest this year compared to the same time last August, during the year&#8217;s most intense period of drought. And compared to 2016, the year when the drought was most severe overall, there was a 23% growth in fires this year, according to IPAM&#8217;s data. &#8220;&#8216;What our analysis shows is that the increase in the number of outbreaks of fire is strictly associated with the amount of deforestation that has occurred in the Amazon,&#8217; IPAM&#8217;s scientific director, Ane Alencar, told BuzzFeed News.&#8221; Wired: &#8220;Humans, More Than Drought, Are Fueling The Amazon&#8217;s Flames&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;From his office in Greenbelt, Maryland, Doug Morton can see the Amazon burning. &#8220;He watches images from NASA satellites that circle the tropics four times a day, their cameras pointed at the trees below to produce images from visible light, infrared, and thermal data. The fires are fueled not only by a rise in global temperatures but also by Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro. The fiery, anti-environment populist has encouraged settlements in the Amazon region, sacked the head of the government agency that monitors deforestation from space, and ", "Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is facing criticism for his relaxed enforcement of rules protecting the Amazon rainforest, where fires are growing at an alarming rate. There has been an 80% increase in fires in the Amazon so far this year. Many of those fires are intentionally set to clear land for cattle grazing and other uses. But the Amazon is not the only big forest people consider to be part of the lungs of the planet. In fact, there are others, even in Brazil, that have been deforested, says Mark Cochrane, professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. “You got the Atlantic rainforest, which is all along the coastline of Brazil, and about 85% of that has already been deforested, and the rest is largely fragmented,” he says. “The other world&#8217;s tropical forests are under threat as well. Southeast Asia has faced extensive logging and conversion to oil palm. Africa has had longstanding deforestation that people don&#8217;t even remember anymore since much of it has happened already.” Forests in the United States were largely cut down around 100 years ago and have either grown back or are in the process of slowly growing back, according to Cochrane. In Europe, ancient forests were replaced with agriculture centuries ago, and in Canada and Russia, boreal forests are now being threatened by more frequent fires. And deforestation is happening everywhere, says Cochrane. “The Western countries have no moral high ground from which to criticize Brazil,” he says. “That doesn&#8217;t change the fact that Brazil is experiencing extensive fires, and even the Brazilian people do not accept the changes in the environmental laws that have been enforced in recent years. “So, it&#8217;s not just the external world criticizing Bolsonaro and the government but also many within Brazil itself.” Interview Highlights On what happened to forests in Europe “Much of Europe used to be forested, whether it was out to England or all across Germany. When the Romans came through, they fought in the forests of Germany. Much of that has now been lost. The last of the remaining old growth I believe is in Poland, and even that is under threat now. So much of the European forest has long ago been cut.” On deforestation in the U.S. “It used to be that almost everything east of the Mississippi was forested in the U.S., and then we had all of our large forest in the western U.S., and much of that has been logged over at least once. Now in the eastern U.S., much of it has been regrowing over recent decades, because as we open agriculture in the Midwest, we abandon a lot of farmlands in the east. So, the U.S. actually gains carbon credits because of a regrowing forest that we had cut a century ago.” On how forests in the U.S. and Europe compare to tropical forests like the Amazon “There are differences in the sense primarily of the diversity. The tropical forests have many more species, orders of magnitude more species, than all of North America or Europe, for example. So, they are ancient and very diverse. The forests here used to be very old as well, &#8230; but they&#8217;re more acclimated to disturbances, such as fire, versus the tropical forests, which have had no evolutionary adaptation of fire, because there is literally no natural fire in those systems.” On forests being cleared in Southeast Asia for palm oil trees “In Indonesia and much of Southeast Asia, they&#8217;ve been clearing first for logging purposes, but in the peat swamps, they&#8217;ve cleared them and drained them, and they are converting many of these areas to oil palm. The problem there is although oil palm produces products we want, burning in those areas not only removes the native forest, it actually burns into the organic rich soils themselves and starts consuming those and releases huge amounts of emissions of both greenhouse gases and particulates, such that in 2015, the last El Niño, we had such large fires [that] impacted all the way up to Singapore and Malaysia. Estimates are that 100,000 people are dying from that smoke.” On the frequency of forest fires in Africa “Every year, Africa has massive fires more than anywhere else on the planet. And if you look at the products we have for looking at fire, you can see it&#8217;s sweeping up and down through Africa every year. So, that is not necessarily unusual. What would be unusual is if it is burning into the remaining forests.” On whether there is a place in the world where natural forests are properly protected “Not that I know of. They&#8217;re trying. I mean, some places are less skewed, so someplace like Canada where huge areas of it are so rural that they don&#8217;t try to manage it, so they have systems that are largely intact. Or Russia would, Siberia. But [in] those areas, climate change may be shifting how fires are burning and creating other types of problems. Places like the U.S., we have huge resources. We have tried to control fire for decades. We&#8217;re spending", "In Brazil, a rich carpet of green rolled over the Amazon River city of Santarem thirty years ago, a vibrant virgin forest. But satellite images of the area of Santarem, 600 miles from the mouth of the Amazon River, show that where carbon-storing trees once stood, cattle ranches and soy farms now proliferate. Greenpeace estimates that between 2002 and 2005 deforestation in the Amazon has claimed an area twice the size of Switzerland. An unlikely alliance is working to stop to the destruction: The corporate colossus Cargill has teamed up with the non-profit environmental group The Nature Conservancy in a bid to reduce the footprint of soy farming on land that has been illegally cleared around Santarem. A Daunting Task Environmental experts from The Nature Conservancy are trying to teach soy farmers in Santarem to be good stewards of the land. \"The first thing,\" says agronomist Jose Benito Guerrero, \"is to restore vegetation cover, after that the animals, then bio-diversity ... will come back.\" Cargill's Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs Lori Johnson says the farmers don't want to be \"the international pariahs.\" Government officials concede, however, that not a single farmer in the area is in compliance with Brazil's Forest Code, which is aimed at preserving the world's largest rainforest. Under Brazilian law, eighty percent of the land in the Amazon, which covers an area larger than India, must be set aside as legal reserve. Only the remaining twenty percent can be used for cultivation. But over the years, weak enforcement of the code has meant impunity for violators. Guerrero, The Nature Conservancy's man in the field, says Cargill is persuading farmers that they have a choice: get legal or go broke. He says the Amazon is increasingly being pulled into a global market that demands environmentally friendly products, which is, he says, the argument that Cargill is using. \"If the market decides not to buy anymore soy from the Amazon,\" Guerrero says, \"[the farmers] will be affected by this reaction of the market. You know, if you lose the market, you lose everything,\" he says. Two-Year Moratorium As one of the biggest soy traders in Brazil, Cargill took an unprecedented step. At the urging of Greenpeace, which has tracked deforestation around Santarem, Cargill agreed to join a two-year moratorium on the purchase of any soy grown on newly deforested areas. The action effectively removes the incentive for soy farmers to cut down trees. Cargill's Lori Johnson says the company pushed to make the moratorium industry-wide \"so that everyone who buys soy is taking the same stance.\" \"And that's ultimately what happened,\" says Johnson. \"And one of the interesting things that came out of those discussions is that it has brought together this kind of multi-stakeholder group.\" But Not Without a Fight Before Greenpeace and Cargill started cooperating with each other, they fought bitterly over the company's giant port terminal in Santarem. From there the company ships hundreds of thousands of tons of soy down the Amazon to markets overseas. Greenpeace accused Cargill, one of the world's largest privately held companies, of being indirectly complicit in deforestation of the area. But the company argues that only a fraction of the soy it transports comes from Santarem, and that most of the land around the region was already cleared before Cargill arrived on the scene in 2003. Pressure for Small Farmers Small farmers are now caught between the law and making their farms profitable. Many face the prospect of selling their land and leaving. Farmer Viteu Holzbach plants soy on 130 of his 260 hectres, cultivating about half the land. But under the long-standing 80:20 rule, he is only entitled to grow on a fifth of the property, or about 50 hectres. He must either return a big chunk of his farm to its natural state, or pay a large chunk to the government which would then set aside a legal reserve elsewhere. \"We feel oppressed. The NGO's call us criminals. But we don't want to work outside of the law. We worked our whole lives honestly,\" Holzbach says. \"And we came here after the forest had been cut down, and just took advantage of what we found.\" A Drop in Deforestation In the last two years Brazil's government says that the rate at which trees are being destroyed has slowed in the Amazon. Analysts credit declining soy prices which have led to a disincentive to plant. The Nature Conservancy's Guerrero credits groups like Greenpeace and other conservationists who are on the frontlines in the struggle to save the rainforest. \"Because we are doing some work here to put some limits: addressing the problem, confronting the problem, and doing something.\" Guerrero expects to see more partnerships like the one between the Nature Conservancy and Cargill multiply as the battle continues over how to balance conservation in the Amazon with economic growth. RENEE MONTAGNE, host: This is MORNING EDITION from N", "JBS is the world’s biggest meatpacker. So far in 2020 alone, they’ve done about $35 billion worth of U.S. sales — second only to Tyson.  But you’d be forgiven if you’ve never heard of JBS. For one, they are a Brazilian company. And two, they like to keep a low profile.  That’s because JBS has been involved in a series of scandals over the years. In Brazil, they were forced to pay $3.2 billion in 2017 in one of the largest corporate fines in history for bribing hundreds of Brazilian officials to look the other way while JBS engaged in questionable business practices like selling rotten meat.  Their misconduct — brought to light by Brazilian investigation “Operation Weak Flesh” — resulted in the U.S. and European Union banning the import of Brazilian beef, although in February, the Trump administration cleared the way for Brazilian beef imports to start up again.  But JBS doesn’t just operate plants in Brazil. They also operate about 40 beef, pork, and chicken processing plants in the U.S., with their headquarters in Greeley, Colorado.  These plants, in addition to those owned and operated by other meat producers like Tyson and Smithfield Foods, quickly became epicenters of COVID-19 outbreaks. Esther Honig, a freelance journalist who’s covered JBS and other meatpackers for outlets such as Mother Jones, says that hundreds of JBS workers have been sickened and at least six she knows of have died.  She spoke with JBS workers who described no soap in the bathrooms, workers who passed out on the line, and supervisors who told workers who said they felt sick that they couldn’t leave because there was no one to replace them.  There were also issues with testing. JBS originally refused to test its workers for COVID-19 at the Greeley plant, Honig says, with the state of Colorado finally setting up a testing site a mile down the road. JBS also then began donating food to local pantries and giving out free test kits as a way to launder its reputation.  “So they were offering to give tests to community members,” Honig says, “while at the same time they were denying their own workers.” In a statement to Here & Now, JBS claims they have &#8220;fundamentally changed&#8221; the way they do business in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.  While the company now provides sick leave and other protections for elderly and immunocompromised workers, Honig says their number of coronavirus cases continues to rise.  Dom Phillips, a freelance journalist for The Guardian in Brazil, says the situation there is similar. JBS meat plants have also emerged as a major vector of the virus in Brazil, which has surpassed 2 million cases and 77,000 deaths by Friday&#8217;s count.  Adding to JBS’ problems, a new Amnesty International report out this week alleges that the company, contrary to past promises, continues to do business with farms that illegally log the Amazon to raise cattle.  It’s an issue of indirect supply chains, or “cattle laundering,” a process by which a cow raised in Amazon territory might be transported to a second or even third farm before being bought by JBS to conceal its point of origin, Phillips explains.  &#8220;JBS is committed to a sustainable livestock supply chain and has a zero deforestation policy within its supply chain,&#8221; the company said in a statement, adding that they do not purchase cattle from farms involved in the deforestation of native forests or that encroach on indigenous land or conservation areas. Regardless, JBS is likely here to stay. Honig says that while she would like to eat more ethically-sourced meat, the reality is that it’s expensive and hard to find.  “There are smaller packing houses, though,” she says. But unless you’re buying from one of those smaller meatpackers, there’s no way to know if your meat comes from JBS. As Honig puts it, “You don’t see the JBS logo sticking out of the mound of ground beef behind the counter.” By the numbers, though, you may as well assume it’s there.  Cassady Rosenblum produced and edited this interview for broadcast with Tinku Ray. Rosenblum also adapted it for the web. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "Scott Wallace, writer for National Geographic, talks about the last of the so-called \"uncontacted tribes\" of the Americas. Why do scientists know very little about the tribes, and what can recently released photographs tell us about them? LYNN NEARY, host: This is Talk of the Nation. I'm Lynn Neary in Washington, sitting in for Neal Conan. Last month, pictures of isolated tribe in a remote area of the Amazon revealed an astonishing scene, indigenous men painted with red dye aiming bows and arrows at an airplane. The photos were taken during a flight conducted by the Brazilian government's Indian affairs department, known by the acronym FUNAI. Scientists know very little about this tribe and others that live along the border of Peru and Brazil. The tribes live in dense jungle areas, the most impenetrable regions of the Amazon. The people are the last \"un-contacted\" tribes of the Americas. Today we talk to a writer who's tracked into the Amazon to learn more about the so-called \"un-contacted\" tribes. And we want to hear from you. What are your questions about these people? And what's your opinion? How far should we go to make sure these tribes remain un-contacted? Give us a call. Our number here in Washington is 800-989-8255. The email address, talk@npr.org. And you can also comment on our blog. It's at npr.org/blogofthenation. A bit later in the show we talk with the maker of a new documentary, \"Football Under Cover.\" It tells the story of a match between a women's soccer team in Germany and a women's team in Iran. But first, un-contacted tribes. Joining us right now is Scott Wallace. He's a writer for National Geographic, and he joins me here in Studio 3A. So good to have you with us. Mr. SCOTT WALLACE (Writer, National Geographic): Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. NEARY: Let's first talk about this photo. Why were they taken, and what was so remarkable about them? Mr. WALLACE: Well, this was done actually as part of a routine reconnoitering of that jungle area by FUNAI, which is the Brazilian Indian affairs agency. FUNAI is - a particular department within FUNAI, the Department of Isolated Indians, is actually charged with monitoring in a remote fashion the relative health and well-being of a certain number of un-contacted tribes that have been identified in Brazil. And one of the ways they do that is by aerial surveillance. So, normally these planes will fly over villages that are known to exist at a, you know, reasonably high altitude so as not to provoke or to frighten the Indians, but in this particular case, there has been pressure building. Peru, next door, has made official declarations doubting the existence of these people or - and the various tribes that are down there. I think what happened was these Brazilian officials decided that they were going to show the world that these tribes actually do exist. So, they flew down at a very obviously low altitude, low enough to frighten the Indians, and provoke them into the posture they took, pointing their bows and arrows at the plane. NEARY: What is at stake here between Peru and Brazil that there would be this difference of opinion over whether these tribes exist in the first place? Mr. WALLACE: Well, Brazil has a much more elaborate, first of all, policy, and institutional infrastructure for dealing with this type of situation. It's been known in Brazil for years, you know, Brazil has had un-contacted tribes. Basically the story of the Amazon, the history of the Amazon, is a history of contact with so-called wild Indians, un-contacted groups. And Brazil has evolved a policy specific to the treatment of these Indians. So - but on the Peruvian side, there hasn't been that kind of - there isn't that history, and it's a much more kind of free-for-all. And in recent times in Peru, the government has auctioned off huge tracks of the Amazon for oil exploration, including in lands that were these un-contacted groups are known to exist, and they've also been pretty lax about letting loggers into these areas. And they're putting these tribes at risk. NEARY: OK. Mr. WALLACE: But the Brazilians have been much more, you know, advanced in terms of their policy. NEARY: Let me ask you about that phrase, \"un-contacted tribes.\" Because are they really, completely un-contacted? I mean, you yourself went into the rainforest looking for these people, and got pretty close, although you deliberately didn't contact them. But let's talk first about that phrase. What does that mean, un-contacted? Had they really not been contacted? Mr. WALLACE: Well, you know, it's interesting. It depends on - there are different situations, depending on the groups. There are, probably, somewhere, perhaps, around 60 or 70 un-contacted groups in the Amazon. The majority of them are in Brazil, but Peru is - harbors probably about 15 of these groups. And the level of contact or exposure to outside society depends on which group you are talking about. In some instances,", "Getting fuel from green plants seems like a great idea. But scientific research over the last few years shows that biofuels aren't necessarily helpful in combating global warming. Based on this data, the EPA has drafted new, tighter regulations that could make it harder for the biofuels industry to grow. In theory, biofuels themselves don't add any extra carbon to the atmosphere. Green plants take carbon dioxide out of the air, so when you burn them, the carbon dioxide just goes back to where it came from. But an industry based on this idea turns out not to be so green. For one thing, when the ethanol industry took off in the United States, so did the price of its main raw material — corn. So farmers in places like Brazil planted corn on their pasturelands to cash in, but they still needed land to graze their animals on. Unintended Biofuel Byproduct: Deforestation \"Where's Brazil going to get more pasture?\" Bruce Babcock from Iowa State University asked at a House agriculture subcommittee hearing on Thursday. \"Well, by converting Amazon forest and savannah. Thus the argument goes, any increase in Brazilian cropland leads to deforestation and a loss of savannah.\" And deforestation puts huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The EPA attempted to factor global deforestation into its regulations on biofuels. The agency's analysis found that in general, deforestation driven by high corn prices actually makes biofuels look bad from the standpoint of climate change. And, the 2007 law that the new regulations are based on says biofuels must do more good than harm — both globally and domestically. But Babcock, along with the biofuels industry, is arguing that the effects of biofuels on forests around the world are being exaggerated. Proponents say the industry is actually better for the climate than the EPA analysis suggests. He acknowledges that there's been a lot of deforestation in Brazil, but disagrees with EPA findings: \"There's scant evidence that increased production of crops has been the primarily culprit in the loss of Amazon forest. Certainly cattle and pasture have increased in the Amazon since 1996. But was that due to the 36 percent increase in Brazilian cropland, or the 30 percent increase in the cattle herd in Brazil?\" Biofuel Proponents Find New Regs Constricting Given that uncertainty, the biofuels industry is trying to get the EPA to back down from its conclusions about deforestation and biofuels. If the EPA sticks with its analysis, the industry fears the rules could harm it. \"I think it's terribly important, this investment made in good faith not be relegated to rusting hulks of steel on the prairie,\" said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND). In fact, the EPA's new regulations would let existing ethanol plants keep operating, regardless of the climate impact. It's new plants that face an uncertain fate. That's partly because the biofuels industry economics have turned sour. But it's also because of the science that led the EPA to draft the tough rules it recently announced. Back To Basics? \"What I think this means for the industry,\" says Dan Kammen at the University of California Berkeley, \"is you need to innovate. And there are pathways that look very much more attractive than others.\" Kammen says, for starters, it might make sense to rethink the best way to get energy out of green plants. A study in the latest Science magazine, for instance, suggests that liquid fuels like ethanol aren't the best way to go. Better to burn the material to make electricity. \"Taking a biofuel and making electricity from it can be done relatively efficiently,\" Kammen notes. \"And then the benefit, of course, if your car is running on electricity, you use an electric motor to drive the wheels, and that's very efficient.\" But of course there are practical and economic reasons we won't all be riding around in electric cars anytime soon. LIANE HANSEN, host: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. Im Liane Hansen. Getting fuel from green plants seems like a great idea. But draft rules issued this past week by the Environmental Protection Agency underscore that it's not so easy to produce biofuels that are good from the standpoint of global warming. NPR's Richard Harris explains. RICHARD HARRIS: Green plants take carbon dioxide out of the air, and when you burn them, the carbon dioxide just goes back where it came from. So, in theory, at least, biofuels dont add any extra carbon to the atmosphere. But an industry based on this idea turns out to be not so green. For one thing, when the ethanol industry took off, so did the price of their main raw material -corn. So, farmers in places like Brazil planted corn on their pasturelands to cash in. Professor BRUCE BABCOCK (Iowa State University): Where is Brazil going to get more pasture? Well, by converting Amazon forest and savannah. HARRIS: Thats Bruce Babcock from Iowa State University laying out the bad news scenario at a congressional hearing last week, where the ", "On Sunday, Pope Francis opened a three-week bishops' assembly known as a synod, denouncing contemporary forms of colonialism and urging conservatives to be open to change. The Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region, held at the Vatican, is focusing on the environment and indigenous peoples' rights to their land and traditions. In addition to 185 bishops, mostly from the Amazon region, participants include scientists and environmentalists. Another issue is how to strengthen Roman Catholicism in a region where evangelical churches are gaining a foothold. But even before it started, the synod had angered Catholic traditionalists — particularly the suggestion that, to offset a shortage of priests in the Amazon region, the church might ordain older, married men to serve in remote communities. In his homily at the synod's opening Mass on Sunday, Francis called on bishops to shake up the status quo in improving ways to minister to the indigenous peoples of the Amazon — a region threatened, he said, by forest fires, greedy developers and what he called the \"ashes of fear.\" \"May God preserve us from the greed of new forms of colonialism,\" the pope prayed before the bishops. \"The fire set by interests that destroy, like the fire that recently devastated Amazonia, is not the fire of the Gospel. The fire of God is warmth that attracts and gathers into unity. It is fed by sharing, not by profits. The fire that destroys, on the other hand, blazes up when people want to promote only their own ideas, form their own group, wipe out differences in the attempt to make everyone and everything uniform.\" Francis, the first pope from Latin America, has made the fate of the planet one of his signature issues. His landmark 2015 Encyclical \"Laudato si\" (Praise Be) is a passionate defense of the environment. In 2017, he announced the Amazon synod to address the ecological, social and spiritual needs of the region's indigenous peoples and to protect their rain forests, ravaged by fires and deforestation caused by agribusiness, miners and loggers. Last year, when Francis traveled to the Peruvian Amazon, he called on corporations to end indiscriminate logging and extraction of gas and gold. The Rev. Peter Hughes, an Irish missionary who has spent five decades in Latin America, stresses the link between Francis' encyclical and Amazon peoples' spiritual link with nature. \"The people of the Amazon, as we all know, have their own vision, their own cosmic vision of reality, where all of life is interconnected,\" he said. \"This mantra of interconnectedness that the pope underlines is the bedrock of his spirituality and of Christian spirituality.\" Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food movement, tells NPR the great novelty of this synod is that indigenous peoples will be the teachers; Catholic priests the students. \"This is revolutionary,\" he says. \"For centuries in that region, the cross went hand-in-hand with the sword, destroying local cultures and spirituality. Now, it's the priests who must go through a process of inculturation, not the Amazon peoples. And Catholic conservatives are screaming, 'Heresy!' \" Some of the pope's opponents charge that the synod's working document was inspired by pagan, anti-Christian ideas. Conservative bloggers and websites also lashed out at a tree-planting ceremony on Saturday in the Vatican gardens, marking the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Their anger was directed at the presentation of an indigenous wooden sculpture of a pregnant woman, which they interpreted as a pagan fertility idol rather than an image of the Virgin Mary. Some commentators, though, pointed out that the canon of Western art is filled with bare-breasted representations of the Virgin Mary. On Monday, at the synod's first formal discussion session, Francis expressed indignation over a reaction he'd overheard to indigenous dress. \"Yesterday I was very saddened to hear a sarcastic comment here about that pious man who brought the offerings with feathers on his head,\" he said in his speech. \"Tell me, what difference is there between having feathers on your head and the three-cornered hat worn by some officials in our dicasteries?\" The synod's most controversial proposal concerns a shortage of priests in parts of the Amazon that prevents the faithful from attending Mass for many months. The synod's working document suggests the possibility of ordaining older, married men, highly respected in their communities. One of the synod's main organizers, Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, stresses that the proposal, for now, remains just that — a proposal. It stems from an unprecedented two-year listening exercise by local church leaders with 87,000 people across the nine countries of the Amazon basin. \"It's the voice of the local church of the Amazon, of its people, its history and also the voice of its land,\" says Hummes. In remote Amazonian communities that are only accessible by boat, villagers can go months without sacraments that only p", "Nearly one-fifth of the Amazon rainforest has disappeared since 1970, its loss spurred by construction of roads through pristine areas. The loss of the trees is a big blow to the world's carbon balance, and a real force in climate change. And, according to three researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, road construction in places like the Amazon might also be a blow to human health. New roads promote deforestation. A recently published survey of the Peruvian Amazon by Paulo Oliveira of the Carnegie Institution of Washington and several colleagues shows that 75 percent of the forest disruption that occurred between 1999 and 2005 occurred within 12 miles of a road. And deforestation promotes malaria — researchers Amy Vittor and Jonathan Patz surveyed a newly constructed road and reported in 2006 that the areas along the road that had suffered more deforestation also suffered more malaria. The Hopkins researchers want to follow the development of a road in real time. So they're surveying an area where the government is about to put in a highway. The road will go from the frontier river village of Mazan, through the Amazon jungle, to the city of Iquitos. The researchers are infectious-diseases experts Margaret Kosek, a physician and former ultimate Frisbee player, and her husband, Pablo Yori. Yori is a gentle Spaniard, also an infectious-diseases expert. He keeps everyone going by carrying much of the gear. And there's biostatistician Bill Pan. Biostatisticians usually spend their time in front of computers. But Pan is outfitted for the jungle in a worn T-shirt he got when he was head of the cheerleading squad at Boston College. His six-foot two-inch frame is topped by a slouchy safari hat in camouflage colors. Right now, the only route out of Mazan is by boat. The new road will bring in cars and trucks and people. The Hopkins team wants to see what this will do. \"I want to know how malaria is going to be affected by road construction, change in ecology, things like that,\" Pan says. The researchers figure this walk will take two days. It's a guess. Pan has brought the only maps they have — Google Earth photos from 2003. \"Today, the main goal is to map out the road, because we don't have any electronic data,\" he says. Off the Path and Into the Woods The path out of Mazan threads past ramshackle brown plank houses, bright green grass and banana trees. There's already a manmade red clay gash where the road is going to go. The clay sucks at the researchers' boots. They've been this far on other trips. \"It was a footpath before,\" Pan says. But now, he says, \"you can see the tractor lines in the dirt.\" Within minutes, they get to the two-story, bright yellow bulldozer responsible for turning the quiet footpath into a wide, mucky red path. Pan has mixed feelings about the road development. \"The forest has a natural beauty to it and creating a road just ruins it,\" he says. On the other hand, he's talked to plenty of people who live in the area who see the road as progress. But the road could also increase the number of mosquitoes that carry malaria. \"When roads are built, you can have culverts being formed along the road, little pools of water, streams and ditches,\" Pan says. These are ideal places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. And of course, the road will bring outsiders to villages that have been largely isolated. If these newcomers carry malaria, mosquitoes could bite them, pick up the parasites and infect new victims. At the end of the cleared path is a field of 10-foot-high, razor-sharp, chartreuse grasses. The two Peruvian guides whack a track with machetes. It's getting hot and muggy, and Kosek pushes everyone to keep hydrated. The path looks a little easier in the jungle, and it's shady there. But the going is dense — the trees grow close together. Giant ferns struggle in the few spots of light. \"This is the thick jungle right here,\" Pan says. All the water bottles are empty now, so the scientists stop at a small dark pool and pump water through a filter. It's cool and good, but the stop gives a chance for mosquitoes to gather. It's fresh blood, and the mosquitoes are more than happy to take advantage of it. \"We're getting malaria ourselves,\" Pan says. On their next trip through, the team will check how many of these mosquitoes actually do carry malaria. A Sudden Downpour With the mosquitoes and the close-set trees in the jungle, walking along the path where the road will be seems like a better idea. But it's not. The government cut trees along the planned highway route but has left them lying about like giant pick-up sticks. Every two or three steps, there are trunks and branches to climb over or under. And black clouds are racing in. \"It's going to rain,\" Kosek says. \"It's 10 minutes to 6; we're not going to make it anywhere... Hopefully we have water nearby.\" They set up camp in a clearing that looks like it once had been a village. But there's no one here ", "Brazilian scientists are reporting a sharp increase this year in the clearing of forests in the Amazon. That's bad news for endangered ecosystems, as well as the world's climate. Deforestation releases large amounts of heat-trapping carbon dioxide. It's also a setback for big food companies that have pledged to preserve those forests — or at least to boycott suppliers that clear forests in order to raise crops or graze cattle. \"Traders such as Cargill, Bunge, or Louis Dreyfus; consumer good manufacturers such as Mondelēz or Procter & Gamble or Unilever; retailers such as Walmart and McDonald's — all the major brands have made those commitments,\" says Luiz Amaral, director of global solutions for commodities and finance at the World Resources Institute. Most of the companies promised to cut all links to deforestation by 2020, but few are likely to make that deadline. Turns out, it's really hard for companies to ensure that none of their raw materials came from recently cleared land. So Amaral and his colleagues just created a new online tool for companies to use. They call it Global Forest Watch Pro. Amaral works in Brazil. I'm in Washington, D.C. But with the magic of computer screen-sharing, he can show me exactly how it works. Amaral pulls up an image of the globe. This particular image shows which areas are covered by trees. Amaral calls it \"the Google Maps of forests.\" This map is created from data collected by satellites operated by NASA. One satellite scans the entire planet every week, constantly updating this map.So it's possible to tell whether trees disappear from one week to the next. Another satellite monitors the entire globe for fires. Researchers at the University of Maryland created software to filter this flood of data and detect the signals of deforestation. \"The key innovation here is that the computer is doing all that work for us, constantly looking at those images as they're being taken, to identify if something changed in the tree cover; if there is a fire in that area,\" Amaral says. Then Amaral shows me how to use this tool to monitor specific farms. \"I uploaded 22 cattle farms in Brazil,\" he says. These farms show up as highlighted areas in one region of Brazil. These are real farms. Amaral got their information from a public database of land ownership in Brazil. With a few mouse clicks, we see how much of each farm is covered with trees and how that area has changed. He points out one 40,000-acre-farm. Half of it is covered in forests. But we can also see that, 15 years ago, the whole thing was forest. We zoom in closer. We can see exactly where trees disappeared in this part of Brazil. \"So you can see here that almost all the tree cover loss within this region actually happened within this specific farm here,\" he says. The boundary of this farm, in fact, lines up almost exactly with the area of deforestation. It looks like intentional forest-clearing, not a wildfire. \"That would be exactly my assumption,\" Amaral says. In a similar way, a food company can enter the locations of farms from which it buys raw materials. Global Forest Watch Pro then will send an alert whenever it detects deforestation within that area. The company Mondelēz International, which makes Oreo cookies and Triscuit crackers, already is using it. \"I think it's actually extremely important,\" says Jonathan Horrell, the company's director of global sustainability. \"The tool enables you to understand what's actually happening in real time.\" Mondelēz has pledged to cut its greenhouse emissions. But when it did an audit of those emissions, it realized that fuel-burning factories and trucks were not the biggest part of its carbon footprint. \"It's actually the carbon emissions that are linked to deforestation — forests being cut down in order to produce raw materials that we use in our products,\" he says. Those raw materials include palm oil from plantations in Indonesia, and cocoa farms in West Africa. Companies that want to use Global Forest Watch Pro have to figure out exactly where their suppliers are, and that can be difficult. Mondelēz is doing this with cocoa farms. \"As of the end of 2018, we'd mapped 90,000 farms in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, which are the most important sources of cocoa in our supply chain,\" he says. Mondelēz and other companies also monitor land that's close to mills where they buy palm oil. This is easier to do when companies buy food directly from local producers, as is often the case with cocoa and palm oil. In other cases, though, products move through a long chain of intermediary companies. Farmers who raise cattle may sell them to a local slaughterhouse, not directly to McDonald's. Yet Luiz Amaral, from the World Resources Institute, says even local slaughterhouses can use this new online tool. The beauty of this tool, he says, is that it's so cheap and easy to use. In fact, WRI has persuaded one slaughterhouse in Paraguay to sign up for an account.", "Calling climate change \"the existential crisis of our time,\" President Biden announced an aggressive new plan to reduce the United States' contribution to global warming during a two-day virtual summit Thursday, and he urged other countries to do the same. Immediacy is needed. Average global temperatures have already increased more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1.2 degrees Celsius, since 1880, and scientists have long stressed the need to keep temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius to avoid the most catastrophic climate change scenarios. A new report Thursday from the insurance company Swiss Re warns that without action, climate change could reduce global economic output by $23 trillion annually by mid-century. Biden's new plan would cut America's greenhouse gas emissions in half, from 2005 levels, by the end of the decade — an ambitious goal that puts the U.S. back in the fore of the global fight against climate change. He was joined by 40 heads of government at a virtual gathering on Earth Day and emphasized, as Biden has done repeatedly as president, the economic opportunity in transitioning to a more sustainable global economy. \"I see autoworkers building the next generation of electric vehicles,\" Biden said. \"I see the engineers and the construction workers building new carbon capture and green hydrogen plants.\" But the U.S. cannot do it alone. And the global summit, Biden's first major international gathering, aims to put America back in a leadership role after four years of climate inaction and denialism under the Trump administration. It's also meant to build trust among other nations, given that the U.S. has been the largest contributor to climate change over the past century. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, acknowledging the immense cost of transitioning the global economy, said her department is working to secure private financing to help countries move away from fossil fuels and adapt to climate impacts that have already become unavoidable. She also noted the administration's request for $1.2 billion for the Green Climate Fund, an international framework that's designed to help developing countries — which have contributed far less to global warming — deal with its mounting impacts. The White House has increasingly framed much of its foreign policy around countering China, so it was notable that Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first leader of another nation to speak after U.S. officials. China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, nearly doubling U.S. levels in recent years and funding coal power both at home and in various countries. \"China has committed to move from carbon peak to carbon neutrality in a much shorter time span than what might take many developed countries, and that requires extraordinary hard efforts from China,\" said Xi. \"We will strictly control coal-fired power generation projects. We will strictly limit the increase in coal consumption.\" As world leaders took turns offering opening remarks, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson colorfully echoed Biden's jobs-focused frame for climate action. \"It's vital for all of us to show that this is not all about some expensive, politically correct, green act of bunny hugging. This is about growth and jobs,\" Johnson said. \"Cake — have, eat — is my message to you.\" Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has aggressively rolled back environmental protections in his country, moved up Brazil's goal for achieving carbon neutrality by a decade, to 2050. He also pledged to eliminate illegal deforestation in the Amazon by 2030 and said he would double the money allocated to inspections. The Amazon, the largest swath of tropical rainforest on the planet, plays an outsized role in stabilizing the global climate, and scientists warn that its destruction could further destabilize weather worldwide. The U.S. and Brazil have been negotiating a deal on Amazon deforestation, but Reuters reported earlier this month that they hit an impasse, with Brazil demanding payment up front and the U.S. asking for results first. At the summit, Bolosnaro said there must be \"fair payment for environmental services,\" to recognize the economic importance of conservation. One session of the virtual summit focused on the national security perils of climate change. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called it \"profoundly destabilizing,\" citing the rise in geopolitical competition in the melting Arctic, climate-fueled global migration and threats to military bases, including from increasingly intense wildfires in California, which he said have caused repeated evacuations. Biden's climate envoy, former Secretary of State John Kerry, spent the weeks leading up to the summit traveling the world, visiting China, India and several other countries, in order to build international support for the event. The White House is framing the meeting as one of several key moments leading up to a November conference in Scotland, where leaders will update t", "Updated 11:20 a.m. ET Saturday French President Emmanuel Macron is calling on world leaders to place the massive fires destroying Brazil's Amazon rainforest at the top of their agenda as they gather in France's southwest for the Group of Seven summit. \"Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest – the lungs which produces 20% of our planet's oxygen – is on fire,\" Macron wrote in a tweet Thursday. \"It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss this emergency first order in two days!\" An image identified as the Amazon burning accompanied the tweet. But French newspaper Libération noted that the photo was a stock image from years earlier. France is hosting the summit in the city of Biarritz, on the Atlantic coast, which begins on Saturday. President Trump and leaders from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom will also attend. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres echoed Macron's statement, saying in a tweet that \"we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected.\" An estimated 2,500 active fires in the Amazon have caused international concern, prompting a backlash against Brazil's right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has described measures to protect the rainforest as \"obstacles\" to economic growth. Bolsonaro, who took office in January, has said repeatedly that he wants to open the Amazon to development. Many of the fires are believed to have been set by farmers clearing land. Environmentalists say Bolsonaro's attitude about the Amazon has encouraged the farmers, as well as cattle ranchers, loggers and miners. Bolsonaro has said without evidence that there is a \"very strong\" indication that some nongovernmental organizations were setting the fires in retaliation for losing funding from his administration. Both Germany and Norway have also weighed in on the fires, criticizing Bolsonaro's lack of action and saying they would withhold $60 million in funds for sustainability projects in Brazil's forests. Onyx Lorenzoni, Bolsonaro's chief of staff, on Thursday accused European countries of exaggerating environmental problems in an effort to stifle rainforest development. \"There is deforestation in Brazil, yes, but not at the rate and level that they say,\" he said, according to the Brazilian news website globo.com. In a tweet later on Thursday, Bolsonaro responded to Macron: \"I regret that Macron seeks to make personal political gains in an internal matter for Brazil and other Amazonian countries. The sensationalist tone he used does nothing to solve the problem.\" Bolsonaro has also accused the media of hyping the fires to undermine him. \"Most of the media wants Brazil to end up like Venezuela,\" he said. Venezuela's economy has collapsed over the past decade. In an announcement this week by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research, the agency said there have been 74,155 fires in the country so far this year – about half in the last month and most of them in the Amazon. That represents an 84% increase from the previous year. Federal prosecutors in the Brazilian state of Para — one of the worst-hit areas — have announced an investigation into why there has been such a huge rise in wildfires this year. Neighboring Bolivia has also struggled to contain the fires.", "It happened slowly at first. The reservoir's water level dropped, so the resort extended the boat launch ramp. Then they had to add another extension. Eventually, the water dropped so much that business dried up — along with the lake. \"For this coming weekend, there's not one reservation. This business was 98 percent dependent on the water. Now that the water's gone, the customers are gone as well,\" says Francisco Carlos Fonseca, the manager of Marina Confiança. The resort is located on what were once the banks of one of Sao Paulo's most important reservoir system, called Cantareira. A drought has been devastating the region for the past two years. Unless there is more rain, some water conservation groups estimate there is only enough water to last about five months. Walking around the resort, Fonseca says that until a year ago, this place was a weekend getaway paradise, packed with vacationers. Today the hotel, with its attached bungalows and party spaces, is a ghost town. It's a symbol of the economic cost of the drought here. Fonseca says four or five other marinas have closed completely because there's no access to water. He's not sure what he'll do if his resort closes. The only thing that could bring tourists back to this region? \"Rain,\" he says. This resort was a respite for those living in Sao Paulo. The megacity of 20 million people is as dense with high rises as the Amazon jungle is with trees. The drought has forced severe water rationing for many of those who live here. Nine million depend on this reservoir system for their daily water use. The dishes are piled high in the sink when we arrive at Renata Trindade's house in a poor neighborhood in the north part of the city. Since she works during the day, she says she has to be creative about doing chores: She lets dishes and clothes pile up to make sure she and her boyfriend have enough water for other things like bathing or flushing the toilet. For her and many other Sao Paulo residents, this is the new normal. And this city is not alone. Brazil's second largest city, Rio de Janeiro, is also facing water troubles, as are other coastal areas. It's been an enormous shock to Brazilians, who are used to their country being called \"the Saudi Arabia of Water\" — historically, it has had as much water as that Middle Eastern country has oil. But not anymore. Satellite data from NASA shows that the drought in much of southeast Brazil — also home to the region's breadbasket — is much worse than originally believed. Some recent studies suggest that the lack of rain on Brazil's coasts may be linked to deforestation in the Amazon. Alexandre Uezu, an ecologist with Sao Paulo's Ecological Research Institute, explains that trees in the Amazon suck up water through their roots and produce huge \"flying rivers\" of water vapor that move around the continent and fall as rain. \"Were it not because of flying rivers, airflows, the whole area here would be desert,\" he says. \"So we're dependent on the humidity that comes from Amazon.\" Except now, according to some estimates, as much as 40 percent of the forest is destroyed or degraded. And that may mean a profound, longterm shift in rainfall patterns here. So it may take more than a good rainy season to stop Sao Paulo from drying up. The drought may be exacerbated by other issues, including poor planning. Scientists are trying to determine what is happening and why. But Uezu can say one thing with certainty: The vast tract of trees in the middle of the continent is crucial to the well-being of people on the coasts, where most Brazilians live. \"Were it not because of the Amazon [forest], we'd have even bigger problems here,\" he says. Some people are already deciding to pick up and move their lives completely, in search of more irrigated pastures. Cesar Farinha Figueredo is what you might call a water refugee. He closed his restaurant in Sao Paulo and moved his family to the city of Jundiai, about two hours away, in the interior of Sao Paulo state. At his apartment complex, a large pool is full of frolicking sun worshipers. He says moving is the best decision he's made. Back in Sao Paulo, he would spend hours in gridlock, only to get home to find water rationing. It was a struggle to even take a shower. Here in Jundiai, the city is thriving. Jundiai has water as a result of local government policies that have emphasized conservation and a careful management of their resources. The city's reservoir, full to the brim, is surrounded by thick forest. In a park on its edge, families are playing in the afternoon sun. That has become extremely attractive to many people in water-starved Sao Paulo. One real estate agent in Jundiai says she has been getting up to 70 calls a day from residents looking to relocate because of the water shortages. I ask Figueredo if he thinks more people will feel compelled to flee Brazil's economic hub. Those who can afford it will, he says. \"I already left. The last one to go needs to turn off the ligh", "When Pope Benedict XVI arrives this week in Brazil, he will no doubt recall the stir he made in the world's largest Roman Catholic country two decades ago. Then, as Cardinal Ratzinger, the Defender of the Doctrine of the Faith, he clashed with Brazil's leading liberation theologian, Leonardo Boff. Ratzinger warned that his teachings conflated Christ's mission with Marxism, which drained Jesus of his divinity and unique role as the son of God. Ratzinger ordered Boff to be silent for one year in 1985. When the church went after the ordained Franciscan a second time for addressing the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, Boff told Rome: \"The first time, I accepted punishment out of humility. Now it is humiliation. That is a sin, and I won't do it.\" Boff quit the priesthood but remained a Catholic, pressing for what the 68-year-old theologian, philosopher and author calls the central tenet of liberation theology. \"The opposite of poverty is not wealth – it is justice,\" he says. \"And the objective of liberation theology is to create a more just society, not necessarily a wealthier one. And the great question is, how do we do this?\" A generation after Boff's rebuke, Brazil's Catholic clergy is actively, at times defiantly, pursuing the struggle for social justice on behalf of the poor: Catholic bishops stage hunger strikes to halt dam projects that they say put profits of big business above the needs of the people. They broker deals with banks to build housing for the homeless. And priests take to the airwaves to denounce the growing footprint of agro-business that has cut down the rainforest to make way for cattle and much-in-demand soy. Nowhere is that fight fiercer than in the Amazon, home to 23 million people, 43 percent of whom live on less than $2 a day. Rural Radio, a station owned by the Catholic Church, bristles with debate over the future of the Amazon. Station manager Father Edilberto Sena holds forth on Friday mornings from his corner studio in the Amazon port city of Santarem. Sena's mission is to arouse public action against what he terms the four enemies: logging, mining, cattle-ranching and soy farming. About 104,000 square miles of trees have been felled in the state of Para, the most deforested in the Amazon according to new government data. Sena refuses to air advertisements of businesses that he says trample the environment, a decision that's drained the station of its coffers, but not this cleric of his zeal. \"Look, look, look – that's timber! \" the priest shouts, pointing out a truck laden with logs that he's spotted as he trundles down a pot-holed highway after his Friday show. He's packed visitors into his car for a firsthand look at the deforestation around Santarem. Government satellite imagery shows that in just an eight-year period, from 1997 to 2005, deforestation in Santarem jumped from 30 percent to 40 percent. They say it is impossible to say which is the biggest culprit – soy, cattle-ranching or logging. As carpets of green rice and fields of soy flash by, Sena's stream-of-consciousness tour inveighs against foreign capital, expounds on the moral decay of the West, and extols Christ as a subversive who fought the status quo. \"Morality is not just about sex,\" Sena says between exclamations about the next truck filled with timber. \"Morality in Jesus' mind means social morality, solidarity, responsibility, ethics – that is morality. And you cannot go to communion on Sunday, and on Monday destroy the forest. It is against the law of God.\" Soy farmers and companies who have come to trade in timber and soy in the Amazon argue that their presence represents the kind of development that this under-developed area needs. If that is what they are providing, Sena asks: \"Why, then, is the state of Para 22nd out of the 26 states in Brazil in terms of human development?\" Sena's forthright style has mobilized members of the Catholic laity who organized a recent symposium on the threats facing the rainforest. It drew plenty of environmental groups from civil society, illustrating the interconnectedness of the religious and the secular in the Amazon. Even the federal prosecutor occupied a prominent place at the assembly. A supporter of Dorothy Stang, the American nun murdered for her defense of the indigenous people's land rights, prosecutor Felicio Pontes applauds the church's work on behalf of the Amazon. The new Bishop of Santarem says there is \"no clear-cut line\" between the work of the Church and the work of civil society in the struggle for the rights of people. \"I give the people the power of the word to help them recognize what they should be doing. So it's a path to citizenship — a strong word — and it means the people are going after their own rights,\" Bishop Esmeraldo says. Boff, the theologian", "Roughly a month after the Brazilian government said it would open a wide swath of Amazon rain forest to mining interests, it has backpedaled on that controversial decision. In a statement Monday, the country's Ministry of Mines and Energy said President Michel Temer would issue a new decree restoring the original conditions of the nature reserve. Those conditions, established in 1984 under the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil at the time, protected more than 17,000 square miles of rain forest in northern Brazil — a copper-rich expanse larger than Denmark. The area, known as the National Reserve of Copper and Associates (RENCA), is home to several indigenous tribes and what are believed to be significant troves of gold, iron and other minerals. In its decree last month abolishing that reserve, the Ministry of Mines and Energy argued that opening the area would enable the government to combat illegal mining operations and attract legal investment. First, though, the decree attracted immediate criticism from activists and opposition politicians as \"the biggest attack on the Amazon of the last 50 years.\" \"Not even the military dictatorship dared so much,\" Sen. Randolfe Rodrigues said, according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo. \"I never imagined the government had such nerve.\" Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen‏ also stoked public indignation, accusing the government of \"auctioning off our Amazon!\" Despite a revision limiting miners' access to the region, The Guardian reports, a federal Brazilian court suspended the decree shortly afterward, ruling that Temer had exceeded his authority. The decision piled just one more legal woe on Temer, who earlier this month was slapped with his second set of charges as part of a massive corruption probe. He escaped the first set several months ago when lawmakers blocked the prosecution from proceeding while he remains in office. Referring to Temer's reversal on the Amazon reserve, Greenpeace Brazil's Marcio Astrini hailed it as a sign that \"there is no leader absolutely immune to public pressures.\" \"It is a victory of society over those who want to destroy and sell our forest,\" Astrini said. \"Renca is just a battle. The war against the Amazon and its different peoples, promoted by Temer and big agribusiness, is still on.\" In its statement Monday, the Ministry of Mines and Energy signaled that the decision to reinstitute the reserve wasn't the end of its push, either. \"The country needs to grow and generate jobs, attract investment to the mining sector, and even tap the economic potential of the region.\"", "The United Kingdom has become the first western nation to authorize a COVID-19 vaccine. The first doses of Pfizer’s vaccine could be rolled out in the country as early as next week. A Chinese diplomat tweeted a doctored image depicting an Australian soldier murdering an Afghan child. Now, the two countries are locked in a trade disagreement after China refused to apologize for the incident. From NPR: This is the latest in a string of disputes between Australia and China, whose relationship is now at its lowest level in years. In April, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne called for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus and the handling of the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China. Several rounds of counteraccusations between the two countries ensued, with arguments spilling over into areas of trade and sovereignty. Hua insisted the current dispute is not related to the bigger picture of the two countries’ rocky relationship, but she reiterated her criticisms of Australia, saying the country “said and did the wrong things on issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang” — two areas where China has faced its own accusations of human rights abuses this year. Brazil had set a goal to decrease the deforestation rate of the Amazon by 2020. Instead, that rate is currently at a 12-year high and has grown considerably quickly under the stewardship of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. We cover the top international stories of the week on the global edition of the News Roundup.", "There's a seductive idea, currently being road-tested, for how to stop the world's forests from disappearing. It relies on big food companies. That's because most forests are being cleared in order to grow crops or graze cattle. And the resulting palm oil, soybeans or beef find their way into foods being sold by a relatively small number of global companies. So here's the strategy: Get those companies to boycott products from deforested land, and much of the economic incentive to clear more forests will disappear. This should slow down or even stop the loss of forests. At first glance, the strategy looks like it's working marvelously. According to a new report from some leading environmental groups, 400 of the biggest global food companies have taken steps to make sure that at least some of their suppliers aren't responsible for deforestation. About 90 percent of those companies do buy raw materials from deforestation \"hot spots\" like Indonesia and Brazil. But there's a catch. In fact, there is a whole series of catches, according to the report. \"We have this big problem,\" says Charlotte Streck, director of a group called Climate Focus and co-author of the new report. \"We look at what the companies are doing, but we do not know how effective it is.\" For one thing, some companies are making promises that aren't firm commitments. \"If a company only says, for example, 'We procure certified palm oil if it is available,' but doesn't help the producers make that supply available, then it is a relatively easy way out,\" says Streck. According to the report, companies should instead provide farmers with financial and technical support to help them transition into growing those crops in a more sustainable way. A bigger problem, though, is that the companies making these pledges are mostly retailers and food manufacturers, and those companies don't know what's happening at the other end of the supply chain, on the farm. Very few big food companies can trace their palm oil back to particular plots of land. They just know which mill processed the palm fruit into oil. So they have to rely on others, such as organizations that put their stamp of approval on particular suppliers, to verify that a particular shipment of palm oil came from land that hadn't been cleared of trees recently. What's more, they know even less about the origin of their soybeans or beef. \"In the lifetime of [a] Brazilian cow, it goes through many owners and many farms, and it is almost impossible to check on all the farms, that they are not associated with deforestation,\" Streck says. Finally, it's hard to know whether the companies that have pledged to shun deforestation actually control a big enough share of the market to make a difference. Companies with headquarters in Europe or North America account for about 90 percent of the corporate anti-deforestation commitments. Those companies are major players in the palm oil trade, but not in beef production in the deforestation hot spots of Brazil. \"Most of the beef in Latin America — about 80 percent — is eaten in Latin America,\" Streck says. \"So that means that the consumer pressure in Europe and North America has limited effect.\" That's a particular problem because beef is \"by far the largest driver of deforestation,' she says. \"The carbon footprint of beef related to deforestation is about nine times bigger than palm oil.\" In all, scientists estimate that deforestation is responsible for about 15 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. According to Streck, that's more than all the cars, ships, and airplanes on Earth. Instead of tracing commodities from consumer back to supplier, some environmental watchdogs are starting at the other end of the supply chain, in the deforestation hot spots themselves. The World Resources Institute has set up a project called Global Forest Watch. It has created a database of palm oil mills around the world, and it's analyzing satellite images to measure deforestation within 50 km (about 31 miles) of each mill. The group can flag any mills located amid disappearing forests, and companies can check whether they are buying oil from that location. Despite all these shortcomings, though, Streck thinks that food companies will make a difference. \"I do not think that an individual company, even a big one, has the power to reduce deforestation,\" she says, \"but i do think that there is a critical mass [of companies making deforestation pledges], and that matters.\"", "Brazil says it will reject an offer of at least $22 million from the rich countries in the Group of Seven to help fight fires sweeping through the Amazon rainforest. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he doesn't want the money — unless it comes with an apology from French President Emmanuel Macron. Bolsonaro and Macron have engaged in a days-long spat after the French leader used the G-7 summit this week to call for action to protect the Amazon and said the fires are a world environmental crisis that Bolsonaro has allowed to worsen. He also said that Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic, had lied about his effort to combat deforestation. Bolsonaro responded angrily, saying Macron had insulted him and was trying to undermine Brazil's sovereignty by intervening in the Amazon. \"This squabble is infuriating Bolsonaro's critics,\" NPR's Philip Reeves reports from Rio de Janeiro. \"They say he should fight the fires — not the French.\" On Monday, Bolsonaro said in a tweet that he won't accept what he called Macron's \"attacks.\" He also accused Macron of treating Brazil \"as if we were a colony or no man's land.\" In an interview on French TV, Macron later referred to the Amazon as \"the lungs of the planet\" and pledged that the G-7 countries would help Brazil balance its economic development with environmental concerns. In an aside addressed to Bolsonaro, he added, \"But we cannot allow you to destroy everything.\" On Tuesday morning, Bolsonaro said Macron would have to take back all the things he said about him before he would even consider the offer of monetary aid from members of the G-7: the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. Bolsonaro made those remarks to reporters in Brasilia shortly after the website G1 reported that the president's chief of staff, Onyx Lorenzoni, had rejected the offer outright. \"Thanks, but perhaps these resources are more relevant to reforesting Europe,\" Lorenzoni was quoted as saying. Referring to the recent Notre Dame blaze in Paris, he went on to suggest that if Macron cannot \"avoid a predictable fire in a church,\" he might not have much to teach to Brazil. President Trump came to Bolsonaro's defense on Tuesday, saying via Twitter, \"He is working very hard on the Amazon fires and in all respects doing a great job for the people of Brazil — Not easy.\" In reply, Bolsonaro thanked Trump and wrote, \"The fake news campaign built against our sovereignty will not work.\" Macron made the devastating fires in the Amazon a key point for the G-7 summit even before meetings began in Biarritz, France. \"The ocean and the forest that burns in the Amazon call us. We have to answer them,\" he said, adding, \"The time is no longer for words, but for deeds.\" The offer of money from the G-7 nations also has drawn attention over its modest size — because it is coming from some of the world's largest economies and because of the task it is meant to accomplish. \"It's really only symbolic,\" Nigel Sizer, the chief program officer at the nonprofit Rainforest Alliance, told NPR. \"It's less than Americans spend on popcorn in a typical day.\" In that light, Sizer said, it's not surprising that Brazil has rejected the offer. And he added that the problem is partly political, as well. \"The fact is that Brazil has the resources and the expertise to address this challenge,\" Sizer said. \"Since the Bolsonaro government came into power at the beginning of this year, they have systematically defunded their environmental protection agencies.\" The shocking losses in the Amazon rainforest have prompted intense reactions globally. In addition to the formal G-7 offer, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered to send the affected nations 10 million pounds (around $12.2 million), and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered to send CA$15 million (around $11.2 million) and water bomber planes to fight the fires. As awareness has spread on social media and elsewhere, donations have poured in from all over, Sizer said. \"The people of the world actually are pledging more resources than the G-7 has been committing,\" he said. \"We've seen millions and millions of dollars coming in.\" Actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio has also stepped in, with his Earth Alliance group creating a $5 million emergency Amazon fund to help indigenous communities and others who are working to protect the Amazon's prodigious biodiversity from being destroyed." ]

[ "Severus Snape's Patronus was also a doe, which symbolized his love for Lily. Snape uses his doe Patronus to show Dumbledore that he never fell out of love with Lily, his childhood best friend. ... Snape's doe Patronus reveals his one true motivation throughout Harry's life: to protect the child of the woman he loved." ]

[ "Snape's matches Lily's as he loved her. The reason that Snape's Patronus matches Lily's is because he was in love with her, as Harry tells the Dark Lord.", "So, James's patronus was a stag, probably because that was his state as an Animagus. Lily loved James, her \"happiest\" memory probably had something to do with him, so her patronus was a doe. And Snape was obsessed with Lily, so their patronuses were the same.", "Harry's patrous is a stag, representing his love and feeling of loss whenever he thinks of his father. ... Lily loved James, her \"happiest\" memory probably had something to do with him, so her patronus was a doe. And Snape was obsessed with Lily, so their patronuses were the same.", "It was during their stay in the forest that Severus Snape anonymously delivered Godric Gryffindor's Sword to Harry by placing it inside the frozen lake that resides in the forest and using his Patronus, a doe, to guide him to it.", "Snape deposited the real sword in a frozen lake in the Forest of Dean and used his corporeal Doe Patronus to guide Harry to the sword.", "Severus Snape and Lily Potter (nee Evans) were childhood friends. Lily and Snape probably met when they were about ten, before their Hogwarts letters arrived. The Evanses and the Snapes lived near each other, and thus the two young wizards became friends.", "He uses his Patronus to lure Harry and leaves the sword at the bottom of a frozen lake. Once Snape knew where Harry was camping, he needed to create the conditions of need and valor for the sword to be retrieved. He uses his Patronus to lure Harry and leaves the sword at the bottom of a frozen lake.", "There is a unique relationship between Harry Potter and Snape. Snape loved Lily the mother of Harry Potter but she married to James Potter. Even after Lily's marriage Snape loved her and didn't got married to any other. Even after Lily's death he loved her and took care and gave a great protection to Harry.", "Following that incident, Severus Snape passed the counterfeit sword to Bellatrix Lestrange. ... Snape deposited the real sword in a frozen lake in the Forest of Dean and used his corporeal Doe Patronus to guide Harry to the sword.", "Snape deposited the real sword in a frozen lake in the Forest of Dean and left a Patronus to guide Harry to the sword. When Harry tried to retrieve the sword, Salazar Slytherin's Locket closed around his neck and attempted to strangle him, sensing that its destruction was near.", "Snape deposited the real sword in a frozen lake in the Forest of Dean and used his corporeal Doe Patronus to guide Harry to the sword. ... Ron Weasley came to Harry's rescue, retrieved the sword from the lake and used it to stab the locket, destroying it.", "Wikia summarizes this well: Dumbledore's portrait instructed Snape to give Harry the real sword without Harry knowing that it was Snape, in case Voldemort found out through Legilimency on Harry. Snape deposited the real sword in a frozen lake in the Forest of Dean and left a Patronus to guide Harry to the sword.", "Severus Snape lived near the Evans family when he was a child and soon began spying on Lily after he noticed that she was a witch. The two became friends when he started telling her about the wizarding world, being excited of attending Hogwarts together.", "Once Snape knew where Harry was camping, he needed to create the conditions of need and valor for the sword to be retrieved. He uses his Patronus to lure Harry and leaves the sword at the bottom of a frozen lake. ... He saves Harry from drowning, gets the Horcrux off him and retrieves the sword of Gryffindor.", "Fred and George Weasley have the same Patronus shape: A magpie. Rowling revealed on Twitter that the Weasley twins both cast Patronus charms shaped like a magpie, which is a type of bird.", "Harry Potter is the boy, who must die, because he is a horcrux. A part of Voldemort's soul. With Lily's Theme (the person, who saved Harry as a child) in the background, I give you an emotional impression about this matter, during Professor Dumbledore and Severus Snape talk about it.", "Given the magic background, Credence could be the grandfather of another important Harry Potter figure; Severus Snape. Snape was the child of Eileen Prince, a witch, and Tobias Snape, a muggle (hence his self-imposed nickname, The Half-Blood Prince). ... He could even end up being the grandfather of Rodolphus Lestrange.", "Severus Snape gave the Order of the Phoenix the idea of using Polyjuice Potion. He did this by placing the Imperius Curse upon Mundungus Fletcher and then getting Mundungus to pass on his plan to Mad-Eye Moody. Severus Snape partially protected George Weasley.", "Why did Snape give the Gryffindor's Sword to Bellatrix to keep? In Deathly Hallows, we find out that, after Ginny Weasley tried to steal the Sword, Severus Snape gave the sword (or rather, a copy, as we find out), to Bellatrix Lestrange to store in Gringott's vault.", "Jealousy - Lily was a witch. Lily was somehow special and she was a gifted and talented witch at that. Petunia had hoped to be special as well and had begged Dumbledore to be allowed to come to Hogwarts but her dreams had remained unfulfilled. Being shunned by magic while her sister was readily accepted hurt her.", "Dobby (28 June (year unknown) – March, 1998) was a male house-elf who served the Malfoy family. His masters were Dark Wizards who treated him cruelly. In 1992 he disobeyed his masters and tried to warn Harry Potter of the plot to have the Chamber of Secrets reopened.", "Originally Answered: In Harry Potter, why did Snape put the Sword of Gryffindor at the bottom of a frozen lake, as opposed to making it easy for Harry/Ron to get it? because retriving the sword required the act of chivalry. hence the sword was kept at the bottom óf the lake for harry to retrive.", "Thus one series of calla lily meanings focuses on the concepts of holiness, faith and purity. White calla lily flowers are commonly used in Easter services and have come to represent resurrection and rebirth. This is also why calla lilies are a traditional choice for funeral arrangements and expressions of sympathy.", "Dobby was a great and loyal house elf. ... Dobby was a great elf; he wasn't ever on Lucius's side, it was just that Lucius was his master. Also, he may have injured Harry in the Chamber of Secrets, but only because he wanted to save him from greater dangers. Just remember; Dobby was happy to die to protect Harry.", "White lilies symbolise purity and rebirth Often chosen for both weddings and funerals, white lilies symbolise a rejuvenation of the soul. They can represent purity, commitment and rebirth, which is why they're often chosen as Sympathy Flowers.", "Severus Snape is more likely to win. A brief Snape-McGonagall duel did take place in Hogwarts. ... Severus Snape is more likely to win. A brief Snape-McGonagall duel did take place in Hogwarts.", "Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks met when they both became members of the second Order of the Phoenix. ... Tonks became very depressed over this: her metamorphic abilities suffered, she looked ill, as well as her Patronus changed to resemble a werewolf.", "Even though all the Death Eaters except Snape and Wormtail are shown to be naturally evil people, most at least have an ulterior motive that benefits them. While not “sadistic”, dementors and giants also fall here; they hurt people because it is in their nature to destroy lives.", "How does a lily pad grow in water? There are a lot of different species of water lilies but for the most part lily pads float on the water and have roots that reach the muddy bottom. Lily pads get nutrients from these roots just like other plants.", "With the under age tracking on her she couldn't go with him, so she was doing what she could at Hogwarts. Them not knowing that Snape would get the sword to Harry, and being Dumbledore's Army, and Gryfindors were trying to get that sword to Harry at any cost.", "Why Are Calla Lilies Toxic? Calla lilies contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that are similar to other plants in the Araceae family. ... Though poisoning is rare, eating and swallowing any part of the calla lily plant will almost certainly result in a rather unpleasant experience.", "White lilies symbolise purity and rebirth They can represent purity, commitment and rebirth, which is why they're often chosen as Sympathy Flowers." ]

[ "The minim was defined as one 60th of a fluid dram or one 480th of a fluid ounce. This is equal to about 61.6 μL (U.S.) or 59.2 μL (Britain). Pharmacists have since moved to metric measurements, with a drop being rounded to exactly 0.05 mL (50 μL, that is, 20 drops per milliliter)." ]

[ "How many grams is 140ml? - 1 ml equals 1 gram, therefore there are 140 grams in 140 ml. 140 ml to grams converter to calculate how many grams is 140 ml.", "How many grams is 5ml? - 1 ml equals 1 gram, therefore there are 5 grams in 5 ml. 5 ml to grams converter to calculate how many grams is 5 ml. To convert 5 ml to g, simply multiply 5 ml by 1 to get grams.", "50 ml to Grams. How many grams is 50ml? - 1 ml equals 1 gram, therefore there are 50 grams in 50 ml. 50 ml to grams converter to calculate how many grams is 50 ml.", "How many grams in 2 ml? There are 2 grams in 2 ml because 1 milliliter equals 1 gram.", "How many grams is 200ml? - 1 ml equals 1 gram, therefore there are 200 grams in 200 ml. 200 ml to grams converter to calculate how many grams is 200 ml.", "How Many Grams is 26 ml? 26 ml equals 26 grams. Since 1 milliliters is equivalent to 1 gram, 26 ml would equal to 26 grams.", "How many grams in 2000 ml? There are 2000 grams in 2000 ml because 1 milliliter equals 1 gram.", "How Many Grams is 20 ml? 20 ml equals 20 grams. Since 1 milliliters is equivalent to 1 gram, 20 ml would equal to 20 grams.", "How many grams in 60 ml? There are 60 grams in 60 ml because 1 milliliter equals 1 gram.", "How Many Grams is 99 ml? 99 ml equals 99 grams. Since 1 milliliters is equivalent to 1 gram, 99 ml would equal to 99 grams.", "How Many ML Is 12 MG? After converting 12 mg in ML, the answer will be 0.012 ml.", "How many mg/ml in 1 g/ml? The answer is 1000. We assume you are converting between milligram/millilitre and gram/millilitre.", "How many glasses are in 750ml? - Quora. How many glasses are in 750ml? But in restaurants they frequently take 200 ml as the volume of 1 glass, that way they get 5 glasses exactly out of 1 liter bottles.", "›› More information from the unit converter How many kPa*ml in 1 J? The answer is 1000.", "How Many ML Is 25 MG? After converting 25 mg in ML, the answer will be 0.025 ml.", "Gently squeeze 1-2 drops into each eye, use as often as required. Do not allow the tip of the dropper to touch the eye. Hycosan eye drops can be used as frequently as required. Normally three applications per day is sufficient.", "How many ug/ml in 1 mg/ml? The answer is 1000. We assume you are converting between microgram/milliliter and milligram/millilitre. You can view more details on each measurement unit: ug/ml or mg/ml The SI derived unit for density is the kilogram/cubic meter.", "One gram of gold converted to milliliter equals to 0.052 ml. How many milliliters of gold are in 1 gram? The answer is: The change of 1 g ( gram ) unit of a gold amount equals = to 0.052 ml ( milliliter ) as the equivalent measure for the same gold type.", "How Many ML Is 2 MG? After converting 2 mg in ML, the answer will be 0.002 ml.", "How many ml is 3 oz? 3 oz is equal to 88.72 ml, or there are 88.72 milliliters in 3 ounces.", "One US cup of granulated sugar converted to milliliter equals to 236.59 ml. How many milliliters of granulated sugar are in 1 US cup?", "How Many ML Is 6 MG? After converting 6 mg in ML, the answer will be 0.006 ml.", "1 Liter (L) is equal to 1000 milliliters (mL). To convert liters to mL, multiply the liter value by 1000. For example, to find out how many milliliters there are in a liter and a half, multiply 1.5 by 1000, that makes 1500 mL in a liter and a half.", "How many ml is 25 oz? 25 oz is equal to 739.35 ml, or there are 739.35 milliliters in 25 ounces.", "Tilt your head back, look up, and pull down the lower eyelid to make a pouch. For drops/gels, place the dropper directly over the eye and squeeze out 1 or 2 drops as needed. Look down and gently close your eye for 1 or 2 minutes.", "How many g/ml in 1 kg/ml? The answer is 1000. We assume you are converting between gram/millilitre and kilogram/millilitre. You can view more details on each measurement unit: g/ml or kg/ml The SI derived unit for density is the kilogram/cubic meter.", "Dropper. The Dropper is a companion to the Dispenser, but the two have one major difference: the Dropper spits out all items as entities, but the Dispenser shoots out some as projectiles or otherwise. They are similar in many ways to dispensers, such as placing behaviour.", "How many ml is 80 oz? 80 oz is equal to 2,365.92 ml, or there are 2,365.92 milliliters in 80 ounces.", "How many ml is 22 oz? 22 oz is equal to 650.63 ml, or there are 650.63 milliliters in 22 ounces.", "How many ml is 40 oz? 40 oz is equal to 1,182.96 ml, or there are 1,182.96 milliliters in 40 ounces.", "1 liter of water is 1,000 mL. Also “one glass of water” usually means 8 ounces or 240 mL. So one liter will have 4.17 glasses of water: 4 are full to the brim and 1 is 17% full. Originally Answered: How many glasses of water are there in 1 liter?", "How many milliliters of concrete are in 1 centigram? The answer is: The change of 1 cg - cgm ( centigram ) unit of concrete measure equals = to 0.0042 ml ( milliliter ) as the equivalent measure for the same concrete type." ]

[ "All the caves are shown on this site --- you could have done this yourself and not waited days for someone else to do it ..." ]

[ "pkg is package so depending on what size package you have as to how many teaspoons you have in it.", "Pick the city of your choice, contact a local real estate agency for commercial properties, tell them you need a shop sized location in the suburbs/housing area.\\n3 out of 5 ppl have pets, so you can estimate how many potential customers youd be having in that location and you can estimate if you can cover the expenses.", "hidding out in a cave somewhere. If we knew where he was he'd be dead. I just don't see how you hide a man that tall with a huge beard and turban.", "It'll probley be the same. The reason why kentucky was at their worse this season is because (from what I understand) the players was having problems outside of the court. Their 'chemistry' wasn't working this season. Hopefully they will get better. It is not Tubby's fault that they are that way. It is the players and the problem(s) that is going on. Look at how horrible Louisville was this season. Do you think Kentucky would do any better? Rick Pitino is a good coach. So is Tubby but, Tubby has done sooo much more for kentucky than Rick Pitino has. But, Kentucky will have a better season next year.\\n~Amanda", "because black women come in many different shades of color and sizes. So someone is always downing some one because of what they got, how they look, where they come from. Instead of giving props we like people to feel below us instead of giving it up to actually see that person excel in life.", "You must set your e-mail to send email to manipulate font size. the html command is <font size=\"7\"> or <font=\"+7> where 7 represents size wanted and + is either + or -\\nof course there are many other ways of manipulating fonts size including css sheets.\\n\\nIf you are asking how to increase fontsize when displaying e-mail and websites on the screen in ie you can do view, text size, largest", "There are no consistent sizes for dugouts ... even in major league stadiums, where the size varies greatly (tending to be smaller in the older parks). The best advice I could give you for building one is to figure out how many players and coaches will be using the dugout and build to a size that will comfortably allow them to sit and store their equipment.", "Way too many variable for a one-size-fits all answer. How serious is the tumor? Is the woman in a coma? How viable is the fetus? What does the family want? You get the idea.", "In all honesty some of my best lovers were small , and some were average and some were huge . It is all in how the man uses what he has . For me the size of my lover has never really mattered , I will tell you this though if its too big I dont really enjoy it . As to where if its small it cant hurt you . Either way no matter what your size there are sooooo many ways to please a women and as long as you do the size of your package will be the last thing on her mind .", "With my help.\\n\\nTell me what brands do you want and how much volume do you plan to import and how often and where are you located (City)?", "Depends on where you are in the country, how far from a gravel company, what type of gravel-Class 5, washed, etc. Truck size also depends on the company. On average around $150/load for what we get. But really depends on where you are.", "memorize the most popular and remember where they are located and how cloe they are together", "Karst! At least this is the terminology for the type of landscape created by dissolution of limestone, dolomite, gypsum and rarely quartzite. This is the landscape that contains caves, sinkholes, and dolines. \\n\\nThe process is initiated when rain water picks up carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and then picks up even more carbon dioxide as it seeps through soil. Soil often has a carbon dioxide content as high as ten percent so the water may become very acidic, since carbon dioxide combines with water to form carbonic acid. As the water permeates downward it encounters bedrock. In limestone this bedrock is often fractured and where the water begins to penetrate the rock the carbonic acid will dissolve the limestone, which is calcium carbonate. These fractures will gradually enlarge creating an irregular zone where the soil contacts the bedrock. If the carbonic acid content of the water is high enough, or its penetration rate is fast enough, it will sink into the rock until it hits some sort of a barrier and there it will begin to dissolve away rock. This will eventually become a cave. Other types of landforms that will develop are sink holes. Sink holes are large pits that form under the soil surface, sometimes by cave collapse, and sometimes just by dissolution. Some areas of the world are dominated by sinkholes, like parts of Puerto Rico and Jamaica's cockpit country. \\n\\nOther caves that have formed by this process are Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, USA, which is the worlds longest cave. Mammoth Cave is has about 367 miles in length that have been mapped so far, and mapping continues. Another famous cave is Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns was formed by a different type of dissolution when groundwater mixed with sulphur compounds, possibly during petroleum generation or migration, and formed sulphuric acid which is believed to have moved upwards into the ancient Capitan reef rock and dissolved enormous cave passages. Another type of cave forms where different types of groundwater such as saltwater and freshwater mix together in the subsurface. These are called mixing zone caves and they can form at great depths where the reaction between the two solutions creates a potential for dissolution of limestone. \\n\\nThe Arabika Massif, Western Massif has recently been mapped as the world's deepest cave at –2080m (6824 ft). The Optimisticeskaja in Ukraine is the world's third longest cave and the world's longest gypsum cave at 133 miles. \\nhttp://www.pipeline.com/~caverbob/wlong.htm\\n\\nIn Brazil there is a cave formed by dissolution of quartzite, the Caverna do Centenário and I believe there are some examples of this in Venezuela as well. \\nhttp://www.showcaves.com/english/br/caves/Centenario.html\\n\\nKarst landscapes tend to be some of the poorest in the world because they are difficult to farm. Other problems associated with karst are collapse of sinkholes, such as those that happen occasionally in Florida, taking houses, cars,and everything else down into the hole. Contamination of ground water is a difficult problem in karst areas because the spill of a contaminant can quickly move through a complex underground drainage system in ways that are difficult to predict unless there has been considerable dye tracing of the karst system. One fear of karst scientists around Mammoth Cave is that a spill of a dangerous material on the nearby interstate could contaminate large parts of the cave system within hours or days. \\n\\nAs for other less dramatic effects of bedrock dissolution, most rainwater does pick up some rock as it percolates downward toward the water table. Most often this solute ends up in the groundwater and is the reason some well water is described as 'hard' water since it has a taste that is given to it by the dissolved minerals. In most areas this dissolution is so insignificant that it does little to change the land surface.", "wow, where did you get so many hands; or is that your hand size?", "How many pictures across the page do you want, and how many pictures in total are there? That seems to be the crucial information that is missing in this question.\\n\\nWhy is it determined how wide the margins and frame around the images are, but not what the size of the image is?\\n\\nReally you have to decide how big you want the pictures first and work on from there.", "It is a cave discussion board, a cavechat. Discussion topics include caving, vertical caving, cave rescue, cave photography, cave information, cave gear, cave news, cave conservation and other cave related topics.", "It depends on a lot of variables:\\n\\n- Where in New York city will you locate. Rent in 5th Avenue is different from Harlem.\\n- How big is the space you are planning to lease\\n- What renovations or lease-site improvements will you do to the place you will get\\n- What shelving systems and decor are you going to put up\\n- How much inventory are you willing to put\\n- How many staff will be on your payroll\\n- How much initial marketing you will do\\n- Plus your operating capital for at least 6 months", "Business Plan for raising capital, from bank or investors.\\nIf you don't need money, it is still a good idea to write out what your plan is regarding intended size of business, market you will serve, will you contract with AAA or other motor clubs, will you go after business from dealers or repairs shops?\\n\\nWho will operate the business. How many employees? How many trucks? Will you do repairs? Do you need a walk in location or just operate from home? How much will insurance cost, rent. Business licenses needed where you operate? How will you do payroll? Apply for credit card acceptance? Do you have an accountant? Will you do your own financial recordkeeping? With what? Quicken? Do you have a lawyer? Will you incorporate? Subchapter S corp, C Corp or LLC? Do you have an insurance agent?\\n\\nFinancial projections.. can you make money, how many tow jobs a week can you do? how long before you make a living, can you support yourself until positive cash flow?", "all depends on your location and how many kids you want to tke care of.", "Multivariate analysis is a statistical technique to examine the effect of many variables on a single outcome. For example, if you were studying what factors go into the price of a house, you might collect data about location, age of the house, and size of the house. You could then perform a multivariate analysis to determine the relative contribution of each of those factors to the price of the home.", "as in for a business thing? Its the size of a company (ie how many employees)", "if you are reading sheet music it has to do with a time signature. I the top number indicates how many beats are in each measure while the bottom means what type of note gets the beat. If you were refering to the size of a violin the sizes are 1/16 1/4 1/2 3/4 and4/4. A full size violin is 4/4 so a 1/2 violin is half the size of a full size.", "I forget how to do it, but if you look on an HTML tutorial site under thumbnails, it will show you how to make the thumbnail image on your main page where you are viewing it. You link to the file which is the actual size picture. When you click the thumbnail (the size on that one is specified) it will take you to the larger file where size is original and not specified to be smaller.", "Accountants with with numbers to keep very accurate track of all of the resources of a business. That will include not only the money, but also the materials like what is being sold or bought, the people who work for the business and their salaries and benefits.\\n\\nThat position requires extreme attention to detail. The pay will depend on where (what city) the position is located, how big the business is that has to be accounted for, how many people work under you, and what qualifications you bring to the position. It couple pay as low as $25-30K a year up to six figures for a major corporation", "Oh! It's very very ancient.\\nScientists said that Ancient period of Greece stared before 20,000 B.C. They found many \"clews\" in Franchthi Cave. It is unique in Greece in having an essentially unbroken series of deposits spanning the period from ca. 20,000 B.C. (and probably even earlier) down to ca. 3000 B.C. The site is located in the southeastern Argolid, across a small bay from the modern Greek village of Koilada.", "Hi,\\nNeither of these.\\nSize doesn't matter, holding strength doesn't matter, or how many times you can do it in an hour doesn't matter.\\nWhat matters is the mind; sex is in the mind. What you do with your size is what's important, not what the size is.\\nForeplay is more important, getting aroused, mentally, caring for the other, and hoping they will have a great time!\\nPlease rate my answer, and best of luck.", "The number is how many inches you are around. The letter is your cup size.", "If the land that you have is to be used for a primary residence, then yes, it is possible to get an easment to build some form of road to the location.\\n\\nIf however, it is hunting land, crop land, or other non primary land, then it proably will not be allowed; instead a trail system will be used instead of a road.\\n\\nIt is best to contact USFS with the type of land, how many acres the land is, and where it is located, and they will be able to answer your question fully.", "its' the same symbol that is in the cave where Clark goes all the time to see the grafitti\\nnobody knows - ask Lana", "Bulmer's fruit bat (Aproteles bulmerae) is an Old World fruit bat endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss and hunting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulmer's_fruit_bat\\n\\nToday, Bulmer's fruit bats are found only in one location - a cave in Luplupwintem. The bat is very cautious and will only leave the cave if undisturbed, and then only after one or two scouts survey the area and call back to the group. The bats then leave the cave at dusk or dark (dark if there are people or other dangers in the area) and return to roost before light.\\n\\nBulmer fruit's bat, now listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, was thought to be extinct twice, and only a few surviving bats remain at Luplupwintem Cave. http://www.worldwildlife.org/expeditions/newguinea/spec_bat.cfm", "Cave fish live in a very small place, and often have no eyes or eyesight. They never leave the small cave they dwell in, and rely on the water flowing through the cave to bring them food and sustenance. It means that after this person retires they want to stop having the same experiences and views, and perhaps take some risks and try new things, unlike what they have done before. They want to leave the cave of their past life and see entirely new things..", "Have you been living in a cave? Saddam is in jail. And lear how to spell if you are going to write a question" ]

[ "Nervous System. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, sensory organs, and all of the nerves that connect these organs with the rest of the body. Together, these organs are responsible for the control of the body and communication among its parts." ]

[ "The autonomic nervous system regulates organ systems through circuits that resemble the reflexes described in the somatic nervous system. The main difference between the somatic and autonomic systems is in what target tissues are effectors. Somatic responses are solely based on skeletal muscle contraction.", "Cell, tissue, organ, organ system, whole organism. What are five major functions of animals? Obtain food and oxygen, keep internal conditions stable, move, and reproduce.", "Tissues are collections of cells which serve the same function while organs are collections of tissues. Organ systems are composed of groups of organs with the same purpose and function. The types of tissues include epithelial, connective, nervous and muscle.", "The major differences between the two systems are evident in the responses that each produces. The somatic nervous system causes contraction of skeletal muscles. The autonomic nervous system controls cardiac and smooth muscle, as well as glandular tissue.", "The cells of most animals are organized into higher levels of structure, including, tissue, organs, and organs systems. What are four major functions of animals? Some major functions of animals are obtaining food and oxygen, keeping internal conditions stable, moving, and reproducing.", "The major advantage of having both a nervous and endocrine system is the maintenance of homeostasis in the body of an organism. Both these systems play a major role in transmitting the chemical messages which are needed to maintain homeostasis.", "The major components of the lymphatic system include lymph, lymphatic vessels, and lymphatic organs that contain lymphoid tissues.", "Divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System. The PNS is divided into two major systems, called the autonomic nervous system and the somatic (or sensory-somatic) nervous system.", "The human body is a single structure but it is made up of billions of smaller structures of four major kinds: cells, tissues, organs, and systems. An organ is an organization of several different kinds of tissues so arranged that together they can perform a special function.", "The autonomic nervous system is divided into three parts: the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls smooth muscle of the viscera (internal organs) and glands.", "Much of this information comes through the sensory organs: the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin. Specialized cells and tissues within these organs receive raw stimuli and translate them into signals the nervous system can use.", "The PNS has two major subdivisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is associated with activities traditionally thought of as conscious or voluntary.", "Cardiac muscle tissue is a specialized, organized type of tissue that only exists in the heart. It is responsible for keeping the heart pumping and blood circulating around the body. Cardiac muscle tissue, or myocardium, contains cells that expand and contract in response to electrical impulses from the nervous system.", "What are the four basic types of tissues that make up the human body? Epithelial tissue, Connective tissue, Muscular tissue, and Nervous tissue.", "What is the difference between tissues and organs? A tissue is a group of cells that perform the same function, whereas organs is created by a specific type of tissue and made for a specific function. List the 11 main systems of the human body.", "Cephalization is defined as the evolutionary trend toward nervous system centralization and the development of a head and brain. Cephalized organisms display bilateral symmetry. Sense organs or tissues are concentrated on or near the head, which is at the front of the animal as it moves forward.", "The autonomic nervous system comprises two antagonistic sets of nerves, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system connects the internal organs to the brain by spinal nerves.", "Combining form meaning nerve, nerve tissue, the nervous system.", "Autonomic nervous system. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a functional division of the nervous system, with its structural parts in both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). It controls the glands and smooth muscle of all the internal organs (viscera) unconsciously.", "Parasympathetic nervous system, division of the nervous system that primarily modulates visceral organs such as glands. The parasympathetic system is one of two antagonistic sets of nerves of the autonomic nervous system; the other set comprises the sympathetic nervous system.", "The autonomic nervous system is the division of the peripheral nervous system that carries motor information to the visceral organs and glands. It is made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous systems.", "The autonomic nervous system consists of two sub-components, whereas the somatic nervous system only has one. ... The autonomic nervous system controls internal organs and glands, while the somatic nervous system controls muscles and movement.", "Answer: Explanation: Peripheral nervous system : The portion of the nervous system that is outside brain and spinal cord . the nerves is is the peripheral nervous system is directly connect the central nervous system to sense organs like, eye,ear,skin;.", "Epithelium (/ˌɛpɪˈθiːliəm/) is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. Epithelial tissues line the outer surfaces of organs and blood vessels throughout the body, as well as the inner surfaces of cavities in many internal organs.", "['The endocrine system functions with the nervous system in.... communication and control of the body.', 'Main function. to maintain homeostasis.', 'Cells, tissues, and organs of the endocrine system. ductless; secrete hormones,', 'paracrine glands. ... ', 'autocrine glands. ... ', 'exocrine glands. ... ', 'neurons. ... ', 'endocrine glands.']", "Sense is a physiological ability to recieve data for perception. Nervous system has specific sensory nervous system, and sense organ for each sense. Brain is organ located in head, serves as center of nervous system. ... \"Brain\" can be a synonym for mind, and it can also refer to the physical organ within your skull.", "Lymphatic System Structures. The major components of the lymphatic system include lymph, lymphatic vessels, and lymphatic organs that contain lymphoid tissues. Lymphatic vessels are structures that absorb fluid that diffuses from blood vessel capillaries into surrounding tissues.", "The human body is a single structure but it is made up of billions of smaller structures of four major kinds: cells, tissues, organs, and systems.", "Cells make up tissues, tissues make up organs, and organs make up organ systems. The function of an organ system depends on the integrated activity of its organs.", "The adrenal medulla is neuroendocrine tissue composed of postganglionic sympathetic nervous system (SNS) neurons. It is really an extension of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates homeostasis in the body.", "There are four types of tissues found in animals: epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. In this lab you will learn the major characteristics of each tissue and examine various types of each tissue under the microscope.", "The neurons are single nerve cells where as nerves are elongated congregations of tissues. The neurons are found in the central and the peripheral nervous system, but the nerves are only in the peripheral nervous system." ]

[ "A Muslim school is removing from textbooks passages which allegedly brand other faiths as \"worthless\"." ]

[ "Google today began allowing users to download and print books in PDF format in an expansion of its controversial book search project.", "A first edition Harry Potter book fetched $18,000 at auction Tuesday.", "A rare first edition of a Harry Potter book sells for £9,000 at an auction in London.", "Who says people don&#39;t care about books? For the second year in a row, controversy has swirled around the National Book Awards.", "In an attempt to increase book sales, HarperCollins Publishers will begin offering free electronic editions of some of its books on its Web site on Monday.", "A new history book causes controversy in Switzerland because of its treatment of the Swiss role in WWII.", "· Court rules controversial book can be published · Goldman family, not former actor, to benefit", "Academics claim that patriotism should be taught as a controversial issue in schools.", "Controversial rapper Eminem is about to court more controversy as his mother sets to release a book that reveals that he is not all he claims to be", "With a new book the controversial author takes on the sacred ground of the terror attacks and their aftermath", "Controversial book search engine can be co-branded and embedded on publishers' sites.", "A rare signed first edition Harry Potter book is expected to fetch up to £12,000 at auction.", "Blog: Google adds 12 Midwest university libraries to controversial book scanning project.", "Strategy+business concludes that a controversial new book on the strategic value of information technology is flawed--but correct.", "A rare signed first edition Harry Potter book sells for £19,700 at Christie's auction house in London.", "Church of England's new head of education suggest controversial theory should be taught in schools.", "Gwynedd councillors meet to consider controversial plans to close 29 primary schools.", "Online auction firm eBay says a first edition copy of a Harry Potter book could fetch up to £20,000.", "A woman inherits a very rare first edition book of Shakespeare's plays, which is set to make millions of pounds at auction.", "The man who turned the pain of the Holocaust into a Pulitzer Prize-winning comic book novel has returned to serious cartooning with a controversial book on the Sept. 11 attacks and their aftermath.", "A controversial new program will have lieutenant colonels interact with high school students.", "LOS ANGELES - Phil Jackson&#39;s new book is stirring lots of controversy. Bryant, Jerry Buss and GM Mitch Kupchak speak out about the book.", "A rare first edition of the Book of Mormon found in a home near Palmyra, the birthplace of the Mormon religion, fetched $105,600 at auction Wednesday.", "Barnes & Noble, the world's largest book retailer, has decided to sell O.J. Simpson's book \"If I Did It\" in its stores, reversing an earlier decision to offer the controversial title only on the Web.", "The German education minister suggests that a common European history book could be used in schools.", "Technology heavyweight Microsoft will unveil an online library that will compete with Google's controversial project to digitize the world's books, the company said.", "N80 Internet Edition offers GSM cell coverage, Wi-Fi access, Web browsing, a camera, a book reader and maps.", "At an auction on Tuesday the first edition Harry Potter book went for $18,000 to an anonymous bidder. The book pubished as \"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone\" and is so valuable because of its rarity. The publishers only produced between 500 and 1,...", "French finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy stirs up controversy by calling for state funding for mosques in his new book.", "CHICAGO : Controversial new Northwest Airlines fees for tickets booked by telephone or in person at airport counters went into force.", "A British woman is planning to auction a rare edition of a Shakespeare book that she inherited from a distant relative she didn't know existed.", "Glasgow City Council is to close part of a controversial school for some of Scotland's most vulnerable teenagers." ]

[ "Perhaps it was the dry, dull, look of the beans that should have warned me of the average flavor forthcoming from my Espresso machine. Should Amazon or whomever sent me this, state the roasting date on its advertisements?" ]

[ "Yum! The BEST dark pretzels ever. If you are tired of the ho-hum regular pretzels, sourdough pretzels, butter pretzels, etc., try these.", "My wife really liked this gift basket, much to my surprise. I have given her so many of these, that I expected another ho-hum response.<br /><br />She especially mentioned the beautiful basket, which she put in the corner of the bathroom vanity.", "I started using Manuka Honey to see if I could finally get off Prilosec that I have been taking everyday for 8-9 months now for acid reflux. Everytime I would stop taking it the heartburn would come back within 24 hours. It didn't matter what I ate it would just come back, so I tried Manuka Honey (1 teaspoon in the morning) . I have been Prilosec free for 2 weeks now and the only other thing I do is take a table spoon of a fiber supplement (Citrucel) also in the morning. I have been taking Manuka honey for about 1 1/2 months. No heartburn, no pills for 2 weeks now and I eat whatever the hell I want. Coincidence? Hum.......", "So far, I've grown lettuce and gourmet herbs in the Aerogarden. The herbs had one failure (the cilantro) and the lettuce grew like gangbusters but didn't seem worth the trouble. Then I planted the French herb garden, wanting to have chervil and savory, among other herbs not commonly available at the grocery.<br /><br />The kit has chervil, sorrel, savory, parsley, Marseilles basil, sage and chives. All of these are quite useful. I might have substituted thyme for the parsley--parsley grows pretty slowly and I think it is a waste in the Aerogarden as it's commonly available in huge bunches at the market. But it is convenient to have this essential herb at your fingertips. Sad to say, one can't have rosemary or tarragon in the Aerogarden. Both of these are woody herbs and don't really grow from seeds. But one can often find pots in the garden center. Maybe with an additional grow-light, I can add them to the kitchen garden. I wonder if the Aerogarden pods could someday be adapted to grow slips of plants like tarragon (shipped live.)<br /><br />All the pods germinated before the estimated time, including chervil which has the longest (3 week) germination. The herbs are growing healthily and quickly. So far, this looks to be the most versatile of the sets I've grown. My previous herb garden resides in a flower pot and is more or less humming along--the basils and mint and chives are doing quite well in soil rather than hydroponics, though they were sulky when transplanted. I may keep this French garden growing indefinitely unless something more interesting crops up." ]

[ "Multiply the numbers 1.25 and 8\\n1.25*8 = 10\\nadd the exponents on the 10's\\nneg.3 + neg.5 = -3 + -5 = -8\\nThus, we have\\n10 times 10^(-8)\\n10 is not in scientific notation\\n10 = 1 times 10^1\\nThus, the final answer is\\n1 times 10^(-7)" ]

[ "Microsoft Excel supports both scientific notation and the engineering notation variant.\\n\\nEnter a number such as 12,345,678 in a cell\\nSelect the cell\\nSelect menu bar \"Format > Cells ... > Number\".\\nFor scientific notation, select \"Scientific\" and select the number of digits of precision (say 3) and the number will reformat as 1.23E+07.\\n\\nFor engineering notation, select \"Custom\" and find the format that looks like ##0.00E+00. The number will reformat to 12.34E+06. Engineering notation traditionally formats numbers with exponents that are multiples of 3 corresponding to thousands, millions, billions, etc.\\n\\nI don't know of a way to select an arbitrary constant for the exponent. Try reading the Microsoft help.", "Convert metric tons to grams. Divide by the molecular weight of CO2. Multiply by Avagadro's number. Use scientific notation. It's a really big number.", "I did check. It was John Napier. This used to be a very important name before calculators. To simplify multipling large numbers it was useful to first change the numbers to their logs add them together and then change back to decimals. \\nRemember the law of logs/exponents that multiplying 10^2 * 10^3 = 10^5 ? Adding the exponents is the multipling the numbers. Slide rules work the same way.\\nIn order for this to work he invented the scientific notation which splits a number into an exponent and mantissa.", "A convenient way of using very large and very small numbers in chemistry is to use \"scientific notation\". Any number can be represented as a number between 1 and 10 multiplied by 10 to the right power. Example: 3,000 can be written as 3.000 x 10^3, where \"^\" means \"to the power of\". 10^3 is 1,000.", "You should use scientific notation to describe this number. Correctly expressed, this number is 1*10^n where n is the number of zeros you typed. (I don't know how many zeros follow the ...)", "the formula is just the heat of fusion for water (in J/kg) times the amount of water you have.\\n\\nThe heat of fusion in Joules per kg for water is 333548 J/kg, so you just multiply that by the mass in kg to get the joules, so you'd have 333548 J/kg x 40kg = 13341920J which, in scientific notation would be 1.33 x 10^7 J.", "Use a string. Calculate the first 16 digits, then put them into a string and subtract that number from your value and then use it as though its scientific notation. For example\\n3.141592653589793 is the first 16 digits. So convert that to a string and then multiply your deriving value by 1,000,000,000,000,000 and start again. Then strip out the decimal and append to the string\\n\"2384626433832795\"\\nand then\\n\"0288419716939937\", \"5105820974944592\", \"3078164062862089\",\\n\"9862803482534211\", etc. \\n\\nThis should allow you a very large item.\\n\\n\\nThe other option I can think of is declare an array 5 or 10 digits each and then store the numbers in there. That might work.\\n\\n\\nEither way, good luck!", "The rule when multiplying is to multiply the number(s) outside the square root, then multiply the number(s) inside the square root. So your first answer is 6 sqrt 21. [6/21 using your notation]\\n\\nThe second is an example of the distributive property- multiply the 10 by both numbers inside (since they are all square roots); answer is sqrt 20 + sqrt 30\\n\\nThe third is the extended distributive property commonly referred to as FOIL. Same rules apply but if the square root number is a perfect square, simplify it, and if you have two terms with the same square root, combine them by adding the numbers in front of the square root (do not add the numbers under the sq rt!):\\n3 sqrt 25 + 3 sqrt 15 + sqrt 15 + sqrt 9\\n\\n3 (5) + 4 sqrt 15 + 3 = 15 + 3 + 4 sqrt 15 = 18 + 4 sqrt 15\\n\\nExample 4, I am guessing you left off an exponent of 2 at the very end. This also is FOIL - you have to write the binomial in parentheses down twice: (3/2 + 5)(3/2 + 5)\\n\\n=9 sqrt 4 + 15 sqrt 2 + 15 sqrt 2 + 25 \\n= 9 (2) + 30 sqrt 2 + 25\\n (you can simplify it, like in the previous example)\\n\\n= 18+25+30sqrt 2\\n= 43 + 30 sqrt 2\\n\\nI hope you can learn what to do from this instead of just copying down the answers - good luck", "Sugar Maple: Acer saccharum\\nCommon Yew: Taxus baccata\\nApple: Malus domestica\\nApricot: Prunus armeniaca\\nAlmond: Prunus dulcis\\nRowan: Sorbus aucuparia\\nCastor Bean: Ricinus communis\\nWhite Oak: Quercus alba\\nHornbeam: Carpinus betalus\\nEnglish Holly: Ilex aquifolium\\nMiconia: Miconia calvescens\\nAutograph tree: Clusea rosea\\nLantana: Lantana camara\\nOctopus tree: Schefflera actinophylla\\nCoconut: Cocos nucifera\\nMango: Mangifera indica\\nHibiscus: Hibiscus rosa-sinesis\\nBlackberry: Rubus argutus\\nRedwood: Sequoia sempervirens\\n\\nDon't forget to use proper notation when you write the scientific names. :-)", "As one needs larger and larger numbers in science, one resorts to scientific notation (or sometimes engineering notation, which is similar)\\n\\n1 million = 10^6\\n1 billion = 10^9 (also known as 1 milliard in the UK)\\n1 trillion = 10^12 (also known as 1 billion in the UK)\\n\\nbut as one starts to get fatigued from \\n\\nquadrillion, quintillion, sextillion, septillion, octillion, etc, then it just starts to become easier to use the scientific notation. \\n\\n10^6 means a 1 with 6 zeros after\\n10^9 means a 1 with 9 zeros after\\n10^12 means a 1 with 12 zeros after\\n\\nA google is a really big number \\n\\n1 google = 10^100, or a 1 with 100 zeros after\\n\\nThis is much bigger than the estimated number of particles in the whole universe, 10^70 (the so-called Eddington number)\\n\\nAn even bigger number is the googleplex, which is a 1 with a google of zeros after it. Obviously, this would be a very hard number to write down. \\n\\nIf you want to play around with really really big numbers, like infinity, then you can consider the transfinite numbers. \\n\\nIt turns out that there are different types of infinities. \\nThe smallest one is aleph knot (a Hebrew symbol with a zero subscript), that is the same as the number of integers that exist. There are \"bigger\" and \"bigger\" infinities after that. I included a link that you can look at to get you started.", "the answer to the question \"what kind of math is that?\" actually does have an answer - it is called floating-point arithmetic. and, well, congratulations. you've just been exposed to a floating-point error, which arises because the rules for floating-point arithmetic and regular arithmetic are not the same. (:\\n\\ncomputers represent numbers in memory by converting them to a binary number system, and then storing each 1 or 0 in a memory cell called a bit. \\n\\nunfortunately this is a pretty limited way of storing numbers, because if you have a very large or very small number, you waste a lot of empty space. it's just like writing large numbers in scientific notation: i can write 6x10^23, or i can write 600000000000000000000000. obviously the scientific notation is a lot easier and more compact.\\n\\nso computers deal with very large (or very small) numbers by representing them in what is essentially scientific notation. half of the memory used for the number represents the \"6\" and the other half of the memory represents the \"10^23\". \\n\\n(actually, because these things are binary, it is not a power of 10, but actually a power of 2. but the idea is the same.) \\n\\nin computer lingo this is called \"floating-point\" format because the decimal point is free to \"float\" around in the number by changing the exponent part.\\n\\na subtle kind of problem arises when converting certain numbers to binary form. if i were to ask you to write down 1/3 in decimal form, you would probably say \".3\" or \".3333\" or \".3 repeating\" because no matter how many additional 3's you add, you need an infinite number of digits to accurately write 1/3.\\n\\nwhen you convert numbers to binary, a similar problem arises, but it happens for different numbers than we are used to. 0.1 is a good (and rather infamous) example - if you try to write it in binary, it has an infinitely-long representation, just like 1/3 does in decimal.\\n\\nso, when you store a number like 0.1 in floating-point format, some of those digits have to get rounded away or discarded, because you'd need infinite amount of computer memory to accurately represent it.\\n\\nobviously, to any schmuck your problem of 1-.9-.1 should equal zero, but because of these rounding problems, in a floating-point machine some small fraction gets left over. that small fraction is what google is returning to you (10^-17 is very, very small). openoffice on the other hand, probably takes that 10^-17 and just rounds it down to zero.\\n\\nthese floating-point errors can wreak serious havoc on a computation-intensive algorithm. they are a particular problem in scientific simulations, where a certain calculation may get repeated many many times. \\n\\nif a small error crops up, that error can be quickly amplified by successive steps until it causes major problems. so programmers who are writing numerical software have to be careful not to write code that introduces these errors (namely, subtracting two nearly-equal floating-point numbers, which is exactly what you did, is a serious problem). so a good programmer will write code to ensure that the error stays negligible.\\n\\nyou can read more about floating-point errors here:\\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_point\\nand some more advanced articles:\\nhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/q42980/\\nhttp://docs.sun.com/source/806-3568/ncg_goldberg.html", "Letters and through writings published in scientific publications.", "Write up the results and submit them to Scientific American. If they accept it, they will pay you a lot of money.", "Here's an idea. Show them something that's pretty much flat and rectangular, such as piece of stiff carpet or a pad of paper. Write on the board what the perimeter, area, and volume are. Have them measure it with a tape measure and come up with the answers that you have. They'll see that they just have to add for the perimeter but multiply for the area and volume.", "Begin by subtracting 32 from the Fahrenheit number. \\nDivide the answer by 9. \\nThen multiply that answer by 5.", "Bang boom knows what he/she's talking about. There is no proven link between diet and acne in the scientific literature. Drugs and good hygiene are the answer.", "Multiply. Remember, 'of' usually means MULTIPLY.\\n\\nChange mixed numbers to improper fractions:\\n5/3 x 22/9\\n\\nMultiply fractions. To multiply fractions, multiply the numerators and use that as the numerator of the answer. Multiply the denominators and use that as the denominator of the answer. You have an answer in improper unsimplified form.\\n5/3 x 22/9 = 110/27\\n\\nSimplify. Find factors and divide both the numerator and the denominator down to a simplified form.\\nIn this case, there are no factors.\\n\\nThis is the improper simplified form. You may want to change it to proper form.\\nIf you would like to change it to mixed number form, divide and divide the first remainder by your divisor. Then, your answer plus the answer of that (fraction form) is your mixed number form.\\n110/27 = 4 (Remainder 2) 2/27 + 4 = 4 2/27\\n\\nYou now have the answer.\\n\\nImproper Form: 110/27\\nProper Form: 4 2/27", "1113213211 each number is multiplyed by eleven starting at one and its answer is multiplyed by eleven and so on and so forth the next after that is 31131211131221", "Combinations are basically what you do when order doesn't matter.For example, electing any 12 students to a group of 3. It would be 12 C 3.\\n\\n\\nPermutations are what u do when order DOES mattter. For example, when your arranging 6 different books. The answer to it would be 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 720 different ways.\\n\\nFactorials are basically. The number you have multiplied by everything less than that number.For instance, if you have 3. The factorial notation would be 3 x 2 x 1 = 6", "I'm pretty sure it's the same as multiplying 2 fractions. You just multiply across the top, then across the bottom, or in w/e order you like, and what you get is your answer.", "multiply by the reciprical\\nbasically flip the other fraction over and multiply\\nexample:\\n\\n1/2 divided by 3/4\\n1/2*4/3\\nthe answer is 4/6 and simplified the answer is 2/3", "1 grain = .064799 grams\\n1 gram = 15.43258 grams\\n1000 gram = 1 kg\\nhttp://www.digitaldutch.com/unitconverter/\\n\\nso 1 grain = .064799 grams = .000064799 kg.\\n\\nSince Weight = mass* gravity,\\nWeight = 0.000064799 * 9.81 m/s^2,\\n\\n1 grain weights 0.00063567819 Newtons, or in scientific notation,\\n6.3567819 E-4 Newtons.", "It it considered that the first proposal of using symboll \"pi\" as the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter was firstly appeared in the works of William Jones. But he was a Welsh mathematician, not Swiss.\\n\\nFrom section \"History of the notation\" of first attached wiki article:\\nThe symbol \"π\" for Archimedes' constant was first introduced in 1706 by William Jones when he published A New Introduction to Mathematics, although the same symbol had been used earlier to indicate the circumference of a circle. The notation became standard after it was adopted by Leonhard Euler.", "if it 2 numbers... you multiply msb by 10D and add to your answer the lsb... and youl get the number in hex!", "If I see your icon, I try to see what you're up to.\\n\\nJesus would answer you. Maybe not always in the format you're looking for. Jesus answered a lot of folks differently than they expected, and tried to avoid answering one particular question by writing in the sand.\\n\\nWonder what He was writing.....", "If I consider a rectangular box of length L and breadth B and mass M. Then Moment of Inertia of the box is :\\n\\n I = M * [(L^2)+(B^2)] / 12\\n\\n (Notation : x^2 denotes square of x)\\n\\n So, for a cube, put L = B = a (say)\\n\\n Then,\\n \\n I for cube = M * (a^2) / 6\\n\\n (Notation : x^2 denotes square of x)\\n\\n I hope that this answer satisfies your query.", "Check out wikipedia.org for info on sigma notation.", "1 hectometer equals 100 meters, so multiply 85 x 100 to get the answer you need.", "Multiply 5/4 by 4 and you get 5. Therefore your answer is 4.", "Just multiply the numbers. positives will get a positive answer. Odd number of negatives will get a negative answer. Even number of negatives will get a positive answer.", "to answer the question . he is standind next to me now. now he is writing you to let you know whats up with him. KENNY P.:", "No logical or historical evidences at all u will find against his prophecy.. because he is a true prophet...\\n\\nActually, i wanna answer the question without the word \"not\".. also by logic...\\n\\nMuhammad was an illiterate man (He couldn't read or write).. Allah sent Gabriel the angel to him to recite the Qur'an for him.. He saved the Qur'an in his mind.. he recited it for people.. people saved it in thier minds.. then they wrote it.. later, actually after 1400 years or more.. people discovers some facts in it.. some equations.. and some scientific facts...\\n\\nThe facts and the scientific facts are somehow hard to understand.. but the word repetitions in it are very strange and splendid.. visit this page please to read some:\\nhttp://www.miraclesofthequran.com/mathematical_01.html\\n\\nafter u read it the logic says immediately how can a man compose such a book only in his mind (consider it a normal book) although he is illiterate....\\n\\nfor the up to date discovered miracles in Qur'an visit this site:\\nhttp://www.miraclesofthequran.com" ]

[ "To give everyone a chance at hosting them, instead of just assigning them. Its supposed to be a competition, and the country with the best proposal to put on the best games wins! If there was no competition, they wouldn't be trying too hard would they." ]

[ "Olympic Football/Soccer is essentially semi-professional. The current rule for Olympic teams is that only 3 players per team can be over the age of 23. This means that Olympic teams are almost entirely made up of developing players. For example, at the 2012 Olympics, Argentina didn't even qualify, and Lionel Messi wasn't even eligible to participate as he was already 25 at that time. Meanwhile, the World Cup features the biggest stars of international football without restriction. The World Cup thus stands above the Olympics as the premier soccer tournament.", "Football (and Rugby, and Cricket) got their start on the British Isles. The first international football match was an England vs. Scotland match in 1870, and there was a yearly \"Home Country Championship\" in Football nearly 50 years before there was a World Cup. So by the time Football spread to the rest of Europe and the World, there was a long tradition of the British Countries competing separately, and it was natural for them to apply separately to FIFA for membership. Compare with the Olympics, which at their start in 1896 consisted almost entirely of individual events. There was no comparable long history of England vs. Scotland forming teams and competing against each other in Track, Bicycling, or Wrestling, so no reason for them to form separate teams in those events for the Olympics. When football was then added to the Olympics, it was just one event among many, so there'd be no reason for Great Britain to separate just because of that.", "China made huge efforts to clean up and make a positive impression for the Olympics because the world was watching. Factories were shut down, traffic was cut in half because you were only allowed to drive every other day. Even license places could only drive on even number days and vice versa. Once the Olympics were over, factories started back up and the restrictions were lifted.", "Yes, both Germany and Japan were banned from the first World Cup ([1950 in Brazil](_URL_0_)) and the first Olympics ([1948 in London](_URL_1_)) after the war had ended. They were both still under Allied occupation at the time. The East German football federation hadn't been formed by 1950 to attempt to qualify for the World Cup even if they could have. Italy and other Axis allies weren't banned from either competition.", "First off, football isn't number one in all former British colonies. I'll ignore the US and Canada. Australia has Australian Football and rugby. Rugby and cricket are much more popular than football in New Zealand. Rugby is the top sport in most countries of Oceania. To your actual question, football is still popular in India, but nowhere near as popular as cricket. Cricket grabbed hold earlier than football and it went from there. In 1950, thanks to a series of withdrawals, India qualified for the FIFA World Cup. The team had just played in the Olympics. The All India Football Federation seemed to believe the Olympics was much bigger than the World Cup. Additionally, the tournament was held in Brazil and a trip half-way across the world for an entire football team was quite an expense. It didn't seem worth it at the time.^[1](_URL_0_)", "I'll take a stab at it. It probably has to do with the fact that boxing is different from most team sports and other events like the World Cup and the Super Bowl because each fight is individually arranged and promoted, often by different people. Large organizations like FIFA or the NFL usually go out of their way to secure large TV deals with networks because they pay out huge amounts of money and the network wants to bring in viewers. Also, boxing events, especially large scale ones like Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, are infrequent, whereas leagues like the NFL, and events like the World Cup, have so many games going on that it wouldn't be feasible to charge pay-per-view for every game. This is why boxing events are expensive, like $70-$100, because they are rare and get hyped up heavily. If the NFL did this, who the hell would be watching the Jaguars vs Titans on Thursday Night Football?", "> However given the world prominence in soccer (football), why didn't they bother to develop strong teams to win the World Cup given the popularity of it around the world? Why do you think that USSR didn't bothered? USSR soccer team won two Olympic torunaments (1956 and 1988), one European Championship (1960) and participated in 3 more finals (1964, 1972, 1988). Best result at World Cup - semi-final in 1966 (lost 2-1 to Germany). They've \"invested\" and tried hard enough, just weren't good enough.", "They are the ones that won the bid. There is not really a system in place for the Olympic committee to withdraw who won once it has been decided, and even if there were there is not time for an alternate to prepare.", "Using something I'm familiar with, I will explain this in relation to Olympic Hockey. Until 1988, only amateur athletes were allowed to participate in the Olympics. Because of this, NHL players could not compete. This is primarily why the Soviets dominated Olympic hockey from 1958-1988. The Soviet Union had a state sponsored hockey team, that was almost always on par with the talent coming out of Canada (see the Summit Series, World/Canada Cup tournaments). Because of this, you had athletes who were officially amateur, but were at a skill level close to, or above what professional hockey players were at.", "The following may be why. > Well, besides being an influential language spoken worldwide, we have the French to thank for the modern Olympic Games. Sure, the original games were a Greek invention. But they had disappeared for over 1000 years until a teacher from France named Baron Pierre de Coubertin had the idea to bring them back. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. [Link.](_URL_0_) So apparently the French revived the Olympics.", "Just so you're not empty handed: One thing to keep in mind is that there is only one winner (as opposed to a first, second, and third place) for each event. As far as I know, they didn't really keep track of times. Nor did they compare athletes based on their performances except in cases where they won multiple games (i.e., if athletes won several events in one games [boxing, pankration, and the hoplitodromos, for example] or won in multiple games). It's also worth noting that there were games every year: Olympian, Delphic, Nemean, and Isthmian. All we have in modern culture are the Olympic games (originally the most important games since they were held in honor of Zeus), which is why we only have the games once every four years. If you're interested at all in how these athletes were celebrated, I would recommend that you read some of [Pindar's Odes](_URL_2_.). [Source: *Ancient Greek Athletics* by Stephen G. Miller](_URL_2_)", "This is a slightly odd question given that * European football teams *do* have mascots, if by mascots we're talking about men in suits who goof around on the sidelines of the game in progress. * There are also \"matchday mascots\" in many clubs, a programme whereby young fans of the team can dress in the kit and lead out the players at games. * Shamrock Rovers have Hooperman, but I'm unsure what is notable about him, or them. The common use of mascots in football seems to date back to the 1966 World Cup held in England, when the organisers introduced World Cup Willie, a cartoon lion. Since then, every tournament has had its own mascot, and use has spread to other sports such as the Olympics.", "If floppers were fined I would watch the sport more. I only watch during the world cup and the olympics. There's too much of it. If they were suspended for the next match then I would watch more.", "> So assuming many-worlds theory is correct, and every possiblity exists in separate universes, does it follow that there are universes where many-worlds theory is incorrect? No, it doesn't work that way. The many-worlds *interpretation* is often misunderstood as saying there are an infinite number of different universe \"out there\". What it actually says is that there is a universal wave-function, the time-evolution of which describes the state of the universe at any given time, and that this state is a *superposition* of all possible sequences of events from the beginning of time until now. Each \"world\" in this interpretation corresponds to one of those possible sequences of events. Given that, I don't see any way to make the statement \"in one of those worlds the many-worlds interpretation is incorrect\" make sense.", "What I've learned from the Swedish curling commentator for the olympics and a former championship curler [Anette Norberg](_URL_1_) (7 European Championship golds, 3 World Championship golds and 2 Olympic golds): Most shots aren't that powerful but when it comes to [\"takout shots\"](_URL_0_) when you remove stones from the \"house\" strenght does come into play so men tend to be somewhat better at controling hard shots. So the strategy where you can safely place stones differs somewhat between male and female teams.", "The IAAF sets qualification times for each event, and each country may choose up to three people who have beaten that time to enter. If more than three people from that country qualify then it's up to the country who gets the three places. They might set a stricter time to beat, or pick one qualifying race where the top three finishers get the places. However, it is also considered to be desirable for every country to have some representation in each sport. Therefore, within athletics each country may select one male athlete and one female athlete to compete in one event each, if no one from that country qualified for any event.", "Irony is when the result of an occurrence is the least likely result expected. For example, a fire station burning down is ironic. Out of all the places in the world, a fire station is one of the last places you'd expect to succumb to fire. It's things being opposite of what you think they should be. A coincidence refers to things or a sequence of events that, although have nothing inherently to do with each other, share a lot of similarities. Irony = opposite of what you expected Coincidence = two or more different things or events sharing a lot of similarities", "The 1948 Olympics were held in London and Germany and Japan were not invited to participate as a result of their role as aggressors.", "One way isn't actually by breaking the record, it's by presenting an alternate set of records as \"Olympic Records\". This artificially increases the importance of events where you can break the actual \"World Record\", but also the \"Olympic Record\", if it's weaker. This gives the impression that there are more record-setting performances than there actually are. And yes, since the Olympics are considered the biggest competition in many sports, athletes would prepare to be in top fitness for that competition. So an athlete may train with the intent to 'peak' at the Olympics, rather than saving their best effort for a sparsely promoted 'tune up' competition.", "Do you mean the modern Olympics, which started in 1896? At that time the only African countries not ruled by Europeans were Ethiopia, Liberia and Egypt (which might be considered a British puppet government). The only non-European competitors were from the US and the Australian colonies, but I've never seen anything to suggest that other countries would have been barred from entering. The first few modern Olympics were tiny events compared to modern games. It's hard to imagine that anyone outside the comparitively small world of 'western' sports afficionados would have even been aware of their existence.", "This will be a pretty short-lived ELI5. A photographic memory is actually called an \"Eidetic memory\". It's the supposed ability to be able to completely memorize something by only looking at it for a short time. This ability has never been proven to exist. No one on earth has an eidetic memory. The savants we consider to have eidetic memories are just able to remember things extremely well. Edit: amplifying info. There's even an event held each year called the World Memory Championship, none of the worlds best memorizers has an eidetic memory, or photographic memory", "I'm not a history expert, but I remember from school and college that the Nazis had a massive, massive PR campaign going. When the ghettos were opened, videos were sent to countries around the world showing the Jews being in very plush and lovely areas. The idea was if others thought the Jews were doing fine, then no questions would be asked. Remember, that the Olympics were held in Germany during Hilter's reign and during the time these individuals were held in confinement and/or slaughtered. There's also evidence to suggest some world leaders knew about the genocide. The belief is that many didn't act due to the issues within their own countries, especially given the world wide recession and depressions going on. But, like I said I'm no expert and just reiterating what I've learned in the past. An expert can totally correct me if I'm wrong.", "The infrastructure isn't always unused. Sydney has managed to make use of most of the stuff they built for the 2000 Olympics. Beyond that, some cities use the Olympics as a chance to advertise themselves. This is the case in Sochi, which is typically considered a summer destination by Russians. China used the Beijing Olympics in a similar way, to promote themselves to the Western world. There's also the fact that not everything always goes to plan. The Montreal Olympics famously lost the city a lot of money, they borrowed a lot to build stadiums they couldn't fill after the Olympics left, despite their initial predictions. Beyond this, many cities are wary of hosting the Olympics due to the potential cost, especially the winter games, where things like the bobsleigh run are expensive to construct and have very little potential for use outside the games.", "Firstly, Germany was awarded the Olympics in 1931, two years before Hitler even came to power. At the time, Germany might have been in a bit of turmoil, but nothing the would warrant exclusion from hosting the games. Even after the rise of Hitler and the Nazi's, there was no real reason to remove the games from Germany. At the time, Germany was doing half decent economically while the rest of the developed world was in a depression. So, they had no problems building all the venues and infrastructure needed for the games. Spain, the country that Germany beat to get the Olympics, was in the midst of a civil war. In 1936, the only evil thing that Hitler had done was the Nuremberg Laws, which removed the rights of the Jews. However, most of the world did not fully appreciate the scope of the laws, nor did they care. In the end, the Olympics were fairly successful. In fact, they started the tradition of the Olympic Flame.", "Concrete, because it won't absorb as much energy as the grass. This is why Olympic track surfaces tend to very hard; it's not good for the knees of the athletes but it increases the chances of seeing a new world record.", "An Olympic swimming pool is 132,430 cubic feet. A standard gold bar is 44.4 cubic inches. You could fit 5,154,032 gold bars in *one* Olympic swimming pool. Fort Knox has 147.3 million ounces of gold. With one bar weighing 400 ounces, that pool contains 2,061,612,972 ounces of gold. 14 times the amount held in Fort Knox. In just one pool. Edit: By the way, the value of the gold in that pool would be over 87 billion dollars,", "In this thread on why trophies are often cup-shaped /u/TheJucheisLoose explains that vessels filled with olive oil were awarded at ancient Greek and Roman events. Other theories on trophies and specifically cup-shaped trophies are also discussed, but that's the most ancient tradition mentioned. _URL_0_", "This is sort of like asking why spoken languages have different languages. They were developed in different places at different times, so they are all different.", "Are you drinking the same coffee each time? Generally, coffee in mugs is either homemade or comes at a restaurant, while coffee in paper/styrofoam cups comes from fast-food chains or coffee shops. Different restaurants/chains may stock different grades or brands of coffee, which then affects the taste. The cup material may be completely unrelated to the taste.", "No. They may of had guards and such, but it was probably policemen, etc. Everyone was instructed to treat ALL foreigners with the utmost respect. Hitler even practiced what he preached. He was the ONLY world leader to send written congradulations to Jesse Owens on his gold medals, as pissed as he was that he won. The government put foreign newspapers in the stands again for the first time in years. If you were in what passed as \"the Olympic village\", you were in a very carefully crafted bit of stagecraft designed to show the world how great Nazi Germany was. Basically, for the duration of the Olympics, Berlin was Disney World. Normal rules of operation for the world, suspended. Think of what insane show North Korea would put on if they hosted the Olympics...It was kinda the same thing, only the Nazi's were generally successful at it.", "This came up in a post on [r/science](_URL_0_) just a few days ago. I have so far only skimmed the reference d [paper](_URL_1_), but the idea is to assume that the history of performance in an Olympic event approaches an (unknown) limit exponentially, and use that history to estimate the limit. Unfortunately, the events considered in the study do not include the mile run (I'm not even sure if the 1500 or 1600-m is an Olympic event?). But you get the idea.", "They accept bribes to change the location of the world cup. there probably is more but I know that is the case." ]

[ "By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:41 EST, 24 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:04 EST, 24 July 2012 . A thief who stole lobster and ice cream from Marks & Spencer walked free yesterday after insisting he only took ‘essential’ items. A court heard how Corey Thomas, 24, was temporarily homeless and had not eaten for two days when he walked into the company’s flagship London store in Oxford Street. Thomas was seen picking out a Canadian lobster, some milk and a tub of ice cream, with a total value of £23.98, Westminster magistrates’ court was told. Essential: A cooked Atlantic lobster, of the kind stolen by Corey Thomas from Marks & Spencer's flagship branch in Oxford Street, London . He was clutching the goods when he was confronted in the street by a store security guard. Thomas was detained after shoving the guard and breaking  his earpiece. Chairman of the bench Stevie Dee said: ‘Why lobster? It could be a sandwich if you’re that hungry.’ Jero Pipiazza, representing the defendant, replied: ‘The items were not luxury items – they were essentials.’ Malachy Pakenham, prosecuting, said Thomas was seen 'selecting a Canadian lobster and removing the security tag. 'He then picked up some milk and a tub of ice cream.' Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Thomas was then followed as he clutched the goods, valued at £23.98, and stepped out into the street. Flagship branch: Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street, central London, from where Thomas stole the items . He was challenged outside by a security guard, before being detained after shoving him and breaking his earpiece. Mr . Pipiazza told the court Thomas was temporarily homeless and had not . eaten for two days when the theft took place at around 6.30pm on July 23 . this year. He added that . Thomas had previously studied cookery at Shoreditch College and was due . to start an apprenticeship in 'cleaning and caretaking' at Hackney . Council. Sentencing him Ms Dee told him: 'We're giving you a chance now. 'You have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, cooperated with the police, and we are encouraged by your apprenticeship you are due to start. 'But we have to warn you that if you continue to offend the court will not be so lenient in the future.' Thomas, of Hackney, East London, was . sentenced to a £55 fine or a single day’s imprisonment, which was deemed . already served, after admitting theft." ]

[ "A Nigerian couple who tried to claim £3.8million in an ‘eye-watering’ benefits scam using 1,400 stolen identities have been jailed for a total of almost 10 years. Adeola Thomas, 38, assisted by his partner, Abimbola Abiola, 34, managed to pocket £87,000 after submitting almost 2,500 handwritten applications for tax credits and benefits. The pair spent the money on designer clothing and electrical items including a 50-inch plasma television. Adeola Thomas, left, was jailed for seven years while his accomplice Abimbola Abiola, right, was locked up for two-and-a-half years for charges relating to identity theft, tax and benefits fraud . But the fraud was discovered when benefits staff noticed the same address was being used for multiple claims, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Thomas, an illegal immigrant, was jailed for seven years while Abiola, also a Nigerian national with leave to remain in the UK, received two-and-a-half years. Passing sentence, Judge William Kennedy said: ‘This was no less than a criminal industry, with simple and eye watering criminality designed to maximise the loss to the public. ‘It was a difficult investigation carried out with skill and tenacity. ‘The largest single joint conspiracy [of its kind] for these departments and the actual loss was kept down because of the work of both departments.’ Judge Kennedy also indicated that both Thomas and Abiola should be deported at the end of their prison terms. The pair, who carried out the scam between January 3, 2007 and October 7, 2011, tried to claim £827,000 from HMRC, securing £43,000. They also claimed £3 million from the Department of Work and Pensions and received £44,000. With Abiola’s help, Thomas used stolen personal details to complete 2,495 handwritten application forms, which were sent to the appropriate departments for processing. When the claims were successful, the pair withdrew cash from acquaintances' bank accounts or from bogus post office accounts that Thomas, pictured, had set up . It is believed that others unknown to investigators, also provided postal addresses and assisted with correspondence. When the claims were successful, the pair withdrew cash from acquaintances' bank accounts or from bogus post office accounts that Thomas, who masterminded the scam, had set up. As well as analysing tax credit records, computer systems, hand written application forms and bank account details and listening to hours of recorded phones calls to the Tax Credit Helpline, HMRC investigators viewed CCTV footage showing activity outside various North London Post Office ATMs and carried out surveillance on Thomas. He was arrested outside a cash point at Upper Clacton Post Office in Hackney, east London last October 7 where he was found to be in possession of 17 Post Office accounts. Thomas, pictured, was arrested outside a cash point at Upper Clacton Post Office in Hackney, east London last October where he was found to be in possession of 17 Post Office accounts . He also had two mobile phones and two fraudulently completed application forms addressed to Job Centre Plus. Abiola, a mother-of-one, was caught on the same day with £4,125 cash in her handbag, which she claimed was child benefit payment. Thomas, of Hackney, east London, admitted three counts of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. Abiola, of the same address was found guilty of four counts of conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and possession of criminal property following a trial at the court in August.", "Escaped jail: Eva Jaciskova, pictured in Ugg-style boots outside court today, stole £7,000 worth of shoes while working at Russell and Bromley . A shop assistant stole more than £7,000 of shoes by walking home in a new pair every day. Russell and Bromley worker Eva Jaciskova slipped on a pair of designer shoes at the end of each shift at the Oxford Street store without anyone noticing. Once home, Jaciskova would put the shoes up for sale on eBay, Southwark Crown Court heard. The mother-of-two, who was yesterday spared a jail sentence, walked off with £7,363-worth of shoes before staff noticed a large amount of the shop’s stock was advertised on eBay. Jaciskova, 37, who lives in High Wycombe, was then hauled into a meeting and initially denied stealing 26 pairs of shoes, before later admitting to her crime. Sitting in the dock wearing a pair of tatty, black Ugg-style boots, she wept as details of her theft were read to the court. Jaciskova had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of theft at a magistrate’s court in February. Yesterday, prosecutor Peter Zinner said: ‘This is a breach of trust case. The defendant was an employee of Russell and Bromley in Oxford Street and she was employed by the store as a sales assistant. ‘It transpired in June last year that significant amounts of Russell and Bromley stock had found their way for sale on an eBay account. 'In particular seven pairs of shoes and this is the initial tranche of shoes the defendant stole.’ Jaciskova, originally from Presov, Slovakia, stole shoes from the brand’s Diva, Laura and Skater ranges – with some pairs worth up to £400 each. Mr Zinner said: ‘She admitted what she had done was take the shoes out of the boxes from the stock room over a period of weeks, worn them home and then placed them on eBay to sell. There was an element of pre-planning and deviousness because the defendant left empty boxes in the right place in the stock room.’ Jaciskova initially avoided prosecution by agreeing to hand in her resignation the day she was accused of the theft. ‘However the staff were concerned that in fact that was just the tip of the iceberg because a significant number of shoes had gone missing from the stock room and a further 19 pairs of shoes were discovered having been stolen,’ Mr Zinner added. Serial thief: After stealing the designer footwear from Russell & Bromley, above, the mother would then sell them on eBay . ‘Because the defendant had not volunteered the extent of her criminality and the second tranche significantly increased the loss to the company it was reported to the police and on November 24 last year the defendant attended High Wycombe police station.’ Robert Conway, representing Jaciskova, said his client was ‘truly ashamed and regretful’. He added that she suffered a ‘medical condition’ that she was now getting treatment for. Judge Michael Grieve acknowledged she stole because she had been in financial difficulty, so instead of jail sentenced her to a 12-month community order with a three month curfew attached. He said to Jaciskova: ‘I am told and I can see from your behaviour at the moment that the realisation of your behaviour and being found out – that combination has caused you shame and regret.’ Jaciskova, of High Wycombe, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft but avoided a jail at her hearing at Southwark Crown Court, above .", "By . William Turvill . PUBLISHED: . 12:58 EST, 10 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:06 EST, 10 October 2013 . The parents of a scalded toddler were sent to a specialist burns unit more than 170 miles away without offering an ambulance. The parents of Corey Duffield, who do not drive, were told to travel from the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. The family said they arrived in Bristol eight hours after a boiling pan fell on the 22-month-old child. The parents of Corey Duffield, who do not drive, were told to travel from the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol . But the hospital said Corey was not showing 'signs of undue pain and distress'. It added that if the 22-month-old boy’s parents had 'raised any concerns about the difficulty of getting to Bristol we would have organised transport for them'. Corey’s mother, Donna Thomas, said: 'We got to hospital and they checked him out, called the hospital in Bristol and we were basically told to find our own way. 'We assumed we would have been offered an ambulance.' Donna Thomas and her son Corey Duffield, from Newquay, Cornwall, who suffered severe scalding . The Royal Cornwall Hospital said Corey was not showing 'signs of undue pain and distress' The Royal Cornwall Hospital is more than 170 miles from the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol . Corey arrived at the specialist hospital in Bristol eight hours after a boiling pan landed on him . Corey’s grandmother had to take him to Frenchay Hospital. Mother Ms Thomas said: 'We had to put the seat straps over his shoulder which had been burnt, it was a really stressful journey. 'Anything could have happened on that journey - he could have taken a bad turn.' The Royal Cornwall Hospital said: 'We are very sorry that Corey’s parents are unhappy about their son’s treatment and the arrangement for him to transfer to the burns unit in Bristol. 'Corey’s condition was fully assessed by the emergency department doctor. 'In line with the protocols agreed with the team at Frenchay Hospital, it was considered appropriate for him to travel by car.' The accident happened on September 17 and his father, James Duffield, said the boy had made a 'spectacular recovery' Dr Amber Young, from North Bristol NHS Trust, said: 'The South West Children’s Burns Centre based at Frenchay Hospital, is the lead paediatric burn service within the region treating all severities of burn injuries. 'Under protocols agreed, children with significant burns are transferred to Frenchay Hospital for specialist care. 'Decisions on how a patient is transferred to the burns centre - whether by ambulance or by private car - is made by the judgment of the senior emergency team treating the child at the referring hospital.' The accident happened on September 17 and his father, James Duffield, said the boy had made a 'spectacular recovery'.", "Two Libyan soldiers who were being trained in the UK behaved like a 'pack preying on women' as they stalked them in the dark to sexually assault them, a court has heard. Ibrahim Naji El Maarfi, 20, and Mohammed Abdalsalam, 27, rode stolen bicycles from their barracks to Cambridge where they touched the lone women sexually and tried to put their hands up their skirts. Abdalsalam admitted two counts of sexual assault, one count of threatening behaviour towards a police officer and one count of theft. The two Libyan soldiers cycled from the base in Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire to the city to stalk women . El Maarfi pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, one count of exposure and one count of theft. A third man, Khaled El Azibi, 18, charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of theft refused to enter pleas at the hearing. The court heard how the soldiers - who all appeared in court wearing tracksuits - are based at Bassingbourn Barracks some 14 miles outside Cambridge. Prosecutor Paul Brown told the court: 'The most serious aspect of it it there are males targeting females under the cover of darkness. 'They are like a pack preying on women in the hours of darkness. 'These women were by themselves at night and they were vulnerable.' Mr Brown said the first victim was walking on her own at 10.30pm when the men approached her before touching her at 'various times'. El Maarfi then exposed his penis to her. Mr. Brown said: 'She was clearly distressed by the incident.' The crimes were caught on CCTV and the 'pack' was seen to ride off. They then met two more women who were together and sexually assaulted them. The soldiers left the barracks on stolen bikes and made their way to Cambridge where they stalked women . Cambridge magistrates said they were unable to sentence the two who pleaded guilty and they will be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court at a later date. They were both remanded in custody together with El Azibi whose case will be dealt with at the higher court. The court heard that the two soldiers who pleaded guilty have been told they are not allowed to return to their camp and are 'likely' to face deportation. They were remanded in custody because they 'have nowhere to go' and are a 'danger to the public'. Up to 2,000 Libyan troops are due to be trained at Bassingbourn in separate groups over a 15 month period, with the aim of them returning home and helping to achieve Philip Hammond's aim to make the country more stable. More than 300 Libyan soldiers arrived at the barracks in June to start a 24-week course. They are being taught basic infantry and junior command skills in a bid to help bring stability to the war-torn country on their return. They are currently being trained by the 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Bassingbourn has been beset by problems after three North African soldiers stationed there were detained after breaking orders not to go tothe local Tesco. The incident escalated when up to 20 of their comrades stormed the area where they were being kept to demand their release. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "This is the moment two 'remorseful' thugs laughed and punched the air with joy after being spared prison for beating a man unconscious. Corey Savory and Thomas Vernon were let off with suspended jail sentences by a judge who had heard they were full of remorse for the unprovoked late night assault. The pair, both 23, were sombre in the dock during their sentencing hearing and Savory appeared to be in tears at times. However, the North Yorkshire men showed no signs of being sorry for their actions as they gave two thumbs up and celebrated wildly on the steps of Teesside Crown Court after the hearing. Corey Savory (left) and Thomas Vernon (right) appeared delighted as they left Teesside Crown Court after being handed suspended jail sentences for the 'ferocious and unprovoked' assault on the unsuspecting man . The pair, both 23, were each handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months with supervision and ordered to pay £100 compensation after the judge said they showed 'genuine remorse' The pair were each handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months with supervision, and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim after the judge said they showed 'genuine remorse' for the attack on March 30 last year. The court heard how the pair targeted the victim, who was unknown to them, as he smoked and waited for a friend outside a pub on Redcar high street. The victim was struck in the face before the pair ran off towards Savory's home, which was also in the high street. The victim followed and repeatedly kicked the door, the court heard. Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said the victim was shocked, upset and angry at being attacked and wanted to know why he was hit and threatened. Just seconds later, at about 11.30pm, a third unknown man came up behind the victim and hit him, knocking him to the ground. Savory and Vernon then attacked him, kicking him in the head until he lost consciousness, the court was told. Ms Haigh said Savory kicked the victim's torso and both men punched him repeatedly. The victim suffered a two-inch cut to his forehead, which needed stitches and left a permanent scar – which he described as a 'constant reminder' of the attack. He said the assault contributed to him losing his job and he feared being attacked again. As the court was shown CCTV footage of the assault yesterday, Savory put his head in his hands and refused to watch the video. Both Vernon and Savory admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, but they both denied kicking the victim. The court heard how the two men attacked the victim in Redcar high street on March 30 last year. They admitted actual bodily harm at Teesside Crown Court and hitting the victim, but denied kicking the man . Defence advocates described their behaviour as unacceptable, reprehensible and 'utterly inappropriate'. Graham Brown, defending Vernon, said he called police in a 'Mexican stand-off' which escalated when the 'random third party' struck the victim. He said the two men took advantage of the situation in a joint assault which lasted 30 seconds. He added that Vernon was a single man who was 'petrified' by the court process and said prison would have a 'lifelong impact' on him. Uzma Khan, defending Savory, said: 'They were provoked into reacting and defending their property. 'That went too far and it was perhaps opportunistic when the victim was lying on the floor. They never set out to cause any injury.' She said Savory never wanted trouble, tried to defuse the situation and did not expect it to go beyond verbal abuse. The two men were handed eight-month jail terms, suspended for 18 months with supervision, when they appeared at Teesside Crown Court (pictured). The judge described the attack 'ferocious' and 'unprovoked' The court heard how Savory claimed the victim made comments to him in the pub earlier in the evening and became the 'aggressor' when the pair retreated to the house. He was said to be 'utterly remorseful' and willing to consider restorative justice with a direct apology. He also suffered from depression and there was a risk of self-harm and suicide, the court heard. The judge, Recorder Sarah Mallett, did not accept that the victim was the aggressor. She told the pair: 'You could simply have returned to your home, shut the door and stayed there. 'You could and should have retreated back inside. But you didn't do that. 'This was a ferocious attack by two men who had the advantage of having their victim put on the ground for them by a third party. 'He was already on the floor and he wasn't doing anything provocative. They are nasty injuries.'", "(CNN) -- Captain Colin Montgomerie has picked Edoardo Molinari, Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington as wild cards to complete his European Ryder Cup team. Montgomerie's decision means English duo Paul Casey and Justin Rose both miss out on a place, despite Rose winning twice on the PGA Tour this season and Casey sitting ninth in the world rankings. Molinari, a European Tour rookie, secured his inclusion with a sparkling victory at the Johnnie Walker Classic, where he birdied the final three holes to win by a shot. The Italian takes his place in the team alongside brother Francesco as Europe try to regain the trophy from America -- the first time brothers will have competed in the Ryder Cup. Swede Peter Hanson and Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiminez both cemented their places in the team with their performances at the Gleneagles tournament. Harrington is included despite a disappointing year, though the Irishman did finish second at the Irish Open earlier this month and performed well in the opening three rounds of the Barclays tournament in New Jersey. Donald has had a solid year but boasts a strong Ryder Cup record. Those players join English trio Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland and Germany's Martin Kaymer in the 12-strong team. Montgomerie also announced that Spain's Sergio Garcia would be joining his team as a vice captain to work alongside existing trio Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley. Explaining his picks, Montgomerie told a press conference: \"Padraig Harrington has won three majors in the last three years. The stature of Padraig Harrington is such that we feel nobody in matchplay golf would want to play against him. He's a great competitor. \"Luke Donald is someone who can compete in the foursomes and fourballs and not just the singles. He's played seven times in the Ryder Cup and only lost once. \"And Edoardo Molinari, what can one say about his performance today? In my time on the European Tour, over 24 years, I don't think I've seen a finish of that quality under that pressure by anyone, ever. All credit to him, having to win and doing just that. \"We [the vice captains] are all unanimous in our decision that we have the strongest possible team for Europe. I just want to think positively about the team that we have selected. I think the three picks are strong in every way. \"Since my day -- I was a Ryder Cup rookie in 1991 -- I don't think any captain has had the difficulty I have had today picking three from a possible ten.\" American captain Corey Pavin announces his four wild card picks on September 7 before the Ryder Cup gets underway at Celtic Manor in Wales on October 1.", "Hundreds of Libyans invited to the UK for military training are being sent home amid claims of rape, drunkenness, fighting and theft. The cadets – hand-picked by the British Army – were supposed to be given leadership skills to help their war-torn country. Instead they have been allowed to run amok outside their Cambridgeshire barracks, terrifying their neighbours. British troops have been drafted in to restore order. On their way home: 300 Libyan troops training at Bassingbourn Barracks in Cambridgeshire (pictured) have been sent back early following alleged sex attacks . Worse still, Libya has failed to pay the bill for the programme. Since the training course – which is backed by David Cameron – began in June: . Ali Zidan, Libya’s former prime minister, paid £2.5million to the UK government but has claimed further payments were being blocked by Libya’s Islamist-led congress. In April, Mr Cameron wrote to Mr Zidan’s successor, Abdullah al-Thinni, urging him to make the payments. Upset: Local MP Andrew Lansley has said that the MoD has no other option but to ban any more visits . The Prime Minister pledged the UK’s continuing support but added: ‘I understand that you have been working personally to take forward the General Purpose Force Programme and that plans are now advanced for some 360 recruits to come to the UK in May. ‘I hope that it will be possible to resolve quickly the remaining issues relating to contract and payment, given the overall importance of this programme to our shared goal of improving stability and security.’ The call for extra troops to restore order came from police last week. Units of the 2 Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers, were sent in to Bassingbourn Barracks, near Royston, after their leave was cancelled. Last night, the Ministry of Defence announced the 24-week course was ending early and the 325 cadets would be sent home. The future of the entire programme – scheduled to cover 2,000 trainees – is in doubt amid protests from furious locals. Andrew Lansley, a former Tory health secretary who had initially supported the scheme, said: ‘As this stands, no further groups of trainees could be brought here from Libya.’ He said the MoD must be held accountable for ‘a serious failure’. Mr Lansley said about 10 per cent of the cadets ‘were not accepting the discipline and weren’t accepting what they were asked to do and were not becoming part of a military force’. ‘They were looking to take whatever advantage they could,’ he added. ‘It has meant recently that there has been a lot of additional resources by the MoD to try and shore it up and give protection. It is all very disappointing. We wanted it to work and for it to make a contribution in Libya. I am unhappy.’ The demand for answers came after Cambridge magistrates were told how three of the cadets had behaved ‘like a pack’ as they hunted down and sexually assaulted three women in one night. Ibrahim Naji El Maarfi, 20, and Mohammed Abdalsalam, 27, left their barracks on stolen bicycles and cycled to Cambridge where they stalked their victims under the cover of darkness. The city’s magistrates were told how they touched them sexually and attempted to put their hands up their skirts. Abdalsalam admitted two counts of sexual assault, one count of threatening behaviour towards a police office and one count of theft. El Maarfi pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, one count of exposure and one count of theft. A third man, Khaled El Azibi, 18, who was charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of theft, refused to enter pleas at the hearing. They will be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court at a later date. Cases: Five Libyan men have appeared in court in the past week over alleged sex attacks in Cambridge . In another incident, Moktar Ali Saad Mahmoud, 33, and Ibrahim Abogutila, 22, have been charged with the rape of a man in a Cambridge park. An estimated £2.5million was spent refurbishing Bassingbourn to host the series of courses conducted by members of 3 Scots, the Black Watch. Peter Robinson, who chairs the parish council, said: ‘I thought Muslims didn’t drink but there has been a run on vodka in the local shop. That’s their favourite trip – going to the Spar and then stealing bicycles.’ Downing Street confirmed that the Libyan soldiers are eligible to seek asylum in the UK before they are kicked out. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘Asylum rules apply to everyone. It will be the existing asylum rules that apply.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "By . Corey Charlton . Fraudster Mirriam Clark pictured before her sentencing outside Southwark Crown Court today . A crooked book-keeper at a leading real estate firm who plundered £2m from her bosses to launch her own property empire in Zambia has been jailed for four years. Mirriam Clark, 47, blew the cash on first class flights to Africa and private school education for her children. She bought properties in her native Zambia and used stolen funds to maintain five homes she owned across England and Wales, Southwark Crown Court heard today. Clark was working for Dowley Turner Real Estate (DTRE) from their luxury offices on London’s Bond Street at the time of the thefts. Prosecutor Charles Pentangeli said only £295,000 has been recovered by Clark’s former bosses so far. ‘This fraud was carried out over a three-and-a-half year period while the defendant was the book keeper for the property and real estate consultancy firm Dowley Turner Real Estate, based in London. ‘The partners at the business had both known the defendant for 15 years, she having previously worked for the previous incarnation of the firm between 1995 and 2006. ‘Not only did she work as a bookkeeper and a personal assistant to Mr Dowley and Mr Turner but she was their friend. ‘She played a key role with the business’s bank account and tax affairs’. Clark siphon £1,977,327 from the company over a three-and-a-half-year period, the court heard. She confessed to the thefts, which began in late 2009, just days after she was sacked for work related reasons in March last year. Clark said she stole the cash to pay off credit card debt and claimed she had been struggling financially since her divorce. But it emerged she had spent £50,000 of . her employers’ money on 14 return flights to Zambia and paid a £25,000 . gift to an ex-employee of the firm. Even after all Clark’s properties are sold, Dowley Turner may be short of £700,000 as a result of her fraud. Clark, left, admitted to the theft of £2 million from her employers Dowley Turner Real Estate, pictured right. However, so far the company has only recovered £295,000 and is facing an expected shortfall of £700,000 . Jailing Clark for four years, Judge Alistair McCreath said: ‘While this fraud was going on you were buying other properties in Zambia from the proceeds of your crime. ‘You were taking flights which the partners paid for personally - 14 of them - the maths suggest you weren’t going economy. ‘These thefts were over a substantial period of time, in excess of three years, and you were in a position of trust. ‘You have caused your former employers, your former friends, a significant loss indeed’. Clark was sentenced to four years in jail at the Southwark Crown Court today for her large scale fraud . Clark, of Cavalier House, Uxbridge Road, Ealing, West London, admitted fraud by abuse of position. Detective Constable Malcolm Duncan, of Westminster Major Crime Unit, said: ‘Mirriam Clark was put in a position of trust by colleagues who she had worked with for a number of years. ‘However, she chose to abuse that trust and defrauded her employers out of a significant amount of money with no consideration of those that had employed and trusted her. ‘It is commendable how they have managed to not only stay afloat but also managed to safeguard their employees’ livelihoods during what has been a difficult and upsetting time.’ One of the directors of DTRE, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘From the outset this has been an extremely harrowing experience, which has not come close to ending for us, as individuals or a company. ‘Mirriam Clark has not disclosed to us, the court, or the police where she has put the money. This has been, and continues to be, the most arduous and stressful time of me and my business partners’ lives.’", "By . Gemma Mullin for MailOnline . A gang who stole Audis worth £200,000 to strip for parts have been jailed after their sophisticated car cutting den was raided by police. Akhtar Zamir, Khuram Razaq and Nakash Javaid took four cars in five days from homes in Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull in the West Midlands. The men were able to steal security data from on-board computers using a key-copying device and programming the information onto blank keys. Gang members Akhtar Zamir, 25, (left) and Khuram Razaq (right), 23, from Birmingham, were jailed for four years eight months and three years six months respectively after they admitted conspiracy to steal cars . Nakash Javaid (left) and Carlos Hemmings (right), both 26, admitted conspiracy to handle stolen goods and given a 25 month and 24 month prison sentence when they appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday . Car cutters Wayne Williams, 32, (left) and Thomas Winkett, 26, (right) both from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, were jailed for 20 months each. The pair dismantled the cars at an industrial unit in Lye and fled in a taxi . They were helped by accomplice mechanics Thomas Winkett and Wayne Williams who dismantled the cars at an industrial unit in Lye. But undercover police followed them to the unit where Zamir, Razaq and Javaid were arrested on October 4, 2013. Officers stopped Williams and Winkett in a nearby taxi after they tried to flee, while later that day associates Carlos Hemmings and Adam Leek were intercepted whilst travelling north on the M6 in a van crammed with panels from one of the stolen Audis. The gang was jailed for a combined total of 17 years after they appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, September 16. The court heard unit owner Javaid ran a car wash and part-worn tyre business as a front to the crooked enterprise . They had piled a wall of tyres high against the entrance to the cutting workshop to conceal it from the public. The gang stole two Audi R5s, an A5 and A4 from outside homes in West Midlands in the space of five days. Pictured are the cars in the cutting workshop in Lye where the parts were stripped by accomplice mechanics . They used a key-copying device to steal security data from on-board computers before they were stripped . In the early hours of September 26, 2014 they stole an Audi A4 from Cheylesmore and three days later drove off in an A5 parked at a house in Edgbaston. Later the same evening Razaq sent a text message to Zamir saying ‘fne me [phone me] found a present’ referring to an RS5 he had spotted on a driveway in Willenhall, which was stolen in the early hours of September 30. And at 1.40am on October 1, CCTV captured members of the gang snatching another RS5 from The Village Hotel in Solihull. Sergeant Glenn Marriott, in charge of Operation Transmission, a West Midlands Police taskforce set up to target ‘key-less’ car thefts, said: ‘Members of the group toured residential streets on the look-out for top-end Audis and, having identified a target, would return in the early hours to steal them using a key-programming gadget. ‘It was a sophisticated set-up and the group worked quickly to strip down the stolen cars and move on the parts. The court heard the gang toured the streets looking for top-end cars and returned in early hours to steal them . Hemmings and Leek were intercepted on the M6 in a van crammed with panels from one of the stolen Audis . ‘In fact, body panels recovered from the van on the M6 were from an RS5 stolen in Coventry just 14 hours earlier. ‘Police intelligence and covert enquiries identified the Lye unit as being pivotal to the operation and when we raided it we caught them red-handed with the car parts and diagnostic equipment for programming blank keys.’ He added: ‘Operation Transmission has enjoyed huge success in the 18 months since it was set-up. ‘During that time we’ve arrested more than 160 car theft suspects and recovered around £2.5-million worth of stolen vehicles.’ Zamir, 25, and Razaq, 23, both from Sparkbrook, Birmingham, admitted conspiracy to steal cars and were jailed for four years eight months and three years six months respectively. Javaid and Hemmings, 26, both from Sparkhill, Birmingham, admitted conspiracy to handle stolen goods and were jailed for 25 months and 24 months respectively. Car cutters Williams, 32, and Winkett, 26, both from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, admitted the same handling conspiracy charge and were jailed for 20 months each. Leek, 31, from Yardley, Birmingham, admitted handling stolen goods and was given a suspended 12-month jail sentence and ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work.", "'Cameron and Farrage' shared a hug after appearing in court for stealing from the NHS . This is the moment 'Cameron and Farrage' shared a hug after appearing in court - for stealing from the NHS. The people involved in the happy coalition, sealed with a kiss and cuddle, were not political leaders - but criminal couple Naomi Cameron and Nicholas Farrage who had both just avoided being sent to jail. Their offences were all committed at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth in Devon where they stole cash from patients, staff, and the hospital. Cameron, 24, was given community service after admitting one charge of theft, while Farrage, 28, who admitted three counts of theft, had his sentencing adjourned. The hearing at Plymouth Crown Court almost descended into farce when one of the defendants was asked to confirm his name was 'Nigel Farage'. He then had to say he was not Nigel Farage - but Nicholas Farrage. The judge then stepped in to say: 'I would just like to remind you all that we are not dealing with the leader of UKIP today.' The duo, who are thought to be engaged, both stood in the dock while details of their crimes were read out. Alistair Verheijen, prosecuting, said: 'The offences were committed in November last year at Derriford Hospital and the complainants were staff, patients and the hospital itself.' Cameron admitted stealing a handbag and contents worth £250 from a patient. Mr Verheijen said: 'The elderly victim had gone out for the walk and left her bag by her bed where she thought it would be safe. 'She was only gone for a matter of minutes but Cameron came into the ward saying she was looking for her nan. 'She then took the opportunity to steal the handbag.' CCTV was shown to Cameron who accepted she was the person on it and had stolen the bag. She had been taking methadone and could not remember committing the offence but had no other reason to be in the hospital. Defending Cameron, Ali Rafati said she had turned into an addict after being involved in a violent relationship. The people involved in the happy coalition, sealed with a kiss and cuddle, were in fact criminal couple Naomi Cameron (left) and Nicholas Farrage (right) who had both just avoided being sent to jail . Farrage (pictured) stole items from a ward sister and a doctor that were in areas of the hospital not open to the public . On the day in question, she had taken valium on top of her methadone. He said: 'She was acting like a complete wild woman, very different to how you see her now. She is stable and sober and looking forward to getting her life back on track.' She was sentenced to 30 hours unpaid work and must pay £250 compensation. Farrage was guilty of three counts of theft during the same incident. He stole items from a ward sister and a doctor that were in areas of the hospital not open to the public. He also stole a laptop that belonged to the hospital. Defending Farrage, Deni Mathews said he had returned to drug abuse to carry out this incident after an 'unprecedented spell of employment and break-in offending.' 'He accepts he has had opportunities in the past but he is motivated more now than he ever was.' His sentencing was adjourned until February 20 for probation reports and drug assessment.", "Accused: Kishore Nimmala allegedly stole his date's mobile phone when she refused to pay her way at an expensive London bar . A man stole a woman's mobile phone to 'teach her a lesson' after she refused to buy a round of drinks and said she had expected him to pay for their first date at an expensive London bar, a jury was told. Kishore Nimmala, 32, had already spent £54 on two rounds of drinks at a stylish Leicester Square nightspot when he asked Fakhara Sultana to pay for a third. But he lost his temper when she told him she had no money, Southwark Crown Court heard. The pair left the Ruby Blue bar when Nimmala allegedly become angry and Ms Sultana, whom he had met on online dating website Zoosk, told him she was going home. As she walked to Charing Cross Underground station, Nimmala is accused of snatching her white Blackberry phone and running off with it. Helen Thomas, prosecuting, said: 'This case is about a first date that goes badly wrong. 'Ms Sultana informed to defendant that she didn’t have any money with her and that she had assumed that he would be paying for the evening. 'At that point the defendant became angry and so their evening together came to an abrupt close.' The couple then made their way to Charing Cross station with Nimmala allegedly badgering his date for her share of the cash on the way. Ms Thomas said: 'Mr Nimmala kept saying . to her that he wanted the £25 - her share of what he had spent on the . evening- and Ms Sultana kept saying that she didn’t have any money.' Hearing: Nimmala denied one count of theft at Southwark Crown Court . The court heard that when Ms Sultana took her phone from her bag, Nimmala 'grabbed it' and ran. 'Ms Sultana screamed after the defendant and ran after him,' said Ms Thomas. First date: Kishore Nimmala is accused of stealing Fakhara Sultana's mobile phone after a date at the Ruby Blue bar in Leicester Square, pictured . Two . police officers, who were on Charing Cross Road, joined the chase and . caught up with Nimmala on St Martin’s Lane before they witnessed him . throw the phone away. 'When asked why he ran away the defendant said \"she took my money\" adding \"I took her phone\",' Ms Thomas told jurors. In police interview Nimmala told officers that he had spent £54 and he 'wanted her to pay her share'. 'He claimed that she was trying to cheat him and when she got her phone out he took it thinking that she would give him her share of the evening,' Ms Thomas said. 'The prosecution case is that the defendant was fed up having shelled out money on a date that was going nowhere and he decided to teach Fakhara Sultana a lesson by stealing her mobile phone out of spite and causing her maximum inconvenience in doing so.' The court heard that Nimmala does not deny taking the phone without permission, but that the issue is whether or not he did so dishonestly and with the intention to permanently deprive her of the device. Nimmala from Leyton, east London, denies one count of theft. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.", "By . Corey Charlton . A Romanian visited his holiday home only to find a completely empty plot of land with a field of corn planted in its place after his house had been stolen by thieves. Police in the Romanian port city of Braila got a call from Andy Pascali, 40, complaining that his holiday house on the Danube Delta had been stolen. At first they thought it was a joke, but when they turned up at the nearby village of Baldovinesti they found not only that there was no property where there should have been a three-bedroom building, but that a field of ready-to-harvest corn had been planted in its place. Before: The house owned by Mr Pascali in Romania which was stolen and replaced by a cornfield . After: The cornfield planted by a neighbour where Mr Pascali's house should have been before it was stolen . Police thought someone was playing a prank when they first received a call about the house being stolen . A shocked Mr Pascali, who posted the image of the cornfield on his Facebook page, said: 'I think this could only happen in Romania. 'My entire house has been stolen and my neighbours have taken advantage of the opportunity to plant a field of corn instead. Absolutely incredible.' He said the theft should be a warning to anybody who might be thinking about buying a holiday home in the country that they should make regular checks to make sure it was still there. He added: 'My message is to anyone with a holiday home in Romania is this, it could happen to you to!' He said that he believed the crooks had probably managed to recycle just about everything after slowly taking the house apart while he was not there. He said the property that he had inherited from his parents who had built it in 1986 had also been fully furnished with a brand-new fitted kitchen and bathroom. He added: 'I had been worried about thieves maybe breaking in and stealing the television or something, and so I put a barbed wire fence up around the house for added security. But they stole that as well.' Police officers looking across the cornfield which was planted on the empty plot of land . Andy Pascali (pictured) believes his holiday home was stolen piece by piece while he was not there . The man from the capital Bucharest had been looking forward to enjoying a break after the house was finally complete and landscape gardeners had finished putting down the lawn. They had even installed a pond with a fountain, which had also vanished when Andy turned up for his holiday. A local man admitted he decided to take advantage of the fact that the ground was no longer being used to plant a field of corn but denied knowing anything about the theft of the house in the first place.", "Homeless thief Nathan Dorsett, 30, stole from Oxford University colleges because it was 'better than burgling people's homes' A serial thief who carried out a string of burglaries at Oxford University colleges because it was 'better than burgling people's homes' has been jailed. Nathan Dorsett broke into the historic colleges to steal students' wallets, electrical items and even food from canteens and a buffet. The 30-year-old homeless man was caught when he was found on campus with a crowbar and bolt croppers in his bag. He was recognised from a wanted poster police had put up around the university and detained by staff at Mansfield College until police arrived to arrest him. A judge heard that Dorsett had stolen a range of personal items from Oxford colleges during a series of break-ins in July and August this year. He climbed over a fence into St John's College - previously attended by alumni including Tony Blair - stealing a handbag, wallet and a mobile phone from a room. The next day he entered St Catherine's College, where he went into the canteen and ate food, before climbing through a window in Balliol College to steal a ring and cameras. When inside St Catherine's, Dorsett headed for a buffet, eating and drinking refreshments which were laid out for a conference. He also stole electrical items from St Anthony's College, in Woodstock Road, on August 25. Dorsett admitted four counts of burglary, one count of theft and one count of being equipped to steal. He was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday afternoon to two years and four months in jail. Dorsett stole a handbag, wallet and a mobile phone from a room at St John's College, once attended by Tony Blair . Dorsett, at Oxford Crown Court (pictured), admitted four counts of burglary, one count of theft and one count of being equipped to steal and was jailed for two years and four months . Dorsett had previously been given a 23-week suspended sentence for handling stolen goods at Birmingham and Solihull Magistrates' Court on August 20, which will run consecutively with his new sentence. Five other burglary offences at colleges - two committed in Oxford, two in York and one in Norfolk - were taken into consideration. PC Jennifer Hanks, from Thames Valley Police, said: 'Dorsett had not only been targeting Oxford but had travelled around the country by train and had committed burglaries in other university towns and cities as he did not feel this was as bad as breaking into peoples' homes. However, during these incidents he stole personal belongings and stole from educational organisations. 'This custodial sentence means he will no longer be able to commit similar offences.'", "Disgraced PC Darren Heath, 44, pictured with a woman who has nothing to do with the case, admitted using his position to take advantage of women . A predatory PC admitted abusing his position to have sex with three vulnerable women he met on duty. Darren Heath, who worked as a family liaison officer for Gloucestershire Police, took advantage of his victims over an 11-year period. The 'manipulative and calculating' 44-year-old also harassed a fourth women and repeatedly went to the home she shared with her partner. Heath, who also worked in restorative justice, admitted five counts of misconduct in public office between July 2002 and February 2013 at Bristol Crown Court. He also denied two counts of rape, one of theft and two further charges of misconduct in the public office - accessing the police database and failing to report an alleged rape. The remaining charges will lie on the court file after his not guilty pleas were accepted by the prosecution. Gloucestershire Constabulary's Professional Standards Department began investigating Heath following a single complaint in 2012. But concerned officers decided to look back through their database and identified a number of other potential victims. Senior Investigating Officer with the Anti-Corruption Unit, Detective Inspector Giulia Marogna, said: 'It then quickly became clear there were a number of ladies he may have offended against. 'Darren Heath would use his position as a police officer, whether it was during his time working in restorative justice or as a family liaison officer, to identify women he could offend against. 'These were often victims of crime who were already extremely vulnerable but who he wanted to take advantage of even further. 'Our investigation has been lengthy because we have had to spend time regaining the confidence of women who had been badly let down by someone they should have been able to trust, precisely at a time when they needed him the most. 'Heath was manipulative and calculating while he was offending and that is one of the reasons he was able to carry on doing this over a number of years. Detective Inspector Marogna said the case will now be referred back to the Professional Standards Department to consider the action the force will next take. Heath, 44, will return to Bristol Crown Court, pictured, for sentence next week after admitting charges of misconduct in a public office . She said the most disappointing thing was that Heath showed no remorse and made no comment throughout his interviews. 'Those victims have shown incredible bravery by supporting this prosecution and I want to pay tribute to them for that,' the detective inspector added. 'It doesn't stop here though - I have absolutely no doubt there are more victims out there and I would appeal to them directly to come forward.' She added that it was 'very satisfying' that justice had finally caught up with Heath. Heath, who appeared in court in blue jeans, green jacket and blue v-neck sweater, visibly shook as he stood in the dock for the brief hearing. The defendant, of Taynton, Gloucestershire, was released on bail to return to the court for sentence next week.", "'Considerate': Father-of-one Ashley Barrell, pictured outside court today, was praised for not hitting pedestrians and driving at 20mph in the stolen vehicle . A drunk teenager stole a bus from its depot so he could get home after spending the last of his money on a portion of chips. Ashley Barrell had spent the night drinking in Colchester, Essex, before sneaking into the depot in Magdalen Street in the town centre, where he helped himself to a single-decker bus in the early hours of the morning. The 19-year-old got behind the wheel and started up the engine - using its button-press ignition. He bumped into two parked buses as he pulled away before smashing through locked metal gates and out onto the road. A First Bus security guard reported the theft and Barrell was followed by a police officer as he drove towards his Colchester home. The 20mph chase was brought to a halt two miles later by officers using a 'stinger' device to puncture the tyres. Barrell, a father-of-one, was arrested on the bus and charged with aggravated vehicle taking and driving whilst drunk following the slow-paced pursuit on 24 August. He pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared before Colchester Magistrates’ Court today and was sentenced to four months in a young offenders institution. Barrell, who works as a roofer, was sentenced to four months for the aggravated vehicle taking and three months for drink-driving, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was also banned from driving for 18 months. The court heard how police officers had remarked on the considerate nature of Barrell’s driving. Ita Farrelly, mitigating, revealed that he had only driven the bus home because he 'spent the last of his money on chips' after his night drinking. She said: 'He was walking home with his chips in hand. He passed the depot and had heard a rumour that the buses were not locked. 'He got in and pressed the button to start up the bus. It is not a usual vehicle, it does not require a key, and the bus started and he drove the bus. 'He thought he could go to his home, get out of the bus and leave it there but, of course, it is going to attract attention and get a lot of comments at the depot when they realised that the bus was missing.' Miss Farrelly praised Barrell for the nature of his driving, saying once out of the depot he did not hit any pedestrians or vehicles and only went onto pavements so he would not smash into pedestrian traffic islands. She added: 'It was an incident which was stupid in nature. Simply to get a bus rise home and put himself at risk and members of the pubic at risk. It was a vary grave mistake.' A First Bus security guard reported the theft from the bus depot on Magdalen Street (pictured) and Barrell was followed by a police officer as he drove towards his Colchester home . Wayne Ablett, prosecuting said: 'At 3.50am Mr Barrell was seen starting up one of the buses within the private property and was driving out of the front of the yard causing damage to two other buses in the process. 'He then drove towards the secure metal gates and through them and out onto the road.' Mr Ablett told the court Barrell’s actions caused about £2,000 of damage to the buses involved. Barrell was breathalysed and gave a reading of nearly twice the legal limit. Barrell faced four charges; aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst drunk and driving without insurance and driving without a licence. The counts of driving without insurance and driving without a licence were dropped at court today. The court heard that Barrell's driving of the single-decker bus caused about £2,000 of damage to the vehicles involved. Above, a file image of a single-decker First Bus .", "She is a classically beautiful award-winning actress who starred in some of the biggest British films of the Nineties. But Kristin Scott Thomas fears she will ‘just disappear’ now that she has reached middle age. And she admits she would consider having cosmetic surgery because she feels like an ‘old ragbag’ next to her younger co-stars. Kristin Scott Thomas (left) fears she will 'just disappear' now that she has reached middle age. The actress is pictured (right) with Ryan Gosling who she stars alongside in her most recent film Only God Forgives . Miss Scott Thomas, 53, has revealed that she felt ‘invisible’ while surrounded by young actresses at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Voicing the fears of so many women of a certain age, she said: ‘I’m not talking about in a private setting, at a dinner party or anything. But when you’re walking down the street, you get bumped into, people slam doors in your face – they just don’t notice you. ‘Somehow, you just vanish. It’s a . cliché, but men grow in gravitas as they get older, while women just . disappear.’ And echoing Miranda actress Patricia Hodge, who last year . said that all the best roles go to a small group of actresses, she . added: ‘The Great British Dames, like Helen Mirren and Judi Dench, have . all managed to do things marvellously. ‘They go in, swoop up all the attention, and then swoop out again. I could handle that, quite happily.’ Miss Scott Thomas, best known for The English Patient, for which she was Oscar-nominated, and Four Weddings and a Funeral, was at Cannes for the premiere of her most recent film, Only God Forgives. The film, which also stars Ryan Gosling, tells the story of a drug smuggler in Bangkok whose brother is murdered. Miss Scott Thomas, who has never remarried after divorcing her husband of 17 years, French obstetrician François Olivennes, in 2008, plays Crystal, the drug smuggler’s foul-mouthed mother. She joked that she will probably be single for life because ‘all the men will run for the hills’ when they see it. The actress told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘It’s incredibly difficult keeping relationships alive when you have a lifestyle like mine. I’m never more than a few weeks in one place.’ Miss Scott Thomas, whose children are Hannah, 24, Joseph, 21 and George, 13, admitted that her personal life often suffers because of her career. She said she uses work as ‘an escapism thing’ when things get difficult at home and is enjoying the fact that her children can look after themselves. She said: ‘If I’ve signed on to do something, then I have to do it properly. So I have to switch off the personal life. I can just about squeeze in a phone call at lunchtime, but anything else I just can’t deal with. ‘So it’s a bit of an escapism thing, actually. Things complicated at home? Get a job! Go off somewhere else and pretend I’m someone else.’ Kristin Scott Thomas as Margit in the 2011 film The Woman in the Fifth .", "A judge set bail at $2 million on Thursday for a man whom prosecutors said was arrested with credit cards linked to a retired Arizona power company executive, his wife and their adult son who were found slain in a 'heinous murder' at their home in rural Idaho. The victims were identified as 80-year-old Theodore M. Welp, 77-year-old Delores E. Welp and their son, 52-year-old Thomas P. Welp. They were found at the home on Tuesday. Ada County Coroner's Office told Daily Mail Online on Friday that the cause of death was homicide but would not release the nature of the injuries. Accused thief Adam M. Dees, 22, of Nampa wore restraints but appeared relaxed during his appearance in Ada County Court via a video feed from jail. In a clear voice, Dees said 'no' when asked by Judge Theresa Gardunia if he would be able pay the bail. Theodore M. Welp, far left, Delores E. Welp in the black dress and Thomas P. Welp, second from the right, in a family snapshot. The others are unidentified. The parents and son were murdered at their home in the Boise foothills this week . Adam Dees (right, in wheelchair) was seen a video wearing restraints during an arraignment at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho on Thursday. Bond was set at $2 million for Dees, based upon his possible involvement in the murders of Theodore, Delores and Thomas Welp . The home where two men and a woman were found dead on Tuesday amid signs of a struggle in Ada County, Idaho . Dees is not charged with murder. He faces three counts of grand theft, three counts of forgery and a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. The 9 mm handgun was found tucked into Dees' waistband, prosecutors said, without disclosing whether it was linked to the killings. Defense attorney Isaiah L. Govia has sought bail of $25,000, noting his client had no previous felony convictions. He also said Dees was put on suicide watch after being arrested because he is bipolar and schizophrenic and didn't have access to his medication. Gardunia told Dees before setting bail that she had to consider the circumstances surrounding his arrest and make her decision based on public safety. She ordered Dees to return to court on March 26. Fourth District Magistrate Theresa Gardunia, right, talks with attorney Isaiah L. Govia, who is representing Adam Dees, left, on a video screen, during Dees' arraignment on Thursday in Boise, Idaho . Police arrested Dees on Wednesday at an electronics store. Prosecutors listed a handful of other sites where they said he used the credit cards, forged the names of the homicide victims, and was later identified by workers. Dees' father, Steve Dees, told the Idaho Statesman that his son told his family he found the credit cards. Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney asked the public for help in determining a possible connection between Dees and the Welps. Authorities were also looking for information on a wedding ring they believe Dees had tried to sell. They didn't know if it was connected to the killings. Raney has said the killings were the most violent he had seen in three decades of working in law enforcement. The killings took place in what records say is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home on about 20 acres with a total value of about $800,000, owned by Theodore and Elaine Welp. Authorities say the property has horses and other buildings. An Ada County Sheriff's Office investigator exits a home where Adam Dees, 22, lives on Thursday in Nampa, Idaho. Dees is accused of grand theft and forgery, charges that investigators say are tied to the deaths of three people . Ada County Sheriff's Office investigators stand in the entryway of a home where Adam Dees, 22, lives in Nampa. Bail is set at $2 million for Dees, during his appearance on Thursday in Ada County Court . 'No words can adequately express the grief and despair we are feeling,' the Welp family said in a statement issued through the sheriff's office. 'These were kind, caring and generous people who meant so much to us and have been senselessly taken from us.' The Welps formerly lived in Arizona, where Theodore Welp was the chief of Tucson Electric Power Co. in the 1980s. He was blamed by some for the financial downfall of the company. The Arizona attorney general's office conducted an investigation into the financial dealings, but the probe did not result in criminal charges. Theodore and Elaine Welp were also involved with charitable organizations, including one that funds research on vision impairment and blindness. The entrance to a home set on 20 acres where two men and a woman were found dead on Tuesday in what the local sheriff described as a 'heinous' crime . A police vehicle approaching a home on Wednesday where the triple homicide took place. The Ada County Coroner has not yet released the cause of death .", "By . Andy Dolan . and Christian Gysin . and Lucy Osborne . They complained that the television series had made them look like ‘complete scum’. But one of the female ‘stars’ of controversial Channel 4 documentary Benefits Street is today unmasked as a convicted criminal. ‘White Dee’ – the self-proclaimed ‘mother of the street’ – stole from the vulnerable to fund her lover’s crack habit, the Mail can disclose. White Dee: The self-proclaimed 'mother of the . street', pictured on Facebook, was once convicted of stealing cash . destined for vulnerable council tenants when she was working as an admin assistant at a local authority . She and her friend ‘Black Dee’ – nicknamed by their neighbours on account of their colour – featured heavily in Monday’s first episode, portrayed as hubs of a close-knit working-class community. White Dee’s conviction as a thief emerged as another resident told of his ‘shame’ at living on the street and said that his insurance company was now threatening to withdraw cover on his vehicles as a result of the documentary. The takeaway owner added that his children were being teased about their address at school. Channel 4 could face a police probe over the documentary, which featured thief Danny Smith demonstrating his tricks of the trade as a shoplifter and boasting about his ill-gotten gains. John O’Shea, a Labour councillor in Birmingham where the series was filmed, said that Channel 4 appeared to have ‘aided and abetted shoplifting’. The broadcaster had yesterday received almost 400 complaints about Monday’s show. Shame: White Dee's conviction emerged . as another resident said his insurance company was now threatening . to withdraw cover on his vehicles and his children were being teased at school as . a result of the documentary . One of the main characters, ‘White Dee’ – real name Deirdre Kelly –  was portrayed as a streetwise single mother-of-two who uses her knowledge of the benefits system to help her neighbours in James Turner Street, Winson Green, a deprived inner-city area  of Birmingham. But the Daily Mail can reveal that while the ‘mother of the street’ may look out for those living around her, she once had no scruples about stealing more than £13,000 from the city council which employed her. The theft included envelopes of cash given to social workers to look after by ‘most vulnerable’ tenants. A court heard Kelly had worked as an administration assistant for her local authority in Birmingham for seven years but began stealing cash and cheques from a safe, while manipulating paperwork in a bid to cover her tracks. Kelly, now 42, was rumbled by an internal audit. She claimed in court that she had used the cash to feed her partner’s crack cocaine habit and pay bills. The mother was only spared prison because she had no previous convictions and to ensure her children were not put into care. She received a suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out 220 hours’ unpaid work, and was sacked as a result of the ‘mean-spirited and calculated’ theft. Black Dee: The other 'star' of the first episode . - real name Samora Roberts - complained that programme-makers . duped her into taking part by promising the series would be about the . residents' sense of community . Her fellow ‘star’ of the documentary, . ‘Black Dee’ Roberts, 32,  has complained that programme-makers duped her . into taking  part by promising the series would be about the residents’ sense of community. The . unemployed youth and support worker said its focus on ‘people in the . street living off benefits, taking drugs and dossing around … makes . people out as complete scum’. Taken away@ West Midlands police said Mark . Thomas, 23, had contacted officers to make a complaint and went to the station to give a statement . Black Dee – real name Samora Roberts – . is currently on bail in connection with a ‘racially aggravated . incident’ in James Turner Street last August, and a drugs bust last . June. She has protested her innocence in relation to the drugs raid. The revelations emerged as another resident, who admitted on camera that he and his girlfriend had been caught fiddling their benefits in the past, was photographed being taken away by police. The West Midlands force later said Mark Thomas, 23, had contacted officers to make a complaint and was taken to a police station to give a statement. His partner, Becky Howe, 23, suggested the complaint concerned a ‘family matter’. Kelly did not return calls about her conviction last night. Roberts did not comment. Channel 4 last night said it had no plans to edit the episode for its 4oD online catch-up service. A spokesman said it had not handed unused-material from the ‘human and objective’ documentary to police, and would only do so on receipt of a court order. The spokesman also admitted that welfare claimants featured in Monday’s programme were paid ‘small expenses’ such as electricity used during filming. West Midlands Police said officers would watch the series in its entirety before deciding whether to seek additional footage. The force has not been given preview copies of forthcoming episodes.", "A woman was jailed today for fleecing her grandmother out of her £140,000 life savings and using the cash to fund a lavish lifestyle of luxury cars, new clothes, exotic holidays and £10,000 on a single spa trip. Katie Gosley-Shaw, 38, stripped Ruth Gosley, 89, of money left to her by her late husband, leaving her unable to afford heating or new clothes. Mother-of-two Gosley-Shaw, from Tockwith, York, was jailed for four years after she was found guilty of five counts of theft and two of fraud committed between 2009 and 2012 after a trial last year. Katie Gosley-Shaw (right) was found guilty of five counts of theft and two of fraud for fleecing her grandma Ruth Gosley (left) out of her £140,000 life savings . Gosley-Shaw, who carried out four years of deceit and theft - while at the same time claiming state benefits - had purchased a flashy BMW, foreign holidays, hotel stays, new dresses and run several credit cards. Leeds Crown Court heard today that Gosley-Shaw, who used to work for a hair products company, spent up to £200 a month on petrol and planned to buy a £540,000 house with her partner without needing a mortgage. It was also revealed that Gosley-Shaw spent nearly £10,000 on a single transaction at Feversham Arms health spa in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, and that she also stole two gold necklaces from her grandmother. Before it was stolen by her granddaughter, Mrs Gosley had worn one of the necklaces, which had been a Christmas present from her late husband, every day for 15 years. Katie Gosley-Shaw was jailed for four years today at Leeds Crown Court . Prosecutor Liam O'Brien told the court that Mrs Gosley was left devastated by the actions of her granddaughter. He said: 'Mrs Gosley said that she had \"broken her heart\". 'She said she couldn't bear the thought of the defendant being sent to prison because of the children.' According to Mr O'Brien, Mrs Gosley's late husband had reassured her she would be cared for after his death. He said: 'He told me \"Don't cry Tosh, you will be all right\" and I was all right because he left me quite a lot of money, but it's vanished. The lot.' During her trial, the granddaughter claimed in the witness box that her grandma had approved each and every transaction, including giving her about £65,000 in a single 'gift' by selling shares. According to Gosley-Shaw, Mrs Gosley also lent her money because she had financial problems following the break-up of her marriage and lived beyond her means. Gosley-Shaw said: 'She is a very, very kind and generous woman.' The grandmother denied approving any of the transactions. 'Mrs Gosley previously said: 'Katie was here all the time. She would nip in with the kids and we would have a natter. She was here almost daily. 'She was so helpful. She would do anything for me, go to the shops, anything. I adored Katie. 'She was always full of life and liked a good chat. We were good pals. 'If I was down in the dumps she was the one who brought me up. She was very good. 'What happened was a terrible shock. It's unbelievable how it happened. 'If she'd have wanted anything all she had to do was ask and she could have had it.' During sentencing, Judge Rodney Jameson QC told Gosley-Shaw: 'You stole from your grandmother who by the end of matters was in her late eighties. 'She thought that you were the epitome of modern, glamorous living. 'She was speaking highly of you. In many respects finding it difficult to reconcile with the person she had known until then to the person you had been over the past four years.' Judge Jameson added: 'You did not need to do what you did. This was not in my judgement a case where necessary or significant pressure played any part in this offence. 'In contrast, the theft left your grandmother virtually penniless, living on a state pension. 'It is about as mean as an offence as is possible to imagine.' Ruth Gosley (wearing blue) was left without heat and unable to buy clothes after granddaughter Katie Gosley-Shaw (wearing wedding dress) stole her savings .", "By . Anna Edwards . Former Met police officer Ian Scouler, could face jail again after he admitted stealing a suspect's phone . A shamed police officer who stole cash during a house search is facing a return to prison for taking a suspect's iPhone. Former PC Ian Scouler was jailed for 12 months last November after being secretly filmed pocketing £400 while on duty in 2011. But Scouler was back in court today to admit stealing a suspect's iPhone and another handset while employed by the Metropolitan Police. The former cop - who walked into Westminster Magistrates Court after being released from his prison sentence - was warned he now faces a swift return to jail. He pocketed an iPhone after it was seized during the search of a suspect's home on October 28, 2010. 'At the time this theft occurred, Mr Scouler was a serving police officer with the Met,' said prosecutor Emma Scheer. 'When officers went to restore the property to its owner, they found some of the items were missing. 'The iPhone was found to have been sold by Scouler shortly after the date of the search.' Scouler had set up an account under his own name at website fonebank.com to sell on the stolen handset. He admitted selling the phone but initially tried to pin the blame on one of his fellow officers. 'He said he didn't in fact take the iPhone but it was given to him by a colleague and had no idea that phone was stolen', said Ms Scheer. Investigators also discovered he had stolen another phone in May 2010 which had been handed in to police. He again sold it online, but was 'very vague' when investigators asked where he had got it from, the court heard. Scouler's career was destroyed when a jury at Southwark Crown Court found him guilty of theft following a trial. He . was caught taking money in a sting operation set up following . allegations of thefts by officers from Greenwich Borough's Disruption . unit during searches. Scouler . was filmed removing the cash from a leather jacket left in a flat in . New Eltham, south east London, and putting it into his pocket. He was also taped joking 'It's not divisible by three' when a colleague found 200 Euros. Westminster Magistrates Court heard that the former officer had previously stolen £400 and was found to have taken an iPhone . Scouler and colleagues were filmed browsing pornography and playing music while they were supposed to be searching the flat, which had been wired with hidden recording devices. He later claimed to have forgotten about the money which he took home, but a jury convicted him of theft. Judge Michael Gledhill QC branded Scouler a 'rogue officer' when sentencing him to 12 months in prison. 'The trust that society places in their police officers is vitally important to everyone', he said. 'When that trust is broken by rogue officers, as you became, public confidence is eroded, it makes the job of honest officers far more difficult, and it seriously undermines society.' Ms Scheer said Scouler's theft of the phones only came to light in September last year, when the victim asked police for his seized possessions back. She said it was only after he was jailed for stealing the money that he owned up to his other crimes. 'It appears that only after having been convicted of the maters at crown court that he subsequently admitted he was guilty in relation to these matters', she said. District Judge Nicholas Evans freed Scouler on unconditional bail until a sentencing hearing on March 28. 'I have indicated that the court has custody in mind', he added. Scouler, of Borough Green, Kent, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft.", "A terminally-ill five-year-old has died just days after his devoted parents granted his final wish by getting married at his hospital bedside. Corey Edwards was born with a complex congenital heart defect and endured eight traumatic open heart surgeries in a bid to save his life. His greatest wish was for his parents Jemma, 21, and Craig, 28, to tie the knot, but despite getting engaged three years ago, his ill health put their plans on hold. Corey Edwards, five, has died five days after his final wish - to see his parents get married - was granted . Corey, who was born with a complex congenital heart defect, held the rings at the ceremony at his bedside in Bristol Children's Hospital . Corey's condition had gradually deteriorated since January, when he was admitted to hospital with a cold, and his parents were warned he had just days to live. To grant the little boy's final wish, staff at Bristol Children's Hospital pulled out all the stops to allow his parents to marry at his bedside, including getting the Archbishop of Canterbury's permission for the ceremony to be held on the paediatric ward. The five-year-old held the rings at the wedding on Saturday, with his mother saying Corey looked 'very handsome' in a suit. Sadly Corey died last night, five days after the ceremony. Speaking shortly after the wedding, father-of-three Mr Edwards, from Teignmouth, Devon, said: 'It may not have been the day we had initially planned in our heads but it didn't matter to us. 'To have our son there meant more than anything and it will be a day we will never forget. 'We can't thank the staff enough for what they have done for us and Corey and we would like them to know how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication.' The terminally ill boy's parents Craig and Jemma had been engaged for years but delayed tying the knot because of Corey's ill health . To grant the little boy's final wish, staff at Bristol Children's Hospital pulled out all the stops to allow his parents (pictured with sisters Isabelle and Caitlyn) to marry at his bedside . Mrs Edwards added: 'The most important thing for us was having our son Corey at our side, holding the rings and wearing his suit. 'We couldn't have been more proud of him. We were also incredibly lucky to have our daughters there and the support of so many.' After deciding to get married, the couple had barely 48 hours to organise the ceremony, which was complicated by requiring permission from the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to go ahead. The newlyweds signed the wedding register at their son's hospital bedside . The law allows couples to marry in hospital if one of them is desperately ill and that did not apply in this case. But a law dating back to Henry VIII gives the Archbishop of Canterbury special dispensation to allow weddings in hospital for 'pastoral reasons'. 'When we knew Corey's wishes, everyone on PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) and Ward 32, including staff and friends, got together to help us,' Mr Edwards said. 'The Bishop of Bristol had to write to the Archbishop of Canterbury to get special permission for us to marry in the hospital and we are so grateful he agreed.' Corey was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart defect when he was seven months old and had eight open-heart surgeries as well as other treatments. Staff at Bristol Children's Hospital grew close to the family during numerous hospital stays., and rallied together to help with the wedding. Mr Edwards, a council road sweeper, said: 'When we got the go ahead, we only had a matter of days to plan. 'We rushed into town to buy a dress and suit and made do with our engagement rings as wedding rings. 'We couldn't believe the generosity of all those involved. One nurse helped to do Jemma's hair, whilst another two members of staff made the cake and iced it. 'Chairs were pulled together to form an aisle and decorations were put up to make it feel like a wedding venue. 'We were married by the hospital's chaplain, Rev Stephen Oram, who was very excited to be sharing this occasion with us.' Corey was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart defect when he was seven months old and had eight open-heart surgeries as well as other treatments . After deciding to get married, the couple had barely 48 hours to organise the ceremony, which was complicated by requiring permission from the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to go ahead . Mr Edwards added: 'It turned into a really, really amazing day and Corey was so proud. He looked very handsome. I think he really enjoyed it, which was the main thing. 'Getting married is usually the bride and groom's special day, which it was, but it's more Corey's special day because he is such a special boy. 'It was nice to share our special day with the people who have helped us enjoy Corey's short life. It has got to the point where there isn't more they can do now, which is obviously very hard. 'Instead of being at his bedside crying the whole time at least on that one day we had a real special day. We know he was happy that day. 'When he's home and well you wouldn't know he is a cardiac patient. He's happy, running around and loves to play.' The newlyweds spent their wedding night at their son's bedside and later returned to the nearby Ronald McDonald House where they are staying whilst Corey is in hospital. Speaking before Corey passed away, William Booth, matron for PICU, said it was a privilege to share the special day with Corey's family. He added: 'The whole hospital was abuzz with excitement. 'One of the nurses made and iced a cake others brought in flowers and gifts for the newlyweds. 'Lots of the nursing and medical teams involved in Corey's care came in over the Easter break to share this special occasion with them all.'", "PC Richard Bent, 28, who admits the theft of £250 from a dead man and £93 from a lost bag handed into police by a posed member of the public . A police officer cousin of England footballer Darren Bent stole £250 from a flat where a man had died. PC Richard Bent, 28, told a colleague: 'No disrespect, but he's dead', after swiping the bank notes from the central London home he was guarding. Detectives investigating the sudden death of Rustam Cihhudy, asked Bent to collect medical notes from the Westminster flat, and the policeman took his chance to pocket the money. When quizzed about the theft, Bent remarked: ‘No disrespect, but he’s dead. He wasn’t going anywhere soon.’ Bent, whose mother is the aunt of England and Aston Villa striker Darren, and who admits the theft, was based at Belgravia Police Station at the time of the theft on July 13 this year. His colleagues set a trap for Bent as he returned to the station to book in the medical notes. Bent was handed a lost bag by an undercover officer posing as a member of the public containing £93, which the PC promptly pocketed. ‘He is a serving police officer and the two thefts were committed while on duty’, prosecutor Emma Scheer told Westminster Magistrates Court today. ‘This is abuse of trust in relation to the fact he is a police officer, which is quite significant.’ Bent was arrested outside Bank tube station in central London, after skipping out of his shift early on July 13 to cash in his stolen money. Ms Sheer said: ‘The £250 stolen was in old money and needed to be exchanged for new money.' ‘The first charge is a theft from a deceased person, Mr Cihhudy, while on duty providing cordon services. ‘PC Bent was positioned on the cordon guarding the property and obtained the keys to the property. ‘He took the medical notes that he was requested to do.’ Mr Cihhudy’s death was initially treated as suspicious after he collapsed unexpectedly at a flat in  Page Street, Westminster, but was later adjudged not to be a police matter. ‘It was discovered PC Bent had taken money from the bag and put it into his own bank account, before effectively discarding the bag’, said Ms Scheer. Darren Bent, pictured playing for England and Aston Villa. His cousin told a colleague 'No disrespect, but he's dead' after stealing £250 . ‘At the time of the event, he didn’t know the person was an undercover police officer.’ Bent, wearing a shirt and tie covered with a black jumper, initially gave no indication of a plea and asked for the case to be transferred to the crown court. But district judge Nicholas Evans insisted the case could be dealt with at the magistrates’ court. ‘No indication is really intended for those who are mentally unable to make up their minds’, he said. ‘I am not sure why it is done and what it is intended to achieve.’ He admitted two counts of theft - in respect of the £250 and £93 amounts - but denies swiping a bank statement, three cheque books, and a passport from Mr Cihhudy. Belgravia Police station, where Bent was an officer until he was suspended . Bent, from Wandsworth, southwest London, was suspended from the Met Police when the accusations came to light. Judge Evans ordered him to return for sentence on September 26 and released him on unconditional bail. A decision will then be taken on how to deal with the allegations of stealing the passport, bank statement, and three cheque books. Bent denies the claims which may now be dealt with as a separate allegation or resolved after a hearing." ]

[ "The United States ambassador to Afghanistan denies allegations he is meddling in the country&#39;s first direct presidential election, to be held on October 9. US ambassador to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, says that" ]

[ "Ahead of Afghan presidential elections to be held on Saturday, allegations of US involvement inthe event were reported one after another, leaving people an impression", "A US envoy hopes to hold talks in Nairobi to try to end a political crisis after last week's disputed Kenyan election.", "The US military denied claims from Afghan officials and a Danish aid group that it bombed a village and killed several civilians during clashes with insurgents in eastern Afghanistan.", "KABUL - US envoy Richard Armitage has held talks in Kabul on Wednesday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on regional security issues and efforts to rebuild Afghanistan.", "A US envoy said before a visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday that Israel should take steps to smooth the way for a Palestinian presidential election scheduled for January.", "The US ambassador to Kenya strongly rejects claims the international community has stirred up election violence.", "NAIROBI, Kenya -- The vote count from Kenya's election was rigged, but both parties could have been involved, the chief U.S. envoy for Africa said Monday, declining to blame either President Mwai Kibaki or the opposition leader who ran against him.", "US envoy denies N Korea nuclear talks are deadlocked, but flags up differences over enriched uranium.", "An Afghan court was following proper procedures in its trial of three US men accused of torture and kidnapping and the United States would exert no influence on next week&#39;s verdict, a US official said on Tuesday.", "Candidates for prime minister in Saturday's election in Australia were influenced by operatives trained in the US.", "The chief rival of interim President Hamid Karzai said he has evidence of organized fraud in Afghanistan&#39;s election and accused the UN-Afghan electoral commission on Monday of ignoring his complaints.", "A spokesman for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry slammed a claim by a top US State Department official that Iraqi insurgents were trying to influence the US election against President George W. Bush.", "The U.S. envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, is helping to persuade Transitional Administration Chairman Hamid Karzai's rivals to drop a threat not to recognize the result.", "A renegade Afghan militia commander and a spokesman for the governor of the western province of Herat said on Wednesday their forces were honoring a cease-fire brokered a day earlier by the US envoy to Afghanistan.", "Pakistan&#39;s UN ambassador fired back at allegations that his country was aiding Taliban and other elements trying to undermine neighbouring Afghanistan and its presidential election.", "BAGHDAD -- The new UN envoy to Iraq warned yesterday that a US offensive in Fallujah could further divide the nation as it struggles to prepare for January elections.", "The American envoy in Bangladesh urged its bickering political parties to stop meddling in the electoral process and called on the interim government on Sunday to play an impartial role in the vote.", "Khartoum has dismissed charges that a US diplomat had been denied an entry visa and said the envoy would be welcome in Sudan as long as the mission was &quot;constructive,&quot; the foreign ministry said.", "Investigators have clear evidence of ballot box stuffing in Afghanistan's landmark presidential election but not on a scale that would overturn interim leader Hamid Karzai's victory, a senior official said Tuesday.", "President Hamid Karzai's main challenger yesterday backed off a boycott of Afghanistan's landmark election over allegations of fraud, saying he would accept the formation of an independent commission to look ...", "Nonprofits have begun using YouTube and rapid video production in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election while ducking financial-disclosure laws.", "President Bush's ambassador to Afghanistan said Tuesday he believes the United States would pursue reconstruction and a buildup of security forces there regardless of whether a Republican or Democrat were in charge.", "The main opponent of President Hamid Karzai in Saturday&#39;s elections in Afghanistan is backing off from a boycott of the vote-count.", "US envoy Christopher Hill has denied a Japanese press report that said he had secured a deal with North Korea in which Pyongyang had agreed to shut down a nuclear reactor in exchange for energy aid.", "Afghans packed polling stations Saturday for a historic presidential election that was blemished when all 15 candidates opposing US-backed interim President Hamid", "Pakistani troops killed 19 militants in clashes near the Afghan border, the army said Sunday, as Islamabad denied a US claim that Osama bin Laden was alive in the same lawless area.", "The power of Afghan armed factions means elections there will go ahead in an environment of fear and repression, US-based Human Rights Watch says.", "MOSCOW, Dec 24 - Russia will not use its influence behind the scenes in the former Soviet republics, President Vladimir Putin said Friday, ahead of a key election in Ukraine.", "Four military bases the United States is building in Afghanistan will only be used by the Afghan National Army, an U.S. Army spokesman said on Wednesday, denying that a U.S. base was being constructed close to border with Iran.", "The US isn&#39;t attempting to influence Ukraine, Georgia and other former Soviet republics and is supporting democracy in those countries, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said.", "The US military looks into claims in a German magazine that US and Afghan troops abused a prisoner.", "A Vatican handbook made public Monday questioned preventive war and denounced the \"horrendous crime\" of abortion, but Vatican officials denied they were trying to influence the U.S. presidential election campaign." ]

[ "If you take a look at this quick article: The Neuroscience Of Trance or the full published study the article refers to: Brain Network Reconfiguration and Perceptual Decoupling During an Absorptive State of Consciousness scientists used fMRI to view what was going on in the brains of shamans as they either entered into a trance or purposefully stopped themselves from doing so while listening to drumming.\n\nOne of the things they noted was a dampening of the sensory pathways - there theory being that while the drumming beat was the most prominent external stimulus, it's repetitive and predictable patterns allowed it to be gated out/ignored while its ongoing presence prevented reorienting to the usual random environmental distractions. \n\nI would expect the music your listening to is doing more or less what the drumming does for the shamans." ]

[ "This sounds similar-to (but more general than) the so-called Speech-to-Song effect, a musical illusion discovered and described by musical psychologist Dr. Diana Deutsch, whereby a repeated phrase of speech comes to sound like music. I think the effect you're discussing is a more general effect, since it involves any repeated sound, and does not necessarily take pitch into account (since you're asking specifically about rhythms). Dr. Deutsch describes this illusion (and several others) in an interview on the Composer Quest podcast here (this particular illusion is described starting around 9:45 or so).\n\nIn the case of rhythms specifically, I'd say this is actually what is called Beat Induction -- which is a form of entrainment:\n\n\n Beat induction is the process in which a regular isochronous pulse is activated while one listens to music... Beat induction can be seen as a fundamental cognitive skill that allows for music. We can hear a pulse in a rhythmic pattern while it might not even be explicitly in there: The pulse is being induced (hence the name) while listening—like a perspective can be induced by looking at an arrangement of objects in a picture.\n\n\nAs for who studies these kinds of effects? Musicologists and perceptual/cognitive psychologists. It seems to be an open question in psychology whether beat induction is an innate biological ability, or a learned, cultural feat. According to this article in Psychology Today, recent evidence (comparing brain scans of adults and infants while listening to various types of music) supports the idea that it is innate.", "Some parts of your description suggest that this film may be The Legend of Hell House (watch out for spoilers in the wikipedia article).\n\nSpecifically:\n\n\nA woman goes into a trance at some point.\nThere is a hidden room discovered.\n\n\nI don't recall organ music being involved in the trance. Note that there are similar films (see also The Haunting of Hill House).", "Genres are not enough to describe music completely. That's why we need sub-genres going deeper and deeper depending on many different characteristics the sound has. Sub-genres define more specific groups of sounds within the genre such as \"Metal > Death Metal > Melodic Death Metal\".\n\nAnd then there are aspects such as \"post\", \"ambient\", \"-core\" further describing the sound depending on the artists' choice of the style and the movement they react with. These aspects do not specify a genre by themselves. For example, \"ambient\" might be either \"ambient EDM\" or \"ambient metal\". They can be merged with many different genres.\n\nNow the band you're referring to, Heilung, do not produce metal music as far as I've listened them. Yes, they do Folk music.\n\nBut the way they interact with Folk music is similar to how Folk Metal bands do. Their lyrical theme and concept are mostly about Nordic culture (norse mythology, vikings, runes etc.) which is used by Metal bands way too often that Nordic theme in music almost became interlinked with Metal genre.\n\nI know the answer went too broad but I tried my best to explain why they might be related to Metal genre", "The description of a genre is a collection of patterns. Songs that share patterns can be grouped in a genre that describes those patterns. You can find these patterns in any music dynamic: rhythm, speed, progression, key, instrumentation, whatever.\n\nYou determine the genre of a song by identifying these patterns, and associating them with the description of a genre.\n\nFor example, let's create two genres: fast music and slow music. Any music below 120 bpms (beats per minute) is slow music, anything faster belongs to the fast music genre. Listen to X song, count how many beats you heard in a minute, and group it the genre it belongs to. Genres work exactly like this, but with many more associated characteristics. \n\nFor another example, let's define two genres. I'll just use over-simplified definitions to make the point clearer.\n\n\nTechno: Little harmonic and melodic movement (if at all). Emphasis in rhythm and percussive instruments. There is small variation through the song (no climax, no distinctive sections, for example).\nTrance: Both melodic and harmonic movement. Emphasis on bass, and time-based effects like reverb and delay. Sometimes features string-ensemble-like synthesizers (known as pads). There is variation through the song (it has well-defined intro, break-down, climax, and other sections).\nBoth Techno and Trance: Loop-based electronic music, based on samplers and synthesizers, carved for the dance floor.\n\n\nListen to this:\n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtMQj2ivc9I\n\nThere is no harmonic movement, with some melodic movement, which repeats through the song. The movement is injected through the timbre of the melody part, and the percussion part. There is little variation through the song, with no distinctive sections. This song is a good fit for our simplified techno definition.\n\nNow listen to this: \n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8uWlSOMjcQ\n\nThere is harmonic and melodic movement. It has distinctive sections (intro, break down and start of build up at around 3:50, climax at around 5:30, outro). A lot of reverb and delay is being used. This is a good fit for our Trance genre, even if it doesn't feature pads.\n\nSometimes it's hard to draw an objective link and define a genre objectively, so the genre subject is often a source of debate.\n\nSince musicians can be very creative, not all songs have a specific and defined genre. Some are a combination of many, others present a new pattern with no associated genre at all (for example, in our fast-slow music example, what do we do with songs that have no evident tempo, or songs with variable speed, or a song that can be described at more than one speed like 80 and 160 bpms?). In contrast, there are songs that share well-defined patterns (by tradition, convention, influence, whatever) and are easier to catalog.", "播放列表 and 歌单 are both okay.\n\nIt's been translated as 播放列表 for long because of the early version of Microsoft Windows Media Player and other old players. You can tell that 播放列表 is directly translated because “play“ means 播放 and “list“ means 列表。\n\nIn 歌单， 单 is equal to 列表， and 歌 means the music that you wanna listen to. While in Chinese, 歌 mostly refers to the music with lyrics and that might be too narrow in meaning for there mignt be classical music without lyrics in your playlist. That's why I prefer 播放列表 to 歌单. The former has the more exact meaning.\n\nNowadays the people who listen to the music without lyrics are much less than people who listen to 歌， so 歌单 is also widely accepted and used by the public and sometimes replaces 播放列表. What's more, the word 歌单 is much shorter than 播放列表. I guess that also makes it more popular.", "In short, yes, if you listen to music on enhanced bass setups, you are changing the initial work of the artist.\n\nAn audio track goes through several processes (mixing, mastering...) before being released and these processes are supposed to \"parameter\" the song as the artist wants people to hear it.\n\nOf course, it is very rare to have a sound system that has a perfectly flat response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz so in any case you will slightly modify the spectrum. The point is to modify as less as possible if you want to stick with the artist's work.\n\nNow in your case, on headphones, I think you are referring to the Psychoacoustic Bass Enhancement technology. Since it's hard on headphones to reproduce low frequencies, companies use this phenomenon. For example, it is hard on headphones to generate 25 Hz, but if you generate harmonics (i.e. multiples of 25 Hz) at 50, 75, 100... Hz, and then remove the 25Hz, your brain will still have the feeling to hear the 25Hz.\n\nSo you add frequencies, you modify the original track. But this is your personal taste... some people prefer listening to unaltered music.\n\nSome precautions\n\nIf you really need to enhance bass frequencies to hear them properly, you should also check if you don't have lost frequencies in your audition. I don't know your listening habits, but people that very often listen to music with headphones tend to higher the volume in time. If someone around you at one meter distance can also hear it, it is a sign that the volume is probably too loud. Then it becomes a viscous circle, \"I have a little hear loss, so I increase the volume, so I damage my hear a little more, so I increase the volume etc...\". Hear loss doesn't suddenly hurt, it is a small, long term process and when you realize it, it's sometimes too late.", "But I'm genuinely concerned for my co-workers hearing because of how loud he plays his music and how often he has his ear-buds in. Should I share my concerns with my co-worker?\n\n\nIf it's not bothering you, it's not really your responsibility to \"fix\" the \"problem.\" \n\nHowever, generally we do care about those we're around who may unknowingly be destroying their hearing (or lives for that matter). This is true whether in the workplace or personal life and can often make us feel compelled to say something.\n\n\n If so, how should I politely and professionally let my co-worker know that how they are listening to their music may be damaging their hearing?\n\n\nMost people will react well to something like:\n\n\n\"Hey, I can't help but notice you listen to music really loudly. It really doesn't bother me since I'm normally listening myself but your's is pretty loud even where I'm at - I figured I would let you know. It's pretty easy to cause hearing loss with listening to music so loud and want to make sure you are aware of this, I'd hate for you to be hurting your hearing and not realize it. Like I said, it really doesn't bother me but I just want to give you a heads up.\"\n\n\nFocusing it like this:\n\n\nTwice reiterates it's NOT about you (since you start/close with saying it doesn't bother you)\nMakes clear it definitely is an \"FYI\" not \"I'm judging you\"", "\"Uplifting trance\" has never been a particularly meaningful term for me. When someone says they are making some of the stuff, I shrug. I've tried listening for it but I can't place what exactly they are doing from all the other kinds of trance. I call their bluff and they will insist and I will shrug some more.\n\nWhat distinguishes Balearic trance from other kinds of trance? Balearic trance is typically a less aggressive form of trance, where the tempos are a bit slower (110 to 135 bpm.) Pads are a prominent feature as opposed to arpeggios and the arpeggios that do get introduced are typically done on native Spanish instruments: guitar sounds, chimes, etc. Beach sounds are commonly introduced via sampling.\n\nThe overall tone is much brighter than other sounds. So sounds are not going to be heavily filtered, but instead layered. Delays are a prominent feature within pads and occasionally the arpeggios.\n\nBalearic trance shares a lot of the sound palette with Balearic disco. And that is a bit of fun but another ball of wax.", "Sometimes.\nIt depends mostly on what the producer is trying to do and the style of music. The general goal of recording an instrument is to get the sound of that instrument and as little else as possible. If you’re producing pop music you usually try to isolate that instrument as much as possible. The use of close-miking is usually preferred. And to further isolate it from outside noise one might use a gate to mute the sound when the instrument is not playing. This will give you a cleaner, tighter sound.\nIf you’re producing classical music you’re generally not going to be using gates, and certainly not on the soloist. With an instrument like a violin the source of the sound of the instrument is inches from the player’s face. It would be difficult to get rid of the sound of breathing if you wanted to. The player themselves will often limit the sound of their breathing by moving away from the mic while not playing.\nClassical pianist Glenn Gould is known for quietly humming along with his playing, which can be heard on recordings during quiet passages. Some listeners find it distracting. Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett is known for his vocal inflections while playing. His fans would not want a producer to remove these.\nGenerally listeners of acoustic styles like classical and older jazz want to hear things as-is so you wouldn’t go out of your way to remove “imperfections” like breathing. Newer jazz music is produced much more like pop music, so a producer might choose to gate out breathing sounds.", "I've seen this referred as pre-show and post-show music, which sets the mood for the performance for eg.\n\nExample 1\n\nExample 2", "The first trance track was Age of Love - Age of Love (Jam &amp; Spoon Mix) which came out in 1992. I have several recordings of Steve Mason's BFBS radio show from 1993-1994 where Steve announces to the audience the track he is playing is progressive trance. So the emergence of progressive trance came very quickly. As yazze has mentioned, this comes from Leftfield but the idea of instantly labeling a track \"progressive\" in rave music comes from House. As of June 1992, the emergence of progressive house was being reported by MixMag.", "Short Answer: \n\nPeople tap their feet due to increased activity in the cerebellum.\n\nDetailed Answer:\n\nThere already is some evidence that music can release certain neurotransmitters, including dopamine. You can assume that people who tap their feet to the music, are in someway \"pleased\" by the music, meaning that their body goes into some sort of physiological joyride. Part of this joyride is an increased blood flow to the limbs, an increase in heart rate, dilated pupils, and most significantly a rise in activity of the cerebellum. \n\nThere is also the theory that music can have similar effects as drugs &amp; addiction on the reward pathway of the brain. This pathway stimulates the flow of dopamine to the striatum, which is a part of the forebrain, activated by reward, motivation and addiction. \nIn addition those dopamine levels can already peak milliseconds before something \"special\" in the song starts (e.g the bass drop, guitar solo, etc.), which strengthens the theory that our brain anticipates and predicts upcoming events (such as the memory prediction framework). \n\nHowever, for example to songs the individual is completely unfamiliar with, the memory prediction framework may not be activated, therefore dopamine levels will not spike before the actual e.g. \"drop\", but after it happens, the striatum will be filled with dopamine. \nFurthermore, as mentioned in the beginning of the answer, the cerebellum gets more active as certain music is played, releasing neurotransmitters, and therefore the increased activity an individual is more likely to move their e.g. legs, because of a heightened motor-system. \n\nSources: \n\n\nAdinoff, B. (2004). Neurobiologic Processes in Drug Reward and Addiction. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 12(6), 305-320. doi:10.1080/10673220490910844\nBlood, A. J., &amp; Zatorre, R. J. (2001). Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(20), 11818-11823. doi:10.1073/pnas.191355898", "When we sit, we pass through different phases of consciousness. At first our mind is active and discursive. It ruminates over all manner of things, rehearses events to come, and rehashes those that have past. As we move towards stillness - which can be done simply by sitting quietly in one place - our mind settles into a more passive state. Rather than taking an active role in the creation of our thoughts, our mind relaxes, revealing its deeper layers. At this point, things may begin to spring up unbidden. Sometimes we can experience memories from long ago, other times we may see fragments of pictures in our minds, and sometimes we may experience traces of emotion that have no obvious cause. If you spend any amount of time listening to music, recollection of song is also exceedingly common.\n\nDon't worry about about the music. If you persist in your sitting, it will begin to fade. Song is just a different kind of thought. Treat it like you would any other - let it have its space, don't try to chase it down or drown it out, sit still, and do your best to maintain attention on your breath.", "Taiko music. There aren't many unusual patterns but sure as hell the rhythms are intense and interesting.\n\nAs an example, see (because seeing is, IMHO, part of the experience) this show.", "Off the top of my head, the emphasis appears to be different in these two forms. If I use verb1 + 着 + [verb1 complement] + verb2 + [verb2 complement], the second verb is to me a more important action. For example, I would interpret 你不应该听着音乐做功课 as \"You mustn't listen to music while doing homework\" and 你不应该做着功课听音乐 as \"You mustn't do homework while listening to music\". These are not the same. If I want to tell someone that to focus on her homework, I use the first sentence. If I want someone to focus on the music we are listening to (so as to better appreciate it), I would use the second sentence.\n\nIn comparison, if I use 一边 + verb1 + 一边 + verb2, there is less of an implicit emphasis on either action. If I see 你不应该一边等巴士，一边拍照, my interpretation is that it does not matter whether the person addressed stops taking photographs and waits for the bus, or gives up waiting for the bus and takes more photographs.", "I have been deejaying since 1984 and one thing is certain, categorizing styles is one difficult task especially in the EDM scene. So many things to consider and at the end the song creator can say you are way off, my style is Disco House with Persian folk infusion. lol but seriously, you know what I mean? \n\nSoooo with that. We can use a deduction method to address the song at hand. \nEurodance term faded out in the 90s and is mostly referred to progressive house. This song has neither the hard hitting kick to make it house or speed to consider it progressive house at that.\n\nTrance....again this is a little on the slow side and misses a key element in making it trance..\n\nWhen you think of someone being hypnotized, i think of a clock moving back and forth and as you follow it you start to fall into a state of trance.\n\nNormally it is done with a sound that continues throughout the beat that sways side to side up and down, heavy in presence but soft in blending. \n\nA great example to me is Tiesto - Adagio For Strings \n\nFreakin base pumpin, beat hitting, strings melodically placing one in a trance.\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0PV_S4m6Ig\n\nSo to me with this clip both are right and wrong and for me it is basically a generic non risky slow house beat.\n\nHope that helps and makes sense.", "Many of our associations for color, order and music are derived from our culture rather than from biology or some inert psychology. That is to say the bright green house with Christmas lights and tinsel on it all year long might look trippy to you but to the person who designed it it appears to match their society's norms. \n\nWhen you experience the trip its because of the violation of the norm of images your brain has been trained to recognise. The culture shock eventually errodes as you watch the videos more often because your brain begins to learn the patterns and incorporates it into your culture.", "Music is allowed for those observing the five precepts. This is the most basic practice. The five precepts:\n\n\nI undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.\nI undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.\nI undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.\nI undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.\nI undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.\n\n\nMusic is not allowed for those observing the eight precepts (those observing uposatha) and ten precepts (for novice monks and full monks).\nA livelihood in music is allowed by the following:\n\n&quot;Monks, a lay follower should not engage in five types of business.\nWhich five? Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in\nmeat, business in intoxicants, and business in poison.\n&quot;These are the five types of business that a lay follower should not\nengage in.&quot; - AN 5.177\n\nMusic in some sense provides pleasure and maybe even intoxication, but the type of intoxication that is more controllable than alcohol or recreational drugs.\nMany things can provide pleasure like food, sex, good thoughts, pleasant sights and sounds. The Middle Way of Buddhism prescribes limits on these for lay persons by way of the five precepts and lay person Right Livelihood.\nThe point is, do all forms of music make the lay person heedless? I don't think so. I know of people who consume alcohol and get intoxicated while dancing to trance music. That definitely makes a lay person heedless.\nBut a lay person listening to other types of music, like pop or classical or country, may not become uncontrollably heedless.\nHowever, it is still a type of pleasant sensation. And for a lay person, all pleasant sensations should be experienced in moderation, in accordance with the five precepts and Right Livelihood.\nPersonally, I think if you use music to uplift a negative or depressed mind - it's even a skillful use of music for laypersons.\nFor serious practitioners, uplifting the mind using mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati) is better (as prescribed in the Vesali Sutta).", "I have listened to a lot of music from the list you named and if I am not mistaken this is what it means:\n\nFrom Wikipedia:\n\n\n Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is a subgenre\n of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American\n state of Washington, particularly in Seattle.\n\n\nFrom Wikipedia Grunge is generally characterized by: \n\n\nHeavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song\ndynamics\n\"Growling\" vocals and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics. \nMany grunge musicians were noted for their unkempt\nappearances and rejection of theatrics.\nSludgy guitar sound that uses a high level of distortion, fuzz, and feedback effects\nGrunge fuses elements of hardcore punk and heavy metal\nLyrics are typically angst-filled, often addressing themes such as social alienation, apathy, confinement, and a desire for freedom.\n\n\nAnd while it may seem as if none of the musicians you named have anything in common, they do appear to share many of the characteristics listed above.", "I can think of two large differences: prosody, and the more ephemeral nature of music that is listened to versus poetry that is read.\n\nProsody\n\nBoth poetry and lyrics can have meter or not, but with lyrics, the meter always matters. When setting words to music, it will make the words seem \"off\" or \"amateurish\" if the meter of the words is not somewhat (or completely) aligned with the meter of the music. (See also this answer on Music.SE)\n\nGenerally, all music has a meter that is fixed and repeated. The vast majority of pop and rock songs have a duple meter, which means that each metrical unit is presented in groups of two, four, eight, sixteen, etc. The most popular meter in pop and rock by far is \"4/4\" time, which we can consider to be four beats grouped together (I don't want to get too distracted by music theory on this Stack).\n\nThose four beats repeat, and each beat lasts for the same amount of time. In each group of four beats, the first one is strong, the second weak, the third slightly less strong than the first, and the fourth is the weakest of all four.\n\nAll English prose and poetry has strong and weak syllables. When you set poetry to music, if you set a weak syllable against a strong beat in the musical meter, it will sound strange. If you do that once or maybe twice per stanza (or verse or chorus), you might get away with it and it will even highlight those words in a subtle way. If you are willy-nilly placing verbal emphasis in random places against the musical meter, the whole song will sound strange and even off-putting.\n\nLikewise with other kinds of musical meter - there are duple meters with other numbers of beats than four, like 3/4 and 5/4 time, and there are triple meters (called \"compound time\" by musicians). Setting words to music is a significant part of the songwriting process.\n\nProsody, part 2\n\nAt this point I will reveal some of my ignorance of poetry, because the following will be about lyrics and might apply to poetry as well, I'm not sure.\n\nIn music, what would be called a stanza in written poetry has to be heard. The way we communicate line groupings in music is with rhyme and pauses, because the listener can't see how it's written down. One effect of this is that the way the stanzas are set to music controls how the listener hears them, and even emphasizes certain lines and words.\n\nAs we tend to hear duple groups by default, the most basic and popular stanza is four lines. If you write a four line stanza and then a three line stanza, and you give each line the same amount of time in the music, your audience will be waiting with eager anticipation for that eighth line (the missing fourth line of the second stanza). If you want to get the listener to really be paying attention when you go to the chorus, leave out the last line of the verse. Listeners will be emotionally dying to hear the thought completed. Rhyme scheme also enforces the feeling of line groupings, and uncompleted rhymes will have the listener begging for resolution.\n\nOn the other end of the spectrum, making the last line of the verse extra long or adding a fifth line will really highlight those \"overhanging\" words. Your listeners will be thinking about those words when the chorus starts, and won't notice exactly what you sing/say at the beginning of the chorus. Extra words will be more likely remembered by listeners, so put your best words there.\n\nThere are so many more little details of prosody when it comes to setting words to music, but I think that is a good introduction to get you started.\n\nRepetition\n\nWhen reading poetry on a page, the reader can go back and re-read the last line they read as many times as they want before continuing. Or they can re-read the previous stanza. They can read the poem backwards if they want. They can read down the first word of each line. With music, there's no choice. They will hear the words in exactly the order you say them. Anything they missed will have to wait for the next time they listen to the song, unless you sing it again!\n\nCertainly there is repetition in written poetry, but repetition takes on additional importance in music, because everything goes by so quickly, compared to written poetry.\n\nObviously, choruses are repeated words and music in a song. Usually, the chorus has most of the most important words in a song, and repeating them helps make sure that the listener understands those words when the song is over. Usually we hope listeners will want to listen to a whole song and also listen to it again, so we might put the lyrics in the chorus that we think will \"hook\" the listener into giving the rest of the song a chance and also make them miss the song later on and want to listen again. Obviously there are musical hooks as well, but lyrical hooks are at least as important.\n\nEven outside of choruses, repetition is huge in music. Music itself is repetition. Three notes together don't mean much until you play the same three note pattern again - perhaps slightly altered. Lyrical repetition inside verses or bridges makes the poetry more musical. For example, it's near-universal in early 20th century Mississippi delta 12 bar blues that the first line of each verse is repeated again with different chords underneath it before the third line is given at the end of the verse.\n\nFurther Study\n\n\nSongwriting: Writing the lyrics (Coursera course from Berkelee College of Music)\nStudy rap if you want to really focus on lyrical and musical meter lining up. If you don't like rap music in general, you might find the cast recording of Hamilton to be a good study of rap lyricism with more historical verbal content.\nCats (the musical) is poetry set to music. Comparing the original T.S. Eliot book with the setting of the words in the musical would be very instructive.\n\n\nCase Study: \"Mary Had A Little Lamb\"\n\nA simple case study. Here's the poem:\n\n\n Mary had a little lamb\n Its fleece was white as snow\n And everywhere that Mary went\n The lamb was sure to go\n\n\nAs I'm sure you already know, this is changed to make it \"more musical\" (sorry I don't have a precise definition of that phrase) when it is sung:\n\n\n Mary had a little lamb (beat)\n Little lamb (beat) Little lamb (beat)\n Mary had a little lamb its\n Fleece was white as snow (beat) (beat) (beat)\n \n Everywhere that Mary went (beat)\n Mary went (beat) Mary went (beat)\n Everywhere that Mary went the\n Lamb was sure to go (beat) (beat) (beat)\n\n\nBold syllables are on the musically strong downbeats, and regular syllables are on the musically weak upbeats.\n\nNotice the differences: The lyrical form has gaps to allow the music to \"come around again\" so that the next strong syllable falls on a strong beat. Repetition is used so the melody can be varied while the words repeat to address the balance between making the lyrics interesting and the melody interesting. The repetition fills time, but also enhances the \"musicality\" of the words.\n\nNotice particularly that every line has eight beats in the musical version. Since each line of the poem is seven syllables both starting and ending with a strong syllable, an eighth weak beat is added to the end of each line in the lyrical version, with three beats added to the ends of the couplets to let the music fully \"come around again\" for the next couplet. This reflects how we would pause after each line when reading the poem aloud. The word \"and\" could optionally be added at the last weak beat at the end of the fourth line of the lyrical version. My recollection is that it's omitted.\n\nAlso note how the poem, lyrics, and music are all relatively simple. The poem is essentially trochaic, which along with iambic are the two simplest meters. Contrast with a limerick, which mixes duple and triple metrical feet within a single line.", "Perhaps the main thing to consider here is expectations. If you lived in a world where all musical lines had note starts (or other 'events') that only fell on the strong beats, then a vocal line that behaved otherwise might - at least on first listening - seem out of time. We (or at least most of us) don't live in that world though - for example, there are many musical styles that have a rhythm section that carries the pulse clearly, and it is often the job of the vocal to live around the strong beats rather than directly on top of them. (Sometimes I find that when listening to an isolated vocal track, there's surprisingly little sense of the rhythmic feel of the full mix - it seems in those cases that the vocal is not responsible for carrying the main beat of the song). Starting a note a 16th before the downbeat (and continuing through to create a syncopated effect) is common in pop music these days, so most people will have had exposure to it - including children, who (in my experience) often now seem quite rhythmically sophisticated from a young age.\n\nOf course some styles and some songs set up their own expectations; with a song or style that is usually sung 'straight', it might be jarring to hear syncopation; on the other hand, if it is done consistently, the listener may then come round to hearing it as a 'funked-up' version of the original.\n\nThis is also true for delivery that doesn't even seem to fall on a regular musical off-beat like a 16th. From the mid to late 90s, it become common for rap artists to deliver flows that were in some places closer to natural speech patterns than musical rhythms, in places approximated three-over-two or syncopated figures, and in other places were dead on the beat. I remember that this initially seemed sloppy and out of time to me; after some more exposure I began to get used to it, to the point where strictly on-the-beat delivery could sound a little dated or naïve. \n\nJust as an unusual chord choice might initially be heard by some listeners as off-key but appreciated by others as an interesting 'flavour', it's hard to make general rules. It's always worth considering that our auditory system evolved as a survival mechanism; it is designed to alert us to sounds that 'don't fit the pattern', telling us that something new is happening. But it can also learn; once an unfamiliar event has been repeated, it becomes a new pattern that has been learned (and is, therefore, less disturbing). There are lots of jokes along the lines of 'If you play a wrong note, do it five more times and they'll think you're a genius' - funny 'cos it's true, and it comes down to setting up expectations!", "Unfortunately there seem to have been a large number of informal experiments, with various shortcomings such as using a limited range of source material, focusing on preference without also looking at ability to tell a difference, or making the files listened to available to test subjects (removing some or all of the 'blind' quality from the test) - but relatively few published 'scientific' studies.\n\nMost lossy compression algorithms I know of are based on perceptual coding - a nicely detailed paper describing some of the principles (in the context of the development of PASC, an early technique) is at http://www.minidisc.org/MaskingPaper.html. \n\nA few points from that paper : \n\n\nthe ear divides the sounds it receives into frequency bands, called 'critical bands'. Quiet sounds in the critical bands can be 'masked' by other, louder sounds in the same critical band. (this gives the opportunity for data reduction : if we can't hear a quieter sound, we don't need to encode it).\n\"There is no agreement as to the specific number of critical bands active simultaneously. Critical bands and their center frequencies are continuous, as opposed to having strict boundaries at specific frequency locations\".\nwe have many more bands in the lower frequency range\nIn general, low sounds mask higher sounds\nSometimes a signal can be masked by a sound preceding it, called forward masking, or even by a sound following it, called backward masking\nThe masking threshold of a signal entering in one ear can be raised by a masker entering in the other ear.\nSpatial location can have a negative effect on masking\n\n\nThinking about all those in combination, it's clear that the characteristics of the audio we're encoding are going to have a huge influence on the amount of data we can throw away and still keep the result subjectively indistinguishable from the original (or at least, not subjectively worse). So, even taking account file format and compression algorithm, another huge variable is the song we're encoding.\n\nThis means that as a general rule, taking a rough average of the results from the 'unscientific' tests we've read about may give as good an answer to your question as we can hope for without considering a particular song. \n\nFor what it's worth, my personal impressions, for music, on average:\n\n\n128Kbps is usually just about good enough to enjoy the song, but is almost always noticeably worse than the original\n192Kbps is always good enough to enjoy the song, and sometimes be indistinguishable from the original (or at least, not subjectively worse). \n320 Kbps is close enough that I'm not putting any money on that I can distinguish it from the original in most cases; (but I would bet I can find some particular tracks where I can).\n\n\nOn yet another personal note : I listen to music through playlists, so I'm not usually aware what file format or bitrate I'm listening to. Sometimes I catch a bit of a song and I think \"wow, that sounds good!\" and I check the file - very often (85% of the time?) it is lossless or 320kbps; just occasionally it's 192. It's never less.", "For timing.\n\nTo keep in tune with whatever else is going on.\n\nTo listen to the quality of the voice.\n\nTo balance with whatever else is going on.\n\nTo be aware of diction and appropriate volume for each word/phrase.\n\nWhen using a mic, to have it in the best place for tone and volume.\n\n\nCan't really understand why every singer doesn't listen properly, but some need to work on that side of things. Not so much 1 2 and 3, but certainly 4, 5 and 6.\nAnd why single out vocals? Every musician's most important organs are their ears!\nNo doubt others will mention lots that have been missed here.", "Ray Bradbury's 1953 story \"The Murderer\" (ISFDB):\n\n\n When it\n wasn't music, it was interoffice communications, and\n my horror chamber of a radio wristwatch on which my\n friends and my wife phoned every five minutes. What\n is there about such 'conveniences' that makes them so\n temptingly convenient? The average man thinks, Here\n I am, time on my hands, and there on my wrist is a\n wrist telephone, so why not just buzz old Joe up, eh? \n\n\n....\n\n\n \"But they went too far. If a little music and 'keeping in\n touch' was charming, they figured a lot would be ten \n times as charming. I went wild! I got home to find my\n wife hysterical. Why? Because she had been\n completely out of touch with me for half a day.\n Remember, I did a dance on my wrist radio? Well, that\n night I laid plans to murder my house.\"", "The answer depends on whether he's singing it or playing it. In either case, he's much more likely to pick up a new ear worm if you play him lots of different music, so expanding music exposure, or pointing out existing music exposure is an absolute must. \n\nIf he's playing it, it's easier. You could go all out \"unpleasant parent\" and simply delete/block that track, but that's likely to cause tantrums and revenge singing. We implemented a \"no repeats on this journey\" policy for music in our car. It simply widens the range of music the kids listen to and they generally find a new favourite within a couple of months (or shorter, sometimes it's shorter...). You could have a similar policy of \"no repeats between breakfast and lunch\" at home.\n\nIf he's singing it, then I'd recommend not making a big deal out of it. Just express your dislike of it and encourage singing a different song of (partly) your choosing. \n\nSometimes, if my children were singing a song I didn't like, I'd respond by singing \"Let it Go\" from Frozen. It happened that everybody was singing that all the time in their lives and they were a bit sick of it (sound familiar?). They learned how annoying someone else's ear worm can be, and they were also lightly conditioned not to sing the song I didn't like.\n\nSadly, I now buy radio edits of songs, too. The children all know what the beep means and giggle about it, so I've developed a specific love of lyricless movie soundtracks (John Williams is particularly good).", "I agree with both of those facts; the issue is actually about syllable distribution in music. You'll need to let go of several assumptions:\n\n\nLyrics are not speech, nor are they precisely written poetry; they flow at the pace of the music and do not have to conform to normal speech patterns (unless you want them to); therefore you can shorten or elongate the time allotted to certain syllables in order to get your subsequent stresses where they need to go.\nYou do not need to pick a strict meter and follow it religiously on every line.\nYou are not restricted to using syllables on the beats.\nYour stressed syllables can last longer than a beat.\n\n\nThese are major benefits of lyrics set to music, as opposed to poetry without a setting. The pacing is set by the music and the performer. Poetry can have an irregular metrical pattern, but scanning it successfully requires careful interpretation or an oral delivery (like music). Try scanning song lyrics without knowing the tune and rhythm, and you'll see why it's frustrating to attempt that in poetry.\n\nIt's best not to put unstressed syllables on the downbeats, but if you do the listener will naturally extend them into stressed syllables, and this can be awkward. If it's a monosyllabic word, preferably with extra consonants or a long vowel/diphthong, it can go either way and become a stressed or unstressed syllable depending on the context. Pickups/anacrusis are perfectly useful here. If you don't want that, then just start on a stress. It does not violate the preference for iambs sometimes to use other feet.\n\nWithin the verse, you can put your unstressed syllables not just on the off-/backbeats, but on the half beats or the quarter beats, thereby allowing the stressed syllables to land on the beats. \n\nI'd suggest that you spend some time doing some metrical analysis of songs you really like to see how they handle the meter. For example, most of the Beatles' oeuvre is in 4/4. Many of their lines start with a stressed syllable on 1, but often they have pickups into the downbeat that allow them to use iambs or even anapests at the beginning of a line. There's a stressed syllable on nearly every beat; the unstressed syllables usually go between. Occasionally they even fit three syllables between beats with another stress on the half beat. When they violate these rules, what effect does it have? E.g., their later songs tend to treat the beats a bit more raggedly. What does that do for the rhythm and meaning?", "Listen to the song \"Coil\" by Opeth. Duet with a male and female vocalist.", "I sometimes use the noise settings on Signal Generator along with slowly modulated low-pass filters and reverb as an element for room-tone (it's particularly effective for spaceship ambience if you are working on sci-fi).", "A reel is an Irish (or Scottish) folk dance that is danced to music with the same name, which is why you hear it often when listening to folk songs.\n\nTo reel is to stagger, feel unstable or intoxicated. It is used in the lyrics to describe the feeling of love.", "This phenomenon is called guna and vṛddhi. You can learn more here for example:\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vṛddhi", "I've done an esotheric meditative music project in the past using Gnaural free brainwave generator with Omnisphere. Frequency of a binaural beats was selected in the respect to a desired effect (hence you need to dig the basics of brainwaves and corresponding sounds) + all other sounds were chosen in order to stimulate targeted state. Each track consisted of nature elements like fire, water wind etc, strings and harp for heart stimulation and low bass rumble for meditation state (something like throat singing). I'd suggest to make a plan what you want to achieve, then research which way sonically you could do that. Logic is powerful and once you know what you want its easy to make using factory tools and maybe some freeware.\n\nAs for some examples - check out David Parsons", "I would answer this in two ways:\n\n\nHISTORICALLY, \"house\" and \"techno\" are two regional variations of post-disco club music that grew up more or less simultaneously. House music is associated with Chicago in the early 1980s, and Techno with Detroit. The most distinctive Chicago house sounds were \"soulful\" house, which used gospel diva samples, piano riffs, and inspirational raps over 4/4 beats, usually realized on an 808 drum machine; and \"acid\" house, which was a more stripped down \"jacking\" style of house that featured the TB-303 bassline, used as a melody instrument, to create a squelching, electronic style of dance music. Detroit techno is associated with a specific set of suburban black DJs who were looking to fuse dance music with the avant-garde, sci-fi aesthetic of Kraftwerk and electro. They featured complex, mechanical sounding beats programmed on more advanced drum machines (TR-909) and sequencers (Roland MC500), along with cold, dissonant synthesizers and vocoded voices.\nThese two ways of making music -- soulful, \"deep\" dance music, with pronounced aspects of blackness and femininity; and hard, \"banging\" electronic dance music, using synths and computers -- have given rise to endless variations. To oversimplify vastly, it seems like \"house\" is the root style of dance music, with an almost classical feel to it. It tends to stay closer to the 118-120BPM of disco and early 1980s club music, and has always been more hospitable to \"acoustic\" sounding samples, expressive divas, etc. Techno, on the other hand, has tended to speed up, quickly reaching 130-140BPM, and becoming more and more psychedelic, until it spawned (in the 1990s) the very influential style called \"trance.\" Go to a big dance party and and you will probably hear a descendant of one of these two styles. (Unless, that is, you are listening to something with breakbeats or dub influences...)" ]

[ "Darren Gorman said his younger brother Chris had his drink spiked while out with friends at a party in Cumbernauld on Friday night.\nHe was discovered by police dumped in a bin and taken to hospital.\nDoctors said if he had been left 30 minutes longer he could have died.\nThe 17-year-old had been drinking with friends at a party in the North Lanarkshire town prior to the incident.\nIn a Facebook post his older brother wrote: \"Got a phone call in the early hours of the morning this morning as my 17 year old brother Chris Gorman had been left in a wheelie bin in the middle of Cumbernauld by his \"friends\" he had his drink spiked and when we arrived the ambulance was already with him and his eyes were rolling while he's foaming from the mouth.\"\nDarren Gorman told the Daily Record newspaper that police found the teenager and called an ambulance. He was taken to Monklands Hospital.\nMr Gorman said the family were disgusted to later see that a picture of his brother in the wheelie bin had been shared in online group chats.\nHowever, they then took the decision to post the image on social media to shame his so-called friends and warn others about ending up in a similar state.\nMr Gorman's Facebook post added: \"Scary reality to be told that if he had been left half a hour longer chances are he wouldn't be here now.\n\"I apologise for the pictures but if this raises a little awareness and stops someone else ending up in the same state it's worth it, he's had a harsh lesson as to who his real friends are and those who would rather get a laugh out of the situation and spread the image of him in a wheelie bin through group chats.\"\nMr Gorman's post has been shared more than 2,000 times.\nChris told the Daily Record: \"The only thing I remember is waking up in the hospital.\n\"I feel terrible. I can't drink water and eat properly. But I've had messages from people all over the place, not just friends, asking if I'm OK.\"\nA spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: \"At about 02:05 on Saturday 27th May 2017, officers came across a 17-year-old man who appeared to be unwell in Clouden Road in Cumbernauld.\n\"An ambulance was called and the man was taken to Monklands Hospital for treatment.\n\"No complaint has been made to the police regarding the circumstances of the incident. We would encourage the man to get in contact with us.\"" ]

[ "From bins being converted into toilets to women being caught on CCTV dumping cats in them, the wheeled receptacles are rarely out of the headlines.\nNow Birmingham, one of the last - and biggest - parts of England where the bins are not supplied to homes, is in the process of introducing them.\nThe council says a £30m government grant means it can give two bins - one for recycling and one for general rubbish plus an optional third for garden waste - to every household.\nThe exceptions will be maisonettes, along with people who live on steep hills and other \"unsuitable\" areas.\nBins have been delivered to pilot areas Brandwood and Harborne before they reach the rest of the city, to bring it in line with 82% of England's councils.\nBut critics of the bins say they clutter streets and are unsuitable for a city such as Birmingham which has a lot of terraced housing, meaning residents would have to wheel them through their homes, or store them permanently in front of them.\n\"It's a Marmite topic,\" said Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, who is in charge of waste for Ealing Council, in London.\nHis authority has only brought in wheelie bins in small parts of the borough that requested them - the rest of it, including areas of terraced housing, still use bin bags.\n\"You get the people who love them because they stop vermin like rats and mice from getting to their rubbish - and you get lots of people who hate them and think they signal the end of the world,\" he explained.\n\"Bringing them into one area at a time has its benefits though - I think sceptics see them working there, see the plus side, find out how other people overcome problems and realise it's not Armageddon after all.\"\nOther councils have found other practical problems with them.\nIn Malvern, Worcestershire, original plans to give them to all households had to be abandoned over concerns they would roll down the town's famous hills.\nThe district council is still going ahead with introducing them but only in streets that have been tested for dangerous gradients.\nIn several towns and cities, the introduction of wheelie bins has also coincided with rubbish collections dropping from weekly to fortnightly.\nIn Hinckley, Leicestershire, the strength of feeling was so strong that when the wheelie bins were introduced in 2004, residents marched to the council's offices - with their bins in tow.\nAnd over the decades, the seedy side of them has also emerged.\nIn 2007, South Yorkshire Police said inhaling toxic wheelie bin fumes had become the \"drug of choice\" for teenagers, and several murder victims have also been found dumped in wheelie bins.\nSome residents found their bins were even spying on them after councils in some areas, including Bristol, started using microchips to monitor how much rubbish homes were throwing away.\nBuilding fires have also been started by arsonists setting the bins alight.\nAnd campaigners warn wheelie bins can become obstacles in Britain's already-cluttered streets and can be particularly hard to negotiate for parents with pushchairs, disabled people and those with sight problems.\nKevin Golding-Williams, from pedestrian campaign group Living Streets, said councils introducing wheelie bins had to check they did not become a nuisance.\n\"They're another part of street clutter,\" he said.\n\"Particularly when people have no front garden, they can just leave them out permanently on the pavement.\n\"Councils need to monitor the situation and check the environmental benefits the wheelie bins bring strongly outweigh the negative impacts.\"\nBut there are lots of people who love wheelie bins - not least businesses that have emerged because of their existence.\nFrom wheelie bin cleaners to firms that make wooden huts to cover them and stickers that identify which houses they belong to, everything has become a business opportunity.\nPeter Bond owns BritishBins Ltd, which, among other things, sells wheelie bins to individuals who want their own, even if their local councils do not provide them.\n\"They might want them to transport the rubbish and keep the rats and mice out,\" he said.\n\"Different councils have different policies about what they do about emptying people's own bins - Bromley, for instance, are happy to empty them anyway but others, including Wandsworth, won't.\"\nMr Bond's website contains a newsfeed of all wheelie bin-related news from the local and national press and has researched the history of the bins - from their design in Germany to their introduction to the UK in the mid-1980s.\n\"You hear a lot of bad press when it comes to wheelie bins,\" he said.\n\"The stories you read in the likes of the Daily Mail include the worst cases of 'health-and-safety-gone-mad', including elderly ladies being asked to push bins long distances because binmen aren't allowed and the chips used to spy on people.\n\"You also hear a lot about rows with neighbours - people who have taken the wrong wheelie bin and others who have put rubbish in the wrong bin.\n\"One way or another wheelie bins have definitely made their mark on Britain.\"", "Last week, Glasgow Licensing Board ruled the venue must close at midnight, effectively ending its ability to run as a nightclub until 03:00.\nThe decision came after persistent police complaints about drug and alcohol-related incidents.\nThe petition said this would endanger the city's arts scene and economy and accused the police of \"harassment\".\n\"On the 15th May 2015, Glasgow City Council revoked the nightclub licence from The Arches - one of Scotland's biggest and most successful cultural venues,\" the petition states.\n\"This has followed months of harassment of the venue by Police Scotland, regarding apparent failures to act upon instances of drug misuse in the club, as well as some alcohol-related offences.\n\"The Arches has attempted to address the concerns of the police on numerous occasions, but has been repeatedly threatened with the loss of its licence despite attempts to resolve the issues raised.\"\nThe petition claims the venue \"makes more effort than any club in the city to keep people safe\" and is also a \"world-leading arts venue\".\nIt adds: \"The arts operations are largely funded by the income generated from club nights held at the venue, and this latest move by Police Scotland and the Glasgow City Council Licensing Board severely threatens a vital part of the Scottish arts ecology, and the livelihoods of the venue's many employees.\"\nThe petition calls for the re-instatement of the Arches' club licence \"without delay\".\nA spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: \"We strive to ensure licensed premises maintain a safe environment, free from violence, disorder, drug taking and excessive levels of drunkenness, all of which can endanger people.\n\"Our aim is always to work closely with licence holders to uphold the law and provide a safe environment for their patrons to enjoy alcohol responsibly.\n\"Where breaches of licensing legislation occur we will take appropriate action and record and report this to the local licensing authority.\"\nLast month, police made a bid to have the club closed after a woman was found unconscious and officers recorded 26 drug and alcohol-related incidents.\nIt was rejected after a lawyer for the Arches argued this was inappropriate.\nLast year, the Arches announced it was raising its minimum age for admission to 21 after the suspected drug-related death of a teenage girl who fell ill there, but the over 18s policy was later reinstated.\nRegane MacColl, 17, died after becoming ill at the club in February 2014. Police linked her death to an ecstasy-like \"Mortal Kombat\" tablet.", "Ms Baloch's mother, Anwar Azeem, told BBC Urdu that her daughter had shared all her sorrows and secrets with her.\nHer father, Muhammad Azeem, said his son should be \"shot on sight\".\nMrs Azeem said her son lost his mind because of taunts about his sister's frank and often risque posts online.\nMore than 500 people, almost all of them women, die in Pakistan every year at the hands of relatives who believe shame has been brought on their family.\nMs Baloch became a household name in Pakistan after posting sometimes raunchy photographs, comments and videos on social media sites, on which she had hundreds of thousands of followers.\nThe 26-year-old was well aware of the opposition she faced in the conservative Muslim country but was unapologetic.\nHer brother Waseem has said he drugged and then strangled her to death last Friday \"for dishonouring the Baloch name\".\nIn their first interview with international media, Ms Baloch's parents said they had also been drugged on the night of the murder.\n\"My husband and I fell deeply asleep. We had drunk milk, it had been mixed with sedatives,\" Mrs Azeem said.\n\"In the morning, I called Qandeel for breakfast... but she didn't get up.\"\nShe found her daughter's body and found that \"her whole face was covered in bruises, her tongue was black, her lips was black\", and started crying, she said.\n\"We were mother and daughter, sharing all our sorrows and secrets. She used to tell me: 'Your daughter is working hard, she'll go far,'\" she added.\nBut Ms Baloch's brothers \"always had hatred in their hearts\", Mrs Azeem said. \"Before, they didn't care much. But recently, things got worse, people... poisoned their minds.\"\nMr Azeem said his daughter had been his \"best friend\", but described his son as \"crazed\".\n\"I say he should be shot on sight! He suffocated my little one,\" he added. \"We were drugged, asleep upstairs. She must have called out to us.\"\nEarlier this week, the Punjab provincial government also became a complainant in the murder case, designating it a crime against the state.\nThe rare move effectively prevented members of Ms Baloch's family from legally forgiving her brother - a common legal loophole that sees many so-called \"honour killings\" go unpunished.\nAn anti-honour killings bill to close the loophole nationwide has been bogged down in the Pakistani parliament.\nBut Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter said on Wednesday that the ruling party hoped to present it before a joint session of parliament within weeks.", "The force \"requires improvement\", Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said following a review of effective policing levels in England and Wales.\nBut it deemed South Wales, Gwent and North Wales police forces as \"good\".\nDyfed-Powys Police said it was \"very aware of the work that remains ahead of us\".\nThe watchdog judged forces on how effective they are in four areas:\nThe report said Dyfed-Powys Police does well at preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour, and that it responds well to serious and organised crime.\nBut it raised concerns about its investigation standards and said there were \"weaknesses\" in how it supports and safeguards vulnerable people.\nGwent Police was told it needs to improve how it tackles serious and organised crime while North Wales Police also needs to do more to support and protect vulnerable people.\nThe report also showed there were significantly more cases of anti-social behaviour per person in the Gwent force area than the rest of Wales last year - 45 incidents compared to the 31 average across England and Wales.\nIt comes after police had to deal with \"riots\" in Newport last October when groups threw fireworks and set wheelie bins set alight.\nNorth Wales also had the highest number of organised crime groups per person out of the Welsh forces - 65 compared to the England and Wales average of 46.\nAnd the report showed the south Wales force area had the highest number of domestic abuse cases in Wales - 20, which was slightly higher than the average of 16.\nHMI Zoe Billingham, who led the inspection, said: \"Over the last few years, HMIC has said consistently that police forces were managing well in increasingly difficult circumstances.\n\"Nonetheless, today, I'm raising a red flag to warn forces of the consequences of what is, to all intents and purposes, an unconscious form of rationing of police services.\"\nResponding to the report, Dyfed-Powys Police's Deputy Chief Constable Darren Davies said: \"The report identifies a number of areas of positive progress and good practice, but there remains the need for yet further improvement.\n\"The inspection was conducted some months ago, and we have and will continue to take robust steps to address the areas for improvement with the support of partners, staff and communities.\"\nHe added the force was due to introduce new initiatives \"to ensure that we get the basics right in all our interactions with our communities, protect the vulnerable and deliver a high quality police service for all\".\nSouth Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alun Michael said he was \"very pleased\" to see the report had \"once again acknowledged the good work that is being carried out\" by the force.\n\"This latest HMIC report reflects that our commitment to prevent crime, to support victims and work in partnership is well understood throughout the force and our vision is being put into practice by officers on the frontline,\" he said.\nNorth Wales PCC Arfon Jones said: \"I am encouraged by the findings of the report that will provide reassurance to the people of north Wales.\n\"There is always room for improvement and I will continue to scrutinise the force and hold the chief constable to account to ensure the region is policed efficiently and effectively.\"\nGwent PCC Jeff Cuthbert said the increase in recording of anti-social behaviour (ASB) had \"come as no surprise\".\n\"The increase could be attributed to an improvement in the recording of crime which Gwent Police has championed.\n\"We have also prioritised our resources, become more efficient and we restructured the force to to provide extra officers on the frontline in our communities.\"", "The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, knifed Peter Stewart, 44, through the heart and also stabbed his brother James Stewart, 46.\nThe pair had tried to buy cannabis and a car but were ambushed by the youth on 8 April 2015 in Wardieburn Street West.\nRyan Ellis, 31, was earlier cleared of the attempted murder of Peter Stewart.\nMr Ellis had also denied stabbing James Stewart during the incident.\nThe Crown withdrew the charges against Mr Ellis on Wednesday during a trial at the High Court in Livingston.\nThe 17-year-old was was unanimously found guilty by the jury of robbing Peter Stewart of his mobile phone and attempting to murder him by stabbing him to the danger of his life.\nHe was also found guilty of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement of James Stewart by striking him on the body with a knife.\nLord Glennie told the teenager, who has no previous convictions: \"You've been convicted by this jury of both charges including a charge of attempted murder.\n\"I can't sentence you now because I require to obtain a social work report about you before I can consider what the appropriate sentence is.\n\"I think you should be in no doubt that a custodial sentence is almost inevitable.\"\nHe adjourned the case until Thursday 17 March at the High Court in Edinburgh and revoked bail, remanding the accused in custody until then.\nThe jury heard that Peter Stewart and his brother had driven down to the Wardieburn housing estate in Edinburgh with £6,500 in cash to buy 5.5 kilos of \"rocky\" - a type of cannabis resin - and a used car to take the drugs back to Aberdeen.\nThey were unaware that the man arranging the drug deal was an inmate in Shotts prison on a smuggled mobile phone for which his nephew had bought credit at a local shop that day.\nThe brothers became suspicious when their rendezvous with the dealer's nephew - the accused - was changed at the last minute.\nInstead of meeting him in a public cafe as they wanted, they were asked to meet him in the street so he could direct them to a house where the drugs were said to be.\nWhen they followed him into a close in a block of flats in Wardieburn, the youth stabbed James in the side then, as Peter tried to defend his brother, knifed him through the heart.\nIt was claimed in court the incident was a pre-planned ambush by relatives of the drug dealer to rob the brothers of their cash.\nHowever, Peter had left the money in the boot of his car for safety, claiming he wanted to inspect the cannabis before handing over the cash. The money was later recovered by police.\nThe jury heard that Peter \"died\" three times as ambulance paramedics and doctors at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary attempted to save his life.\nHe spent a night in the intensive care unit before being moved to a high-dependency unit from which he was discharged seven days later.\nHe has been left unable to walk without the help of crutches after the arteries in his legs collapsed and is waiting for an operation to have new arteries grafted onto his heart to restore the blood supply.\nHis brother James had a stab wound measuring 4cm by 1.5cm which was closed with steri-strips and was released after being kept in overnight for observation.", "It might be taken for granted - but no previous generation of children will have had the experience of having their entire childhoods intensively and publicly documented in this way.\nIn the UK, the average parent with a social media account has posted 1,498 photos of their child online by their fifth birthday, according to a survey by domain name company, Nominet.\nThis might be a global phenomenon for proud parents - but what about the children, who will have been too young to have any choice in the matter.\nBut the very first people to have had some of their childhood pictures posted online are now reaching adulthood. And they are not always happy about their formative years being preserved in digital aspic.\n\"When I was 12 or 13 I started realising there were things [on Facebook] that I thought were a bit embarrassing,\" said 16-year-old Lucy, from Newcastle, whose dad has been posting pictures of her on the social networking site since she was seven.\n\"I asked him to take them down and he was happy to, but he didn't quite understand why. If I had been asked [at the time], do you want these photos out there for all to see, I would've probably said no.\"\nEven those who were pleased to be on social media as children are less sure about it now. Dana Hurley, 20, from east London, said that as an 11-year-old she was happy for her parents to post photos of her on Facebook.\n\"At the time it was exciting… I liked attention. Now it's kind of weird because you look back and think, this was for everyone to see,\" she said.\nShe has de-tagged herself from most of her childhood photos online, meaning that the pictures do not show up on her profile, though they are still on the site.\nParents may not realise it, but by posting photos and videos of their children online, they are creating an identity for their children that might not be welcomed, according to psychologist Dr Arthur Cassidy, who specialises in social media.\n\"One of the major arguments is, do parents have the right to assume control over their child's identity?\" he said. \"They believe, this is our child, we own their identity. But children believe they can change and control their identity online.\"\nLucy is a good example. She said she had asked her dad to de-tag her from \"stuff that doesn't necessarily represent who I am now.\"\n\"It was never a big issue or anything bad, just stuff I preferred people didn't see,\" she said. \"There were photos my dad posted of me in Year 6 and Year 7 [aged 11 and 12]. Back then I was quiet and shy, I didn't really have lots of friends.\n\"That's not necessarily where I am now, and it's not something I'd want to remember every time I log on to Facebook… It isn't the best memories, which is the way you'd like to portray yourself on social media.\"\nBut Francesca Ivaldi, 21, from south London, said growing up online had its upsides - such as staying in touch with family around the world and creating an easy-to-access record of happy memories. Her Facebook profile includes pictures of her from the age of 13 onwards.\nMore stories from the BBC's Global education series looking at education from an international perspective, and how to get in touch. You can join the debate at the BBC's Family & Education News Facebook page.\n\"My family are across the globe,\" she said. \"It's a nice way to document things. You could see it as, that's amazing, I've got this entire backlog. You can look back on it and have a really nice timeline.\n\"But it depends how you see it… Some people think, I can't believe that, it's so embarrassing.\"\nStories about online privacy are often about children and teenagers being warned of the dangers of publishing too much personal information online. But in this case it's their parents who are in the spotlight.\n\"Parents are very careful of saying to their kids, think about what you're putting online,\" said Justine Roberts, founder and chief executive of the parenting website Mumsnet.\n\"I think the [idea that] actually you're posting about someone else, is less discussed on Mumsnet.\n\"I think it's because parents are thinking, they're not going to put deeply revealing or difficult pictures of their children up. Nonetheless, they're still putting pictures out there.\"\nParents had no \"natural instinct\" about what would be the right level of pictures on social media, she said.\n\"We uniquely do not have an insight into being that teenager and having a body of pictures that are out there already,\" she said.\n\"We haven't woken up and thought, I wish my mum hadn't put those embarrassing baby pictures up.\"\nFor some parents, the safest option is avoiding social media altogether.\nKasia Kurowska from Newcastle is expecting her first child in March and has agreed with her partner Lee to impose a blanket ban until her child is old enough to make their own decisions about social media.\n\"The idea that you're documenting their whole life before they get a chance to decide if they want it on there, just doesn't sit quite right with me and my partner,\" she said.\n\"Children are their own people, and sometimes we can forget about that.\"\nBut she has two big concerns about her plan. Firstly, it will be difficult to impose. \"At parties, or when their auntie comes round and wants to take a picture, we're going to have to be like paparazzi police, saying, please don't put these on Facebook. People will think we're right humbugs.\"\nAnd secondly, the child might resent not having an online presence, especially if all of their friends do.\n\"I do have a concern that I've over-thought it and they'll come to me and complain that they don't have a record on social media of their lives,\" she said.\n\"But I will have a digital record of them. It just won't have been shared on a platform for the masses.\"", "Waseem Baloch, 25, was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan in central Pakistan on Saturday night.\nThe Dawn newspaper said he had confessed to the murder, saying he drugged and strangled her \"for dishonouring the Baloch name\".\nQandeel Baloch, 26, became a household name for posting sometimes raunchy photographs, comments and videos.\nShe recently caused controversy by posting pictures of herself alongside a Muslim cleric.\nDawn quoted police as saying her selfies with Mufti Qavi were one of the issues cited by her brother.\nThe paper quoted Waseem Baloch as saying: \"She wasn't aware I was killing her. I gave her a tablet and then strangled her.\"\nPolice said the brother had escaped to Dera Ghazi Khan after the killing in the Karimabad area of Multan early on Saturday morning.\nThey said he fled with two friends who were still being sought.\nMs Baloch was buried on Sunday morning in her ancestral village near Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab province. Images from the scene showed scores of people attending the services.\nMufti Qavi, who said he had forgiven Ms Baloch for her actions, had offered to lead the funeral prayers, reports said.\nMs Baloch had built up a large social media fan-base, with 43,000 Twitter followers and more than 700,000 on Facebook.\nShe was well aware of the opposition she faced but continued to post defiant tweets. One on Thursday read: \"I will not give up. I will reach for my goal & absolutely nothing will stop me.\"\nMs Baloch, dubbed by some Pakistan's Kim Kardashian, rose to fame in 2014 when a video of her pouting at the camera and asking \"How em looking?\" went viral.\nIn a recent interview she was bitterly critical of Pakistan's patriarchal society and described herself as a leading exponent of girl power.\nWhile many younger people saw her as a cultural icon and hailed her liberal views, she was also subjected to frequent misogynist abuse online.\nMs Baloch had gone to Punjab from Karachi because of the threat to her security, police say.\nHer request for better security was ignored by the government, Dawn reported, despite pleas made three weeks ago to the interior minister and other senior officials.\nHundreds of women are murdered every year in Pakistan in so-called honour killing cases.\nQandeel Baloch used social media to find fame and the reactions there showed the feelings she inspired, from admiration to disgust.\nSome called her death \"good news\" and even praised her suspected killer. Others said it was wrong to condone her murder, even if she was flawed. Some showed outright support.\nQandeel Baloch has been dubbed Pakistan's Kim Kardashian. There are comparisons: the provocative selfies, the pursuit of celebrity, the controversial rise to notoriety.\nBut in Pakistan, women, especially poor ones, still lack basic rights, from schooling to choosing a husband and violence against them is rife. The country struggles with sexuality and especially with \"immodest\" women.\nThe fact that many of her videos went viral suggests a titillating fascination with confident female sexuality - along with fear of its power and of her assertion of independence. However she lived her life, tweeted one, it was her life.", "David Brown became ill in Maghaberry Prison in December 2012 and died later in hospital from a brain haemorrhage.\nThe Prisoner Ombudsman said staff left him unattended for five minutes in an unresponsive state and did not raise the alarm immediately.\nThe watchdog has concluded the response of the Prison Service was \"inadequate\".\nThe report by Prisoner Ombudsman Tom McGonigle also found that a nurse treating the inmate was not made aware that it was an emergency situation and other prisoners were not locked in their cells during the incident.\nHowever, Mr McGonigle, said: \"While some things could have been done better, a key finding of this independent investigation is that there was no possibility to achieve an alternative outcome for Mr Brown.\"\nThe Prisoner Ombudsman's office is required to investigate all deaths in custody in Northern Ireland, including deaths due to natural causes.\nThe report into David Brown's death said painkilling drugs were found in the 46-year-old's system during toxicology tests, but added that the drugs had been prescribed to him.\nIt said the medication was found at \"concentrations that lay within their respective therapeutic ranges\".\n\"This is important as there was speculation about a white powdery substance that was found around Mr Brown's nose at the time of his death,\" a statement from the ombudsman said.\nDespite criticising prison staff for their immediate reaction to finding the prisoner unconscious in his cell, the report did not find fault with the inmate's medical management during his time in the jail.\nA clinical reviewer who investigated the case \"did not feel that an opportunity to achieve an earlier diagnosis existed, or that there would have been a possibility to achieve an alternative outcome for Mr Brown\".\nThe ombudsman's report into the handling of the prison's case identified four matters that required improvement.\nTwo of the four areas related to record-keeping and post-incident support for staff.\nThe need for improvement in these two areas had already been highlighted to the prison authorities and the South-Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, which treated the inmate.\nThe Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) has accepted the ombudman's four recommendations and said they have already been implemented.\nThe health trust has also accepted their recommendation, and told the ombudsman it has been reiterated to their staff and will be considered at a \"Lessons Learned\" forum.\nMr McGonigle has expressed sympathy to the prisoner's family.", "Rashan Charles, 20, died after being apprehended by police in Dalston, east London, on 22 July.\nThe Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating his death.\nAngry clashes broke out on Friday evening after protesters, some with Black Lives Matter placards, blocked part of Kingsland Road and set mattresses alight.\nAt one point protesters, some wearing masks, jumped onto a lorry and clung to the wing mirrors as it drove through the barricade.\nScores of missiles were later launched at police as they attempted to disperse the group.\nPolice in Hackney tweeted: \"Officers have been subjected to abuse and violence. Whatever the frustrations, this is patently not what the family of Rashan Charles wanted.\"\nVideos on social media showed officers walking backwards as objects were thrown at them.\nSeveral wheelie bins were set alight and mattresses thrown on top of the burning pile.\nShop windows were also smashed, littering the streets with glass, with those involved described by an eyewitness as \"very, very angry\".\nThe mood was said to have \"calmed down\" at about 22:45.\nIt is not yet known if there have been any arrests.\nOne man who was at the protest told the BBC the protesters were \"angry and confused\" because they were \"not being represented\".\nHe suggested young people were \"living in fear\", adding they \"don't understand how to live, how to make money, how to work for what they want\", with some \"forced into\" situations such as selling drugs or carrying knives.\nPhilip Glanville, the mayor of Hackney, said the community wanted to hold peaceful protests, but some people from outside the borough wanted to \"engage in vandalism and unrest\".\n\"What we've tried to do all week is separate the two groups, to recognise the rawness of the anger out in the community,\" he said.\nMr Glanville said he did not think there was a problem between the police and the community, as a lot of work had been carried out in the area following the 2011 riots.\nMr Charles's father, Esa, will give a statement outside Stoke Newington Police station later.\nHe will be joined by the father of Edir Da Costa, who it is claimed was \"brutally beaten\" by Met officers in June.\nHis death is also being investigated by the police watchdog.\nThe IPCC said \"we understand the concerns raised following Rashan's death\".\nA statement added: \"We will independently examine the circumstances of this incident, we will follow the evidence, we will consider whether there is an indication there may have been misconduct or criminality, and we will seek to answer the questions that Rashan's family and the community of Hackney understandably have.\"", "The move comes amid tension in Steubenville, Ohio, ahead of a trial.\nA student seen online joking about the alleged rape of a teenage girl after an alcohol-soaked party regrets his comments, his lawyer has said.\nPotential witnesses have also come under pressure not to testify in February's trial, lawyers say.\nTrenton Mays and Ma'lik Richmond, both 16, will face charges at a juvenile court in February. Their lawyers say they are innocent.\nThe case has gripped the small city of Steubenville, a former steel town of some 18,000 people, with social media key to the spread of information.\nOhio State University student Michael Nodianos is not a suspect in the case, but a video of him making disparaging comments about the alleged victim was posted on YouTube in August, taken down, and re-posted by hackers last week, his lawyer said.\nSpeaking on Monday, Dennis McNamara said his client had \"made several very callous comments and is ashamed and embarrassed\" by them.\n\"He regrets those comments. He was not raised in that manner. I don't believe it was a crime to make the video, but it was stupid,\" Mr McNamara said, the Steubenville Herald-Star reported.\nIn the 12-minute video, Mr Nodianos can be heard joking about the alleged rape, and at one point refers to the girl as looking \"dead\".\nHe is reported to have left the university after receiving threats, and groups linked to hacking collective Anonymous have pledged to publish more videos.\nMr Nodianos' video comments reportedly refer to the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl on the night of 11 August 2012.\nShe is said to have been attacked during a night of parties attended by members of the Steubenville High football team - which has an ardent following in the local area.\nThe two suspects, both star players on the team, were arrested on 22 August and then charged with rape and kidnapping, although the abduction charges were later dropped.\nThey are currently under house arrest and their families say the boys are innocent.\nHours after the incident took place, messages, videos, and photographs - including images of the alleged victim that have been described as compromising and explicit - were posted online and shared.\nThe words \"rape\" and \"drunk girl\" were used in many of the posts. It has been suggested that she may have been urinated on.\nPolice have said the girl had so much to drink that she is not able to remember much of what happened, and does not recall events that took place after midnight.\nSources: City of Steubenville, Steubenville Police Department, news media reports\nSteubenville Facts\nBut a medical examination of the victim more than one day after the night of the parties did not yield evidence, such as semen, that would have supported allegations of rape, police said.\nInvestigators have also reportedly had difficulty retrieving deleted posts and photographs from phones and iPads seized by the authorities.\nThey found two pictures of the 16-year-old, naked, but they do not show anyone involved in a sexual act with the girl, the New York Times reported.\nThe case is raising tensions in the small Ohio city: on Tuesday guards were posted to school buildings after a threat was received that prompted a brief shutdown of the Steubenville public school network.\nLawyers for potential witnesses also said this week that their clients were facing pressure not to testify at the trial, currently set for February.\nOn Monday, Mr Nodianos' lawyer emphasised that his client was not present when the alleged rape took place.\nOn the night of 11 August, Mr Nodianos was at a party in Steubenville that the alleged victim also attended, the lawyer said.\nMr Nodianos saw the 16-year-old girl leaving the party with two boys in the early hours of 12 August, but was not present when the attack allegedly occurred.\nMr McNamara also suggested the young man, who was in his first year at Ohio State University, had suspended his studies as a result of threats stemming from the video, according to reports.\nMeanwhile, the alleged victim's mother said in interviews in December that her family had also received threats and extra police were patrolling their neighbourhood.\nA crime blogger who has posted extensively on the case has been sued by a member of the Steubenville High football team and his family for defamation.\nThe blogger has also written about football culture in the town, and has blamed it for elevating the status of the high-school athletes and allowing exceptions for them.\nThe trial is due to begin on 13 February.", "The police have said drugs are one line of inquiry in the teenager's death.\nThe News Letter's front page features a picture of a uniformed police officer and a man in a suit searching the area where the Craigavon Senior High School pupil was found.\nThe paper says Portadown is \"reeling\" after the tragic death.\nIt quotes Hilary Woods, the assistant principal at Craigavon Senior High School, who says GCSE exams are ongoing so the school will endeavour to keep operating.\nThe Irish News also features the story on its front page.\nIt says groups of young people, some visibly upset, gathered at the scene in Corcrain woodland on Sunday to lay flowers in memory of the teenager.\nIt also quotes Ms Woods, who tells the paper the school has implemented a plan to give pupils the opportunity to talk about what has happened.\n\"A letter will be sent to parents telling them about this tragic incident and providing information on the support services available through the school,\" she says.\nLater in the paper, there's an editorial on sudden deaths.\nIt says that while there has been no confirmation of how the girl died, \"it is important that we continue to emphasise the danger people using these substances are putting themselves in and try to persuade them that the risk is not worth it\".\n\"Drugs have been responsible for a horrendous toll of carnage in recent weeks and months, particularly among young people,\" it continues.\nThe Belfast Telegraph has spoken to the girl's aunt, who says the family are \"devastated\".\n\"She was our world and had a heart of gold,\" she tells the paper.\n\"She would light up any room with her beautiful smile and bubbly personality and will be missed by her entire family.\"\nThe Daily Mirror also leads with the story of the teenager's death under the headline \"Drug link to girl's park death\".\nIt says a post-mortem will be carried out to establish the exact cause of death.\nElsewhere in the papers this morning the #blondegate row is still ongoing with a church minister adding fuel to the fire.\nCanon Mark Watson reportedly told an election event in support of Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott that he was \"glad hydrogen peroxide is dyeing hair blonde and not going into creamery cans to make explosives\".\nThe comments, referring to criticism of Arlene Foster last week for describing Mrs O'Neill as \"blonde\", were made at a gathering at an Orange hall attended by the DUP leader.\nMrs Foster used the word \"blonde\" to describe Sinn Féin's northern leader as part of a word association game during an interview with the Sunday Independent.\nCanon Watson reportedly added: \"I hope there are no press about or I've just lost my job.\"\nHowever, speaking to The Irish News last night, Canon Watson did not retract the remarks.\n\"I have no further comment to make,\" he said.\n\"It was a private function and a private joke.\n\"As far as I'm concerned it is over.\"", "Strathallan councillor Tom Gray said the campsite could be an \"ongoing success\" if festival organisers could \"get on top of indiscipline\".\nWitnesses reported fights and illicit drug use in the campsite area.\nDF Concerts said it cared about \"each and every music fan that passes through our gates.\"\nTwo teenagers died at this year's event and police are investigating the rape of an 18-year-old.\nPolice Scotland said 429 crimes were reported at the Perthshire festival, compared with 414 last year.\nOfficers made 54 arrests, compared with 57 in 2015.\nCommentators on social media sites, including Tintheparktruth on Facebook, have raised concerns over anti-social behaviour, with reports of first-aid volunteers and stewards being threatened.\nDF Concerts has previously denied claims that posts critical of the festival have been deleted from the T in the Park Facebook page.\nMr Gray, who is convener of Perth and Kinross Council's development management committee, said: \"Some sort of organised set-up in the campsites seems to be required, or certainly more visible policing of them might help.\n\"At the same time, when you have a gang of youths who decide to throw things at a police van, then there is another problem, a general problem of misbehaviour, that seems to be drawn into T in the Park.\n\"Somebody who can look after the campsites and can put their finger on what makes them function well, rather than badly, would help.\n\"If they could do that and get on top of the indiscipline, then there's no reason why the site can't be an ongoing success.\"\nMr Gray praised improvements made to the festival's transport plan, which was heavily criticised in 2015.\nHe said: \"This year it really was night and day, it was so different.\n\"The bus park was a great success. I even went along on Saturday night to try it myself and it was wonderful.\"\nA DF Concerts and Events spokeswoman said its priority over the last 23 years had been \"to bring the best musical acts from around the world\" in a \"fun and safe setting\" for fans.\nShe added: \"We care about each and every music fan that passes through our gates and the entire festival team is devastated by the tragedies that took place on Thursday night.\n\"We aim to do everything we can to ensure fan safety by working closely in partnership with Police Scotland and the event stewarding companies to ensure a proactive approach is taken to identifying and dealing with crime.\n\"This will be at the forefront of our debrief process for this year's event.\"", "Ji Zhongxing, 34, was being prevented by police from handing out leaflets at the airport which described the desperate story of his life.\nWitnesses said that Ji then shouted out: \"I have a bomb, stay away from me!\" And then he set off the device.\nHe blew off his own hand and slightly injured one policeman. Witness accounts immediately appeared on social media. The mayhem after the blast was described by East Asia analyst Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt on Twitter who was there at the time: \"Huge explosion followed by panic, smoke and dust at Terminal 3.\"\nOn Tuesday 15 October Ji was sentenced to six years in prison for his act.\nHis actions were condemned as reckless and the court said that he had to be held accountable, but Ji Zhongxing has nonetheless attracted a great deal of sympathy and struck a chord with China's legions of microbloggers.\nOne user posted: \"The court believes that he must take legal responsibility for his action. But who should take legal responsibility for what had driven Ji Zhongxing to do all this?\"\nIf the world has now forgotten about what drove him to detonate the bomb on 20 July, China's blogging public has not.\nHis story is seen as typical of China's most marginalised and unfortunate members of society; petitioners driven to desperate measures when faced by an apparently unyielding bureaucracy.\nPetitioners are people who believe they have been wronged by lower levels of government and bring their grievances to the attention of the higher authorities.\nAlthough they are officially allowed to do this, rights groups say the government does prevent petitioners speaking out about their treatment and allege there is an entire underground system of surveillance and so-called \"black jails\" used to silence them - the authorities routinely deny such allegations.\nBut what is clear is that Ji Zhongxing had been campaigning for years to have his story heard - to little avail. It all centres around one incident on 28 June 2005 and there are two versions of what really happened that night.\nAt that time Ji had a day job as a security guard for a firm in Dongguan in south China's Guangdong province. By night he drove an auto-rickshaw to ferry passengers around to supplement his income. He wanted to save money to marry his girlfriend - who was also a migrant worker in the city.\nIn the early hours of that morning members of a local security force, known as zhianduiyuan, employed by the government to maintain order, approached Ji who was driving his rickshaw and demanded to check his documents.\nTheir job included tackling unlicenced vehicles such as his.\nJi says that he was chased by the officials and once he was caught he received a brutal and sustained beating that left him paralysed in his lower limbs. The officials say he was injured after he fell from his vehicle.\nOn his microblog (which has now apparently been deleted) he said: \"seven or eight zhianduiyuan blocked the road - iron bars in their hands. As I was about to stop, one of them launched an assault to my face with his iron bar. As a result, me and my passenger Gong Tao were thrown to the ground.\"\nJi said that he lost consciousness after a single blow. When he woke up, he found himself in a hospital and the passenger who had been in his rickshaw at the time told him that the local officials had continued beating him on his legs and waist even after he fell. By the time police had appeared, he was unconscious.\nLike many of the migrant workers in Dongguan, Ji had no insurance and no relatives to rely on. His girlfriend, a migrant worker herself, looked after him in hospital for seven days. After she learned that Ji was paralysed from the waist down, she left him, his family say.\nHe was left to survive on his own and so began his quest for redress.\nJi became one of China's estimated hundreds of thousands of petitioners. There are no official figures but rights groups say the problem is visible in China's major cities - they can be seen standing in front of government offices waiting their turn to be seen.\nThe case did make it to the courts in Dongguan but it ruled against him. He posted gruesome pictures taken of his injuries after the incident but it failed to convince the authorities. An appeal also failed. In the end, the case was only dealt with as a traffic accident.\nHe then went to Beijing to launch petitions and to seek justice for the alleged attack. He met with little success. After years of repeated attempts to seek compensation from the higher authorities , Ji ended up in Beijing airport on 20 July with a home-made explosive device.\nHis elder brother, Ji Zhongji, told the BBC that Ji had originally gone to Dongguan to seek his fortune. He would have joined countless others in making that journey at the turn of this century.\nDongguan, a city famous for entrepreneurship, is just two hours by train from Hong Kong. Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly from poor rural areas, are attracted to the city hoping for a better life. The city has approximately five million migrant workers - that is four-fifths of its population.\nJi himself was born in a village near the city of Heze in Shandong province, almost 1,800km (1,118 miles) away. His brother said that Ji stopped going to school when he was at primary because \"our family was very poor\".\nHeze is a medium-sized and nondescript city by Chinese standards, with a population of about nine million and surrounded by a vast agricultural belt which is known for its grain, cotton, forestry and livestock.\nThe brothers' father was a farmer. Their mother died 12 years ago, around the time Ji left for Dongguan.\n\"My brother believed that life could be improved through hard and honest work, and that was exactly what he did in Dongguan,\" Ji Zhongji said.\nHe recalled going to visit his younger brother in hospital after his girlfriend left him. When he brought him back to Heze, he had come full circle having apparently achieved nothing.\n\"We didn't have enough money for the train fare and had to beg the train operators for compassion,\" Ji Zhongji said.\nHe said that Ji Zhongxing had fervently hoped the law would support him.\nJi then lived with his father at home, only making the occasional journey to Beijing as a petitioner.\n\"My brother is very sad. He is angry with the way the government, the police and the court dealt with his case,\" said Ji Zhongji.\n\"My father told me that he disappeared one day, very unusual considering his paralysis. And he phoned my father saying he was going to Beijing,\" his brother said.\nIt is not known how Ji Zhongxing managed to pass security checks and enter the airport with an explosive device.\n\"My brother didn't want to hurt anyone. He just wanted to air his grievance. He gave off a warning before the explosion,\" Ji Zhongji said.\nIn court Ji said he regretted his actions but the judge decided he had to be held responsible and sentenced him accordingly. His brother says they will appeal.\nAnalysts say any appeal is unlikely to be successful, but Ji has made his story known and many microbloggers have taken this tale to heart.", "Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews had missiles and fireworks thrown at them as they attended incidents.\nOne firefighter was hit by a stone in Bingham, Edinburgh, as his crew helped tackle a rubbish fire.\nIn Greenock, firefighters were forced to withdraw after they were attacked with missiles. The fire service said \"thankfully\" no-one had been injured.\nCrews were sent to 970 incidents between 16:00 and midnight on Saturday on what the fire service said was its busiest night of the year.\nSFRS assistant chief officer Lewis Ramsay said: \"Attacks on emergency responders are completely unacceptable and I am sure the public would be outraged by incidents where their firefighters have been targeted while working to protect people and property.\n\"Those responsible should know that the authorities take these criminal actions extremely seriously and we will work closely with police to ensure they are identified and held to account.\n\"We will continue our efforts to bring about a reduction in these dangerous actions by a small number of individuals.\"\nThe Fire Brigades Union has strongly condemned the attacks.\nThe leader of the FBU in Scotland, Chris McGlone, said: \"These appalling attacks must stop and we fully support the police's efforts to find those responsible and to ensure these criminal acts are punished.\n\"Firefighters do not deserve to be treated in this manner and we believe that it is only a matter of time before a firefighter is very seriously injured at one of these incidents.\"\nCrews were attacked by a group of youths in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, at about 19:30, where a stone damaged an appliance in New England Road.\nA similar attack was carried out in Fore Street Glasgow at about 19:50, as firefighters were responding to reports of a bonfire.\nGroups also threw fireworks at fire crews in the Balgrayhill area of Glasgow and in Durban Avenue in Clydebank.\nThere were further attacks in Stirling, Stenhousemuir in Falkirk and the Sighthill area of Edinburgh.\nThe SFRS said crews also attended dozens of other incidents, including a large hedge fire in Muir of Ord, Highland, bonfires in Dundee and a number of wheelie bin fires in Aberdeen\nAssistant chief officer Ramsay added: \"Our crews responded to 970 incidents on Bonfire Night and over 300 bonfires.\n\"Bonfire Night is typically the service's busiest night of the year, but in addition to numerous bonfires firefighters continue to respond to the full range of emergencies we face on a daily basis.\n\"Our frontline crews and operations control personnel are extremely dedicated and I would like to pay tribute to their professionalism, skill and hard work which enabled them to help protect communities across the country.\"", "After hearing of the attack, beautician Katie Cutler set up an online donation page with the aim of raising just £500 - but the cause went viral.\nMr Barnes is not the only person whose story has spurred on the UK general public to spontaneously donate. Here are some other examples:\nThe cause? Marathon-runner Claire Squires set out to raise £500 for the charity Samaritans by taking part in the London Marathon in 2012. Sadly, she collapsed and died on the final stretch of the race. The 30-year-old hairdresser from North Kilworth, Leicestershire, had decided to donate to Samaritans because her mother Cilla Squires had volunteered there for 24 years.\nHow it caught on? Miss Squires' story appeared in the national press and news of her online donation page went viral on social media networks Facebook and Twitter. Within days of her death, donations to Samaritans on her JustGiving page had exceeded £600,000.\nWhat happened next? Her death led to a grand total of more than £1m being given to the charity. More than 600 people attended her funeral.\nThe cause? Before his death in May 2014, 19-year-old Stephen Sutton, who had cancer, launched an appeal to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.\nHow it caught on? Stephen's campaign attracted global attention after a photo of the teenager went viral online. At one stage it accrued £60,000 in just over two hours as people retweeted and posted his story on Facebook and Twitter.\nWhat happened next? Stephen's campaign received about 340,000 donations and the eventual total raised for the trust reached almost £5m. Stephen was awarded a posthumous MBE.\nThe cause? Malaysian accountancy student Ashraf Rossli had been in the UK for just a month when he was attacked during the riots in London in 2012 - and then robbed by people pretending to help him.\nHow it caught on? Footage of the incident, which left him with a broken jaw, was recorded on a mobile phone and posted on YouTube. It caused widespread anger, and an online donation page was set to up and raised £22,000 for Mr Rossli.\nWhat happened next? Mr Rossli said he would give half the money to causes that helped victims of violence. Two men were initially jailed for robbing him, but their convictions were subsequently overturned by a Court of Appeal judge.\nThe cause? Robert Berry, 42, died while taking part in the London Marathon in 2014. He had initially set out to raise £1,700 for the National Osteoporosis Society, because his mother was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 52.\nHow it caught on? Within hours of his name being confirmed by race sponsors, Mr Berry's own online donation page started to accrue thousands of donations, as links to it were shared on Twitter and Facebook. In total more than £77,000 was raised for the cause - almost 45 times the original target.\nThe cause? More than £2m was raised for Manchester Dogs' Home after it was destroyed by a fire on 11 September 2014. More than 150 dogs were rescued from the blaze, but some 60 animals died.\nHow it caught on? People took to Twitter to post photos of themselves with their dogs - using the hashtag #dogselfie among others - to raise awareness of the fire. Hundreds of animal lovers also arrived at the scene to bring blankets, dog food and other supplies. An official online JustGiving page raised £500,000 for the home in under 17 hours.\nWhat happened next? The money was used to rebuild the kennels at the home, which was established in 1893 and cares for more than 7,000 dogs each year. Two boys aged 15 and 17 were arrested on suspicion of arson, but were later released without charge.\nThe cause? Susan Taylor died aged 34 after trying to swim across the English Channel in July 2013. She initially set out to raise money for both Diabetes UK and Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough.\nHow it caught on? Ms Taylor's campaign was picked up on social media and interest in it spread as her death was widely reported in the national press. Her story compelled thousands of people to leave a donation and, to date, more than £100,000 has been given to the charities.\nWhat happened next? Ms Taylor's family and the charities thanked the public for their generosity. However the family also said they had been left \"disappointed and upset\" after a £300,000 donation left in her memory proved to be a hoax.\nThe cause? Alan, 67, broke his collarbone when he was pushed to the ground and mugged outside his Tyneside home on 25 January. Following the incident, Katie Cutler set up a donation page on the website gofundme.com, with the aim of raising £500 for the pensioner.\nHow it caught on? As news of Alan's attack spread and was reported in the press, Ms Cutler's target was quickly surpassed. By 19:00 GMT on 31 January, it had reached £165,644. By midday on Monday 2 February, it stood at almost £300,000 - with more than 22,500 people donating.\nWhat's next? Alan has vowed to put the money \"to good use\" and is receiving financial advice.", "This time it's the National Lottery whose idea for a Twitter campaign around the World Athletics Championship has spectacularly backfired, leading the organisation to remove tweets when audience responses generated offensive imagery.\nTwitter users were asked to retweet a post from @TNLUK with the hashtag #Represent. Those doing so would receive a thank you tweet, including their Twitter account name being held up on a sign by one of the stars of the British Athletics team.\nBut the campaign was hijacked when users changed their twitter handles to controversial names and statements.\nThe replies were being generated automatically, so the responses - some of which referred to Jimmy Savile and Madeleine McCann - were not examined before being posted. Much of the content is too offensive to display in this article.\nThey continued to be posted by the National Lottery's account throughout Monday night.\nAs one Twitter user noted: \"@TNLUK are learning a valuable lesson about auto-replies and the need to filter them.\"\nAs more and more responses were generated, Twitter users reached out to the National Lottery to take action, which it did early on Tuesday morning.\nIn two separate tweets the organisation posted: \"We are aware that some people are maliciously targeting our British Athletics Twitter campaign with offensive and abhorrent content. (1/2)\n\"We are dealing with this as quickly as possible and are hugely sorry for any offence caused by this malicious act. (2/2)\"\nA Camelot spokesperson also told the BBC: \"We have disabled the campaign, deleted the inappropriate tweets from our feed and are continuing to look into exactly what happened. We are hugely sorry for any offence caused to our players, the athletes concerned and British Athletics by this deliberate act.\"\nThe tweets were also removed but many people on Twitter had saved screenshots of the messages, which they tweeted in response to the National Lottery's apology.\nSome Twitter users blamed the National Lottery for the posts, rather than the those responding on the social media.\n\"How can you not have known something like this would get hijacked? That's quite some ignorance of the platform!\" posted one Tweeter.\nOthers voiced their disgust at responses about cancer victim Bradley Lowrey and Hillsborough.\"Sick and vile,\" wrote one Twitter user.\nA similar PR gaffe occurred when the \"Walkers Wave\" campaign asked social media users to respond to a tweet from the official Walkers Crisps Twitter account with a selfie, using the hashtag #WalkersWave, as part of the chance to win Champions League tickets.\nThe user's picture was incorporated into a personalised video, featuring Gary Lineker, automatically tweeted and captioned by Walkers. But social media users responded with pictures of serial killers and disgraced celebrities.\nAs another Twitter user asked the National Lottery: \"Did you learn nothing from the Gary Lineker / Walkers Crisp fiasco a few weeks ago?\"\nBy Rozina Sini, BBC's UGC and Social News Team", "That's the dramatic headline in today's Belfast Telegraph.\nDays after the UK's terror-threat level was raised to critical, the paper has sent a reporter to test the defences at various visitor attractions in Belfast.\nThe paper says it found \"worrying security lapses\" as a result of its experiment, which involved the journalist carrying a large rucksack similar to that used by Salman Abedi to carry explosives to the exit of the Ariana Grande concert.\nAllan Preston writes: \"Yesterday afternoon, this paper visited Titanic Belfast, the grounds of City Hall, the Odyssey pavilion and Victoria Square shopping centre.\n\"A black backpack was carried through the main entrances unchallenged and then left alone for around five minutes.\n\"On just one occasion, the bag was searched, by staff at City Hall.\"\nHe goes on to say that security guards were patrolling the Odyssey as the bag lay unattended.\nAssistant Chief Constable Barbara Gary said: \"The community in Northern Ireland should feel reassured that the police are deploying all available resources to deal with this threat, the threat of dissident republicans, and to continue to deliver a policing service to keep all communities safe.\"\nA spokesperson for the Odyssey said: \"We take the security of our customers extremely seriously,\" and a spokesperson from Titanic Belfast said they prioritised the security of its building, staff and guests.\nVictoria Square were contacted but the Belfast Telegraph says they made no comment.\nAlso in the Belfast Telegraph is the claim that social workers were \"warned repeatedly\" about a teenager who died in a suspected drugs incident last weekend.\nCaitlin White, 15, was found unconscious in a wooded area near Portadown.\nA spokesperson for the Southern Health Trust said they had \"no comment at all\" to make.\nOn the front of the Irish News is a photograph of wooden pallets stacked in the back gardens of a row of houses.\nThe paper reports that the materials were being collected for bonfires, but it says that last night the supplies were due to be moved over concerns about safety.\nThat's after a row of terraced houses caught fire close to a large bonfire in the lower Shankill area last year.\nOn page three there's the news that Northern Ireland's Attorney General might feature in a landmark ruling on humanist wedding ceremonies.\nBelfast model Laura Lacole is challenging a refusal to officially authorise the ceremony at her wedding to Republic of Ireland footballer Eunan O'Kane next month.\nJohn Larkin is now confirmed to have entered an appearance under a notice of devolution.\nThis means he could now make submissions when the hearing gets under way today.\nThe News Letter carries the same story on the humanist wedding debate - but leads with a different marriage story.\n'Scotland church edges towards gay marriage' is the headline on the front page.\nThe story looks at a debate in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland about whether there may be a way that same-sex marriage could be allowed in church.\nThe proposal was outlined in a report by the Theological Forum of the Church of Scotland, the News Letter reports.\nThe report also called for the church to apologise for its \"history of discrimination against gay people\".\nIn response to the debate, a spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland told the paper: \"Many people in the Presbyterian Church will be deeply saddened at today's development in Scotland, which, we believe, is at variance with the traditional biblical understanding of marriage.\"", "Two men from the city have been identified taking part in what appears to be a Jihadist recruiting video, which was posted online last week.\nIt is thought Reyaad Khan travelled to Syria with friend Nasser Muthana who also appears in the footage.\nKhan lived close to the Cardiff men jailed over the London Stock Exchange bombing plot in 2012.\nIt is believed the two men, both 20, travelled to Syria in November, while Nasser Muthana's younger brother Aseel, 17, travelled to the country in February.\nThe men are believed to be among 500 Britons fighting in the conflict in Syria.\nReyaad Khan's family is said to be frustrated that more could not be done by the authorities in the UK to bring him home and were concerned he would be radicalised after he went missing.\nDr Suraj Lakhani, of Cardiff University, who recently completed his doctorate - A Social Analysis of Radicalisation in the UK, told BBC Radio Wales: \"As far as I'm aware, there has been an issue in Cardiff for a while now.\n\"This is a concern that has been raised not only by the intelligence services and the Welsh government, but also South Wales Police and local Muslim communities.\n\"People have been saying that something needs to be done in Cardiff, they need support.\n\"There has been a threat for a while as there has been in other parts of the country as well. Yes, there has been a threat and it's still ongoing.\"\nHe said he believed the internet played a \"big role\" in radicalisation but there was also \"face to face interaction\", although not from the mosques.\nThat was echoed by Saleem Kidwai, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Wales, who insisted there was no problem in south Wales mosques.\nHe believes the men may have travelled to Syria for humanitarian reasons and were radicalised there.\nHe said Islamic leaders and scholars could provide an important role in the fight against radicalisation.\n\"People who are radicalising these youngsters probably are misquoting the verses from the Koran and the hadiths of the prophet for their own political ends, rather than what the true picture is,\" he said.\n\"It is only the scholars of Islam - they can give the true interpretation of it, which I know is very different than what the extremist ideologists are portraying.\"\nBBC Wales reporter Jordan Davies\nI am at the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff where Nasser and Aseel Muthana prayed some time ago now before moving on to other mosques in the city.\nI think it is fair to say there has been widespread shock at what has emerged.\nI've spoken to the boys' father who says he is heartbroken, while Reyaad Khan's mother says she is devastated.\nBoth of those have appealed for all of the men to come home.\nIn the video posted by internet accounts linked to militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis), Reyaad Khan, who went to Cantonian High School and St David's Catholic College in Cardiff, is seen holding a gun and sitting next to his friend Nasser Muthana.\nNasser Muthana, of Butetown - who has been offered places to study medicine by four universities - appears in the footage, using the name Abu Muthanna al-Yemen and urging others to fight in Syria and Iraq.\nHis father, Ahmed Muthana, said his son - who he described as quiet, well-educated and intelligent - had left the UK to fight in Syria in November.\nThe families of the men believe they have been brainwashed and have appealed for them to come home.\nIt is not the first time fears have been raised about the radicalisation of young Muslims in Cardiff.\nReyaad Khan lived close to the Cardiff men jailed over the London Stock Exchange plot, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that Reyaad Khan grew up in the same street in Riverside as Abdul Miah, one of the ringleaders of the plot.\nThe Stock Exchange plotters - nine men in total also from London and Stoke-on-Trent - had planned to raise funds for a terrorist camp in Pakistan and recruit Britons to attend.\nSheikh Zane Abdo from the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff, where Nasser Muthana and his brother have prayed in the past but not for years, has also said he believes there is a problem with extremism in Cardiff.\nHe said he believed \"a certain amount of radicalisation\" could occur online.\n\"It very simple, very easy for a person just to click on (it) and become radicalised over a long period of time,\" he told BBC News.\n\"The fact that the video they've shown... I guarantee many young people who are susceptible to this kind of message will have watched the video and maybe (be) encouraged to follow in the footsteps of Nasser and his brother.\n\"A platform has been given to this video which really shouldn't have been given.\n\"So there's issues around the internet and issues around people who can radicalise, can talk to young people.\"\nHe said the pair had been normal teenagers before they went through a \"very strange period\" when they started expressing \"certain views\".\nIsis grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq\nDr Lakhani said there were several reasons why young men may be willing to risk their lives abroad.\n\"It's really a combination of humanitarian concerns, a feel for having a duty towards their religion, towards their Muslim kin, and some personal reasons as well,\" he said.\n\"It's about leaving your formerly mundane and predictable life to search... for brotherhood and some sort of identity, masculinity and action abroad.\"\nMohammed Sarul Islam, a former Riverside councillor who knows the Khan family, agreed that radicalisation was happening \"under people's noses\".\nHe said it was better to try to solve the problem rather than blaming communities or individual organisations.\nHe added: \"The family's only hope is they get any government-level help (to bring their son home).\n\"The mother is crying her eyes out... all the time she is urging through the media, through whatever source possible, asking him to come back home.\"\nHe said the family thought their son had gone to Birmingham for an Islamic conference and were shocked when police said he had left the country.", "Harry Thomas has spoken to the BBC about the trial of Kazi Islam, who has now been found guilty by an Old Bailey jury of preparing to commit acts of terrorism.\nIslam, 18, had met Mr Thomas at Barking and Dagenham College in east London in autumn 2012. Because the teenagers were on the same IT course, Islam was aware that Mr Thomas had learning difficulties.\nThe following autumn, after they left college, Mr Thomas got in touch with Islam on social media. Mr Thomas, who is now 20, was upset because he had split up with his girlfriend.\nWhile pretending to sympathise, Islam began the grooming process which was described in court as a combination of flattery, bullying and threats.\nIt was a few months after the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, and prosecutors said the incident had inspired Islam.\nSpeaking to the BBC, Mr Thomas describes Islam's character as double-sided.\n\"I think he is a very, very manipulative person,\" he says.\n\"He's very cunning. He makes out he's this really kind person because that's how he comes across at first but deep inside he's evil.\"\nMr Thomas adds: \"He thought I was stupid. He thought I was that vulnerable that I would actually make this bomb for him.\"\nMr Thomas, who is not a Muslim, says he resisted suggestions from Islam that he should change his name to Haroon.\nOn the murder of Fusilier Rigby, Mr Thomas says that Islam made his feelings clear.\n\"He thought that was correct that they killed that soldier, because that solder and British soldiers go out and shoot kids in the Taliban and stuff like that. He nails things into your head. He's very sick and very twisted.\"\nThe exchanges between the pair on social media and mobile messaging services that formed a part of the prosecution case show Islam growing increasingly impatient as Mr Thomas failed to do his bidding and amass bomb-making components.\n\"I was worried but I wasn't going to do it. I was trying to buy myself some time,\" Mr Thomas says.\n\"I didn't know what to do because I thought if I grass on him I could end up in stitches. Snitches get stitches - that's a saying that's true these days. And if I say to him I'm not going to do it he might kill me.\"\nCounter-terrorism detectives eventually arrested Islam at his home in Manor Park, east London, in July 2014.\nThey seized several mobile phones and computers and found evidence of the conservations between the two men.\nMr Thomas adds: \"He's not scared to go to prison, he told me that. And he says he'll end up in a better place for the crimes he's committed. He said his God will look after him and think he's done a really good thing.\"\nIn a statement, Barking and Dagenham College said it had complied fully with the government's Prevent anti-terrorism strategy and staff undertook mandatory safeguarding training.\nThe college added: \"As part of our exemplary and ongoing Prevent training programme, key members of staff undergo the Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent training designed to help them identify and respond to signs of radicalisation.\n\"In addition, as evidence of our support for the programme, the Prevent Coordinator for London has delivered training to students at the College.\"", "Daniel Jones, 58, who has admitted his involvement in the heist, offered to take police to the stashed loot.\nJewels, gold and gems were buried in Edmonton Cemetery in north London.\nThree men deny conspiracy to commit burglary. A fourth denies conspiracy to conceal or transfer criminal property.\nPolice searched the area and found two bags, one containing jewellery and another precious stones, at a memorial site for Sidney James Hart, the grandfather of Jones' children.\nJones was then taken from prison and led the officers to another relation's memorial, where a smaller stash of gold, jewellery and gems were hidden.\nProsecutor Philip Evans told Woolwich Crown Court: \"He was hoping if he gave up the smaller quantity at plot GB177 he would still have access to the larger stash of criminal property, no doubt for his future use.\"\nJones told police he was the only person who knew of the stash and declared \"there's no other outstanding property. That is all I had\", the court heard.\nJurors were told earlier how the mastermind behind the Hatton Garden raid pulled out of the heist after failing to complete the task in one night.\nBrian Reader, 76, dubbed the \"Master\" by co-conspirators, withdrew from the raid when the gang struggled to get into the vault in one night.\nUp to £14m was looted from 73 safety deposit boxes in London's jewellery quarter two days later on 4 April.\nThe gang drilled into the secure premises on 2 April but discovered the vault was blocked off by a metal cabinet, bolted to the floor on the other side, Woolwich Crown Court heard.\nThe men returned with different equipment two nights later to finish the job, but Reader was not with them when they made off with the loot, which was later hidden in two wheelie bins and stashed in holdalls.\nDefendants and charges\nPreviously John Collins, 75, of Bletsoe Walk, Islington; Daniel Jones, 58, of Park Avenue, Enfield; Terry Perkins, 67, of Heene Road, Enfield and Brian Reader, 76, of Dartford Road, Dartford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.\nThey will be sentenced at a later date.\nThe court heard after the raid - the \"largest burglary in English legal history\" - the gang stored the loot in two wheelie bins and some holdalls. Some was also hidden behind skirting boards and inside kitchen cupboards in their own homes.\nThe plan was to convert the stolen goods into money, but initially they divided the proceeds between them, with the intention of keeping it hidden until publicity surrounding the heist died down, it was said.\n\"When they were confident that had happened, they could split it up, melt it down, sell it or hide for a rainy day,\" Mr Evans said.\nJurors heard part of the bounty was sold for sizeable sums of money.\nOfficers swooped during one of the loot transfers to Mr Harbinson on 19 May.\nIn the days before, police recording devices picked up Perkins boasting about the historic feat, saying: \"And what a book you could write.\"\nHe also described how some of the stolen \"Indian\" gold would fund his pension.\nThe trial continues.", "He vowed to form a federal police unit to deal with violence against women.\nThe girl, 16, believes she was doped after going to her boyfriend's house last Saturday and says she woke up in a different house, surrounded by 30 men.\nHundreds of protesters on Friday demanded an end to sexual violence.\nThe video of the attack was put on social media, shocking Brazil.\nPolice are hunting more than 30 male suspects. Arrest warrants have been issued, including one for the boyfriend.\n\"I condemn most forcefully the rape of the teenager in Rio de Janeiro,\" Mr Temer said.\n\"It is absurd that in the 21st Century we should have to live with barbaric crimes such as this.\"\nHe said the authorities were working \"to find those responsible\" for the attack.\nRio police chief Fernando Veloso told a news conference that investigators will review forensic evidence.\n\"If these images hadn't been posted, maybe we wouldn't be here right now,'' he said, adding that many rapes go unreported.\nThe rape is said to have taken place in a poor community in western Rio over the weekend.\nA 40-second-video was widely shared and followed by a wave of misogynistic comments, before the users' accounts were suspended.\nIn a message posted on Facebook, the victim said she was thankful for the support she had received and added: \"I really thought I was going to be badly judged.\"\nShe later said: \"All of us can go through this one day. It does not hurt the uterus but the soul because there are cruel people not being punished!! Thanks for the support.\"\nThe girl's grandmother told Brazilian media the family had watched the video and cried.\n\"I regretted watching it. When we heard the story we didn't believe what was happening. It's a great affliction. It's a depressing situation,\" she told Folha de S Paulo newspaper.\nThe assault has provoked an online campaign against what campaigners call a culture of rape in Brazil.\nExperts say many cases of rape in Brazil go unreported as victims fear retaliation, shame, and blame for the violence they have suffered.\nHundreds of demonstrators gathered in Rio de Janeiro on Friday night, waving signs saying \"Machismo Kills\" and \"No means no.\"\nIn Sao Paulo, protesters erected a mural with messages including \"My body is not yours.\"\nDilma Rousseff, Brazil's first female president, who was impeached last month, expressed outrage over the Rio case by changing her profile picture on Facebook.\n\"Once more I reiterate my condemnation of violence against women,\" she wrote.\nThere has been an outpouring of anger on social media.\nA collective of journalists has posted a satirical image of citizens donning devil's horns, condemning a rape victim for having provoked the attack.\nThe inscription reads \"No to sexism\", and the images, clockwise from top right: \"But look at her clothes…\"; \"She deserved it!\"; \"16 years old and already has a son…\"; \"Apparently she was on drugs\".", "Christopher Hannah was driving a car which mounted the pavement and struck Sophie Brannan in Sandbank Street, Maryhill, on 14 November last year.\nHer friend Chelsea Sommerville, and Chelsea's uncle, Joseph Lloyd, were also badly injured.\nAt the High Court in Glasgow, 33-year-old Hannah, who is said to be a heroin addict, admitted a charge of culpable homicide. Sentence was deferred.\nFollowing his guilty plea, the investigating officer Det Insp Colin Hailstones said: \"This was an appallingly tragic case.\n\"Many people in the community in Maryhill were deeply affected by this incident, particularly as it resulted in the death of young Sophie Brannan, whose life was sadly taken away from her at the age of 11 and at the hands of someone under the influence of drugs.\n\"Police officers worked tirelessly to piece together the events of that fateful night and I must thank the many members of the local community and those injured who helped provide information about the incident.\"\nHe added: \"The strength shown from the community towards Sophie's family and the other people who were injured is unquestionable and much support continues to be given to them.\"\nThe court heard that Hannah was driving a hired Vauxhall Astra in the area and lost control.\nHe then fully mounted the pavement before hitting the gable end of a nearby building.\nThe car continued to career forward eventually ploughing into Sophie and the two people with her from behind.\nProsecutor Allan Nicol said: \"This caused them to be thrown onto the bonnet, windscreen and roof of the vehicle before falling onto the ground.\"\nAnother driver witnessed the crash and turned back to help Sophie.\nMore witnesses saw Hannah speed onto nearby Maryhill Road with his badly-dented car being \"driven erratically\".\nHe then crashed into a taxi whose driver decided to follow Hannah, who eventually stopped a short distance away.\nMr Nicol added: \"At that point, the accused was trying to pull the damaged front bumper then he stopped and walked away before starting to run off.\n\"Both the taxi driver and his passengers noticed that he was under the influence of some substance.\"\nMedics found Sophie lying on the pavement. She was rushed to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill where she was found to have swelling to her brain, several fractures and broken bones.\nThe schoolgirl remained in intensive care overnight but was pronounced dead on the morning of 15 November.\nThe court heard that Chelsea suffered a serious leg break which will require long-term physiotherapy.\nShe continues to wear a cast several months after the tragedy.\nMr Nicol added: \"She also suffers episodes of withdrawal and angry outbursts.\n\"She is due to attend for psychiatric assessment in order to come to terms with her injuries and the loss of Sophie.\"\nChelsea's uncle also suffered a number of fractures, but was initially released from hospital two days later.\nHowever, he eventually required surgery and it is likely he will have \"long-term restriction\" of movement in his right shoulder.\nPolice discovered the Astra had been hired in Hannah's name on 14 October.\nThe court also heard that shortly after the incident, police searched the home of Hannah's partner, where he had been staying.\nMr Nicol said tin foil wraps with signs of drug use were discovered.\nThe prosecutor told the court: \"On the day in question, she suspected he had been taking heroin as she was aware he is heroin-dependent.\"\nHis partner revealed Hannah had come home earlier that night \"in shock\".\nHannah had claimed he had hit someone, but did not know who.\nThe killer said he was going to a house in the city's south side, but would return.\nPolice were at the house when Hannah then called his girlfriend. She handed the phone to an officer and Hannah said: \"I'm sorry - I didn't mean to do it.\n\"It was a total accident. I lost control of the car and I panicked. I'm going to hand myself in tonight.\"\nThe court heard that in the early hours of 17 November, Hannah turned up at a house in the city's Mount Florida area, but those inside decided to call police.\nOfficers turned up and arrested Hannah, who initially tried to escape. He was later searched and eight grams of heroin were discovered inside his boxer shorts.\nThe court heard how the occupants of the Mount Florida property later told police Hannah had called them on the night of the killing.\nHannah said at the time: \"There's been an accident - watch the news. The police have fitted me up.\n\"I tried to get away and I have hit something. I don't know what.\"\nMr Nicol told the court: \"He went on to say he had driven like a madman and that the something he had hit could have been a wheelie bin...but he didn't hang about to find out.\"\nHannah asked to stay for a while as the police were after him \"because he had killed a wee lassie\".\nAccident investigators later concluded Hannah was solely to blame for what happened.\nIt was stated he took \"a conscious decision\" to drive while \"impaired\".\nThey added that the reason for him not stopping was because he knew he had taken drugs and was \"aware of the ramifications\".\nAs well as culpable homicide, Hannah also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, attempting to defeat the ends of justice and possessing heroin.\nIt emerged he already had 14 previous convictions for crimes including having an offensive weapon and road traffic charges.\nHe was on bail at the time, having been freed from Glasgow's Justice of the Peace Court two months before the crash.\nHannah's advocate Thomas Ross said: \"He has asked to state publicly his apologies for those affected by this terrible tragedy.\"\nLord Bannatyne remanded Hannah in custody and deferred sentencing until May.", "\"Rodrigo was nurturing the dream of being a professional footballer. He had been born with a real talent and everyone in his family and his community knew that he was really good at football.\"\nThe teenage boy described by outreach worker Antonio Carlos da Silva could be any of Brazil's football-mad youngsters.\nBut Rodrigo Kelton had not just stood out in training sessions. At only 14, he had already overcome great odds to make it to that age alive.\nRodrigo was one of the thousands of children born into hardship in the north-eastern state of Ceara, where according to official figures more than 133,000 people live on less than 70 reais ($30; £18.50) a month.\nBorn into deep poverty and drug addiction, Rodrigo was driven by severe social problems into a perilous existence on the streets of the state capital, Fortaleza.\nBut according to Mr Silva, the outreach worker who first met Rodrigo living on the streets and persuaded him to move into a shelter in 2009, he was on the brink of turning his life around.\n\"He was hoping to turn professional, so that he could help his mother get treatment for her drug addiction and buy her a house,\" Mr Silva recalls.\nPart of what helped him was being part of the Brazilian team competing in the Street Child World Cup, a global tournament that puts the spotlight on issues affecting street children.\nThe tournament currently under way in Rio is the second such event to be held uniting teams of street children from 19 countries, four years after the inaugural competition in Durban.\nBernardo Rosemeyer is the founder of O Pequeno Nazareno, a non-governmental organisation which runs the shelter into which Rodrigo moved aged nine. He says the prospect of competing in the Street Child World Cup instilled discipline in Rodrigo's life.\n\"He had stopped taking drugs and was going to school as part of the conditions to play in the tournament,\" Mr Rosemeyer explains. \"Being in the team was a light in his life. He was even getting on better with his mother who came to all the training sessions.\"\nBut what happened to Team Brazil's best striker shortly before he was due to take part in the Cup reflects the bitter reality of children at the bottom of Brazil's society.\nIn February, Rodrigo decided to move back to the favela, or shanty town, where his family lived.\nHe liked a girl there and dismissed warnings by social workers about the risks of returning to the dangerous neighbourhood.\nAs he left his home on the day of his 14th birthday with his older brother Raphael, the brothers were shot at by members of a drug gang in retaliation for an alleged robbery several years before.\nRodrigo was killed and Raphael only survived because the gun had jammed.\nThe news hit his team mates hard.\n\"I told the players about his death when we all met up to take the bus to the training session,\" recalls Mr Silva.\n\"At first, they did not believe me and thought I was lying. Then they all began to cry and to think about their strategies for survival in the communities where they live.\"\nAt Rodrigo's funeral, it was his team mates who carried his coffin.\nOn the day before their first match, they gathered in a small chapel to remember the teenager who could not make the journey with them from the streets of Fortaleza to Rio to represent their country.\nGoalkeeper Pedro Levi, a 15-year-old who also lived on the streets of Fortaleza before moving into a shelter, says Rodrigo has left a gaping hole in the team: \"He was a great player. The best thing about him was his leadership, he would bring the whole team together.\nPedro says the team is determined to bring the trophy home \"for Rodrigo\".\nBefore their first match against Egypt, the players observed a minute's silence in Rodrigo's honour. Team mate Diego Rocha, 14, held a portrait of Rodrigo as Rio's Archbishop, Dom Orani Tempesta, and a former captain of Brazil's national team, Gilberto Silva, watched.\nRodrigo's team went on to beat Egypt 4-0. But their victory felt bittersweet. \"We dedicate this match to the memory of Rodrigo,\" Diego said.\nThe team is determined that Rodrigo will not be forgotten and plan to keep displaying his portrait as they progress through the tournament to Sunday's final.\nBut the reality for Brazil's 23,000 street children is anything but rosy. Gang and drug violence remain endemic in poor communities.\nIn Rodrigo's home state of Ceara alone, there were 4,462 murders in 2013.\nMurders of street children routinely go unpunished and there has been no investigation into Rodrigo's death.\nTeam mate Vinicius Marcos, 14, knows any of the 300 children believed to live on the streets of Fortaleza could easily run the same fate as Rodrigo.\nSo his hope for his former team mate is a simple one: \"I hope God has him in a good place.\"", "You're probably imagining mingling with celebrities, free food and drink and generally being treated like an A-lister.\nWhat about wearing a hi-vis jacket, work boots and pushing a wheelie bin with your clothes in it?\nWell, that's the length Australian fan Anthony Skinner went to to get close to the Wrecking Ball singer.\nThe 23-year-old club promoter told Newsbeat he went to the loading bay of Sydney's All Phones Arena after the concert had finished.\nHe said it was \"crazy\" and \"was just filled with fans\".\n\"Then I thought 'I wonder if you can see something from a different angle',\" he added.\nAnthony then went to the arena's car park where he noticed the cleaner's storeroom had been left open.\n\"I looked around and on the floor there's a pair of boots, and on the couch there's this hi-vis vest.\n\"My mindset was 'See how far you can take this'. It wasn't planned at all. Everything just fell into place so perfectly.\"\nHe put his belongings in a wheelie bin, which he then pushed back down the ramp in the loading bay, walking past security who Anthony claimed \"didn't even look at me\".\n\"I had that realisation that I was in. I just thought 'Play this cool, play this cool',\" he said.\n\"It was such tight security, they weren't letting anyone in and they let me in because I was pushing a bin.\"\nAnthony said he saw \"50 to 100 staff\" deconstructing the stage before heading for the venue's green room.\n\"There was music blaring from there, I could hear it down the end of the hallway.\nHe said he saw Miley Cyrus' support DJs, The Faders, and other celebrities including comedian Chris Lilley outside the room so waited outside.\n\"I just started emptying bins, sweeping up the floor and stuff. I'm cleaning up for about 40 minutes to an hour. Not pretending to clean up, actually cleaning.\"\nEventually, a security guard told Anthony to stand in the doorway of the dressing room opposite the green room as they \"surrounded\" Miley so she could leave.\n\"My whole brain just emptied. I saw her and froze. All I could get out was 'Hey'. She looked at me, smiled and just kept walking.\"\n\"If I did actually meet her I wouldn't have anything left to do. I'd have to come up with a whole new goal.\"\nEarlier on, Anthony told a member of Miley's team he was a fashion designer and gave them \"pretty much my favourite jacket of all time\", who assured him he'd pass it on to the 21-year-old.\n\"I wrote this letter. I was going to hand it to her if I got close enough during the show. Didn't happen that way.\"\nDespite including his contact details in the note, Anthony is yet to hear from the singer.\n\"I probably wouldn't call me,\" he said.\nFollowing the show, the venue sent out an automated feedback survey, which Anthony was happy to fill in.\nListing the questions on the form, he laughed: \"Ease of access? Very satisfied. Overall cleanliness? Very satisfied, I did half of it myself.\n\"Security and safety precautions during the event? Very satisfied as well.\"\nHe said he hasn't been contacted directly by All Phones arena. Newsbeat has contacted the venue but they are yet to respond.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "The pacer posted a picture of his wife on Facebook and Twitter on Sunday, with the words \"beautiful moments\".\nBut some users told him to \"follow Islam\" and \"ensure that she wears the hijab and modest clothes\".\nThe cricketer on Monday tweeted that he \"knows what to do and what not to do for his family\".\n'Mongol conqueror' baby name stirs row\nWhy are Indian women being attacked on social media?\nSome people commented that the cricketer should be \"shameful\" for \"allowing his wife to wear revealing clothes\".\n\"Shame on you. As a Muslim, keep your wife in purdah [covered clothing]. Learn from others,\" one user commented.\nShami responded that the trolls needed to \"look inside\".\n\"My child and my wife are my companions in life. I exactly know what to do and what not to do for them. We all need to look inside to know how good we are,\" he tweeted.\nOther users, including fellow cricketer Mohammad Kaif, have also criticised people for posting \"shameful comments\" on Shami's social media accounts.\nCelebrities are frequently trolled in India, and they often receive threats.\nSome Twitter users last week trolled Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan for naming their newborn baby boy after a 14th Century conqueror.\nMeanwhile, the story has renewed discussions about women's right in India. BBC Hindi's Iqbal Ahmed has spoken to some women in Delhi to hear their views.\n\"Women are also human beings. They can decide what they want to wear. Clothes are a matter of personal choice and it's worrying to see people raising questions over this. If you don't like something, then just don't wear it.\n\"Women are often asked that why do they wear the hijab? Why do they wear bikini? These questions take away women's basic right to take their own decisions. It's painful.\"\n\"It should be left to Shami to decide what pictures he wants to post on social media. I don't know why people are interested in knowing what his wife does or wears. I have seen such moral policing even in my university. People often comment on your choice of clothes.\n\"People comment specially when you are wearing tight or short clothes. This is happening in a university where intellectual debates should take place.\"\nSabika Abbas Naqvi, poet\n\"People love to give lectures, specially to women. Some men think it's their birth right to force their opinions on women. If a man posts his pictures in a sleeveless shirt, nobody will comment. It's simple, if you don't like anybody's picture, then just don't see it. Nobody is forcing you to look at any picture.\n\"Shami may have posted the picture for whatever reason, but if you find it objectionable, then you have a problem.\"", "Is this dress blue and black or white and gold?\nScottish singer Caitlin McNeill, 21, started the whole debate after posting a picture of #TheDress on her Tumblr blog.\n\"Two of my very good friends were getting married and they asked me to put together a band to come and play at their wedding in Western Scotland,\" she's told Newsbeat.\n\"This was a wedding on the tiny island that we come from on the west coast of Scotland called Colonsay and about 100 people were there.\n\"A week beforehand the bride had been sent, by her mother, a picture of the dress she was going to wear and when the bride showed her fiance, they disagreed about what colour it was.\n\"She was like, 'It's white and gold' and he said, 'It's blue and black'.\n\"So they posted it on Facebook to try and see what their friends were saying but that caused carnage on Facebook.\n\"We forgot about it until we saw it at the wedding, which the mother of the bride was wearing, and it was obviously blue and black.\n\"When I got off the island last night, I was sitting in my hotel room and I thought, 'I'll maybe put the picture to my Tumblr followers.' Sometimes Tumblrs debunk these things and I thought they might have some ideas.\nListen to the full interview on Newsbeat's SoundCloud\n\"I posted it onto Tumblr, it somehow got onto Twitter and then it just went crazy after that.\"\nThat craziness has translated into #TheDress trending around the world.\nAlso trending are #blueandblack and #goldandwhite as well as various other versions of those colours.\nCaitlin says she never expected this reaction after posting the picture on Tumblr.\n\"It's just incredible. I can't comprehend it.\n\"People have been messaging me saying that all their favourite celebrities are tweeting about it. I can't even believe it's real. I feel like I'm dreaming.\"\nEven though Caitlin originally thought the dress was gold and white herself, she says after seeing it in person it's definitely blue and black.\n\"When my friend originally posted this picture on Facebook I thought they were just playing an elaborate prank on me. It took me a very long time to stop thinking that and to realise there was something scientifically amiss here.\n\"When I saw the dress in blue and black I was like, 'There's not much more I can say about that.'\n\"Men seem to see it more commonly in blue and black and women see it more commonly in white and gold, in terms of the people I've spoken to.\n\"But both my brother and my dad saw white and gold.\"\nThere had been suggestions online and on social media that #TheDress was all a publicity stunt designed to promote the company that sells it.\nBut Caitlin says that's not the case.\n\"I hadn't even thought about the dress company,\" she says.\n\"I did post a link to the company online, just because people were wondering where it had come from.\n\"I can't express how we've been scratching our heads and stressing and arguing for the last two weeks about this dress and I just wanted to know some answers.\n\"I didn't know the company until it started blowing up and one of the bridesmaids from the wedding gave me the link to the dress, that's the first I'd heard of it.\n\"It's going to happen. It's not too bad. If that's the worst people are saying, then that's OK.\"\nAnd now she's spoken to almost every media outlet in the US and the UK, she says she just wants a bit of sleep.\n\"Right now I'm going to get some breakfast because I've been on the phone to America all night.\n\"Maybe a I'll get a wee breakfast and a cup of tea. That would be quite great.\n\"I've had calls from the New York Times, the Washington Post, Time Magazine, NBC, CBS, ABC - everyone wants a piece of the dress.\"\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "The study by Portsmouth University and Missing Children Europe raises concerns about the \"digital footprint\" left over from publicity appeals.\nPortsmouth University's Dr Karen Shalev-Greene said she wanted the UK government to take notice.\nThe report surveyed staff from 19 missing children's hotlines in Europe.\nIt said information about missing children was increasingly being shared online and on social media.\nIt suggested missing children who had returned should be given legal help to ask technology firms to remove online material about them.\nThis is already offered in Belgium, where a missing child hotline, Child Focus, helps children assert a \"right to be forgotten\" online.\nIn 2014, the European Court of Justice ruled people had the right to be forgotten, which involves removing search engine links to web pages about them.\nThe report's authors - who surveyed people from 19 countries, including Austria, Greece and the UK - said at least 250,000 children were reported missing each year in the EU.\nDr Shalev-Greene said the study was the first of its kind and that its intention was to \"raise the issue\" and prompt debate.\nShe said: \"A public appeal for a missing child is always launched without the child's consent.\n\"Yet, once found, the child must live with the consequences of their image being in the public domain.\"\nShe added that once a picture had been released, the child did not seem to have the legal right \"to control the use of those images\".\nThe mother of a girl who is now 18, who went missing as a younger teenager, told the researchers: \"We are concerned because two and a half years after my daughter's disappearance, whenever she searches for her name on the internet, she finds websites where she is still mentioned.\"\nThe mother said that her daughter \"feels that the information about her disappearance exposes her in a negative way\".\nDr Shalev-Greene said parents \"would do anything\" to find their children and that if one child was found out of 1,000 whose information was made public online, that would be a success.\nBut she added: \"We need to understand the impact it has, both good and bad. We're saying, 'Be more aware of the downside and support the children and their families once they come back.'\"\nDr Shalev-Greene also suggested that missing child appeals could just use a child's first name and picture, and not a surname, which would help safeguard their privacy upon their return.\nHer co-author, Delphine Moralis, secretary-general of Missing Children Europe, said: \"Better strategies must be developed to prevent these negative consequences.\"\nShe added that further evidence was needed on the effectiveness and impact of appeals.\nDr Shalev-Greene said of her call for the UK Parliament to address the issue: \"We would like to see it discussed at that kind of level. It is something we've not seen discussed before.\n\"I think we're catching up with the reality of the practice.\"", "Christopher Hannah, 33, was driving a car which mounted the pavement and struck Sophie Brannan in Glasgow's Maryhill area on 14 November last year.\nHer 10-year-old friend and 36-year-old Joseph Lloyd were also badly injured during the incident.\nHannah, who is said to be a heroin addict, previously admitted a charge of culpable homicide.\nDuring a previous hearing at the High Court in Glasgow, he also admitted dangerous driving, attempting to defeat the ends of justice and possessing heroin.\nIt emerged he already had 14 previous convictions for crimes, including having an offensive weapon and road traffic charges.\nHe was on bail at the time of the hit-and-run killing, having been freed from Glasgow's Justice of the Peace Court two months before the incident.\nThe court heard that on the day of the crash, Hannah's partner suspected he had taken heroin.\nHe was driving a Vauxhall Astra, that had been hired in his name on 14 October, in the Maryhill area, when he lost control in Sandbank Street at about 19:40 on 14 November.\nThe car fully mounted the pavement before hitting the gable end of a nearby building.\nIt continued to career forward, eventually ploughing into Sophie, and the two people with her, from behind.\nIt then sped onto nearby Maryhill Road and crashed into a taxi whose driver decided to follow Hannah.\nHe eventually stopped a short distance away and was seen trying to pull the damaged front bumper before running off.\nThe court heard that both the taxi driver and his passengers noticed Hannah \"was under the influence of some substance\".\nMedics who arrived at the scene found Sophie lying on the pavement.\nShe was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill where she was found to have swelling to her brain, several fractures and broken bones.\nThe schoolgirl remained in intensive care overnight but was pronounced dead on the morning of 15 November.\nThe other girl involved in the cvrash suffered a serious leg break which will require long-term physiotherapy.\nThe court was told she continues to suffers episodes of withdrawal and angry outbursts.\nMr Lloyd also suffered a number of fractures, but was initially released from hospital two days later.\nHowever, he eventually required surgery and it is likely he will have \"long-term restriction\" of movement in his right shoulder.\nThe court also heard that shortly after the incident, police searched the home of Hannah's partner, where he had been staying.\nTin foil wraps with signs of drug use were discovered.\nHis partner revealed Hannah had come home earlier that night \"in shock\".\nHannah had claimed he had hit someone, but did not know who.\nThe killer said he was going to a house in the city's south side, but would return.\nPolice were at the house when Hannah then called his girlfriend. She handed the phone to an officer and Hannah said: \"I'm sorry - I didn't mean to do it.\n\"It was a total accident. I lost control of the car and I panicked. I'm going to hand myself in tonight.\"\nThe court heard that in the early hours of 17 November, Hannah turned up at a house in the city's Mount Florida area, but those inside decided to call police.\nOfficers turned up and arrested Hannah, who initially tried to escape. He was later searched and eight grams of heroin were discovered inside his boxer shorts.\nThe court heard how the occupants of the Mount Florida property later told police Hannah had called them on the night of the killing.\nHannah said at the time: \"There's been an accident - watch the news. The police have fitted me up.\n\"I tried to get away and I have hit something. I don't know what.\"\nHe went on to say he had driven like a madman and that the something he had hit could have been a wheelie bin but he did not stay to find out.\nHannah asked to stay for a while as the police were after him \"because he had killed a wee lassie\".\nAccident investigators later concluded Hannah was solely to blame for what happened.\nIt was stated he took \"a conscious decision\" to drive while \"impaired\".\nThey added that the reason for him not stopping was because he knew he had taken drugs and was \"aware of the ramifications\".", "Abdallah Al Shahani, a TV host, actor, and Saudi national, was performing the dance move, which involves a person tucking their head into the crook of their arm, at a music festival in the city of Taif at the weekend.\nDabbing is banned in the conservative country where authorities consider it a reference to narcotics culture.\nA video of Mr Al Shahani's dab became popular on social media and thousands have tweeted about the incident.\nIt is thought that dabbing originated in the hip-hop scene in Atlanta, Georgia, US, around two years ago, but gained a global following when celebrities, athletes and politicians including Hillary Clinton and Paul Ryan began performing the move.\nThe Saudi Interior Ministry's National Commission for Combating Drugs recently banned the move because they consider it to refer to marijuana use.\nA poster published by the ministry depicting dabbing warns \"people about the dangers of this [move] on the youth and society, and is warning against imitating it\".\nIt is not clear whether Mr Al Shahani planned to dab or whether he got carried away in the moment as he performed.\nThe singer apologised on Twitter on Tuesday writing, \"I apologise to our respected government and to my audience for unintentionally and spontaneously making the dance move at Taif festival. Please accept my apology.\"\nEnd of Twitter post by @Shaharani1A\nMr Al Shahani's move has divided social media.\nCommenting on the audible voices of women in a video of Mr Al Shahani's concert, journalist Ayed Al Ayed tweeted: \"Young woman, your screaming continues and I find it very disturbing. Whoever breaks the law gets arrested. Thank you to the security forces.\"\n\"This move has an obvious negative influence on people. No matter what his explanation is, it's unacceptable,\" tweeted @brakalhmede.\nEnd of Twitter post by @brakalhmede\nAnother user suggested that Mr Al Shahani's behaviour was provocative.\n\"Even though the anti-drug authority banned this move and warned people not to perform it, this contestant is promoting it at a public festival!!! Does he think he's challenging authorities with these actions?\" commented @honest_very.\nBut some defended the dab.\n\"I'm sure it was an accident, because I personally know this man and his morals, and he has apologised and shown people that he wasn't aware of the meaning of the move,\" said TV presenter @Kemmooalharbi.\n\"This was just a spontaneous move, he has since apologised to the country's people and government and you're still holding it against him?\" said @TDouHKejhaQbxdu.\nWhile @asdasd550909800 suggested: \"It's clear that he didn't even know what the move means\".\nHowever, it isn't the first time a celebrity has dabbed in Saudi Arabia though.\nSocial media users noted singer Rabeh Sager frequently performs the controversial move during his performances.\nBy Georgina Rannard, UGC & Social news with additional reporting from Amira Fathalla, BBC Monitoring", "The Sunday Times has obtained millions of secret documents - emails, letters and bank transfers - which it alleges are proof that the disgraced Qatari football official Mohamed Bin Hammam made payments totalling US$5m (£3m) to football officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid.\nQatar 2022 and Bin Hammam have always strenuously denied the former Fifa vice-president actively lobbied on their behalf in the run-up to the vote in December 2010.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device\nBut, according to emails obtained by the Sunday Times and seen by the BBC, it is now clear that Bin Hammam, 65, was lobbying on his country's behalf at least a year before the decision.\nThe documents also show how Bin Hammam was making payments directly to football officials in Africa to allegedly buy their support for Qatar in the contest.\nQatar strongly denies any wrongdoing and insists that Bin Hammam never had any official role supporting the bid and always acted independently from the Qatar 2022 campaign.\nWhen approached by the Sunday Times to respond to their claims, Bin Hammam's son Hamad Al Abdulla declined to comment on his behalf.\nAlthough the vast majority of the officials did not have a vote, the Sunday Times alleges Bin Hammam's strategy was to win a groundswell of support for the Qatari bid which would then influence the four African Fifa executive committee members who were able to take part in the election.\nThe Sunday Times also alleges that it has documents which prove Bin Hammam paid 305,000 Euros (£250,000) to cover the legal expenses of another former Fifa executive committee member from Oceania, Reynald Temarii.\nBin Hammam was initially banned from football for life in July 2011 after being found guilty of attempted bribery.\nThe allegations centred around bids to buy votes in the Fifa presidential election of that year.\nHowever his ban was annulled a year later by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which said there was insufficient evidence to support the punishment.\nBin Hammam then quit football saying he had seen the \"very ugly face of football\".\nFifa issued him with a second life ban in December 2012 for \"conflicts of interest\" while he was president of the Asian Football Confederation.\nIn March 2014, the Daily Telegraph reported a company owned by Bin Hammam had paid former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner and his family more than £1m. Payments were claimed to have been made shortly after Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup.\nTemarii, from Tahiti, was unable to vote in the contest as he had already been suspended by Fifa after he was caught out by a Sunday Times sting asking bogus American bid officials for money in return for his support.\nBut the paper now alleges that Bin Hammam provided him with financial assistance to allow him to appeal against the Fifa suspension, delaying his removal from the executive committee and blocking his deputy David Chung from voting in the 2022 election.\nThe paper claims that had Chung been allowed to vote he would have supported Qatar's rivals Australia. Instead there was no representative from Oceania allowed to vote, a decision which may have influenced the outcome in Qatar's favour.\nThe paper also makes fresh allegations about the relationship between Bin Hammam and his disgraced Fifa ally Jack Warner, from Trinidad.\nAlthough Warner was forced to resign as a Fifa vice-president in 2011, after it was proved he helped Bin Hammam bribe Caribbean football officials in return for their support in his bid to oust the long-standing Fifa president Sepp Blatter, the paper says it has evidence which shows more than $1.6m was paid by Bin Hammam to Warner, including $450,000 in the period before the vote.\nThe new allegations will place Fifa under fresh pressure to re-run the vote for the 2022 World Cup, which was held in conjunction with the vote for the 2018 tournament, in which England were eliminated in the first round with just two votes.\nFifa's chief investigator Michael Garcia is already conducting a long-running inquiry into allegations of corruption and wrongdoing during the 2018/22 decisions. He is due to meet senior officials from the Qatar 2022 organising committee in Oman on Monday.\nBut that meeting may now have to be postponed in light of the Sunday Times revelations which have raised important new questions about the link between Bin Hammam and the successful Qatari World Cup campaign.\nMedia playback is not supported on this device", "Mainstream media and social media have been closely watching the rise of some of its competing athletes, and noting the fall of others.\nThese are some of the key figures who have been grabbing Chinese headlines.\nAlthough she came third in the 100m swimming, Fu has become an overnight superstar after her enthusiastic interview with sports channel CCTV-5. \"58.95 seconds?\" she says, gasping. \"I thought it was 59\"! I was that fast? I'm so pleased!\" The official Xinhua News Agency also highlights her saying that she used \"powers strong enough to change the universe\" when she was swimming.\nHer CCTV interview has received over 343,000 shares online and Beijing Times says that her fanbase has \"multiplied tenfold\" since the interview. She now has over three million fans on the popular Sina Weibo microblog.\nThe video has even encouraged many users to post cartoon sketches of her, and one user 'Huangwen Yuxiaopenyou' has posted a video on the popular video website Miaopai of himself \"cosplaying\" Fu. It has so far received over 2.8 million views.\nMedia and social media have been closely following the ups and downs of swimmer Sun, especially since his seemingly ungraceful loss in the 400m freestyle.\nOn 7 July, CCTV-5 shared a video of him crying after losing to Australian rival Mack Horton, which received over 14,000 shares.\nTens of thousands of users posted comments on the video, and while many sympathised with his loss using the hashtag #DontCrySunYang, many said the video makes them \"uncomfortable\" and called him a \"crybaby\". \nState media condemned Horton for calling Sun Yang \"a drug cheat\" before beating him, referring to a short suspension in 2014 when Sun failed a drugs test. Global Times went as far as to say Horton's gold medal was \"filled with shame\" and \"filled with dirty tricks\".\nBut Sun appeared to have bounced back the following day, sporting an oversized jacket, shades and a baseball cap to face the overseas press.\nA journalist from Shanghai's Observer Net posted a video of Sun being interviewed by an Australian journalist on Miaopai which has been viewed over 22 million times. In English, Sun says \"I do not know Mack Horton\", and when asked whether he will beat Horton in the 1500m freestyle, he says \"I am the 1500m king, I represent the new world\".\nOverseas media may be mocking boxer Lu Bin after he mistakenly raised his hand when the referee announced the winner in a Men's Light Fly boxing match, but Chinese media are calling him a \"hero\" and widely circulating an image of him kissing the boxing mat after his match on Monday.\nThe hashtag #LuBinKissesTheRing is trending with over 7,000 uses, and over 132,000 users have shared CCTV Sports presenter Watson Xuemin's post of the image.\nBut Lu has not been as gracious in his own defeat. Today, he posted on his Sina Weibo page that \"the referee stole my dream\" after he narrowly lost to Kenya's Peter Mungai Warui.\nThousands of social media users have started using the hashtag #LuBinSufferedControversialPenalty and many are posting memes that criticise the referee.\nOver 55% of the 7,000 voting social media users who took part also voted in an online poll say they hope the verdict will be appealed, calling Lu's 8 August loss \"a miscarriage of justice\".\nMeanwhile, retired Olympic hurdler Liu Xiang made headlines last week, albeit for all the wrong reasons.\nJust before the Olympics, he recorded an episode for reality show The Amazing Race China, dressed in cosplay as 1990s Japanese cartoon character Sailor Moon. Perhaps predictably, that caused a stir online.\nWhile the segment was meant to be humorous, thousands took to social media to mock how \"beautiful\" he appeared dressed as a woman.\nSome criticised his \"crossdressing\", saying he \"seriously damaged his image\" by appearing in such a way, and others said they now find him \"disgusting\".\nThere are also users asking more critically whether he has fallen on hard times since his Olympic fame back in 2004, when he won the first track and field gold medal for China.\nIf Liu thought the worst was over, he was wrong. A week later, social media users were asking again whether he was struggling financially after he announced that he was filing a lawsuit against online taxi service Didi, China's answer to Uber.\nXinhua says Liu claims that Didi used images of him without his authorisation in online advertising.\nBBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.", "Reports have emerged on local and social media of women being molested during festivities on Saturday night.\nA Bangalore newspaper published photos of women crying and complaining that they had been groped by crowds of men.\nPolice say they have received no complaints but are scanning security footage for evidence of molestation.\nAs local media published images of distraught women seeking police help, Karnataka State Home Minister G Parameshwara blamed young people for \"copying the Westerners, not only in their mindset, but even in their dressing\".\n\"These kind of things do happen,\" he said.\nThe minister's comments have caused anger. National Commission for Women chief Lalitha Kumaramangalam said he should apologise to the women of the country and resign.\nThe federal government's junior home minister, Kiren Rijiju, described the minister's remarks as \"irresponsible\".\n\"We can't allow the shameful act of #MassMolestation go unpunished,\" he said on Twitter, adding that women's safety was a \"must in a civilised society\".\nSaturday night's events took place in the central business district. Crowds of around 10,000-12,000 gathered in the Mahatma Gandhi Road and Brigade Road area to celebrate the new year, BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi reports from Bangalore.\nReports said 1,500 policemen and women were deployed.\n\"The crowds were three times more than what we have seen normally in this area,\" Anantha Subramanyam, Bangalore Mirror photographer, told BBC Hindi.\nHis pictures have raised questions about the city's men and their behaviour.\n\"From about 2345 to 0030, people just could not move in the area. The police would clear the crowd near the junction of the two roads and they would again collect there,\" he said.\n\"When there was a slight let up in the crowd and when people could reach the police, I saw women complaining to the policewomen that they were molested. The police asked them to identify the men, but they couldn't. It was a mob frenzy.\n\"I could see a girl surrounded by several men and crying,\" he added.\nWomen in India are often reluctant to report sexual assault because of fear of reprisal or social stigma, but since Saturday night several women have come forward to talk about their ordeal.\nChaitali Wasnick, a photographer, posted on Facebook that a man tried to grope her as she was returning from work.\n\"With so much ease he did [it], as if he thought I'll not utter a word,\" she said, adding that the police did not intervene, even as she fought off the man.\nOne woman who was in the area that night was Eashita (not her full name). She confirmed that \"a couple of women were touched when a group of 20-30 men suddenly started running on the road\".\n\"I was there with my parents and brother and we were in a group of 12-15 so we were protected,\" she said, adding that there were lots of policemen there who \"escorted us to the nearby Metro station and ensured that we were not harassed\".\nBangalore Police Commissioner Praveen Sood told BBC Hindi that security camera footage from the area was being analysed.\n\"We continue to search for evidence of molestation in the footage and pictures. The minute we get evidence we will not waste a single minute in initiating criminal action,\" he said.\nMr Sood has also appealed to journalists and members of the public for footage or photographs of any incidents.\n\"We will go to the victims and get their complaints,\" he added." ]

[ "TOKYO - NTT DoCoMo on Thursday unveiled what it calls the nation&#39;s first prototype micro fuel cell aimed at boosting battery life for its powerful third-generation FOMA handsets." ]

[ "The much-touted fuel cell technology has got a reprieve from being written off. Japanese companies, network operator NTT DoCoMo and manufacturer Fujitsu are reported to have co-developed a fuel cell recharger for DoCoMo&#39;s Foma family of 3g handsets.", "NTT DoCoMo has developed a prototype methanol fuel cell recharger for demanding mobile phones. The charger relies on a replaceable methanol cartridge and hydrogen", "NTT DoCoMo and Fujitsu announced that they have developed a prototype fuel cell that can be used to recharge modern mobile phones.", "Japanese mobile phone operator DoCoMo and Motorola announce plans to jointly develop third-generation (3G) handsets.", "(InfoWorld) - NTT DoCoMo is planning to buy a slice of a Japanese venture company that has made some promising advances in fuel-cell technology. Japan's largest cellular telephone company will acquire 36.5 percent of Aquafairy for an undisclosed sum, the NTT DoCoMo said Monday. Aquafairy is based in Osaka and was spun out of Japan's Nitto Denko to work on fuel cell technology. Aquafairy is developing polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC), in which water is injected into a cartridge and converted to hydrogen by a catalyst. The hydrogen is sent to an anode where the ions and electrons are separated and the electrons flow to the cathode, creating electricity. NTT DoCoMo has been working with the startup for some time on a micro fuel-cell recharger for use with cell phone handsets. Such a device could recharge a cell phone battery without having to plug it into an electrical power outlet. It's seen as an intermediate step towards the ultimate goal of a fuel cell small enough to be integrated into the cell phone handset itself. A prototype unveiled by Acquafairy in July was a quarter the size and twice as powerful as one NTT DoCoMo developed with Fujitsu Laboratories and displayed a year earlier. The latest recharger has an output of 2 watts and measures 24mm square and is 70mm long and weighs 45 grams.", "CHIBA, JAPAN -- Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp. unveiled this week new fuel cell prototypes for a range of applications that could be commercialized as early as next year.", "TOKYO - NTT DoCoMo Inc said Wednesday it has developed five new models for the 901i series of 3G FOMA cell phone handsets, featuring an enhanced audio system, and will market one model, the SH901iC, nationwide Nov 26 with other models to follow.", "(InfoWorld) - NTT DoCoMo is showing at this week's Ceatec show in Japan a prototype fuel cell that it's developing with a Japanese startup for use as a cell-phone recharger. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) uses hydrogen gas as a fuel to produce electricity and is a compact 24 millimeters square, 70mm long and weighs 45 grams. The fuel cell is under development by Aquafairy, a startup spun out of Nitto Denko to work on the technology. NTT DoCoMo recently acquired a 36.5 percent stake in the company for an undisclosed sum. It can deliver enough power to recharge a cell phone three times before requiring a hydrogen refill. While it's still some way from being a commercial product, the fuel cell is completely different to what NTT DoCoMo had on show at Ceatec 2005. A year ago the company was displaying a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that was developed by Fujitsu Laboratories and built into a cradle into which a cell phone could be placed for recharging. DMFCs are based on a different chemistry from the PEFC on show this year. They typically work by mixing methanol with air and water to produce electrical power. For companies like NTT DoCoMo a future goal remains a fuel cell small enough and safe enough to be built directly into a cell phone. But the technology isn't at that stage yet so the first commercial fuel cell devices will likely be recharges that replenish the Lithium Ion battery inside of the phone but offer the advantage of being able to do so anywhere -- not just within a couple of meters of a wall socket.ADVERTISEMENTMAKE SOA REAL WITH IBM WEBSPHERE PODCASTStreamline processes and maximize efficiency within a proven service oriented architecture. Take back control of your business processes with IBM WebSphere.", "Japanese mobile phone company DoCoMo is in talks to buy 3G handsets from Motorola, the world's second largest handset maker.", "NTT DoCoMo will release a handset compatible with non-Japanese cellular networks and with its own 3G (third generation) mobile network early next year.", "NTT DoCoMo will release a handset compatible with non-Japanese cellular networks and with its own 3G (third generation) mobile network early next year. The handset will be made by Motorola Inc. for DoCoMo and will also support wireless LAN, the two companies said in a statement on Wednesday.", "InfoWorld - NTT DoCoMo has embarked on a month-long experiment of a Super 3G (third-generation) cellular system.", "Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp. has unveiled a prototype motorbike with a zero-emission fuel-cell that is cooled by air.", "Motorola and NTT DoCoMo plan to target Japanese business travelers with a new 3G handset next spring that will run on W-CDMA and GSM networks.", "TOKYO - NTT DoCoMo Inc and Motorola Inc of the United States said Wednesday they will jointly develop a handset for DoCoMo&#39;s third-generation FOMA mobile phone service.", "TOKYO: Motorola and NTT DoCoMo, Japan&#39;s top mobile phone operator, said yesterday they would jointly develop third-generation (3G) handsets, giving Motorola a way into a market largely out of reach for foreign manufacturers.", "NTT DoCoMo is planning to buy a slice of a Japanese venture company that has made some promising advances in fuel-cell technology.", "Japanese mobile phone firm DoCoMo is in talks to buy 3G handsets from Motorola.", "Over the next month, NTT DoCoMo plans to test a Super 3G, or LTE (long-term evolution) cellular system capable of sending data at 300MBps.", "Motorola will partner with NTT DoCoMo, Japan&#39;s largest wireless carrier, to create a next-generation wireless handset based on DoCoMo&#39;s FOMA technology.", "NTT DoCoMo, Japan's biggest mobile carrier, is to spearhead the rollout of an advanced version of its 3G (third-generation) services called Super 3G, a company spokesman said Wednesday.", "DoCoMo has tapped up handset vendors to create the platform, which works with both Linux and Symbian phones, working with NEC and Panasonic on the former and Fujitsu on the latter.", "CNET takes a look at some the advanced handsets from Japanese cell phone provider NTT DoCoMo at 2008 GSMA Mobile World Congress.", "NEC Corp. has succeeded in reducing the size of a prototype direct methanol fuel cell for use with notebook PCs but says it is unlikely to see commercialization until at least two years later than previously forecast.", "After some years on the drawing board, Japanese mobile giant NTT DoCoMo has announced its work on a common platform for 3G phones has come to fruition.", "Japan's NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) has launched a Wi-Fi/cellular phone that telecom industry analysts say is the first of its kind.", "Japan&#39;s NTT DoCoMo has released a dual-mode phone that works on both 3G FOMA cellular networks and wireless local area networks.", "Supply chain issues, apparently If the supply chain was ready, we could have fuel cells in our mobile phone handsets tomorrow, according to handset manufacturer, Nokia.…", "Japan's NTT DoCoMo will join hands with Cingular Wireless of the United States, aiming to unify technical specifications for third-generation (3G) cellphones and services.", "NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest mobile operator, has developed a common software platform that can run on both the Linux and Symbian operating systems used in its 3G (third generation) mobile phones, the company said Thursday.", "With their home market saturated, Japan&#39;s handset makers finally look abroad. Meanwhile, margins have plunged. When NTT Docomo (DCM ) unveiled its latest third-generation mobile phones on Nov. 17, gadget lovers were not disappointed.", "NTT DoCoMo will partner with Cingular Wireless to develop technical specifications of third-generation cell phones and services, according to a published report Thursday." ]

[ "2:51\nWake County First Responders Honored, Battalion Chief talks about response to five alarm fire at The Metropolitan" ]

[ "This week GOP leaders did the only thing they seem to be able to achieve: a full-fledged attack on women’s rights, without any regard for science, the Constitution, women’s lives, or basic decency.\nHouse Republicans pushed through a bill on Tuesday that outlaws abortion after 20 weeks, a ban that disproportionately harms women of color and low-income women and puts women’s health in danger. This is despite the fact that legal experts say such a ban is unconstitutional. A version of the ban has now also been introduced in the Senate.\nAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below\nThe GOP believes women’s rights are a reliable, easy target. As someone who has been fighting for reproductive freedom for decades, this is not particularly new or unexpected.\nBut far less obvious are the ways in which this ban is part of a sophisticated and intensifying legal campaign aimed at weakening and, ultimately, destroying Roe v. Wade.\nTwenty-week abortion bans, which have been passed in states across the country, were designed to directly challenge one of the core concepts the Roe decision rested on. The landmark 1973 ruling made clear that women have a fundamental right to have an abortion until the point of fetal viability, or the time when a fetus could survive outside of the womb—which doctors have generally found to be 24 weeks or later.\nAnti-choice activists have long understood the power of strategically pushing at this limit — and have even admitted as much. Anti-choice lobbyist Samuel Lee, who helped write a Missouri bill requiring “viability tests” for abortions after 20 weeks that went all the way to the Supreme Court in the late 1980s, explained that the 20-week measure was “designed as an opportunity to attack [Roe]” and its viability standard. “It was chosen because it was earlier than the earliest limits of viability at the time, but not so early that the unborn child could never be viable,” he said.\nIn other words, the 20-week measure was deliberately selected to push the limits of Roe, and thus to attack the fundamental right to abortion itself. Some Republicans, Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona among them, are still saying this openly — like when he admitted in 2015 that a proposed 20-week ban was intended to “completely undermine” Roe.\nAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below\nThis threat to a legal frame that has helped protect women’s health for four decades is even more concerning when considered alongside the current GOP push to fill our courts with extreme anti-choice judges. President Trump has pledged to nominate anti-choice judges, and his Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch does indeed have a record of ruling against women’s reproductive rights. A number of Trump’s lower court nominees also have disturbing records. For instance, Amy Coney Barrett has written that abortion is “always immoral” and implied that Roe was wrongly decided. She is being considered by the Senate this fall for a lifetime position as a federal circuit judge.\nTaken together, it’s clear that Roe-based reproductive rights are facing a renewed and dangerous attack.\nWhen the GOP pushes 20-week abortion bans, anti-choice judicial nominees, and any other attempt to roll back women’s constitutional rights, we must be aware that this is a concerted campaign. We must be educated about their long-term strategy and ready to hold them accountable. Women’s lives depend on it.\nKathleen Turner is an advocate and Academy Award-nominated actress, and serves on the board of People For the American Way’s affiliate, PFAW Foundation.", "St. George residents vote early in the 2016 general election, St. George, Utah, Nov. 4, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News\nST. GEORGE – Once again a plethora of candidates have filed to run for federal, state and county offices.\nOn the federal and state level, the majority of the races have two or more contenders vying for the coveted position of a retiring lawmaker, or seek to retain their office against challengers wanting to place them.\nThe fight for the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch has by far the most candidates filed as 19, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and St. George attorney Larry Meyers, contend to be Utah’s next senator.\nRead more: Romney, Meyers, 17 others file to run for Senate\nRep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, has filed for re-election as the representative of Utah’s 2nd Congressional District and faces challenges from two other Republicans, including St. George resident Mary Burkett, as well as two Democrats and two third-party candidates.\nRead more: Burkett announces candidacy for Congress; seeks to unseat Stewart\nIn state legislative races representing Southern Utah, the only race that has no challenger, according to Utah Elections Office, is House District 62. Rep. Travis Seegmiller, R-St. George, is the sole candidate.\nSeegmiller filed to seek election for the position he was appointed to by District 62 delegates in the wake of former Rep. Jon Stanard’s abrupt resignation earlier this year.\nRead more: Washington County GOP chooses replacement for ex-House member Stanard\nStatewide, 119 Utah Democrats filed for 95 seats.\n“This is an unprecedented number of candidates,” Utah Democratic Party officials said in a statement Thursday. “More than half of the candidates are women, people of color, and young people. The future of Utah is one where local representation is a priority instead of special projects and message bills.”\nOf the eight legislative races in Southern Utah this year, four included Democratic challengers. Those are the races for House districts 68, 71 and 72 and Senate District 28.\nAs for state races in Iron and Washington counties, some incumbents are stepping down from office while others are running unopposed. With the exception of the county school board races that are nonpartisan, no Democrats are running in the county races.\nIn Iron County, Sheriff Mark Gower announced he won’t be seeking re-election, opening the way for four contenders to seek the position of the county’s top law enforcement officer. While the incumbents in some races are running unopposed, the majority will face challenges from within their own party.\nRead more: Iron County GOP candidates taking interest in sheriff, other ’18 races\nWith the exception of a Washington County Commission seat and a Washington County School Board seat, candidates who filed in several of the county’s races are running unopposed. Commissioner Zachary Renstrom has not filed to run for re-election, leaving four Republicans to contend. Among them is former St. George City Council member Gil Almquist, who previously ran for the County Commission in 2016.\nList of candidates filed to federal, state and county races\nUnited States Senate\nLarry Meyers – Republican\nMitt Romney – Republican\nSamuel B. Parker – Republican\nLoy Brunson – Republican\nMike Kennedy – Republican\nTim Jimenez – Republican\nTorrey Jenkins – Republican\nStoney Fonua – Republican\nAlicia Colvin – Republican\nAbe Lincoln Brian Jenkins – Republican\nJoshua C. Lee – Republican\nJeremy Lewis Friedbaum – Republican\nJenny Wilson – Democratic\nJeff Dransfield – Democratic\nMitchell Vice – Democratic\nLarry Livingston – Democratic\nReed C. Mccandless – Independent American\nTim Aalders – Constitution\nCraig R. Bowden – Libertarian\nU.S. House of Representatives\nChris Stewart – Republican\nMary Burkett – Republican\nKen Clark – Republican\nShireen Ghorbani – Democratic\nRandy Hopkins – Democratic\nJan Garbett – United Utah\nJeffrey Whipple – Libertarian\nUtah Senate\nSenate District 28\nEvan J. Vickers – Republican – Incumbent\nMark Chambers – Democratic\nUtah House of Representatives\nHouse District 62\nTravis M. Seegmiller – Republican – Incumbent\nHouse District 68\nMerrill Nelson – Republican – Incumbent\nMerle Travis Wall – Democratic\nWarren Rogers – Independent American\nDenyse Housley Cox – Libertarian\nKirk D Pearson – Constitution\nHouse District 71\nMark S. Borowiak – Republican\nBrad Last – Republican – Incumbent\nChuck Goode – Democratic\nHouse District 72\nRex P Shipp – Republican\nZeno B. Parry – Democratic\nBarry Evan Short – Libertarian\nHouse District 73\nKelly Stowell – Republican\nPhil Lyman – Republican\nMarsha M Holland – Unaffiliated\nHouse District 74\nV. Lowry Snow – Republican – Incumbent\nDaniel Holloway – Libertarian\nHouse District 75\nWalt Brooks – Republican – Incumbent\nKeith R. Kelsch – Independent American\nMichael A Gardner – Libertarian\nIron County\nCounty Commission\nSeat A\nMichael Bleak – Republican – Incumbent\nFred C. Rowley – Republican\nSeat B\nSam Brower – Republican\nPaul Cozzens – Republican\nJennie Hendricks – Republican\nMichelle Jorgenson – Republican\nStuart E. Bunker – Republican\nCounty Attorney\nScott Gerratt – Republican – Incumbent\nMatthew Calling – Republican\nChad Dotson – Republican\nScott Burns – Republican\nCounty Clerk\nJon Whittaker – Republican – Incumbent\nCounty Auditor\nDan Jessen – Republican – Incumbent\nCounty Sheriff\nCaleb Anderson – Republican\nKenneth K. Carpenter – Republican\nDavid Evans – Republican\nDel Schlosser – Republican\nSchool Board – non-partisan race\nSeat 4\nMichelle Lambert\nSeat 5\nHarold Haynie\nDale M. Brinkerhoff\nWashington County\nCounty Commission\nSeat A\nGil Almquist – Republican\nSlade Wilson – Republican\nRobert E. Ford – Republican\nAllen J. Davis – Republican\nSeat B\nVictor Iverson – Republican – Incumbent\nCounty Attorney\nBrock Belnap – Republican – Incumbent\nCounty Clerk/Auditor\nKim Hafen – Republican – Incumbent\nCounty Sheriff\nCory Pulsipher – Republican – Incumbent\nSchool Board – nonpartisan race\nDistrict 4\nLarene Cox – Incumbent\nDistrict 5\nKelly Wade Blake – Incumbent\nDistrict 6\nDavid Stirland – Incumbent\nDistrict 7\nLaura Hesson – Incumbent\nGreg Brooks\nEmail: mkessler@stgnews.com\nTwitter: @MoriKessler\nCopyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.", "RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature can keep for now its authority to confirm Cabinet secretaries of the new Democratic governor, a state judicial panel has ruled.\nThree trial court judges rejected the request of Gov. Roy Cooper to extend a temporary block on the confirmation law the judges had issued last week. The law is among many approved just before Cooper took office and viewed by Democrats as undermining his authority.\nThe law subjects Cooper's department heads to the \"advice and consent\" of a majority of senators. Cooper sued last month, saying confirmation doesn't apply to his picks.\nThe judges' order, released Tuesday, rejected Cooper's argument he would suffer irreparable harm if Cabinet members that he's chosen had to go before Senate committees. The governor could return and seek an injunction again if a secretary fails to receive confirmation, the judges wrote, but for now the harm is \"speculative.\"\nAdvertisement\nIn the meantime, Cooper and Senate Republicans disagree about whether the order means confirmation hearings can begin.\nSenators earlier laid out a plan to hold confirmation hearings on Cooper's eight current Cabinet picks through mid-March. The first hearing had been scheduled last week, but the judges' temporary block was released hours before that meeting. The judges heard more oral arguments last Friday on extending the delay.\nRepublican Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore praised the judges' denial of Cooper's request to \"stop the people's elected representatives from conducting a fair, open and transparent hearing process to determine whether his proposed Cabinet secretaries are qualified, without conflicts of interest, and willing to follow the law.\"\nRepublican legislative leaders say the state Constitution gives the Senate authority to scrutinize the Cabinet, but attorneys for Cooper's attorney say confirmation doesn't apply to his Cabinet and cuts into core powers. Tuesday's order doesn't address the constitutional issues raised in the litigation. A trial on those issues is scheduled for early next month.\nIn the new order, dated late Monday, Superior Court Judges Jesse Caldwell, Todd Burke and Jeffrey Foster said the Senate \"cannot begin the advice and consent process until the governor submits a nominee.\"\nThe judges wrote the governor has until May 15 to formally submit the nominees' names to the Senate, and he's yet to do so. So the hearings shouldn't begin until then, Cooper general counsel William McKinney said.\n\"We are satisfied with the ruling,\" Cooper spokesman Ford Porter said in an email citing the judges' words on the nominees. Porter added the governor plans to wait until the trial is held early next month before submitting nominees, \"which he believes will not be necessary.\"\nBerger told reporters the temporary block to confirmation hearings has now been lifted, and legislative leaders believe the May date doesn't apply to the Cabinet picks that have been sworn in and are clearly performing duties for Cooper.\n\"I think he's nominated them,\" Berger said.\nThe GOP-led General Assembly and the governor already have been fighting in court on other matters.\nThe same three-judge panel blocked another new law that shifted oversight of elections away from the governor and toward the legislature. After several days of legal filings, the state Supreme Court preserved that ruling late Monday.\nIn federal court, a judge agreed with Moore and Berger last month and blocked attempts by Cooper or President Barack Obama's administration to approve Medicaid expansion in the state.", "The newly released Republican memo on alleged FBI and Justice Department abuses has sent advocates of the Russiagate theories into meltdown. They immediately said it was all done in Russia’s interests.\nUS Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) rushed to say the latest developments surrounding the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) “serve no American interests – no party’s, no president’s, only Putin’s.” The life-long Russophobe even issued a special statement on the day of the memo's release, expressing his discontent with the situation.\nMcCain never alluded to the contents of the document itself in his statement, referring to it as “the latest attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice” instead. He then proceeded with his traditional demonization of Russia by once again accusing Moscow of a range of offenses – from hacking to spreading disinformation – all presented as self-sufficient truths, and without proof.\nRead more\nHe said further that the publication of the memo on alleged abuses of power by American state agencies “undermines” the rule of law in the US. And of course, by releasing it, US authorities “are doing Putin’s job for him.”\nMcCain was not alone in his crusade against the GOP document and its perceived threat to national security. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) slammed Republicans and President Donald Trump over what House Democrat leaders called a “spin memo.”\n“President Trump has surrendered his constitutional responsibility as Commander-in-Chief by releasing highly classified and distorted intelligence,” Pelosi said, as cited by the Hill. She also added that, “by not protecting intelligence sources and methods, he just sent his friend Putin a bouquet.”\nDemocrat representatives in Congress lined up to back Pelosi. “The President’s decision to publicly release a misleading memo attacking DOJ & FBI is a transparent attempt to discredit these institutions and undermine Mueller’s probe,” said Adam Schiff (D-California), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, as he referred to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign and the alleged Russian interference in the election.\nThe President’s decision to publicly release a misleading memo attacking DOJ & FBI is a transparent attempt to discredit these institutions and undermine Mueller’s probe.\nWe'll fight to release our classified response. Until then here's a glimpse at what's wrong with their memo: pic.twitter.com/HX0J6UtDLY — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 2, 2018\nDemocrats were not done tossing around the Russian president's name: Ted Deutch condemned the release as a “Putin-esque tactic” and a “dangerous and partisan stunt.”\nThis memo is a dangerous and partisan stunt. Selectively releasing intelligence for attempted political gain is a Putin-esque tactic. Instead of attacking the FBI and DOJ, why not explain the Trump Tower meeting with Russians or try to defend POTUS attempts to obstruct justice. — Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) February 2, 2018\nFormer FBI chief, James Comey, who had been fired by Trump, predictably joined the memo bashers. He called it a “dishonest and misleading” document that “inexcusably exposed classified investigation of an American citizen.”\nThat’s it? Dishonest and misleading memo wrecked the House intel committee, destroyed trust with Intelligence Community, damaged relationship with FISA court, and inexcusably exposed classified investigation of an American citizen. For what? DOJ & FBI must keep doing their jobs. — James Comey (@Comey) February 2, 2018\nThe GOP memo chronicles how the FBI and the DOJ obtained a warrant to spy on Trump campaign adviser Carter Page entirely on the basis of the so-called “Steele dossier” paid for by Hillary Clinton’s campaign through the Democratic National Committee.\nThe four-page memo was commissioned by House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes (R-California) in mid-January. Trump authorized its release on Friday.", "Democrats criticized the release of a previously classified GOP memo on Friday, characterizing its declassification by President Donald Trump as a potential threat to national security and a \"shameful\" attempt to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation and parallel congressional probes.\nAll nine Democrats on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence issued a scathing and lengthy statement calling the memo incomplete, saying it misrepresents the counterintelligence investigation into Russia’s alleged 2016 election interference and purported links to the Trump campaign.\n\"The sole purpose of the Republican document is to circle the wagons around the White House and insulate the President,\" the Democrats wrote.\nPlay Facebook\nTwitter\nEmbed House releases controversial GOP intel memo after Trump approval 7:31 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog\nDespite the strong objections of the FBI and Justice Department, the House Intelligence Committee on Friday released the Republican-written memo, which alleges missteps by the FBI regarding surveillance of one of Trump's campaign aides during the 2016 campaign. The committee's move came after Trump approved the release of the memo without redactions.\nThe memo was prepared by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., who is the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The three-and-a-half-page memo is a critique of the FBI's application for surveillance authority before the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court, which allowed the FBI to conduct secret surveillance on a Trump campaign aide, Carter Page.\nThe Democrats said it was \"telling\" that Nunes \"put out this memo without bothering to read the underlying materials, and that he ordered changes to the document without informing his own committee members.\" They added that its release also shows a \"terrible lapse\" in leadership by House Speaker Paul Ryan.\nRelated: Schumer, Pelosi call for Nunes to be removed as House intelligence chair\n\"The selective release and politicization of classified information sets a terrible precedent and will do long-term damage to the Intelligence Community and our law enforcement agencies,\" they wrote.\n\"If potential intelligence sources know that their identities might be compromised when political winds arise, those sources of vital information will simply dry up, at great cost to our national security.\"\nTop House and Senate Democrats, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, also slammed the release of memo in a letter to Trump, saying the move could spark a \"constitutional crisis.\"\n\"We are alarmed by reports that you may intend to use this misleading document as a pretext to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, in an effort to corruptly influence or impede Special Counsel Bob Mueller’s investigation,\" they wrote.\n\"We write to inform you that we would consider such an unwarranted action as an attempt to obstruct justice in the Russia investigation. Firing Rod Rosenstein, DOJ Leadership, or Bob Mueller, could result in a constitutional crisis of the kind not seen since the Saturday Night Massacre.\"\nPlay Facebook\nTwitter\nEmbed Will the Nunes memo affect American politics? 6:17 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog\nThe group of House Intelligence Democrats also criticized Republicans for thwarting the efforts of Democrats on the committee to release a response to the memo that they say adds additional context to material in the GOP document, calling the move to block it a \"transparent effort to suppress the full truth.\" Republicans previously voted not to release the Democratic rebuttal.\nThe House Democrats also pushed back on the central allegation of the GOP memo — that the FBI abused their surveillance powers to obtain permission to surveil Page — saying \"none of this is true.\"\n\"The FBI had good reason to be concerned about Carter Page and would have been derelict in its responsibility to protect the country had it not sought a FISA warrant,\" they wrote, saying a controversial dossier compiled on Trump by Christopher Steele, a former British spy, was not the sole basis for the warrant application.\nRep. Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, at the U.S. Capitol in December. Carolyn Kaster / AP file\nThe group said they will push for a vote again on Monday to release their own memo.\nDemocrats weren't alone in critiquing the memo's release or downplaying its relevance to investigations into possible collusion between Russian officials and the Trump campaign. Thomas O’Connor, the president of the FBI Agents Association, also criticized the memo's release, saying the bureau's agents will not \"allow partisan politics to distract us from our solemn commitment to our mission.”\nRelated: Some Republicans uneasy with Trump releasing the Russia memo\nIn a tweet, Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., called the memo's release a \"mistake\" that \"sets a dangerous precedent.\"\nAs I have publicly stated on several occasions, it's a mistake to release this memo. No Members of Congress-nor their staff-should risk divulging sensitive sources/methods of Intelligence for partisan gain. This sets a dangerous precedent that may have far reaching implications. — Rep. Charlie Dent (@RepCharlieDent) February 2, 2018\nIn a series of tweets, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said that the memo raises questions about the FISA application process, but does not undermine Mueller's investigation.\n\"While this memo raises serious concerns with the FISA process, I have been and remain confident in the overwhelming majority of the men and women serving at the FBI and DOJ,\" he tweeted. \"I also remain 100 percent confident in Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The contents of this memo do not — in any way — discredit his investigation.\"\nAs I have said repeatedly, I also remain 100 percent confident in Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The contents of this memo do not - in any way - discredit his investigation. — Trey Gowdy (@TGowdySC) February 2, 2018\nSen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she was concerned about the lack of redactions and echoed the objections of the FBI and DOJ.\n“Oversight of the intelligence community, the FISA process, and this investigation are far too important to be tarnished by partisanship,\" she said in a statement.\nFormer FBI Director James Comey also tweeted against the Republican memo's release, saying it would erode the relationship between the intelligence community and the GOP.\n\"That’s it? Dishonest and misleading memo wrecked the House intel committee, destroyed trust with Intelligence Community, damaged relationship with FISA court, and inexcusably exposed classified investigation of an American citizen,\" he wrote. \"For what? DOJ & FBI must keep doing their jobs.\"\nThat’s it? Dishonest and misleading memo wrecked the House intel committee, destroyed trust with Intelligence Community, damaged relationship with FISA court, and inexcusably exposed classified investigation of an American citizen. For what? DOJ & FBI must keep doing their jobs. — James Comey (@Comey) February 2, 2018\nSen. John McCain, R-Ariz, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, also condemned the release of the memo and stressed its national security implications.\n“The latest attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice serve no American interests — no party’s, no president’s, only Putin’s,\" McCain said in a statement.\n\"The American people deserve to know all of the facts surrounding Russia’s ongoing efforts to subvert our democracy, which is why Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation must proceed unimpeded,\" McCain said. \"Our nation’s elected officials, including the president, must stop looking at this investigation through the warped lens of politics and manufacturing partisan sideshows. If we continue to undermine our own rule of law, we are doing Putin’s job for him.”", "Contentious confirmation fights, a GOP assault on Obamacare — and, more than likely, hints of Republican infighting to come.\nWelcome to the new Congress.\nStory Continued Below\nLawmakers convene in Washington on Tuesday for the 115th Congress, kicking into high gear as they prepare for the incoming Trump administration and lay the groundwork to pass major GOP priorities.\nSince Republicans will control all the levers of power in Washington for the first time in almost a decade, they’ll hit the ground running on some issues: Both chambers, for example, hope to pass a budget blueprint that makes a critical down payment on repealing Obamacare even before Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.\nBut it won’t take long for the inherent divide between Senate and House Republicans to rear its head. The House wants to pass a number of bills to scrap Obama-era rules and curb executive branch regulatory powers. But those will be a much heavier lift in the upper chamber.\nHere’s a look at what Hill Republicans will try to accomplish the first month of the 115th Congress — and their likelihood of success.\nObamacare repeal\nSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed that the chamber’s first vote of the year will be to scrap President Barack Obama’s health care law. The Kentucky Republican is making good on that promise this week by bringing to the floor a budget that would unlock a fast-track process enabling Republicans to jam repeal through Congress along party lines.\nAfter the Senate acts, the House will follow suit, as soon as the second week back from the holiday recess. And Republicans hope to clear the budget before Trump’s inauguration.\nTechnically, the bill won’t include an official repeal. Rather, the fast-track process, known as reconciliation, contains instructions for committees to write repeal bills. Republicans want to pass repeal legislation in the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency, but there could be disagreements about which elements of Obamacare they want to demolish and how to achieve their goals.\nThe resulting sprint could feel more like a marathon as Democrats lay plans for a messaging offensive against Trump and the GOP, charging them with depriving millions of Americans of health care with no clear plan for what comes next.\nSnags: Internal GOP disagreements over the substance of the repeal bill are likely. Democratic resistance, most significantly in the Senate, is guaranteed.\nOutlook: Almost assured. Timing hiccups may crop up, but it’s a matter of when — not if — a repeal bill passes.\nConfirmations\nThe Senate is heading toward a partisan showdown over Trump’s Cabinet. Incoming Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned McConnell against scheduling simultaneous confirmation hearings. And Democrats are already turning Rex Tillerson, tapped for secretary of state, into a test case for a broader push to vet the tax returns of Trump’s multi-billionaire cast of advisers.\nBut the ExxonMobil CEO won’t be the only Trump nominee subject to intense scrutiny by Democrats, who are in no mood to treat the president-elect with the same deference on nominations that Republicans showed Obama in 2009.\n\"I don’t know how they’re going to put all this together, but the American people have a right to know who’s running these agencies and what their goals are, whether they’re working for the taxpayers or working for their own interest,\" Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the incoming No. 3 Democratic leader, said in a brief interview.\nThanks to a rules change pushed through by Democrats in 2013, Trump’s non-Supreme Court nominees will need only a simple majority to be confirmed. Given Republicans’ 52-vote majority, that means they can lose as many as two votes even if Democrats succeed in keeping their moderates in the fold on opposing nominees seen as particularly egregious.\nThe GOP is already prepared to force Democrats’ hand if they try to delay confirmations.\n\"While Democrats may want to create a new, unprecedented standard for Senate consideration of nominees, they will not be successful,” one Senate Republican aide said. \"If they attempt these extraordinary, dilatory tactics, the Senate will confront it with votes potentially at all hours. It’s really up to them.\"\nSnags: The Senate clock.\nOutlook: Confirmation of Trump’s entire Cabinet slate is almost assured, barring unexpectedly damning information uncovered during hearings.\nRegulatory rollbacks\nHouse Republicans’ schedule for January has a theme: \"restoring\" and \"reclaiming\" congressional authority under Article 1 of the Constitution, which they say Obama has whittled away over the past eight years. Now it's the Hill GOP's turn to seek revenge on the outgoing president for, as they see it, ignoring Congress while making policy through regulations.\nThis week, House Republicans plan to pass the \"REINS Act,\" a measure they’ve been trying to enact for the better part of a decade. It would require congressional approval of any executive-branch regulation that costs more than $100 million. They also intend to approve a so-called \"midnight rules\" bill that would allow Republicans to repeal a host of Obama-era regulations in clusters using the Congressional Review Act.\nThat law lets Congress axe any regulations that have been approved in the prior 60 legislative days with a simple majority in both chambers. Republicans are already making lists of which Obama regulations they want to repeal, from a Labor Department overtime rule to Interior Department restrictions on the coal industry.\nBut each challenge takes a separate debate and vote, forcing the GOP to make tough choices about which Obama rules to target. The \"midnight rules\" bill would ease that hurdle.\nThe House is expected to once again pass a law overturning the Supreme Court precedent known as \"Chevron deference,\" which requires courts to accept an agency’s interpretation of ambiguous laws.\nSnags: The Senate, where eight Democratic votes are likely needed to approve the \"REINS\" and \"midnight rules\" bills. And while the GOP needs only a simple Senate majority to dismantle some of Obama’s newer regulations, his older rules won’t be eligible for the fast-track tool.\nOutlook: One or more Obama rules are likely to be killed using the Congressional Review Act. But expect many of the House’s hopes and dreams for Article 1 to die in the Senate.\nUN Rebuke\nOne of the first pieces of legislation expected to clear the new Congress is a resolution disapproving of the U.N. Security Council’s recent action condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories — a direct rebuke of Obama's failure to veto the U.N. measure during his final days in office.\nThat resolution, which will be approved by the House this week or next and head to the Senate thereafter, would give Trump a symbolic early victory on foreign policy.\nSnags: Few.\nOutlook: Likely.\nRyan’s reeelection as speaker\nConservatives once plotted his demise and Trump supporters even toyed with taking him out over his lack of support of the president-elect. But now Trump says he wants to work with Ryan, even comparing him to a “fine wine” during a December rally in Wisconsin.\nConservatives are hardly in the mood to tick off the incoming president, so they’ve dropped their knives and will give Ryan another term as speaker.\nSnags: None. Some staunch conservatives may vote against Ryan, but he’ll get the votes to keep the gavel.\nOutlook: Consider it done.\nNew House rules\nFor the first time in the nation’s history, House GOP leaders want to delegate the chamber’s punishment authority to a nonpartisan officer of the House — a contentious move that’s currently scheduled for a Tuesday vote. The new rule — a GOP response to the Democrats’ 25-hour gun control sit-in last June — would allow the sergeant-at-arms to fine lawmakers $2,500 for livestreaming or taking pictures of the House floor.\nSnags: Democrats are up in arms, and former House lawyers say the proposal raise constitutional issues since the full House typically must vote to sanction lawmakers.\nOutlook: Iffy, in its current form.\nBurgess Everett contributed to this report.", "HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Boosting Democrats’ chances of retaking control of Congress in this fall’s midterm elections, the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal panel on Monday rejected GOP challenges to a newly redrawn congressional map imposed on Pennsylvania by the state’s high court.\nThe courts dismissed requests to throw out or halt use of the new map. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had ruled that a 2011 GOP-crafted district map violated the state constitution’s guarantee of free and equal elections.\nDemocrats need to pick up 24 seats to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives, 23 if Conor Lamb wins in Pennsylvania’s 18th district.\nThe pair of rulings makes it highly likely that this year’s congressional elections in Pennsylvania will be conducted under district lines widely viewed as more favorable to Democrats than the 2011 map. The previous map was drafted to aid Republican candidates and proved to be a campaign winner for them, leading the GOP to a 13-5 edge in the state’s congressional delegation for all three elections in which it was used. Both court decisions came with just one day left for the state’s congressional candidates to circulate petitions to get on the May 15 primary ballot.\nThe U.S. Supreme Court turned down the request without comment. The panel of judges said it had no authority to act in the matter except to dismiss the case.\n“The plaintiffs invite us to opine on the appropriate balance of power between the Commonwealth’s legislature and judiciary in redistricting matters, and then to pass judgment on the propriety of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s actions under the United States Constitution,” the judges wrote. “These are things that, on the present record, we cannot do.”\nDemocratic Gov. Tom Wolf called the federal judges’ ruling the right decision and said it will let the state move ahead with a fair map. The Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court had ruled in January that a map Republicans crafted in 2011 amounted to an unconstitutional gerrymander. After Wolf and lawmakers in the GOP-controlled General Assembly did not produce a replacement, the court enacted its own map last month and gave candidates extra time for petition gathering.\nThe federal judges’ decision comes in a case brought a month ago by eight sitting Republican congressmen and two GOP state senators. They argued the state justices infringed on the Legislature’s prerogative and did not give lawmakers enough time to come up with a replacement.\nA group of 18 Democratic voters sued in state court last year to challenge the 2011 map, a case the state Supreme Court put on a fast track before throwing out the former district lines.\nAll five Democrats on the state Supreme Court said the map violated the state constitution, but one of the Democrats joined both Republicans in objecting to the majority’s determination to enact a new map for this year’s races. More than 40 candidates had filed petition paperwork by mid-day Monday, according to state elections bureau data. The deadline to submit at least 1,000 voter signatures to get on the primary ballot is Tuesday.", "Underlining the Democrats' desperation, one Clinton supporter says running Sanders out as the face of the party is the \"Bernie Band-Aid tour: We'll slap him over our problems but fundamentally change nothing.\"\nThe sad sack Democratic Party, lacking any viable plan for 2018, is once again featuring Bernie Sanders, who is headlining a six-day, seven-state \"unity\" tour labeled \"Come Together and Fight Back,\" thehill.com reports.\nSanders is joining new Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez on the cross-country tour that began Monday in Maine's Second District, where Donald Trump won his sole Maine electoral vote, and will continue to red states such as Florida, Kentucky, and Utah.\nJim Stinson at lifezette.com writes:\nThe decision to highlight the Democrats' new subservience to the far-left by parading Sanders on a tour is not the only remarkable aspect of the Monday kickoff. The Democrats chose to start their tour in Maine. The normally liberal-to-moderate state has a famous independent streak, but now Democrats are worried if voters in the Pine Tree State are leaning away from them entirely.\nStinson quotes Corey Lewandowski, a \"New England native\" and former Trump campaign manager, on the stakes for the Democrats:\nIf [the Democrats] can't win there, there is no path forward.\nNoting that Republicans face an uphill battle in most of New England, Stinson adds that \"in Maine, Democrats have not won a statewide election in more than 10 years.\"\nBut Maine is not like the rest of New England, experts note. It is famously independent, and the rural part of Maine – and there is a lot of it – is not liberal. Still, the addition of [Republican Rep. Bruce] Poliquin to the New England congressional delegation in 2014 rattled Democrats. In 2016, Poliquin held on to his seat, despite a fierce campaign to unseat him.\nA Maine Republican Party official says the Democrats \"have a very weak bench\" and that he \"believes the far-left nature of Sanders and Perez will turn off voters outside of Portland, Maine's largest city.\"\nMaine's Second District is but one small piece of a steep uphill climb for the Democrats in 2018. Jeremy Carl at nationalreview.com points to Roll Call's early 2018 election guide, which shows 212 \"safe\" Republican House seats and 179 \"safe\" Democrat House seats.\nAs Carl observes, the Democrats would have to hold all of their so-called tossup, lean, and likely seats and take all of the Republicans' tossup and lean seats, and then add eight of the thirteen Republican likely seats, in order to eke out a one-vote margin of 218 House seats.\nMr. Carl continues to the Senate:\nBut compared to their chances of taking the Senate, the House looks like electoral paradise for the Democratic party. Morning Consult has just released its 50 state polls, and it underscores the enormous shift that would have to happen for the Democrats to win that chamber. ... Electorally, the GOP is in a fantastic spot, having to defend just nine of the 34 Senate seats up in 2018, and in each of those nine seats, the GOP candidate is listed as favored to win by arguably the top three major race handicappers (Cook, Rothenberg, Larry Sabato).\nCarl analyzes various individual Senate races and concludes:\nThe media and Democrats will attempt to scare the GOP into fearing electoral devastation with each Trump misstep or weak result in a special election. But the party should ignore the naysayers – even with political headwinds, a highly favorable map means they are in a very strong position heading into 2018, as long as the party keeps faith with its voters. The GOP needs to stop getting spooked by its electoral shadow and start delivering the change it has promised voters for the better part of a decade.\nThe Democrats are counting on Mr. Sanders to keep their base fired up, and they are counting on the Republicans to drop the ball on their promises. Eighteen months is a long time in politics, but the Democrats have yet to demonstrate any viable plan to recover from their 2016 and prior defeats.", "Political Ohio watched a double feature in Columbus last week: Campaign committees reported how much money in donations they'd sucked in from contributors' checkbooks and wallets.\nAnd the long-simmering GOP race to become the Ohio House's next speaker, between ex-Speaker Larry Householder, of Perry County's Glenford, and House Finance Chair Ryan Smith, of Gallia County's Bidwell, came to a full boil. (Incumbent Republican Speaker Clifford Rosenberger, of Clinton County's Clarksville, is term-limited.)\nOf course, there won't be a speakership for the GOP to fight over if, unlikely but not impossible, Democrats win control of Ohio's House in November.\nThomas Suddes' take on the political battles to come in Ohio\nWhich candidate for a statewide office, such as governor, collects how much in donations is one way Capitol Square insiders bet on who'll win. Business and labor and their lobbyists want to back winners because of this Columbus beatitude: Blessed are the donors; their calls shall be returned.\nAccording to reports filed last week, Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine and his running mate, Secretary of State Jon Husted, are leading the gubernatorial pack financially. (GOP Gov. John R. Kasich can't seek a third consecutive term.) DeWine-Husted for Ohio said it had almost $10.6 million on hand. Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, competing with DeWine for the GOP's gubernatorial nomination, and her running mate, Cincinnati business person Nathan Estruth, reported Taylor Estruth for Ohio had $3.5 million in hand.\nCampaign finance reports are revealed\nAnd the Cordray/Sutton Committee of Democratic gubernatorial contender Richard Cordray, (once Ohio's treasurer an attorney general, then director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) and his running mate, former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, reported $2 million on hand.\nOther Democrats seeking the party's gubernatorial nomination are Dr. Jonathan Heavey, of Rocky River, a Cleveland Clinic physician; former Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich; former Supreme Court Justice William O'Neill, of Chagrin Falls; former state Rep. Connie Pillich, of Cincinnati; and state Sen. Joseph Schiavoni, of suburban Youngstown.\nMaybe someone believes Ohio politicians when they say that all a campaign donation buys is good government. If so, a lot of Ohio campaign contributors have been swindled.\nDemocratic then-State Auditor Joseph T. Ferguson, from Perry County's Shawnee, told it like it is. A U.S. Senate subcommittee was probing Ferguson's 1950 campaign against Gov. Bob Taft's grandfather, Republican U.S. Sen. Robert A. Taft. (The senator won.) Ferguson's testimony tells Ohioans what they need to know about how the game is played in Ohio:\nU.S. senator to Joe Ferguson: \"Did not your friends contribute to your primary campaign?\"\nFerguson: \"No. You know, nobody will give you money unless they expect to get 10 times as much back.\"\nSenator: \"That is generally true.\"\nFerguson: \"At least 10 times, I figure.\"\nAnother senator to Ferguson: \"Do you think ... contributions [are] given from the heart in the hope that the candidate ... will make this a greater and better government?\"\nFerguson: \"There may be some ideal people like that.\"\nSenator: \"Do you run across very many?\"\nFerguson: \"I have not run across very many. I can count them on my fingers, I think.\"\nThat was the perspective of someone repeatedly elected state auditor, unseated in 1952 by someone just as sly - Republican James A. Rhodes - but who made a comeback, first as state treasurer, then as auditor - and saw his son, Thomas E. Ferguson elected auditor in 1974.\nA lot has changed at the Statehouse since Joe Ferguson testified in Washington. But what he said about campaign donors is as true now as it was then: If someone gives more than a few bucks, he or she expects to get.\nThomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.\nTo reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-999-4689\nHave something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Notification Settings (in blue).", "CLOSE The Nunes memo, accusing the FBI and Justice Department of abusing surveillance authority to monitor the Trump campaign, has gone public. USA TODAY\nChairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., attends an Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 30 2017. (Photo: Michael Reynolds, epa-efe)\nSen. John McCain, who remains in Arizona battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, warned against the release of a controversial House Intelligence Committee memo alleging FBI abuses in the surveillance of a Trump campaign official.\nIn a written statement released shortly before the GOP memo was made public, McCain, R-Ariz., decried what he described as a partisan attack on the FBI and the Justice Department and tried to put the focus back on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election.\nMcCain urged Trump to \"stop looking at this investigation through the warped lens of politics and manufacturing partisan sideshows.\"\n\"The latest attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice serve no American interests — no party’s, no president’s, only Putin’s,\" McCain said. \"The American people deserve to know all of the facts surrounding Russia’s ongoing efforts to subvert our democracy, which is why Special Counsel (Robert) Mueller’s investigation must proceed unimpeded.\n\"Our nation’s elected officials, including the president, must stop looking at this investigation through the warped lens of politics and manufacturing partisan sideshows. If we continue to undermine our own rule of law, we are doing Putin’s job for him.”\nRelated: Ex-FBI director James Comey on the Nunes memo: 'That's it?'\nMore: Analysis: With Nunes memo release, Trump barrels toward showdown with Mueller\nMcCain, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, said the Russian regime conducted cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns to create \"chaos\" and undermine confidence in U.S. institutions.\n\"And while we have no evidence that these efforts affected the outcome of our election, I fear they succeeded in fueling political discord and dividing us from one another,\" McCain said.\nThe latest attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice serve no American interests – no party’s, no president’s, only Putin’s. https://t.co/6dsbcBIla6 — John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) February 2, 2018\nFlake, R-Ariz., weighed in on the memo fight Thursday by issuing a bipartisan joint statement with Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a fellow member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.\n“President Trump should heed the warnings of the Justice Department and FBI, and reverse his reported decision to defy longstanding policies regarding the disclosure of classified information,\" they wrote. \"The president’s apparent willingness to release this memo risks undermining U.S. intelligence-gathering efforts, politicizing Congress’ oversight role, and eroding confidence in our institutions of government.”\nThe memo, written at the direction of Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., is said to outline bias by members of the FBI and the Justice Department that helped shape and prolong the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump.\nMore: The controversial Nunes memo has been released. You can read it here\nMore: Five key claims in the Nunes memo on FBI surveillance of Trump campaign aide\nRead or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2s3r5tn", "WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senior House Democrats on Monday extolled the benefits of President Barack Obama's health care law in hopes of derailing Republican plans to gut the statute and over time replace it.\nIn a conference call with reporters, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the GOP will begin its \"assault\" on the health care law when the 115th Congress convenes Tuesday. She said abolishing the law, known as the Affordable Care Act, as Republicans have promised will mean that people will pay more for their health insurance while getting much less than they do now. Undoing the law also will undermine Medicaid and Medicare, she said.\nCurrently Republicans plan to vote quickly on repealing the health care law and delay the effective date to give them time to craft a replacement. Pelosi blasted that strategy as \"an act of cowardice.\" She urged people to \"take a second look\" at how the health care law has improved their lives.\nMinority Whip Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said he believes that many people who voted for President-elect Donald Trump want the health care law preserved even though Trump made repeal of the statute a central part of his campaign.\n\"I think a lot of people are going to be looking at this and saying, 'Gee, I really didn't mean that,'\" Hoyer said.\nRepublicans have opposed Obama's law since Democrats steered the law through Congress in 2010. The GOP has tried numerous times to repeal the law but failed due to internal divisions and Obama's veto power. But with the GOP in control of the House and Senate and Donald Trump set to become president in a few weeks, doing away with \"Obamacare\" is in sight for Republicans.\nGOP lawmakers are expected to spend the next several months working on legislation to cancel broad swaths of the law that the party's voter base staunchly opposes. Most likely to go are the law's mandate that people buy health insurance or face hefty IRS fines, and its expansion of Medicaid coverage to more lower-earning Americans. But several elements of the repeal likely wouldn't go into effect for two to four years.\nRep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said Republicans are \"blind to the success\" of the health care law. Repealing the law is rooted in politics, he said, and will hurt middle class Americans.\n\"Repealing the Affordable Care Act is not logical; it's simply ideological,\" Pallone said.", "Sign-up for the Urban Milwaukee daily email\nOn a snowy Saturday morning, Pere Marquette Park held the largest meeting of Marquette and UW-Milwaukee students in recent memory.\nOrganizers at the rival universities rallied over 100 participants to deliver a petition to Senator Ron Johnson’s office decrying the GOP’s tax bill, which may repeal a vital provision for graduate students.\nWithout the provision, Section 117(d)(5) of the current tax law, graduate students would be required to pay taxes on tuition waivers, the funds that cover their tuition in exchange for work done at the university. The House bill, passed on Nov 16, would reclassify these waivers as income, a move that could increase taxes for Wisconsin students by thousands of dollars.\nWith graduate stipends typically falling between $12,000 and $17,000 for UWM grads, or $17,000 to $23,000 for Marquette grads, the increased tax burden is so severe that many students have questioned whether they would be left without the financial ability to complete their degrees.\nThe proposal threatens the future of grad students, said Reed Heintzkill, a UWM graduate student. “I’m fairly certain there’s a general feeling among grad students, and probably college students in general, that politicians at the state and national level not only don’t have our interests in mind, but in many cases, are rooting against us.”\nNot all politicians, though: the rally featured speeches from state lawmakers Jonathan Brostoff and Lena Taylor, both Democrats from Milwaukee, who echoed the students’ outrage. “How can you call those scholarships – those waivers – income?” Taylor said. “If we can spend $3 billion on FoxConn, how can we not make sure people have a higher education, so they can get those jobs?”\nMarquette professor Tim McMahon, in a speech expressing solidarity with graduate students, shared a similar vision of the bill’s stakes.\n“If this [bill] gets through, you’re going to see your taxes go up by something on the order of $3,000. That is not tax relief,” McMahon said to ralliers. “If you aren’t getting advanced degrees, and future generations aren’t getting advanced degrees, not only is higher education at risk, but industry is at risk. Really, the entire economy is at risk.”\nThe demonstration was only the most recent of several weeks of nationwide protests against the GOP tax bill, which was narrowly passed by the House of Representative on Nov. 16 and the U.S. Senate just 15 days later. During that time, graduate students have organized walkouts and rallies at more than 60 campuses across the country\nThe sustained outcry against the graduate tax appears to be making an impact.\nThirty representatives, all Republicans, have joined Texas Congressman Pete Sessions in opposing the tuition tax, citing the damage such a tax could do to the economy.\nIn a letter to House and Senate leaders, the 31 representatives argued that “a tax on graduate tuition would be unfair, would undermine our competitive position, and would inhibit the economic growth that tax reform promises.”\nFor Milwaukee students, the goal now is to keep the pressure on Sen. Johnson, who was an early holdout on the GOP tax bill.\nBill Langhoff, a UWM graduate student, reminded his peers of the stakes: “Until we organize together to stand against this assault, they will continue to take from us again and again,” he said in a speech to fellow protesters.\n“When you go home today, don’t be done. This is just getting started.”", "Following the release of a controversial memo alleging misconduct by FBI and Justice Department officials, top Democratic lawmakers have warned President Donald Trump against using the document as a pretext to fire either Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein or Special Counsel Robert Mueller.\nThe top House and Senate Democrats sent a letter to Trump on Friday warning that firing Rosenstein or Mueller would be considered an attempt to obstruct justice and spark a constitutional crisis.\n\"We are alarmed by reports that you may intend to use this misleading document as a pretext to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, in an effort to corruptly influence or impede Special Counsel Bob Mueller's investigation,\" the Democrats wrote.\n\"We write to inform you that we would consider such an unwarranted action as an attempt to obstruct justice in the Russia investigation,\" they added. \"Firing Rod Rosenstein, DOJ Leadership, or Bob Mueller could result in a constitutional crisis of the kind not seen since the Saturday Night Massacre.\"\nThe Saturday Night Massacre refers to former President Richard Nixon's attempt to shut down the Watergate investigation by ordering the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox.\nTrump was asked if the memo made him more likely to fire Rosenstein but would only tell reporters, \"You figure that one out.\"\nThe memo released by Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee notes Rosenstein signed at least one application for a warrant targeting Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.\nThe document commissioned by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., accuses the FBI and the Justice Department of omitting material and relevant information when seeking the warrant.\nHowever, Democratic members of the committee argued that the memo makes several serious mischaracterizations about the applications.\nThe letter to Trump was signed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.\nAssistant Senate Democratic Leader Patty Murray, D-Wash., and House Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley, D.N.Y., also signed the letter along the top Democrats on the Senate and House Intelligence Committees and the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.\nThe Democrats argued the memo was meant to discredit the FBI and Rosenstein in order to protect Trump and undermine Mueller's Russia investigation.\nby RTT Staff Writer\nFor comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com\nBusiness News", "Against long odds, Trump defeated Hillary decisively. Yet efforts to undermine his legitimacy continue.\nDeep pro-Hillary forces are aligned against him, including Wall Street, America’s intelligence establishment, and vast majority of its deplorable media, at war with him since announcing his candidacy last year.\nHe won. They lost, but it’s not over, not as long as interests far more powerful than sitting presidents, aspirants or successful candidates for America’s highest office have final say on what they will or won’t accept.\nTrump won’t be inaugurated until January 20. He has no public record, so it’s unknown what he’ll do until he begins governing.\nIt’s why I cut him some slack compared to Hillary, her record as first lady, US senator and secretary of state revealing the extreme danger she poses.\nWhether Trump turns out better or worse remains to be seen. Campaign rhetoric and policymaking usually diverge considerably.\nTrump’s success since announcing his presidential candidacy in mid-June 2015 is virtually unprecedented in America.\nA business tycoon celebrity with no public service overcame overwhelming opposition to become America’s 45th president once sworn in next month.\nHow he intends governing will be the measure of his legacy, but for now, efforts to undermine him remain unrelenting, almost certain to continue once in office.\nDisruptive inauguration day protests are planned, aiming to rain on his parade straightaway on the most important day of his life, even with no chance of preventing his swearing in.\nJill Stein’s misguided recount scam did enormous damage to Green Party credibility, accomplishing nothing but shaming herself.\nAhead of the December 19 Electoral College vote, documentary film maker turned coup plotter Michael Moore told GOP electors via Twitter he’d pay their fines if they defected to Hillary.\nHe’s at it again, taking to Facebook, citing five must-do things this week to undermine Trump. “Let’s get to work,” he said. “All hands on deck.” His rant barely stopped short of urging insurrection, saying:\n“1. MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN.” Contact your senators and congressmen during the holiday break while they’re home. Tell them to “AGGRESSIVELY fight the Trump agenda” – even though at this point it’s unknown.\n“2. WRITE TO THE DNC TONIGHT.” Support Rep. Keith Ellison as new chairman – even though he’s more regressive than progressive, more neocon than liberal, a Muslim supporting endless US Middle East aggression. Apparently so does Moore given his strong support for war goddess Hillary.\n“3. FORM YOUR OWN RAPID RESPONSE TEAM.” Maybe he wants them armed with automatic weapons. “I will send out instructions immediately as to what we all must do,” he blustered. Is he operating from a military-style command-and-control center for political combat?\n“4. MAKE PLANS NOW TO BE AT THE INAUGURATION WEEKEND PROTESTS! We need millions in the streets in DC,” he ranted. Doing what we won’t know until he sends instructions? Does he have storming the White House in mind and/or the inaugural platform to prevent Trump’s swearing in?\n“5. YOU SHOULD RUN FOR OFFICE.” Relatively few are cut out for or are interested in becoming part of America’s corrupt system.\nI’ve stressed repeatedly. It’s too debauched to fix. Voting is a waste of time. The only solution is nonviolent grassroots revolution. Nothing else can work.\nMoore is no patriot. Supporting coup d’etat actions to undermine Trump shows what he really stands for.\nSave\nSave", "Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell told \"This Week\" co-anchor Martha Raddatz that electing Roy Moore \"will only take us backward and harken us back to the days of segregation.\"\nThe congresswoman is campaigning for Democratic candidate Doug Jones for the special election Tuesday for U.S. Senate. Sewell is the only Democrat and the only African-American member of the Alabama congressional delegation.\nAlabama Rep. Terri Sewell told \"This Week\" co-anchor Martha Raddatz that electing Roy Moore \"will only take us backward and harken us back to the days of segregation.\"\nABC News:\nThe congresswoman is campaigning for Democratic candidate Doug Jones for the special election Tuesday for U.S. Senate. Sewell is the only Democrat and the only African-American member of the Alabama congressional delegation. Moore, 70, has been accused by eight women of actions ranging from inappropriate behavior to sexual assault when he was in his 30s and, in most of the cases, the women were in their teens. Moore has denied the allegations. Sewell said many Republicans in Alabama are focused on winning the seat for their party and are ignoring the allegations against the GOP candidate. \"At the end of the day, they’re putting party before people, party before principle,\" she told Raddatz. Sewell added that she believes Alabama voters will \"see through this\" and vote for Jones. \"The people of Alabama deserve a senator whose character and integrity and veracity won’t be in question day one in the United States Senate,\" she said. \"When Roy Moore, if he should win, goes to Washington, we will always be questioning his character.\"\nHow do we know it's close to an election? Democrats try to scare the beejeebies out of black voters by warning them that electing a Republican will bring back Jim Crow.\nThe reason they use this tactic is because it works. If you were black and told day in and day out that Republicans want to bring back segregation in the south and deny blacks their equal rights, why wouldn't you believe a \"black leader\" who parrots that line?\nOf course, she doesn't mention that in order to \"bring back\" segregation and Jim Crow, Republicans - and 33 states - would have to repeal the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. The likelihood of that happening is probably as good as Rep.Sewell winning Congressman of the Year.\nBlack lawmakers like Sewell know which side of the bread to butter in order to keep her job. Obediently advancing the narrative of GOP racism will keep her in good standing with white liberal Democrats in Washington.", "Moves to cut climate science research jobs at the CSIRO have cost taxpayers almost $3 million, despite an about face by the Turnbull government.\nInformation provided to a Senate committee this month showed 29 redundancies from the science and research body's climate science programs cost $2.88 million, including all benefits and notice period payments to the sacked workers.\nSHARE\nShare on Facebook SHARE\nShare on Twitter TWEET\nLink CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall. Photo: James Brickwood\nThe cuts, first planned in February 2016, prompted widespread condemnation and raised fears that Australia was undermining global efforts to monitor and predict the impact of climate change.\nCSIRO management originally planned to cut 100 climate scientist jobs, but backed down a public outcry and reduced the planned job losses to 70 positions.\nSHARE\nShare on Facebook SHARE\nShare on Twitter TWEET\nLink Greents Senator Janet Rice. Photo: Paul Jeffers\nOriginally 74 jobs were expected to be lost from the oceans and atmospheres division, but that number was revised down to 54 through staff reassignments and other mitigation efforts by management.\nThe job cuts flow from the CSIRO's shortlived restructuring of its scientific priorities, which included a move away from long-term climate research.\nAdvertisement\nMore than 300 people were made redundant across the organisation as part of the plan.\nBut in August last year then science minister Greg Hunt ordered an U-turn, putting CSIRO focus back on climate science after taking over from former minister Christopher Pyne.\nA new strategy included funding for 15 new climate science jobs and research investment worth $37 million over 10 years.\nThe government increased CSIRO's agency-wide budget from $1.35 billion to $1.47 billion by 2019-20, with the new $37 million to be be drawn from those funds.\nAn independent Ernst & Young report commissioned by the CSIRO showed that communication and change management within the organisation in 2016 had been rushed. Staff were not provided the opportunity to engage with, and provide feedback on the potential decisions until too late in the process, the report said.\nIn March, Fairfax Media reported every member of CSIRO's senior executive team received performance-related bonuses last year despite 2016 being one of the most tumultuous in the organisation's history.\nCSIRO boss Larry Marshall's take home pay was $845,508, including a bonus of up to 30 per cent of his annual salary.\nThe organisation's total staff numbers as of May 31, 2017 were 5686, including permanent, casual and contractor employees.\nGreens senator Janet Rice challenged Mr Marshall over the cuts in May, describing the changes as \"turmoil\" for the CSIRO and Australia's scientific community.\nThe committee was told the organisation's footprint in Tasmania had dropped from 320 at the end of June 2016 to 309 a year later.\nThe CSIRO also reported receiving more than $4.4 million in royalties from published Penguin Books for its six Total Wellbeing Diet recipe book titles.\nFollow Tom McIlroy on Facebook and Twitter", "One example of the far-sighted thinking of this country’s founders was envisioning the differences between a partisan, populist House and a more deliberative Senate which, as George Washington purportedly told Thomas Jefferson, would “cool” the passions of the larger body.\nThat contrast is vividly on display in their very different approaches to the controversies surrounding special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.\nIn the Senate, despite continuing resistance from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, some Republicans are joining Democrats in talking of ways to ensure Mueller’s independence and protect him from President Donald Trump’s repeated dismissal threats. In the House, key Republicans are putting pressure on the Special Counsel and his patron, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and seem less interested in investigating Trump than questioning the FBI handling of the 2016 probe of Hillary Clinton.\nIn a purely political sense, the Senate seems much more in step with the country. Recent Quinnipiac University and ABC/Washington Post polls showed strong majorities favoring a continuation of Mueller’s probe and opposing his ouster. The House reflects internal Republican pressures, a reminder (as in their earlier resistance to protecting DACA recipients) that Tea Party Republicans from solidly GOP districts are the principal barriers to a more cooperative approach to the country’s problems. They use their control of their Party’s House caucus to help Trump and block bipartisan compromises.\nThree House GOP chairmen, Reps. Robert Goodlatte of Virginia, Devin Nunes of California, and Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, provided the latest example last Friday, demanding that Rosenstein promptly supply the memos in which ousted FBI Director James Comey contends Trump pressured him to stop probing possible Russian collusion with the president’s 2016 campaign.\n“This is a set-up,” promptly tweeted Norm Eisen, former ethics chief in the Obama White House. “If he turns over, subject of an investigation (Trump) will learn evidence against him & tailor story; if he doesn’t, (he might be) fired.” Their goal, Eisen added, is “to put Rosenstein in a bind and create a pretext for termination.”\nFiring Rosenstein would presumably be a first step toward removing — or reining in — Mueller. Earlier, Nunes threatened to seek impeachment of both Rosenstein and FBI Director James Wray for alleged FBI recalcitrance in providing documents to the House.\nAll three represent solidly Republican districts that may be able to withstand any Democratic wave next November (both Goodlatte and Gowdy are retiring). Friday’sletter was part of a pattern.\nJudiciary Committee chair Goodlatte, whose Virginia district re-elected him with 60 percent of the vote and backed Trump by 66 per cent, has repeatedly sought to investigate FBI handling of its probe of Clinton’s private email server. He was also a key figure several years back in blocking House consideration of a Senate-passed immigration compromise.\nNunes, the Intelligence Committee chair, has spent more time colluding with the White House than investigating possible Trump campaign collusion with the Russians.\nGowdy, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is best known for leading the fruitless 2015 GOP probe into Clinton’s role in the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi. He has been the least nakedly partisan of the three, focusing lately on Environmental Protection Administrator Scott Pruitt’s blatant flouting of governmental ethics strictures. He has said several times the Special Counsel should be allowed to complete his work, a position also expressed by Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republicans not seeking re-election.\nMeanwhile, key Senate Republicans are moving in the opposite direction from their House colleagues. After weeks of delay, Sen. Chares Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he expects the panel to act next week on a bipartisan proposal to protect Mueller.\nNothing is guaranteed, given McConnell’s vow to keep any measure off the floor and panel in-fighting between Grassley and the ranking Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California. But Grassley’s willingness to undertake an action he has long resisted exemplifies the different mindset in the closely divided Senate, where members from states with more centrist electorates hold the balance of power.\nThose differences could be accentuated should Mueller conclude that Trump’s actions, including firing Comey, constitute obstruction of justice. There seems little chance the House, under current GOP management, would even consider impeaching Trump. That would change dramatically if Democrats win the House in November.\nThen, the Senate would likely “cool” House passions in a different way, by failing to provide the required two-thirds support for conviction, even if Democrats win control.\nhttp://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/web1_Leubsdorf.jpg\nBy Carl P. Leubsdorf\nCarl P. Leubsdorf is the former Washington bureau chief of the Dallas Morning News. Readers may write to him via email at: carl.p.leubsdorf@gmail.com.\nCarl P. Leubsdorf is the former Washington bureau chief of the Dallas Morning News. Readers may write to him via email at: carl.p.leubsdorf@gmail.com.", "MIDTERM MADNESS: Looking at the 2018 money race\nAlex Seitz-Wald sums up the money race so far: “At least 45 Democratic challengers in 34 districts raised more money last quarter than the Republican member of Congress they're hoping to defeat in November, according to new campaign finance reports.”\nAZ-SEN: Could Joe Arpaio actually win the Senate primary? POLITICO profiles the man who could be “the next Roy Moore.”\nCA-GOV: Gavin Newsom is dominating in the fundraising race for governor. (Meanwhile, Kevin de Leon’s fundraising is way, way behind Feinstein’s.)\nCA-22: Andrew Janz, the Democrat challenging Devin Nunes, says he raised $65,000 online over the last seven days.\nIN-SEN: The Notre Dame “Fighting Irish” leprechaun has become a political issue in the Indiana GOP Senate primary after an ESPN host suggested it should be retired.\nMD-SEN: It’s not entirely clear that Chelsea Manning is eligible to run for Senate.\nMI-SEN: A fringe candidate has dropped out of the Senate race after calling the judge in the Larry Nassar case a “Feminazi.”\nMO-GOV: Eric Greitens might be in hot water over his office’s use of a messaging app that automatically deletes content.\nMN-GOV: He wasn’t interested in a Senate bid, but Tim Pawlenty is definitely weighing a gubernatorial comeback.\nMS-SEN: Intrigue in Mississippi, via the Washington Post: “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has asked the governor of Mississippi to consider appointing himself to the Senate if ailing Republican Sen. Thad Cochran resigns from office, according to two people familiar with the conversations… In particular, a self-appointment by Bryant would complicate the ambitions of state senator and attorney Chris McDaniel, a foe of McConnell, who ran a failed primary campaign against Cochran in 2014, and has been preparing for another run.”\nAnd/but the Clarion Ledger reports that Bryant isn’t interested.\nNY-11: It looks like Michael Grimm’s campaign debt to mega-lobbying and law firm Squire Patton Boggs has been forgiven. (And his spokesman is not exactly being helpful in explaining why.)\nNY-12: A Democratic primary to keep an eye on: First-time candidate and Obama campaign veteran Suraj Patel outraised Carolyn Maloney by 4-1 over the last quarter.\nUT-SEN: Mitt Romney took another step towards a Senate run, with an announcement planned for February 15.\nTRUMP AGENDA: Not all Republicans are the same page on releasing the Nunes memo\nNBC’s Jonathan Allen has the latest on how Republicans are feeling about the release of the classified FBI intelligence collection memo. (Spoiler: They’re not all thrilled.)\nAnd here’s what the White House is saying about the memo.\nThe Washington Post reports that there was “never any hesitation” from Trump about releasing the document.\nThe Wall Street Journal reports that the chances of an immigration deal appear to be fading.\nFrom one of us(!) on this pre-Super Bowl-weekend morning: Nearly half of Americans would discourage kids from playing football due to concussion concerns.", "HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Boosting the Democrats' chances of retaking control of Congress in this fall's midterm elections, the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal panel on Monday rejected Republican challenges to a newly redrawn congressional map imposed on Pennsylvania by the state's high court.\nThe federal courts dismissed requests to throw out or halt use of the new district map, which the state court drafted after ruling that the preexisting map violated the state constitution's guarantee of free and equal elections. That earlier map, drawn by the GOP in 2011, is considered among the most gerrymandered in the nation.\nThe pair of rulings Monday makes it highly likely that this year's congressional elections in Pennsylvania will be conducted under district lines widely viewed as more favorable to Democrats than the 2011 map.\nDemocrats need to pick up 24 seats to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives, 23 if Conor Lamb's lead holds from last week's special election in Pennsylvania's 18th District.\nUnder the new map, Democrats have a good chance to pick up three seats in the Philadelphia suburbs, and a fighting chance of flipping Republican districts in Harrisburg, Allentown and outside Pittsburgh, said Franklin and Marshall College political scientist Terry Madonna.\n\"Now, the Democrats nationally will look at Pennsylvania as one of the top priorities, for the obvious reason that of the 24 seats that they need, Pennsylvania has a reasonable chance of putting three in their corner,\" Madonna said.\nRepublicans drew the previous map to aid their candidates. It proved to be a campaign winner, leading the GOP to a 13-5 edge in the state's congressional delegation for all three elections in which it was used. By contrast, Democrats have a 5-to-4 statewide advantage in voter registration and have won 18 of 24 statewide elections since the 2011 map was enacted.\nThe pair of court decisions came with just one day left for the state's congressional candidates to circulate petitions to get on the May 15 primary ballot.\nThe U.S. Supreme Court turned down the request without comment. Separately, the panel of judges said it had no authority to act in the matter except to dismiss the case.\nDemocratic Gov. Tom Wolf called the federal judges' ruling the right decision and said it will let the state move ahead with a fair map.\nThe Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court had ruled in January that the map Republicans crafted in 2011 amounted to an unconstitutional gerrymander.\nAfter Wolf and lawmakers in the GOP-controlled General Assembly did not produce a replacement, the court enacted its own map last month and gave candidates extra time for petition gathering.\nThe federal judges' decision was made in a case brought a month ago by eight sitting Republican congressmen and two GOP state senators. They argued the state justices infringed on the Legislature's prerogative and did not give lawmakers enough time to come up with a replacement.\nThe panel said the senators have only two votes in their chamber, calling that \"inadequate as a matter of law to allow a lawsuit premised on an institutional injury to the General Assembly.\" The eight Republican congressmen, the judges wrote, may have wasted resources campaigning in their old districts, but they cannot prove that was caused by a violation of the U.S. Constitution's Elections Clause.\n\"The cost of shifting district boundaries - in terms of both campaign funding and constituent fealty - is surely appreciable,\" the judges wrote. \"But the federal congressional plaintiffs have identified no legal principle tethering that cost to a legally cognizable interest in the composition of their electoral districts under the Elections Clause.\"\nMatt Haverstick, a lawyer for the congressmen, said they were disappointed and considering their legal options.\n\"I think there was confusion last week in PA18's special\" election, Haverstick said. \"And I don't think, with today's decisions, that that confusion goes away.\"\nIn a separate case , two senior Republicans in the state Legislature who were on the losing end of the state Supreme Court decision had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a stay, which would have resulted in the use of the 2011 map for this year's congressional elections. They wanted the new map put on hold while they pursued an appeal to the nation's highest court.\nMore than 40 candidates had filed petition paperwork by midday Monday, according to state elections bureau data. The deadline to submit at least 1,000 voter signatures to get on the primary ballot is Tuesday.", "Harlem State Senator Bill Perkins won his old seat for the City Council back by taking a third of the vote in a special election held tonight—setting up a contest for his old seat in Albany, and possible primary battle for the Council job this fall.\nPerkins took 3,750 of the just 11,150 votes cast in the low-turnout race for the uptown district, which most recently belonged to Assemblywoman Inez Dickens, who bowed out of the Council after assuming her current seat last month. His nearest rival, union leader Marvin Holland, drew a little fewer than 2,100 ballots, or 18 percent of the vote.\nDickens’ favored successor, Larry Blackmon, came in fourth with 11 percent.\nThe victorious pol first held the Council seat from 1998 until 2005, and ascended to the State Senate in 2007. But sources informed the Observer that Perkins has long been unhappy in Albany, where Democrats have languished in the minority for much of his tenure and where—after the most recent pay raise at City Hall—salaries are almost $70,000 lower than they are in the local legislature.\nPerkins survived a court challenge from Holland, who accused him of petition fraud and unsuccessfully sought to get him booted from the ballot. He later received the endorsement of Mayor Bill de Blasio and of the Council’s left-leaning Progressive Caucus, and earning them both an ally in upcoming fights over zoning and other local regulations.\nBut since he received less than 50 percent of the vote in the nine candidate field, there is a fair chance at least one of his opponents from today’s special will run against him in the Democratic primary this September.\nRepublican candidate Dawn Simmons was the only non-Democrat in the running.\nPerkins’ victory tonight weakens the already enfeebled mainstream Democratic conference in the GOP-dominated State Senate, which now controls just 22 of 63 seats in the chamber. It also creates an opening for Manhattan Democratic Party boss Keith Wright, who formerly held the Assembly seat now belonging to Dickens.\nWright confirmed to the Observer he was interested in seeking the State Senate post during an interview earlier this month. However, unlike vacancies in the Council—which the mayor must call a special election to fill within three days of their opening—calling a special election for the State Legislature is entirely at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s discretion.\nThe governor has allowed seats in Albany linger unoccupied for long periods of time, though he and Wright are close.\nSeveral other state lawmakers are either known or rumored to be eyeing open Council seats this fall.", "Attorney General has jumped on hot-button issues he hopes will get him reelected.\nSign-up for the Urban Milwaukee daily email\nRepublican Attorney General Brad Schimel has spent the last year picking the controversial issues on which he will base his campaign for a second term.\nLast week alone he issued a report documenting the incredible investigative overreach by the now-shuttered Government Accountability Board in the three John Doe probes of Wisconsin Republicans and sparred with Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers over who will represent Evers in a lawsuit over his agency’s rule-making process.\nThe former Waukesha County district attorney isn’t in the media-frenzy orbits of President Donald Trump, Wisconsin’s U.S. senators and GOP Gov. Scott Walker. But the 52-year-old conservative who got 51 percent of the vote in 2014 seems poised to run on his – and not Democrats’ – terms.\nSchimel will also make his fight against the epidemic of opioid and heroin abuse a centerpiece of his campaign, saying progress had been made in treatment and prevention.\nBut the only Democrat so far running against Schimel, Josh Kaul, says Schimel should go further and sue Big Pharma for damages, as dozens of Wisconsin counties have done.\nResponding, Schimel said he and 41 other attorneys general are negotiating with pharmaceutical companies – talks that could end in a huge settlement like the one with Big Tobacco.\nIn a WisconsinEye interview last week, Schimel also said:\n*The U.S. Supreme Court should rule that a Colorado baker has a constitutional right to refuse to make a wedding cake for same-sex couple. Although the right of same-sex couples to wed has been established by the Supreme Court, Schimel said the Colorado baker case poses a “different question.”\n“Can they take their right to be married and now infringe on the legitimate religious liberty, beliefs or rights on a person who is an artist?” Schimel said, adding:\n“The strongest obligation I have is to protect the First Amendment rights of all people, because our government – and America – falls if the First Amendment falls.”\n*The landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling that gave a pregnant women the right to an abortion should be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.\n“I’m a pro-life person,” said Schimel. He said he and his wife adopted two daughters whose 18-year-old birth mothers chose to not have abortions.\nSchimel also intervened in two abortion cases this year. He asked federal judges to uphold an Indiana law forbidding abortions because of race, gender or potential disability of the fetus. And he urged the upholding of a law giving states the right to intercede on behalf of an addicted pregnant woman.\n*State and local officials can legally open a meeting with prayer. “If officials wish to pray before the legislative session, that’s clearly acceptable under our Constitution,” Schimel said.\n*While America must secure the Mexico border, the AG said there should be a “path to citizenship” for immigrants who “sign the guest book” and enter the country legally, and lawfully work to better their lives.\nSchimel said he didn’t know if the wall President Trump wants built on the Mexican border is the answer. But, he added, “if we don’t secure that border we’ll continue to have those drugs flowing into America and money and guns flowing back into Mexico, which is destroying that nation, too.”\n*The wave of sexual assault and harassment complaints that have ended the careers of politicians, actors, and entertainment industry and business leaders is good because the focus is no longer on any personal choices made by the female victim. Instead, Schimel said, “They’re looking at the [perpetrator] and saying, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ That’s great to see.”\nBut sexual harassment complaints against Wisconsin lawmakers should continue to be kept secret, he added. “We cannot disempower victims of abuse or sexual assault because, when we do that, the victims will not come forward.”\nLast week. Schimel refused to denounce Alabama GOP U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, who has been accused of sexually assaulting and harassing teenage girls decades ago.\nDemocrats attacked Schimel’s waffle. “Our AG—our chief law enforcement official—needs to be a leader on these issues and should condemn this kind of inexcusable conduct,” tweeted Kaul, the son of former Democratic Atty. Gen. Peg Lautenschlager.\nOne year ago, Schimel joined AGs from other states and asked Trump to overturn President Obama’s Clean Power order aimed at fighting climate change by dramatically reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Trump did just that.\nKaul’s campaign has other issues against Schimel: His defense of the photo ID voting requirement passed by Walker and GOP legislators. Schimel’s defense of 2011 GOP-drawn maps of Assembly and Senate – maps Democrats say were gerrymandered to guarantee Republican dominance in legislative and congressional district races.\nWisconsin’s attorney general, Kaul says, should champion “Wisconsin families – not partisan politics.”\nSteven Walters is a senior producer for the nonprofit public affairs channel WisconsinEye. Contact him at stevenscwalters@gmail.com", "Donald Trump’s first three weeks in office have left Americans reeling from what Republican speechwriter Peggy Noonan called his “cloud of crazy.” His Cabinet nominees seem intentionally perverse: an education secretary who has no clue about public schools; an energy secretary who wanted to eliminate the department; a treasury secretary from Goldman Sachs who ran a home foreclosure factory.\nSo when a white nationalist sympathizer, Sen. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, was confirmed to be attorney general, it passed by as just another absurdity.\nThe coverage of the confirmation battle focused primarily on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s outrageous muzzling of Sen. Elizabeth Warren as she tried to read a 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King criticizing Sessions.\nThe muzzling was an unforgivable indignity. Lost in the furor was the thrust of King’s letter. She was writing to urge the Republican-led Senate of the time to reject President Reagan’s nomination of Sessions to the federal bench because he had “used the power of his office as U.S. attorney to intimidate and chill the free exercise of the ballot.”\nSessions had opposed the 1965 Voting Rights Act, made racist statements and falsely prosecuted black civil rights leaders seeking to register people to vote in Alabama. He was an ardent and unrelenting opponent of civil rights. The Republican Senate rejected his 1986 nomination.\nSessions’ views have not changed. He opposed Supreme Court decisions striking down laws banning homosexual sex and same-sex marriage. He voted against equal pay for women and against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, and he argued that it would be a “stretch” to call grabbing a woman’s genitals — as the president boasted of doing — assault. He is a leading opponent of immigration reform and supported Trump’s ban on Muslims.\nOn civil rights he learned, as the late Sen. Strom Thurmond’s late operative Lee Atwater put it, that “you can’t say ‘n—–’ — that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like … states’ rights and all that stuff.”\nSessions remains a fierce advocate of states’ rights over civil rights. Even as he joined 97 senators in voting to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act in 2006, he gave a speech declaring its enforcement sections unconstitutional. When the Supreme Court’s conservative gang of five gutted the law, he praised their decision, saying preposterously, “(I)f you go to Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, people aren’t being denied the vote because of the color of their skin.”\nEven as he was saying that, states across the South were preparing a raft of laws to make voting more difficult for African-Americans and the young. Striking down the voter ID law in North Carolina, the federal appeals court found that the new provisions “target African-Americans with almost surgical precision,” while providing “inept remedies” for an alleged problem of voter fraud that is nonexistent.\nNow Sessions will take his states’ rights views to the Justice Department. He will have more power than Alabama Gov. George Wallace ever had. Wallace had state power. Sessions has national power with a state agenda, with thousands of lawyers under his command. He will help shape the Supreme Court. And simply by inaction — by refusing to enforce the Voting Rights Act as states act to restrict voting — he can do more to undermine civil rights than Wallace could by standing in the schoolhouse door.\nEvery senator who voted for this nomination shares the shame. This isn’t or should not have been a partisan question. This is a question of whether the Constitution that Lincoln fought a Civil War to forge and Dr. Martin Luther King led a movement to enforce will be respected. Donald Trump and the Republican Senate have put in office someone who is committed to undermining that Constitution. He is in position to poison the well of justice for a long time.\nOn the campaign trail, Donald Trump wooed African American voters, saying given disproportionate unemployment and poverty, they should vote for him. “What have you got to lose?” he asked. By making Sessions attorney general, Trump has shown us what we have lost: a Department of Justice committed to equal rights, ready to defend the right to vote. People of color, immigrants, the LGBT and women are likely to experience justice denied directly, and the country as a whole will suffer as justice is defiled.", "McCain Denounces Attacks on FBI, DOJ: ‘We Are Doing Putin’s Job For Him’\nAs House Republicans moved forward with the release of the controversial Nunes memo Friday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) condemned partisan attacks against the FBI and the Department of Justice:\nThe latest attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice serve no American interests – no party’s, no president’s, only Putin’s. The American people deserve to know all of the facts surrounding Russia’s ongoing efforts to subvert our democracy, which is why Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation must proceed unimpeded. Our nation’s elected officials, including the president, must stop looking at this investigation through the warped lens of politics and manufacturing partisan sideshows.\nMcCain ended his statement with a strong warning for his colleagues, stating, “if we continue to undermine our own rule of law, we are doing Putin’s job for him.” – READ MORE\nLike Our News? Then Help Support Our Independent Journalism! $ 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 *\nFormer Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that the Republican decision to release a memo that details the abuse of surveillance authorities under the Obama administration is an “ugly” reminder of the Watergate era.\nThe Nunes memo is dangerous, ugly, and an assault on the integrity of the institutions of our country. I lived through Watergate/Nixon: America pays a very steep price when a political party tries to undermine the institutions that hold us together – — John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 2, 2018\nand the whole world suffers when that happens to America. In Watergate, the difference was, regardless of Party, eventually leaders on both sides said \"enough.\" The adults in the House GOP know better and need to act like it. — John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 2, 2018\n“The Nunes memo is dangerous, ugly, and an assault on the integrity of the institutions of our country,” he tweeted. “I lived through Watergate/Nixon: America pays a very steep price when a political party tries to undermine the institutions that hold us together …” – READ MORE\nHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Friday that President Donald Trump’s decision to release a controversial memo about potential abuses of surveillance law was a “bouquet” for “his friend Putin.”\nPelosi said the memo, authored by California Rep. Devin Nunes and other House Republicans, was nothing more than a “cynical attempt” to discredit the intelligence community and distract from an ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign.\n.@realDonaldTrump has surrendered his constitutional responsibility as Commander-in-Chief by releasing Nunes’ unredacted, classified memo. His decision undermines our national security and is a bouquet to his friend Putin. pic.twitter.com/kdUgIrCE6l — Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 2, 2018\n“Nunes’ partisan spin memo distorts highly classified intelligence in a cynical attempt to discredit our national intelligence and law enforcement agencies and the Special Counsel investigation,” the California Democrat said, referring to the investigation by former FBI Director Robert Mueller into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.\n“Releasing the memo is a desperate attempt to distract the American people from the truth about the Trump-Russia scandal,” she added. – READ MORE", "The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Supreme Court denied a GOP-led request to hold off on using a new House map for the state of Pennsylvania, meaning candidates — including Republican Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb lawmakers who recently faced off in a tough battle — in the state will run in new districts this November.\nThe move is a blow to Republican hopes and a boost to Democratic chances of retaking control of the House of Representatives.\nIt is the second time on Monday Republicans received a judicial blow from the courts. Earlier, a three-judge panel in Pennsylvania upheld the state’s new congressional map.\nThe Supreme Court announced, “the application for stay presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is denied.”\nThere are few legal options left for Republicans in the state. The filing deadline for House candidates is tomorrow.\nRepublicans in the state had filed for a stay against the new map, which was drawn by the state Supreme Court after the Democratic governor and GOP-controlled state legislature could not come to terms on a new one.\nThe GOP took two legal routes — one before the U.S. Supreme Court and the other before the federal panel.\nThey lost on both.\nDemocrats are expected to pick up three to five House seats under the new map, according to estimates by election experts, which would help them on their way to the 24 seats they need to retake control of the lower chamber of Congress.\nThe filing deadline for House candidates in Pennsylvania is Tuesday.\nThe three-judge panel ruled that the Republicans had no standing to make their argument. The court also noted that “because fundamental principles of Constitutional standing and judicial restraint prohibit us from exercising jurisdiction, we have no authority to take any action other than to dismiss” the request.\nRepublicans can appeal the ruling. That appeal could go to the U.S. Supreme Court.\nIn January, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered a new House map drawn, citing gerrymandered districts that favored Republicans. The GOP has been fighting the court order ever since and the U.S. Supreme Court denied an early request to put a stay on the map.\nRepublicans currently hold 12 of the state’s 18 congressional districts, while Democrats control just five. The special election last week for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District was held under the old map.\nSeveral GOP lawmakers found their House districts dramatically affected by the new map, including Rep. Ryan Costello, who is considering retirement, several state and national officials in GOP politics told ABC News.\nHis 6th Congressional District was transformed from one that Hillary Clinton won by one point in 2016 to one she would have won by nine points.\nCostello has not said he is retiring and his office and campaign did not respond to ABC News’ multiple requests for comment.\nPennsylvania’s House delegation took a big hit in Republican members this year.\nGOP Rep. Tim Murphy resigned after a scandal. Rep. Lou Barletta is running for Senate. And Reps. Bill Shuster, Charlie Dent and Patrick Meehan are retiring.\nCopyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.", "IDIOCY! Kamala Harris Lists 3 Functions Of Gov’t, ALL WRONG – Gets Schooled By Americans\nKamala Harris wants to be the Democratic nominee for the presidency in 2020. This idiot can’t even name the functions of our government and was jumped all over for revealing her cluelessness. She listed them as: “A government has three functions: public health, public safety, and public education. The GOP budget doesn’t prioritize any of them.” Wrong. Harris has no idea what the Constitution says, nor does she care. The three functions she names are all communist talking points. And this woman is a US Senator from California… why am I not surprised.\nI’d almost be embarrassed for her if she wasn’t such a pretentious, Marxist witch. She definitely removed all doubt concerning her being a fool. Not that we had much to begin with. The basic functions of the United States government are listed in the Constitution. They are: ‘To form a more perfect Union’; ‘To establish Justice’; ‘To insure domestic Tranquility’; ‘To provide for the common defense’; ‘To promote the general Welfare’; and ‘To secure the Blessings of Liberty’.\nPerhaps she is confusing the three branches of government with their functions. I wonder if she knows them either… the Legislative branch, the Executive branch and the Judicial branch. None of those are responsible for what she listed either. It’s more likely that these are things that Democrats WANT the government to be responsible for. That’s not constitutional… that’s totalitarian in nature. Quick, someone get this woman a copy of the Constitution and a dictionary! A brain might help as well. Forget about the soul… she sold that long ago.\nBabysitting Marxists is not a function of government. Handing out freebies and redistributing wealth is not a function of government. You do not have a constitutional right to healthcare, or to education or even to safety. You do have a right to be free and fend for yourself… that means work and make your own way, Kamala. I know it’s hard for you to grasp, but liberty entails taking responsibility for yourself and your circumstances. It does not entail the right to demand that the government take care of you.\nIf Kamala Harris truly cared about the functions of our government, she would support defending our borders, putting Antifa down, strengthening our military and reducing our national debt. She doesn’t care about any of those. Her concerns are planks in a communist political agenda. She is yet another useful idiot in a long line of them aiming to remold the US into a communist Utopia. In other words, she’s a dolt and a liar.\nA government has three functions: public health, public safety, and public education. The GOP budget doesn’t prioritize any of them. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 5, 2017\n× 101 Things All Young Adults Should Know by Sir John Hawkins John Hawkins's book 101 Things All Young Adults Should Know is filled with lessons that newly minted adults need in order to get the most out of life. Gleaned from a lifetime of trial, error, and writing it down, Hawkins provides advice everyone can benefit from in short, digestible chapters. Buy Now\nYou ever read The Constitution? Because it doesn’t seem like you have… — Brian Fletcher (@BrianFletcher7) October 5, 2017\nWrong, Wrong, Wrong! This government is defined by the U.S. Constitution for a reason.#KamalaBHO– she's just not too bright.#PaTHeDiK. — Dean J Castle (@OpusconNation) October 5, 2017\nThe Government exists to safegaurd the rights of the individual, not be a cradle-to-grave Nanny State. — Michael pratschner (@mpratschner) October 5, 2017", "President Trump has been quietly making lifetime appointments to fill more than 100 vacancies on federal courts across the country.\nWith five judges confirmed, another 30 pending and 123 seats left to fill, according to one group tracking the numbers, Trump has the opportunity to revamp the judiciary branch and carve out a legacy for himself that could stand the test of time.\n“It can’t be overstated the impact the individuals he’s appointing will have on millions of people across the country and their children for a generation or two,” said Dan Goldberg, legal director at the liberal Alliance for Justice.\n“The Supreme court only hears about 80 cases a year. 99 percent of cases end in the federal courts of appeal or at the trial level.”\nTrump’s biggest achievement in office so far has been the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, for whom Republicans changed the Senate rules to get confirmed with a simple majority vote.\nSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Mitch McConnellEXCLUSIVE: Trump allies rally around Sen. Flake's primary challenger GOP senators rally to McConnell's defense amid Trump attacks Flake voices support for McConnell amid Trump attacks MORE (R-Ky.) — who refused to consider President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court seat, Merrick Garland — has repeatedly pointed to Gorsuch to rebut accusations that the GOP Congress has achieved little under Trump.\n\"Well, we have a new Supreme Court justice,\" McConnell said when asked how he’d explain to voters the party’s failure to repeal ObamaCare this summer.\n\"We have 14 repeals of regulations. And we're only six months into it. Last time I looked, Congress goes on for two years.\"\nWhile another appointment to the high court in Trump’s presidency is possible or even likely, give the ages of several justices, it’s appointments to the lower district and circuit courts where the president is likely to have a bigger impact.\nIlya Shapiro, a member of the conservative Federalist Society and senior fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute, said only one of the 13 federal circuit courts had a majority of judges appointed by Democrats when Obama took office.\nWhen Obama left office, nine of the 13 courts had a majority of Democratic appointed judges, Shapiro said.\nThe Senate has already confirmed two of Trump’s judicial nominees to the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — Kentucky natives Amul Thapar and John Bush.\nBush was one of Trump’s most controversial picks so far.\n“This is an individual who had no right being a federal judge,” Goldberg said.\n“There are a lot of Republican lawyers out there who the president could have nominated, but instead he nominated someone who had an anonymous blog and used it to express fringe views and extreme hostility to people of different communities.”\nIn blog posts written under the pseudonym “G. Morris” on Elephantsinthebluegrass.com, Bush called Roe v. Wade, which recognized a women’s constitutional right to an abortion, and Dred Scott, which affirmed slavery, “the two greatest tragedies in our country.\" He also wrote about Obama’s ties to Kenya, quoting sites that spread conspiracy theories about Obama’s citizenship.\nThe Senate has also confirmed appellate lawyer Kevin Newsom to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Idaho trial court Judge David Nye, a former Obama nominee who Trump re-nominated, to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho.\nCourt watchers say Damien Schiff, who Trumped has tapped to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, is the Senate’s next big test.\nAn attorney for the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation, Schiff is another prolific blogger who’s been widely opposed by Democrats, as well as environmental, worker and civil rights groups.\nIn blog posts, Schiff called Justice Anthony Kennedy a “judicial prostitute” and criticized a California school district’s proposed anti-bullying initiative for “teaching gayness” in public schools.\n“Damien Schiff, who’s pending on the floor now, will be the next big moment where all 100 senators have to decide if they are going to be a rubber stamp,” said Kristine Lucius, executive vice president for policy at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.\n“Schiff’s appointment is not technically a lifetime appointment, but really it is. Judges on the U.S. Federal Claims Court have 15-year terms, but after 15 years they can serve as senior judges for the rest of their lives.”\nWhen the Senate returns from its summer recess in September, the Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearing on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Barrett, a law professor at Notre Dame University of Law, has written about the duty of Catholic judges to put their faith above the law, according to AFJ.\nIn a 1998 article she co-authored for the Marquette Law Review titled “Catholic Judges in Capitol Cases,” AFJ said she criticized Justice William Brennan for saying “there isn’t any obligation of our faith superior” to the oath to uphold the law.\n“We do not defend this position as the proper response for a Catholic judge to take with respect to abortion or the death penalty,” Coney Barrett reportedly wrote.\nConservatives, meanwhile, are accusing Democrats of “slow walking” the judicial nominations. Under the “blue slip” process, senators sign off on judicial nominees from their home state; they object to a nominee by failing to return the paper to the Judiciary Committee.\nThe Senate Judiciary Committee said it’s still waiting for Sen. Michael Bennet Michael BennetOvernight Energy: Senate begins moving energy nominations | Interior watchdog probing Zinke calls Overnight Finance: House votes to repeal arbitration rule | Yellen, Cohn on Trump's list for Fed chief | House passes Russia sanctions deal | GOP centrists push back on border wall funding Tax credits bring much needed relief MORE (D-Colo.) to return his blue slip for Colorado Supreme Court Judge Alison Eid, who’s been nominated to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.\nMinnesota Democrats Sens. Amy Klobuchar Amy Jean KlobucharCNN's Zeleny: Leaderless Democrats 'in complete disrepair and disarray' Lacking White House plan, Senate focuses on infrastructure Senate panel approves bills to combat human trafficking in trucking MORE and Al Franken Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenSenate Dems push Trump admin to protect nursing home residents' right to sue Juan Williams: Trump and the new celebrity politics Police investigating blast at Islamic center in Minn. MORE have also yet to return their blue slips for Minnesota Supreme Court Judge David Stras, who’s been nominated for the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.\n“Senators [Debbie] Stabenow and [Gary] Peters just their returned blue slips on Joan Larsen, but it took them a long time to do it,” John Malcolm, vice president for the Heritage Foundation’s Institute for Constitutional Government, said of Larsen, who has been nominated to the 6th Circuit but was on Trump’s short list for the Supreme Court.\n“Franken and Klobuchar are still holding onto David Stras. I’m hoping this may change, but Democrats have been insisting on 30 hours of debate for all the president’s nominees and virtually all of his judicial nominees.”\nLiberal groups say the only reason Trump has so many vacancies to fill is because Republicans refused to negotiate with Obama.\n“I don’t think we’ve seen Democrats saying ‘I’m not going to return my blue slip as a matter of course,’” said Lucius, a former staff director for the Senate Judiciary Committee.\n“The question is what process are Democrats in the Senate going to require? The Senate has two roles not just one — advise and consent … Home state senators are supposed to be giving advice on who to nominate.”\nObama had 329 judicial nominees confirmed during his two terms in office.\nCritics of Trump’s judicial nominees have accused him of outsourcing the process to conservatives groups like the Federalist Society, but members of those groups say they are happy Trump has turned to them.\n“Elections have consequences. It can’t be understated that judicial nominations, being lifetime appointments, are huge,” Shapiro said.\n“And a given my perspective, I’m glad this is an area President Trump is deferring to people who have good ideas about this sort of thing and running the process smoothly.”", "The Trump Soho Hotel is seen in New York April 9, 2010. The first Trump Hotel built in Downtown New York, a 46-story, 391-room luxury hotel condominium, opened to guests on Friday. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi\nWASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump is flirting with unparalleled violations of the Constitution by not divesting himself from a hotel management company that benefits financially from public pension fund investments, according to two Democratic U.S. senators.\nReuters exclusively reported on April 26 that public pension funds in at least seven U.S. states periodically send millions of dollars to an investment fund that owns the Trump SoHo Hotel and Condominium in New York City and pays one of Trump's companies to run it, according to a Reuters review of public records.\nThe investments could put Trump at risk of violating an obscure constitutional clause that prohibits the president from receiving additional payments beyond his salary from state governments, say several constitutional lawyers. A separate constitutional clause bars the president from receiving payments from foreign governments.\nTrump is “setting an extremely dangerous precedent,” said Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Friday. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut expressed similar concerns.\nThe White House and the Trump Organization did not respond to calls and emails asking for comment.\nAt a January news conference where Trump said he would turn over management of his companies to a trust controlled by his two elder sons, his lawyer, Sheri Dillon, announced that he would donate all profits from foreign government payments made to his hotel to the U.S. Treasury. Dillon said Trump was taking this step even though the Constitution did not require it.\nTrump still earns revenue from the hotel management company and the other businesses in the Trump Organization. Reuters asked five Republican lawmakers to comment on the public investments in the owner of the Trump-operated hotel, but none responded.\nCardin introduced a resolution in March calling on Trump to convert his assets to \"conflict-free holdings,\" turn over control of his businesses to trustees with no relationship to him, or take some other measure to avoid violating the Constitution.\nThat resolution focused on payments from foreign governments, but Cardin said the flow of public U.S. money to Trump from pension funds was also “disturbing” and “reduced confidence that President Trump is acting in the public interest.”\nBlumenthal, who is leading efforts among Senate Democrats to hold Trump accountable for payments he receives from foreign and domestic governments, said the public pension fund investments are “near the top, if not at the top” of the potential domestic violations he knows about.\nBlumenthal added that Trump could “easily cure” the problem by divesting. Dillon said at the January conference that if Trump sold his brand he would still be entitled to royalties for its use, and so divesting would \"exacerbate\" potential conflicts of interest.\nThe Trump SoHo is owned by a Los Angeles investment group, the CIM Group, through one of its real estate funds. State- and city-run pension funds that have invested in the CIM fund pay it a few million dollars in quarterly fees to manage investments in its portfolio, which includes the Trump SoHo, according to state investment records.\nIn return for marketing and managing the hotel-condo, CIM pays Trump International Hotels Management LLC 5.75 percent of the SoHo's operating revenues annually.\nOne of the public pension fund managers that invested in the owner of the Trump SoHo, the Montana Board of Investments, said Trump should answer any constitutional concerns about the investments.\nSince the public pension funds made the investments a decade ago, “Mr. Trump’s circumstances obviously have changed: our position is that he or other parties, but not the Board, are rightfully those to address such concerns,” said David Ewer, the board’s executive director, in an email to Reuters.\nRandi Weingarten, president of the 1.6 million-member American Federation of Teachers, which regularly meets with pension trustees to advise them of investment strategies, said that Trump should “divest from his web of financial ties that undermine his sworn oath to serve the American people.” AFT endorsed Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the presidential election.\nSome retirees were not pleased that their retirement plans were helping to enrich Trump, even marginally.\n“I thought there had to be some arm’s length thing that keeps our investments out of the president’s businesses,” said Susan Kraics, 70, a former social worker for a California juvenile prison system who receives her pension from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the nation’s biggest pension fund.\n(Editing by Jason Szep and Lisa Shumaker)", "A former governor of old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, says the creation of a state Police will not solve the security challenges in the country.\nMusa gave this view in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Wednesday.\nHe was reacting to Tuesday’s Senate resolution directing its Constitutional Review Committee to put in place machinery for the amendment of the Constitution to allow for the creation of state Police.\nThe resolution was due to concerns raised by Senator Jonah Jang on the killings in Plateau and other parts of the country.\nBalarabe said that the creation of state Police would be counter-productive if adopted by the country.\n“I believe it will solve nothing .What I believe will solve the problem is for the Federal Government to strengthen the Nigerian police.\n“We are having these issues because of the poor training, lack of equipment and all that which have hindered the capability of the police.\n“What the Federal Government needs to do is to train and retrain the personnel, provide equipment and increase the number of the personnel,” he said.\nBesides, he said state governments would abuse it and the issues of security would be worsened because some state governments would use it to further their political interests.\nAsked if the Federal Government had the capacity to effectively police the nation in view of its cost implications, Musa said the problem was not capacity but the political will.\nHe said the government could afford to fund the police if it summoned the will and call for the right investment in security.\nThe former Kaduna governor, however, said that security was the responsibility of everyone and urged all to be involved in it.\nReacting, a former Minister of Transportation, Ebenezer Babatope, said state police would bring a lasting solution to the country’s security challenges.\nHe said the country could not claim to practice federalism without a state police because state police was an essential ingredient of true federalism.\nBabatope said state police would boost the number of police personnel, adding that the nooks and crannies of the country would be better policed.\n“State police is the way to go. It is the answer to all the security issues we are having in the country,” he said.\nAsked if the adoption of state police would not be abused by governors to fight political opponents, Babatope answered in the negative.\nHe argued that any responsible governor would know that security was an important issue and would not do anything to undermine it.\n“Any governor that does that will eventually destroy himself because what goes around comes around,” he said.", "Robert Mueller has Donald Trump in a box.\nScroll for more content...\nSo while the President's weekend attacks on the special counsel and his hiring of an aggressive ready-for-primetime lawyer Monday signaled a combative new phase in his defense, Trump was also taking some of the few practical steps at his command that do not risk grave political and legal consequences.\nThe flamboyant former US Attorney Joseph diGenova, who shares Trump's conspiratorial mindset, will certainly make his new boss feel better when he pops up on television, but he's unlikely to shift the fundamentals of the President's predicament.\nThat's because if Trump goes further than verbal assaults and tries to fire Mueller, he would usher in an epochal constitutional crisis. And his aggression in recent days shows he has rejected an alternative course of action: muting his natural inclination to go on the offensive while Mueller deliberates his fate.\nSo as the President slips political constraints by shuffling his White House and foreign policy team and rages against convention, Mueller and his investigators have Trump penned in with no easy means of escape.\nBut cornered prey can be unpredictable and prone to desperate acts, so Trump's behavior is stoking concerns that he is not just hinting that he may can Mueller -- he may actually do it.\n\"We are fast approaching a crossroads ... where the United States is going to have to be confronted with a decision about whether we value the rule of law,\" Richard Ben-Veniste, a former Watergate special prosecutor, told CNN's Erin Burnett on Monday.\n\"This continued attack against Mueller, against the Department of Justice and against the FBI is a pretext for Mr Trump eventually to fire Mr Mueller, I believe.\"\nTrying to forcibly end the special counsel investigation would set up the ultimate test of the Republican Party's so far staunch unwillingness to desert its President, and could have a huge impact on the political environment for November's midterm elections.\nSitting powerless, however, while Mueller indicts people in his outer circle, pores over his financial records and looms ever closer to the Oval Office by the week is a scenario that is clearly driving Trump to distraction.\nSo it's reasonable to assume that diGenova's appointment represents Trump's frustration with his legal team and his limited options, following a weekend of conflicting statements from its members on the issue of Mueller's continued employment.\nThe technical business of lawyering -- evidenced Monday by a Washington Post report that the President's team is trying to limit the scope of any eventual interview with Mueller -- is also unlikely to give Trump a vent for his pent-up anger.\nLambasting a 'witch hunt'\nThe President's fury over his plight erupted in a series of attacks on Mueller over the weekend, culminating in an anguished tweet Monday lambasting an investigation he believes is part of an establishment plot to destroy him.\n\"A total WITCH HUNT with massive conflicts of interest!\" Trump wrote, apparently testing out a rationale for the firing of Mueller, days after he singled out the special counsel by name in his attacks for the first time.\nIf that was a trial balloon for anything more than an effort to discredit Mueller's eventual findings, the President got a swift answer as several senior GOP senators warned that trying to rid himself of the Mueller probe would be disastrous.\nSen. John Cornyn of Texas said it would be a \"bad idea\" for Trump to sack Mueller, while Maine Sen. Susan Collins said such a step would be a \"a terribly serious mistake.\"\nGOP senators who don't have to face Trump voters anymore had more freedom. Utah's Orrin Hatch, for instance, said terminating Mueller would be \"the stupidest thing\" the President could do.\nStill, after a weekend of assaults on Mueller by the President there was a noticeable lack of strong warnings by the two most important men in Congress, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.\nIt's also clear that Republicans have little appetite for going on the record with a vote in Congress to introduce protections for Mueller in order to deter the President from trying to oust him.\nThe risks of firing Mueller\nToppling Mueller, with its constitutional implication of a President trying to evade accountability, would make the uproar following former FBI Director James Comey's firing last year pale by comparison. After all, jettisoning the former FBI director demonstrably made Trump's political and legal exposure over the Russia investigation much worse.\nIn fact, the only potential scenario in which Trump could benefit by firing Mueller would be if he does indeed have something to hide from the special counsel and he is able to permanently derail the investigation.\n\"Let's posit for a moment that there is something there ... in which case it is not the stupidest thing in the world to attack Mueller,\" David Priess, a former senior CIA officer and national security and intelligence author, told CNN's Brooke Baldwin on Monday.\n\"There may be something much worse out there, in which case this is not a stupid strategy at all. This would be protecting against the worst case scenario,\" Priess said.\nAny attempt to dismiss Mueller would be complicated, however, and would require Trump to get rid of Attorney General Jeff Sessions -- who recused himself from involvement in 2016 election investigations -- and replace him with an interim successor who would consent to ordering the end of the investigation.\nIf the President is unwilling to go that far, the hiring of diGenova at least could settle his nerves and offer him an outspoken defender to bolster his under-gunned counterattack in the media.\nDiGenova is just the latest new entrant in Trump's circle who shares the President's combative mindset and is likely to take a far more aggressive public stance in defense of Trump than his current legal team has done.\nLike new top economic adviser Larry Kudlow, diGenova is a talented performer on television. He's a regular on Fox News, the President's favorite source of political intelligence. Like Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo, he doesn't mince words and his appointment fits the President's emerging pattern of surrounding himself with subordinates who mirror his bravado and combativeness.\nShowing his stomach for the fight, diGenova on Monday slammed what he said was disarray at the FBI under its director, Christopher Wray.\n\"What does that tell you about the FBI director? It tells you he is a coward,\" diGenova told WMAL radio.\nDiGenova shares Trump's disdain for Comey, as well, once calling Comey his \"own hagiographer\" and a \"danger to this country\" on Fox.\nDiGenova also has advanced conspiracy theories that the Russia investigation is an FBI plot to delegitimize Trump's presidency.", "WASHINGTON - More than 190 Democratic lawmakers sued President Donald Trump in federal court on Wednesday, saying he had accepted funds from foreign governments through his businesses without congressional consent in violation of the US Constitution.\nThe complaint said Trump had not sought congressional approval for any of the payments his hundreds of businesses had received from foreign governments since he took office in January, even though the Constitution requires him to do so. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment but has said Trump's business interests do not violate the Constitution. The Trump Organization has said it will donate profits from customers representing foreign governments to the US Treasury but will not require such customers to identify themselves.\nAt least 30 US senators and 166 representatives are plaintiffs in Wednesday's lawsuit, representing the largest number of legislators ever to sue a US president, according to two lawmakers who are among the plaintiffs.\nThe Constitution's \"foreign emoluments\" clause bars US officeholders from accepting payments and various other gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.\n\"The president’s failure to tell us about these emoluments, to disclose the payments and benefits that he is receiving, mean that we cannot do our job. We cannot consent to what we don’t know,\" said Senator Richard Blumenthal, one of the lawmakers bringing the lawsuit, in a conference call on Tuesday.\nRepresentative John Conyers, another plaintiff, added: “President Trump has conflicts of interest in at least 25 countries, and it appears he’s using his presidency to maximize his profits.\" The Justice Department declined to comment.\nSimilar lawsuits have been filed in recent months by parties including a nonprofit ethics group, a restaurant trade group, and the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia.\nThey allege that Trump's acceptance of payments from foreign and US governments through his hospitality empire puts other hotel and restaurant owners at an unfair disadvantage and provides governments an incentive to give Trump-owned businesses special treatment.\nIn a motion to dismiss one such lawsuit on Friday, the Justice Department argued that the plaintiffs had not shown any specific harm to their businesses, and that Trump was only banned from receiving foreign government gifts if they arose from his service as president.\nOn Monday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said \"partisan politics\" was behind the lawsuit by the Maryland and District of Columbia officials.\nLawmakers rarely sue the president, so there are few federal court decisions the legislators can cite to prove their legal standing to bring Wednesday's case, said Leah Litman, an assistant professor specializing in constitutional law at the University of California, Irvine.\n\"But the constitutional provision they're suing to enforce gives them a role in how it's carried out, and that gives them a powerful standing argument,\" Litman said.\nThe lawmakers in Wednesday's lawsuit will be represented in court by the Constitutional Accountability Center, a public interest law firm in Washington. Each lawmaker is paying a share of the legal fees from personal or campaign accounts.\nMeanwhile, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has denounced as a \"detestable lie\" the idea he colluded with Russians meddling in the 2016 election, and he clashed with Democratic lawmakers over his refusal to detail his conversations with President Donald Trump.\nSessions, a senior member of Trump's Cabinet and an adviser to his election campaign last year, had a series of tense exchanges with Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee during about 2-1/2 hours of testimony as they pressed him to recount discussions with the Republican president.\n\"You raised your right hand here today and said you would solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,\" Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich said. \"Now you're not answering questions. You're impeding this investigation.\"\nSessions refused to say whether he and Trump discussed FBI Director James Comey's handling of an investigation into possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia during the election campaign before the president fired Comey on May 9.\nHe also declined to say if Trump opposed Sessions' decision to recuse himself from the Russia probe in March, and whether Justice Department officials discussed possible presidential pardons of individuals being looked at in the probe.\nDemocratic Senator Ron Wyden told Sessions: \"I believe the American people have had it with stonewalling. Americans don't want to hear that answers to relevant questions are privileged.\"\n\"I am not stonewalling,\" Sessions replied, saying he was simply following Justice Department policy not to discuss confidential communications with the president. Sessions' testimony did not provide any damaging new information on Trump campaign ties with Russia or on Comey's dismissal, but his refusal to discuss conversations with Trump raised fresh questions about whether the White House has something to hide.\nAdam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee, which is conducting a parallel Russia probe, said on Twitter that Congress \"must compel responses using whatever process necessary.\"\nLast week, Comey told the Senate committee that Trump had fired him to undermine the FBI's investigation of the Russia matter.\nTrump's decision to fire Comey, a move recommended by Sessions despite having already recused himself from the Russia probe, prompted critics to charge that the president was trying to interfere with a criminal investigation.\nSenator Angus King, an independent, questioned Sessions' legal basis for refusing to answer questions after Sessions said Trump had not invoked executive privilege regarding the conversations.\nExecutive privilege can be claimed by a president or senior government officials to withhold information from Congress or the courts to protect the executive branch decision-making process.\nSessions said it would be \"inappropriate\" for him to reveal private conversations with Trump when the president \"has not had a full opportunity to review the questions and to make a decision on whether or not to approve such an answer.\"\nLegal experts said there was some merit to Sessions' argument.\nAndrew Wright, a professor at Savannah Law School and associate counsel under former President Barack Obama, said it was not unusual for government employees to refuse to discuss conversations with the president in order to preserve the right to invoke executive privilege later.\nSessions' clash with the Democratic senators was the latest chapter in a saga that has dogged Trump in his first five months as president and distracted from his domestic policy agenda including major healthcare and tax cut initiatives.\n\"The suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for over 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,\" Sessions said.\n\"I have never met with or had any conversation with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the United States. Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected with the Trump campaign.\"\nUS intelligence agencies concluded in a report released in January that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an effort to interfere in the election to help Trump in part by hacking and releasing damaging emails about Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.\nRussia has denied any such interference, and Trump has denied any collusion by his campaign with Moscow.\nSessions recused himself from the Russia investigation in March after revelations that he had failed to disclose two meetings last year with Russia's ambassador to Washington, Sergei Kislyak.\nIn his testimony on Tuesday, Sessions addressed media reports that he may have had a third previously undisclosed meeting with Kislyak at Washington's Mayflower Hotel last year.\nSessions said he did not have any private meetings and could not recall any conversations with any Russian officials at the hotel but did not rule out that a \"brief interaction\" with Kislyak may have occurred there.\nA former Republican senator, Sessions was an early supporter of Trump's presidential campaign, but sources say there has been tension between the two men in recent weeks because Trump was annoyed that Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe.\nSessions said on Tuesday he did not recuse himself because he felt he was a subject of the investigation himself but rather because he felt he was required to by Justice Department rules.", "A copy of the formerly top-secret classified memo — written by House Intelligence Committee Republican staff and declassified for release by US President Donald Trump — is seen shortly after it was released by the committee in Washington, US, February 2, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Bourg\nWASHINGTON: The US Congress released a Republican memo Friday alleging abuse of power in investigations of Donald Trump’s election campaign after the president accused his own Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of bias against him.\nIn authorizing the explosive move — denounced by his opponents as a bid to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of his team’s ties with Russia — Trump set up an extraordinary confrontation with America’s top law enforcement authorities.\nIgnoring the advice of the FBI itself, which warned that the four-page document painted an inaccurate picture, the president gave his green light to declassify the memo drafted by the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, former Trump transition team official Devin Nunes.\n\"What’s happening in our country is a disgrace,\" Trump said as he announced the move. \"A lot of people should be ashamed.\"\n\"So I sent it over to Congress. They will do what they’re going to do. Whatever they do is fine. It was declassified, and let’s see what happens.\"\nBased on classified materials, the memo claims that the FBI used an unsubstantiated, Democratic-funded research report to obtain a warrant in 2016 to surveil Trump advisor Carter Page, who had extensive Russian contacts.\nWhite House counsel Don McGahn wrote in a letter attached to the memo that Trump had authorized its declassification \"in light of the significant public interest in the memorandum.\"\n\"The committee has discovered serious violations of the public trust, and the American people have a right to know when officials in crucial institutions are abusing their authority for political purposes,\" Nunes said in a statement.\nIn the memo, the committee said its investigation had found \"a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses\" of surveillance laws.\n‘Constitutional crisis’\nThe FBI had issued an extraordinary public warning against the memo’s release, saying it contained \"material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.\"\nTrump’s decision triggered speculation that FBI Director Christopher Wray would step down after just six months in the job — and that Mueller’s job could also be at risk.\nDemocrats allege that the ultimate target is Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the sole person able to fire Mueller since his boss Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation.\nBoth Rosenstein and Wray have battled Nunes and the White House over the memo since the beginning of the year.\nFurious Democrats warned Trump of a \"constitutional crisis\" if the Russia probe chief, a former FBI director, is sacked.\n\"We write to inform you that we would consider such an unwarranted action as an attempt to obstruct justice in the Russia investigation,\" Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Nancy Pelosi, and eight other key Democrats said in a statement.\n\"Firing Rod Rosenstein, DOJ Leadership, or Bob Mueller could result in a constitutional crisis of the kind not seen since the Saturday Night Massacre,\" they said, referring to disgraced president Richard Nixon’s orders to fire justice officials during the Watergate scandal.\nFormer FBI head James Comey, who was fired by Trump last year after refusing to pledge loyalty to the president, tweeted after the memo’s release: \"That’s it?\"\n\"Dishonest and misleading memo wrecked the House intel committee, destroyed trust with Intelligence Community, damaged relationship with FISA court, and inexcusably exposed classified investigation of an American citizen,\" he wrote.\n\"For what? DOJ & FBI must keep doing their jobs.\"\n‘Rank & File are great people!’\nAs he prepared to declassify the document, Trump took a swipe at the FBI and Justice Department.\n\"The top Leadership and Investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans,\" he tweeted.\nThe president called the alleged bias \"something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago,\" adding, \"Rank & File are great people!\"\nThe federation representing FBI agents rejected any notion that their work was governed by political bias.\n\"The men and women of the FBI put their lives on the line every day in the fight against terrorists and criminals because of their dedication to our country and the Constitution,\" Thomas O’Connor, president of the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), said in a statement.\nThe explosive Republican memo was based on the highly classified, much larger record of the application to obtain a so-called FISA national security warrant in 2016 to surveil Page.\nDemocrats have sought approval for the release of their own counter-memo that argues Nunes simplified and \"cherry-picks\" facts to distort what happened.\nPaul Ryan, the top Republican in the House of Representatives, supported the memo’s release as an act of transparency while also calling Friday for the Democrat memo to be approved for release.\nBut not all Republicans were on board with the memo’s release.\nFour senior Republican senators — John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, and Jeff Flake — expressed their unease about Nunes’ use of intelligence in a political battle.\n\"The president’s apparent willingness to release this memo risks undermining US intelligence-gathering efforts, politicizing Congress’ oversight role, and eroding confidence in our institutions of government,\" Flake said, in a joint statement with Democratic Senator Chris Coons.", "The GOP state Senate’s plan to fully fund K-12 education is expected to cost more than originally projected. Senate Democrats say Republicans moved too quickly on the proposal when there were still questions with it.\nOLYMPIA — The Republican state Senate’s plan to fully fund K-12 education is expected to cost more than originally projected, the chief GOP budget writer said Tuesday.\nLegislative staff discovered issues about a week ago with the Republican plan that is intended to satisfy the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision on school funding, said Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.\nThe proposal is intended to make the system more fair through a so-called levy swap. In that plan, school districts like Seattle and Bellevue, with high property values, would send property-tax money to other “property-poor” districts.\nThe GOP plan would also put an additional $1.4 billion in existing revenue into the education system.\nBut because of the newly discovered issues, Braun said that number could rise.\n“There are some significant revisions to the numbers that will come out,” Braun said, adding that those revisions would be released soon. “This is based on feedback we got … after we released and heard and voted the bill out of the Senate.”\nIn the revised version, “There is some additional cost, I tell you that,” Braun said.\n“But we still think that’s it’s manageable with existing [tax] revenues,” he added.\nThe main issue with the original GOP proposal is how student populations are modeled in the plan, Braun said.\nThe last big remaining piece of resolving the McCleary order is determining how the state will fund the salaries of K-12 teachers and other school workers.\nMuch of those costs are paid through local property-tax levies in Washington’s school districts. But the justices ruled that the state is responsible for those salaries as part of providing a basic education for students.\nSenate Democrats on Tuesday criticized Braun for not sharing information about the proposal’s issues, and for moving quickly to pass the plan through the Senate, which the GOP controls.\nIn less than a week, the plan was introduced in the Legislature, given a public hearing and then passed out of committee and off the Senate floor.\n“I think what we saw from the Republican plan is you can’t smash this through the Legislature” in a few days “and think that’s going to work,” Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, said during a regularly scheduled Democratic news conference.\nSen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, said Braun wouldn’t share details with him in recent days concerning the issues with the plan.\nThe revised GOP plan, “could be substantially more in the red, it could be a little bit more in the red, we just don’t know,” said Ranker, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee.\n“We had a debate on the Senate floor, we had a debate in Ways and Means Committee and it was all based on information that wasn’t factual,” Ranker added later.\nBraun described Senate Democrats’ frustration as a “made-up crisis.”\n“I didn’t consider it my responsibility to tell them that we were listening to people’s concerns and trying address them,” Braun said. “That’s a normal thing, just like any other bill.”\nThe Republican plan is one of four proposed to address the McCleary decision and fully fund education. Gov. Jay Inslee and Democratic lawmakers each have issued their own plans.\nOn Tuesday, Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah also released his own proposal." ]

[ "Laying chickens are usually not producing economically beyond the second year. Ducks are much easier to control than chickens. Ducks of laying breeds can be easily confined with a fence only 2 feet high (as long as they have food and water and their buddies with them)." ]

[ "So far they all do seem to get along. Some of the issues with keeping ducks is male ducks wanting to mate the chickens. This can harm or even kill the chicken so it's something to watch out for.", "Bad part about chicken eggs under a duck is they hatch so much sooner than ducks. They will leave the ducks eggs(if they are mixed with the chicken eggs.", "Yes, a chicken can raise a duck. ... An adult hen is similar in size to female duck, keeping the eggs warm works out fine. Baby ducks will quickly imprint on who is raising them so the baby ducks treat the chicken as their mommy and will tend to follow her and stay close.", "Duck eggs have a thicker shell. This tends to give duck eggs a longer shelf-life than chicken eggs. Duck eggs are about 50% larger than even jumbo chicken eggs. ... Duck eggs contain 9.6 grams of fat, compared to 5 grams of fat in chicken eggs.", "than a chicken egg a chicken egg has more pores. and just a little bit rougher surface duck eggs are often a little bit longer more elongated end to end than a chicken egg. they can vary in color.", "Are they safe to eat? Yes, they are as safe as chicken eggs. There have been some salmonella scares over the years, with a recent one in the EU in 2010, but certainly there's no evidence to suggest duck eggs are empirically more dangerous than chicken eggs.", "Duck eggs are richer and creamier Due to their much larger yolk and higher fat content, duck eggs are richer and creamier, and taste less watery than chicken eggs.", "Duck eggs are just as safe to eat as chicken eggs. ... While the egg itself is larger than a chicken egg, the yolk inside is also larger in proportion to the white part of the egg. Duck eggs also have more calories and nutrition per gram compared to chicken eggs, but less than quail and goose eggs.", "Duck eggs are just as safe to eat as chicken eggs. The USDA has the exact same standards and regulations in place for duck eggs as it does for all poultry such as chicken, quail, ostrich, etc. While the egg itself is larger than a chicken egg, the yolk inside is also larger in proportion to the white part of the egg.", "Ducks lay eggs that are larger, richer in flavor and excellent for baking due to their higher fat and lower water content. Duck eggs are also slightly more nutritious than chicken eggs. Pastry chefs prize duck eggs because the large amount of protein in their whites adds heft and loft to baked goods.", "You can substitute one duck egg for one chicken egg in recipes if your duck eggs are not much bigger than chicken eggs. The official substitution ratio is two duck eggs for every three chicken eggs. Duck eggs store longer than chicken eggs due to their thicker shell and will stay fresh up to six weeks in the fridge.", "NEVER keep just one duck; this is cruel. Ducks are highly social animals and this means they need other ducks to live with. While it is possible to keep just one duck, it is strongly recommended that you have at least one other duck for company, while having three or four would be best.", "A rooster can successfully breed with a duck, but a drake that mates with a hen will usually harm the hen. ... But, chickens are actually the opposite. The hen usually does more of the “mating” with the rooster. As a result, when a rooster and a duck mate, the rooster's sperm usually doesn't make it into the female duck.", "For those of you less familiar with the workings of farm animals, ducks and chickens will lay eggs regularly but they are unfertilized eggs (sort of like women having a menstrual cycle with their unfertilized eggs). You need a drake to get fertilized duck eggs and a rooster to get fertilized chicken eggs.", "Not so. Duck and goose are both higher in cholesterol than chicken and turkey. One cup of cooked duck or goose -- even with the skin removed -- has about 128 milligrams of cholesterol. The same portion of chicken has only 113 milligrams of cholesterol, and turkey is an even better choice at 93 milligrams.", "Duck eggs taste like chicken eggs, only more so. Their flavor tends to be more reliably intense than a chicken egg because of the duck's diet.", "Duck eggs are just as safe to eat as chicken eggs. The USDA has the exact same standards and regulations in place for duck eggs as it does for all poultry such as chicken, quail, ostrich, etc. ... Well, depending on the diet, duck eggs taste similar to chicken eggs, only richer.", "Duck Eggs Are Best For Baking Because nutrient-rich duck eggs have more protein than chicken eggs, they whip up thicker and fluffier. Duck eggs are excellent for baking. Cookies, cakes, custards, and other pastries turn out lighter and fluffier when they're made with duck eggs compared to chicken eggs.", "Duck eggs are about 50% larger than even jumbo chicken eggs. ... Duck eggs are higher in protein than chicken eggs. This is good news for everyone on a high protein diet, such as the Paleo Diet. An average chicken egg contains 6.28 grams of protein, while an average duck egg contains 8.97 grams of protein.", "The thicker shell and larger yolk gives the duck egg a little extra heft. The duck egg also looks and feels smoother on its surface than the chicken egg, which doesn't have the slick finish the duck egg has.", "Please DO NOT keep a duck as a “house” pet. They are NOT suited to an indoor lifestyle. Although it may make you happy to keep your duck indoors, understand that you are being cruel to the duck, as they need to live outdoors. ... Ducks are highly social animals and this means they need other ducks to live with.", "Ducks are cute as you like and can be a great pet if you have the appropriate space and environment to keep them. However, they're not for everyone and as would expect with any other pet, keeping ducks do come with certain responsibilities.", "Geese are appreciably smarter that either ducks or chickens. I would put them in this order; geese, Muscovy ducks, chickens, mallard-derived ducks. What we see as intelligence is partially a reflection of temperament.", "No they cannot fertilize a chicken. I would get 2 females or a male and female. Ducks can bond with chickens, but it's better if they have duck friends in my opinion.", "You don't need a male duck (called a drake) for the females to lay eggs, but they won't ever hatch into ducklings without a drake around. Also, ducks tend to be better year-round layers than chickens, continuing their egg production right through the winter without any added light.", "Duck eggs are typically larger than chicken eggs; they vary a bit in size but are usually around 50 percent larger than your standard jumbo chicken egg. They can come in all sorts of colors, varying mostly by breed. ... Its yolk, though, is what's so prized by chefs: a duck yolk is much bigger than a chicken yolk.", "Roosters, geese, ducks, and turkeys are prohibited from living in the city, but chickens are perfectly legal, if not always popular.", "Ducks can share your chickens' nesting boxes if they are at ground level; otherwise, ducks will be perfectly happy making their own nests in a corner in the straw. Another benefit to adding ducks to your coop is the added body heat they'll provide through cold winters.", "Technically, a duck and a chicken can mate, but it rarely happens and if the offspring survives the embryo stage, it is unsterile. Ducks and geese have similar sex organs and do not harm the other species if they attempt to mate.", "Quail require less space and less work than chickens and rabbits plus they are quiet and easy to raise. They do not eat a lot, convert feed into protein efficiently, and are much more congenial creatures than even the sweetest-tempered chicken.", "The muscovy is a South American waterfowl that has a body like a duck, behavaes like a goose in that it hisses rather than quacks, has a breast like a turkey, and roosters like a chicken. ... Although muscovies will breed with domestic ducks, the resulting offspring are infertile and are called 'mule' ducks.", "Egg eating is usually more of a problem with chickens but sometimes you'll have a duck that gets a taste for eggs. ... Feeding your ducks egg shell is a good form of calcium and you can also feed them the egg, but make sure you feed it cooked so that they don't get a taste for raw egg." ]

[ "platelets" ]

[ "fragment", "cells", "The Cell", "fragmentation", "Soft Cell", "the nerve cells", "daughter cells", "Stem cells", "Fragmentation bomb", "also", "a sickle cell", "D cell", "Blood", "There Will Be Blood", "blood type", "blood vessels", "the cell walls", "On call", "artificial blood", "The Calling", "Blood Work", "a cell door", "cell phone", "Their calls", "a call", "solar (cells)", "call", "clot", "the alveoli", "a germ cell", "First Blood", "Blood pressure" ]

[ "Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli troops at a West Bank checkpoint on Sunday, on the same day that Israeli officials said they would ease some restrictions on the movement of West Bank Palestinians as part of efforts to improve the Palestinian economy and bolster moderates." ]

[ "Clashes erupted Saturday in the West Bank between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers injuring one policeman and three Palestinians.", "Palestinians throw molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers, not seen, during clashes at the Qalandia checkpoint, between Jerusalem and Ramallah, West Bank, September 23, 2011.", "A Palestinian man has been shot dead in a clash with Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank.", "Palestinian men march in support of Hamas and also to protest the killing of Omar Kawasmeh by Israeli troops on Friday, during a predawn raid in the West Bank city of Hebron, Gaza City, Palestine.", "Israeli troops have arrested three Palestinian activists in the West Bank, Israel Radio reported on Sunday.", "Israeli troops arrested 30 Palestinians in the West Bank, mostly in the town of Nablus, during an overnight incursion, local sources and witnesses said on Monday.", "Israel is breaking its own rules of engagement by using deadly force to disperse unarmed Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli rights group B'Tselem reported Monday.", "The Maan News Agency reported Saturday that Israeli soldiers and settlers attacked dozens of International, Israeli and Palestinian peace activists who were protesting against the settlers of Susia illegal settlement outpost, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.", "Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli police forces on Thursday, in a refugee camp on the edge of Jerusalem.", "Palestinian protesters march towards Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah May 2, 2012, after a protest in solidarity with hunger striking Palestinian prisoners.", "The Palestinian Authority warned Thursday that clashes by Israeli settlers in Hebron and other West Bank areas could end the peace process, dpa reported.", "Israeli occupation forces arrested last night seven Palestinians in the West Bank.", "Israeli troops on Tuesday morning seized a young Palestinian man in the West Bank city of Jenin.", "Israeli forces arrested at dawn Thursday 13 Palestinians in the West Bank.", "Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip continues to escalate.", "Israeli police using tear gas evicted settlers from a disputed house in Hebron on Thursday, prompting furious mobs to go on the rampage and attack Palestinians in the volatile West Bank city.", "Israeli settlers have vandalized a Palestinian mosque in the northern West Bank amid escalating tensions following the fatal stabbing of a settler in the area.", "The villagers of the Al-Ma'sara near Bethlehem, southern West Bank, along with their international and Israeli supporters protested the Israeli wall on Friday.", "Ten Palestinian civilians were detained by Israeli troops, on Monday, during pre-dawn military invasions targeting a number of West Bank communities.", "Israeli troops killed a Palestinian on Friday during a raid in the West Bank to arrest suspected fighters, witnesses and security officials in the territory said.", "Ma'an - Israeli forces detained 14 Palestinians across the West Bank overnight Monday, Israeli media reported.", "Israeli troops opened fire on Sunday as protesters from Syria stormed a ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights, with Damascus saying 23 demonstrators were killed.", "Tens of thousands of Palestinians on Friday protested against deadly Israeli raids as the Zionist regime mulled a major ground invasion in Gaza.", "The Israeli army demolished on Tuesday two Palestinian wells in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses said.", "The Philippines is ready to retreat its overseas workers in the Palestinian territory as clashes with Israeli and Palestinian troops intensified in the Gaza Strip, local media reported Tuesday.", "Israeli troops have killed a wanted Palestinian militant in the West Bank.", "Israeli forces seized seven Palestinian in two overnight cross-border raids in the West Bank, witnesses and Palestinian police said on Tuesday.", "Israel today vowed to combat rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank after hardline Jewish settlers and police clashed for the fourth time in less than two weeks.", "NABLUS, West Bank Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militant and arrested another during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Friday, witnesses and medical officials said.", "Clashes erupted overnight at a West Bank refugee camp, authorities said Monday.", "A number of armed Israeli settlers attacked on Tuesday a Palestinian gas station in Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank, and forced the owners and the residents out.", "Israeli troops mistakenly shot and killed a 65-year-old Palestinian man in his bed during a pre-dawn raid Friday to arrest a Hamas militant in the West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli officials said." ]

[ "Steve Stevens" ]

[ "The Girl Who Played with Fire", "plays", "play", "leading astray", "Lead To Light", "lead antimonate", "lead mining", "staple gun", "A gun safe" ]

[ "I'm afraid my answer is the boring one: free variation, based on the amount of space available.\n\nThe tilde originally arose purely as an abbreviation: instead of writing an n or m in line with the text, it could be written above the vowel instead, saving a bit of space. Eventually its form got simplified into the tiny squiggle we use nowadays.\n\nBut the meaning was always simply an orthographic one: \"there should be an n or m after this letter\". It didn't necessarily indicate anything about the pronunciation, or about the grammar: it could be used in prefixes or roots just as well as suffixes. For example, the following shows ĩperpetuũ (i.e. imperpetuum), with two nasals removed in different places: \n\nSo in instances like this, the choice of whether to use a letter or a tilde comes down purely to how much space is available. On the second line, writing civium would have compressed the other words in an unpleasant way; on the third line, using both saltem and vitam would have led to too much compression, while both saltẽ and vitã would have left too much empty space. So saltem was written out in full, and vitã abbreviated.\n\nIf possible, such as when there's all the space in the world available, final letters are generally included: you can see that there are no abbreviations in the other verses, where there was more freedom to adjust the kerning and spacing (since it didn't have to line up with the notes). But in manuscript documents, where scribal effort and space are at a premium, abbreviations will often be used wherever the scribe can get away with them.\n\n(P.S. The tilde's use eventually expanded to cover other removed letters, apart from n and m. But nasals were always one of the more popular uses for the symbol.)" ]

[ "I don't think the /m/ of mientras implies a great deal about the pronunciation of Latin -m beyond what is already known from other sources.\nMientras is clearly not just the regular outcome of applying Latin-to-Spanish sound changes to Latin dum interim. If so, it would not end in -ientras; Latin interim should go to entre with no final s and no diphthongization of the tonic vowel. The presence of these irregularities makes me think that /m/ could possibly be another irregular development in this word, rather than a sound that was preserved from a feature of Latin pronunciation.\nIt has possibly been analogically influenced by the adverbial suffix -⁠mientre\nIn A History of the Spanish Language, Ralph Penny does give the usual etymology from dum interim &gt; domientre &gt; demientre &gt; mientras, but says that the &quot;diphthong results from the influence of the Old Spanish adverbial ending -mientre &lt; -MENTE&quot; (page 247).\nThe /r/ in the form -mientre possibly shows influence in the opposite direction, from domientre (Penny 132). (However, an alternative etymology of -mientre traces the r to the Latin adverb-forming suffix -ter: Syntax and Affixation: The Evolution of MENTE in Latin and Romance, Keith E. Karlsson, §5.7.2.)\nIf the ie in mientras was caused by influence from -mientre, it doesn't seem too implausible to me to suppose that the /m/ might also be influenced by -mientre, through a development like [dõentre] &gt; [domɛntre] or [don entre] (compare the [n] that developed in the monosyllables quien, con) &gt; [domɛntre].\npossible alternatives to the etymology from dum interim\nWhile the etymology you give seems to be widely acknowledged, there is a paper from 2011 that presents other etymologies: &quot;Nueva hipótesis sobre el origen del adverbio medieval 'm(i)entre'.&quot; Javier Mora García.\nGarcía's paper is in Spanish, so I don't understand the details of the arguments. THe first novel proposal gets rid of dum, although it looks implausible to me: en entre &gt; enentre &gt; de enentre &gt; denentre, then, supposedly by an dissimilation of nasals, dementre. The second involves dum, just like the standard etymology.\nHowever, the third etymology García proposes gives a regular explanation for the /m/ as not coming from Latin word-final -m, although I don't know if I'm convinced by it either. He suggests mientras could be ultimately from interim + -mente with alteration of the second element and then loss of the initial entre-. A form entrementre is attested in French, and entrementes is attested in Galician-Portuguese.\nUltimately, I don't get the sense that the standard etymology is convincingly displaced by any of these, but it seems like something to consider.\nLatin final -m might have had [m] as a possible pronunciation, even if &quot;mientras&quot; by itself is weak evidence for it\nFor the reasons above, the /m/ in mientras doesn't seem very strong evidence in and of itself for supposing [m] in the pronunciation of Latin dum.\nHowever, there are unrelated reasons to think [m] might have been at least a possible occasional pronunciation of word-final &quot;m&quot; before a vowel in Latin.\n\nThe most obvious is the spelling. Latin spelling is mostly phonetic, and the letter &quot;m&quot; definitely could represent [m] in other contexts in Latin words. Early on, when Latin spelling conventions were first formed, the sound was presumably felt to be similar to [m] (one fairly common suggestion is that word-final -m could be realized as a nasalized glide [w̃], which like [m] is a nasal and labial non-syllabic sound). And after Latin spelling had become conventionalized, the force of spelling pronunciation presumably could have introduced [m] into the speech of literate speakers.\n\nThe etymological source of Latin final m is reconstructed in Proto-European as *m, which is normally assumed to have been pronounced as [m]. One small piece of evidence that survived in Latin itself for [m] as the etymological value of final -m is the form of the verb comedō, whose etymology is typically given as from edō and the prepositional prefix corresponding to cum (which usually took the form co- before vowels).\n\nLastly, there are references in grammars to a fault of speech &quot;mytacism&quot; or &quot;moetacism&quot; that was in some way connected to the pronunciation of &quot;m&quot;. It's not always clear what a grammarian means by it, but some cases seem to refer to pronouncing the word-final /m/ of accusative words as [m] before a vowel (Nyman 117).\n\n\nThe consonant [m] is not considered to have been the usual pronunciation of word-final Latin -m before a vowel because of the regular occurrence of elision in this context: we find singultantem animam et in Ovid pronounced as six syllables, long-long-long-short-short-long, which fits perfectly with [singultant‿anim‿et] and is not really compatible with any pronunciation where the -ms are [m]: [singultantm‿animm‿et] has an awkward cluster after the third syllable and looks like it would have a long fifth syllable.\nWorks cited\n\nA History of the Spanish Language. Ralph Penny. Second ed. 2002.\n\n&quot;Nueva hipótesis sobre el origen del adverbio medieval 'm(i)entre'.&quot; Javier Mora García. Anuario de Lingüística Hispánica, ISSN 0213-053X, Vol. 27, 2011, págs. 127-144\n\n&quot;Mytacism in Latin Phonology&quot;. Martti Nyman. Glotta 55. Bd., 1./2. H. (1977), pp. 111-120 Published by: Vandenhoeck &amp; Ruprecht (GmbH &amp; Co. KG). Accessed through Jstor.", "This is a common question for beginning genealogists. However, the emphasis on the correct spelling of a name is a relatively recent phenomenon. Even if you could determine a preferential spelling for your husband's family, that wouldn't help you find his ancestors -- and it might make it less likely. \n\nMost of the material we use for studying genealogy and family history was created for another purpose. For many of the records, the people mentioned in a record were not writing down their own names. Passenger lists for immigration, for example, were created by the shipping companies in the shipping company offices near the departure ports. The person buying the ticket (not necessarily the passenger) gave the information to the clerk, and the manifests were created by copying the information on the forms for each individual. \n\nBecause so many opportunities arise for names to be spelled or indexed in a way that doesn't match the spelling we expect, what we need to do is to collect a list of surname variants -- different spellings and ways the name has been badly indexed -- and then search for those spellings as well as the more familiar ones. \n\nThe FamilySearch Wiki article Guessing a Name Variation cautions:\n\n\n Just because an ancestor always spelled his name the same way, that does not guarantee it was always spelled that way by a clerk or by an indexer. If your first search fails to find an ancestor, consider the possibility the name is spelled differently than you expect. In fact, experienced genealogists worry their skills are slipping if they are not finding several documents with unexpected spellings of the name. \n\n\nSearch for other identifiers besides surname spellings that will distinguish your husband's family. It helps to collect the names of extended family plus friends, associates and neighbors in the new country, since they may have been neighbors in the old country too. \n\nThe FamilySearch Wiki is a good place to start -- start with the main article Poland Genealogy (the section Getting Started with Poland Research), the Research Strategies, and the articles Poland Emigration and Immigration.\n\nFurther reading:\n\n\n8 Ways to Overcome OCR Errors when Searching Newspapers from The Ancestor Hunt \nGuessing a Name Variation at the FamilySearch Wiki\nName variations: tips &amp; tricks by Daniel M. Lynch at findmypast", "This is a spelling variation, similar to that encountered at What does Orring County North Carolina mean in Quaker records?\n\nYou have already found a wealth of evidence that the Rygate, Surry and Reigate, Surrey are the same place (by locating identically or very similarly named features in both places.). However, finding Rygate or a similar variant spelling on a map in a location would be the final proof.\n\nAt OldMapsOnline you'll find a number of maps of various vintages that show Rygate or Reygate or Ryegate congruent with modern Reigate.", "Another fun game is &quot;Spelling Bee&quot; from the New York Times\n(https://www.nytimes.com/puzzles/spelling-bee). You supply a file containing words. The student program reads the file and selects words that match the rules. The milestones are from a past project from Reed College.\n\nPrint all the words that can be spelled using a fixed string (e.g. &quot;AZDIRWY&quot;). The first letter is the required letter.\nPrompt the user for a string and print a list of words or take the string as a command line parameter.\nGenerate a score for each word and the total score.\nGenerate the graphics to draw the string as it appears in the paper (six hexagons containing optional letters surrounding a central hexagon with the required letter), along with the list of words.\n\nYou could potentially go a slightly different direction and let the python program generate HTML output and view the results in a browser. This illustrates dynamically generated HTML.\nAnother variation would be to preprocess a &quot;dictionary&quot;, removing all words that are too short or contain more that seven distinct characters. Then create multiple files, one for each possible beginning letter. You now have cut down the search space. You might also have the students sort the answers, perhaps by word score.", "The use of the extra waw (ו) in Leviticus 19:2 is a spelling variant known as full (מלא) spelling. Other letters, notably yod (י), or the letter he in word-final position are also used for full spelling. When these letter could be used but are not, the spelling is called \"missing\" (חסר, or sometimes \"defective\" in English, although there is no \"defect\") spelling. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_spelling for more background.\n\nThe use of full spelling in the MT of the OT is not consistent. There is no discernible semantic implication of full or missing spelling although the attempt at reading meanings into these variations is a popular eisegetical exercise. So this is not a grammatical issue, it is purely orthographical. The origin of these variants is not known.\n\nExamples of adjectival kadosh in \"missing\" spelling (without the waw) are:\n\n\nExodus 29:31\nLeviticus 6:9,19,20\nLeviticus 21:7,8\nLeviticus 24:9\nNumbers 6:5,8\nDeuteronomy 26:19\nIsaiah 49:7\nPsalms 65:5\nNehemiah 8:9,11\n\n\nExamples of adjectival kadosh in \"full\" spelling (with a waw) are:\n\n\nExodus 19:6\nLeviticus 7:6,\nLeviticus 10:13\nLeviticus 11:44,45\nLeviticus 16:24\nLeviticus 19:2\nLeviticus 20:26\nLeviticus 21:8\nDeuteronomy 7:6\nDeuteronomy 14:2,21\nDeuteronomy 23:15\nDeuteronomy 28:9\nI Samuel 2:2\nII Kings 4:9\nIsaiah 4:3\nIsaiah 6:3 \nIsaiah 40:25\nIsaiah 12:6\nEzekiel 39:7\nHosea 11:9\nPsalms 22:4\nPsalms 99:3,5,9\nPsalms 111:9\nJob 6:10\nEcclesiastes 8:10\nDaniel 8:13\nNehemiah 8:10\n\n\nJudging by the preponderance of the full spellings of kadosh, we can surmise that it represents the normative vocalization. Then the question in Leviticus 19:2 is, where did the waw go in kedoshim (קְדֹשִׁים)?\n\nThe answer to that question is that the form קְדֹשִׁים is a contextual form, spoken together with other words in a sentence and is subordinate to the final word in the phrase, תִּהְיו, \"you should be\", so that it's vocalization is slightly contracted: the waw is shortened to a cholam dot and the kamatz under the initial kof is shortened to a shva na.\n\nThere is one instance of a full spelling of kedoshim, in Hosea 12:1. That instance can probably be explained as intending to indicate that the word is intended to have the primary stress in its clause.", "Three extractions give instructions to be used in the next part.\n\n\n The italics spell EVERY FIFTY TWO LETTERS.\n The superscript letters spell LETTERS AND WORDS PER SENTENCE.\n The capital letters spell AFTER U. \n\n\nSeven extractions give seven-letter words. \n\n\n The sentences' first letters spell CONTAIN.\n Taking every 52nd letter spells DOODLES.\n The letters after U spell ERMINES.\n The numbers of words per sentence spell FLIPPER (with A=1, B=2...).\n The numbers of letters per sentence, mod 26, spell GOLIATH (with A=1, B=2...).\n The struck-through letters spell HEROICS.\n The last letters of the sentences, in reverse, spell INSPECT.\n\n\nAnd two more extractions give clues to getting the final answer: \n\n\n The bold letters spell SEVEN BY SEVEN.\n The subscript letters spell DIAGONAL.\n\n\nSo:\n\n\n We make a 7×7 square out of our words -- which conveniently start with \"CDEFGHI\" -- and read the diagonal:\n C̲ONTAIN\n DO̲ODLES\n ERM̲INES\n FLIP̲PER\n GOLIA̲TH\n HEROIC̲S\n INSPECT̲\n and this gives the word COMPACT, an appropriate word to describe a bunch of information packed into a small space!", "There is no rule that related segments of words have to be spelled with the same sequence of letters. It might seem more logical to you, but that's never been a successful argument in changing English spelling*. We also write \"deception\", \"deceive\" and \"deceit\", and \"reception\",\"receive\", and \"receipt\". \n\nIn any case, the second digraph \"ai\" in \"maintain\" is not even etymological, but secondary: according to the OED, the French source word was spelled variously as \"meintenir,\" \"maintenir\" and \"maynteigner.\" The OED entry on \"maintain\" further states:\n\n\n The English forms probably partly reflect stem variation in Old\n French, where stress on the stem in parts of the paradigm gives e.g.\n 3rd singular present indicative -tient, 3rd singular present\n subjunctive -tiegne, -teigne (although with much mixture of forms\n through analogy; Middle English forms suggesting pronunciations with\n close ē and with ī probably reflect respectively Anglo-Norman and\n northern Old French developments of -ie- )\n\n\nSo the verb \"maintain\" either had or developed a diphthong in the stressed second syllable when it was imported into English, but the use of the specific digraph \"ai\" to spell this sound was arbitrary: it could just as well have been spelled \"maintein\", or even \"maintean\" with the sound of the \"ea\" in \"great\". In Middle English or Early Modern English, before our spelling became standardized, you might encounter spellings like \"mainteyne\" and \"deceave\". The standardized spellings these words ended up with are fairly arbitrary.\n\nThe second syllable of 'maintenance\" is unstressed and does not have a diphthong, so it didn't need to be respelled with \"ai.\" Despite this, though, forms like \"maintaynence,\" \"maneteinance,\" \"manteanance\" and and even \"manteignance\" were sometimes used in the past according to the OED, but they did not win out in the end. I don't know if these spelling variants correspond to variant pronunciations, or if they were just affected by the spelling of the related verb as with the modern non-standard variant \"maintainance.\"\n\nThe word \"maintained\" is not just related; it's actually the past tense form of the verb \"maintain\", so it's to be expected that we use the same spelling. \"Maintain\" is a regular verb in English. The words \"maintainer,\" \"maintainable,\" and \"maintainability\" all relate to the verb via common suffixes that generally take the verb as the stem without altering it (we can compare \"explain,\" \"explanation,\" and \"explainable\").\n\n*With the marginal exception of Noah Webster, but even he didn't get all that he wanted", "Yes, if the next word starts with a voiced consonant (of those you listed), then the final consonant also becomes voiced, even if it was unvoiced: кот был, код был both have [д], while кот стал, код стал both have [т] before [с]. This only happens in continuous speech, when there is no pauses between the two words. See Final-obstruent devoicing.\n\nVoicing and devoicing happens not only at word boundaries, but also at morpheme boundaries. E.g. in посадка the Д sounds like a Т and сделка is pronounced with an initial [з-]. See Оглушение согласных.\n\nAlso, if you want to 'spell out' a word, you could say e.g. Глеб with the voiced Б. This is the most common way of explaining how something is written, rather than spelling out individual letters.", "The phonology of Spanish might be vaguely similar to that of Japanese but the differences are also relevant. There are many consonantal clusters in Spanish and also word final consonants, and this simply cannot be transcribed in kana. By the way, this represents one of the main difficulties for a Japanese speaker who speaks a European language like Spanish. Normally they would insert reduced vowels after each non final consonant in a cluster and each word final consonant. Thus, English stop has been borrowed into Japanese where it is spelled, and pronounced, sutoppu. \n\nMoreover, Spanish has many consonants that Japanese does not have. There is no way to make the difference, in kana, among such Spanish consonants as r, rr, l and ll. Same for the dental fricative spelled c (as in cien) or z.", "A balloon loan - where the balloon payment is paid at the same time as the final periodic payment - can be written in terms of net present values (NPVs) like so\n\n\n\n∴ L = (B + (M ((1 + R)^N - 1)/R))/(1 + R)^N\n\n∴ M = (R (B - L (1 + R)^N))/(1 - (1 + R)^N)\n\n\nwhere\n\nL = present value of loan\nM = periodic repayment\nR = periodic rate\nB = balloon payment\nN = number of periods\n\n\nApplying your figures\n\nL = £30000\nB = £15000\nR = (1 + 3.9/100)^(1/12) - 1 = 0.00319331 per month\nN = 48 months\n\n∴ M = £385.46\n\n\nSo on the 48th month the final periodic payment of £385.46 is made along with the balloon payment of £15000.\n\nThere can be variations on this. Some would expect the payment on the 48th month to be £15000 and no more, (in which case there are 47 periodic payments).\n\n\n\n∴ L = ((1 + R)^-N (B R + M (-1 - R + (1 + R)^N)))/R\n\n∴ M = (B R - L R (1 + R)^N)/(1 + R - (1 + R)^N)\n\nL = £30000\nB = £15000\nR = (1 + 3.9/100)^(1/12) - 1 = 0.00319331 per month\nN = 48 months\n\n∴ M = £393.05\n\n\n47 monthly payments of £393.05 with a final payment of £15000 on the 48th month.\n\nAnother variation is to make 48 monthly payments and the balloon on the 49th month, so this uses the previous formula but with N changed to 49.\n\nM = (B R - L R (1 + R)^N)/(1 + R - (1 + R)^N)\n\nL = £30000\nB = £15000\nR = (1 + 3.9/100)^(1/12) - 1 = 0.00319331 per month\nN = 49 months\n\n∴ M = £386.38\n\n\nYou will have to find out from the lender exactly when the balloon payment is expected and whether it is to be added to one of the regular payments.", "Fairly early on in French, the nasal vowel represented by \"en/em\" merged into the nasal vowel represented by \"an/am\". The exact details of how the merger developed seem to be fairly complicated, but as far as I can tell, it was in progress by the time the word \"example\" entered English and had already affected the spelling of the word in relevant varieties of French, and so English adopted the word with \"a\" rather than with \"e\".\n\nEvpok♦'s answer to a relevant question on French SE, \"Why are “an” and “en” pronounced the same? Pourquoi « an » et « en » ont-ils la même prononciation ?\", links to the blog post \"la nasalization\", by G. Pascault, which says that the change \"ẽ̩m > ãm\" occurred around the 11th-13th centuries (the blog post presents it as part of a general set of changes involving nasal vowels receiving a more open pronunciation, like õ̩n > õ̜n, ĩn > ẽn and ü̃n > œ̃n).\n\nA relevant book I accessed through Google Books, The formation and evolution of the French nasal vowels, by Bernard L. Rochet (1976), says \n\n\n in Old French – with the exception of Picard – eN and aN seem to have been in the process of merging; the extent of the merger varied according to the regions and probably also to the social classes of the speakers. This sociological conditioning of the evolution of eN does not receive any direct empirical support from Old French texts but is inferred from the situation described by the sixteenth century grammarians.\n\n\n(p. 87)\n\nI haven't found a source yet that connects this sound change to the variation in the spelling of the French word essample/essemple/example/exemple, but I assume that is what is behind it.\n\nRochet mentions some other words that showed variation between spellings with \"en/em\" and spellings with \"an/am\", including one that is related to another pair of words showing an am/em change that we see in present-day English: ambassador vs. embassy.\n\n\n The numerous orthographic variants found at that period [the 16th century] indicate that whatever distinctions, based on the opposition eN : aN, were still observed, they were only the remnants of a rapidly disappearing situation. Thus, Robert Estienne (1549) acknowledges the following alternations: \"cravanter ou craventer,\" \"ambassade et embassade\", \"tencer, voyez tanser\", \"panser ung malade. Voyer penser,\" etc. \n\n\n(p. 96)\n\nInterestingly, for ambassade the spelling with a seems to be closer to the etymology, the opposite of the situation with example.", "Stack Exchange's markdown is just a variation of standard Markdown, so the MultiMarkdown editor may be enough of what you want.\n\nOther options:\n\n\nMarkdownPad - a \"fully featured Markdown editor with live preview\". Developed by a SO aficionado. \nEmacs Markdown Mode - a plugin for the common programming editor.\nSee, also, \"Are there any text editors which are Markdown aware and provide spell checking features?\"\nYou can always make your own word-processor, that uses Stack Exchange's exact syntax, by wrapping a GUI around Markdown Sharp, which is Stack Exchange's implementation of its custom markdown.", "This is a term particular to Gougenheim's own framework. A more theory neutral way of stating it would simply be \"allophony\". \n\nGougenheim distinguishes between oppositions phonologiques and variations extraphonologiques. The firsts are meaningful, functional distinctions (i.e. they differentiate phonemes), the seconds don't carry meaning and are outside the phonology of a language (hence extraphonologiques - in other words, they're phones).\n\nHe distinguishes between four variations extraphonologiques:\n\n\nvariations extraphonologiques combinatoires: Despite what the term \"combinatoire may imply, he doesn't just mean assimilation by this (for example, the nasalisation of /g/ to [ŋ] in \"longuement\") but every phenomenon by which a phoneme is realised differently in a language (for example the different realisations of /p/ in English in [pʰ]it and in s[p]it).\nvariations extraphonologiques stylistiques: The different ways a phoneme might be realised by the same speaker in different registers of a language. For example, the same person might realise \"l'autre personne\" as /loːtpɛχ'sɔn/ in a casual conversation, /loːtχəpɛχ'sɔn/ when reading aloud and /loːtχəpɛχ'sɔnə/ when reading poetry aloud. Today we'd simply call it stylistic variation.\nvariations extraphonologiques individuelles: What we today call \"free variation\": something that individual speakers say in a few different manners (sometimes switching apparently randomly between variants). A good example in French would be whether the final consonant of fait, août or almanach is pronounced.\nvariations extraphonologiques concomitantes: Today we'd call that \"sandhi\": in French, elision and liaison are examples. Including sandhi phenomenons in variations is criticable and Gougenheim has been criticized for it.\n\n\nFor a recent review of Gougenheim's theories of phonology, see Peter Swiggers' 2016 paper, \"De Prague à Strasbourg : Phonétique et phonologie du français chez Georges Gougenheim et Georges Straka\"\n\n\n\nAnd yes, that paragraph implies there's two (non meaningful ways to pronounce the phoneme /l/ in French, one that's voiced (like /z/ or /d/) and used in most contexts, and another that's voiceless (like /s/ or /t/) in the word final clusters /kl/, /tl/ and /pl/. Those are two different phones, but not two different phonemes because no two words can ever be distinguished by a voicing distinction of /l/ in French. \n\nFor them to be different phonemes (une opposition phonologique, in Gougenheim's words), you'd need them to potentially appear in the same place in a word or syllable, but that's not the case here. An example of an Language with such a distinction is Old English, where the only difference between land (modern land) and hlant (modern lant, a rarer word for urine) was the difference in voicing of l.", "Non-linguists usually use &quot;phonetic&quot; to refer to certain kinds of spelling systems, whereas linguists have a more technical concept in mind which they use the word &quot;phonetic&quot;. (Usually we use the term to refer to how a language is pronounced, but some languages like ASL aren't pronounced. But the expression &quot;physically realized&quot; is wrong, because we don't talk about written text as being the &quot;phonetic output&quot;). The popular non-linguist concept refers to (1) the extent to which the pronunciation can be predicted from the spelling and (2) the extent to which the spelling can be predicted from the pronunciation. English is &quot;not phonetic&quot; on both counts. Finnish is highly phonetic on both counts. Predicting spelling in French based on pronunciation is very hard (like English), but reading a French text is much less challenging. But even or perhaps especially in a &quot;phonetic&quot; language like Finnish, you have to learn spelling-to-orthography rules.\nSince actual pronunciation is highly variable and people don't change their spellings depending on which of a dozen pronunciation of &quot;traitor&quot; they use at a particular time (unless they are authors trying to convey a regional accent), the idea that there is a single pronunciation of a word in a language is mistaken. But non-linguists who talk about &quot;phonetic languages&quot; aren't concerned with the range of linguistic variation that exists in a society or within an individual, instead there is some presumed standard, and that is what phoneticity is judged on the basis of.\nAs for Sanskrit, it is standardly written in Devanagari so we don't have to say that Sanskrit written in Devanagari is &quot;phonetic&quot;. But is you want to include Sanskrit as written in other scripts, that could be necessary. There is a transliteration scheme for Devanagari where पाणिनि converts to Pāṇini, but Latin based spelling would be &quot;Panini&quot;. I do not know if there is a perfect bidirectional transliteration for Sanskrit into Tamil or Bangla (etc.) alphabets. Incidentally, Sanskrit is a good example of how &quot;phonetic&quot; writing (in the popular sense) is not necessarily phonemic, because the spelling system includes sub-phonemic detail (visarga, the bindu and chandrabindu used for nasalization).", "It seems that most German words that start with the letter p are in fact loan words from various languages. Some words that were spelled with a p in Old High German changed the letter to b, e.g. Baum and Berg:\n\n\n noh paum ... noh pereg ni uuas\n *(noch irgendein Baum noch Berg war)\n\n\nI scanned a list of old words and I think I found a few exceptions though:\n\n\nPein, F., \"Pein, Qual\", mhd. pó ne, pó n, F., pó n, M., \"Strafe, Leibesstrafe, Qual, Pein\", ahd. pó na\nplötzlich, Adj., \"sehr schnell, unerwartet\", (um 1320 unplozlich) zu mhd. blaz, plaz, Sb., \"klatschender Schlag\"\nPranger, M., \"Halseisen mit dem im Mittelalter und in früher Neuzeit ein Übeltäter an einen Schandpfahl gefesselt und öffentlich zur Schau gestellt wird\", fnhd. pfranger, M., \"Pranger\", mhd. ([2. H. 13. Jh.? bzw.] 14. Jh.) pranger, branger", "Those differences just reflect differences in pronunciation: that p in assimptota/assintota is pronounced in Brazil but not in Portugal; and that o is pronounced open in Portugal as the o, both in Brazil and Portugal, in roda, pólen, pódio, or gótico, whereas in Brazil it is closed, as in como, ovo or trôpego.\nGenerally nobody sets out to create these differences. It’s just that pronunciation keeps evolving, and it keeps evolving differently in different places. Now, this used to be no matter. Until the early 20th century these words use to be spelled the same in both Portugal and Brazil, namely abdomen, Antonio, omega, and, brace yourself, asymptota.\nWhat happened was that first Portugal in 1911 and then Brazil in 1943 decided to use accents to show the stressed syllable, namely an acute one if the sound was open, and a circumflex one when the sound was closed. In most cases the sound is either open (lógica, trópico) or closed (trôpego, cômputo) in both in Portugal and Brazil. But some words have a closed sound in Brazil where in Portugal it is open, and so different spellings were born. I think this is the case of all words with a stressed o at the end of a syllable when the next syllable starts with an m or n (e.g. cômico, tônica, errôneo in Brazil but cómico, tónica, erróneoin Portugal). When we have a stressed e instead of o, like cénico/cênico, the pattern is the same, except that there are a few words that take the circumflex accent in Portugal just as they do in Brazil, like fêmea and sêmola. If we have an a instead it’s always a circumflex in both countries: câmara, tâmara, Tânia.\nWith words like assimptota/assintota (or their variants assímptota/assíntota) it’s slightly different. Portuguese language used to be spelled with lots of unpronounced consonants just because those consonant existed in Latin or Greek. For instance we used to spell escriptor, even though nobody pronounced the p, just because it comes from Latim scriptor. Again, Portugal first in 1911 and then Brazil in 1943 abolished these silent consonants. What happened was that some consonants were still pronounced in one country but no longer in the other, so more different spellings were born. However assímptota/assimptota only lost its p in Portugal with the 1990 Acordo Ortográfico (AO90). So I suppose the p was still pronounced in Portugal some decades ago, in the meantime ceased to do so, and they updated the spelling with the AO90 .\n\nYou can read the rules governing accents in the Acordo Ortográfico itself. The rule pertaining to abdómen/abdômen is in Base IX, number 2.a) and 5.a):\n\n2 Recebem, no entanto, acento agudo:\na) As palavras paroxítonas que apresentam na sílaba tónica/tônica as vogais abertas grafadas a, e, o e ainda i ou u e que terminam em -l, -n, -r, -x e -ps, assim como, salvo raras exceções, as respectivas formas do plural [...] dócil [...] dólmen\n[...]\n5 Recebem acento circunflexo:\na) As palavras paroxítonas que contêm na sílaba tónica/tônica as vogais fechadas com a grafia a, e, o e que terminam em -l, -n, -r, ou -x, assim como as respetivas formas do plural, algumas das quais se tornam proparoxítonas: cônsul (pl. cônsules) [...]\n\nThe rules pertaining to António and ómega are in Base XI, number 3:\n\n3 Levam acento agudo ou acento circunflexo as palavras proparoxítonas, reais ou aparentes, cujas vogais tónicas/tônicas grafadas e ou o estão em final de sílaba e são seguidas das consoantes nasais grafadas m ou n, conforme o seu timbre é, respetivamente, aberto ou fechado nas pronúncias cultas da língua: académico/acadêmico, anatómico/anatômico, cénico/cênico, cómodo/cômodo [...] Amazónia/Amazônia, António/Antônio", "The fairly obvious:\n\nLatin orthography is incapable of distinguishing /i/ from /j/, /jː/ (eius /ˈejːus/), and /ji/ (adicio /adˈjikioː/). These are phonemic distinctions: &lt;i&gt; between vowels is almost always /jː/, but it's /j/ in e.g. Gāius; &lt;i&gt; between a not-vowel (word boundary or consonant) and a vowel other than another &lt;i&gt; is almost always /j/, except in loans like iambus /iˈambus/; /ji/ isn't marked at all, because it doesn't &quot;naturally&quot; occur anywhere except in zero-grade compounds of iaciō (e.g. adiciō /adˈjikioː/), where the /j/ is sometimes restored by analogy (but actually adiciō /adˈikioː/ is also attested).(Conversely, I expect but have not confirmed the distinction between &lt;ī&gt; and &lt;ii&gt; is spurious at least some of the time.)\n\n/w/ and /u/ are also certainly separate phonemes in Latin: there's a minimal pair in volvit /ˈwolwit/ 'he rolls' and voluit /ˈwoluit/ 'he wanted', spelled the same.\n\n\nAlso, the diphthongs ae /aj/, eu /ew/, oe /oj/, au /aw/, and ui /uj/ are not distinguishable from the corresponding sequences of two vowels: cui /cuj/ vs. fruitur /fru.i.tur/. Eu as a diphthong exclusively shows up in Greek loans and the interjection (ē)heu; in native words, possible confusion is limited almost entirely to a few instances of ui in practice.\nThe Greek phonemes that got their own spelling (ph, th, ch, and y) were certainly not separate phonemes for most Latin speakers. Likewise, pulcher was surely /'pulker/, not /ˈpulkʰer/, for almost everyone.\nFor a more out-there tack, a case could be made that vowel nasalisation, which was not reflected in writing, might have been phonemic for educated speakers:\nThe well-known instance of nasalisation is before word-final -m (mālum [ˈmaːlũː]), which is perfectly regular so you don't really need to represent it in writing: it's allophonic. It also happens regularly before a nasal consonant followed by /s/, and this is where it possibly breaks down:\nE.g. consul [cõːsul] is frequently written as cosul, which is a non-phonemic spelling but can be dismissed as just an error; certainly the spelling consul also persists. It persists so hard, even, that eventually the n is restored to the pronunciation of the word, which is now [cõːnsul], still written consul: the nasalisation has become phonemic, and it is not represented in the spelling.\nThis is admittedly not an uncontroversial statement: all we know for sure is that in common speech, the n in these positions was not pronounced and the vowel was lengthened compensatorically (this is what we see reflected in the Romance languages, and also mentioned explicitly and implicitly by contemporary grammarians), and that educated Romans did tend to pronounce the n but also keep the vowel long (stated explicitly by Cicero and various grammarians). As far as I know the nasalisation is imputed entirely on typological grounds (Allen does not specify, and I'm away from my other books at the moment; the Romance languages all lost nasalisation everywhere so it's impossible to tell based on the descendants), but eminently plausible; that this nasalisation would be preserved in educated speech does not strike me as unlikely (especially since even the likes of Cicero neglected to pronounce the n in some words, surely with nasalisation there), but isn't directly confirmed.\nIt is, at least, a thing to consider.", "You aren't using the weapon in the attack\nThe melee spell attacks are part of the spell's effect while the weapon used is a material component (part of the casting):\n\nComponents: S, M (a melee weapon worth at least 1 sp)\n\nYou don't use material components to make the attacks, the components of the spell are part of the casting, which results in the spell effect (emphasis mine):\n\nEach spell description begins with a block of information, including the spell's name, level, school of magic, casting time, range, components, and duration. The rest of a spell entry describes the spell's effect.\n[...]\nMaterial (M)\nCasting some spells requires particular objects...\n\nMaterial components and other elements of casting are completely separate from the spell effect (which includes the attacks). As such, you are not using the weapon to make any attack and features like Great Weapon Fighting will not apply.", "To my knowledge, the compounds of jaciō are the only words where this complication occurs. And in Imperial Latin, these words frequently scan with a light initial syllable, indicating loss of /j/ and resyllabification of the final consonant of the prefix, such as /a.bi.ki.oː/.\nScholars of Latin seem to differ somewhat in how they explain the heavy scansion that is normal in Republican Latin poetry. The explanation that you mention in your question (VC.V syllabification of the first two syllables after loss of /j/, such as /ab.i/) is one of three slightly different explanations that I've seen for the heavy scansion. Some sources instead treat this scansion as evidence for the presence of /j/ and a VC.CV syllabification at the time when the poems were composed.\nPossibly, the spelling &quot;i&quot; stood for the sequence /ji/ in Republican Latin\nAccording to Alex B.'s answer here, which cites Allen 1978 and Leumann 1977, the scansion of prefixed compounds of jaciō with a heavy first syllable originally corresponded to a pronunciation with /ji/ like /ab.ji/.\nIt's possible that the spelling ⟨abi⟩ stood for /ab.ji/ due to an orthographic avoidance of double letter ⟨i⟩, which seems to have played a role in the use of single ⟨i⟩ as a representation of phonologically geminate intervocalic /jj/ (discussed by Allen a page away).\nPossibly, a spelling ⟨ie⟩ and pronunciation /je/ were used in Republican Latin, and replaced in later manuscripts with &quot;i&quot;\nI found an interesting but possibly outdated paper by Charles Exon about the pronunciation and spelling of this group of words: &quot;The Form and Prosody of the Compounds of IACIO in the Present Stem&quot; (1904, Hermathena, pages 129-162). Exon argues, partly on the basis of an Index of historical spellings compiled by M. W. Mather, that in the time period where compounds of jaciō regularly scanned with a heavy first syllable, they were pronounced with /je/. The explanation given is that regular vowel reduction would produce a form with /i/, but /j/ was reintroduced by analogy with the unprefixed form, and this caused a form with /je/ to develop by a special process of dissimilation the same way as /wo/ developed in words like servos (nominative singular). (Exon's view is that the use of ⟨o⟩ instead of ⟨u⟩ after ⟨qu⟩ and consonantal ⟨u⟩ was not simply an orthographic phenomenon, but indicative of a phonological process.) Later, this /e/ was raised and the analogically introduced /j/ was lost.\nThere are only a few examples of the spelling ⟨ie⟩ in surviving inscriptions and documents, but Exon finds them significant as he considers retention of archaic orthographic usage the best explanation for these rarely found spellings with ⟨e⟩ (pages 161-162).\nPossibly, VC.V syllabification existed at some point\n&quot;Notes on Glide Treatment in Latin Orthography and Phonology: -iciō, servus, aiō&quot;, by Kanehiro Nishimura (Historische Sprachforschung, 2011), does argue that a VC.V syllabification like /ab.i.ki.oː/ existed for some speakers after the deletion of the glide /j/, writing &quot;*ab-i̯aciō &gt; (*)ab-i̯[ə]ciō &gt; **ab-i̯iciō&quot; to a final form where i̯ is double struck through, indicating glide deletion. According to Nishimura, &quot;When the original morpheme boundary is retained in speakers' grammar, this prefixed verb may be scanned as HLLH (i.e., /ab.i.ci.o/)&quot; (page 198).\nI find this account somewhat problematic however because in all other contexts, Latin seems to have regularly preferred to resyllabify a consonant across a morpheme boundary to repair an empty onset. If the heavy scansion remained even after the deletion of /j/ because of psychological recognition of the original morpheme boundary, why isn't heavy scansion of the first syllable ever seen in even the most transparent compounds of originally vowel-initial verbs, which contain equally apparent morpheme boundaries?\nAfter the loss of /j/ in Imperial Latin, an artificial poetic pronunciation might have existed with a lengthened vowel in the first syllable\nImperial Latin speakers who normally used /j/-less pronunciations starting with a light open syllable, such as /a.bi.ki.oː/, may have used pronunciations with a lengthened vowel, such as /aː.bi.ki.oː/, when reading poetry where the word has to scan with a heavy first syllable. Aulus Gellius complains about hearing speakers use unetymologically long vowels [oː] and [uː] for the sake of the meter in the first syllables of words like obiciebat and subicit (Attic Nights 4.17.1).", "This is just a weird facet of modern English pronunciation. I don't know any particularly good explanation or mnemonic. &quot;Creature&quot; and &quot;creative&quot; are actually both pronounced somewhat irregularly/unpredictably, although in different ways (in &quot;creature&quot;, the sequence &quot;ea&quot; is pronounced in an unexpected way, and in &quot;creative&quot;, the stress is placed in an unexpected place).\nSome background material: the digraph &quot;ea&quot; is often used in English to represent a single vowel sound, and its etymological origin in these contexts is usually a single vowel sound or diphthong: e.g. &quot;beak&quot; from French bec, &quot;bean&quot; from Old English bēan (Old English &quot;ea&quot; was a diphthong, not a sequence of two separate vowels), &quot;treat&quot; from Old French tretier, traitier (modern French &quot;traiter&quot;).\nThe spelling and pronunciation of &quot;creature&quot; appears at first glance to fit this pattern, but actually, the &quot;ea&quot; in &quot;creature&quot; doesn't come from a historical monophthong or diphthong. It comes from two vowels in hiatus (the OED says &quot;&lt; Anglo-Norman creatur, Anglo-Norman and Old French criature, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French creature (French créature)&quot;).\nRegarding the pronunciation, the OED says\n\nThe stem vowel appears to have shown some variation in early modern English, but generally to have shown the reflex of Middle English open ē; the different developments of this sound in different regional varieties of English largely account for the variation in the stem vowel which is found subsequently. (There is also very limited evidence for a trisyllabic pronunciation in early modern English, on the same pattern as creation n.) critter n. shows a variant with shortening of the stem vowel after raising to /iː/. The realization of the second syllable varied in Middle English and early modern English according to whether this syllable showed secondary stress; pronunciations of the type /ˈkriːtʃə/ ultimately reflect pronunciations with secondary stress, while pronunciations of the type /ˈkriːtə/ ultimately reflect pronunciations without such secondary stress. Compare forms at nature n., pasture n., etc.\n\nIn trisyllabic or polysyllabic words taken from French, stress often seems to move &quot;back&quot; from the final syllable in an alternating fashion. I'll give an example: the word &quot;relative&quot;, from French relatif/relative, is thought to have been pronounced with stress on the final syllable in the past (the modern French pronunciation sounds to an English ear like it has final stress). The present-day stress on the first syllable in English can be explained as a strengthening of an originally secondary stress on the first syllable. Alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables is known to be a tendency in English pronunciation: for example, compare the pronunciation of &quot;prohibit&quot;, where the first syllable has no secondary stress because it immediately precedes a stressed syllable, to that of &quot;prohibition&quot;, which seems to have secondary stress on the first syllable.\nAnyway, the alternating-stress explanation is a bit hypothetical, but we can verify that many trisyllables and polysyllables from French are currently pronounced with stress on the third-to-last or &quot;antepenultimate&quot; syllable. (There are classes of regular or predictable exceptions to this stress pattern, like words with a &quot;heavy&quot; consonant cluster after the second-to-last syllable, e.g. &quot;collective&quot; or &quot;deceptive&quot;.)\nCreative\n&quot;Creative&quot; is an unpredictable exception to the general tendency towards antepenultimate stress in words of this type: there is no obvious explanation for its penult stress that I know of (it only has a single consonant after the stressed syllable).\nIt seems likely that &quot;creative&quot; has a stressed, &quot;long&quot; vowel in the second-to-last syllable in part due to influence from the verb &quot;create&quot;. Word-final stress is somewhat regular in certain types of disyllabic verbs. (See this question for notes on the pronunciation of other adjectives ending in -ative: Is there a rule for the position of the accent (stressed sound) in words ending with -ative?)\nIt may also be related to the use of penult stress in the noun &quot;creator&quot;: note that all speakers use this stress pattern for this word, while some other nouns ending in &quot;-ator&quot; like &quot;narrator&quot; and &quot;dictator&quot; may be pronounced with antepenultimate stress.\nCreature\nAccording to the alternating-stress/antepenultimate stress principle (which, as mentioned, doesn't always accurately predict the position of stress in modern English), the word &quot;creature&quot; would have been expected to be pronounced something like /ˈkriːətʃər/. However, in a sequence of a stressed vowel immediately followed by unstressed schwa, like [iːə], it's relatively easy for the schwa to be lost. That seems to have happened here. It's also possible that the disyllabic pronunciation was strengthened by the many words spelled with &quot;ea&quot; representing a monophthong, including the now-rhyming &quot;feature&quot; from Old French feture, faiture.", "Dammi is simply the usual unified form for da' (or dai), the second person singular imperative of the verb dare (= “to give”), and the pronoun mi, that is, a me (= “to me”). All in all, dammi is just “give me” (and hence dammi un bacio means “kiss me”).\n\nThe “m” is doubled since in such juxtapositions a phenomenon called raddoppiamento fonosintattico (syntactic doubling) happens, in which – simplifying a bit – when a vowel (a stressed one or the only vowel in certain one-syllable words) at the end of a word meets a consonant at the beginning of the next one, the consonant is doubled. Most of time, this is just heard in pronunciation (è vero is pronounced as if it were written “evvéro”); but in single words formed by the joining of two words as above, the phenomenon appears in spelling too: davvero, ebbene, frattanto and so on.\n\nAttaching the direct or indirect or indirect object (or both) to the verb is the rule for imperatives, with or without doubling, as the case may be. For instance: prendilo (“catch it”), falle (“do [something] to her”), dimmelo (“say it to me”).\n\nAs for dai, be aware of the fact that it is both one form of the imperative (“give!”) and the second person singular of the indicative mood (“you give”). Which one we are using is often understood by the structure of the sentence. In your example, mi dai un bacio could only mean “you give me a kiss”, as in “you are giving me, right now, a kiss”, not an order or a request.\n\nFinally, mi dia un bacio is what you would say formally, to a person with whom you use Lei, while dammi un bacio is what you'd say to some with whom you have more familiarity (addressing them with tu). (In either case, I wouldn't ask peremptorily for a kiss...)\n\n(A final piece of advice: When in doubt, forget WordReference; it's not exactly an authoritative source.)", "I would say that, rather than being a matter of either grammar or inflection, the use of -t- or -tt- is just a convention about the spelling of these words. The pronunciation of the double -tt- in &quot;omitted&quot; doesn't contrast with the pronunciation of the single -t- in a word like &quot;literally&quot; or &quot;mitigation&quot;. The usual phonemic transcription of a word like &quot;omitted&quot; would only include one /t/. The inflectional suffix is the same in both vomiting and emitting: it is -ing.\nAs outlined in the answers to &quot;Focussed&quot; or &quot;focused&quot;? Rules for doubling the last consonant when adding -ed and various other questions on this site, the use of double consonant letters before certain vowel-initial suffixes in English spelling is very closely correlated with the stress pattern of a word (and also with the type of vowel sound preceding the consonant).\nMany English verbs that have forms spelled with -tt- can in fact be traced back to etymological sources with phonetically long /tː/ (in Old English, in some other Germanic language, or in Latin), but I would say that the relationship is only indirect: we see this correlation because a vowel before a historically single -t- was often either unstressed, or lengthened if stressed. For example, the verb hate historically had a short /a/, but this was lengthened in Middle English. The set of lengthening changes like this presumably contributed to the modern English convention of marking short vowels by doubling a following consonant letter.\nHowever, this kind of lengthening was not so regular for the vowels i or u. It seems that the verb put did not actually originally have /tː/ (the OED says the corresponding OE forms are probably something like *pūtian, *putian, pȳtan, potian). Similarly, the verb nut is derived from the noun, which corresponds to an Old English form with singleton /t/, like hnutu. Despite the etymologies of these words, putting and nutting are spelled with -tt- in present-day English.\nThe verb vet is ultimately derived from Latin veterīnārius, with singleton /t/, but we write vetting and vetted.\nIf &quot;emitting&quot; does phonologically contain double tt, then &quot;emit&quot; probably does also\nSome linguists have considered the possibility that the English sound system might contain some very abstract elements and processes: for example,\n\na process that shortens underlying aː or lengthens underlying a to produce the surface alternation between æ and eɪ in certain words like sane/sanity;\n\na word-final vowel that has zero as its surface realization (supposedly present in words like ellipse);\n\na process that turns underlying ng into ŋ in certain contexts (e.g. in word-final position)\n\n\nIn theories like this, I have seen reference to the concept of &quot;virtual geminate&quot; consonants that are supposed to explain the otherwise exceptional pronunciations of certain words; I think that for example, the final stress of words like omit, emit, permit could be interpreted as a sign that they &quot;underlyingly&quot; end in tt even in the present-day sound system of English. But I don't think many people actually believe that theories like this are true. Even if it were true, this tt would be part of the root: words ending in tt would take the same inflectional suffixes as words ending in single t.", "Feather's replacement effect does not apply to a card exiled and cast with Dire Fleet Daredevil.\n\nDire Fleet Daredevil specifically takes a card from an opponent's graveyard, so you do not own any card cast this way. Then the final step of resolving spells and abilities, rule 608.2k, says\n\n\n As the final part of an instant or sorcery spell's resolution, the spell is put into its owner's graveyard. As the final part of an ability's resolution, the ability is removed from the stack and ceases to exist.\n\n\nSince your opponent owns the card, it would be put into that players graveyard, not yours, in this step.\n\nThe exact wording of Feather's ability is as follows:\n\n\n Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell that targets a creature you control, exile that card instead of putting it into your graveyard as it resolves. If you do, return it to your hand at the beginning of the next end step.\n\n\nSince the card would not be put into your graveyard at all, Feather's replacement effect does not apply and the card is exiled by Dire Fleet Daredevil's replacement effect.\n\nThis is confirmed in an official ruling on Feather's Gatherer page:\n\n\n If you cast an instant or sorcery spell that you don’t own, it won’t try to be put into your graveyard, so you won’t exile it with Feather’s effect or return it to your hand.\n\n\n\n\nIf Feather's ability instead replaced the spell moving to any graveyard, it still wouldn't put the card into your hand. Rule 400.3 says\n\n\n If an object would go to any library, graveyard, or hand other than its owner's, it goes to its owner's corresponding zone.\n\n\nSo, in that situation Feather's replacement effect would end up putting the card back into your opponents hand. This is almost always undesirable, so it's very likely that Feather's ability was purposely written to avoid that.", "Depends on how you define \"liaison\" in Korean. In French, the final consonant is often dropped when the word is pronounced on its own. \n\n\ngrand /ɡʁɑ̃/ (The d is dropped)\n\n\nIn Korean, this never happens. What happens instead is the final consonant is simplified when the word is pronounced on its own. (Square brackets [ ] denote the pronunciation)\n\n\n옷 [옫]\n낮 [낟]\n꽃 [꼳]\n부엌 [부억]\n팥 [팓]\n무릎 [무릅]\n\n\nRefer to https://korean.stackexchange.com/a/2667/109 for more info on this topic.\n\n\n But in Korean, is there any chance to have an exception to the rule, depending on the words involved?\n\n\nWhen there is a vowel following a word with a final consonant, the final consonant is always moved to the following syllable, except when there is a pause between the two.\n\n\n옷에 [오세]\n옷 위에 [오뒤에]\n옷 pause 위에 [옫.위에]\n\n\nThe pause is not written in writing, and people can arbitrarily insert them between words for emphasis, or for clarification.\n\n\n범인은 이 사람입니다. [사라밈니다] \"The perpetrator is this person.\"\n범인은 이 사람! 입니다. [사람.임니다] : Emphasis added to \"이 사람\"\n제 이름은 박준연입니다. [박쭈녀님니다] \"My name is Parm Jun-yeon.\"\n제 이름은 박.준.연.입니다. [박.준.연.임니다] : Pause added between each syllable to clarify the spelling of the name\n\n\n\n Also, does the liaison happen even if it is used with a space?\n\n\nYes, as I have demonstrated with the \"옷 위에\" example above.", "I need to contradict the notion of \"elision requirement\" postulated in one of the comments on the previous question. In written Latin there is no elision. You write quite simply \"contra audacem\", \"mea anima\" etc. In poetry the final vowel of the first word will usually be elided (or perhaps merely shortened), or not, as required, but in any event this does not affect the spelling. In prose there is no way of knowing whether that vowel is dropped or not.", "Building off F1Krazy's and Techidiot's answers...\n\nUsing the directions and the notes:\n\n\n Numbers correspond to the nth word of the opposite note. So, \"36A\" is the 36th word of Note 2, \"2B\" is the 2nd word of Note 1, and so on. Take each of these words and you get \"diabolical i as gone on not am like\". Doesn't seem to make any sense at first, but the first letters of the words spell out \"DIAGONAL\".\n\n\nHint 1, plus the word search, leads us to:\n\n\n \n\n\nNotice that\n\n\n the first letters of the words spell out \"DOUBLE SPIRAL\".\n\n\nHints 2-5 nudge us to:\n\n\n Use the double spiral pictured- on the notes, not the wordsearch. I noticed that if you put gridlines on the spiral, it makes 90 squares total, 36 gold and 54 grey. Since Note 1 has 54 words, and Note 2 has 36, I take a guess and put the first letters of each word in.\n After experimenting with both starting-at-the-centre, and both starting-from-the-edge, I finally try one each direction, and end up with \n \n \n\n\nSo the answer is:\n\n\n Techidiot!\n\n\nEpilogue from OP\n\nThe host arrives at Techidiot’s great luxurious mansion. Waiting outside is the famous individual himself, accompanied by our prize-winner, BeastlyGerbil. Without a word, he hands our host a sheet of paper, and leaves. The host takes a look at the sheet, and noticing it has an address, knows what to do. He leaves the mansion, with nothing but revenge in his heart, ready to do justice to the criminal who has caused him so much trouble.\n\nBeastlyGerbil gazes at the disappearing figure. “Do you really think he has the power to solve the final puzzle?” he asks.\n\nTechidiot looks at him and gives a weary smile.\n\n“We’ll just have to find out, won’t we?”", "Yes, you can cast spells with a Material (M) component without issue.\nYour Holy Symbol takes care of it.\nThis is one of the more difficult things to look up in the current 5e rules. It starts on page 58, under Cleric spellcasting:\n\nYou can use a holy symbol (found in chapter 5) as a spellcasting focus for your cleric spells.\n\nIn the equipment section, page 151:\n\n... A cleric or paladin can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus, as described in chapter 10. To use the symbol in this way, the caster must hold it in hand, wear it visibly, or bear it on a shield.\n\nFinally, page 203, under Material (M):\n\nA character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus (found in chapter 5) in place of the components specified for a spell.\n\nPut it all together: You can use a visibly worn holy symbol (no hands required) in place of the material components for a spell.\nSomatic Components\nWhat's more likely to trip clerics up are somatic components, which ALSO require a free hand but aren't covered by the holy symbol.\nFortunately, the rules are pretty lax on this point. Page 203 outlines interacting with objects:\n\nYou can also interact with one object or feature of the environment for free, during either your move or your action. For example, you could open a door during your move as you stride toward a foe, or you could draw your weapon as part of the same action you use to attack.\n\n(See this answer for more info)\nA very strict reading of this would allow the cleric to sheath his weapon, cast his spell, and then draw his weapon again the next turn (giving up opportunity attacks for a turn).\nOR, you can drop your weapon (free), cast your spell, and then use your free interaction to pick it up again.\nOR, pick up the War Caster feat (as you have).\nOR, just ask your DM to go easy on you...", "The name \"Marduk\", as in the deity, was originally written . This spells out something like amar utu, with the first sign being silent ([DIŊIR], or [D] for short—basically meaning \"what follows is a divine name\", for disambiguation). All together, it means something like \"solar calf\", in Sumerian.\n\nWhen the Akkadians and others borrowed the writing system, though, they didn't always use it phonetically. When they wanted to write about Marduk, they used these same signs for Marduk—even though the Akkadians pronounced their deity's name Marduk, and the signs phonetically spell out Amar Utu.\n\nThis is called a Sumerogram, and in Latin transcriptions, it's written with capital letters to show that those letters have no relationship to the actual pronunciation. When an Akkadian-speaker writes , we transcribe it as [D]AMAR.UTU, and it phonetically spells out amar utu, but the actual intended pronunciation was more like marduk.\n\nSo the capitalization in the British Museum's transcription is important: Marduk-nadin-ahhe's name, as written on the blade, is [D]AMAR.UTU-SUM-ŠEŠ.MEŠ. In other words, there are three different Sumerograms, which represent Sumerian words pronounced amar utu, sum, and šeš meš.\n\nBut the name, as actually spoken, used translations of those three words: Marduk, nādin, aḫḫē. That is, his name was pronounced something like Marduk-nādin-aḫḫē by his subjects, despite the spelling—amar utu sum šeš meš is just what you get when you read the characters as if they were Sumerian.\n\n(His name is also sometimes written as [M][D]AMAR.UTU-na-din-MU, using a mixture of Sumerograms and actual phonetic characters. Here, the characters in the middle actually represent the pronunciations na and din, not any meaning in Sumerian.)", "For spell-check in Illustrator cs6\n\nChoose Edit > Check Spelling.\n\nClick Start to begin checking the spelling.\n\nWhen Illustrator displays misspelled words or other possible errors, do one of the following:\n\n\nClick Ignore or Ignore All to continue spell-checking without changing a certain word.\nSelect a word from the Suggestions list or type the correct word in the top box, and then click Change to change.\nClick Add to have Illustrator store the new word.\n\n\nclick Done when finish", "You can use the spellbadword function:\n\nspellbadword([{sentence}])\n ...\n With argument: The result is the first word in {sentence} that\n is badly spelled. If there are no spelling mistakes the\n result is an empty string.\n\n The return value is a list with two items:\n - The badly spelled word or an empty string.\n - The type of the spelling error:\n \"bad\" spelling mistake\n \"rare\" rare word\n \"local\" word only valid in another region\n \"caps\" word should start with Capital\n Example: \n echo spellbadword(\"the quik brown fox\")\n ['quik', 'bad'] \n\n\nSo:\n\nfunction Good(word)\n return len(spellbadword(a:word)[0]) == 0\nendfunction\n\n\nThen:\n\n:echo Good('crazy')\n1\n:echo Good('crzy')\n0", "First, note that French spelling is primarily based on pronunciation, but secondarily based on etymology. There are many words for which the pronunciation allows many different spellings, and the choice of an actual spelling reflects the word's etymology. For example, most silent letters reflect a sound that existed in Old French or Latin.\n\nI think I see what rule you're thinking of. It's easier to understand if you look at how to go from the spelling to the pronunciation rather than the other way round.\n\nFirst, if the letter e has an accent, it dictates the pronunciation: é is always¹ pronounced with the half-closed sound /e/ while è and ê are pronounced with the half-open sound /ɛ/. For the unadorned letter e, there are three cases (which have a few exceptions):\n\n\nAt the end of a syllable, e is pronounced /ə/; this sound is unstressed and often omitted in speech (more or less often depending on how hard it is to pronounce the resulting sequence of consonants). If the e is not sounded, then any preceding consonant is thrown into the preceding syllable. Examples: secret /sə.kʁɛ/, samedi /sam.di/ or /sa.mə.di/.\nAt the end of a word², e is almost always not sounded (“e muet”) in most dialects of French.\nWhen there is a subsequent consonant in the syllable, e is pronounced /ɛ/. Common cases are e followed by a double consonant, and e followed by a single consonant at the end of a word when the consonant is sounded. Examples: belle /bɛl/, sec /sɛk/, secteur /sɛktœʁ/.\nWords ending in -et are pronounced /ɛ/, and words ending in -er are pronounced /e/. Examples: secret /sə.kʁɛ/, parler /paʁ.le/.\nNote that single-syllable words ending in -er usually sound the r (and by the rule above the e is pronounced with an open sound): cher /ʃɛʁ/, mer /mɛʁ/.\nSingle-syllable articles ending in -es have a pronunciation that varies between [e] and [ɛ] depending on the sentence and the speaker: ces, des, les, mes, tes.\n\n\nNote that the rules above, in addition to having exceptions, do not give a complete key to the pronunciation of a word because you need to know where to break up the syllables.\n\nTo go from pronunciation to spelling: /ə/ is spelled e and /e/ is spelled é (except in the -er final). As for the open sound /ɛ/:\n\n\nIf there is a subsequent consonant in the same syllable, then an unadorned e is pronounced /ɛ/ already, and therefore the word is spelled without an accent. Examples: belle /bɛl/, sec /sɛk/, secteur /sɛktœʁ/.\nIf there used to be a subsequent consonant but that consonant disappeared at some point in Old French, then the consonant is replaced by circumflex mark. The consonant is usually an s, and there are often related words that have kept the s. Examples: être (distantly related to essence), fête (related to festival), forêt (related to forestier).\nOtherwise the spelling is è (grave accent), though sometimes ê is used for purely arbitrary reasons.\n\n\nNote that the sounds /e/ and /ɛ/ can also be written -ai-. This is purely based on etymology: -ai- derives from a root that had both a and i, usually separated by a consonant that was eroded but may still be found in related words. For example, faire comes from the Latin facio (related to factuel, from a pre-Latin root taci(t)-), maire (from maior), taire (from tacio, related to taciturne). Etymology can be tricky to trace sometimes, due to the way different words evolved at different times and in different directions: constrast chair from carnis (now associated with the root carn-) with cher from carus (related to caritas, with an i still present in French words like charité and caritatif).\n\n¹ Well, almost always. \n² Or when the e is followed by a silent letter: mainly this covers words ending in -es, and there is also -ent in the specific case of a third person plural conjugated verb. \n³ As opposed to mer, related to maritime, where it's the a alone that became e and not a plus a following consonant.", "How can the error in area be as large as $50$ while using a $1\\: \\rm m$ precision ruler?\n\nWell, because you are multiplying the reading of that &quot;precise&quot; ruler with a large number ($\\approx 300$ in your case). So even an error of $0.5 \\: \\rm m$, could scale itself up and manifest itself as a $\\approx 150 \\:\\rm m^2$ error in the final result. And this is the reason why the maximum and the minimum areas differ from the calculated area by approximately $150 \\: \\rm m^2$. If you also take into account the variation in the value of length, you could exactly predict the deviation of the minimum and the maximum areas from the calculated value.\nSo, it's quite logical to have a large deviation in such a quantity, and thus to reduce the sigfigs to show the amount of uncertainty. In fact, strictly speaking, even rounding off to one significant digit isn't enough, since the maximum and the minimum areas differ by more than $200 \\:\\rm m^2$. However, rounding off to the lowest number of sigfigs in either of the initial quantities, works as nice tool/trick to give a vague, albeit not precise, idea of uncertainty." ]

[ "Hasan Minhaj was one of Jon Stewart's last hires on The Daily Show. As a correspondent, he's covered Pope Francis' recent visit to the U.S., labor issues and negotiations with Iran. On the side, he's been working on a solo theater piece called Homecoming King that gets its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theater on Thursday. Homecoming King is a roller-coaster ride. Onstage, Minhaj is a charming, energetic comedian and an absorbing storyteller. He talks about how his white friends acted at his traditional, Indian wedding. \"I don't know if you guys know this but, whenever you guys go to anything remotely ethnic, you guys act like you're on molly. Like all of my white friends were losing their minds at my wedding. They would be like 'Oh my god Hasan. Oh. Oh. The colors! Oh. The colors!\" He talks about visiting relatives in India. \"I feel like the rapper that made it. Like, this is what I go back to. And I'm just like, 'This is how you guys are living? What? Yo, when Hasan's here everybody eats, son, everybody eats. Capri Suns on me, fam. Gushers on me, fam. Fruit Roll-Ups on me. You're welcome. They're losing their minds over stale Oreos. 'Oh my god, Hasan, it's one cookie, but now it's two.' And I'm like, 'I'm not even gonna give you a Thin Mint. You will s*** your pants.\" Minhaj grew up in Davis, Calif. After he was born, his mother returned to India to finish medical school. For the first eight years of his life, it was just him and his dad, he says. \"We were basically two brown dudes trying to make it in America. He's trying to navigate being the only brown guy at his work. He's this single guy, but he's married. And he has this kid, this son he's raising. And I'm navigating growing up in this sea of white. I'm this one brown speck in my class photo.\" Millions of Americans can relate to the immigrant and first generation experience, says Minhaj. \"This first generation narrative keeps happening over and over and over again. Whether it was Irish or Jewish or our community, South Asians, Japanese-Americans, Mexican-Americans. We've all gone through this sort of bridge and it will continue to happen.\" Minhaj's dad was strict and fearful of American high school traditions. Minhaj says he wasn't allowed to go to movies or football games. One of his good friends — a white girl named Bethany Reed — asked him to the prom. In Homecoming King, Minhaj translates his dad's response thusly: \"Hasan I will break your face.\" But, like a good, American teenager, Hasan went anyway. He put on his JC Penney suit, snuck out and rode his bike over to his date's house. \"And I'm making sure I'm biking extra wide with my knees out. That way my slacks don't get caught up in my bike chains.\" With a genuine look of pride on his face, Minhaj tells the audience he felt like he was \"living the American Dream\" on that bike ride. Until he got to his date's house. When the front door opened, another boy was putting a corsage on Bethany. Her mother explained: \"'See, we have a lot of family back in Ohio, and we're going to be taking a lot of pictures tonight, and they're going to see them. And we don't know if it would be a good fit for us. Do you need a ride home? Mr. Reed can give you a ride home.' And I said, 'No, I'm OK. I have my bike.' And I biked home and I snuck back into my room and I just played Mario Kart for the rest of the night. And that's the best I've ever been dressed playing Mario Kart.\" When Jessica Pilot, who directs a Web series for The Village Voice called This Is Stand-Up, saw Homecoming King, she was surprised at how personal the experience felt. \"We're not just hearing it. We're seeing and we're almost feeling it because Hasan Minhaj is a great storyteller,\" she says. Minhaj first told his prom story for a live event for The Moth. He says he heard from all kinds of people who said they'd experienced the same kind of rejection, and thanked him for finding the humor in it. \"I realized that, in life, whenever I've shared these stories, both laughter and sadness were essentially one and the same,\" he says. Earlier this year, when Minhaj performed Homecoming King at the annual comedy festival in Montreal, the audience was right there with him, in tears of both laughter and pain." ]

[ "Terrible things are everywhere — and so is laughter. The documentary Stand Up Planet, premiering on TV May 14, features comedians in India and South Africa confronting very serious issues. \"Comedy is one of those few things where you can discuss those things,\" says the film's host, Hasan Minhaj. Minhaj, a Los Angeles-based comedian, says the goal of the project was to follow the jokes in to people's lives. \"I think the best comedians have that bravery and courage to say, 'This is what it is, this is unfair, that's not cool,' \" he tells NPR's Arun Rath. For the project, a comedian from South Africa and another from India performed in Los Angeles at the Laugh Factory comedy club. Aditi Mittal is one of only three English-speaking, female comedians in India. Soweto-born Mpho Popps brings awareness and laughter to the realities of the AIDs epidemic in South Africa. \"They did great,\" says Minhaj. \"Everybody at the show at the laugh factory, they loved them.\" Minhaj says he was thankful for the opportunity to put a spotlight on comedy, and important causes. \"I think the way comedy is represented on screen is it's either all fart jokes — and it's just laughter for the sake of laughter — or it's one of those things where it's just kind of very preachy, very heavy-handed,\" Minhaj says. \"I think this project was one of the few things I've done in my career where it bridges that gap, and we dance in both circles.\" ARUN RATH, HOST: If you're just joining us, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR West. I'm Arun Rath. It's been said that comedy is tragedy plus time. It seems that's true across the world. (SOUNDBITE OF COMEDY SHOW) CAVISA LEDIGA: As a black guy we do kind of blame apartheid a lot. You know, you have a guy with a headache, you'd be like, hey, what's wrong? I think it's apartheid. (LAUGHTER) RATH: That's Cavisa Lediga performing in South Africa. He's one of several comedians featured in the documentary \"Stand Up Planet.\" L.A.-based comic Hasan Minhaj is our onscreen guide to the \"Stand Up Planet.\" He takes us around the world to find comedians confronting very serious issues with comedy. HASAN MINHAJ: There's all sorts of terrible things that happen around the world. And comedy's one of those few things where you can discuss those things. RATH: As Minhaj told me, the goal of this project was to follow the jokes into people's lives. MINHAJ: To show that a comedian on stage in India talking about sanitation or in South Africa talking about HIV and AIDS awareness, if you follow the joke into their lives you can see that like, oh, these things aren't just contrived in joke books. This is real life. I think the best comedians have that bravery and courage to say, oh, this is what it is. This is unfair. That's not cool and everybody in that moment collectively the crowd is, like, yes. RATH: Let's start off with the first stop on your trip which is India. And I think a lot of people have this idea of India, well, it's a big democracy so there must be free speech. MINHAJ: Right. RATH: Not so much. MINHAJ: Not so much. I met two amazing comedians, one named Tanmay Bhat and the other was Aditi Mittal. And Tanmay has one of the most popular podcasts in India. (SOUNDBITE OF COMEDY SHOW) TANMAY BHAT: So what are we discussing on today's episode? (Unintelligible) he's in custody right now for 14 days.... MINHAJ: It's not even like it was, like, very lude or crass. It's controversial in the sense of the institutions that it was mocking and the institutions that it was criticizing that it got pulled off of iTunes India. That didn't stop them. They uploaded it to Sound Cloud and to other third-party upload sites where people could still get that content. And that was really cool to see that. RATH: Now you were - I thought this was pretty brave of you, you decided to perform there. MINHAJ: Yeah. RATH: We have a little clip of your performance. (SOUNDBITE OF COMEDY SHOW) MINHAJ: I got off the plane, they said, hey. There was a guy, his name is Rog, he'll pick you up. I'm in (bleep) India, man. How many Rog's are there? I come out. There's 97 brown dudes, sir, sir, sir. Well, don't, I can't - I'm going to believe all of you. True story. RATH: Yeah, but they... MINHAJ: True story. RATH: ...they seem to go for it. MINHAJ: Yeah, man. When I took the stage, man, I'm not going to lie. Like, I was just shaking. You know, growing up in the states there's this part of me that's like, man, I'm Indian. Like, this is where I belong. And as soon as I got to India and I had to go to the bathroom in some places, I was, like, man I am American. RATH: Boy, do I know what you're talking about. (LAUGHTER) MINHAJ: Bring me to Jamba Juice. I love air conditioning and Starbucks. And then I would check myself. I was like, Hasan, you were going to the bathroom in this hole. You are doing it. Man up. (LAUGHTER) RATH: So you decided to - you were going to bring a comic from each of the countries you visit. With India you went with Aditi Mittal. MINH", "Mainstream hip-hop fans in the U.S. may have missed the latest single from the rapper Snoop Dogg. But ask a Hindi-speaking music fan about the song, and he or she can probably sing you the hook. That's because it's a collaboration with the Bollywood star Akshay Kumar. The song is called \"Singh Is King,\" and it's from a popular Bollywood film of the same name. In the video for the song, Snoop dons an embroidered coat and a turban, and sits with his legs crossed atop a throne. He looks quite comfortable in the role of Indian royalty and it seems he's gotten a cultural pass. Some South Asian music critics even describe the scene as Snoop Dogg \"going desi.\" The word \"desi\" comes from Sanskrit and means \"from the country\" or \"of the country.\" It's used by South Asian immigrants to refer to someone or something from the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora. The word implies shared values and bonds. This is not the first time an American rapper has collaborated with a desi artist. In 2003, Jay-Z released the track \"Beware of the Boys,\" a remix of the Panjabi MC song \"Mundian to Bach Ke,\" rocketing the South Asian artist to a global audience. But Singh Is King marks the first time a U.S. rap star has appeared in a Bollywood film. Anjula Acharia-Bath created the Web site www.desihits.com. She left the United Kingdom for the United States in 2001 and says she was dismayed to find that the fusion of music she'd grown up with — a mix of Bollywood with bhangra and hip hop — wasn't really getting much play here. \"If you think of someone like M.I.A., she really represents that genre which we call urban desi. Reggae, hip hop, ska. In the U.K., it's really commonplace; you hear it in clubs, bars, everywhere,\" Acharia-Bath says. M.I.A. has achieved critical and commercial success in the U.K. and the U.S. Music from other urban desi performers like Panjabi MC and RDB is making its way to this country through U.K. distributors and is sold primarily in South Asian stores. Shaman Ajmani first heard urban desi while working the counter at his father's Indian music store in Berkeley, Calif. He says it took a while for American desis to break into the rap game and that even though black and South Asian melodies blend seamlessly, the cultural exchange isn't always harmonious. \"I do see some Indians over here using the N word. It's so annoying. I feel like saying, 'What're you doing, man? Don't try to be black.'\" Acharia-Bath says for young South Asians in the West, this music culture represents a kind of freedom — not having to choose between two worlds. \"We needed to create something that defined us and was our identity but makes us feel really good about this bicultural life that we lead,\" she says. Now, urban desi music is trying to circle back to the motherland, finding an audience among young people in India. Western content is flying there through social-networking sites. Snoop says he's making plans to tour India. MELISSA BLOCK, host: You might have missed the latest release from Snoop Dogg, but ask a Hindi-speaking hip-hop fan about the song, and they can probably sing you the hook. That's because the song is a collaboration with the Bollywood star Akshay Kumar. Nishat Kurwa reports on the growing genre that blends South Asian pop culture and urban black music. NISHAT KURWA: In the video for the song \"Singh is King,\" Snoop dons an embroidered coat and a turban and sits with his lanky legs crossed atop a throne. He looks quite comfortable in the milieu of Indian royalty, even if it is just a stage set. Some South Asian music critics even describe the scene as Snoop Dogg going desi. Desi is a Hindi word. It means from the land, the South Asian diaspora, India to Nepal to Sri Lanka. (Soundbite of song \"Singh is King\") Mr. SNOOP DOGG: (Rapping) Singh is the king. Check the records. RDB: (Singing) Yaari hai jaan ehna di, Vakhri hai shaan ehna di, Hasna pehchaan ehna di, Tahiyon eh duniya kehndi. KURWA: This kind of hip-hop, desi music mash-up inspired the Web site desihits.com. Founder Anjula Ancharia Bhatt left the U.K. for the States in 2001. She was dismayed to find that the fusion music culture she'd grown up with wasn't really getting much play from South Asian Americans. Ms. ANJULA ANCHARIA BHATT (Founder, Desihits.com): Kind of like a lot of Bollywood mixed with, you know, bhangra, mixed with hip-hop. (Soundbite of urban desi music) Ms. BHATT: You think of someone like MIA, for example. She's really representative of that genre which is what we call urban desi, which is just a mash-up of urban music. (Soundbite of urban desi music) KURWA: Shaman Ajmani first heard this urban desi music while manning the counter at his father's Indian music store in Berkeley, California. Ms. SHAMAN AJMANI (Staff Member, Indian Music Store): That wasn't available for us here in the U.S. Nobody was doing it. KURWA: His dad's customers were mostly shopping for more traditional Bollywood soundtracks like this one. (Soundbite ", "With David Folkenflik Former CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin sends up the TV news business in a novel way. Want more from the show? You can get messages right from our hosts (and more opportunities to engage with the show) sent directly to your inbox with the On Point newsletter. Subscribe here. \nGuest Jessica Yellin, founder of News Not Noise, a digital platform that seeks to inform viewers about current events told differently than on traditional media. Former CNN chief White House correspondent. Author of &#8220;Savage News.&#8221; (@JessicaYellin) From The Reading List Excerpt from &#8220;Savage News&#8221; by Jessica Yellin 1: The Girl On The Bus Natalie Savage stepped onto the asphalt driveway ringing the North Lawn, looked up, and felt her breath catch. She was hit with the sense that she was on a Tilt-A-Whirl, unsure which side was up. How many years had she imagined this moment? Her first time walking up the curving path to the White House’s James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, her first time passing the tents where the network news reporters go live from the White House, her first time looping by the marine at the West Wing entrance, mere yards from the Oval Office. You’ve made it. She smiled to herself, wrapped in an almost giddy delight. You’re here. What are you doing? her self shot back in a tone Barbara Walters might have used to greet a bright-eyed intern. There’s no time to be awestruck. Get going. With little warning, the White House had moved up the briefing by an hour and she was about to be tardy her first day on the job. Hurrying up the driveway, she said a silent prayer that she wouldn’t be captured barging into the White House briefing late, excuse-me’ing into her seat, on every cable channel in America. She reached the white door to the briefing room, pulled on the brass handle, and Inside reporters were moving at double speed: barking into cell phones, madly texting or tweeting, bouncing in and out of their chairs. Thank god, it hadn’t started. Flooded with relief, Natalie pushed into the scramble of bodies and felt the intensity of a breaking news event in the air: a pupil-dilating f lush of oxygen, the heart-pounding thrill of being at the center of an all-eyes-on-this story. She made her way to the American Television Network’s (ATN) seat in the third row and relaxed enough to look around. At the back of the room was a warren of cubicles, each assigned to a network. A row of cameras stood in front of the cubicles like leggy sentries, and in front of those were the seats for the correspondents. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. It smelled of mold and sweat. Why does success always smell like a men’s locker room? she wondered. Objectively, it was a crap hole. Despite the administration’s claims to have no money for infrastructure projects, Natalie suspected that the shabbiness of the tiny press room was by choice, not necessity, like an aging duchess who uses chipped Limoges not because she can’t afford better but because she likes it and relishes the discomfort of her judgmental guests. She heard the crackle of static and a young man’s voice came through an overhead speaker. “Sorry for the change folks. The White House briefing will now be delayed by fifteen minutes.” All around Natalie reporters collapsed back into their chairs, shaking their heads and murmuring as they began angry-texting on their phones. Everyone had rushed here and now this delay would throw live shots and lunch plans into chaos. But for Natalie it was a relief. Fifteen minutes to get used to breathing the air of a White House correspondent. One of Natalie’s phones buzzed and she pulled it out to watch it fill with messages from her mother, Noreen. MOM: Why haven’t you been answering my texts? MOM: You’re being very selfish. MOM: This is about my special day. My wedding. My chance at happiness. Are you trying to destroy it? The temptation to write back, Yes! Yes I am! was almost overwhelming but she was saved by a text from her sister. SARAH: So, you’re trying to ruin Mom’s wedding. NATALIE: Either that or it’s my first day at the White House. SARAH: Excuses excuses. Are you excited? Nervous? Natalie hesitated for a moment and then typed: I miss Dad. SARAH: Well, you know what he’d say right now? Natalie smiled as she remembered their dad’s favorite advice. I didn’t raise my girls to be shrinking violets. Silence helps no one. Be noisy! NATALIE: Be noisy? SARAH: Or maybe that he’s really proud of you. You’re going to be great. NATALIE: Thanks for saying that. But I could easily land on my face. SARAH: When have you ever failed at anything? NATALIE: I call your attention to the eighth grade high dive. Hives at prom. The scorched earth that is my dating life. SARAH: Character building moments. On the topic of scorched earth, will you please pick a bridesmaid dress so our mother will stop looking like a boiled owl and torturing your little sister? Her wedding is in less than two weeks. I’ll re", "When I Love Lucy appeared in 1951, mainstream America knew very little about Latino culture. Ricky Ricardo changed all that: His heavily accented English — and his rapid-fire Spanish — were as new to some parts of the country as TV itself. And then there was the music. Ricky Ricardo may have been a fictional character, but he played very real music. I've been playing congas for 35 years, and I can't tell you the number of times people have come up to my drums, unable to resist trying out a drumroll and crooning the opening phrase of Ricky's signature \"Babalu.\" Of course like everything else about him, Ricky Ricardo's version of \"Babalu\" was a mix of fact and fiction. Art that Imitated Life Ricky Ricardo was based on the very real Cuban bandleader and vocalist who played him: Desiderio Arnaz y de Acha, or Desi Arnaz. Ricky was from Havana; Desi was from Santiago de Cuba. Ricky emigrated to New York, Desi to Miami. Ricky married Lucy McGillicuddy; Desi married Lucille Ball. Ricky's wife wanted desperately to be in show business; Desi's wife was already a successful radio and film actress. Ricky eventually owned a nightclub; Desi eventually owned TV and movie studios. So it only took a few changes for I Love Lucy's writers to turn Desi into Ricky. Says 81-year-old trumpeter Tony Terran: \"They retained much of his character and his emotional side.\" Terran is the last surviving member of the Ricky Ricardo Orchestra, the band that backed Ricky in that I Love Lucy nightclub. Terran says that, while Ricky may have been fictional, his band was very real. The Ricky Ricardo Orchestra was made up mostly of the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, which had been playing in ballrooms and theaters around the country when not performing on Bob Hope's radio show. Yet many in Hollywood had their doubts about a TV show based on all-American girl married to a Latino. The band's musicians felt differently. \"I think the general feeling in the band was that it was quite a venture,\" Terran says. \"It made some sense to us — we didn't have the same doubts that CBS had.\" 'Playing to Americanos' in Glamorous Venues After all, Terran says, many popular orchestras back then were designed for mass appeal, alternating between swing and Latin rhythms, with vocalists singing in both English and Spanish. Desi Arnaz got his start in the late 1930s, with a band led by an early Latin crossover success, Xavier Cugat. Arnaz wrote in his autobiography that he patterned his own band after Cugat's. Terran agrees, saying the Ricky Ricardo Orchestra played the same kind of music. \"We were commercial,\" Terran says. \"We were more for TV.\" \"It was corny but commercial,\" says Johnny Rodriguez Jr. \"I mean, it wasn't the hip Latin music.\" Rodriguez, a percussionist, remembers both kinds of orchestras. His father played in both Latin bands and so called \"society bands\" in New York in the late 1940s. The younger Rodriguez got his start at age 17, with Tito Puente in 1962. He says he heard from his dad, and from older musicians in Puente's band, that there were plenty of rewards for orchestras like Ricky Ricardo's. \"They weren't [playing] the standard Latin gigs,\" Rodriguez stresses. \"It was upper end, the better-paying jobs. This is Broadway, this is the Paramount Theatre, Roxy Theatre — this is not the Palladium, not a Latin club. I'm talking about playing to Americanos.\" A Hit with Exotic Roots — And a Singer who Felt Familiar Millions of Americanos tuned into I Love Lucy, and most of them probably didn't realize that Ricky Ricardo's signature song was a tribute to an Afro-Cuban god. \"Babalu,\" written by Cuban composer Margarita Lecuona, is about Babalu-Aye, one of the seven main gods of the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria. It was first recorded by Cuban vocalist Miguelito Valdes in 1941 — and among fans of more traditional Latin music, Valdes was the real Mr. Babalu. Latin music fans will also say Ricky Ricardo was probably not the most authentic Afro-Cuban percussionist but John Rodriguez says that was OK. \"I remember my dad saying that he was a terrible conga player,\" John Rodriguez says. \"You'd see him playing on TV, and ... the way they staged it, it looked good. And that's all that mattered.\" It mattered because TV, and Ricky Ricardo, helped spread the word about Latin music across the country. TV had this show, and had this Latin music, on a regular basis every week,\" says Fordham University sociology professor Clara Rodriguez. \"They were the No. 1 show for 6 years.\" She points out that folks in the U.S. got their first taste of Latin music from films of the 1940s, featuring Carmen Miranda and Desi Arnaz' old boss, Xavier Cugat. But while those film stars were exotic, TV's Ricky Ricardo had much more in common with Middle America. \"He played a Latino who had a steady job; they lived a middle-class way of life,\" Rodriguez says. \"He was the man ... who was the bread winner in the family. ... So he introduced a character which wouldn't have been very different ", "Traveling though India's capital Delhi, one will see trash in both good and bad neighborhoods. Piles of trash, splayed across the sidewalk and along the curb can sit, uncollected, for days. Eventually, someone comes along and removes the piles, but a few days or even hours later, the trash is back. It's almost never segregated for recycling. \"Trash is just trash,\" says Vinay Prakash, a young businessman who is helping create one of India's first waste-recycling companies, EcoWise Waste Management. \"Primarily, we don't have any, any sense of category of waste. It's just waste with us.\" But young Indians who grew up in Britain, Australia and America are now arriving here, hanging out with Indian friends, and important conversations about climate change and the enviroment are starting. For example, Neeraj Doshi, an Indian who went to graduate school in America, met a British woman who joined a foundation in London. The group asked Doshi to help finance recycling projects in India. So, he started EcoWise Waste Management. The company is putting up signs in Noida, a city outside of Delhi, offering private trash collection for apartments and local businesses. All over India, projects to fight trash, pollution, global warming and poverty are attracting kids from the Indian diaspora who want to spend a few years, or maybe longer, pushing for social change in the mother country. For many, that means increasingly better jobs and pretty good pay, not to mention the chance to hang out with an international gang of friends. But their parents often object. \"I had stiff resistance from every member of my family,\" says Ranu Sinha, who works with the World Bank. She says her relatives in India and her parents in the United States were asking, \"'What are you doing? We didn't put you through very expensive institutions of education for you to go back and make far less than you would be making here in the U.S.'\" Still, they keep coming. Radio piece produced by Jessica Goldstein. RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Steve, it's coming to an end, our year-long trek around the globe with National Geographic that we've been calling Climate Connections. In our last few stories, we're looking to the future. And today, we go to India. STEVE INSKEEP, host: Which has a lot of new problems that come along with rapid development. India also has a lot of new problem-solvers, though. Young Indians born in America, Britain, and Australia are traveling back to India. That's where they're going to work for start up companies or NGOs, non-governmental organizations. They're tackling pollution and carbon emissions and recycling and energy. NPR's Robert Krulwich meets some of India's climate change generation. ROBERT KRULWICH: If you go to India to see water pollution projects, air pollution projects, green architecture projects, global warming initiatives, what you find naturally are lots of young Indians working away. But surprisingly often, right there with them on the frontlines are kids who look Indian until they open their mouths - for example, Preeth Gowder(ph)? Mr. PREETH GOWDER (Venture Capitalist): I'm a venture capitalist. KRULWICH: ?is a young guy who lends money to the poor. Are you an Indian or are you? Mr. GOWDER: I'm Indian. KRULWICH: You're an Indian? Mr. GOWDER: Yeah, yeah. I consider India home. As soon as I come into this city? KRULWICH: You don't sound Indian though. Mr. GOWDER: I don't, I don't. I was born in Alabama, and? (Soundbite of laughter) KRULWICH: As so many Indians are. Mr. GOWDER: Right. KRULWICH: And you? Ms. RANU SINHA (Consultant): My name is Ranu Sinha, and I'm a consultant. MR. DAVE MADDEN(ph): My name is Dave Madden, or Dave Madden in Indian context. My mom and dad are both from India. KRULWICH: At a restaurant in a Delhi neighborhood, I ran into a bunch of these folks and their friends who are part of a growing wave of British, Australian and American born Indians who've decided to move to Indian. Mr. MADDEN: I'm not just someone walking around with an America accent talking about social development just to be cool, that I'm actually going to do something about it. KRULWICH: Their friends in India, local Indians have a nickname for these Americans. They call them ABCDs: American-Born Confused Desis. Desi is an Indian slang word. It describes a new arrival searching for his inner Indian myths, says Indian Gorham Shorey(ph). Mr. GORHAM SHOREY: So what ends up is an American-Born Confused Desi. KRULWICH: And do you know a lot of these guys and women? Mr. SHOREY: Thank God I don't know them. (Soundbite of laughter) KRULWICH: Why? What's wrong with them? This is a long story, but because of their American diplomas, very much honored here, these returnees get terrific jobs in India, better jobs than the local young Indians get. Mr. SHOREY: The ABCDs, by virtue of their accent and style and having lived in the West, are given a lot more importance by the social - upper social strata in India a", "Lizz Winstead has always looked at life a little differently. She never believed that stork story, for example. She says she loved her Barbie doll when she was a little girl, growing up in Minnesota, but Barbie didn't mean impossibly perfect pulchritudinous plastic beauty to young Lizz. It meant something different. In Lizz Free or Die, a new book of essays, she takes readers through the different chapters of her life: growing up, becoming a comic, helping to create The Daily Show, which has gone on to be a huge success (albeit mostly after she left), and Air America, which she loved, but fell apart. Interview Highlights How she discovered she was funny \"It's genetic in my family. My father is from Mississippi and a long line of storytellers. All of my siblings are incredibly gifted at telling stories. And I think I wasn't really like a goofball or didn't really tell jokes as a kid. I think more in high school did I realize, if I can crack wise, I can get away with some stuff. It's easier to be funny than it is to be angry. Because there's this interesting thing — if you make someone laugh, you have a bond. And so if you can make someone laugh who you disagree with, they have to acknowledge that on some level they like you, and sometimes then you can work things out.\" On working at The Daily Show \"We were in a place where the news was so out of control at the time, in a different way than I might characterize it now. It was very tabloidy. It was very trial-of-the-century-of-the-week, and they could find any three weird oddities and create it as a trend to scare people. 'Dental floss might strangle your baby!' You know, just crazy pieces that were on all the time. We wanted to combat it so badly that I think oftentimes I would go for the jugular rather than the joke.\" On going to the prom \"I was stood up for my own high school prom by a lovingly delightful hockey player with a mullet. And he stood me up for my prom as I was there in my dress and my corsage and mortified. \"He decided to go with another girl, so no prom for me. A little bit of a sore spot. Cut to age 35, and this sweet young fan of the show — he was, like, the first audience member to ever come to the show — he was, like, the first person in line. He had watched the show for about a year and become a superfan, and he would occasionally write me notes: 'I really love this joke!' And he really got nuanced, and he was that great nerdy kid that you go, 'Oh I wish you could see yourself in 10 years because you're going to be so excited!' \"So when it came time for his prom, he asked me to prom. And I was like, 'How can I not go?' So I said, 'Yes, I will absolutely go,' and we'll film the show. So I wore this inappropriate red dress. It was one of those, like, built-for-sin dresses, so that all these jocks would be jealous of him. And so we went to the prom and I decided that I was going to have a prom experience. We could've just shot the little pieces we wanted for the show, but I sat with the dinner, and I danced to 'Rock Lobster,' and he kissed me on the cheek, and then he requested a song called 'Lady in Red,' and we slow-danced to it. It was absolutely a delightful evening because he was such a great kid, and he was really fun.\" On her father's last \"dielarious\" days \"Yes, dielarious: laughing with or at the expense of someone who is dying. And it is a word that I didn't ever use until my father passed away. My father was this amazing, funny southern storyteller. And our politics were diametrically opposed. He was a staunch Reagan Republican and I'm a crazy liberal. And we found this fun detente where we would both watch Jeopardy! together, because if we both could answer 'What is the Sudetenland?' at the same time then we couldn't call each other dumb. \"He always said to me, he said, 'You know, I raised you kids to have an opinion, and I forgot to tell you it was supposed to be mine.' \" On her mother \"She was never overtly critical. She was very Minnesota-backhanded critical, but she always did support me in a way that was pretty incredible. She would defend me to the death — take my pictures when I was on the TV, because they didn't have a VCR. And then show those pictures or cut out clippings when I was in the paper. \"I grew up with conservative parents in a very progressive community in Minneapolis. And so a lot of her friends were Democrats, which, you know, she would say things to me in her later years in retirement, and say, 'Well, you know, sometimes at my dinner table at the retirement home, they sit me with the Democrats. And I've said I'd rather sit with the Alzheimer's people.' So yeah, she was quite a character in her own right. Very different sensibility than my dad. But you know it was again, just lucky to have these gifts from these parents who reiterated how much humor was part of us and how important it was to keep it going. And now I feel like I have a legacy that I'm carrying on.\"", "Nearly 60 percent of Americans admit knowing nothing at all about Sikhs. That lack of knowledge comes at a deadly cost. In the wake of recent incidents from the 2012 Oak Creek Massacre to a shooting of a Sikh man in Washington this March, the Sikh community is taking a more vocal stand against hate. This month, the National Sikh Campaign, an advocacy group led by former political strategists, launched a $1.3 million awareness campaign, \"We are Sikhs.\" Funded entirely by grass-roots donations, the campaign's ads will air nationally on CNN and Fox News as well as on TV channels in central California — home to nearly 50 percent of the Sikh American population — and online. The ad, which aims to tackle misperceptions of Sikhism, shows Sikh men and women speaking about how values of their faith — tolerance, religious freedom and gender equality — align with American values. According to Gurwin Singh Ahuja, the executive director of the National Sikh Campaign, \"These are core values of the United States, yet we're often perceived as anti-American or as religious extremists. Our community is hurt by bigotry and ignorance, which is, in many ways, compounded by our own silence. To change these perceptions, I felt we had an obligation to share our stories with our neighbors.\" Some young Sikhs like Sabrina Rangi, a medical student at Michigan State, are optimistic about the potential impact of the campaign. \"I think after years of struggling to find the right words, this campaign is getting it right,\" says Rangi. \"This initiative embodies everything that Sikhism represents, especially its emphasis on shared values and equality. I see this practiced in the gurdwara, where all of the participants sit together on the floor, beneath our holy book, to symbolize that regardless of gender, race or social standing, we are all one.\" Founded over 500 years ago, Sikhism is a monotheistic religion centered on the teachings of 10 spiritual gurus. Guru Nanak, the founder of the faith, rejected India's caste system and declared all human beings equal. During Guru Nanak's time, Indian women were considered property with little social standing. Nanak denounced the sexism of the day by proclaiming women equal and encouraging them to participate in all aspects of the gurdwara, or Sikh temple. The 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, also promoted the principle of equality. During his time, family names signified social status and caste. To break this tradition, Guru Gobind Singh gave all men the last name \"Singh,\" meaning lion, and women the name \"Kaur,\" meaning princess. Sikh turbans, the most visible symbol of the faith, are also a rejection of hierarchy of the caste system. Worn historically by South Asian royalty, the Sikh Gurus adopted the practice of wearing the turban to demonstrate a public commitment to maintaining the values and ethics of the tradition, including service, compassion and honesty. But the turban's symbolism is lost on most Americans. According to Ahuja, \"Our turbans, which are often perceived as symbols of extremism, are actually representations of equality.\" Following Sept. 11, images of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida associates wearing turbans circulated frequently in the media. Heightened national fear in combination with poor awareness of America's Sikh community has often made Sikhs the victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes. Valarie Kaur, a Sikh civil rights activist and lawyer, warns that violence against Sikhs is not only cases of mistaken identity. Attacks against Sikhs in the United States pre-date the Sept. 11 attacks. In 1907, a group of Sikh immigrants were driven out of town by xenophobic mobs during the height of the American nativist moment. Whether 1907 or today, according to Kaur, \"it appears to matter little to perpetrators of hate crimes whether the person they are attacking is Sikh and not Muslim. They see turbans, beards and brown skin and it is enough for them to see us as foreign, suspect and potentially terrorist. It's time to retire the term 'mistaken identity.' It's a dangerous term, because it implies that there is a correct target for hate.\" During a recent segment from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, correspondent Hasan Minhaj spoke to a group of Sikhs about ways in which they could distance themselves from hate crimes. When Minhaj questioned why more Sikhs don't simply proclaim, \"hey, I'm not Muslim,\" a member of the group, responded saying, \"It's not just an option for us to throw another community under the bus.\" Muslim American leaders commend the Sikh on their emphasis on tolerance and solidarity. \"It's very impressive that whenever a Sikh person or place of worship is attacked, the community is always quick to condemn Islamophobia and anti-Muslim attacks, and send a message of unity,\" says Arsalan Bukhari, the executive director of the Washington State chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). \"That's been helpful because it tells the average person that Sikhs cons", "\"Is anyone going to come through here?\" That's what a Hilton hotel employee asked one of a dozen photographers along the red carpet at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner a couple of hours before the event officially started Saturday evening. But, like a blood-thirsty mosquito on a sweltering night, it was the nagging, persistent thought that seemed to plague attendees throughout the event. The reason: the vacuum left by the absence of President Donald Trump, who had decided to spend his 100th day in office rallying with supporters in Pennsylvania. In person, the man takes up a lot of physical space — he's 6 feet 2 inches tall and is in the vicinity of 230 pounds if you believe Dr. Oz — but in absentia the space he takes up seems even larger. And the president's absence seemed to cast an air of self-consciousness on what is typically a self-congratulatory night for Washington's White House press corps. By the way, not only is it the first time in 36 years that a sitting president has opted out of the shindig, but when considering that the only reason Ronald Reagan skipped it was due to an assassination attempt, Trump's snub is an even harder blow. Even Bill Clinton, in the depths of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and subsequent impeachment, attended each year he was in office. It also didn't help that Trump took gleeful delight in making fun of the dinner at his \"Make America Great Again\" 100-day victory lap rally that took place Saturday evening in Harrisburg, Pa. \"A large group of Hollywood actors and Washington media are consoling each other in a hotel ballroom in our nation's capital right now,\" the president told a roaring crowd. That seemed to spur him on: \"They are gathered together for the White House correspondents' dinner — without the president.\" Perhaps in response to that taunt, Jeff Mason, president of the White House Correspondents' Association and a Reuters journalist, opened the annual event by saying, \"We are here to celebrate the press, not the presidency. And I am happy to report that this dinner is sold out.\" In the end, Trump was right about the media but wrong about the \"large group of Hollywood actors.\" Few such celebrities showed up — on the red carpet at least. There was one: Matthew Modine. At one point two young women, who seemed to be there with their parents, asked if they could linger on the red carpet a little longer in case \"someone\" showed up. Sadly, unless they meant former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, longtime civil rights activist Al Sharpton or legendary journalist Bob Woodward, they were almost certainly disappointed. Even among the journalists there to cover the journalistic gathering, the pros couldn't help but lament the good ole days of the Obama administration — when the dinner was as much a Hollywood affair as a Washington one. In years past, photographers had elbowed one another for the perfect shot of Kerry Washington, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon and the reigning queen of celebrity-dom, Kim Kardashian. But some in attendance claimed to be relieved by the more lax, low-key atmosphere. \"It got too big,\" Lisa Cole, a Hilton publicist said. This was her sixth year at the event. \"Over the years it became this star thing, and that's not what it was supposed to be about,\" she added. As the trickle of guests at the Hilton dwindled, one cameraman put it this way: \"If last year was an 11, this year was a five.\" Meanwhile, the vibe just a few miles away at Samantha Bee's alternative gathering, aptly monikered \"Not The White House Correspondents' Dinner,\" was exactly the opposite. The young crowd was atwitter, happily snacking on free popcorn hors d'oeuvres and booze. And there were famous people, too. Peaches sang the opening song. Alysia Reiner of Orange Is the New Black was swarmed by fans and she patiently smiled for picture after picture with women who professed to loving her on the show. \"I could not be more excited to be here,\" she told NPR. \"I've always wanted to go to the White House correspondents' dinner and I was invited and I would rather be here.\" Attending the Bee event instead was a \"super easy\" decision, she said. While the official WHCA dinner was hosted by The Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj and included a very brief taped cameo by Alec Baldwin in full Saturday Night Live Donald Trump costume, Bee's show topped that with Will Ferrell reprising his impression of George W. Bush onstage. \"For a long time I was considered the worst president of all time,\" Ferrell's faux former president snickered. \"That has changed, and it only took 100 days.\"", "With Ray Suarez We’re going to the prom. The corsages endure, but a lot has changed. Shall we dance? Guests: Amy Best, professor of sociology at George Mason University. Author of: “Prom Night: Youth, Schools and Popular Culture” Samhita Mukhopadhyay, executive editor at Teen Vogue. (@TheSamhita) Amy Silverman, took her daughter, Sophie, who has Down syndrome, to a prom for students with disabilities. Author of: “My Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome&#8221; (@amysilvermanaz) Rhonda Mieth, assistant principal at Rockport-Fulton High School. Since Hurricane Harvey damaged the school’s cafeteria and gym, the school held their prom this year at a local mall. From The Reading List: Teen Vogue: &#8220;These Native Teens Are Representing Indigenous Designers Through Their Prom Looks&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;Writer Ruth H. Hopkins shared images on Twitter of three high school girls wearing Della’s brand, Designs by Della, to prom. Each of the students was outfitted in a dress featuring traditional Native prints that beautifully illuminated the diverse heritage of Native culture. One of the girls, Bella Aiukli Cornell, wore a red strapless gown with a printed bodice and dramatic, full pleated skirt. The look was accessorized with red, white, and turquoise earrings and a choker. Her date, Jalen Black, also wore a red tie with a Native design to complement Bella&#8217;s dress. In an email to Teen Vogue, Bella, of the Choctaw tribe, explained the significance of the color red in Native communities. &#8216;Red dresses are important to the Native community because it helps bring awareness to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Indian Country #MMIW,&#8217; said Bella. She also spoke about the importance of recognizing Native designers and the great talent that has been overlooked. &#8216;I am a Chahta girl and representation matters, especially when we&#8217;re expressing ourselves through couture,&#8217; said Bella. &#8216;We have so many talented Native designers. It&#8217;s important that they receive recognition for their efforts to preserve our culture.'&#8221; Girl in a Party Hat: &#8220;The Spaces in Between&#8220; &#8212; &#8220;It was a pretty Arizona winter night. The church grounds felt like they went on for acres, probably because they did, and as I waited I tried to distract myself by wondering how much this North Scottsdale real estate is worth. A lot. Modestly dressed middle-aged congregants gathered outside in a courtyard, lining either side of a red carpet, as an announcer I couldn’t see introduced the guests over a PA. He called each one by name, welcoming them to the church, telling them, “Jesus loves you! This is your night to shine!” Finally, after what felt like weeks but was probably 20 minutes, he announced Sophie’s name. My little agnostic Jew bounded down the carpet, grinning, a fancy corsage hanging from her wrist, and struck several poses for the photographer. It was awful. And awesome. Sophie had a blast. She ate garlic bread and sang karaoke. Every party guest got a crown. That is where I live these days, in the spaces in between. In between awful and awesome. It was Sophie’s idea to go to the prom. I didn’t even know who Tim Tebow was, until she found a flyer at a play rehearsal and insisted I sign her up, buy her a dress and new eye makeup. How could I explain to my almost 15-year-old that I hate it when people commit good acts simply in the name of religion, that the term &#8216;special needs ministry&#8217; makes my skin crawl? That it’s horrible to segregate people with disabilities like this? That after no one wanted to go with her to the Homecoming dance at school she finally had a chance to attend a fancy event but I wouldn’t let her?&#8221; Music From The Show:\n It’s the season… for jumbo long-line limos making tricky turns through the streets of downtown, for the teens you see in jeans and workout clothes getting their pictures taken in tuxes and formal dresses. The Prom has taken its place among American rites of passage… and the cost to families and parental anxieties about security have risen steadily as well. The history, the trends, the way social issues visit themselves on prom&#8230; This hour, On Point:  Get the doorbell… it’s your date. &#8211; Ray Suarez To remember just how much prom has changed, our team took a trip down memory lane and revisited our old prom photos&#8230;", "Often when there is a mass shooting, people who knew the gunman find themselves wondering what warning signs they might have missed. So it is in the case of Maj. Nidal Hasan, a 12-year veteran in the U.S. Army, a native-born American, a trained and practicing psychiatrist — and the man authorities say opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood. The vital facts of Hasan's life do not suggest a man determined to kill dozens of his fellows as they sat unarmed in a crowded waiting room. He was born in Arlington, Va. His parents were immigrants, but so are millions of other Americans. His heritage was Palestinian, but he didn't even speak Arabic. He went to Virginia Tech and in 1997 joined the Army. It was through the Army that he got his medical training. He was due to be deployed to Afghanistan. Those who look for a ready explanation for the murderous rampage at Fort Hood can choose between two broad narratives: Maybe it had to do with the travails of an Army psychiatrist, dealing with soldiers who had been traumatized, even disfigured, by their war experience; or maybe it had to do with being Muslim. Those who suspect he was secretly a radical Muslim can focus on what Lt. Gen. Bob Cone, Fort Hood's commanding officer, said Friday on the CBS Early Show, responding to a question from Harry Smith. \"There are unconfirmed reports that he was saying Allahu Akbar,\" Cone said. \"Allahu Akbar,\" which means \"God is great\" in Arabic, is a phrase many terrorists have said in the moments before they strike. Surveillance video taken at a convenience store that Hasan visited the morning of the shooting show him dressed in white: white skull cap, white leggings, a white tunic. Had he just been to morning prayers? Was he preparing for a martyrdom operation? But this Muslim terrorist narrative won't convince everyone. Perhaps soldiers in the mayhem of the moment only imagined Hasan said \"Allahu Akbar.\" FBI investigators aren't sure Hasan really did say those words before he started shooting. The portrait of Hasan as a Muslim radical doesn't entirely make sense to those who knew him well. Imam Faisal Khan, whose D.C.-area mosque Hasan attended over a 10-year period, never got the idea he was ashamed of his Army service. \"He would come in his uniforms many times,\" Khan said. \"He would come in his uniform and pray. And then I knew he was in the Army. He liked his job. That's what he was trained for, you know, to serve in the military.\" There is the other narrative. That as a combat-stress psychiatrist, Hasan himself suffered as a result of dealing with soldiers who had been through hellish war experiences. Hasan's cousin, Nader Hasan, told Fox News on Thursday that Nidal never mentioned that he was about to be deployed. \"We've known for the last five years that was probably his worst nightmare,\" Nader Hasan said. \"He deals with stories; he'd tell us how he would hear things, horrific things.\" He wouldn't just hear things. Many of the soldiers Hasan counseled were maimed; he told one family member that one soldier had been burned so badly that his face had almost melted away. Now Hasan himself had to go to war. Psychologists say there is such a thing as \"vicarious traumatization,\" in which someone can be affected just by hearing what someone else has gone through. Perhaps it was the combination of being a Muslim and an Army counselor that set Hasan off. His cousin Nader Hasan said Maj. Hasan had his own stresses to deal with, as a Muslim army officer. \"It was the harassment that, I think, was what got to him ... him being referenced for his Middle Eastern ethnicity, even though he was born and raised here,\" Nader Hasan said. Investigators will be exploring these theories, and others. Some former colleagues remember Hasan as difficult to deal with, even unprofessional and unhappy. At 39, he had never married. His former imam, Faisal Khan, says Hasan even signed up for a Muslim matchmaking service. \"His first choice was Arab. His second choice was India, Pakistan, people from the subcontinent,\" Khan said. \"Third choice was Caucasian European Muslims and his last choice was Spanish.\" The imam said Hasan didn't like the women who were listed. It could be Hasan was just struggling with demons of his own making. ROBERT SIEGEL, Host: Often, when there's a mass shooting, people who knew the killer find themselves wondering what warning signs they might've missed. And so it is in the case of the alleged Fort Hood shooter. Major Hasan is a 12-year Army veteran, a native- born American and a practicing psychiatrist. NPR's Tom Gjelten has more on his story. TOM GJELTEN: The vital facts of Nidal Hasan's life do not suggest a man determined to kill dozens of his fellow soldiers as they sat unarmed in a crowded waiting room. He was born in Arlington, Virginia. His parents were immigrants, but so are millions of other Americans. His heritage was Palestinian, but he didn't even speak Arabic. He went to Virginia Tech. And in 1997, he joined the", "On the eve of India's surprise Aug. 5 takeover of Kashmir, Sanna Shah was sitting cross-legged on a silk carpet, trying to enjoy the folk singers performing at her cousin's wedding in the state's summer capital, Srinagar. Nobody could concentrate on the music. Tens of thousands of Indian troops were pouring into Kashmir, already a heavily militarized area. Wedding guests were increasingly worried, trying to figure out what was going on. \"Every few hours, there would be some sort of rumor,\" says Shah, in her early 30s. \"We left my cousin's wedding early, specifically because of this panic spreading about a curfew being imposed.\" Shah was scheduled to fly the next day to New York City, where she works as an architect. After the wedding was cut short, she started texting friends in the U.S., and her cellphone suddenly died — and not because the battery had run out. Moments later, the Internet, landlines and cable TV all went out. Indian authorities had imposed a communications blackout. Shah was one of the first people to travel out of Kashmir the next day. She was able to use her plane ticket as a curfew pass, as her uncle drove her to Srinagar's airport. With security personnel out in force, it was not an easy drive. \"As soon as we backed out of our property, we were immediately met with these small boulders and barbed wire. Every thousand feet, we encountered paramilitary forces,\" Shah recalls. \"Scuffles were breaking out, and we had to find roundabout ways to avoid confrontation.\" Since Shah's return to New York, she's been devouring news about Kashmir — news that her relatives there can't access. Her family's cellphones, Internet and TV are all still down. It's been nearly four weeks since India's Hindu nationalist government revoked the special autonomy of its only Muslim-majority state, Jammu and Kashmir. The government says things are now returning to normal there. But people traveling out of the state paint a very different picture. Kashmir's autonomy was enshrined in India's constitution. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally amended the constitution to remove Article 370, which had given Kashmiris special rights to property and government jobs in their region. The move has prompted questions from legal experts and outrage from neighboring Pakistan, which controls a smaller, western portion of the Himalayan territory but claims the entire region (as does India). A panel of United Nations experts has called India's actions \"a collective punishment.\" Human Rights Watch has called on India to restore phone lines and Internet, saying the communications blackout \"infringes basic freedoms.\" Some Indian journalists and activists have traveled to the region and reported back, but because of the communications blackout, it's been difficult to gauge how Kashmiris there are faring. Opposition politicians who tried to visit and see for themselves were forced to return to New Delhi when they landed at the Srinagar airport on Aug. 24. The government has failed to grant permission for foreign journalists, including from NPR, to travel to the region. The governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satya Pal Malik, told reporters in a televised news conference Wednesday that most landlines in the region are working again, and cellphone service was being restored in Jammu, a Hindu-majority area. The \"restoration of normalcy and deepening of democracy\" are the government's priorities, he said. But many people who recently left Kashmir say normalcy isn't what they've observed. \"Roads were blocked. Tires were burned. They were protesting,\" says Naveed Bukhtyar, a 24-year-old law student who left Kashmir for New Delhi on Aug. 24. Paramilitary forces \"were indiscriminately shelling people\" with tear gas, he says. Bukhtyar says despite curfew-like conditions, he saw massive protests take place around his law school dormitory in western Srinagar. On Aug. 8, he ferried his uncle to the city's airport — and saw more protests along that route. That same night, he drove to his hometown of Uri, a village near the Pakistani border that's known for being pro-Indian — and was astonished to find protests taking place even there. \"My friends, my relatives were in the protest. These are people who never protested for anything! They were chanting anti-India slogans,\" he says. \"It was a shock for me. I'd never seen a protest there.\" Uri usually draws big crowds to its Indian Independence Day parade every Aug. 15. This year, Bukhtyar says, no one showed up other than government employees, who were required to. Human rights groups say it's likely that several thousand people have been detained for taking part in Kashmir's protests since Aug. 5. The Indian government has refused to give a tally. A senior police official, S.S. Sandhu, who works as an advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir governor, tells NPR the arrests were of \"70 to 80 people — not more.\" One of those arrested is a college student, a peace studies major named Ahmed. (NP", "Investigators continued their search for clues Sunday into what prompted Army Maj. Nidal Hasan's alleged rampage at Fort Hood last week, and what role if any his Muslim faith and his intensifying anti-war sentiment may have played in the tragedy. Meanwhile, President Obama and top Army Gen. George Casey both cautioned against a backlash toward Muslims in the military. \"What happened at Fort Hood was a tragedy,\" Casey said during an interview with ABC News that aired Sunday. \"But I believe it would be an even greater tragedy if our diversity becomes a casualty here.\" Obama, who will visit the Texas military post on Tuesday to honor the 13 dead victims and the 30 wounded, used his weekend radio address to characterize the shooting spree as \"a crime against our nation.\" But he earlier urged people to resist \"jumping to conclusions\" about the motives behind the shootings. Alleged Shooter In Stable Condition Hasan, 39, was wounded by police officers after he allegedly fired more than 100 rounds from two nonmilitary handguns. He was in stable condition and breathing on his own Sunday in the intensive care unit at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, according to Fort Hood spokesman Col. John Rossi. Sixteen of the people wounded in the attack also remained hospitalized, Rossi said, seven of them in intensive care units. During a Sunday news conference, Rossi encouraged military personnel to seek help for stress related to the shooting and reported that additional child psychology experts were on their way to Fort Hood. The American-born Hasan is an Army-trained psychiatrist, who was scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan this month. It was to have been his first deployment. Congressional Investigation But even as Casey made the Sunday morning talk show rounds to tamp down rhetoric surrounding the shooting, Sen. Joseph Lieberman announced that he plans to launch a congressional investigation into the massacre. Lieberman, a Connecticut independent who chairs the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said during an interview on Fox News that the attack could be a \"terrorist act.\" There were \"strong warning signs,\" Lieberman said, that Hasan was an \"Islamic extremist\" who exhibited questionable behavior the Army should have recognized. But Casey, appearing on NBC's Meet the Press, said, \"Right now, it is way too soon to be drawing any conclusions about [Hasan's] motivations.\" Investigators, who have interviewed more than 170 witnesses, have determined that only one gunman was involved in Thursday's attack at Fort Hood's Soldier Readiness Processing Center. But they have not confirmed reports that Hasan shouted \"Allahu akbar,\" Arabic for \"God is great,\" before the shooting. Hasan has not been charged in the attack. 'Anti-American' Rants Prompted Complaints A former colleague of Hasan's told The Associated Press this weekend that the Virginia Tech graduate's \"anti-American\" rants prompted him to complain to administrators at the military university they both attended between 2007 and 2008. Dr. Val Finnell said that while he and Hasan were in the master's program in public health at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Maryland, Hasan also complained about anti-Muslim sentiment in the military. \"I had real questions about what his priorities were, what his beliefs were,\" Finnell said. Hasan's brother this weekend released a statement saying that the family was in a state of shock, and knew Nidal Hasan as a \"peaceful, loving and compassionate\" person. The president has ordered that flags at the White House and other federal buildings fly at half-staff until Wednesday, Veterans Day.", "A big fat Greek wedding is in the offing, with guests arriving by the boatload on an island in the Aegean. Love is in the air, as is the music of ABBA. It's not on the radio, but it's on the tip of everyone's tongue. Among the cantors is Meryl Streep, who plays Donna, a super-trouper single mom who has met her Waterloo and is sending up an S.O.S. What Donna doesn't know just yet is that her bride-to-be daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) has sneaked peeks at a 20-year-old diary. Having done a little math, Sophie sends wedding invitations to three mentioned men in three different cities, on the theory that one of them pretty much has to be her father. They all show up, of course, and Donna is less than thrilled. As you're probably gathering, this plot is not being taken terribly seriously. It's mostly a pretext for songs that are mostly a pretext for acting silly. The folks directing, scripting and producing Mamma Mia! are the same ones who did the show on Broadway. They are not movie people, and it shows at times: The performers have been encouraged to overdo, play to the back row, and belt songs into each other's faces in ways that are more suited to Broadway than to widescreen close-ups. But then, subtlety isn't really what this musical is about. The women sing more comfortably than the men: Pierce Brosnan looks like he's in pain during his vocals, but Streep can really belt. Most of them, though, are obviously not trained musical performers, which means there's a lot of extra pushing and gesticulating. Sometimes — though not always — that's on purpose. If you're going to take an ABBA song and turn it into a one-scene Greek tragedy, for instance, you have to build emotion pretty quickly. On the way to the wedding, Donna conversationally tells off an ex-love, and 23 seconds later, we're in grand opera territory. This would all be more persuasive if you'd felt any real chemistry between Streep and Brosnan. But how could you? They've been singing ABBA songs at each other for two hours. None of this will matter to the 30 million or so baby boomers who made Mamma Mia! a stage hit. Make no mistake: Brides and grooms notwithstanding, it is the film's older folks who are central. They carouse and act like kids, while their children are so conventional and responsible that they're kind of a snooze. It's the boomers' revenge: a second childhood, complete with an end-credits curtain call in goofy outfits. MICHELE NORRIS, host: From NPR News, it's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Michele Norris. \"Mamma Mia!\" is a musical featuring songs by the pop group ABBA; it tells a story of a bride, her mom and her three possible dads. It's been a hit on Broadway since 1999. [POST-BROADCAST CORRECTION: \"Mamma Mia!\" opened in London in 1999, and on Broadway in 2001.] Now Bob Mondello says a cast not really known for singing has brought it to the cineplex. BOB MONDELLO: A big fat Greek wedding is in the offing with guests arriving by the boatload at an island in the Aegean. Love is in the air, as is the music of ABBA. And not on the radio, but on the tip of everyone's tongue, including Meryl Streep as a super-trooper single mom who has met her wedding Waterloo and is sending up an SOS. (Soundbite of movie, \"Mamma Mia!\") Ms. MERYL STREEP (Actress): (As Donna) (Singing) I work all night, I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay. CHORUS: (Singing) Ain't it sad. Ms. STREEP: (As Donna) (Singing) And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me. (Speaking) Don't sit down there. CHORUS: That's too bad. Ms. STREEP: (As Donna) It's broken. MONDELLO: What Donna doesn't know just yet is that her daughter has sneaked peeks at a 20-year-old diary, done a little math and posted invitations to three mentioned men in three different cities on the theory that based on the dates in the diary, one of them pretty much has to be her father. And they all show up, and Donna is less than thrilled. (Soundbite of movie, \"Mamma Mia!\") Ms. STREEP: (As Donna) Okay, I'm going to - I'm going to arrange for a boat to take you all back to the mainland. Unidentified Man #1 (Actor): (As character) I have a boat. Ms. STREEP: (As Donna) You have a boat? Good. Get on it. And anchors away. Away, away. Unidentified Man #2 (Actor): (As character) Hey, Donna, it's good to see you. Unidentified Man #1: (As character) It's good to see you. Unidentified Man #3 (Actor): (As character) It's good to see you. MONDELLO: As you're probably gathering, this plot is not being taken terribly seriously. It is mostly a pretext for songs that are mostly a pretext for acting silly. (Soundbite of song, \"Dancing Queen\") MONDELLO: The folks directing, scripting and producing \"Mamma Mia!\" are the same ones who did the show on Broadway. They are not movie people, and it shows at times. The performers have been encouraged to overdo. But then subtlety is not really what this musical is about. (Soundbite of movie, \"Mamma Mia!\") Ms. STREEP: (As Donna) (Singin", "It seems unfathomable that an Army psychiatrist trained to heal soldiers with psychiatric injuries could then fire on fellow soldiers. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is blamed for a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, that killed 13 people and wounded 30. Nader Hasan, cousin of the alleged shooter, suggests that one factor may have been that the Army psychiatrist had treated scores of soldiers and Marines who returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD. \"He had people telling him on a daily basis the horrors they saw there,\" Nader Hasan, told the New York Times. But he said he had no idea why his cousin may have shot other soldiers. The 39-year-old psychiatrist expected to be deployed soon to Iraq or Afghanistan but objected to the deployment, his cousin said. According to the Associated Press, Hasan was going to be part of a combat stress team that treats soldiers showing signs of psychiatric problems. Read More >> Before moving to Fort Hood, last summer, Hasan had spent most of his medical career at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He was an intern, resident and then a fellow. One former colleague said that although he wasn't familiar with Hasan's specific assignments, psychiatric residents do the same work. That means Hasan would have treated patients with PTSD. And he also would have seen patients who, as a result of their physical injuries, brain injuries or PTSD, were getting ready to leave the Army. They first go through a medical review board and a psychiatrist like Hasan would evaluate them to make a recommendation about their level of disability, which guides decisions about whether they are then entitled to disability payments. As investigators talk to Hasan's former colleagues at Walter Reed, one of the big questions is whether there were any warning signs to suggest Hasan should not have been treating patients. One source told NPR that Hasan had run into problems when he was in a post-graduate program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Hasan was placed on an \"extended curriculum,\" a kind of probation. The problem was that he had been proselytizing for his Muslim faith to patients and colleagues. Another source told NPR that there were continued problems when he went to Walter Reed; he would get into fights about his religion. Noel Hasan, his aunt, says however that Hasan was the victim of these arguments. She told the Washington Post that her nephew had endured continuous harassment for his Muslim faith in the years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. \"Some people can take it, and some cannot,\" she told the Washington Post, explaining that her nephew had wanted to get out of the military and had offered to repay all of his medical training. There were also signs that Hasan had done his job well. He rose to the rank of major. And a recent supervisor at Fort Hood, Col. Kimberly Kesling, deputy commander of clinical services at Darnall Army Medical Center, told the Associated Press, \"up to this point I would consider him an asset.\" Easing A Stigma When I first did stories about troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, it was NPR policy to spell out post-traumatic stress disorder. Now we routinely just say, \"PTSD.\" The reason is that most everyone now knows about PTSD. And the condition generally stirs sympathy, some of its stigma is now gone. Military psychiatrists are the unsung heroes of that significant change. They've been strong advocates for troops with PTSD. They've insisted that psychiatric illness be seen as an injury of war, just like an injury caused by bullets and bombs. They've educated families, who often are the ones who persuade soldiers to seek treatment. Most of all, they've forced big changes within the military itself, where commanders had routinely expected troops to shake off a problem like PTSD. Military psychiatrists like those who work at Fort Hood and Walter Reed, are under increasing stress themselves, as growing numbers of soldiers deal with PTSD. A 2008 report from the Government Accountability Office noted shortages of staff at military and veterans hospitals trained to care for PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. It's a problem because another study, by the independent Rand Corporation, found about one third of soldiers come back from Iraq with PTSD, a head injury, or both.", "Bob Feller, who finally got the hook from the great manager in the sky Wednesday after a remarkable 92 years on the planet, was as well known to me as most of the older members of my family. Though his pitching genius was developed with his father at their Iowa farm, once he hit Cleveland at age 17, \"Rapid Robert\" took over the town. My father -- a fervent Ohio sports fan -- was standing on the sidelines when Feller threw his first warm-up pitches for a semi-pro club at old League Park. Soon after, Feller took the mound for the Cleveland Indians. In an 18-year career interrupted by his World War II service, Feller became the most dominant right-handed pitcher baseball had seen. He was a fireballer -- a strikeout artist -- and he threw three no-hitters before he was done. Read More But Dad, who died in 2008, would have been quick to tell you that Feller also completed 12 one-hit games. That total shares a major league record. And I would argue that it's harder to stay on your game and throw a one-hitter after you've had your no-hitter broken up than it is to throw a no-hitter in the first place. Growing up watching the frequently terrible and generally discouraging Indians teams of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, I was more than happy to turn my eyes from the present and let Dad guide me through the Cleveland sports glory years. Feller was right up there with the football greats Paul Brown and Marion Motley in Dad's Pantheon. And Dad was not really a hero worshipper. One of the guys who never quite made his A list was the all-time NFL great Jim Brown (\"He gets tackled by one man too often. Motley never got tackled by one man.\") Still, he loved Feller. One of his great regrets was that Feller never won a World Series game. The Indians did win it all in 1948, but Feller lost the only game he pitched, 1-0. That lone run scored after what many Clevelanders believed was a blown call on a pick-off play at second base. If Dad were still with us, he'd jump out of the recliner and show you how it all went down. Feller was on the roster for the 1954 Series, when the Indians came off a record-breaking 111-win regular season to fall in four straight games to Willie Mays and the New York Giants. But he didn't pitch, largely because the Indians had so much confidence in the younger arms that had carried the squad all year. Could an appearance by Bullet Bob have turned the tide? We'll never know, but Dad could make a convincing argument. I finally met Bob Feller at a card show in Cleveland in the early 1990s. My brother-in-law Ray and I took Dad to surprise him. Dad was able to tell Feller that he remembered those first pitches back when Feller was still just that Iowa farmboy -- \"the Heater from Van Meter.\" I'm sure Feller heard that sort of story about himself virtually every day, sometimes from people who were NOT there. Guys with four different nicknames get that kind of attention. But his graciousness meant the world to Dad (and to me). That card show was not the last time I saw Bob Feller, though. And I'm happy to say that the last time I saw him was the first time I ever saw him pitch -- at least in person. The first year the Nationals played ball in Washington, D.C., I happened to be at the park on a night when some large group from Iowa was in attendance. Feller was there to throw out the first pitch. The typical routine is a soft lob to the catcher from well in front of the pitcher’s mound, a handshake and half-hearted applause. Not Bob's style. He climbed to the pitching rubber, stared down the full 60-feet-six inches toward the Nationals' catcher, managed a fair approximation of the windup and kick that had terrified some of the game's greatest hitters -- and threw a perfect strike. If you run into me in my declining years (which some say have already begun) I'm sure I'll be happy to tell you that story ... and jump out of my recliner to show you how it all went down. (Todd Holzman is a senior editor at NPR.org.) Update at 8:35 a.m. ET. On Morning Edition today, Amanda Rabinowitz of WKSU in Kent, Ohio, reported about Feller's phenomenal career and the effect he had on the game:", "When I was growing up in the 1950s and '60s, Karen was a name that was everywhere — but in a different way than it is now. Thanks to the baby boom, it felt as if every fifth person was named Karen. I knew a whole bunch of them: Karen Trader, Karen Huff, Karen Ramos, Karen Davis, Karen Petersen, Karen Johnson, Karen Robinson. Back then, you could yell \"Karen!\" on the schoolyard playground and watch the heads pop up. The Karens I knew were dependable. We collected the class milk money in elementary school (Google it, young'uns) and took teachers' notes to the principal's office. Later, we were the babysitters who showed up on time, no prompting needed. We were class officers and community volunteers. We were not the ones in risqué prom dresses. No one was ashamed to be a Karen. Karens, for the most part, behaved. And although the name is Nordic descended, there were plenty of Black Karens in my New England hometown. Well, as the '60s folk song says, times, they are a-changin'. You can't log on to your computer or glance at your phone without an example of some \"Karen\" somewhere behaving badly: in the park. At the big-box store. Calling police on little children on the sidewalk. Harassing her neighbors — on their own property. For these women, Karen is not the name on their birth certificates but what they have become. They are women, almost always white, who are entitled, often racist and determined to get what they want. And what they want, to a frequent degree, is the ability to determine where Black and brown bodies may or may not be present. These Karens did not spring full-grown from the ether. Instead, they are the latest link in an evolutionary chain of white women that goes back at least a couple of centuries. In the recent past, before Karen, there was Becky, immortalized by Sir Mix-a-Lot in the '90s. You know these Beckys — young white women who are as entitled as Karen but significantly more cheerful. Becky wants the Black girls in homecoming court to straighten their hair for the official photos \"so we'll all look nice.\" (She also wants to know how you got your natural hair to behave that way in the first place, or touches it with or without asking.) She might know a couple of Black folks and makes assumptions about the entire culture based on her narrow experience. She can't be racist because she's gone out with a couple of Black guys. (Karen, on the other hand, can't be racist because she has a Black work friend or neighbor.) Becky is the sorority sister who will sing along to Beyoncé at the top of her voice, but unless the actual Beyoncé shows up to join her sorority (as if!), Becky won't vote to admit any Black pledge candidates. Not because they're Black, of course — Becky doesn't \"see color.\" No, Becky won't be voting for Black candidates because they're not the right kind of Black. You know, the kind that \"fits in.\" And way before there was Becky, there was her predecessor — Miss Ann. If that sounds kind of antebellum, that's because it is. Miss Ann goes back to the land of cotton, to Dixie before the \"War of Northern Aggression.\" She may have been the mistress of a sprawling plantation or the inhabitant of a much more humble home. But whether she owned actual Black bodies or hoed her own land, Miss Ann was always going to consider herself better than the best Black person anywhere near her, because she was white. And white womanhood — rich or poor — was firmly placed on a pedestal, the living icon of white supremacy. Because it was so verboten to speak about white women with anything but polite deference, Black folks developed \"Miss Ann\" as a signifying reference; it was a moniker that allowed us to talk in code if we needed to. \"You know Miss Ann: has to be right about everything, all the time!\" Karen has inherited Miss Ann's entitlement; it has been handed down, like the family silver or an antique wedding veil. She and Becky may not wear Miss Ann's hoop skirts, but they move through the world in the same way: certain of their right to be there, certain they have more right to be there than you. And it is that certainty that's so dangerous. Karen knows she can call on her own community or the state to put Black bodies where she wants them. Don't want them in the hotel swimming pool? Call the police. Think they shouldn't be sleeping in the same dorm as you? Call the police. Angry that a child is selling ice water on a hot day on a public sidewalk near you? Oh, Officer Friendly ... Karen is much more like Miss Ann than Becky in the sense that she's aware there will be consequences when she summons help — and that those consequences will fall most harshly on Black people, usually Black men. The lynchings of Emmett Till and Claude Neal, for example, occurred because people perceived that white women's virtue needed protecting. A century ago, the entire neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Okla., was burned to the ground and scores of its residents were slaughtered after a white woman claim", "The Army has told some of the psychiatrists who supervised Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan that it's investigating them — and they could face punishments, from letters of reprimand to court-martial. The Army said it's going to decide whether the doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center \"failed to take appropriate action\" against Hasan and were \"derelict\" in their duties. Evidence shows that a lot of doctors had worried about Hasan — some for years. Evidence also shows that only one supervisor, Maj. Scott Moran, actively tried to kick Hasan out of the psychiatry program. Now sources involved in the investigation say Moran is one of the officers who is in big trouble. Moran wouldn't comment, but the sources say all of the supervisors under investigation are fairly low-level officers like Moran. \"They're attacking the wrong target,\" says Gary Myers, a lawyer who is representing Col. Charles Engel, another psychiatrist whom Myers says is under investigation. Engel was Hasan's main supervisor in the fellowship program at the military's medical school, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Myers says the Army is trying to find scapegoats and that everybody knows that officials in the nation's intelligence agencies bear at least some responsibility for what happened at Fort Hood. \"The notion that it is attributable to lower-level physicians who were also mentors strikes me as being a bullet fired high and to the right,\" he says. Spokesmen for the Army wouldn't confirm or deny that they've notified any officers that they're under investigation. Failure To Act? After Moran took over the psychiatric residents program in March 2007, he reviewed Hasan's record and told colleagues they should get rid of him. Moran wrote a memo to the powerful credentials committee denouncing Hasan for a \"pattern of poor judgment and a lack of professionalism.\" But sources and documents confirm that higher-ups told Moran to back off; they said going after Hasan might cause legal hassles. Hasan then went to a fellowship at the military's medical university. Documents show that supervisors there got upset, too. Some supervisors were concerned that he seemed to have extremist Islamic beliefs. Hasan seemed obsessed with the Muslim-American soldier who killed fellow troops in Kuwait. Some supervisors even wondered to colleagues: Could Nidal Hasan be psychotic? Sources say the Army is investigating Engel because he knew about these concerns, yet he allegedly didn't take enough action. The sources say the Army is also investigating Col. John Bradley, who ran the psychiatry department at Walter Reed until a few days ago. Colleagues say both men failed to act at least partly because they were running training programs and saw themselves as teachers who felt they were supposed to help people like Hasan try to improve. When they got on his back, the sources say, Hasan occasionally did better work. The investigation of Moran is more puzzling because documents suggest he's the only one who actively tried to go after Hasan. Documents show that Moran did sign paperwork later that recommended Hasan for promotion, but that was after higher-ranking officers rebuffed Moran. So far, there is no sign that the Army is investigating them. Moran, Bradley and Engel did not respond to requests for comment. Sources say the Army has notified several other mid-level officers that they're being investigated, too, but the Army wouldn't confirm those details, either. RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Returning to the story of Nidal Hasan, the U.S. Army Major charged in last years Fort Hood shooting, NPR has learned the Army has told some of the psychiatrists supervising Hasan at Walter Reed Hospital that it's investigating them and they may face punishment. The Army said it will decide whether the doctors, quote, \"failed to take appropriate action\" against Hasan and were derelict in their duties. One name on the list of supervisor is a surprise, as NPRs Daniel Zwerdling reports. DANIEL ZWERDLING: The evidence shows that a lot of doctors were worried about Nidal Hasan for years. The evidence also shows that only one supervisor actively tried to kick Hasan out of the psychiatry program. His name is Scott Moran. So heres the surprise. Sources involved in the investigation say that Scott Moran is one of the officers who's now in big trouble. Moran wouldn't comment, but the sources tell NPR that all the supervisors under investigation are fairly low level officers, like Moran. Hes a major. Mr. GARY MYERS (Attorney): They're attacking the wrong target. ZWERDLING: Gary Myers is a lawyer who's representing another psychiatrist, whom he acknowledges is under investigation. His client is Colonel Charles Engel. Engel was Hasan's main supervisor in the fellowship program at the military's medical school. Myers says the Armys trying to find scapegoats. He says everybody knows by now that officials in the nation's intelligence agencies bear", "A love song about wildflowers by a would-be militant turned folk singer is the hit song of the summer on both sides of the India-Pakistan border in Kashmir, a Himalayan valley that's been the site of fierce fighting and territorial disputes for decades. \"Ha Gulo\" — which translates to \"Oh Flower\" — is the rare Kashmiri-language song to achieve commercial success internationally; in July it was featured on Coke Studio, the longest-running TV music show in Pakistan, while its music video has, in less than a month, received more than a million page views combined on YouTube and Facebook. In its video, four bearded, middle-aged men dressed in traditional cloaks, bright yellow caps and colorful sunglasses bob their heads to electronic beats and lyrics from Kashmiri poetry, playing a traditional Kashmiri stringed instrument called the rabab, snapping their fingers in unison and dancing around the stone ruins of what looks like an ancient castle. The lead singer, Altaf Mir, is a Kashmiri embroiderer and part-time wedding singer, who crossed the India-Pakistan border from his native Kashmir in 1990, at a time when scores of young Kashmiri men were joining underground militias, taking up arms against Indian control of their valley. Mir, 50, cites \"unsafe conditions\" as the reason he had to leave his homeland nearly three decades ago. But some local media claim he crossed into Pakistan with the aim of taking up arms. In a phone interview with NPR, he would not clarify whether he ever intended to fight. In 1947, India and Pakistan became separate countries following the end of British colonial rule over the subcontinent. Each country subsequently claimed Kashmir as its own; the territory is currently divided between Indian and Pakistani-administered areas, its permanent status unresolved. \"I used to sing in the open fields of Kashmir, with my neighbours,\" Mir recalls by phone from Muzaffarabad, the city in northeast Pakistan where he now lives. Mir fondly recalls performing at school assemblies as a child, and at local wheat-sowing ceremonies in Kashmir. \"But I was forced to run away from my homeland, when the situation deteriorated,\" he says. As a migrant in Pakistan, Mir had to give up singing, and began working as a textile embroiderer, making intricate Kashmiri needlework designs for clothes, tablecloths and curtains. (It's still his primary job.) But after a few years in the country his love of singing was rekindled, when a Pakistani neighbor heard about Mir's talent and hired him to sing at a family wedding. The job snowballed into more gigs and eventually leading to regular appearances on Radio Pakistan. Then, a few years ago, Mir started a band called Qasamir, in which he is the lead singer, accompanied by Saifuddin Shah, Ghulam Mohammad Dar and Manzoor Ahmed Khan — all fellow Kashmiri speakers who live in Pakistan. Dar is a professional musician regularly heard on Radio Pakistan, but Khan's day job is as a rickshaw driver and Shan is a part-time cook and laborer — together, they play a variety of traditional percussion instruments and the flute. After being featured by Coke Studio Pakistan, Mir has become the most famous Kashmiri singer in the country. (The number of people who speak the Kashmiri language inside Pakistan is tiny; in the Muzaffarabad district where Mir has settled, they amount to about two percent of the population.) Coke Studio was founded by The Coca-Cola Company in 2007, with distinct versions of the program in Pakistan, the Middle East, Africa and India that showcase the local talent of each region. The programs air on local television, radio stations and YouTube. Coke Studio Pakistan is the most popular of the Studio's programs across South Asia. This year, Coke Studio Pakistan launched a project called \"Coke Studio Explorer,\" in which producers went out to remote areas of Pakistan in search of folk artists performing in regional and minority languages. Eventually, they were led to Altaf Mir. \"We wanted to focus on things that we hadn't ever explored before, and to look at elements of what makes Pakistan what it is today — highlighting the Pakistani identity and truly owning the white in our flag,\" says Hamza Ali, one of the lead producers of Coke Studio Pakistan. (Pakistan's flag is green and white, with a star and crescent moon. The green is meant to symbolize Islam, the country's majority religion. The white is meant to symbolize its minorities.) The producers traveled to Muzaffarabad to meet Mir, recording the video for \"Ha Gulo\" partly in a hotel room there and partly outdoors. It's the last in a series of five songs from various artists produced by the Coke Studio Explorer project, which also include songs by artists who sing in Kalash, Sindhi and Balochi, three other languages within distinct regions of Pakistan. He says nothing — not his radio gigs, or the cultural events where he would sometimes perform — compares to the response he's received since appearing on Coke Studio. His ", "The most surprising thing about the action-comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me is that it racks up a higher body count in 117 minutes than the comparatively somber stunt spectacular Mission: Impossible — Fallout does in 147. It's one of a pitifully small number of movies this summer directed by a woman (feature film sophomore Susanna Fogel, who co-wrote and directed 2014's Life Partners); she and David Iserson wrote the script to this farce, which stars Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon as roommates drawn semi-willingly into an international conspiracy. I take no pleasure in executing my sworn duty to inform you that the movie is neither as thrilling as the well-coiffed 1977 James Bond adventure The Spy Who Loved Me nor as funny as (or any less juvenile than) its 1999 Mike Myers parody The Spy Who Shagged Me. McKinnon, as always, is an unhinged delight, but she and Kunis just don't have enough chemistry to push this grisly tale of friendship-conquers-all over the hump. With its R-rating and its frequent shootouts, fights, and car chases, Dumped clearly wants to channel the winning Paul Feig-directed Melissa McCarthy vehicle Spy. But it lacks that film's righteous zeal for demolishing sexist stereotypes, in the workplace and in the movies. It also doesn't surprise us by letting any of its key players do anything we haven't seen them do many times before. Remember how great it was when Spy gave the usually stone-faced tough guy Jason Statham a chance to be a goofball? Kunis fairly sleepwalks through her scenes, unable to vibrate on the same comic frequency as McKinnon or Gillian Anderson, as a senior MI6 official. The Daily Show's Hasan Minhaj is irritating but unfunny as a Harvard-grad C.I.A. agent who can't stop mentioning his alma mater, and Outlander's Sam Heughan is his handsome but blank MI6 counterpart, forced by the script into an unpersuasive flirtation with the Kunis character. A parade of walk-ons from several generations of beloved TV comedians only underscores that the movie is overlong by at least 20 minutes. Not that it takes even that long to go off-track. The plot kicks in when Justin Theroux's character breaks up with Kunis via transcontinental text message. (He's a watchacallit, spy, though Kunis has bought into the ruse that he makes his living as an, ahem, NPR podcaster.) When McKinnon snatches her friend's phone away to reply that the ladies are burning all the property he left at their apartment, he's forced to return, bringing danger in his wake. Clearly, he's left some priceless MacGuffin stashed at their place, so why would he risk Kunis' anger by sending that breakup message before he had that MacGuffin back in his possession? The shaggy plotting wouldn't be so easy to spot if the gags were better. Dumped is due some modest credit for employing Ukranian actor Ivanna Sakhno as a gymnast/assassin, whose otherworldly poise gives her a genuine air of menace. This casting also allows the film to climax in a trapeze-fight between Sakhno and McKinnon, who has taken it upon herself to go undercover as a circus performer. This film also has what might be the best and only Edward Snowden joke in a spy thriller ever. So it's a history-minded August time-waster. McKinnon is fun to watch in anything, but The Spy Who Dumped Me is For Completists' Eyes Only.", "Prom season is here. And there really isn't a more hyped event in high school social life. There's the fashion, the flowers, plans for the future and, of course, the after party. Photographer Mary Ellen Mark, now 72, recalls her 1958 prom with fondness. \"There I was, looking so perfect and happy facing my future,\" she tells NPR host Audie Cornish. \"I was fascinated by my own prom pictures.\" Hence her latest book: Prom, a collection of 127 portraits from 13 schools across the country, shot between 2006 and 2009. Mark is known for more serious documentary work — prostitutes in Mumbai, street kids in Seattle — as well as similar portraiture like her previous Twins book. To her, this fits right in. \"I think the prom is very serious also,\" she says. \"It's an American ritual, it's a rite of passage, and it's very much a part of this country.\" To capture the prom seriously, Mark lugged around a 400-pound Polaroid 20x24 Land Camera — not quite the point-and-shoot parents typically use expressly to embarrass their teens on the front steps. \"It's just an amazing camera that captures incredible detail,\" she says. \"You can't pick it up and take a snapshot with it.\" Each photograph is a big deal, an elaborate production — kind of like prom. And so, while some of the teens in Mark's book are dancing or laughing, most stare straight at the camera, perhaps more self-aware than one might expect. Though they probably have no idea what it means to be photographed by Mary Ellen Mark, no matter. Their expressions reveal the complexities of that age — still their parents' children, they are hurtling toward adulthood. They demand a closer look, to be taken more seriously. The photos contrast quite dramatically with the more humorous documentary produced by Mark's husband, Martin Bell, which accompanies the book. Various prom-goers make coy suggestions about after parties. They roll their eyes at drama. They send texts midinterview, say \"like\" and smack gum. But they also speak earnestly about love, about fashion and image, about how hard they worked to get there — and what they hope for the future. \"What was so touching about so many of these kids was their enormous optimism,\" says Mark. \"I think I'll have done something worthwhile with my life,\" says Shane Kammauff of Charlottesville, Va. \"I think I'd like to do something with my time, like write a great novel or make a great discovery, or do something to really change the world.\" Did you want to change the world at 16? Have you managed to do it yet? AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: And we end this hour with a tribute to the prom. Could there be a more hyped event in high school social life? There's the fashion. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Our favorite color is green. So, for my prom last year, we kind of went with a sage green and now this is like a honeydew green. CORNISH: The flowers. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: I tried to put on her boutonniere, but I kind of ended up pricking myself and she didn't want me to. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #2: I didn't trust her, so I put it on. CORNISH: Of course, nowadays, talk about the after party. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #3: My dad's prom was very conservative. He grew up in Boston, and I'm sure he just went to prom and went home and slept in his own bed. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #2: And are all of you planning on sleeping in your own beds tonight? UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #3: No. I'm not (unintelligible). UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: I think we're planning on sleeping in other beds than the ones we're normally used to. Yeah. CORNISH: These teens are part of the latest project by documentary photographer Mary Ellen Mark and her partner, film director Martin Bell. It's a book of portraits titled \"Prom.\" Between 2006 and 2009, teens from all over the country posed for Mary Ellen Mark and these aren't your typical glossy grip and grins. Her portraits are elegant, sometimes awkward, but timeless in their innocent appeal. Still, Mary Ellen Mark is most famous for her portfolio of serious photographs, projects featuring prostitutes in Bombay, street kids in Seattle. So I asked her, why prom? MARY ELLEN MARK: Well, I think the prom is very serious, also. I mean, it's an American ritual. It's a rite of passage. And by doing this book, I was really able to closely examine it. It's something I've wanted to do ever since I became a photographer. CORNISH: Why? MARK: I was fascinated, first of all, by my own prom picture. There I was looking so perfect and happy, facing my future. Also, because several times during my life as a photographer, I photographed prom - first in 1986 for the \"Day in the Life of America.\" Then again, in 1996, for Allure magazine, I did an assignment in Pittsburgh following a girl through a week before prom and then going to prom. And then, in 2004, I did an assignment for the New Yorker on prom. And then, when I started to work with a 20 by 24 camera about 15 years ago, I did a book on twins first and I was looking for something else that would really fit that camera and I thought pr", "\"Hinglish,\" a term used to describe the seamless blend of Hindi and English spoken in modern India, is no longer just the hybrid language of the nation's urban centers — it also represents a new movement in cinema about India. A growing tide of filmmakers within India and the Indian diaspora are trying to push the boundaries of Bollywood, the Mumbai-based film industry that churns out hundreds of melodramatic musicals each year. Though Danny Boyle's gritty previous films (including Trainspotting and 28 Days Later) couldn't be less like Bollywood's exuberant musicals, the British director's newest effort, Slumdog Millionaire, hints at what a hybrid Indian film could look like. The film, about a group of Indian children growing up in the slums of Mumbai, features two leading Bollywood stars and a sweeping soundtrack written by Bollywood's leading composer, A.R. Rahman. Film critic Aseem Chhabra says he had an immediate realization when he watched the movie: \"I kept saying to myself, 'My god, this is just like watching a Hindi film,' \" says Chhabra. \"Most people in modern India speak English and Hindi. They mix up the languages, and that's how we speak, and that's how these films are being presented.\" Sabrina Dhawan, the screenwriter for the 2001 film Monsoon Wedding, agrees: \"If you want to make a film now, which is authentic and truthful to the way urban Indians speak, it has to in some extent be in Hinglish,\" says Dhawan. But it's not just language that distinguishes these films; Chhabra says that Hinglish films also mix the emotions from Bollywood with the sensibilities of Western films. Monsoon Wedding, which chronicled a sprawling, dispersed family as it gathered in Delhi for a wedding, touched on themes like poverty and sexual abuse, which are never addressed in the fantasy world of Bollywood. Another hit film that drew on both Indian film traditions and its Western roots was Bend It Like Beckham. \"That was a very accessible film also, because it's about soccer and young girls and the fact that they can do it,\" says Chhabra. \"But we had Sikh characters in it. They break into Bhangra, they break into Indian pop music.\" Loins of Punjab Presents, which opens in the U.S. this month, is set in an Indian immigrant community in New Jersey and features a ragtag mix of South Asian immigrants trying out for an American Idol-style singing contest. The catch: They're all singing Bollywood songs. Director Manish Acharya recognizes that his film may have limited appeal in both India and the U.S., since it belongs in neither. \"My co-writer and I, when we wrote it, we thought to ourselves, 'How many people would there be in this world who would like Woody Allen and like Hindi film songs?' \" says Acharya, \"And we thought, 'OK, there are probably seven of us in the world, so there might be five people who come and see it.'\" But as the dialogue between both traditions continues to grow, these films are finding an audience. Dhawan says what's important about Slumdog Millionaire in particular is that it's a Hinglish film directed by a Western director. \"It's not just about the Indian filmmaker or the Indian actor who wants to come to America to become successful. But that there's reciprocity, and there are filmmakers from the West who want to make films in India and about Indians,\" says Dhawan. And if that back-and-forth process yields a hit, you can expect there will be more Hinglish films coming soon to a theater near you. ROBERT SIEGEL, host: Well, as you can tell, \"Slumdog Millionaire\" is a multicultural, bilingual production. Bilingual as in Hinglish, Hindi and English. As NPR's Bilal Qureshi reports, Hinglish is not just the new language of urban India, it also represents a new movement in Indian cinema. BILAL QURESHI: Epic melodramatic musicals are one of India's national pastimes. (Soundbite of Bollywood movie) QURESHI: You know, those colorful, lavish song and dance spectacles Bollywood churns out by the hundreds every year. (Soundbite of Bollywood movie) QURESHI: The gritty, independent films of British director Danny Boyle couldn't be more different. But when critic Aseem Chhabra saw Boyle's R-rated \"Slumdog Millionaire,\" he had an immediate reaction. Mr. ASEEM CHHABRA (Film Critic): When I was watching \"Slumdog,\" again and again, I kept saying to myself, my God, this is just like watching a Hindi film. QURESHI: That might be because it features two Bollywood stars and a sweeping soundtrack written by Bollywood's leading composer. But \"Slumdog Millionaire\" joins a growing catalogue of Hinglish films. Mr. CHHABRA: And what these films also do is they take a little bit of emotions from Bollywood, they take a little bit of sensibilities of Western films, and then mix them together. QURESHI: The breakout Hinglish film was \"Monsoon Wedding\" in 2001. (Soundbite of movie \"Monsoon Wedding\") Unidentified Actor #1: This is too much. This is no time for family members to arrive. Unidentified Actor #2: (Hi", "Last November, helium balloons with pictures of the bridal family floated over Bangalore Palace in southern India, welcoming some 50,000 guests to a $75 million wedding. In a country of over-the-top weddings — lasting three days or more, featuring bridal gowns decorated with real diamonds, and guest performers like Enrique Iglesias — this one was big enough to make headlines: \"Big fat Indian wedding — no cash crunch for Janardhan Reddy!\" But now there is a wedding backlash. A member of Parliament is proposing a bill to not only recommend how much a family could spend on a wedding, but also tax them for extravagance. Families who spend more than $7,500 have to declare their estimated expenditure to the government beforehand and earmark 10 percent for a fund that will defray wedding costs for brides-to-be from poorer segments of society. The proposal comes from Ranjeet Ranjan, a 42-year-old Harley-riding minister of Parliament from Bihar, who issued a statement saying, \"These days, marriages are more about showing off your wealth and as a result, poor families are under tremendous social pressure to spend more.\" There is anecdotal data and academic research on how poor families feel pressure to undertake wedding ceremonies that outstrip their liquidity, often taking out loans that could take anywhere from a few years to a lifetime to repay. But it's not clear whether that pressure comes from within their own social class or is a trickle-down effect from higher socioeconomic classes. Indeed, wedding excess is everywhere. \"From designers to wedding planners to wedding blogs and Bollywood, all create a fantasy and imagery of what a wedding should look like,\" says sociologist Parul Bhandari, a research scholar at New Delhi's Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities. Geeta Jetpura is a cleaning lady in Mumbai. Last October, with her mother and sister, she contributed toward her brother's marriage. Her brother took a loan of about $1,500 from his boss at the IT firm where he works, earning $300 a month as part of the support staff. The family put in around $750, borrowing from people they work for. \"We paid for the invitation card, the band, new clothes and a bit toward the decoration,\" says Jetpura. The bride's family paid for the rest, about $2,500. Some of the family's employers attended, Jetpura says, and were impressed by the rich food and decor. Could they have not taken loans and held a simpler ceremony? Jetpura, her mother and her sister giggle and shake their heads. \"What's the point then?\" Jetpura asks. \"Our neighbors would say the marriage didn't happen at all.\" Anil Bosak, a migrant from the eastern state of West Bengal who now lives in Mumbai, concurs. \"You only get married once. You have to make it count. It's a question of pride and self-respect.\" His sister's wedding in the village cost about $2,200, which covered \"the cost of the reception hall, the priest's fees, and the banquet food. Plus jewelry, gifts and new clothes for everyone.\" Half of that amount was a loan from the bank at 5 percent interest; two years later, the family is still paying it off. \"Some people do take loans to pull off weddings for their children they can't afford, we try to step in and prevent that,\" says Kulbhushan, national secretary of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, a nongovernmental organization for social progress. (He uses one name.) \"Making comparisons is a human trait; it's natural to look up at the rich and try to emulate what they have,\" says Kulbhushan. The organization tries to level the wedding field, though, by conducting mass weddings for underprivileged couples. Over the past three decades, they've conducted thousands of weddings, from 30 couples to 500 at one time. Here's how it works: People sign up across the country for one of several community weddings held each year. A couple can invite up to 50 guests. There's no charge for the ceremony or the banquet. All the costs are underwritten by donations from the organization's volunteers and from fundraising. Sometimes, state governments extend some aid. At the last \"samuhik vivah,\" or community wedding, in January, 72 couples were married. But for some families, a community wedding is seen as losing face. Geeta Jetpura and her mother laughed outright at the suggestion. \"You may as well elope then for the respect you'd get in the neighborhood.\" The ultra-expensive wedding trend started in 2004 when tycoon Lakshmi Mittal hosted his daughter's $36 million wedding at the palace of Versailles. Since then, India's high society has been trying to one-up him both at home and abroad. Traditionally the bride wears red for prosperity (and fertility), but nowadays it's a designer outfit that costs $6,000 on average. And the groom might show up on a white mare — or a hired elephant. The ostentation can start with the very invitation. For Janardhan Reddy's daughter's wedding in Bangalore last year, the invite came in a gold-plated box with an embedded LCD screen that looped", "In February, a state-run media outlet in China mocked Gary Locke, who was signing off as U.S. ambassador to that country. \"Gary Locke is a U.S.-born, third-generation Chinese-American, and his being a banana — 'yellow skin and white heart' — became an advantage for Obama's foreign policy,' \" the editorial read. Years ago, a (possibly apocryphal) story circulated about Democratic activists throwing Oreos at Michael Steele, the black former head of the Republican party. That got us thinking about the very long list of foods that double as shorthands for racial betrayal. Banana and Oreo, sure. There's Twinkie, which does the same work as banana. There's apple, leveled at Native Americans who are allegedly white on the inside. And there's coconut, which is a sort of an all-purpose, you're-white-on-the-inside epithet for all manner of brownness — Desis, Latinos, Afro-Caribbeans. Freddie Boswell, our colleague who went to school in the United Kingdom, said that the folks across the pond have their own term for this: Bounty Bar, as in the coconut-filled chocolate bar. According to the Racial Slur Database — isn't the Internet amazing? — black police officers in England apparently get this one a lot. (The list of creative food slurs winds on and on. When we asked our followers on Twitter to share their stories, folks were sharing random fruits and vegetables that'd been used to mark them as something else. Kat says that this would all be so much easier if we just used variations of potatoes for everyone. You know, \"Yukon gold potatoes\" for Asian folks who are charged with being insufficiently Asian or \"red potatoes\" for similarly situated Native Americans who ostensibly want to be white. Gene thinks this is artless and makes us all vaguely British.)* What about white folks who are something else on the inside? If you're \"Asian on the inside,\" you're an egg. White on the outside but black on the inside? You're a snowball. Asian on the outside but black on the inside? Gelt. If you're a Native person who thinks she's Barack Obama on the inside? Dragonfruit. (Okay. So we might have made those last two up.) But Matt Thompson, our Code Switch teammate (and, heh, boss), argued that eggs might make more sense as a descriptor of East Asian folks who \"act white\"; after all, it's their presumed cultural performance that's front-facing and that folks are responding to. We looked at him and blinked. \"Dude, we're talking about racist food here. You're really overthinking this.\" Why are foods the stand-ins for all this racial ostracism? Well, food is easy. There's a platonic apple in your head. (And it's red, unless you're one of those deviants who hears apple and thinks it's green. You go have a seat somewhere.) And if kids are the people who are tossing these epithets around, it probably makes sense that these are all foods that are in kid's lunchboxes.** Twinkies. Oreos. Apples. Bananas. To a kid, racial classifications are that simple. And viewed in that light, food is actually a more complex metaphor — it's almost synaesthetic. This whole phenomenon implicitly relies on people using \"red,\" \"yellow,\" \"brown,\" \"black\" and \"white\" — color markers — as fair and clear descriptions of race. If we've been reduced to simple colors, then it follows we're reducible to junk foods. *In rare instances, the race-to-food nomenclature thing goes in the opposite direction in terms of language. Our colleague Ricardo Sandoval hipped us to a popular Cuban dish made up of black beans and white rice called moros y cristianos. That is: \"Moors and Christians. \" **Wait. Do kids still use lunchboxes?", "Military officials charged an Army psychiatrist with 13 counts of premeditated murder Thursday in connection with last week's shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, and said more charges could be filed as investigators continue their probe into the deadly rampage. Chris Grey, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, announced the charges Thursday against Maj. Nidal Hasan. The maximum sentence under the military justice system for the crime is death; the minimum is life in prison without possibility of parole. Grey said Hasan is the sole suspect in the killings, but investigators are continuing to sift through evidence on the nation's largest Army post, as well as in the nearby community of Killeen. \"We are aggressively following every possible lead,\" Grey said during an afternoon news conference. \"We still believe there was only one gunman,\" but investigators haven't questioned all of the witnesses, he added. Col. John Rossi, a Fort Hood spokesman, said 12 of the gunman's victims remain hospitalized in stable condition. One is in intensive care. Authorities said Hasan, 39, fired off more than 100 rounds of ammunition before he was brought down by civilian police. He remains hospitalized in stable condition at Fort Sam Houston's Brooke Army Medical Center near San Antonio. Details have emerged that Hasan, who is Muslim, was strongly opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His family has said he was trying to get out of being deployed to Afghanistan later this month. \"We are looking at every reason that could have motivated\" the shootings, Grey said, adding that investigators have learned that Hasan was not at the post for a scheduled appointment or \"command directed\" activity. \"We are looking at every possible angle in this case,\" Grey said. \"We're working closely with numerous agencies to get a complete picture of the entire event, and we are seamlessly sharing that information with those agencies.\" John P. Galligan, a retired military officer hired to represent Hasan by the suspect's family, said the military has not shared information with him. He said his military-appointed co-counsel told him charges were being read to Hasan in the hospital without his lawyers present. \"I don't like it. I feel like I'm being left out of the loop,\" Galligan said. \"What I find disturbing is that my client is in ICU, and he's 150 miles south of his defense counsel, and he's being served with the charges,\" he told The Associated Press. \"Given his status as a patient, I'm troubled by this procedure and that I'm not there. I'm in the dark, and that shouldn't be the case. I am mad.\" Meanwhile, President Obama ordered a review of any intelligence information related to Hasan and a probe into whether information was shared with the proper agencies and whether it was subsequently acted upon. Two government officials have said a joint terrorism task force overseen by the FBI was notified of communication between Hasan and radical imam Anwar al-Awlaki. The White House review will be led by John Brennan, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism. Initial results are due by Nov. 30. Obama also ordered that intelligence documents be preserved. Members of Congress, particularly Michigan Rep. Peter Hoekstra, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, have called for a full examination of what agencies knew about Hasan's contacts with Awlaki and others of concern to the U.S., and what they did with the information. A Senate hearing on Hasan is scheduled for next week, and the Senate Homeland Security Committee announced it is opening its own investigation this week. Contributing: NPR staff and wire services", "Deacon John does it all. The veteran New Orleans bandleader plays weddings, birthdays, proms, debutante parties. He holds his own at Jazz Fest and at carnival balls. He'll play 1950s R&B, rock, jazz, gospel, soul and disco — whatever the people want to hear. But when it's up to him, he chooses the blues. John Moore formed his first dance band in 1960, and adopted the pious nickname Deacon on the suggestion of a mischievous drummer. Moore probably could have put together a band of family members: His mother played piano, grandfather Popee was on banjo, and his brothers and sisters played guitar, drums, trombone and viola. \"Growing up, man, there was never a dull moment,\" Moore says. \"I came from a family of 13. My mother was a very devout Catholic and she said she'd have as many children as God sends, and he kept sendin' em.\" He laughs and adds, \"My poor papa.\" Growing up in the family house on Tonti Street, young Moore would turn his crystal radio low when his brothers and sisters went to bed, to hear the music that whispered to his soul — and that his mother forbade. \"Bo Diddley and Etta James and Bill Doggett and Big Maybelle, Hound Dog and Howlin' Wolf, and Del Rio, Texas with the big Wolfman Jack. I would be up at night listening to all that stuff,\" he says. Part of Deacon John's mythos is that he was present at the creation of the rhythm and blues that became early rock 'n' roll. In the late 1950s, he played in the house band of the legendary Dew Drop Inn on LaSalle Street. Later, he worked as a session player in the storied French Quarter studio run by Cosimo Matassa, where he played under the tutelage of renowned producer Allen Toussaint. And he backed up R&B superstars Ernie K. Doe, Irma Thomas, Aaron and Art Neville, and Lee Dorsey. Moore, now 73, always includes one of the hits from that era when he performs around town. Over time, his group The Ivories has become a sort of home team for rising talents. \"A lot of them have left my band and started careers of their own,\" Moore says, \"Like, James Booker played with me, James Rivers, the Nevilles, all of them played with me at one time or another. And all the musicians who have worked for me through the years, they've all said it was a good gig.\" Moore also works for the musicians. Nine years ago, he became the first African-American president of the regional musician's union. At a recent rehearsal inside Deacon John's shotgun house in Uptown New Orleans, the horn section is working out an arrangement for an upcoming show. The narrow room is crammed with guitar cases and sound equipment, and the players' notebooks bulge with 600 music charts. Danon Smith, who has been been singing backup with The Ivories for 26 years, says the band has provided the soundtrack for entire families. \"Deac is so known to where as he's played for the father and the mother's wedding, or the grandmother's wedding, and now we're playing for their children's children's wedding — like, three and four generations,\" Smith says. \"So many people in this town grew up going to dances where Deacon John and The Ivories were playing,\" says journalist Jason Berry, coauthor of the book Up From the Cradle of Jazz: New Orleans Music Since World War II. \"You go to a prom when you're 16 or 17, and then you go to a college dance when you're 19 or 20, you go to a wedding reception when you're 24, you go to a concert at a place like Rock 'n' Bowl when you're in your 30s and 40s — and when you keep seeing the same band, and you have all those memories, and he's such a grand showman, you want more.\" Berry even asked Deacon John to sing at the funeral of his daughter, Ariel, in 2009. Moore is frequently invited to perform his singular rendition of \"Ave Maria\" at burial services in this deeply Catholic city. Moore has played at the White House and for inaugurations. He's been inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. But you have to ask, with all the artists who broke out of the Big Easy — Fats Domino, Dr. John, the Neville Brothers, the Rebirth Brass Band and many others — why didn't Deacon John? \"Well, yes, I always wanted to,\" he chuckles, \"but somehow or other it hasn't happened yet.\" Today, Deacon John Moore has learned to laugh at himself, as well as the world, and stop worrying about the elusive fame game. \"I never had a hit record,\" he says, \"and I never been on tour, and I never played in all these foreign countries. Many of my contemporaries have. I'm just one of the guys who stayed around here and made a living playing music.\" He's made a good living at that: singing songs for half a century, in the city that lives with the benign conceit that this is where all American music was born. SCOTT SIMON, HOST: Mardi Gras is just a couple of days away, and one of the most sought-after band leaders in New Orleans right now is Deacon John Moore. Now, despite that clerical name, he's got nothing to do with the church. He has everything to do with the city's rhythmic soul. Moore is one of Ne", "Members of Congress want to know whether the government missed any warning signs in the behavior of Maj. Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of being the gunman in the Fort Hood shootings. In response, President Obama this week ordered an \"inventory\" of all intelligence collected on Hasan prior to the killings. One of the key questions being raised: Were the shootings an act of terrorism? Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan thinks the answer is likely to be yes. \"It's very, very likely that we will conclude that this is a terrorism, radical jihadist event,\" he says. Jihadi Business Card? Speculation about Hasan's possible ties to jihadi groups began with the news that he was in e-mail communication with a radical imam in Yemen, Anwar al-Awlaki. U.S. investigators knew about those communications but concluded that they were consistent with research Hasan was doing on stresses facing Muslim members of the U.S. military. Hasan's apparent research findings were summarized in a PowerPoint presentation to fellow doctors at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. One slide, referring to Muslim warriors, contained the quote: We love death more then you love life! If those were Hasan's own feelings, then he was sounding like a jihadi himself. But were they? Or was it just a research finding? This week, investigators searching Hasan's apartment reportedly found a box of business cards he had ordered online. On the cards, Hasan identified himself as a psychiatrist, but just below his name were the letters SoA. Jihadis use those initials to identify themselves as a \"Soldier of Allah.\" 'People Better Wait Until All The Information Is In' U.S. defense and law enforcement officials still won't speculate on Hasan's thinking. Hoekstra can't understand why not. \"I think that's just putting your head in the ground and not being willing to accept the reality that's out there — that this is terrorism-related,\" Hoekstra says. Such criticism, however, is starting to irritate administration officials. Speaking about the Fort Hood case Thursday to reporters on board his plane, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, \"People are looking at it from their own narrow perspective. And people better wait until all the information is in before we have an understanding of what happened.\" We do know now that some of Hasan's colleagues at Walter Reed raised concerns — about Hasan's religious beliefs and also about his mental stability. In fact, some warning signs about Hasan, including his e-mails to the radical imam in Yemen, were investigated by a joint terrorism task force. But Army officials have been quoted as saying they did not know about those communications. Nor, it seems, was there an official report from Walter Reed advising Army leaders of the concerns Hasan's colleagues raised about him. Hoekstra, the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, wants to know what happened to all these reports. \"Did this information ever make its way to a single point where one person or a group of people had access to all the data and could have evaluated it — and evaluated the potential threat that Hasan might pose to the military or to the United States?\" he asks. That question should be answered by the intelligence review that Obama ordered this week. But U.S. officials have an additional concern: Nidal Hasan is entitled to a fair trial, including the presumption of innocence. He'll be charged in a military court with 13 counts of murder. In fact, Hasan himself is the only person who can answer some of the questions about what was in his mind last week. But he remains in \"extremely serious\" medical condition, according to his lawyer — and may even be paralyzed from the waist down. MELISSA BLOCK, host: One again, U.S. intelligence officials face questions about whether they failed to connect the dots ahead of an attack on U.S. soil. This time it's the Fort Hood massacre. Members of Congress want to know whether the government missed warning signs in the behavior of Major Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of the shootings. This week, President Obama ordered an inventory of all intelligence collected on Hasan before the killings. NPR's Tom Gjelten reports. TOM GJELTEN: The cover of next week's Time magazine features a color picture of Major Hasan. Across his eyes, a black box and in big white letters a one word question: Terrorist? Republican Pete Hoekstra of Michigan has been following the reporting on Hasan's alleged responsibility for the shootings at Fort Hood. He thinks he knows the answer to the question on Times cover. Representative PETE HOEKSTRA (Republican, Michigan): It's very, very likely that we will conclude that this was a terrorism, radical Jihadist event. GJELTEN: Speculation about Nidal Hasan's possible ties to Jihadi groups began with the news he was in e-mail communication with a radical imam in Yemen. U.S. investigators knew about those communications, but concluded they were consist", "Every World Cup, it arrives like clockwork. As sure as the ultimate soccer spectacle brings guaranteed adrenaline and agony to fans across the United States, it also drives the right-wing noise machine utterly insane. \"It doesn't matter how you try to sell it to us,\" yipped the Prom King of new right, Glenn Beck. \"It doesn't matter how many celebrities you get, it doesn't matter how many bars open early, it doesn't matter how many beer commercials they run, we don't want the World Cup, we don't like the World Cup, we don't like soccer, we want nothing to do with it.\" Beck's wingnut godfather, G. Gordon Liddy also said on his radio program, 'Whatever happened to American exceptionalism? This game … originated with the South American Indians and instead of a ball, they used to use the head, the decapitated head, of an enemy warrior.\" Dear Lord, where do we begin? First of all, I always find it amusing when folks like Beck say, \"We don't like soccer\" when it is by far the most popular youth sport in the United States. It's like saying, \"You know what else American kids hate? Ice cream!\" Young people love soccer not because of some kind of commie-nazi plot conjured by Saul Alinsky to sap us of our precious juices, but because it's – heaven forefend - fun. Among adults, the sport is also growing because people from Latin America, Africa, and the West Indies have brought their love of the beautiful game to an increasingly multicultural United States. As sports journalist Simon Kuper wrote very adroitly in his book Soccer Against the Enemy, \"When we say Americans don't play soccer we are thinking of the big white people who live in the suburbs. Tens of millions of Hispanic Americans [and other nationalities] do play, and watch and read about soccer.\" In other words, Beck rejects soccer because his idealized \"real America\" - in all its monochromatic glory – rejects it as well. To be clear, I know a lot of folks who can't stand soccer. It's simply a matter of taste. But for Beck it's a lot more than, \"Gee. It's kind of boring.\" Instead it's, \"Look out whitey! Felipe Melo's gonna get your mama!\" As for Liddy, let's be clear. There is not in fact hard anthropological evidence that early soccer games were played with a human head. Interestingly, though, there is an oft-told legend that the sport took root in England in the 8th century because the King's army playfully kicked around the detached cranium of the conquered Prince of Denmark. Notice that this tall-tale is about Europe not \"South American Indians\". I think we're seeing a theme here. But maybe this isn't just sports as avatar for their racism and imperial arrogance. Maybe their hysteria lies in something far more shallow. Maybe the real reason they lose their collective minds is simply because the USA tends to get their asses handed to them each and every World Cup. After all, as G. Gordon asked, \"Whatever happened to American exceptionalism?\" When it comes to the World Cup, the exceptional is found elsewhere. Could Beck, Liddy, and company just have soccer-envy? Is it possible that if the USA was favored to win the World Cup, Beck himself would be in the streets with his own solid gold vuvuzela? I feel that to ask the question is to answer it. In fact, this is as good a reason as any to hope for a mighty run by the US team. It would be high comedy to see Beck and Friends caught in a vice between their patriotic fervor and their nativist fear.", "Artist Brian Jungen says that one of the best ways to get people to look at artwork is to create it out of materials that they recognize. Visitors to Jungen's exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., will recognize plenty of the materials that compose Jungen's work — everything from basketball sneakers to plastic chairs to baseball gloves. Jungen's exhibit is the first solo show of a living Native American artist at the Museum of the American Indian. He says that much of his work is a response to the hostility and stereotypes that he faced as a person of First Nations ancestry. \"My investigations into my own cultural background happened when I was a late teenager,\" Jungen explains to NPR's Guy Raz. \"I started to do a lot of drawings that were taking advantage of stereotypes that exist of Indian folks.\" In what he calls a \"reverse ethnographic study,\" Jungen conducted informal surveys on the street — asking people to sketch their ideas about native art and culture. He then \"exploited\" these ideas by turning them into satirical drawings and wall paintings — \"a way of kind of reclaiming the term 'Indian,' \" he says. Much of Jungen's work is created out of sports paraphernalia — a suit of armor made of catcher mitts, a skull crafted from baseball skins, blankets woven from jerseys, and totem poles of stacked golf bags. It's a deliberate choice, Jungen says, to make art from materials belonging to an industry that has claimed names such as The Chiefs, Indians, Redskins and Braves. \"I felt that if these professional sports teams felt that they had every right to use this terminology, then I had every right to exploit their materials for my artwork,\" Jungen says. Jungen also draws inspiration from the ritual aspect of American sports. \"Professional sports play a role in society that serves like a ritual and ceremony,\" he says. \"Having experienced that within my own family — the dancing and drumming that I participate in — I know how important that is. So I wanted to use that — use things that people would recognize in their everyday world.\" Brian Jungen's work will be on display at the National Museum of the American Indian until Aug. 8, 2010. GUY RAZ, host: Welcome back to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Guy Raz. If you walk into a new exhibit of Brian Jungen's work at the National Museum of the American Indian here in Washington, you'll see six totem poles, at least that what you might think they are. But take a second look and you'll see they're actually made up of stacked golf bags, cut together to form colorful towers about 10 feet high. There's another piece in the exhibit that appears to be a traditional ceremonial American Indian mask, painted red, white and black. Walk up a little closer, though, and you'll discover it's made entirely from Nike Air Jordans, basketball shoes. The giant whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling? Canadian artist Brian Jungen fashioned it entirely from cutup white plastic chairs. Mr. BRIAN JUNGEN (Artist): A lot of the work I was making is a reaction to the fact that Native Americans and Native American experience and culture was inside of Museums of Natural History. That's where a lot of the inspiration for the Nike masks and the whale skeleton came out of that, almost as a critique of that. So now, existing in a museum like this to me is amazing. It's come full circle in a way. RAZ: Brian Jungen, who's a member of the Dunne-Za Tribe from the Pacific Northwest, is one of Canada's top contemporary artists. This is his first major show in a museum dedicated to Native American art and culture, and it's a first for the Museum as well. Jungen is the very first living Native American artist to have a solo show at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. It's called \"Brian Jungen: Strange Comfort,\" and it opened this weekend. Brian Jungen met us inside the exhibition hall to talk about his work. Talk to me a little bit about your tribal background and how it sort of factors into this kind of art work. Mr. JUNGEN: Well, when I grew up in the '70s and '80s, there was - well, I think there still is a lot of hostility towards First Nations' people. RAZ: Your mother's tribe was Dunne-Za? Mr. JUNGEN: Dunne-Za. Yes. So my investigations into my own kind of cultural background happened when I was a late teenager. I started to do a lot of drawings that were, you know, taking advantage of stereotypes that existed Indian folks, doing this kind of satirical cartoonist drawings. That was a way of kind of reclaiming the term Indian. After that, I kind of started making objects and that's when I first made the Nike work. RAZ: I've noticed that you work a lot with sports paraphernalia: golf bags, baseball mitts, Air Jordans. Is that deliberate? I mean, clearly, there has long been controversy over professional sports teams with names like the Chiefs, the Redskins, the Indians, the Braves. Mr. JUNGEN: Yeah, of course. I mean t", "An Army psychiatrist blamed for a shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 was a devout Muslim who was distraught about an impending deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, friends and family said Friday. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, opened fire Thursday afternoon at the Fort Hood, Texas, Soldier Readiness Center, according to witnesses. A former imam who had known Hasan described him as a lifelong Muslim. A family member said he did not want to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and some former colleagues cited a history of erratic behavior. The alleged gunman was eventually brought down by four shots from the weapon of civilian police Sgt. Kimberly Munley, who was lauded Friday by post commander Lt. Gen. Robert Cone for her \"amazing and aggressive performance\" that saved lives. Hasan was transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio Friday afternoon, where he was in stable condition in the intensive care unit. Authorities said he was expected to live; in the chaotic hours after the shooting, the military initially said he had been killed. Army Chief of Staff George Casey called the assault, the deadliest such incident ever on a U.S. military post, \"a kick in the gut.\" Casey, who was accompanied by Secretary of the Army John McHugh, recounted acts of individual heroism at the scene of the bloodshed. \"I heard stories about medics running from a graduation ceremony next door when they heard gunshots,\" Casey said. He also cited a young private who was sitting in his pickup in a parking lot and heard gunfire. McHugh promised \"every possible resource, every possible form of support\" for the families and victims. He said the investigation was being handled jointly by the Army's Criminal Investigation Command and the FBI. Friday evening, several hundred people gathered at a stadium at Fort Hood, where the Army's chief chaplain offered prayers for families and victims of the shootings. Chaplain Douglas Carver told those at the Friday night vigil — many dressed in fatigues and black berets — to \"remember to keep breathing ... keep going.\" \"God Bless America\" and \"Amazing Grace\" were sung as husbands wrapped their arms around their wives, babies cried and old men in wheelchairs bowed their heads. It was the first community gathering since the killings. Army Sgt. Howard Appleby, who helped care for some of the wounded, said what happened on Thursday was even more traumatic than what he had experienced in Iraq. \"In Iraq you just see this once a day ... [you see] one guy die today, another guy die tomorrow, but 12, 13 guys die at one time — yeah, it's crazy.\" President Obama on Friday ordered American flags to fly at half-staff until Veterans Day, a gesture he called a \"modest tribute to those who lost their lives as they were preparing to risk their lives for their nation.\" A moment of silence was held for service members at 1:34 p.m. Central Time on Friday, exactly 24 hours after the shootings began. Faizul Khan, a former imam, said Hasan was a lifelong Muslim and had at one time regularly attended prayers at a mosque in Silver Spring, Md. A cousin, Nader Hasan, told The New York Times that after counseling soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder, Hasan knew the scars of war well. \"He was mortified by the idea of having to deploy,\" Nader Hasan said. \"He had people telling him on a daily basis the horrors they saw over there.\" Earlier, Nader Hasan had issued a statement on behalf of the family expressing shock and sadness over the incident. Islamic groups were quick to distance themselves from the attack, and some expressed concern about a possible backlash against Muslims. \"No political or religious ideology could ever justify or excuse [this] wanton or indiscriminate violence,\" said Nihad Awad, head of the Council on American Islamic Relations. Hasan was a psychiatrist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for six years before being sent to Texas in July. He was apparently upset about being scheduled to deploy overseas, according to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, who told Fox News that she was told Hasan may have been targeting specific individuals. Hasan's supervisor said she was surprised that he had been accused of the shootings. \"In my organization, he was a very dedicated provider,\" said Col. Kimberly Kesling, deputy commander for clinical services at the post hospital. \"He provided good care for his patients. He was a hard worker and we were actually quite pleased to have him as a member of our team.\" But two other psychiatrists who had worked closely with Hasan when he was training at Walter Reed told NPR that the suspect could be belligerent. The two asked not to be identified because the military had ordered them not to talk to the media. They said Hasan would sometimes belittle colleagues without provocation. The psychiatrists also said Hasan once gave a bizarre lecture to the medical staff in which he said the Quran teaches ", "The rapper Drake probably never dreamed that his song, \"In My Feelings,\" would inspire two Indian farmers to dance in the mud — with their oxen. The song is addressed to a woman named Kiki: \"Kiki, do you love me? Are you riding? Say you'll never ever leave from beside me, 'cause I want you and I need you and I'm down for you always.\" In July, Instagram comedian and social media influencer Shiggy issued what he called the Kiki challenge. Dancing exuberantly, he asked his followers to shoot videos of themselves dancing to the lyrics. His dance set social media feeds on fire, as people all over the world offered their version of the jig – and sometimes did dangerous stunts. A teenager in Iowa was critically injured when she jumped out of a slow moving car. Now, about those farmers... Sriram Srikanth, 27, Anil Geela, 24, and Pilli Tirupati, 28, have lived most of their lives in the village of Lambadipally in the southern Indian state of Telangana. \"Feelings\" was the first English song Geela ever heard; he says he instantly fell in love with the lyrics. And his and his fellow farmers were definitely up for the Kiki challenge. For the farmers of Lambadipally, a day \"riding\" doesn't mean driving in a car. It means using the local means of transport — a pair of oxen! As director of the YouTube channel 'My Village Show,' Srikanth says he's been documenting village life and culture for over five years. He uses humor to explore how villagers react to modern influences. In one episode, he introduces the elderly women in the village to a burger for the first time and records their reactions. \"Oh, so this is what a burger is! Curry in bread,\" exclaims one. \"This burger costs one hundred rupees?\" cries another. In other episodes, he coaxes villagers to use selfie sticks and introduces them to virtual reality technology and fidget spinners. When Srikanth heard about the Kiki challenge, he and his two friends didn't need to come up with choreography. \"We decided to do the moves that came naturally to us,\" says Srikanth. It took 45 minutes to shoot the 39-second video for Instagram. Monsoon season — going on now — is harvest time for rice. So while Srikanth manned the camera, Geela and Tirupati shook their booties while plowing the muddy rice paddy fields behind two oxen, something they do every day. They said they didn't mind the mud at all, since they walk in the paddy fields all the time. It wasn't difficult to find their footing and dance. But they never dreamed they'd dance their way to global fame. They posted the video on August 1 on Instagram and Youtube, and the rest is Kiki challenge history. Their Youtube channel now has 492,000 subscribers. Their video has had over three million views over the last four days. \"I think they just won the Keke challenge,\" Trevor Noah, the host of The Daily Show, posted on Facebook. (He used an alternative spelling for Kiki.) Bollywood actors tweeted their praise: Desi style means Indian style and Mera Bharat Mahaan means \"My India is great.\" \"This is our village style of dance, and it was all done in the spur-of-the-moment,\" laughs Geela, who calls himself a bathroom dancer, a part-time farmer and a full-time actor for My Village Show. Geela once taught mathematics in a nearby town. But he missed the friendship and close bonds of village life so much that he returned to his roots and to farming. While both Srikanth and Geela tend to their farms on a part-time basis, the second dancer in the video, in the long-sleeved shirt, Tirupati, is a full-time farmer. \"I'm happy the video is going viral,\" he says He's also happy to show that all the news from India's farmers isn't sad. The farming sector has faced many challenges over the years, from drought to too much rainfall to a lack of trained labor. But there are sweet and playful moments in farmer's life as well, he says. \"Dancing in the mud is fun — it's eco-friendly and safe,\" says Geela. \"Many village experiences are pure unadulterated joy. And that's what we hoped to convey.\" As for the villagers in their hometown, they can't believe their video could spark worldwide interest, says Srikanth, and they wonder what the fuss is all about. Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, India. Her work has appeared in The International New York Times, BBC Travel and Forbes India. You can follow her @kamal_t.", "The children of China's postwar baby boomers are getting married, and as a result, China has seen a surge in marriages since 2005. While most Chinese people still hold traditional weddings, others are eager to do something different. My wedding was a fusion of Chinese and American culture. I wore a Chinese wedding dress and a veil over a traditional hat decorated with phoenix patterns. Later, I changed into a white wedding gown for a sort of Western ceremony. We lit candles, and kowtowed to my parents and my American fiancé's parents. We formally started to call our in-laws \"Mom\" and \"Dad\" and then ... we kissed. Kissing at a wedding is not as strange as it used to be to Chinese people, but some guests were still embarrassed and even a bit shocked. Keeping Customs It is traditional at Chinese weddings to set off fireworks in hopes that the noise will drive away evil spirits. We wanted to update the tradition and used propylene cannons to make a louder noise. Taking highly posed wedding photos is another popular custom, adopted from Taiwan and taken at least one month before the wedding — where the photos will be displayed. My friend's fiancé was browsing through photo albums in a studio before his wedding. \"I opened up the book, and they had sort of the pages with a watermark on them that I immediately recognized as the CD cover and lyrics from a Prince album,\" he said. \"But I'm not really quite sure I want to celebrate my love and my wedding with the lyrics to \"Darling Nikki\" scrolling in the background.\" The families of the couple often have more say than the couple does about how the wedding is planned. Law student Gao Simin shopped for a Western-style dress in a Beijing wedding supply store. She wanted a sleeveless white gown, but her family preferred that she wear a red one with long sleeves to represent a long-lasting union in keeping with Chinese tradition. \"To some extent, a wedding is not like what people think — a completion of two peoples' love,\" Gao said. \"It is mostly a coordination between two or three generations. I don't feel it is a conflict for me, though. I respect my family's wishes and try my best to compromise.\" Adding Spice with Themed Weddings Some couples try to spice things up with themed weddings. Office clerk Su Wenjuan hired a group to perform songs and dances from the Cultural Revolution for the guests at her wedding. As a song dedicated to Chairman Mao played, actors dressed as Red Guards performed a dance to declare their loyalty to Mao and bless the newlyweds. \"Down with landlord Wang,\" they screamed. The actors also re-enacted the class struggles and picked out audience members to play the evil landlord and kind peasant. The guests laughed, many enjoying familiar scenes from their youth. Most of them were Red Guards themselves, but they seem to have forgotten the beating, torturing and killing the Red Guards did during the Cultural Revolution. A few days later, six couples in Shenyang, in Northeastern China, held their weddings in an aquarium instead of a hotel. After being kissed by a barking sea lion, the couples dove into a big tank where they exchanged rings. Some could not swim, and two instructors dragged them to the bottom of the tank. The couples bowed to their families, who were watching outside the tank and exchanged rings with awkward underwater movements. Most of them will also have traditional wedding ceremonies with feasts, gifts of money in red envelopes and other fancy traditions, but they are having a great time. \"It is so exciting,\" said Yang Yang, one of the grooms. \"I feel that our love is so pure in the water.\" In China, young people's weddings are very much influenced by their parents' experience. My parents had a wedding-less marriage in the 1970s. Instead of a ceremony, they registered at a government office and bowed to a big picture of Mao. The only gifts were seven or eight copies of Mao's little Red Book. My mom noticed the contrast and said, \"To some extent, my daughter's wedding feels like making spiritual amends for me and my husband.\" When I heard that, it made all the efforts and even the annoyances of preparing my wedding worthwhile. Joy Ma is an assistant at NPR's Beijing Bureau. ANDREA SEABROOK, host: From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Andrea Seabrook. MICHELE NORRIS, host: And I'm Michele Norris. Many children of China's postwar baby boomers are now tying the knot. That means a big boom in weddings. And many couples are eager for something other than the traditional ceremony. NPR's Beijing bureau assistant, Joy Ma, just married an American, and she sent us a few examples. JOY MA: My wedding was a fusion of Chinese and American culture. I wore a Chinese wedding dress and a veil over a traditional headpiece decorated with phoenix patterns. Later, I changed into a white wedding gown for a sort of Western ceremony. We lit candles and kowtowed it to my parents and also to my American fiance's parents. We forma", "Every September, the Cherokee Nation celebrates its national holiday. The holiday marks the signing of its first constitution after the Trail of Tears in 1839. The main event, a big parade, features traditional Cherokee music, colorful floats and people singing and dancing in traditional garb. The holiday draws tens of thousands of people to Tahlequah, Okla., the heart of the Cherokee Nation. But this year it was marked by controversy and protests. The Cherokee Nation recently decided to limit its membership to people who can prove they have Indian blood. This strips of their citizenship rights about 2,800 African-Americans who are descendants of slaves once owned by wealthy Cherokees. Those rights include access to health care clinics, food distribution for the poor, and assistance for low-income homeowners. The move prompted protests among these African-Americans, who are known as Freedmen, because for long periods in the past, they enjoyed equal rights in the Cherokee tribe. But in more recent history, their citizenship rights have been repeatedly challenged. The decision has also put the Cherokees at odds with the federal government. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has already suspended more than $37 million in funding to the Cherokee Nation. The Justice Department said last week that a key election for tribal chief later this month will not be recognized by the Department of the Interior, which has oversight over Indian affairs. The Bureau of Indian Affairs declined an interview request, but in a letter sent to the Cherokee Nation earlier this month, it said the Freedmen's citizenship rights cannot be revoked. The Cherokee first agreed to grant the Freedmen equal rights in a treaty signed with the U.S. in 1866, following the end of the Civil War. The Freedmen say they've been kicked out of the Cherokee Nation by people who are no more Indian than they are. \"The majority of folks who are members of the tribe ... have lived lives of white privilege,\" says Marilyn Vann, who heads the Descendants of Freedman Association. She says many Cherokees are largely white and are \"people who have never been discriminated against in their lives.\" The Cherokee Nation's Supreme Court ruled in late August that the black Freedmen could be stripped of their citizenship because they can't prove they have Indian blood. The tribe first voted in favor of this effort in 2007. While turnout for Cherokee elections tends to be low, more than 75 percent of all voters were in favor of the move. Cherokee leaders say it's not a matter of race, but a simple matter of narrowing the definition of Indian down to those people who can prove they have Indian blood. \"This is not a club; you can't just claim to be Cherokee and show up and be included,\" says Cara Cowan Watts, a vocal member of the Cherokees' tribal council. The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three federally recognized Cherokee tribes. It boasts more than 300,000 members, and like many Indian nations, it fiercely defends its right to self-governance. \"This is absolutely something that we have to defend. And the Cherokee people overwhelmingly voted in the Constitution that we want to remain an Indian tribe made up of Indians,\" Watts says. Watts notes that the Cherokee Nation has decided that the Freedmen will be allowed to regain their citizenship if they can simply prove they are part Indian. Watts also points out that there are approximately 1,500 black citizens in the Cherokee Nation who have not lost their citizenship rights, because they are not just descended from Cherokee slaves but also from Indians. It is a largely forgotten footnote of history that some wealthy Indians in the Deep South owned African slaves. Those slaves joined their Indian masters on the Trail of Tears, when tens of thousands of Indians were pushed out of the Deep South and west into Oklahoma in the early 1800s. The Freedmen say the Nation's decision prevents more than 3,500 blacks from becoming Cherokee citizens, because their applications have never been processed. They claim tens of thousands of Freedmen exist and that many have been discouraged by historic discrimination and other barriers to citizenship blacks have faced, particularly in recent decades. The Freedmen's estimates may be sound — many historians agree that at least 10 percent of all people on the Cherokee Trail of Tears were black. The vast majority were slaves, though some were runaways and intermarried, free blacks. Some Indian tribes have a blood quantum that requires a grandmother or great-grandfather be Indian. Not the Cherokees. They simply require that a citizen have an Indian ancestor who appears on the Dawes Rolls — lists of Indian citizens created by the U.S. government in the early 1900s. They included categories not only for Indians of various blood mixtures but for whites and blacks as well. In fact, the Dawes Rolls included thousands of blacks and whites " ]

[ "A woman prepares food." ]

[ "A woman sits and watches a food show on tv.", "There is a woman in a black and red shirt.", "Two Asian woman with aprons are preparing food.", "The aprons are black.", "There is a red-haired woman in a black shirt.", "Woman with red hair and black shirt.", "A restaurant employee wearing a red coca cola shirt is preparing food", "A woman in a red shirt is holding a black dog.", "A woman in a red shirt", "A restaurant employee wearing a red coca cola shirt is not preparing food", "The apron is black and white.", "A man is preparing vegetable in the sun while wearing a black apron.", "A man and a woman are preparing food.", "A woman is working in a place that prepares food.", "A woman wearing a purple shirt and white apron.", "Two people in the food service industry are wearing red aprons.", "Three teenagers in yellow shirts preparing food.", "A woman is in red and black.", "A woman in a black shirt and jeans is purchasing food from a counter.", "A man in a black shirt is making food.", "A woman with blond hair was preparing food.", "The woman with a black apron waves toward the street.", "A man in a red shirt is on a black bench", "The lady prepares food.", "the black male is wearing a red shirt", "the man in an apron is standing by the food", "A man in a red shirt is standing next to a woman in a black shirt with a car nearby.", "A woman in a red shirt and white apron is sculpting clay while a young girl looks on.", "The food prepares burnt the food.", "A woman prepares food for her father.", "A man is wearing a red apron.", "A man in a red shirt is with a woman." ]

[ "At minimum, expect to spend $400 for a garage door installation, while $1,400 has been the maximum cost reported for this type of a project." ]

[ "Garage door repair & replacement costs 2017 (with pictures) info garage panels. The door can be jammed, ugly or just very old. 25 best ideas about garage door replacement cost on pinterest cost to install a garage door estimates and prices at fixr fixr. 25 best ideas about garage door replacement cost cost to install a garage door estimates and prices at fixr fixr.", "Garage Door Opener Costs. Cost Guides Garage Doors Garage Door Opener Costs. Installing a garage door opener will save you the inconvenience of leaving your car to operate the door. You will find that the cost to install an average garage door opener depends on the door size, accessories, quality of finish, and labor rate. In the following tables the Labor Cost figures are what the able DIY person should expect to save by performing the complete installation. Garage door opener: economy special price single-door opener with remote.", "The style and material of the garage door you choose, as well as whether you wish to have a garage door opener installed, will also impact the cost of your final project. Typically, it will cost less to install a steel garage door without an opener than to install a custom wood door with a garage door opener.", "Garage Door Installation Cost Guide. A quality garage door not only helps to protect your vehicles but also acts as an essential component of your home's security system. Garage doors vary widely in size, style and components and can be matched to the architecture of the rest of the house. Most homes will have a garage door installed at the time of construction, but over the years, the frequent opening and closing of the door may necessitate the installation of a replacement door. National Install a Garage Door Costs.", "1 Doors. Cost to Replace a Garage Door. Find the average cost to replace a garage door yourself compared with the labor and material cost of hiring a garage door installer. Use your ZIP Code to adjust the cost to where you live so you can decide to do it yourself or hire a pro to do the job. Learn what to consider and the steps involved.ind the average cost to replace a garage door yourself compared with the labor and material cost of hiring a garage door installer.", "A garage door opener and its installation are not included in the cost of a fiberglass garage door. Homeowners requiring that an opener be installed will pay additional fees for the opener and labor for the installers. Materials. Fiberglass garage doors can be made in one of two ways.", "The cost to install a garage door opener is not inclusive of the items listed above. There are other tools and parts that will be utilized by the person that installs garage door openers.", "Garage Door Installation Considerations. Garage doors with added insulation or thicker steel are more expensive than a basic steel door, and custom colors or styles will add to the overall curb appeal of a home but cost more to install. Putting in a new garage door opener also adds to both the materials and labor costs.", "Included are the average garage door repair costs in 2016, for the United States.I've also included some garage door repair costs pictures, graphics and graphs that include high, low and average costs for garage door repair, installation and replacement costs.", "Garage Door Repair & Replacement Costs 2017 (with pictures) Info Graphics If you are searching for the costs of garage door repair, replacement, installation, spring repair, panel replacement and new garage doors, you have come to the right place.", "1 The homewyse Panel Garage Door cost estimates do not include costs for modifications to rough opening or structural framing, installation or modifications to opening trim moldings, and installation of automatic garage door opener.anel Garage Doors-Pricing and Installation Cost Notes. Homewyse cost estimates are approximate ranges for basic work in typical conditions. The estimates should only be used for preliminary planning.", "Over all the, Lowes garage door installation cost is slightly lower than the average installation costs. As an alternative to purchasing your garage door from Lowes you should consider comparing prices and services with Home Depot. Both Home Depot and Lowes sell quality garage doors.", "Lowe's Garage Door Opener Install. Use a Lowe's professional installer for your garage door opener installation project. Shop Lowe's for garage door openers, garage doors, garage door opener accessories and garage door hardware. Use our Garage Door Opener Selector to choose the right garage door opener for your home.owe's Garage Door Opener Install. Use a Lowe's professional installer for your garage door opener installation project. Shop Lowe's for garage door openers, garage doors, garage door opener accessories and garage door hardware. Use our Garage Door Opener Selector to choose the right garage door opener for your home.", "the style and material of the garage door you choose as well as whether you wish to have a garage door opener installed will also impact the cost of your final project typically it will cost less to install a steel garage door without an opener than to install a custom wood door with a garage door opener recent innovations have also yielded high tech doors with thick insulation and energy efficient glaze as well as finished interior surfaces and other significant upgrades", "Get Inspired. Browse garage door openers on Lowes.com or at your local Lowe's store. Work with a Lowe's sales associate to plan your install project and select the right garage door opener for your home and budget. 2. Get Started. Get an in-store installation quote.owe's Garage Door Opener Install. Use a Lowe's professional installer for your garage door opener installation project. Shop Lowe's for garage door openers, garage doors, garage door opener accessories and garage door hardware. Use our Garage Door Opener Selector to choose the right garage door opener for your home.", "Garage Doors are one of your homes most important features. If it is a new garage door that you need, The Home Depot has a huge selection of garage door replacement options that are beautiful, efficient, and quiet. The location of your garage, noise, durability and cost, are all considerations when choosing your door. Our professional installer will review these options with you while choosing a door. Then remove the existing garage door and install your new one.", "How To Install A Garage Door Threshold Seal. Every garage door threshold we sell comes with printed instructions on how to install it. That said, a lot of our customers want to know how difficult it is to install the garage door threshold and if it will seal their garage door. Installing a garage door threshold is simple & it will absolutely seal the garage door as long as the seal on the bottom of the door is still good.", "Garage Door Job Supplies Cost of related materials and supplies typically required to replace garage door including: connectors, fasteners, and adhesives. 1 door: $489.33: $738.31: Garage Door Debris Disposal Costs to load and haul away old materials, installation waste and associated debris. 1 door: 23.625: 26.875 : Unused Minimum Labor", "If you do not have a garage door opener, it will seem like a dream of convenience once you install one! You may be worried about the cost of installing a garage door opener, but here are a few factors that can affect the price and help you decide which opener is the best for you.There are a number of different types of garage door openers and each type will be a different price point.f you do not have a garage door opener, it will seem like a dream of convenience once you install one! You may be worried about the cost of installing a garage door opener, but here are a few factors that can affect the price and help you decide which opener is the best for you.", "Typically, it will cost less to install a steel garage door without an opener than to install a custom wood door with a garage door opener. Recent innovations have also yielded high-tech doors with thick insulation and energy-efficient glaze, as well as finished interior surfaces and other significant upgrades.f your garage door has started to malfunction, you might be considering installing a new or upgraded door. Rest assured it is a smart investment. In fact, installing a new garage door yields about 84 percent in resale value, according to Remodeling Magazine.", "Automatic Garage Door Opener Installation - Average Cost Per Door Expect to pay in the higher end of the price range for a licensed, insured and reputable pro - and for complex or rush projects. To lower Automatic Garage Door Opener Installation costs: combine related projects, minimize options/extras and be flexible about project scheduling.", "Your selection process should carefully consider installation costs, construction materials, removal of any existing door, type of garage door opener and warranty. Lowes garage doors installation costs are considered one of the best buys on the market today. Lowes installers are considered and called partners and they must meet Lowes strict standards. Every installation is rated by the purchaser to assure that customers are receiving the quality services they are paying for.", "Lowe's Garage Door Install. Let a Lowe's professional complete your new garage door installation project. Shop Lowe's for garage door openers, garage door opener accessories and garage door hardware. Check out our Garage Door Buying Guide for ideas on choosing the right garage door for your home.", "I have not installed my doors yet. I will not be using Hanson's because it cost too much. I have to replace the front door (storm door and doorjamb/threshold are also included), the back garage door (entry door, leads out to backyard), and replace a plain, thin door between attached garage and house with a fire door. have not installed my doors yet. I will not be using Hanson's because it cost too much. I have to replace the front door (storm door and doorjamb/threshold are also included), the back garage door (entry door, leads out to backyard), and replace a plain, thin door between attached garage and house with a fire door.", "1 Panel Garage Door installation costs vary considerably by location. 2 For an accurate estimate in your area, enter your zip code in the calculator above. 3 Reduce total project cost by having multiple vendors bid on the same, detailed work specification of your Panel Garage Door project.anel Garage Doors-Pricing and Installation Cost Notes. Homewyse cost estimates are approximate ranges for basic work in typical conditions. The estimates should only be used for preliminary planning.", "Use a Lowe's professional installer for your garage door opener installation project. Shop Lowe's for garage door openers, garage doors, garage door opener accessories and garage door hardware. Use our Garage Door Opener Selector to choose the right garage door opener for your home.rowse garage door openers on Lowes.com or at your local Lowe's store. Work with a Lowe's sales associate to plan your install project and select the right garage door opener for your home and budget.", "What is covered. Installation of New Garage Doors. For installation of a new garage door, this warranty covers defects in workmanship, for labor furnished by the Precision Door Service Franchisee as a part of installing the new garage door for one (1) year from the date of installation.", "Top Quality Garage Door Installation. As the largest garage door installation and garage door opener installation provider in the U.S., we only work with the best. Our residential garage door manufacturer has been awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal for over 20 years." ]

[ "the Mackinnon Mackenzie Company" ]

[ "William Mackinnon", "William Lyon Mackenzie", "the Mackinnon clan", "Douglas Mackinnon", "Gillies MacKinnon", "William Lyon Mackenzie King", "William Morrow and Company", "Stephen Mackinnon", "Alexander Mackenzie", "Stewart Mackinnon", "Don MacKinnon", "Will Mackenzie", "John Mackenzie", "Billy Mackenzie", "Mackenzie River", "the Mack Brothers Company", "Martha MacKenzie", "David Mackenzie", "Charlie MacKenzie", "James Mackenzie", "Andrew Mackenzie", "William Roberts", "Found", "Robert Williams", "Mackenzie Foy", "Marla Mackinnon", "McIlhenny Company", "Mackeson's", "Mackintosh", "Mackenzie Wilson", "The Mack", "Founding Provisions" ]

[ "FANCY WORK: Fancy That manager May Nash is loving the new-look store which re-opened yesterday after extensive renovations.\nAFTER two weeks and $10,000, the new-look Fancy That opportunity shop is re-open for business.\nManager for almost a decade, May Nash, is thrilled with the result and how quickly it all came together.\n\"When it was first discussed (renovating), I said I didn't think we could afford it, but then we got a generous $10,000 donation from a member of the church and, suddenly it was happening,” Mrs Nash said.\nAlong with the anonymous donation, the landlord of the shop in upper Mary St was also playing a part, installing better lighting, a new disabled toilet and improving access at the rear of the building for staff and volunteers.\n\"We've had some really positive feedback from customers. Very complimentary.\n\"And the new layout works well too. It's more open and customer friendly.\n\"And staff friendly too,” Mrs Nash said.\nThis is the first renovation the store has had since moving to its present location just up from the Empire Hotel from where it was established next to Wayne's World 21 years ago.\nFancy That Anglican Op Shop reopening on Monday 14/08/17. (Front from left) Muriel Brown, Mel Shaw (volunteers from when the shop first started) and May Nash current Manager at the cake cutting ceremony on Monday while other volunteers look on. Contributed\nPresent at the official opening yesterday morning were up to 25 volunteers from the past and present, and members of the Gympie Anglican Church including Father Andrew Cooper, who officiated.\nLong-term volunteers Mel Shaw and Muriel Brown cut the cake at a special morning tea to commemorate the re-opening.\nMrs Nash said she looked forward to working in the new store which would continue to accept donations of quality pre-loved clothing, homewares and bric-a-brac with the profits from all the sales going to the Anglican Church in Gympie to fund its charity works.\nAnd the new layout meant there was more room for volunteers to sort and price donated items.\n\"We accept donations from anyone, of anything. And we also have regular customers that come in and find little treasures all the time,” she said.\n\"I'm very proud of the fact we have the reputation of being the cheapest op-shop in town, but it's all good quality.\n\"In fact, Father Andrew coined a phrase today. He said, 'Ain't no tat at Fancy That'. And that's the truth,” Mrs Nash said." ]

[ "Syrian and Kurdish authorities have reportedly blamed Turkey’s Afrin offensive for blowing to bits the 3,000-year-old lion sculptures that were part of the temple of Ain Dara in northern Syria.\nThe structures’ paws are all that the bombardment left behind, reports the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, noting the temple is a testament to the Iron Age.\nAFP notes:\nSyrian and Kurdish authorities have blamed the damage squarely on Ankara’s nearly two-week offensive on Afrin, a Kurdish-controlled pocket of northwest Syria that borders Turkey. Perched on a hilltop in northern Syria, the neo-Hittite temple of Ain Dara dates back to the Aramaic era from around 1,300 to 700 BC, and is named after a village located in Afrin. The identity of the deity worshipped there has not been officially determined, but one theory is that it is Ishtar, the goddess of love.\nTurkey reportedly bombed the Ain Dara temple on January 26.\nTurkish military warplanes destroyed up to 50 percent of the temple, estimated Salah el-Din Senno, an archaeologist and member of Afrin’s local antiquities council.\nTurkey launched the Afrin offensive against the Syrian Kurds, dubbed Operation Olive Branch, in the region on January 20.\nSince then, Syrian and Kurdish officials have accused Ankara of bombarding religious and cultural structures, historical artifacts, archaeological sites, and public facilities.\nMeanwhile, the Turkish military claims it has taken extra precautionary measures not to target those sites.\n“Religious and cultural buildings, historical sites, archaeological ruins and public facilities are absolutely not among the targets of Turkish Armed Forces,” insists Turkey’s military.\nNevertheless, the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which uses a network of ground sources to monitor the war-ravaged nation, reported that the Turkish military recently targeted ancient sites and mosques in and around the Afrin region.\n“The Turkish military destroyed archeological sites dating back more than 1400 years and demolished the Salahaddin Mosque in the town of Raju, all while Turkish president [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan claims he defends Muslims,” the monitor group said in a statement.\n“Another mosque was bombed in Jandaris on Thursday, the SDF reported,” added the Kurdish outlet.\nFighters from the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), are fighting the Turkish army to protect the Kurdish-held Afrin region in Syria.\nThe PYD controls swathes of northern Syria where it has established an autonomous area.\nTurkey has long considered the Syrian Kurdish groups to be an affiliate of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), which both Ankara and Washington have deemed a terrorist organization.\nSyria’s temple of Ain Dara stood as “one of the most important monuments built by the Aramaeans in Syria during the first millennium BC” until last week, reports AFP, citing Syria’s department of antiquities.\n“Today, visitors can barely make out the dark, engraved steps that once led into the temple but are now covered with rocks and debris,” points out AFP. “And the frescoes of imposing winged animals carved in black basalt stone have been reduced to indistinguishable piles of rubble.”\nThe only section spared by the bombing is the temple’s rear area, including a basalt sculpture of a lion standing guard, overlooking the green hills of Afrin.", "The man who shot dead three people at a UPS warehouse in San Francisco filed a grievance complaining that he was working excessive overtime, a union member has said.\nJoseph Cilia, a Teamsters Union official, said Jimmy Lam’s complaint, filed in March, requested that United Parcel Service (UPS) relieve him of working overtime.\nBut Mr Cilia said Lam was not angry and he could not understand why he would open fire on his colleagues at a morning meeting on Wednesday.\nOur thoughts are with those affected by today's tragic incident at a UPS facility in San Francisco. https://t.co/4XC32AoLFn — UPS (@UPS) June 14, 2017\nLam targeted three fellow UPS drivers, Mr Cilia said. Two other drivers who were wounded had been released from hospital, he added.\nPolice say Lam killed himself after the shooting, which happened inside one of the company’s packing buildings.\nWorkers fled frantically into the streets shouting “Shooter!” and police swarmed in, authorities and witnesses said.\nWorkers gather outside after a reported shooting at a UPS warehouse and customer service centre in San Francisco\nAmid the barrage of gunfire, some people sought refuge on the roof of the four-storey building, while others ran outside and pounded on the windows of a bus, witnesses said.\n“They were screaming Go! Go! Go!,” said Jessica Franklin, 30, who was on her way to work when the bus made a regular stop in front of the UPS building.\n“As they got on the bus, they were all ducking.”\n(Eric Risberg/AP)\nTwo other UPS employees were wounded in the shooting that prompted a massive police response in one of the city’s industrial neighbourhoods, about two miles from the city centre.\nPolice have not yet released victims’ names but families and friends identified one of the people killed as 46-year-old Mike Lefiti, a UPS driver.\nMr Lefiti’s cousin, Mack Toia, told KGO-TV he was waiting to pick up Mr Lefiti when he heard shots. He left his van and saw his cousin sprawled on concrete behind a gate.\n“The police officers were right on the scene just like that. I got to touch him, but I couldn’t hug him,” Mr Toia said. “They just pushed me away because they were trying to resuscitate him.”\nMr Toia said he was able to tell his cousin he loved him.\nCo-worker Isaiah Miggins said he saw Mr Lefiti, known as Big Mike, as he arrived for work just before 9am, a few minutes before the shooting started. “He was a joyful man. Always happy,” Mr Miggins said.\nOn social media, heartbroken family members of Mr Lefiti recalled him as a warm-spirited man devoted to his children and family.\nA photo on his Facebook page shows Lefiti in his brown UPS uniform holding a trophy. He also posted photos of his UPS lorry and an award for 15 years of service to the company in 2015.\nTech worker Raymond Deng, 30, who lives opposite the warehouse, said he heard up to eight gunshots. “They were all in rapid succession,” he said. “It was like tat, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat.”\nPolice arrived in minutes. “This was a frightful scene,” assistant police chief Toney Chaplin said. He said officers found two victims outside and others inside and pulled the wounded to safety as they confronted the gunman, who was armed with an “assault pistol”.", "A UPS employee armed with an assault weapon opened fire Wednesday inside one of the company's San Francisco packing facilities, killing three co-workers before fatally shooting himself as employees fled frantically into the streets shouting \"shooter!\" and police swarmed in, authorities and witnesses said.\nAmid a barrage of gunfire, some workers sought refuge on the roof of the four-story facility, while others ran outside and pounded on the windows of a public bus, witnesses said.\n\"They were screaming, 'Go! Go! Go!'\" said Jessica Franklin, 30, who was riding s to work when the bus made a regular stop in front of the UPS facility. \"As they got on the bus, they were all ducking.\"\nTwo other United Parcel Service employees were wounded in the shooting that prompted a massive police response in one of the city's industrial neighborhoods, about two miles from downtown San Francisco, Assistant Police Chief Toney Chaplin told reporters.\nUPS spokesman Steve Gaut said the shooter was a company employee. A San Francisco Police Department official identified him as Jimmy Lam of San Francisco but had no immediate details on his background, noting the name is common in the San Francisco Bay Area and finding information required significant record searches.\nThe official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.\nOfficials, UPS employees and witnesses described chaos as shots rang out during a morning meeting before drivers were sent on their delivery routes.\nPolice have not yet released victims' names but families and friends identified one of the people killed as 46-year-old Mike Lefiti, a UPS driver.\nLefiti's cousin, Mack Toia, told KGO-TV (http://abc7ne.ws/2sch61d) he was at the UPS facility waiting to pick up Lefiti when he heard shots. He left his van and saw his cousin sprawled on concrete behind a gate, Toia said.\n\"The police officers were right on the scene just like that. I got to touch him, but I couldn't hug him,\" Toia said. \"They just pushed me away because they were trying to resuscitate him.\"\nToia said he was able to tell Lefiti he loved him.\nCo-worker Isaiah Miggins said he saw Lefiti, known as \"Big Mike,\" as he arrived for work just before 9 a.m., a few minutes before the shooting started. \"He was a joyful man. Always happy,\" Miggins said.\nOn social media, heartbroken family members of Lefiti recalled him as a warm-spirited man devoted to his children and family. A photo on his Facebook page shows Lefiti in his brown UPS uniform holding a trophy. He also posted photos of his UPS truck and an award for 15 years of service to the company in 2015.\nNeighbor Raymond Deng said he heard up to eight gunshots.\n\"They were all in rapid succession,\" said Deng, a 30-year-old tech worker who lives across the street from the warehouse. \"It was like tat, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat.\"\nPolice arrived in minutes.\n\"This was a frightful scene,\" Chaplin said. He said officers found two victims outside and others inside and pulled the wounded to safety as they confronted the gunman, who was armed with an \"assault pistol.\"\n\"The suspect put the gun to his head and discharged the weapon,\" Chaplin said, adding that police did not fire any shots.\nChaplin said police have not determined a motive and were interviewing families of victims and witnesses to piece together what led the gunman to act.\nMayor Ed Lee condemned the violence and praised authorities for a \"very proactive response.\"\n\"It could have been worse,\" he said. \"Lives were saved today.\"\nIt was not immediately clear how many employees were at the facility, but UPS said the warehouse employs 350 people. The shooter and all the victims were employees, UPS said in a statement.\nUPS driver Marvin Calderon told KNTV that he recognized the gunman as a fellow employee but did not know him personally.\n\"I just started running out like crazy, like I've never run before,\" Calderon told the TV station.\nAfter the gunfire, auto shop owner Robert Kim said he saw \"a mob of UPS drivers\" running down the street screaming \"shooter, shooter.\"\nDeng watched from his window in the Potrero Hill section of San Francisco as workers fled the building. He said another group of about 10 people gathered on the roof and held up their hands waving for help.\n\"I saw police officers go up from the ramp and then storm the buildings,\" he said. \"It's crazy.\"\nThe shooting occurred the same day a gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia, wounding U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and several others.", "Leefa (4th left) arrives at the Ain Issa camp, 50 kilometres north of Raqqa, with other Indonesians after fleeing the Daesh group's Syrian bastion on Tuesday (AFP photo)\nBEIRUT — The battle to oust the Daesh terror group from its stronghold of Raqqa is creating daunting challenges for aid groups responding to the latest humanitarian crisis in the Syrian conflict.\nTens of thousands of civilians have fled Raqqa and its surroundings since the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began its operation to capture the extremist stronghold last year.\nBut new waves of displacement are expected as the battle inside the city progresses.\nA key problem is getting aid supplies to the relatively remote desert region in Syria's north, with just a trickle of assistance currently crossing from neighbouring Turkey and Iraq.\n\"There is supply but it's very, very limited and the needs of the population are very high,\" said Puk Leenders, emergency coordinator for northern Syria for the group Doctors Without Borders (MSF).\nTurkey considers the key Kurdish component of the SDF a \"terrorist\" group and its border with the area north of Raqqa is effectively closed.\nThe border crossing with Iraq, over 300 kilometres east of Raqqa city, is open to goods, but in practice sees little traffic, local officials say.\nThe UN's World Food Programme said on Wednesday it had delivered one month's supply of food for 80,000 people in Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and Hasakeh provinces in north and northeast Syria.\nThe United Nations, which operates inside Syria with government permission, has been able to airlift supplies to the city of Qamishli, northeast of Raqqa, from government-held Damascus.\nBut \"this offered limited capacity and was insufficient to meet all needs\", said David Swanson, regional spokesman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.\nThe UN is now hoping to start transporting aid from Aleppo to Qamishli, a distance of more than 400 kilometres, but the route must first be tested for security, said Swanson.\n'Volatile security\nAn estimated 300,000 civilians once lived under Daesh rule in Raqqa, including 80,000 displaced from other parts of Syria before the group seized the city.\nTens of thousands fled Raqqa and surrounding areas as the SDF closed in on the extremist bastion.\nThe UN estimates more than 169,000 people fled Raqqa city and its environs in April and May alone, and thousands of displaced civilians are now living in overcrowded and underresourced camps.\nIn Ain Issa, 50 kilometres north of Raqqa, new arrivals say they are sleeping on the ground, with neither mattresses under them nor tents overhead.\n\"There are now more than 25,000 people in the Ain Issa camp, which was built with a capacity of 10,000,\" camp director Jalal Ayyaf told AFP.\n\"International organisations are providing support, but it's not sufficient for the numbers who are arriving.\"\nMSF's Leenders said up to 800 people were arriving at Ain Issa each day, and many more people were simply sleeping on roadsides or under trees in the countryside north of the city.\nThe \"highly volatile security situation\" is another major concern for aid groups working in the region, said Paul Donohoe, senior media officer at the International Rescue Committee NGO.\n\"We know that there are many mines and IEDs [improvised explosive devices], there is also the risk of Daesh attacks and there have been reports of some fleeing civilians being killed by coalition air strikes.\"\n\"It is thought up to half the population of Raqqa could ultimately flee the city and they will still be very vulnerable to mines and IS [Daesh]snipers, as well as air strikes.\"\nThe head of the UN's commission of inquiry on Syria on Wednesday reported a \"staggering loss of civilian life\" in Raqqa and expressed concern about the mounting toll in airstrikes on the city.\n'Impossible choices'\nFleeing civilians are already presenting health problems ranging from dehydration to untreated chronic illness.\nAnd aid groups expect an uptick in wounded arrivals as the fighting intensifies.\nMSF is establishing stabilisation points near the frontline to provide emergency care to keep the seriously injured alive until they reach hospitals.\nBut there is a severe shortage of qualified medical staff in the region, Leenders said, and medical facilities have also been affected by the fighting.\n\"Hospitals are being mined and it's really difficult to start those back up because they need to be demined... It can be extremely challenging.\"\nThe most difficult problem of all may simply be reaching those in need.\n\"Many people fleeing... initially end up in locations too close to the frontline for aid agencies to safely respond,\" said Donohoe.\nAnd others cannot leave at all, with Daesh reportedly using threats, arrests and violence to prevent civilians fleeing.\nThose who do escape risk unexploded ordnance en route, and the threat of being mistaken for fleeing Daesh extremists by SDF forces or the US-led coalition.\nMSF warned last week that civilians in the city faced \"impossible choices\".\n\"Either they stay in Raqqa, subjecting their children to increased violence and air strikes, or they take them over the frontline, knowing they will need to cross minefields and may be caught in the crossfire.\"", "The 65 Roses who will compete for the Rose of Tralee later this year will be treated to the best of Kildare’s culinary delights at the Taste of Kildare event in August.\nKildare is set to showcase its wonderful visitor attractions and the best that the county’s great restaurants, food producers and suppliers have to offer at the K Club on Sunday, August 19.\nAt the same time the county will host Roses before they take part in the Festival and they will be staying in Glenroyal Hotel in Maynooth.\nAmong them will be Victoria Sexton, the Florida Rose and niece of Taste of Kildare food festival partners David and Susan Sexton, Kildare Farm Foods, Rathmuck.\n\"We will be especially delighted to welcome Victoria,” said Aine Mangan, CEO of Kildare Fáilte. “This is a wonderful opportunity to promote Kildare as a county to visit and spend some time exploring and enjoying a wealth of experiences.”\n“Food is at the heart of Kildare’s tourist offering and Kildare Fáilte looks forward to introducing the Roses to our amazing restaurants and wonderful artisan food producers and suppliers.”\nAine Mangan, CEO Kildare Fáilte and Mayor of Kildare, Martin Miley with Kildare Rose, Grainne Carr, Ardclough and current Rose of Tralee, Dr Jennifer Byrne\nThe reigning Rose of Tralee, Offaly Rose Dr Jennifer Byrne, and newly-selected Kildare Rose, Grainne Carr from Ardclough, joined Mayor of Kildare Cllr Martin Miley to announce details of this year’s Kildare Rose of Tralee Tour Programme.\nThe Kildare Rose of Tralee Tour will commence with a welcome reception in Athy on Monday, August 14, before an Ernest Shackleton-themed outdoor adventure around the town, celebrating the county’s great explorer. The following day, Tuesday, will see the Roses stopping off at Solas Bhride en-route to Kildare village.\nThe Roses will climb the Kildare Round Tower, the highest accessible round tower in Ireland, standing at just over 107 feet, where they will enjoy beautiful views and sample some St Brigid’s Ale, as well as visiting the birthplace and statue of Arthur Guinness in Celbridge.\nIn an action-packed day, turf cutting and brown bread making is also on the agenda at Lullymore Heritage Park, one of the top family attractions in Ireland, as well as golf at the legendary K Club and racing at Mondello Park, Ireland’s only international motorsport venue.\n“We hope the Roses’ experiences in Kildare will serve as a calling card for the county and that they will gather wonderful memories to share with friends and relations.”\nFor more information about this year’s Kildare Rose of Tralee Tour, click here", "Rachel Bilson is starting off her newly single life with a fresh change of scene!\nThe 36-year-old actress sported a pretty floral dress while arriving at a friend’s house on Friday (October 6) in Toluca Lake, Calif.\nPHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Rachel Bilson\nRachel reportedly just bought a $3.25 million mansion in Pasadena following her split with Hayden Christensen last month. The two were together for nine years.\nThe 3678-square-foot home features six bedrooms and four bathrooms. Known as “Ralph’s House,” it was built in 1950 and designed by Gregory Ain, according to Trulia.\nRachel and Hayden previously lived together in a four-bedroom and four-and-a-half-bathroom house in Sherman Oaks.\nAfter their breakup, a source reported that Rachel continued living in Los Angeles while Hayden went back to Canada. They were last seen out together back in August.", "Electric Picnic have announced some exciting news today…\nFor the first time in the festival’s history in 2018 it will host an all female comedy line up on The Hazel Wood stage.\nThe special comedy stage will be open to the 5000 early entry campers who arrive on Thursday night before EP opens its gates on Friday so they can check out some of Ireland’s best female acts.\nThe line-up includes\nThe line-up includes; Joanne Mc Nally MC, Aoife Dooley , Lisa Casey, Sharon Mannion, Aine Gallagher, Harriet Braine , Ashlee Bentley, Sahar Ali, Blaithin DeBurca, Aoife O’Connor, Christina McMahon, Orla O’Doherty Brown, Fiona Frawley and Grace Mulvey.", "Daesh militants have become increasingly desperate in the face of heavy airstrikes on their Syrian bastion Raqqa, passing themselves off as civilians to escape detection and killing anyone who tries to flee, witnesses said.\nAt a camp for the displaced in the village of Ain Issa north of the city, people who arrived Wednesday also said the airstrikes supporting an assault by U.S.-backed forces had inflicted widespread destruction as the battle intensified.\nThe coalition is backing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group of Kurdish and Arab militias who have been closing in on Raqqa in northern Syria for months in preparation for the assault to recapture the city.\nThe coalition estimates that 3,000-4,000 Daesh fighters are holed up in Raqqa, the group's administrative headquarters.\nUnderscoring the ongoing violence, a barrage of airstrikes and artillery shells pummeled different areas of southern Deraa province Wednesday, leaving at least eight people dead, including children, first responders and activists said.\nActivists and rescue workers Wednesday reported at least 12 airstrikes and artillery shelling in different areas of Deraa, the southern province divided between insurgents and government forces.\n...", "Ryan Babel spent the first half of the season at Deportivo La Coruna.\nBesiktas have signed free agent Ryan Babel on a two-and-a-half-year deal.\nBabel, 30, spent the first half of the season at Deportivo La Coruna before his contract with the Spanish club expired on Dec. 31.\nDeportivo had hoped the former Liverpool player would remain with the club until the end of the season, but he has opted to move to Besiktas, signing with the Turkish side until 2019.\nBabel joined Deportivo on Sept. 15 as a free agent after being released by United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain.\nThe Dutchman made 11 La Liga appearances for the club, scoring four goals and setting up one more.\nFollow @ESPNFC on Twitter to keep up with the latest football updates.", "The Black Stars will be based in Al Ain's UAE City training grounds for the AFCON 2017 camping.\nGhana head coach Avram Grant named a 26-man squad that will pitch camp in the UAE on Wednesday.\nGrant named Barnsley's Andy Yiadom, striker Raphael Dwamena and Schalke 04's Bernard Tekpetey to join usual faces.\nAl Gharafa defender Rashid Sumaila, Turkey-based Nuru Suley and Ghana Premier League Most Valuable Player Latif Blessing were all dropped from the 26-man squad.\nEight (8) players who did not train with the squad including Leicester City's Daniel Amartey, Christian Atsu, Andy Yiadom, Andre and Jordan Ayew, Adam Kwarasey, Thomas Partey and Asamoah Gyan will all join the squad in the UAE.\nGhana won silver medal at the last edition of the competition after losing on penalties to the Ivory Coast in the final.\nFor more Ghana football news visit www.ghanasoccernet.com", "The 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné reaches stage three on Wednesday, June 6, with a 35-kilometre team time trial starting in Pont-de-Vaux and finishing in Louhans-Châteaurenaud.\nThe pan-flat route should lend itself to some fast times, with the potential for the general classification to experience a major shake-up.\nSouth African Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) goes into the stage as the overall race leader, sat two seconds ahead of former race leader and prologue time trial winner Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky). Kwiatkowski’s Italian team-mate Gianni Moscon sits in third at five seconds.\n>>> Critérium du Dauphiné 2018: Latest news, reports and race info\nOn Thursday, the race becomes more mountainous with the first of four climbing stages. The 181km route from Chazey-sur-Ain to Lans-en-Vercors includes a summit finish, allowing the general classification contenders to really make their mark.\nThe 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné concludes on Sunday, June 10, in Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc.", "The delegations represent the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, ADFCA, Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, DPM, Abu Dhabi, the Special Olympics, Al Ain Zoo, Dubai Zoo, UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation and some media people.\nSheikh Mohamed exchanged Ramadan greetings with the attendees who wished good health and wellbeing for President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the best interest and glory of the nation.\nSheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs (ZHO), and a number of sheikhs, ministers and top officials attended the reception." ]

[ "The Pentagon has released the names of the following US service members killed recently in Iraq. According to the Associated Press, at least 3,084 members of the US military have died since the Iraq war began in March 2003." ]

[ "Explosions damaged churches in Baghdad yesterday and the US military reported the deaths of four more American troops in bomb attacks elsewhere in Iraq.", "Militants beheaded three Iraqi Kurd militiamen, showing their deaths in a video posted on a Web site on Saturday and denouncing Kurdish political parties for cooperating with Americans in Iraq.", "LATIFIYAH, Iraq - American, British and Iraqi forces continued a major sweep through Iraq&#39;s &quot;triangle of death&quot; to try to smash rebel enclaves before landmark elections in January.", "BAGHDAD (Iraq): As the intensity of skirmishes swelled on the soils of Iraq, dozens of people were put to death with toxic shots by the US helicopter gunship, which targeted the civilians, milling around a burning American vehicle in a Baghdad street on", "BAQUBA, Iraq - Thousands of U.S. soldiers on the offensive north of Baghdad are facing fierce resistance from hundreds of al Qaeda militants who are ready to fight to the death, an American general said on Friday.", "An early departure of American troops from Iraq or a pullback to bases inside the country could lead to sharply increased violence and the deaths of thousands of people, the U.S. envoy to Baghdad told The New York Times.", "The U.S. military pressed an investigation on Sunday after a warplane bombed the wrong house in northern Iraq, inflicting a heavy civilian death toll and fueling anti-American anger three weeks before an election.", "Al-ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Iraq's prime minister and two top American officials flew to the blistering western desert yesterday in a rare joint outing to highlight gains there in the fight against insurgents, hours before the military reported the deaths of eight US troops.", "The U.S. military vowed on Friday to do everything possible to safeguard Iraq's Jan. 30 election, undeterred by the deaths of nine troops in the deadliest day for American forces since an attack on a U.S. base last month.", "The White House on Thursday defended President George W. Bush's rare use of a body count to describe Iraqi insurgent deaths as a way to show Americans that U.S. troops are fighting hard in Iraq.", "Rumors about the death of the American musical are greatly exaggerated.", "Dubai - Osama bin Laden said in a full Internet broadcast of last Friday&#39;s video that American President George Bush had dragged the United States into a quagmire in Iraq and warned of retaliation for Iraqi deaths.", "Latest fatalities raise the death toll of American soldiers this month to 68.", "Iran is training anti-American Iraqi Shi'ites at sites inside Iran and Lebanon in the use of armor-piercing munitions blamed for the deaths of 170 U.S. troops in Iraq, the top U.S. intelligence official said on Tuesday.", "The author of \"Death of a Salesman\" and \"The Crucible\" exposed the flaws in the fabric of the American dream.", "ELECTIONS IN IRAQ: At a news conference, President Bush urged Iraqis to defy terrorists and vote in Sunday's election. He also sought patience from anxious Americans as a Marine helicopter crash pushed the U.S. death toll above 1,400.", "President Bush pleaded for Americans' patience Wednesday on what he conceded was \"a very discouraging day\" of death and violence for U.S. troops in Iraq. He urged Iraqis to defy terrorist threats and vote in Sunday's elections.", "Italy beats Iraq 1-0 to take the Olympic football bronze, a day after an Italian journalist's death in Iraq.", "BAGHDAD, Iraq - Militants beheaded three hostages said to be Iraqi Kurd militiamen, showing their deaths in a video posted on a Web site Sunday and denouncing Kurdish political parties for cooperating with Americans in Iraq. In a separate incident, a group claimed to have kidnapped 25 members of the Iraqi National Guard, and a report on the Arabic station Al-Jazeera said the soldiers were threatened with death unless a detained Shiite leader is freed within 48 hours...", "BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 21 - A powerful explosion ripped through an American military base in northern Iraq today, the American military said.", "Growing concerns about making sure the innocent aren't sentenced to death has caused more Americans to support a moratorium on the death penalty.", "Law lords asked to order inquiry into the death of two soldiers in Iraq", "The families of two soldiers killed in Iraq call for an independent inquiry into their deaths.", "Death rates from heart disease and stroke are falling in the United States but heart and artery disease remains the leading cause of death, the American Heart Association said on Monday.", "Through their grief and anger, relatives of an American construction worker beheaded in Iraq extended prayers for an American and a", "The family of hostage Kenneth Bigley are appealing for his release in Iraq as the threat of execution hangs over him. Mr Bigley and two Americans were seized in Baghdad on Thursday and threatened with death unless their abductors&#39; demands were met.", "BAGHDAD-- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed support for the Baghdad security plan during an unannounced visit to the capital yesterday, but she reminded Iraq's leaders that Americans were growing increasingly frustrated with the rising death toll and costs of the war.", "An American man was shot to death in a bar fight with a Brazilian policeman, police said Saturday.", "A deadline set by militants who have threatened to kill two Americans and a Briton seized in Iraq was due to expire Monday, and more than two dozen other hostages were also facing death unless rebel demands were met.", "The families of the men killed by a mob in Iraq travel to London to see the findings of a report into their deaths.", "The author of \"Death of a Salesman,\" whose work exposed the flaws in the fabric of the American dream, died Thursday.", "The indiscriminate killing of civilians by death squads and insurgents in Iraq reaches new levels, the UN says." ]

[ "The threat of being charged with a much more serious crime if they don't confess to a more minor crime. Imagine you were accused of a crime you didn't commit, say armed robbery. Someone got shot but not killed. You're facing 30 years behind bars for this. Say the prosecution offers you a deal to prevent this from going to trial and taking years - plead guilty to robbery and a weapons offense, get out in 5 years, maybe 3 with good behavior. Or, go to trial and risk being put away for 30. Give up 30 years of your life, your entire life is over. Get out in 3, it's going to be hell but you only gave up 3 years of your life, maybe you can still reconnect with friends and family afterwards. Do you roll the dice with your entire life if they've got enough evidence to take things to trial?" ]

[ "The Innocence Project does, among other things, DNA testing that has conclusively proven the innocence of many people who were convicted of serious crimes. Of those that we know to be innocent, more than **1 in 4** were convicted based in part by a [false confession or incriminating statement](_URL_0_) So, because statistically a bunch of confessions are bullshit.", "No. The 5th amendment basically prevents people from *coercing* incriminating testimony out of you. Testimony you offer freely (even if under false pretenses) is fair game.", "So the first issue is the concept of \"entrapment\" which basically says you cannot trick or coerce a person into committing a crime and then charge them for that crime. If an undercover cop tries to sell drugs to me, I refuse, and then he keeps pressuring me until I cave, that is entrapment. The problem with many \"pedophile hunters\" is that they cast a wide net, with no direction, and without proper training in how to identify and execute sting operations there is the very real possibility of accidentally creating false evidence. Additionally it is a 4th amendment violation.", "Long story short, you pay in money in order to get a cut of future profits. For example, you pay in $15 now but you'll get $5 of every $15 from people you recruit directly. So you only need to get 4 people to start turning a profit. No one is really adding any value to anyone's lives. You're just passing the debt along. Eventually you end up with a ton of people who buy in but aren't able to sucker anyone else in. What you have essentially done is coerced the bottom of the pyramid to pay everyone above them in the pyramid for nothing but a false hope.", "And which language would that be? Yours? Mine? How would you coerce every country in the world to teach this language?", "There are usually scheduled hours for confession. If the confessional is occupied, you just sit quietly in a pew and wait your turn. Also, sometimes a priest will hear your confession if you ask for one and they're not otherwise busy.", "For defendants in a criminal trial, you never actually invoke the Fifth Amendment on the witness stand -- it's a way to avoid getting on the witness stand at all, because (shockingly) judges aren't stupid and know that juries (falsely!) assume that asserting Fifth Amendment privilege might be tantamount to a confession. For out-of-court assertions, the prosecution can't even mention them -- asserting the Fifth Amendment is not a valid basis for coming to a conclusion one way or the other in a criminal trial. In civil cases and in the court of public opinion, the rules actually *allow* people to conclude that asserting the privilege means the answer would be bad for your case.", "Mostly it's to elicit a real confession. It's not totally common knowledge that polygraphs are bupkis, so some people think they work. So if you've got a suspect sweating in interrogation, you offer them a lie detector test, saying if they really are innocent the machine will say so. Then when the machine says they're \"lying,\" you tell them the jig is up and they should come clean. Then they confess and you get them to sign a statement. You aren't relying on the polygraph as evidence, you're relying on the ultimate signed confession.", "Because saying you did something for a joke or a story is not a legal confession, and it wouldn't be worth the police's time.", "> if they committed the crime? How do you know the defendant committed the crime? The defendant is innocent until/unless proven guilty. To force a guilty person to confess presupposes that the guilt is true, but that's the opposite assumption of the court.", "It's actually a lot simpler than many would have you believe. It's the oldest story on the planet. > What does ISIS want Power. > why For the same reason anyone does. Money, control, etc. > how? They coerce other people with propaganda. They create an enemy called \"The West\" and tell everyone who is struggling to survive that The West is responsible for all of their problems. If they just join up and fight for ISIS they can live happily ever after.", "A lawyer can't purposely introduce testimony or evidence they know to be false. So for example, if I'm defending someone and their alibi is that they were at work and the evidence is a time card that's actually been falsified, if I know it that'd be a disbarrable offense. Though there's nothing illegal about simply instructing a client to be vague. Most defense lawyers try to have their client do as little confessing to them as possible while still learning enough to know what could blindside their defense or be a liability going in.", "The priest is supposed to keep confessions secret, unless that confession is of something that endangers other people. So you could tell a priest that you stole a million dollars and they wouldn't report you, but if you told him you planned to kill someone, then they would. That is 'would', there is not actual law stopping them from reporting anything you say, just doctrine.", "Why are people ethical, and not willing to ruin their own reputation with false allegations? Well, it's simple. People are largely ethical and false allegations are damaging to their own reputation.", "To scare people into making a confession, basically. If you threaten someone with the fact you can tell if they're lying and then inform them that they can make it easier on themselves to confess now to lighten their sentencing you can get a confession out of them faster. It's like playing good cop/bad cop. \"Make it easier on yourself kid, tell us what we want to know, otherwise if we find out later you were lying to us its only gonna make it harder on you, see?\" Only the bad cop in this case is your heartbeat, which you have no control over if your nervous and guilty, or even not guilty. But if you're innocent and tell the truth, they wont need the lie detector to tell that based on body language and tone of voice. Hell, pretty sure the damn thing hardly ever gets any use these days anyway.", "A musician by the name of Robert N. Marley confessed at the time to the killing. He was adamant that he was not also responsible for the shooting of the deputy, and while this seems rather implausible at first glance, it would be curious indeed to confess to one shooting and not the other if there was not some truth in it. Since the original confession however, the credence of Robert's initial confession has been brought into question by multiple others claiming to have carried out the deed. An Englishman by the name of Eric P. Clapton soon claimed to be the shooter, and much later a Californian, Warren Griffin III, tried to take credit. In his case though the sequence of events described differed markedly from the original narrative, leading less credence to his version of events.", "Making \"false allegations\" are punishable now, through existing laws on stuff like perjury, abuse of process, malicious prosecution, etc. The issue is that false allegations, while a major deal when they truly do occur, are SOOOOO hard to prove that they're false. People are allowed to press forward on claims that are long-shots, that's the way our system is set up - people get to sue or get to contact the police/prosecutors about a criminal matter, and the system sorts out what has merit and what doesn't. Plus, think about how making it easier to punish people whose claims end up not winning will really hit certain populations hard and unfairly. Domestic abuse victims, for one. \"No one will believe you\" is already a powerful deterrent to reporting that the abuser hangs over his victim. \"No one will believe you AND you'll go to jail for making a false report and never see your kids again?\" Can you imagine?", "Med student here. I'm not too familiar with oncology, but the reason most screening tests aren't used on a large scale basis are the false positive rates. No matter how specific the test, you are going to have some false positives. Even if the false positive rate is 0.0001% and the test was used to screen every American, 30,000 people would be falsely found to have cancer. Most doctors don't want to put a patient through the emotional strain and financial costs of a false positive diagnosis. Therefore, screening tests are used on at-risk populations. This is why women wait till 40 to have regular mammograms and men wait till around 50 to get prostate specific antigen tests.", "In response to your second question: about 20% of the Russian astronomical community were imprisoned or executed in a Stalinist purge in 1936—1937. Personal vendettas, playing out in the aftermath of an incident of research fraud (the Voronov scandal), resulted in [Boris Gerasimovich](_URL_0_), the director of the Pulkovo Observatory, being accused of \"non-compliance with Marxist-Leninist ideology\" and \"being under foreign influence\" (due to publishing in non-Soviet journals). A coerced confession from a colleague resulted in nearly the entire observatory staff being implicated, while members of the Tashkent Astronomical Observatory were arrested due to its association with Voronov. At least 29 astronomers (and one assistant director) disappeared. At least 5 were executed, including Gerasimovich, and more died in captivity. *Source*: Robert A. McCutcheon, “The 1936–1937 Purge of Soviet Astronomers,” Slavic Review, Spring 1991, 50(1):100–117.", "It is artistic expression. Jim Carrey could go on stage and say he murdered someone, but that isn’t a confession because it is part of an act, and people can lie. Rapping falls under the same rules, so long as it is part of their persona then they can say what they like.", "The reason people in Hollywood are big into it is because they're stuck. Part of the brainwashing/secrets process involves using a sort of lie-detector machine designed to detect \"Thetans\" or which are dead souls possessing you. And in the post interview, you sit there with someone and confess all your darkest secrets and talk about how horrible you are, in an attempt to help yourself \"Go clear\" or get rid of all the Thetans. And while you do this, you're being recorded. I have it on good authority that John Travolta is probably bisexual, and confessed to a lot of sex stuff while sitting in a church of Scientology. They have the videos of that, and will publish them if he doesn't do what they say. I recommend watching the HBO Documentary \"Going Clear\" which explains a lot of the awful crap they do, or have done. They're a dangerous cult.", "The idea is to make sure everything is done by the books so nothing is coerced or planted. The only way to do this fairly is to do it indiscriminately.", "It is a collective false memory. It takes its name from a false memory that many people apparently have of Nelson Mandela dying in the 1980s rather than in 2013. Apparently weird people on the internet suggest this is an effect of an alternate timeline bleeding into our own.", "I don't want the government to expand its regulatory power to the internet in general. This includes, but is not limited to, the manner by which I purchase access to the internet. I don't want this because politicians have a habbit of using regulatory power to manipulate and coerce people. That the quick and dirty of it.", "The whole basis for the Protestant Reformation was that man does not need an intercessor between the individual and God. Protestants do not believe that you need to confess your sins to a priest who replies on God's behalf. A Protestant believes that man can directly confess to God.", "random chance and recognizing false patters. How many faces do your eyes shift to in a full room? 10? 20? A hundred? How often do you catch people's eyes just at the right time? Maybe once? It's not that it happens that often, its that when it does happen, its memorable.", "I'm sure there's several reasons, but the one comes to mind is the case of someone potentially being coerced, blackmailed, forced, etc to vote for someone they don't want.", "Hi, bad Catholic here! Confession, once completed, is entirely binding. Priests cannot disclose, under not only being stripped of cloth (fired), but also excommunicated (they're not even considered catholic anymore). However, there are a few ways to weasel out of it: 1) The person did not show remorse. If a person is not remorseful its not really a completed sacrament, meaning the priest is not bound by the Seal of Confession. See you at trial. 2) Tangential to that, you can't tell a priest what you're going to do in confession (the implication you're still going to do it and therefore don't feel bad about it). Now this is largely situational, but if you tell the priest \"I'm going to kill 5 people soon\" this probably indicates a lack of remorse. Its a common action badass trope, the \"forgive me father for I am about to sin\" but if you actually felt bad about it you probably wouldn't do it.", "> Was there a history of asking defendants to testify against themselves? Not so much \"asking\" as \"torturing into confessing.\" I'll try to dig up an old law review article about it, but that clause was largely created in response to what has been seen as coercive attempts to force people to testify against themselves.", "Some people do it for the lulz. Some people do it to create false generated hype for a product. It depends what the spam **is**.", "It's been challenged, and in those instances has been found unconstitutional. Though, apparently since the defendant is given the option to attend (versus going to jail), it's fairly easy to work around. > Three federal circuit courts have held that coerced participation in “religion-based” treatment programs like AA and NA violates the First Amendment. As the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco put it, \"While we in no way denigrate the fine work of [Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous], attendance in their programs may not be coerced by the state.\" [\\(source\\)](_URL_0_)", "Sure, but probably not for what you confessed to. In all likelihood, the only way that you're going to serve time for the crime is if you offer some proof that you did it, and accept a plea bargain in lieu of a trial. If, however, there is sufficient reason to doubt your confession, you might be charged with interfering in a police investigation." ]

[ "A federal appeals court hears arguments in the case of a U.S. citizen sentenced to death by an Iraqi court. The United States had planned to hand the man over to Iraq, but a lower federal court issued an order against the transfer. A similar case has been decided in the prisoner's favor by the same appeals circuit." ]

[ "A federal judge in Michigan granted temporary reprieve from deportation on Thursday to more than 100 Iraqi nationals with criminal convictions who were living in the Detroit area. They had argued they could face persecution or torture in Iraq because of their status as religious minorities, The Associated Press reports. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the Iraqis, says they include Christians and Muslims. \"We are thankful and relieved that our clients will not be immediately sent to Iraq, where they face grave danger of persecution, torture or death,\" ACLU of Michigan Legal Director Michael Steinberg said in a statement. \"It would be unconstitutional and unconscionable to deport these individuals without giving them an opportunity to demonstrate the harm that awaits them in Iraq.\" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 114 Iraqis in the Detroit area who it says have criminal convictions, according to AP. Many have been in the U.S. for decades. Some came as children and committed their crimes decades ago, Reuters says. Although the Iraqis had deportation orders, Reuters adds, they were allowed to stay in the U.S. because Iraq would not issue them travel documents. But that changed in March after Iraq agreed to accept deportees in exchange for being removed from the list of countries in President Trump's revised travel ban. The news service says the Michigan roundup was part of a broader sweep in which immigration authorities detained close to 200 Iraqi immigrants across the country. The Justice Department had argued that immigration court is where the Iraqi nationals should make their case — not U.S. District Court. But U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith halted the deportations for 14 days while he decides if his court has jurisdiction. Reuters says a Justice Department spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment on the ruling. The news service reports that the arrests shocked Michigan's close-knit Iraqi community. It says a half-dozen members of the state's Congressional delegation urged that the Iraqis be allowed to stay until Congress receives assurances about their safety. In the meantime, \"the court's action today was legally correct and may very well have saved numerous people from abuse and possible death,\" ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said, according to Reuters. \"The court took a life-saving action by blocking our clients from being immediately sent back to Iraq,\" Gelernt said in the ACLU statement. \"They should have a chance to show that their lives are in jeopardy if forced to return.\"", "A U.S. district judge ruled Friday that the U.S. must release photos of American soldiers inflicting abuse on prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ruling is a victory for The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a lawsuit against the government in 2004, seeking the release of the photos. The ACLU claimed the pictures revealed significant human rights violations, specifically at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The government has been fighting the release of the pictures, claiming they could pose a threat to American military stationed overseas, as well as the U.S. government and its citizens. In 2009, Congress passed a law that allowed the Department of Defense to block the release of the images if sufficient evidence proved it would endanger American lives. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled the Defense Department failed to provide specific details of such a threat in this case. The government has two months to appeal the ruling. Some of the now-infamous photos include images of soldiers pointing guns at handcuffed prisoners in hoods, posing with a pyramid of naked detainees and holding a prisoner by a dog leash tied to his neck. But the AP reports there may be many more images. \"It's unclear how many more photographs may exist. The government has said it has 29 relevant pictures from at least seven different sites in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it's believed to have perhaps hundreds or thousands more.\" In 2005, 11 military personnel were convicted in Army courts-martial for involvement in physical, sexual and psychological torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Two of the soldiers, Charles Graner and Lynndie England, were seen in several of the photos, including the images with the dog leash and naked pyramid. Both served time in prison. The New York Times reported in April of last year that the Iraqi government had closed the prison in Abu Ghraib and moved its approximately 2,400 prisoners to other locations.", "The U.S. Justice Department is expected to announce charges this week against two British nationals suspected of being part of a notorious Islamic State cell accused of torturing and beheading Western hostages, according to a law enforcement official. The two men, Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, were captured in Syria in 2018 by Kurdish allies of the U.S. and were transferred to U.S. military custody in Iraq. They are expected to arrive in the U.S. in the near future, setting the stage for one of the biggest terrorism trials in the country in recent years. NBC News first reported their expected transfer to the United States. Kotey and Elsheikh are believed to be one half of a cell of Islamic State militants in Syria nicknamed \"The Beatles\" because of their British accents. The cell became notorious in 2014 for its brutal treatment of hostages, including on-camera beheadings that the group posted videos of online. It was not immediately clear what specific charges Kotey and Elsheikh will face, but the U.S. government has accused The Beatles of killing more than 27 people, including two American journalists — James Foley and Steven Sotloff — American aid worker Peter Kassig and British and Japanese reporters and aid workers. The atrocities became a hallmark of the Islamic State, which routinely slaughtered Syrian and Iraqi prisoners and civilians. Out of legal limbo The decision to bring Kotey and Elsheikh to the U.S. and put them on trial brings an end to the legal limbo they have been in since their capture. In 2015, the U.S. made its first request to the British government for evidence that the U.K. had collected in its own investigation of Kotey, Elsheikh and others. Britain, which had stripped the men of their citizenship, had concerns about handing the materials over to the U.S. because the Justice Department could pursue the death penalty against the men. In 2018, the British government relented after deciding that having Kotey and Elsheikh stand trial in the U.S. was the best approach. It agreed to transfer the evidence without a guarantee from Washington not to seek the death penalty. But that move was put on hold after Elsheikh's mother filed a lawsuit in the U.K. challenging the decision. In August, Attorney General William Barr provided the British government assurances that the United States would not seek to execute the men if they were tried and convicted. He also warned that the U.S. would hand Kotey and Elsheikh to Iraqi authorities for prosecution if the British government failed to resolve the issue by Oct. 15. Late last month, a U.K. court cleared the way for the two men to be tried in the U.S., and British authorities handed over the evidence that Washington had requested more than five years ago. That was the final piece U.S. prosecutors needed for their case against Kotey and Elsheikh, and the Justice Department is expected to announce criminal charges against the duo this week, the law enforcement official told NPR on condition of anonymity. The rise of the Islamic State The Islamic State had been a growing power in Syria and Iraq when it finally burst into the American public's consciousness in June 2014 with its takeover of the city of Mosul in northern Iraq. With the fall of Mosul, the militants turned their sights on Baghdad. At the time, it was unclear whether the Iraqi government could withstand the onslaught, and the U.S. scrambled to try to shore up its Iraqi allies. In early August 2014, the Obama administration began conducting airstrikes against the terrorist group in Iraq. Just over a week later, the Islamic State posted a graphic video online showing James Foley's murder. Foley had been taken captive in Syria in 2012 by extremists and was held hostage with other Westerners by the Islamic State. The group released a second video less than a month after Foley's murder showing the killing of another American journalist, Steven Sotloff. A third American, aid worker Peter Kassig, was killed a few months later. These videos were among a series of other gruesome videos that featured a masked man dressed in black who spoke to the camera in a British accent. The Western press often referred to the man as \"Jihadi John,\" and he was later identified as the cell's ringleader, Mohammed Emwazi. A fourth American, Kayla Mueller, was also held hostage by the Islamic State. She was repeatedly raped by the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Mueller was killed in 2015. Eventually, the tide of the fight against the Islamic State shifted and the militants suffered a string of setbacks. Emwazi was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2015. That same year, another member of the cell, Aine Davis, was captured in Turkey. He was tried and convicted in a Turkish court and sentenced to seven years in prison. Now, the two remaining members of the group, Kotey and Elsheikh, are to face justice in the United States. In an op-ed published this summer in The Washington Post, the families of the group", "The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that unless police have a warrant, they generally cannot search data on a cellphone seized from someone who has been arrested. The decision is seen as a sweeping win for privacy advocates. \"Modern cell phones are not just another technological convenience,\" Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. \"With all they contain and all they may reveal, they hold for many Americans 'the privacies of life.' As NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg reported in April: \"The courts have long allowed police to search people without a warrant when making an arrest. But those searches have been limited by the amount of information individuals could carry on their persons. \"Now, suddenly, with the advent of the smartphone, allowing a search of that phone without a warrant allows police to search more information than most people keep in their houses.\" The first of two related cases, Riley v. California, centered on David Riley, who was pulled over in 2009 in San Diego for driving with expired tags. As Nina reported: \"When his car was impounded and inventoried, police found guns under the hood. An initial search of Riley's cellphone indicated he might be involved in gang activity. \"Two hours later, a gang investigator went through the digital files and downloaded contacts, videos and photos. Some of that information was later used to convict Riley of several felonies.\" Riley's lawyer told the court in April that the Founding Fathers hadn't intended such wide-ranging warrantless searches. But the state of California and the Obama administration had contended that cellphones should have no greater protection than other objects police find. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court disagreed. \"The fact that technology now allows an individual to carry such information in his hand does not make the information any less worthy of the protection for which the Founders fought,\" Roberts wrote. But the court did say that warrantless searches could be permitted in some extraordinary circumstances — as in instances of child abductions or bomb threats. The second case, U.S. v Wuhrie, involved a defendant whose flip-phone call log was searched by police. The Associated Press reports on the background to that case from Boston: \"Police arrested Brima Wurie on suspicion of selling crack cocaine, checked the call log on his flip phone and used that information to determine where he lived. When they searched Wurie's home and had a warrant, they found crack, marijuana, a gun and ammunition. The evidence was enough to produce a conviction and a prison term of more than 20 years. An appeals court threw out the evidence found on Wuhrie's phone but left in place a drug conviction that did not depend on the tainted evidence. The Obama administration had appealed that ruling because it wanted to preserve warrantless searches following an arrest. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling.", "Amanda Knox may never again set foot in Italy. But that doesn't mean she won't face another trial there. Courts around the world — particularly in Italy — have shown themselves willing to try people in absentia. On Tuesday, Italy's top court ordered that Knox be retried on murder charges. Last month, an appeals court in Milan convicted a former CIA station chief and two other Americans of kidnapping an Egyptian cleric during an extraordinary rendition. Twenty-three other Americans involved in the case were convicted in absentia in 2009. \"It's common practice, not only in Europe,\" says Kurt Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO who now runs an institute on international leadership at Arizona State University. \"It's done when the defendant is not physically at hand, yet the legal outcome can be pursued.\" The Trial Of George W. Bush Trials or even convictions in absentia don't mean the accused will ever serve time. In fact, one reason prosecutors might seek charges against defendants who don't appear is the difficulty involved in extraditing them, says Michelle Martinez Campbell, a former federal prosecutor. \"In my experience in extraditing people from other countries, it would take years — literally, years — just to go through the extradition proceedings,\" says Martinez Campbell, who now teaches law at the University of Vermont. Prosecutors may be worried that delays could mean witnesses might die before a trial could be held or that evidence would be lost, she says. Better to have a conviction in hand than simply wait. Trials held in absentia also may be conducted for political reasons, says Christopher Jenks, a former attorney with the Pentagon and State Department. Last year, for example, President George W. Bush and several members of his administration were convicted of war crimes in absentia in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. In January, a tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced cleric Abul Kalam Azad to death in absentia for crimes against humanity during that country's 1971 war for independence. Such proceedings are illegal in the U.S. The Supreme Court declared 20 years ago that defendants could not be prosecuted unless they were present at the beginning of their trials. There are rules in federal criminal procedure that allow trials to proceed without the defendant remaining present, but the practice is seldom employed. And the treaty that created the International Criminal Court states that \"the accused shall be present during the trial.\" But a U.N.-backed court charged with prosecuting the killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and more than 20 others in 2005 has determined it can try people in absentia, citing as precedent the Nuremberg trial of Nazi leader Martin Bormann. Try, And Try Again Some European countries, such as Germany, have largely stopped conducting trials in absentia, Jenks says, because of the difficulty in proving that the accused was aware and chose not to be present. \"While allowed, they're in essence more trouble than they're worth,\" says Jenks, now a law professor at Southern Methodist University. \"In the vast majority of cases, you'd have to retry the person, if and when you find them.\" In parts of Europe, in absentia trials essentially give defendants the ability to appeal twice — asking for a retrial at which they would be present and then potentially appealing the second verdict, says Pieter Cleppe, who heads the Brussels office of the think tank Open Europe. \"There are some guarantees in the legal system that make sure that it's fair, that the rights of the defense are not being violated, while still making sure that justice is being done,\" Cleppe says. He notes that European Union rules have been changed in recent years to make it easier to force extradition of serious criminals, even those who have been tried in absentia. \"In absentia judgments are common,\" Cleppe says. \"You can criticize that, but it's quite common.\" It Cuts Both Ways Italy has a treaty with the U.S. that calls for extradition in cases where criminal penalties of at least one year would apply in both countries — which clearly pertains in a murder case. If Italy requests a provisional arrest warrant in the Knox case, a prosecutor from the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs would be assigned to the matter. That doesn't mean someone will be showing up at Knox's door with a warrant anytime soon, though. \"By letting her go back to the U.S., it almost seemed at the time like a declaration that they didn't think this was going to happen, because it becomes so hard to extradite someone back,\" Martinez Campbell says. But Italian officials may not like it when their own citizens are sent to other countries to face trial. On Tuesday, Italian Foreign Minister Guilio Terzi resigned in protest over his government's decision last week to send two Italian marines to India to stand trial for allegedly murdering two fishermen last year.", "A federal court in Guatemala has thrown out the genocide conviction of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, which had been called a breakthrough in the region's human rights. NPR's Carrie Kahn reports that \"all trial evidence and testimony as of April 19th, the date a trial judge was removed from the case, must be re-entered.\" The ruling late Monday came 10 days after a three judge tribunal sentenced 86-year-old Rios Montt to 80 years in prison: 50 years for genocide against the Ixil Mayan people, who were considered enemies of the Guatemalan state, and an additional 30 years for crimes against humanity. As Mark wrote, Rios Montt's conviction marked the first time any country convicted a current or former head of state on genocide charges. Other genocide convictions have been handed down by international courts. The BBC reports that the annulment is based on Rios Montt's legal representation. On April 19, he was briefly without a defense attorney because his lawyers walked out of court, protesting \"illegal proceedings.\" The tribunal hearing the case appointed a public defender, who Rios Montt rejected. He wanted a personal attorney who had already been expelled in the case. When the personal attorney appeared, he attempted to have the tribunal judges dismissed and was expelled again. That's when the Constitutional Court says the case should have stopped. After his conviction, Rios Montt appealed and the Constitutional Court wound back the clock to April 19. By that point, The New York Times reports, \"the tribunal had heard all of the prosecution's case and most of the defense's. That testimony still stands. But the court's ruling invalidated everything else after that date.\" That includes the conviction and sentence. What's unclear is whether this creates a matter of double-jeopardy for Rios Montt. It's also not known which judge or panel of judges will now take up the case. Amnesty International expressed outrage, saying the legal basis for the ruling isn't clear: \"With the sentence on 10 May, the trial court had sent a strong signal that crimes against thousands of Mayan victims would not be tolerated. The Constitutional Court has now questioned that message, putting the right to truth, justice and reparation at risk in Guatemala.\" As Agence France-Press puts it, \"Rios Montt's conviction made him the first Latin American ex-dictator to be convicted of trying to exterminate an entire people, during a brief but particularly gruesome stretch of a war that started in 1960, dragged on for 36 years and left around 200,000 people dead or missing. Under his rule, the army carried out a scorched earth policy against indigenous peoples, accusing them of backing rebel forces.\"", "An appeals court denies a Bush administration request to transfer Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen facing terrorism charges, from military to civilian law-enforcement custody. Held as an enemy combatant for more than three years, Padilla was indicted as an ordinary criminal last month.", "A 50-year prison sentence handed to Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia convicted of war crimes, has been upheld by a judge at The Hague. Taylor, 65, had appealed the sentence handed down in May by a special court in the Netherlands, following his conviction on charges that he \"aided and abetted\" atrocities in Sierra Leone by rebels of the Revolutionary United Front. The rebels carried out a campaign of murder, rape and mutilation during the country's long civil war. \"The sentence is fair in the light of the totality of the crimes committed,\" Justice George Gelaga King, who is himself from Sierra Leone, said Thursday. Taylor was found guilty of 11 counts of war crimes that included torture and enslavement of child soldiers. The Telegraph says: \"These offences were carried out in Sierra Leone by a brutal guerrilla army, styling itself the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Taylor gave the RUF guns, training and recruits in return for diamonds — which made him responsible for 'aiding and abetting' their atrocities, ruled the UN Special Court.\" The Guardian adds: \"The decision by the court means that the 65-year-old is likely to be sent to the UK to serve out the rest of his life in a British jail. \"There had been speculation that the tribunal could overturn Taylor's convictions, following stricter precedents set in the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia about what constitutes 'aiding and abetting.' A series of recent judgments in that court required proof that senior military commanders had 'specifically directed' atrocities. \"But the judges in the Sierra Leone tribunal dismissed the Balkans precedents as irrelevant and said Taylor had known at the time that atrocities were going to be committed by rebel forces attacking the Sierra Leone capital, Freetown.\"", "Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan didn't get his wish to be released from federal prison on bail so he could be with his dying wife. His request was part of a larger petition, also denied by the court, that his conviction on corruption charges be overturned. Ryan, 76, had hoped that because the Supreme Court earlier this year limited prosecutors' use of the so-called \"honest services\" law under which Ryan was convicted, he could get his conviction reversed. Read More U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer not only didn't drop the conviction, she turned down Ryan's request for bail so he could be with his wife of five decades, Lura Lynn, who has terminal cancer. In November 2007, Ryan began serving his sentence of 6 years, 6 months. He's due for release in 2013. Pallmeyer wrote: This court takes no pleasure in depriving any defendant of his or her liberty.  The court has had the painful duty to take such action in circumstances more compelling than these—where a young defendant with little education or resources is the sole support of small children, or is the only caregiver for a disabled relative, for example. Any sensitive judge realizes that a lengthy prison term effectively robs the convicted person of what we all value most: months and years with loved ones, some of whom will no longer be there when the sentence has been served.  Mr. Ryan, like other convicted persons, undoubtedly wishes it were otherwise. His conduct has exacted a stiff penalty not only for himself but also for his family. Ryan is not only known for being one of several Illinois governors convicted over the decades on corruption charges. He gained worldwide attention in 2003 for commuting the sentences of everyone on Illinois' death row after a number of condemned men were released following new investigations that absolved them of the crimes for which they were convicted. From the Chicago Tribune: George Ryan is \"devastated\" by a federal judge's decision not to release him from prison early so he can be with his wife who is dying from cancer, his family said today. \"Is this what American justice is now?\" Ryan's son Homer told reporters in front of the family's home in Kankakee hours after the 58-page ruling was handed down.", "NPR's Tavis Smiley talks with commentator Connie Rice about the capture of Saddam Hussein, and the options the United States has to weigh in deciding whether Saddam should be tried by the Iraqi government or an international court.", "The U.S. government agrees to release Yaser Hamdi, a U.S. citizen held for nearly three years as an enemy combatant, and return him to Saudi Arabia. Hamdi's case tested the government's contention that it could hold an American citizen indefinitely without charge. Hear NPR's Nina Totenberg.", "The Pakistani doctor who American officials say was recruited by the CIA to help in the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and has since been sentenced to 33 years in prison, was convicted of having ties to a banned militant group, not for alleged treason. At least that's what it says in the five-page verdict handed down last week by a \"powerful political agent in Pakistan's Khyber tribal district,\" NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Islamabad. She tells our Newscast Desk that the verdict finds Shakil Afridi guilty of close links with the banned Lashkar-e-Islam. It concludes that Afridi was \"in league\" with the group's anti-state activities in the Khyber agency, where the militants systematically attack Pakistani security forces. Afridi, Julie continues, was convicted of facilitating \"the waging of war\" against Pakistan. His connections to the CIA are only obliquely referenced in the papers. The tribal judge, Julie reports, \"closes his verdict declaring no jurisdiction in the matter ... but says the evidence of Afridi's activities with 'other foreign intelligence agencies' should be tried before the relevant court.\" U.S. Wants Him Freed; Read More: The conviction for collaborating with banned militants, Julie adds, complicates U.S. efforts to press for Afridi's release. American officials expressed outrage at the news of Afridi's conviction. They had confirmed he was recruited to try to obtain DNA samples from bin Laden or the al-Qaida leader's family in the months leading up to the May 2, 2011, raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that ended with bin Laden's death. Afridi reportedly tried, but was not able to obtain the DNA samples, according to news reports. To American officials, Afridi acted in both Pakistan's and the world's interests. The news that he was convicted of something other than treason for helping a foreign agency is a surprise. As the Los Angeles Times notes, \"up until this week, Pakistani authorities had never mentioned any pending charges against Afridi that alleged ties with militant groups.\" The New York Times adds that: \"The order accused Dr. Afridi, as a supporter of Lashkar-e-Islam, of embracing an 'ideology based on hatred' that sought to overthrow the government. 'His demeanor as a public servant proves his disloyalty and feeling of enmity toward the state and government of Pakistan,' it said. \"In interviews, Dr. Afridi's friends and relatives paint a different picture of that relationship. They say that Lashkar-e-Islam fighters kidnapped Dr. Afridi in 2008, after complaints about his surgical work, and held him hostage until he paid a large fine.\" Meanwhile, some Pakistani officials may be trying to cast doubt on Afridi's character in another way. The Pakistan News Service says that \"in interviews over the weekend, several current and former Pakistani officials described the doctor, Shakeel Afridi, as a hard-drinking womaniser who had faced accusations of sexual assault, harassment and stealing.\"", "Saddam Hussein is on trial for crimes alleged to have been committed during his rule in Iraq, which lasted from 1979 to 2003. The trial will not bear any clear resemblance to an American trial, or even to recent international war crimes tribunals. What is he charged with? Initially, Saddam Hussein and seven other members of his former government are charged with crimes relating to a 1982 attack on the town of Dujail, north of Baghdad. It is alleged that the defendants were responsible for the deaths of 143 people, an act of reprisal for the attempted assassination of Saddam as his convoy drove through the mostly Shiite town on July 8, 1982. Investigating Judge Raid Juhi told reporters in Baghdad before the trial that the charges would focus on the areas of \"crimes of premeditated murder, forced expulsion of residents, torture and forced disappearances of individuals.\" Iraqi leaders, and their American advisers, selected the low-profile Dujail incident as the tribunal's first case against Saddam because it was relatively easy to put together and, they believe, has a high probability of producing a conviction. What is the significance of the trial? The significance is twofold. First, this is a chance to see justice done, or revenge meted out, for the millions of Iraqis affected directly and indirectly by the terror tactics of Saddam's government. Second, and perhaps more importantly, this is a chance for Iraq to prove to itself, and others, that it can function as a society under the rule of law, rather than a society under the rule of the gun. Iraq has a reputation in the Arab world of requiring a strong hand in government to hold society together. A successful trial of Saddam and his former lieutenants would be a symbolic victory in efforts to prove otherwise. Where is the trial being held, and under what kind of security? The trial is taking place in the marble building that once served as the National Command Headquarters of Saddam's feared Baath Party. It is surrounded by 10-foot high blast walls and a cordon of troops. The building sits in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone, where the Iraqi government and the U.S. embassy are located. The identities of many of those involved in the trial, including prosecutors and witnesses, may be shielded to avoid reprisals from Saddam loyalists. Two defense lawyers representing two of Saddam's co-defendants were killed after the trial began, one in October and one in November. After some negotiation, security for members of the defense was arranged. Who is prosecuting him? A team of prosecutors from the Iraqi Special Tribunal will argue the case against Saddam. The tribunal was set up by Americans, but is now run by the elected Iraqi government and staffed by Iraqis. This trial, and ones to follow, are unusual in that they are being run by Iraqis, not outsiders. Most tribunals like this since World War II have been run by occupying powers or international organizations. Prosecutors, and other tribunal staff members, were trained for the proceedings by members of the International Bar Association, among others. Who is defending him? Iraqi lawyer Khalil Dulaimi is Saddam's primary lawyer. All of the seven co-defendants have at least one lawyer representing them. At one point Saddam had 1,500 lawyers on his side. He fired them in August 2005 and is now relying on a much smaller legal team. Dulaimi is working with London-based lawyer Abdel-Haq Alani. They tried to delay the start of the trial and have publicly challenged the court's competence. Although the start date of the trial was not moved, the defense did receive an adjournment right after proceedings began. A number of international advisers are also associated with Saddam's defense team. Ramsey Clark, a U.S. attorney general in the 1960s, Mahathir Mohamad, the former prime minister of Malaysia, and Aysha Moammar Ghadafi, a law professor and the daughter of Libyan leader Moammar Ghadafi, are all working with Saddam's primary lawyers. Saddam's daughter Raghad Saddam Hussein -- who has no legal training -- is overseeing the defense team. Who is judging him? A five-judge panel will listen to the evidence and produce a verdict. There is no jury. The chief judge will ask questions. Presiding Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, a Kurd, is the only member of the panel who has been publicly identified. U.S. officials say the Iraqi judges have received special training from American, British and Australian experts. They may also receive international assistance during the proceedings. How long is the trial expected to last? The length of the trial is not set. Immediately after the trial began, the court agreed to recess until Nov. 28. Testimony was read into the record when court reconvened, and then another break was ordered until Dec. 5. There is an extensive appeal process available to Saddam and the other defendants if they are convicted. What access does the news media have to the trial? Reporters are able to watch the pr", "Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says Saddam Hussein will be transferred to Iraqi legal custody Wednesday, but he will remain in the physical custody of U.S. forces for the time being. Formal charges against Saddam will be brought Thursday. Meanwhile, a roadside bomb in Baghdad kills three Marines. Hear NPR's Emily Harris.", "Margot talks with NPR's Barbara Bradley about the case of Yasser Esam Hamdi, who was born in Louisiana, raised in Saudi Arabia, and picked up by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Because of his U.S. citizenship, he is incarcerated in Norfolk, Va., instead of Cuba with others who were captured. A federal judge in Norfolk held a hearing today on questions related to whether the government can deprive him of rights usually given to imprisoned Americans. The Bush administration says all it has to do to hold him without criminal charges and without access to a lawyer is to declare him an \"enemy combatant.\"", "President Obama's pledge to close the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by the end of his first year in office navigated one roadblock last week, when Congress agreed to allow the transfer of prisoners onto U.S. soil to face trial. But the struggle over where to try the remaining 221 prisoners — and what to do with them if convicted — is by no means over. While the Justice Department works to meet a Nov. 16 deadline to present a plan for prosecuting prisoners, the national debate continues over how to administer justice to non-American prisoners whose allegiances may — or may not — lie with a terrorist ideology. The Struggle To Define Justice Just what constitutes justice at Guantanamo? It's a question that has dogged the prison camp, which once held more than 500 detainees, throughout its troubled eight-year history. The Bush administration instituted a military tribunal system there, but the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional in 2006. \"It's not just that Guantanamo has been seen as a blight on the United States,\" says Sarah Mendelson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. \"[It's] that the new legal system that was put together there was seen as disreputable — no matter how many bells and whistles you put on it.\" Mendelson is among those who argue that as many prisoners as possible should face criminal prosecutions in federal court — although she acknowledges there are cases the military has some jurisdiction over. \"We have a criminal justice system that is nimble, quite adaptable and able to handle complex national security cases,\" Mendelson says. \"Americans need to be reminded: There were three convictions in Guantanamo with military commissions.\" \"We have 195 international terrorists who have been convicted through our courts,\" she says. The Case Against Military Commissions The military commissions system, critics argue, is too flawed and carries too much negative baggage to be used to try prisoners — even with changes proposed by the Obama administration and approved Wednesday by Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The changes include new limits on hearsay evidence and statements gained through \"cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment\" and offer improved access to counsel for defendants. Those changed, while welcome, don't go far enough, says Joanne Mariner of Human Rights Watch. \"The new law can't salvage these discredited commissions,\" Mariner, the organization's director of terrorism and counterterrorism, said in a statement. The rewritten rules approved by Congress, she says, would allow the prosecution of offenses not considered violations of the laws of war, including \"providing material support for terrorism,\" she says. The revisions, she says, do not exempt children from prosecution and contain no limit on how long commissions can be used. But the president-appointed Detention Policy Task Force has asserted that with the changes made to the commission system, it is a legitimate element of the U.S. justice system. The Case Against Using U.S. Courts During a May 21 speech, Obama said that the remaining Guantanamo prisoners will fall into five categories: those who can be released on court order or transferred to another country; those who will be tried as criminals in federal court; those who will be tried through military commissions for violating the laws of war; and those who can't be prosecuted but constitute a \"clear danger\" to Americans. Justice Department lawyers are now nearing a decision over who will be tried in open federal court, who will face military commissions, and who may be indefinitely incarcerated. Those following the department's deliberations say that up to 30 prisoners may be tried in federal courts — and that number could include the five high-profile men suspected of conspiring to attack America on Sept. 11, 2001. About 75 to 80 prisoners are expected to be released by court order or transferred to another country. The greatest mystery surrounds the remaining prisoners, who would face either a military commission or prolonged detention without charge. Richard Samp of the Washington Legal Foundation said he sees difficulties in making the toughest terrorism cases in federal court --and not because those cases could undermine national security and intelligence-gathering methods. \"Many people have suggested that there are problems with being able to maintain national security, but there are ways to conduct criminal trials that will protect that,\" Samp says. \"That's not my principal concern.\" Instead, he says he sees an inherent difficulty in making a federal criminal case without being able to introduce hearsay evidence, banned in U.S. courts. What could prove crucial to making a case, he says, are accounts gathered from residents or witnesses in the theater of war — witnesses whom prosecutors very well may not be able to produce to testify. \"Federal courts provide the same constitutional r", "The U.S. Supreme Court is delving into the technology-versus-privacy debate, agreeing to hear two cases that test whether police making an arrest may search cellphones without a warrant. The court's announcement Friday that it would take the cases came just hours after President Obama outlined his proposals to address government retention of citizen phone data as part of his speech outlining reforms at the National Security Agency. The court said it would hear arguments, likely in April, in two cases with conflicting decisions from the lower courts. In one case, from California, David Riley was pulled over for expired tags. When police then discovered loaded guns in his vehicle, they arrested Riley and searched his smartphone. Investigators found photos and contacts linking Riley to gang activity, and prosecutors used the smartphone information at trial to win a conviction. Riley received a prison term of 15 years to life. The California Supreme Court, which had previously ruled that such searches are legal, left Riley's conviction in place. Across the country, a federal appeals court in Boston reached the opposite conclusion, barring all warrantless cellphone searches except in emergency situations. The Obama administration appealed that ruling, contending that immediate searches of cellphones are especially important because the information contained in them can be so easily and quickly erased. The Supreme Court's eventual decision in these cases could lay the groundwork for future rulings on the NSA's collection of cellphone metadata. However the Supreme Court rules, its decision will have enormous practical consequences, since 90 percent of all Americans own mobile phones.", "The court ruled that two U.S. citizens held in Baghdad on terrorism charges cannot challenge their detention in a U.S. court. The justices said that U.S. courts do not have authority over the two men because they are being held abroad by a multinational force, of which the U.S. military is only a part. Alex Cohen talks with NPR's Ari Shapiro about the decision.", "has struck down the state's \"Three strikes and you're out\" law. After a third felony conviction, the law required a judge to hand down a sentence of 25 years to life. Only the prosecutor was allowed to waive the law. But the court's decision says that judges may waive the sentencing guidelines.", "Finding itself embattled over the war in Iraq, the Bush administration has launched a major offensive -- not on the war front, but on the home front. The president has now given two speeches reintroducing the nation to his view of the situation in Iraq, a view propounded at length in \"Our National Strategy for Victory in Iraq,\" a 35-page document released last week. Vice President Dick Cheney is aggressively out on the stump, too, while Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld huddles with small groups of legislators on Capitol Hill. The upbeat tone of all this, the pounding of the word victory and the brave show of commitment are all designed to convey and instill one thing: Confidence. Among the several administration thinkers involved in producing this offensive was Peter D. Feaver, a political scientist from Duke University and a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve. Feaver and his Duke colleague Christopher Gelpi argue that Americans can be re-energized at this stage of the war. They say Americans are not as casualty-averse as is often supposed and will accept sacrifice, in blood and treasure, so long as they see it leading to success. The problem with the war in Iraq, then, is that the vision of victory has been too vague, too uncertain or simply too remote. To combat this perceived problem, the new approach combines a dash of realism with a strong restatement of stoicism. The realism reaches for credibility, in part by admitting some mistakes were made. Without dwelling on any specifics, Mr. Bush alluded to errors in the rebuilding of Iraq in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations this week. It was far from a searing self-critique, to be sure, but it represented a reversal in the longstanding White House attitude of \"never explain, never apologize.\" The vice president and secretary of defense have also made similar, if grudging, admissions. Having made this concession, however, the new approach quickly returns to the main themes the administration has pursued over the past two years. To wit: • Iraq has become the central front in the war on terror. • We cannot lose the war on terror, so we cannot abandon its central front. • Without U.S. troops, Iraq would be in chaos, bringing a return to tyrannical rule. • An abandoned Iraq would become a safe haven and base of operations for al Qaeda. Never mind for the moment that any or all of these statements may be, in varying degrees, debatable. The point of the new approach is to set forth these clear points and to hammer them home with assurance. Doing so will make more Americans aware of what we are doing in Iraq, and why. The theory presumes this will make more of them supportive. With more people buying in at home, the troops will feel better about being in Iraq and will fight more effectively. Iraqis will be trained more quickly and take over the military and civil struggle sooner. The U.S. presence can be reduced and eventually ended. Increased confidence at home leads directly to victory. Believing it will happen makes it so. It's not hard to see why this kind of faith-based marketing strategy appeals to the people at the White House. They were already inclined to think the Iraq problem was not in Iraq but here at home. They already saw the challenge as perceptual, not real. But give them credit for seeing at least that there is a problem. The war has become not only the rock dividing the stream of political life in Washington and the country but the dam that stops the stream. Views on the war now figure into attitudes on every issue and attitudes toward the president himself. The war cramps his coordination with Congress on foreign affairs, economic policy, immigration, taxes and even Supreme Court nominations. And of all the news coming from the polls, perhaps the most corrosive for the administration is that half or more of the country now sees the war as a mistake. These Americans may not think it's possible to pull out just yet, but they think it was a bad move to get in there in the first place. Just about the same percentage now regards the original set of justifications as dubious. What will happen to these particular convictions as the stoic pursuit of the policy continues and the price gets higher? Even if the new marketing campaign succeeds in shoring up support for the war in the months ahead, those persuaded to stay the course are not likely to feel much better about it. And that could make the eventual day of political reckoning all the harder on those held responsible.", "Naser al-Shimary is waiting at the arrivals gate at Baghdad's international airport. He says he's so nervous his \"heart is skipping beats.\" \"Last time I held my wife and son was May 2017,\" says Shimary, 29, speaking English with an American accent. \"That was the last time I got to kiss them and hold them.\" Shimary is wearing a red polo shirt and jeans, tattoos with English and Chinese lettering of the names of his parents and brother on his neck and wrists. He's standing outside the same sliding glass doors he walked through eight months ago, after living in the U.S. for most of his life and being deported back to Iraq. Shimary, who was a legal U.S. resident, was picked up in Detroit last year along with hundreds of other Iraqis, in an immigration sweep by federal agents responding to a White House order to accelerate deportations. Under the Trump administration's tightening immigration rules, officials have detained residents across the country, on the basis of immigration violations or a past criminal conviction, and worked to deport them. Shimary had served time in prison. The administration's efforts have hit a series of legal challenges. In June, a U.S. district court judge censured Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents over the roundup of Iraqis, saying ICE had misled and coerced detainees into agreeing to deportation. Last week, the district court ordered the release of about 130 Iraqi detainees, some who had been held for up to a year, finding that there was no clear agreement with the Iraqi government on taking them back. But those rulings came too late for Shimary. He says immigration agents threatened him with jail if he didn't agree to be deported to Iraq — a country he had not lived in since he was 2. Refugee to deportee Shimary's family came to the U.S. as refugees in 1994, fleeing violence after a failed uprising against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. In Michigan, Shimary got a bachelor's degree, became a certified mechanic, bought a home and started a family. He was a permanent resident; his partner and their 4-year-old son are American. Nine years ago, he was convicted of an assault on his brother-in-law in Michigan. He spent three years in prison. \"Everybody makes mistakes and I paid for my mistake,\" he says. After he was released, he says he complied with annual check-ins at an immigration office and had no problem for the next five years. \"I felt like, hey, I'm doing good,\" he says. \"They're not going to bother me as long as I'm doing good. That I'm not making no problems.\" But in May 2017, Shimary went to what he thought was a routine check-in. He was told the immigration authorities were revoking his supervision for bureaucratic reasons and that he would be detained for 15-30 days. Instead, over a period of three weeks, officials shuttled him between detention centers in Ohio, Louisiana and Arizona. Then they put him on a plane with 87 other Iraqis being deported. That deportation was halted when it turned out Iraq hadn't agreed to take back unwilling detainees — a requirement for carrying out a removal order. Iraq doesn't accept deportees who have not agreed to return. Shimary says he ultimately agreed to be deported after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials falsely told him that if he didn't, he could be imprisoned for 10 years for resisting deportation. ICE agents pressured him to sign a document from the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, D.C., consenting to be sent to Iraq, Shimary says. He adds that the agents told him Iraq had now agreed to accept him. The ICE media office said it could not comment on the case because of ongoing litigation. \"I made a mistake, signing those papers,\" Shimary says. In February, without notifying his family, he says, the U.S. deported him to Iraq. Terrified in Iraq Shimary landed in Baghdad with no money, no phone and only broken Arabic. After two days in Iraq's capital city, staying with a relative he'd never met before, he had to leave. His relative \"said it was for his family's safety and mine,\" Shimary says. He ended up in a makeshift house near the city of Najaf, south of Baghdad. \"People look at me differently. Even though I'm Iraqi by birth I'm not Iraqi to them. They know I'm different,\" he says. Shimary says he has struggled to find work. \"They'd rather have a 10-year-old, 11-year-old kid work instead. They won't hire me because of who I am and where I come from,\" he says. He doesn't read or write Arabic and often pronounces Iraq with a long \"I\" — like many Americans, but not Iraqis. He says his worst fear is that people will realize he's come from the United States. \"Even though I speak Arabic I still use the English language with it,\" he says. \"So I slip up and they say, 'Hey, you didn't just speak English, did you?' I tell them, 'No, I was speaking French.' And I have to lie. I have to lie just so I can feel safe.\" Shimary says he was attacked four months ago by a group of men he didn't know — beaten up so badly, he had to crawl", "Eleven years after Blackwater security guards killed more than a dozen civilians in Iraq, the retrial of one of the defendants ended in a mistrial. A court decides Friday whether he will be retried.", "Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, who pleaded guilty of dereliction of duty in connection with the killing of 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Haditha, apologized during his sentencing hearing yesterday. The AP reports: \"The 31-year-old Camp Pendleton Marine apologized for the loss of their loved ones and said he never intended to harm them or their families. He went on to tell the court that his guilty plea in no way suggests that his squad behaved badly or dishonorably. \"'But even with the best intentions, sometimes combat actions can cause tragic results,' Wuterich said in an unsworn statement.\" The military judge presiding over the case said he planned to recommend the maximum sentence allowed: 90 days of confinement. \"It's difficult for the court to fathom negligent dereliction of duty worse than the facts in this case,\" Lt. Col. David Jones told Wuterich, according to The Los Angeles Times. But when the judge opened the plea deal, he found that it indicated Wuterich could receive a drop in rank but could not serve any time in jail. The Times adds: \"The lack of trial convictions in the Haditha case is likely to further inflame anti-U.S. sentiment in Iraq, as well as fuel criticism by some legal analysts of the 6-year-long investigation and prosecution. \"A Marine Corps spokesman said Waldhauser would offer no public explanation of his decision to accept the plea bargain and stipulate that Wuterich receive no jail time. \"A doctrine of military law says that \"the conviction can be seen as the punishment,\" Jones noted to jurors at the beginning of the court-martial proceedings.\" As we reported, Wuterich pleaded guilty on Monday. It was an abrupt end the biggest war crimes case to come out of the war in Iraq.", "Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been executed. Saddam had been sentenced to death for the killing of 148 people who were detained after an attempt to assassinate him in the northern Iraqi city of Dujail in 1982. Tuesday, an Iraqi appeals court upheld that conviction. An Iraqi official told the Associated Press Friday that those cleared to attend the execution included a Muslim cleric, lawmakers, senior officials and relatives of victims of Saddam's brutal rule. Born in Tikrit, Saddam was 69 years old. He ruled Iraq from 1979 to 2003. U.S. and Iraqi forces were on high alert for a possible surge in violence across Iraq. Speculation had swirled all day about whether Saddam had or had not been handed over from U.S. to Iraqi custody -- a move expected to be the final step before his execution. Saddam had been in U.S. custody since December 2003, when he was found by U.S. forces hiding in a spider hole. Many in Iraq cheered the arrival of the execution in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday by firing guns into the air, although some said they would not believe it until they saw it with their own eyes. Iraqi officials had said they would film the hanging, presumably to show to the Iraqi people. Many Kurds criticized the timing of the execution, calling it a miscarriage of justice: Saddam was still on trial for atrocities and genocide against the Kurds in northern Iraq between 1987 and 1988. The Kurd-related trial was adjourned until Jan. 8; experts say the trial of Saddam's co-defendants likely will still go on. Saddam Hussein began to assert control of the Iraqi government in 1979, and his brutal reign lasted until the U.S. invasion of 2003.", "The Bush administration is seeking to justify the imprisonment of an American citizen using secret evidence. The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to throw out the case based on evidence that is being withheld from the man's lawyers.", "A federal appeals court rules the Bush administration can deny legal rights to combatants seized on the battlefield -- even if they are U.S. citizens. The ruling specifically affects Yaser Esam Hamdi, who was captured with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.", "Three of Saddam Hussein's top aides are due to be hanged some time soon for their roles in the massacre of thousands of Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s, but fear is spreading that the impending assassination of two of them will further stall reconciliation. Some Iraqi officials fear that hanging Gen. Hussein al-Tikriti and Gen. Sultan Hashim al-Tai, in particular, could inflame sectarian tensions and alienate some Sunni tribes who are now working with U.S. forces. Sunni Arabs see al-Tai's death sentence as further evidence of a Shiite Muslim witch hunt against their minority's once-dominant position and of undue influence by the Shiite-dominated government over the judiciary. \"There will be disastrous consequences if those officers are going to be hanged,\" said Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab who is one of Iraq's two vice presidents. But there is hardly any sympathy among Iraqis for Saddam Hussein's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, who earned the nickname \"Chemical Ali\" for the enthusiasm he exhibited in ordering mustard and sarin gas attacks that killed thousands of Kurdish civilians in 1988. The three aides to Saddam Hussein were convicted in June of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Vice President Hashemi said carrying out the death sentence against Hashim could further undermine the already stalled reconciliation efforts in post-Saddam Iraq. Hashemi argues that Hashim, a 65-year-old career military officer, had little choice but to follow orders from his brutal boss. \"It's really very difficult to believe that just because they obey orders issued by a leader like Saddam Hussein they had, in fact, an option to just take it or leave it. National reconciliation does mean forget about the past and let us dedicate everything, in fact, to the future. We would like, in fact, to copy the reconciliation of Nelson Mandela,\" Hashemi said. But reconciliation among South Africans included genuine remorse and a full accounting of crimes, measures Hashim hardly embraced during his trial. Still, Hashim is seen as a professional soldier who oversaw the Iraqi army, not the elite units loyal to Saddam. A U.S. military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that during the 2003 U.S. invasion Hashim, then defense minister to Saddam, may have played a key role in convincing the Iraqi army not to dig in and fight. Iraqi President Jalal Talibani, a Kurd who's opposed to the death penalty, has refused to sign the execution orders, amid calls from Sunnis to spare Hashim's life. But Sami al-Askari, a prominent Shiite member of parliament, said any commutation would set a dangerous precedent. \"The calls to commute the sentence have no legal basis because the court's law is clear,\" he said, \"and no party, be it the presidency or the prime minister or parliament, has the power to commute or abolish those verdicts.\" American officials in Iraq fear that if Hashim is hanged it could alienate some key Sunni tribes and former insurgents who only recently joined the Americans in battling al-Qaida in Iraq, a group comprised mainly of Iraqi Sunnis. Yet to many Shia and Kurds, Hashim is simply a Saddam-era war criminal who was directly involved in the decisions to use poison gas against Kurdish civilians. Said Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament: \"We have files in which Sultan Hashim himself has said that he hasn't only executed orders, he has planned Anfal number one and two in which chemical weapons were used. And he was not ready to regret what he has done.\" The al-Anfal was a campaign against the Kurds that unfolded in stages in the late 80s. Othman notes – with disgust – that Gen. Hashim even named his daughter Anfal, which is Arabic for 'spoils of war.' After the U.S. invasion Hashim voluntarily surrendered in Mosul to U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, now the top American commander in Iraq. Back then, Petraeus called Hashim a man of \"honor and integrity\" and in a letter pledged he wouldn't be harmed if he gave up. Hashim is currently in U.S. custody. He wasn't handed over to the Iraqi government for a hanging originally scheduled for September. A U.S. military official said he will be turned over to the Iraqis once a decision is made by an Iraqi committee set up to resolve disputes over death penalty procedures that Hashim's case has sparked. But like much else in Iraq's government, that committee remains deadlocked over just what to do. From NPR reports and The Associated Press", "As part of its withdrawal from Iraq, the United States has turned over its final prisoner to Iraqi authorities. The man is Ali Musa Daqduq, whom the United States held in Iraq as an Enemy combatant for his ties to Hezbollah, a militant group from Lebanon. The AP reports that White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said the Iraqi government would not let U.S. take Daqduq out of Iraq to face charges. The wire service adds: \"'We have sought and received assurances that he will be tried for his crimes,' Vietor said Friday. \"It was not immediately clear what charges he could face. The U.S. has said he was part of a brazen raid in which four American soldiers were abducted and killed in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala in 2007.\" As NPR's Carrie Johnson reported back in November, where Daqduq would end up was a political minefield. The U.S. could no longer legally hold him in Iraq, because hostilities in the country were ending, and they couldn't hold him indefinitely without charging him because he is not tied to al-Qaida. Carrie reported Republicans also warned they did not want him tried on U.S. soil. Sen. Lindsey Graham told Attorney General Eric Holder that the only solution he saw was to send Daqduq to Guantanamo to face a military trial. The Obama administration, however, had already committed to closing the prison so they didn't want to send more prisoners there. As The New York Times puts it, the administration's decsion to turn over Daqduq to Iraq today is a \"move likely to unleash a political backlash inside the United States.\" The Times also spoke to David Lucas, the brother of Pvt. Shawn Falter, one of the men killed in the 2007 raid. He said turning Daqduq over to the Iraqis was \"as good as letting him go free. It's just a matter of time before the guy is walking the streets there.\" \"It feels like my brothers' death was in vain,\" he told the paper.", "The new Iraqi government says Saddam Hussein will be tried at home in Iraqi courts, even though Iraq's security forces aren't equipped to hold him custody. What's the state of the Iraqi justice system? And when will it be ready to handle high profile trials?<br /> <br /> Guest: <br /> <br /> <STRONG>Rajiv Chandrasekaran</STRONG> <br /> *Baghdad bureau chief, for <EM>The Washington Post</EM><br /> <br /> <STRONG>Cherif Bassiouini</STRONG> <br /> *Law professor at DePaul University in Chicago <br /> *President of International Law Institute at DePaul, carrying out project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development to restructure legal education in Iraq<br />", "When former Guantanamo detainee Ahmed Ghailani and his lawyers heard that a New York jury had reached a verdict Wednesday about his role in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa, they sat at the defense table looking completely ashen. They clearly thought the jury had decided against them. So when the foreman stood up and started reciting a litany of not-guilty verdicts, the air seemed to get sucked out of the room. In the end, the jury acquitted Ghailani of more than 280 counts and found him guilty of just one count of conspiracy to destroy government buildings and property -- a charge that could get him 20 years to life in prison. The Ghailani trial was supposed to have been a sure thing. White House officials said as much when they decided to try him in a federal court in New York over a year ago. They were confident because four al-Qaida members had been convicted in the very same court in the very same embassy bombing case back in 2001. The Ghailani trial was simply going to be a reprise of the earlier case. But after nine years, things had changed: Witnesses had died, details had been forgotten and, from the outset, the Ghailani case followed a different script. It was also supposed to be a test case to prove the Obama administration's contention that detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba could be safely tried in criminal courts on American soil. Administration officials told NPR that Wednesday's verdict makes that argument a much harder sell. The failure to convict Ghailani -- the first Guantanamo inmate to face a civilian trial in the U.S. -- on the most serious terrorism charges plays right into the hands of those who say terrorists should be tried in special courts, not criminal courts, because juries are notoriously unpredictable. \"I am disgusted at the total miscarriage of justice today in Manhattan's federal civilian court,\" Rep. Peter King of New York, the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement Wednesday night. \"In a case where Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani was facing 285 criminal counts, including hundreds of murder charges, and where Attorney General Eric Holder assured us that 'failure is not an option,' the jury found him guilty on only one count,\" King said. \"This tragic verdict demonstrates the absolute insanity of the Obama administration's decision to try al-Qaida terrorists in civilian courts.\" The Justice Department tried to put a different gloss on the verdict, stressing that the single count carries a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Prosecutors said they plan to seek the maximum penalty. Still, the verdict casts a pall over the administration's behind-the-scenes efforts to try accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and the four other men implicated in the attacks in a U.S. federal court. This time last year, the White House announced that the accused plotters would be tried in a federal court in New York. Critics worried aloud about security and the possibility that a jury might actually allow the men to go free. Holder said Mohammed could be held indefinitely, as an enemy combatant, even if a jury didn't convict. The argument didn't dissuade critics, and Holder has essentially put the Sept. 11 trial decision on hold. That said, it isn't lost on administration officials who told NPR that the Ghailani verdict came perilously close to the nightmare scenario: a jury permitting an accused terrorist to go free. The outcome was partly due to the special circumstances surrounding Ghailani himself. He had been captured in Pakistan in 2004 and transferred to one of the CIA's secret prisons before he ended up at Guantanamo Bay. His lawyers said he was tortured. In the 2001 embassy bombing case, the defendants' own statements to the FBI were used against them. But because of the specter of torture hanging over the Ghailani proceedings, the incriminating statements he made under interrogation were not presented by the prosecution. What's more, one of the government's key witnesses -- who was supposed to testify that Ghailani had bought huge quantities of TNT prior to the attack -- never actually testified. The government only became aware of him after his name was revealed during Ghailani's interrogation at the CIA black-site prison, so the judge ruled he couldn't take the stand. Taken together, those factors helped create enough reasonable doubt for a jury to find Ghailani not guilty of nearly all of the charges. Ghailani is scheduled to be sentenced at the end of January, and his attorneys may decide to appeal the one count on which he was convicted. After the verdict was announced, Ghailani's attorney said he still believes his client is completely innocent. Analysts say the case is telling when it comes to juries and terrorism charges. Before Wednesday's verdict, there had been a sense that terrorism suspects whose fate lay in the hands of a New York jury were going to be found guilty -- partly because of the Sept. 11 attac", "A federal judge has blocked the U.S. government from transferring to another country an American citizen who has been held without charge by the U.S. military in Iraq for more than seven months. U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan issued the preliminary injunction Thursday evening, minutes before an 8 p.m. deadline to stop the transfer. The government had provided 72-hour notice, as required by the court, earlier this week that it planned to send the man, whose name has not been made public, to a third country. The detainee is a dual U.S.-Saudi citizen who surrendered in September of last year to a Syrian militia backed by the United States. The militia handed him off to the American military, which has held him as an enemy combatant at a U.S. military facility in Iraq since then. The government suspects the man of being a member of the Islamic State. In court papers, the government says that the man was carrying more than $4,000 when he was taken into custody, as well as a GPS device and two thumb drives that held more than 10,000 photos, including ones depicting military-style handbooks and files on how to make roadside bombs. The government also says the U.S. military obtained a thumb drive found by allies in Syria that contained information on foreign fighters in ISIS's ranks. That data included a document for a man who registered as a fighter with the terrorist group in July 2014. That individual's personal details match the detainee's, according to the government. But the government has struggled to gather evidence that would be admissible in court and allow prosecutors to charge the man. Reluctant to release him, the U.S. has instead sought to transfer him to a third country, possibly Saudi Arabia. In a court filing earlier this week, a senior State Department official said the U.S. had negotiated an agreement to hand over the man to a \"receiving country.\" The country is a U.S. ally but its name was redacted. The official argued that blocking the transfer \"could cause harm to our ongoing bilateral cooperation, including on future detainee transfers.\" But the detainee has made clear through his lawyers that he does not want to be transferred. At a court hearing Thursday, attorney Jonathan Hafetz from the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the man, urged the judge to block the transfer, saying transferring the detainee against his will to another country would violate his constitutional right to challenge his detention. \"When it comes to the rights of a citizen, it's not 'let's make a deal,'\" he said. In her ruling late Thursday, Judge Chutkan did not immediately provide the reasoning for her decision. But at the morning hearing, she said she's mindful of the government's concern about the detainee, referred to as John Doe, saying the concern is \"a real one, and not one I take lightly.\" But, she added, \"as serious as that may be, John Doe is a citizen.\"", "The U.S. government has handed over 55 members of Saddam Hussein's former regime -- including one-time foreign minister Tariq Aziz -- to Iraqi authorities, NPR's Kelly McEvers reports. For years, Aziz was the international face of the regime. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for crimes against humanity. The move comes as the U.S. prepares to leave Camp Cropper Theater Internment Facility, the last American-run detention facility in Iraq. The transfer is scheduled to take place tomorrow. According to McEvers, U.S. officials say they'll keep a handful of former regime members, some of whom have been sentenced to death already. They say Iraq must form a new government before the punishment can be carried out." ]

[ "Now owned by barbeque maker Weber, the iGrill family of Bluetooth meat thermometers let you see the temperature inside your meat, via an app or small console.\nWeber\nIt's the season to take your party to the backyard. But that doesn’t mean you need to be without your tech.\nSome devices worked better than others, as you’ll see below, so consider the following a handful of tips to enhance your summer fun in the front or backyard.\nA word to the wireless\nIf you want Wi-Fi in the backyard, you may want to invest in a MESH system, like Dlink’s Covr, to broaden the reach of your wireless network.\nD-Link Corp/D-Link systems\nIf you’re bringing a Wi-Fi speaker to enjoy music by the pool – such as a Sonos One or Google Home Max – remember your wireless network will have to extend outside.\nIf your router can’t handle it, buy yourself an inexpensive repeater or extender to help broaden the range of your router. They start at about $25.\nOr better yet, if you’re due for an upgrade, consider a “MESH” Wi-Fi system that often includes two, three or four pucks or hubs (access points) to place around your home. Make sure one is near the door or window closest to where you are outside.\nPersonally, I’ve had great success with the D-Link Covr system ($214), which also replaces your router.\nEspecially now that your neighbors might be able to access your network, be sure to have a good password on it – so they can’t steal your Wi-Fi – and for added privacy, don’t have your family name as part of your network name (SSID), like “SmithFamily.” My little trick? I call my wireless network “Virus Alert,” so people might be reluctant to join it. Sneaky, huh?\nYou can always go with a Bluetooth wireless speaker, too, of course. I’ve been playing around with the impressive Monster Dynamite Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker ($229), which can float on water and has a 12-hour battery (and can charge up your smartphone, too).\nMonster’s Dynamite speaker isn’t just wireless and waterproof, but it’s floatable, too.\nMonster\nOther recommended outdoor tech items include a SunBrite TV (from $1,499) to binge Netflix shows while soaking in a hot tub, the iGrill 2 ($67) Bluetooth-enabled BBQ meat thermometer and the Parrot Flower Power Wireless Plant Sensor ($99).\nLights, power, action\nPortable battery packs like these Mophie models are good to have outdoors in the summer.\nmophie\nTo avoid plugging your tech into an AC outlet, which might prove challenging while lying in the sun, make sure you have a good battery pack for your smartphone, such as Mophie Portable Chargers (from $49).\nI didn’t have much luck with a solar charger I tried – the Goal Zero Nomad 7 Plus Solar Pane ($99) – as it just took way too long to juice up my smartphone. A battery booster is still the right way to go, but try to avoid having your devices in direct sunlight, too, which can impact performance.\nThe Kindle Oasis waterproof ebook reader is more ideal for outside reading than a glare-causing tablet.\nAmazon.com\nSpeaking of lighting, my wife Kellie and I recently installed Philips HUE light bulbs inside the home and on our backyard deck, and we love being able to use our voice (via Alexa and Google Assistant) or the app to dim the lights, change colors or set schedules and a timer. Prices are $199 for a Philips HUE Starter Kit (four bulbs and a wireless bridge). While they’re not technically designed for outside use, they work on our (covered) deck, but Philips will soon release an outdoor line of HUE products, in white or color bulbs (from $129).\nE-book readers such as the waterproof Amazon Kindle Oasis (from $249) are recommended over tablets, as they’re much easier to read in bright sunshine.\nRobots, please\nLet a robot cut your grass for you while you sip a cold one in a lawn chair. That’s the idea behind the Husqvarna Automower 315x.\nHusqvarna AB\nWe’ve been using Husqvarna’s robotic lawnmower products for a couple of years now.\nYes, just like a Roomba can vacuum your floor indoors, the aptly named Automowers (from $1,499) will quietly cut your grass in a front yard or backyard. You first need to install a ground wire (included) for the lawn mower to follow and avoid areas you don’t want it to go into (such as a flower garden), but it will navigate around other objects, such as rocks, garden gnomes or fences.\nThe weatherproof Husqvarna Automower 315x ($1,999) is also smart enough to detect when it’s running low on battery, navigate itself back to the base, charge itself up and then continue the job. You can give commands via keypad, through the app and, coming soon, using your voice (with support for both Amazon Echo and Google Home devices).\nAnti-theft technologies include a high-decibel siren and GPS tracking.\nCaveat emptor\nBeing a gadget geek, I was intrigued by the Q18S smartwatch from Wish.com, at only $22 – including shipping!\nI mean, at a fraction of the price of an Apple Watch or Android Wear device, it was worth giving this a shot to wear around this summer.\nWearable tech is great for summer, but not this inexpensive Q18S model found online.\nJZORI\nAccording to the description, not only does it calculate your activity and show you who’s texting and calling, but it has a color touch screen, built-in camera, a slot for a nano SIM card (to use without needing a smartphone) and expandable memory (say, to hold music files).\nAlas, the issues started right away. I used my smartphone to scan the QR code in the manual to download the companion app, but once installed, a number of Alibaba pop-up ads kept showing up on my phone. Sigh. The camera only takes photos upside down, strangely, and both of the valid SIM cards I own didn’t work.\nWell, that was that. I guess you get what you pay for.\nFollow Marc on Twitter: @marc_saltzman. Email him at tech@marcsaltzman.com\nCopyright 2017 USATODAY.com" ]

[ "What is the BT Whole Home Wi-Fi?\nBT is the latest company to join the new trend for a different approach to getting better Wi-Fi in your home. Rather than one big, powerful router, these new mesh router – or whole-home – systems use several access points to provide Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. This is different to simply using a Wi-Fi extender, since a mesh network allows you to seamlessly connect to each access point without having to manually reconnect as you move around your house.\nWe’ve so far tested the similar Netgear Orbi and Linksys Velop systems and found them to work very well indeed, but the BT Whole Home Wi-Fi takes a slightly different approach.\nInstead of replacing your existing router, the Whole Home is meant to work alongside it. The result is arguably the simplest system of the three to setup – but one that has its downsides too.\nVideo: Trusted's guide to home Wi-Fi\nBT Whole Home Wi-Fi – Design and Features\nThe BT Whole Home Wi-Fi is sold exclusively as a set of three access points. This is in contrast to the Orbi, which is a two-unit system, and the Velop, which can be bought in ones, twos and threes.\nBT's approach makes sense on one level, since it’s reasonable to expect that those houses large enough to require a mesh router system will probably need several units. However, from my experience of other mesh systems, there are still huge gains to be had from deploying a two-unit system.\nIndeed, in our review of the Linksys Velop, a two-unit setup proved faster than three units in some circumstances. As such, it would be nice to see BT offer the Whole Home starting with two units, with further ones available individually.\nRelated: Best Wi-Fi Routers\nThe access points themselves are nicely designed. The slim disc shape looks great and is reasonably compact, while a polished metal stand holds the disc upright. Alternatively, the units can be wall mounted, although there’s no way to remove the stand so the disc sticks out at an odd angle.\nA nice touch – which has become something of a BT signature – is that each unit includes a slide-out plastic piece that has on it the default Wi-Fi name (SSID) and password, as well as the admin password. So, you don’t have to bend down and peer at the bottom of the router while setting up.\nOtherwise, there’s very little to these units. Like other mesh router systems, the Whole Home lets you add wired devices to your extended Wi-Fi network. However, each unit has only one Ethernet port, so you’ll need to invest in a network switch if you want to plug in more than one device.\nIn contrast, each Velop node has two ports while the Orbi router and hub each have four.\nYou also miss out on any USB ports for connecting and sharing printers or USB storage with the rest of your network – although if your existing router has this feature it will work via the Whole Home too.\nUSB ports are also missing from the Velop, but they're present on the Orbi – although Netgear is yet to actually release firmware that lets you do anything with them.\nFinishing things off externally, there's a light on the base that glows a variety of colours to indicate the disc’s status, plus a power button, reset button and a WPS button for quickly adding new devices to the network.\nMeanwhile, inside each disc is a dual-band, 4x4, MIMO, 802.11ac Wi-Fi setup that can deliver up to 1,733Mbps over the 5GHz band (for Wi-Fi AC) and 800Mbps over the 2.4GHz band (for Wi-Fi N).\nLike other mesh systems, the Whole Home doesn’t present each band separately; it combines them so you only have one SSID to worry about. The system then automatically determines which band is best for your device to connect to, taking the headache out of having a multi-band, multi-router system such as this.\nIndeed, this is the crucial feature of these mesh systems as compared to traditional Wi-Fi extenders.\nBT Whole Home Wi-Fi – Installation and Setup\nOne of the key things that distinguishes the Whole Home from other mesh routers we’ve reviewed is that it isn’t a router at all. Other systems can be configured to work with an existing router in an access point-only mode, but with the Whole Home that’s the only way it works.\nThis doesn’t have to be a BT router, though. It just means that if you’re looking for an overall upgrade to your existing router – perhaps something that adds in gigabit Ethernet and USB support – then you’ll have to look elsewhere.\nOtherwise, setup is a cinch. You download the accompanying app, available on Android and iOS, and it guides you through the whole process.\nFirst you connect one of the discs to your router via a cable, then connect to its default Wi-Fi signal via your phone. Once connected, it will automatically detect the settings it needs and lights up to show it’s ready to go, taking about a minute to do so. Then, power on each of the other two units in turn, waiting for the app and the network to find them.\nIn some ways, it’s similar to the Velop setup process – in that it’s all done via your phone. However, while I found this slow and frustrating with the Velop, the Whole Home is quicker and simpler.\nThe issue of always needing a phone to admin the system remains, rather than just having a web interface accessible from a computer, but with it being an access point-only, there’s very little to actually do – all the network admin is handled by your router.\nWhat you can do via the app is name each disc, check the status of the Whole Home system, add more discs, change the LED brightness, check for firmware updates and, most usefully, pause the Wi-Fi to temporarily shut off internet access – perfect for stopping the children from becoming distracted when they should be doing their homework or eating dinner.\nOne thing to note is that you’ll probably want to turn off the Wi-Fi on your router; the Whole Home doesn’t extend your existing Wi-Fi signal but rather creates its own, simply relying on the router for its wired network connection.", "Fake Fingerlings\nThe holiday season is in full swing which also means scammers are out in full force.In order to protect you and your family, here are some tips to keep your money in your pocket.When you're shopping for an item online, watch out for ads that pop up advertising a hard to get toy or product. Also, watch out for sites that offer it for much less than the retail price.This happened to Erica Poole who thought she had found one of the hottest toys for Christmas this year, Gigi the unicorn Fingerling from WowWee.The website that Erica purchased the Fingerlings from claimed to be authentic; however, they were not the real thing.\"Besides the state of damage, it's obviously fake because it's cardboard packaging and the name of the unicorn is wrong,\" said Poole. \"The name on the packaging is Alika, it's supposed to be Gigi.\"Alika the unicorn was also missing her mane.For this Raleigh mom, she had to learn the hard way to be wary of clicking on ads advertising some of the hardest toys to get this year.This also happened to Edward Fitzgerald when he tried to find Fingerlings for his kids.After our story, a generous viewer sent him to authentic Fingerlings Sometimes it can be easy to spot a fake website if you check the URL.Some websites include \"amazonshop.gq\" or \"Walmart-outlet.ga.\" Check to make sure the site you are visiting is spelled correctly.Also, make sure the website is secure and it has the \"s\" on https and the lock symbol.If you're shopping online, never pay with your debit card! Use your credit card instead so you can dispute a claim if you're having any problems.Unsure of the website you're visiting? Do a quick google search to find reviews and complaints, that way, if people are having problems you'll be aware.Detective Mike Copeland with the Chatham County Sheriff's Department warns social media users to not post pull frontal face images. He said this allows scammers to make fake ID's using your picture.Don't share your phone number on social media sites. If you do, this allows scammers to make a call pretending to be a grandchild, friend, or loved one in legal trouble.This is known as the \"Help Me Scam,\" which a Chatham County grandpa just lost $65,000 to because he through his grandson was in trouble.Other scams that can get you for money include the Secret Sister Gift Exchange Kidnapping Scams , and the Puppy Scam Always be wary of people who are demanding payment immediately.Also be cautious of romance scams.This time of year many scammers pretend to be in the military and need help getting home for the holidays. When they start asking for money to help get home, you need to end that relationship right away.Gift cards are a popular gift this time of year, but before you purchase a gift card, make sure to check that the numbers on the back aren't already scratched off.Sometimes, scammers take pictures of gift cards in stores with the number already scratched off, put them back on the shelves, wait for someone to buy a card, and then use it before the purchaser knows it's been redeemed.Be careful buying from resale sites that sell gift cards at a discount. It's been reported that once the gift card arrives it's already been used or is expired.If you are buying gift cards online, make sure the site clearly states its guarantee policy.While e-cards can be a fun way to send a holiday greeting, watch out for malware e-cards.Senders are attaching viruses along with the e-cards, so before you click to open it, make sure you know the sender.If you don't recognize the sender, be sure to delete the e-mail. You can also call the retailer directly to verify they are trying to get a hold of you.Watch out for fake shipping notices.If you get a shipping notification that appears to be from a popular store like Amazon, Target, or Fed-Ex claiming your item has shipped but asks for personal information so that the delivery can happen, don't click any links, just delete the e-mail.Be careful with public Wi-Fi; Copeland said using public Wi-Fi in coffee shops and hotels is risky.He said someone else in the store could create a substitute hot spot, high-jacking all the Wi-Fi traffic and collecting credit card numbers and account numbers.Never use your social media sites on public Wi-Fi, especially when buying anything or using online banking.Never turn off your firewall and make sure your antivirus is up to date to ensure you are protected.", "With summer now in full swing, the scent of mesquite smoke can be found wafting from backyards into the air in neighborhoods across the country. There’s nothing more quintessentially American than families spending summer holidays like the Fourth of July relaxing and barbequeing in their backyards.\nFor many, taking refuge ‘out back’ to relax, garden, or tend a lawn goes hand-in-hand with summer for most.\nBut the phenomenon of suburban outdoor living space is more recent than one might think. The concept of having backyards didn’t truly take hold across the country until post-World War II when Americans began focusing on leisure and relaxation during the 1950s.\nNow, a new exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service titled ‘Patios, Pools and the Invention of the American Backyard’ is shedding new light on how some Americans came to claim the backyard as their haven from life and a private domain.\nKate Fox, one of the curators of the new exhibit, explained to DailyMail.com that the ‘collection is primarily photographs but also has landscape drawings’ showcasing the American garden.\nWith summer now in full swing, the scent of mesquite smoke can be found wafting from backyards into the air in neighborhoods across the country. There’s nothing more quintessentially American than families spending summer holidays like the 4th of July relaxing and barbequing in their backyards. A new exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service is shedding new light on how Americans came to claim the backyard as their haven from life. Pictured above is a home in Long Beach, California in the 1950s part of the exhibit\nFor many, taking refuge ‘out back’ to relax, garden, or tend a lawn goes hand-in-hand with summer for most. But the phenomenon of suburban outdoor living space is more recent than one might think. Pictured above is a home in Long Beach, California in the 1950s part of the exhibit\nThe concept of having backyards didn’t truly take hold across the country until post-World War II, when Americans began focusing on leisure and relaxation during the 1950s. Americans began flocking to newly built suburban neighborhoods from cities that were becoming too congested, and those suburban developments included backyard spaces that offered privacy to homeowners. Pictured above is a garden in the backyard of a home in New Canaan, Connecticut in 1967\n‘We began noticing that we had all of these great mid-century modern backyard images that hadn’t really seen the light of day,’ she said. 'I started doing research and just realizing that there were a lot of socio, cultural and economic influences behind the designs of these backyards in the 1950s and 60s.\n‘The exhibit focuses on this narrow period in time from the end of World War II to the end of the 1960s, when the backyard became something that was more widely available to everyone.’\nAmericans began flocking to newly built suburban neighborhoods from cities that were becoming too congested, and those suburban developments included backyard spaces that offered privacy to homeowners.\n‘People also had more free time with the 40-hour work week, along with more funds to kind of play around with their backyards,’ she said.\n‘I think there’s this idea that the backyard became this touchstone in popular culture - where it was on the one hand aspirational to afford to live in the suburbs and create your kind of own personal country club in your back yard.\n‘People also had more free time with the 40-hour work week along with more funds to kind of play around with their backyards,’ Kate Fox, one of the curators of the new exhibit, told DailyMail.com. Pictured above is a row of houses in Portland, Oregon in 1911. Fox noted that front porches were once a desired feature on homes until backyards took their place\nShe said: ‘I think there’s this idea that the backyard became this touchstone in popular culture - where it was on the one hand aspirational to afford to live in the suburbs and create your kind of own personal country club in your back yard.' Pictured above is a picnic in August 1957\nShe said: 'And then other hand it felt attainable –popular mechanics and all of these magazines would run articles like DIY patios, DIY out door kitchen. ‘It was really interesting because it’s almost like seeing the California lifestyle moving east where people are really obsessed with this idea of the outdoor living room as an extension of the home.’ Pictured above is a baby on a shuffleboard game in New Canaan, Connecticut in 1957\nFox noted that the typical ‘American dream’ that many sought to attain during the 50s and 60s was not open for everyone due to racial segregation. ‘It’s interesting at this time because a lot of these neighborhoods had restrictive racial covenants and that were a lot of anxieties that people had about desegregation of public life,’ Fox explained. Pictured above is Carol Holloway aged 14 in her backyard in Los Angeles in 1961\nShe also shared: ‘Restrictions on chlorine and concrete only allowed rich people like Hollywood stars to have private pools in their backyards because they could afford it. After the war, pools were much more affordable for average Americans due to the surplus and availability of those materials.' Pictured above is the Benton House in Phoenix, Arizona in the 1940s or 50s\nThe concept of having a new backyard was a status symbol of American life for many – a perfectly manicured lawn and fresh patio furnishings demonstrated that people had both the free time and funds to make their space into their own oasis, Fox said. Pictured above is the Farnham family in their Mendham, New Jersey garden in the 1960s\nOf the exhibit, Fox said: ‘We began noticing that we had all of these great mid-century modern backyard images that hadn’t really seen the light of day. I started doing research and just realizing that there were a lot of socio, cultural and economic influences behind the designs of these backyards in the 1950s and 60s.' Pictured above are butterfly chairs and bonsai plants on a patio in Kansas City, Missouri in 1968\n‘And then, on the other hand, it felt attainable – popular mechanics and all of these magazines would run articles like DIY patios, DIY out door kitchen.\n‘It was really interesting because it’s almost like seeing the California lifestyle moving East, where people are really obsessed with this idea of the outdoor living room as an extension of the home.’\nFox noted that the typical ‘American dream’ that many sought to attain during the 1950s and 60s was not open to everyone due to racial segregation.\n‘It’s interesting at this time, because a lot of these neighborhoods had restrictive racial covenants and [there] were a lot of anxieties that people had about desegregation of public life,’ Fox explained.\n‘So in some ways, when people are turning to their own backyard, they made decisions on who they wanted to choose to invite to their house – versus a big city swimming pool that was often times for whites only.’\nDuring this time period, magazines like Popular Mechanics promoted the concept of DIY home improvement and eating outdoors in backyard spaces. Pictured above left is an issue of the magazine in October 1955 and right is an advertisement from the 1950s\nFox also shared that wartime aluminium and concrete were repurposed to create swimming pools, grills, patio furniture and other tools for backyards. Many companies pivoted their production to cater to consumers who sought out to buy those new products. Pictured above is an advertisement from Reynolds Aluminum from the 1950s or 60s\nFox also shared that wartime aluminium and concrete were repurposed to create swimming pools, grills, patio furniture and other tools for backyards. Many companies pivoted their production to cater to consumers who sought to buy those new products.\n‘Also, restrictions on chlorine and concrete only allowed rich people like Hollywood stars to have private pools in their backyards because they could afford it,’ Fox said. ‘After the war, pools were much more affordable for average Americans due to the surplus and availability of those materials.'\nHuge company brands like Pepsi began to create soft drinks to capitalize upon the growing popularity of backyards and outdoor living spaces. During the 1960s Pepsi began selling Patio Cola, which was rebranded during the 1970s as Diet Pepsi, Fox noted.\nThe focus of community interaction changed once stoops and front porches were no longer included in the designs of homes for newly built community developments. This change caused socializing that usually took place in the front of homes to transition into backyard spaces. The addition of fences around homes made backyard spaces even more private.\nThe concept of having a new backyard was a status symbol of American life for many – a perfectly manicured lawn and fresh patio furnishings demonstrated that people had both the free time and funds to make their space into their own oasis, Fox said. Pictured above is a photo of the Hurd Garden in Middletown, New Jersey in the 1960s\nThe photos in the exhibit show backyards across the country – many with families relaxing while eating barbecue. Other images show eloquently designed gardens. Pictured above is the Ford House in New Canaan, Connecticut in 1967\nFox added that the idea of backyard spaces made its way into popular culture with magazine and television shows idealizing suburban status.\n‘There’s a great episode of “I Love Lucy” [that] showed Lucy and Ethel trying to build a backyard barbecue grill in 1957,’ she said. ‘And hilarity ensues because all kinds of things go wrong. So it was really part of the popular culture at the time.’\nThe concept of having a new backyard was a status symbol of American life for many – a perfectly manicured lawn and fresh patio furnishings demonstrated that people had both the free time and funds to make their space into their own oasis, Fox said.\nThe photos in the exhibit show backyards across the country – many with families relaxing while eating barbecue. Other images show eloquently designed gardens.\n‘I think that a lot of people can see their own experiences in these backyards that are part of the exhibit,’ Fox shared.\nThe traveling display is currently on view at the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum in Temple, Texas, and from there it will head to Hartford, Connecticut, in December.", "This newly renovated 4star Hotel & Spa provides an peaceful oasis of luxury just a short ride away from hectic Riviera. Relax at the open-air bar, offering views of the forest along with a terrace and swimming pool. Dine in the hotel’s elegant restaurant, which features a tempting buffet and homemade local products. Tennis courts, a spa, and a lounge round out the list of facilities for guests to enjoy. The Golden Tulip Sophia Antipolis – Hotel & Spa is also able to cater to business travelers with meeting rooms and a convenient location. Guests at the Golden Tulip Sophia Antipolis – Hotel & Spa are positioned in the heart of Europe’s first high tech city.\nAll of the sunny beaches and glamorous attractions of Cannes are a 25 minute drive away, with Nice also in close proximity. Explore top sights of the French Riviera, including Marine land and an aquatic theme park. With a natural, relaxed environment guests will be able to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the hotels location.\nHotel Golden Tulip Sophia Antipolis 1 of 27\nThere are 80 spacious 4-star hotel rooms at the Golden Tulip Sophia Antipolis – Hotel & Spa. These are available in a variety of configurations, including Standard and Deluxe rooms as well as lofty suites. All are furnished to a high modern standard with expansive ensuite bathrooms and a high attention to detail. Enjoy views of the surrounding forest, as well as free Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and coffee and tea making facilities.\nWe especially give special mention to first floor rooms with small yard in front of your room and sunbeds that allows you to relax and enjoy the sun right outside your own room.\nIf you are looking nice place to relax on hills just above Antibes we can strongly recommend Golden Tulip Sophia Antipolis.\nWords by HeCe Kestilä", "Turning off your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios when you’re not using them is good security practice (not to mention good for your battery usage). When you consider Bluetooth’s known vulnerabilities, it’s especially important to make sure your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings are doing what you want them to. The iPhone’s newest operating system, however, makes it harder for users to control these settings.\nOn an iPhone, users might instinctively swipe up to open Control Center and toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off from the quick settings. Each icon switches from blue to gray, leading a user to reasonably believe they have been turned off—in other words, fully disabled. In iOS 10, that was true. However, in iOS 11, the same setting change no longer actually turns Wi-Fi or Bluetooth “off.”\nInstead, what actually happens in iOS 11 when you toggle your quick settings to “off” is that the phone will disconnect from Wi-Fi networks and some devices, but remain on for Apple services. Location Services is still enabled, Apple devices (like Apple Watch and Pencil) stay connected, and services such as Handoff and Instant Hotspot stay on. Apple’s UI fails to even attempt to communicate these exceptions to its users.\nIt gets even worse. When you toggle these settings in the Control Center to what is best described as\"off-ish,\" they don’t stay that way. The Wi-Fi will turn back full-on if you drive or walk to a new location. And both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will turn back on at 5:00 AM. This is not clearly explained to users, nor left to them to choose, which makes security-aware users vulnerable as well.\nThe only way to turn off the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios is to enable Airplane Mode or navigate into Settings and go to the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth sections.\nWhen a phone is designed to behave in a way other than what the UI suggests, it results in both security and privacy problems. A user has no visual or textual clues to understand the device's behavior, which can result in a loss of trust in operating system designers to faithfully communicate what’s going on. Since users rely on the operating system as the bedrock for most security and privacy decisions, no matter what app or connected device they may be using, this trust is fundamental.\nIn an attempt to keep you connected to Apple devices and services, iOS 11 compromises users' security. Such a loophole in connectivity can potentially leave users open to new attacks. Closing this loophole would not be a hard fix for Apple to make. At a bare minimum, Apple should make the Control Center toggles last until the user flips them back on, rather than overriding the user’s choice early the next morning. It's simply a question of communicating better to users, and giving them control and clarity when they want their settings off—not “off-ish.”", "The Wi-Fi Alliance has a new standard for Wi-Fi security and it will bring plenty of new features that make your data safer while using public or private Wi-Fi. It's great when anything makes our data safer and WPA3 also happens to be a pretty significant step for wireless security in general.\nWe recently saw the details for WPA3 finalized, and that means manufacturers can now start properly supporting it in new products as well as look into updating older ones. We won't be able to benefit from it right away, but it's definitely something to look forward to!\nWhat is WPA?\nWPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. Think of WPA as a set of rules designed to protect your Wi-Fi router, all the things that use it to connect to that router, and all the traffic that's sent through those devices. How it works is one of the instances where two devices don't need to know any \"secret\" details of the other because a middle layer can communicate with each.\nIf you have a password on your Wi-Fi at home, you're probably using WPA to secure the network.\nIf you're using WPA, your router login is protected by a passphrase and the data you send to it and receive from it are encrypted. WPA is the service that looks at what you used as the password on your phone or laptop when you tried to log into a Wi-Fi router, compares it to the password the router requires, and if they match it connects you and handles data decryption. Security in layers like this (the password you use is also not really the password and only generates a token that the router can check for validity) means no important information is sent in plain text. In this case, that important information would be your Wi-Fi network password.\nAlmost every one of us is using WPA on Wi-Fi at home or in public right now. WPA2 is the current standard. It came about in 2004 and was a big improvement over what we used prior, but like all things, it's beginning to show its age. WPA3 addresses most of the areas where WPA2 needs to be updated.\nChanges in WPA3\nThere are some pretty sizable changes coming with WPA3, and they all are the good kind of changes. We love it when that happens!\nYour password will be a lot harder to crack. With WPA2 someone can grab data you send and receive from a Wi-Fi network then try to decrypt it by using a brute-force attack (guessing over and over and over until they get it right) on your password. With WPA3 every password guess will need to be authenticated live, in real time, by the router you're trying to connect with.\nWith WPA2 someone can grab data you send and receive from a Wi-Fi network then try to decrypt it by using a brute-force attack (guessing over and over and over until they get it right) on your password. With WPA3 every password guess will need to be authenticated live, in real time, by the router you're trying to connect with. Connecting IoT (Internet of Things) devices will be easier than ever. Ever try to set up a device without a screen? It usually involves using your phone with a direct connection, then interacting through the phone with the thing you're trying to get connected, and finally entering the network details so they are written to whatever it is you want to be connected to your Wi-Fi. WPA3 has what's called \"Wi-Fi Easy Connect\" that will let you do it by scanning a QR code with a phone on the same network. It's like Wi-Fi Protected Setup but without all the security vulnerabilities and it will actually work.\nEver try to set up a device without a screen? It usually involves using your phone with a direct connection, then interacting through the phone with the thing you're trying to get connected, and finally entering the network details so they are written to whatever it is you want to be connected to your Wi-Fi. WPA3 has what's called \"Wi-Fi Easy Connect\" that will let you do it by scanning a QR code with a phone on the same network. It's like Wi-Fi Protected Setup but without all the security vulnerabilities and it will actually work. Data captured without knowing your password is useless even if someone gets that password later. Forward secrecy is a new feature that means data collected and saved isn't able to be decrypted later. This makes saving data from a connection an attacker can't hijack is useless. Attackers won't be bothered to save useless things.\nForward secrecy is a new feature that means data collected and saved isn't able to be decrypted later. This makes saving data from a connection an attacker can't hijack is useless. Attackers won't be bothered to save useless things. Public hotspots will be a lot more secure. WPA3 means even open connections will encrypt data between you and the access point. This is huge. Right now, with WPA2, if you go somewhere with an open Wi-Fi access point (one where you don't need a password) the data between you and the access point isn't encrypted. This is how someone can see what you post on Facebook (as well as your name and password when you sign in) if you're using Wi-Fi at McDonald's. You won't believe how incredibly easy it is to do, which is why it desperately needed some sort of fix. Encrypting that traffic is the best fix anyone could have asked for.\nWPA3 means even open connections will encrypt data between you and the access point. This is huge. Right now, with WPA2, if you go somewhere with an open Wi-Fi access point (one where you don't need a password) the data between you and the access point isn't encrypted. This is how someone can see what you post on Facebook (as well as your name and password when you sign in) if you're using Wi-Fi at McDonald's. You won't believe how incredibly easy it is to do, which is why it desperately needed some sort of fix. Encrypting that traffic is the best fix anyone could have asked for. Stronger encryption for Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi. WPA3 Personal mode will use 128-bit encryption by default. WPA3 Enterprise mode will use 192-bit encryption by default and PSK (the Pre-Shared Key system) is replaced with SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals). If you don't know what any of that means don't feel bad about it, most people who aren't Enterprise IT Professionals don't because they have no need.\nA Pre-Shared Key system is where two things use the same credentials to connect with each other (like a password). Those credentials had to have been shared with two or more people/things manually before you tried to use them to authenticate. Simultaneous Authentication of Equals is a system where a pre-shared key and the MAC addresses of both things that want to connect are used to authenticate based on the calculation of finite cyclic groups. That's a big math nerd thing about calculations that even normal math nerds don't understand. I told you we didn't need to know these two things.\nWPA3 Personal mode will use 128-bit encryption by default. WPA3 Enterprise mode will use 192-bit encryption by default and PSK (the Pre-Shared Key system) is replaced with SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals). If you don't know what any of that means don't feel bad about it, most people who aren't Enterprise IT Professionals don't because they have no need.\nWhen can I use WPA3?\nNot any time soon.\nThe companies who manufacturer things that use Wi-Fi, like a router or your phone or a fancy alarm clock, are working on building it into their products. That means their new products — the ones we can buy next year in 2019.\nOptimists say WPA3 will be widespread in 2019.\nThe Wi-Fi Alliance says to expect late 2019 to be when there is a significant adoption of WPA3. I expect it to be much, much later but think we will be able to buy WPA3 products and build a network in Spring 2019.\nWe know \"smarter\" devices like your phone will be compatible but are only guessing when it comes to smart plugs or garage door openers because of how they are set up. There could be some fun times getting WPA2 IoT devices connected to a newer WPA3 capable router, even though it is backward compatible.\nWe'll know more once we start to see products show up at Amazon.\nWill my phone be updated to work with WPA3?", "ParkerVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRKR)\nQ1 2018 Earnings Conference Call\nAugust 14, 2017 04:30 PM ET\nExecutives\nBrandy Piacente - IR\nJeffrey Parker - CEO\nCindy Poehlman - CFO\nAnalysts\nJon Hickman - Ladenburg\nCarter Driscoll - FBR Capital\nOperator\nGood day, everyone, and welcome to the ParkerVision Inc. Second Quarter 2017 Conference Call and Webcast. Today’s conference is being recorded and all listeners are in a listen-only mode. Following the presentation, we will open up the conference call for question-and-answers. The company has requested that questions and answers be limited to one question and one follow-up per caller.\nAs it is now time for opening remarks and introductions, I would like to turn the conference over to Ms. Brandy Piacente, Investor Relations. Please go ahead ma’am.\nBrandy Piacente\nThank you, Brian. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for joining us today. Before we begin, I would like to remind you that this conference call will contain forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties about our business and the economy as well as other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from expected achievements and anticipated results.\nIncluded in these risks are the company’s ability to maintain technological advantages in the marketplace, the ability to secure new customers for our products and technologies, maintaining our patent protection and the outcome of litigation, among others. Given these uncertainties, as well as other factors related to our business, we caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained on this conference call. Additional information concerning these risks and other risks can be found in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.\nOn today’s call, we will hear from Cindy Poehlman, Chief Financial Officer, who will provide a review of the company’s financial results for the second quarter 2017. Following Cindy’s remarks, Jeff Parker, Chief Executive Officer, will provide an update on the company’s business.\nThank you, again. And with that, I would like to turn the call over to Cindy. Please go ahead.\nCindy Poehlman\nThank you, Brandy and good afternoon to those of you joining us for ParkerVision’s second quarter 2017 conference call. We reported today a net loss of $3.7 million or $0.21 per share for the second quarter of 2017, which compares to a net loss of $8.4 million or $0.72 per share for the second quarter of 2016. On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes share based compensation and the fair value adjustments related to our contingent payment obligation our adjusted net loss was $3.2 million or $0.18 per share for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $6.1 million or $0.52 per share for the same quarter last year.\nFor the first half of 2017 we reported an aggregate net loss of $8.5 million or $0.52 per share compared to a net loss of $13.5 million for a $1.17 per share for the first half of 2016. On a non-GAAP basis our adjusted net loss was $7.5 million or $0.46 per share for the first half of 2017 compared to $11.1 million or $0.96 per share for the first half of 2016.\nThe decreases in our adjusted net losses both for the quarter and the six months period are primarily related to declines in litigation expenses somewhat offset by increases in marketing and development costs related to our Wi-Fi product launch. We used approximately $7.9 million in cash for operations in the first half of 2017. This includes the investment of approximately $1 million in inventory, prepaid marketing and other costs related to our Wi-Fi product launch and our continued integrated circuit development efforts.\nWe ended the quarter with approximately $2.9 million in cash, restricted cash and short-term securities. We filed an 8-K this afternoon disclosing that we received a non-compliance notice from NASDAQ on Friday as the market value of our listed securities fell below $35 million for 30 consecutive trading days. There is the six months grace period to regain compliance and I'm happy to report that today our common stock closed at a price where the aggregate market value is well above the $35 million requirement. Of course our market cap must remain at or above the $35 million level for 10 consecutive trading days to regain compliance.\nWe also announced today in our earnings release that we’ve entered into a net market sales agreement with FBR Capital for the sale of up to approximately $4.4 million of common stock from our current self-registration statement. We believe it’s important that our balance sheet is able to support our Milo product launch. As we announced today we’ll begin taking orders for our Milo systems later this week and we are excited to be introducing two different system configurations, both at very attractive prices.\nI know Jeff plans to walk through a few more details on the product launch so I will turn the call over to him but I will be available following his update for any questions. Jeff, please go ahead.\nJeffrey Parker\nWell thanks Cindy and good afternoon to those of you attending today’s conference call. So today I'm going to provide updates on products as well as the status of our patent enforcement efforts. And so first I’ll start with the updates on the patent enforcement actions. Our District Court action in Florida against Qualcomm and Apple has been reopened. A case scheduling order has been issued and it lays out the dates leading up to a Markman or what's also known as the claim construction hearing that’s scheduled now for January of 2018.\nThe Markman as you may recall is the court’s ruling on the interpretation of key terms of the claims that are being assorted in our patents and therefore it’s an important step in putting together the case for a jury. You’ll also see that LG is no longer a part of the Florida case against Qualcomm and Apple. We opted to remove LG from this case and to file against LG in the District of New Jersey as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the proper venue and patent cases. Although both Apple and Qualcomm had filed notions regarding venue in Florida we feel we have very solid arguments for Florida being the proper venue for both of these parties.\nIn Germany we continue to wait for a validity ruling from the Federal Patent Court in Munich on the patent claimed that is asserted in both the LG and the first Apple case. This patent is about RF transmitters and is asserted against the Qualcomm chip. We believe a favorable validity ruling will result in injunctions in both of these cases and while our Germany Counsel has indicated that we should expect to receive a preliminary decision of the Validity case by the end of this year we unfortunately do not have the date certain for decision from that Court which we understand is dealing with significant backlog.\nOur second case against Apple in Germany is for devices using an Intel Chip and is related to RF receivers. We originally had a hearing schedule in late June. However the Court decided to change this case from a two hearing case with separate hearings in infringement and validity to a single hearing case that’s now scheduled for this November.\nWe look forward to presenting our case to the German Court in approximately 90 days from now. While the courts continue to move at an unpredictable pace we believe it’s imperative to stay the course on these patent enforcement actions and we’re pleased that MEMS 11 [ph] and our funding partner continue to stand firmly behind us in this position.\nNow I’d like to turn to the two products that we’re working diligently to bring to market. First, we recently introduced our PV6870 Wi-Fi system on a chip that integrates two concurrent dual band Wi-Fi radios as well as a powerful CPU and a host of communication and control interfaces to make this offering one of the most highly integrated Wi-Fi chips on the market.\nThe 6870 is set up as a platform. It can be programmed to achieve a wide range of applications due to its flexibility software and large interfaced capabilities. These include applications such as smart routers, internet of things, devices such as home appliances and business machines, entertainment devices, cameras, machine-to-machine communications and many other applications.\nThe use of Wi-Fi worldwide continues to expand rapidly. ABI Research forecast around this time last year that more than 20 billion Wi-Fi chipsets will ship between 2016 and 2021 as the use of Wi-Fi continues to grow. We’ve recently started to offer this chip to device OEMs and we’ll focus on companies who are looking for cost effective yet flexible platform to incorporate Wi-Fi into their products. The small size and low number supporting parts should be attractive to those looking for a straight forward and low cost way of getting Wi-Fi capability into their products. We’ll keep you updated as we advance the 6870 campaign which we believe has great potential.\nThe second product area and one that’s nearest term driver for revenue growth at ParkerVision is our home and small office Wi-Fi product line. We recently unveiled the brand name for this family of products and we hope that many of you will soon welcome Milo into your homes and small offices. This is an exciting new product that generating the market place in both the timeframe and with the performance price relationship that we believe we’ll find a large audience and customers.\nWe’re on the doorstep of turning on our Direct to Consumer campaign for Milo and shortly I'm going to take you for a sneak peek at our Milo E-commerce website that will be available to consumers starting on Wednesday of this week.\nAs we’ve discussed in recent calls Wi-Fi has now been adopted into 90 million homes in North America and it’s on its way to a 100 million home users soon. Similar numbers are also seen in Europe.\nBut while Wi-Fi seems to be everywhere for many users it’s not performing everywhere they’d like to use it. It’s available in the family room but doesn’t quite reach the kitchen. It’s in some of the bedrooms but not all of the bedrooms. It almost reaches that back porch of pool area but not reliably. Home owners who want to take advantage of controlling lots of Wi-Fi enable devices like the thermostat. They can be controlled from their smartphone but the Wi-Fi doesn’t quite reach where the thermostat's located. They want to put an inexpensive video camera in the backyard to watch the kids but can’t quite get a reliable Wi-Fi connection to put the camera where they really like it.\nThey want that latest doorbell camera but unfortunately Wi-Fi doesn’t quite reach the front porch. And then there are the thousands of small businesses who want to extend the Wi-Fi network or perhaps set up a guest network but they don’t want the expense of having to bring in an IT company. This week begins the Milo brand of Wi-Fi whole home and small office products, that work in [ph] Wi-Fi shortcomings in frustration from many Wi-Fi users.\nSo now for those of you who logged into this webcast I’d like to provide you with a sneak peek. At the Milo e-commerce website where Milo can be purchased directly from the factory directly to the consumer. If you’re not currently logged into webcast these slides will be available for download after the call as well.\nSo the first slide you’ll see is the homepage for the Milo website which is at www.milowifi.com . This website is one piece of a broad digital marketing strategy that includes social media, email, display advertising and search engine optimization. The Milo site introduces the product benefits and provides portals into our support and e-commerce environments. Milo is intended to be an approachable brand that promises to bring the benefits of widening your Wi-Fi experience at half the price of any computing solutions.\nMilo system has become available for preorder in two days and will be shipped within the next 30 days. On slide two, you will see that Milo focuses on three key benefits; coverage area, ease-of-use and affordability. On the next slide you’ll see that we’ve segmented our customer prospects into home users and business users. This allows us to target our messaging to be more relevant for each group.\nSlide four highlights our mobile app, which enables the very best performance from your Milo. While set up can be accomplished without any app with the app walking through set up is also simply and enjoyable. But more importantly the app enables access to performance enhancements, product feature updates and the opportunity for future paid product in service offerings that truly make the value proposition outstanding.\nSlide five outlines the benefits for home users discussing the value of simple installation and the elimination of dead spots in slow zones caused by routers that just can’t reach every room where families are looking for solid reliable Wi-Fi connection. Providing that much needed benefit without breaking the bank is something we think our home customers will appreciate and gives us a competitive advantage.\nThe next slide, which is slide six highlights benefits for small business users. For small businesses Milo naturally sets up as a guest network enabling their customer’s access to the internet while they’re sitting in the waiting at the doctor’s office, grabbing a bite at a local diner or skipping a cup of coffee at the local corner coffee shop. We also recognize the frustrations that users have when customer service departments are staffed by outsourced groups that have no real ties or connection to the product itself.\nSlide 7 highlights that Milo has an experience in house customer service team, in North Florida in our own facility using the latest online and cloud based tools. They’re focused on turning customers into loyal advocates. You’ll be able to reach after them to chat from any page on our website or you can feel free to take up the phone and given them a call.\nOur customer service department is busy creating self-help articles to walk users through any situation, an example of which is highlighted on slide eight.\nNow let’s move on to slide nine. Two unique technologies enable Milo to perform at a very high level. The first is smart seek. Smart seek is Milo’s cloud based network optimization tool and it runs in the background of the network. It’s regularly checking the network’s vital signs and it has the ability to reroute and reconfigure the network paths and settings to give the user the best possible experience even when your environment is changing.\nThe second unique technology is base link and it’s illustrated on slide 10. Base link allows the user to put some real distance between where the Milo network begins and where the existing router resides inside the house. We found that many existing router locations are often very suboptimal and our competitors are forced to begin their networks with a hard wired Ethernet cored connection into the modem or router which maybe in a closet or garage or sometimes in a basement.\nBase link allows Milo to connect to the existing router from anywhere inside that the router’s Wi-Fi coverage footprint exists, meaning that the Milo base can be set in a much more optimal spot for performance. This allows your two or three Milo network to expand the Wi-Fi coverage footprint to its broadest possible point and also not to provide duplicate Wi-Fi where it’s not needed. It’s a difference maker. We haven’t seen in any other product.\nIf you advance to slide 11, at launch Milo is available as either a two pack or as a three pack. While every home is a little different, we try to make it easy for customers to decide which to buy. For users who need added Wi-Fi coverage and live in homes of 2,000 square feet or less the two pack is almost always the best choice. For those in homes larger than 2000 square feet the safest bet is to buy the three pack. Now that said, there are situations when a two pack will easily solve the problem even larger homes particularly when using Milo’s base link connection. For that we have a support article to guide people to the best solution.\nSlide 12 provides an illustration. A Milo two pack with base link technology filling out the dead spots in the smaller home. We continue to hear feedback of small homes and even apartments that struggle with dead spots and slow zones. Milo solves those problems completely and affordably. And slide 13 provides a similar illustration of a larger home taking advantage of a Milo three pack. Notice how Milo extends the signals to the outdoor areas. This is another great application from Milo. Some very large homes and businesses might wish they could add even more Milo’s to the network and they’ll be able to in the coming weeks.\nEach Milo network comes ready for future expansion and we will be offering additional Milo points for sale very soon. Now we’ve been saying that Milo is affordable. So how affordable? Well our competitors tend to be priced at around $400, for their beginner distributed Wi-Fi systems that include three network units. On slide 14 you will see that a Milo three pack is priced at $189 and is available for preorder this Wednesday, for delivery in September. What's even more impressive is that many applications when using the Milo base link can perform as well as our competitor system using only a Milo two pack. And as you can see on slide 15 the Milo two pack is priced at only $129 and is also available for preorder this week.\nSo one comment about our Milo website, you’ll see our site updated frequently as we observe and get a feedback from visitors and customers and as our product offering evolves and we add additional helpful information. I would expect some of the pages that I showed you today may change overtime and also I want to mention that what we reviewed on today’s call is just a portion of the initial website that we’ll launch this week. And I hope it’s provided you a good overview but then you’ll take a look for yourself and just a couple of days from now and drill down into the entire website.\nWe’re extremely happy about the early feedback on Milo. We think the performance and price points make it an ultra-competitive solution for today’s consumer. We’re very excited about our Milo introduction and we’re eager to start taking orders for this product and I hope that you will be placing your order soon.\nWe expect to be shipping product offering our website within four weeks and we’re gearing up for we expect to be the high volume holiday season. Those of you that have previously volunteered to provide some additional testing will still receive your Milo’s this month. And we also expect to turn on Milo availability at Amazon within just a couple of weeks. So on that note as Cindy mentioned in her comments we’ve entered into a new ATM agreement with FBR under our existing shelf-registration.\nWe felt that it was critical to ensure access to working capital needed to support the successful product launch including stocking sufficient inventory to support what we believe could be a very, very rapid sales growth. We continue to look at longer term financing options for the company as well and I believe we will have growing access to non-dilutive options as we begin to show revenue growth from this exiting product line.\nAnd so with that update I’d like to turn this call over to questions please.\nQuestion-and-Answer Session\nOperator\nThank you. [Operator Instructions] It is now pleasure to hand the conference to our first question Jon Hickman with Ladenburg. Please proceed.\nJon Ladenburg\nHi, Jeff. So the question is you sell this 3 pack for $189, what's your gross margin?\nJeffrey Parker\nWell, Jon, I'm not going to disclose the gross margin exactly at this moment, but I can tell you that we are pleased with our starting gross margin. We think it's a very good margin, and we've already got in process further integration on this product, which will increase the margin even further. And of course as we ramp up our volumes, we'll pick up additional margin points as well. But we're very pleased with our ability to hit the price at these levels and still make what we think is a really good margin for the company.\nJon Ladenburg\nShall I assume that at least 50%?\nJeffrey Parker\nYou'll see as we report, but it's yeah it's a healthy margin. It's a good margin.\nJon Ladenburg\nOkay then I have an operating question. So it was my understanding that you have to plug, one of the units into your router and then the other unit was where that extended availability of Wi-Fi. So now looks like you don't have to do that?\nJeffrey Parker\nSo you have the option Jon to do either. If you want, you can still plug it in using the Ethernet cable, but for many applications we think it's going to be much better to locate the Milo base in a more optimal locations. As I mentioned we've seen an also a lot of homes that are having a Wi-Fi problems, their Wi-Fi router or the modem which has the router built into it is in a really suboptimal location.\nAnd so rather than force the Milo system to start from that suboptimal point you can put it in a more optimal location and start from there. And so it does two things. It not only gives you more coverage from fewer units, but if you think about putting a Milo base back where the modem router is, you're duplicating the same coverage to get out to the first point the first Milo point. And so you can avoid the expense of that and the unnecessary additional Wi-Fi coverage that's really not necessary by moving the Milo base and using the base link technology. So you have the option of either. But I think the most people will probably use the base link technology.\nJon Ladenburg\nSo, but you have to have you have to put the base where there is a good signal?\nJeffrey Parker\nYes, you do. And everybody is going to find that's a little bit different. I've seen it in some of the test homes we've done, I've seen that could be anywhere from 20-25 feet away from the Wi-Fi router to one that I've just tested recently it's 50 feet way. So it a lot of it depends on the environment and what the materials of the home or building constructions are but yes.\nJon Ladenburg\nSo you'll definitely have revenues by the end of September here, Right?\nJeffrey Parker\nWe should have revenues by the end of September, yes. We are anxious to turn on the website and get the shipments going.\nJon Ladenburg\nOkay, thanks. That’s it from me.\nJeffrey Parker\nThank you, Jon.\nOperator\nThank you. Our next question will come from the line of Carter Driscoll with FBR Capital Markets. Please proceed.\nCarter Driscoll\nGood afternoon, thanks for taking my questions. So Jeff, would it be fair to say that, in terms of the next iteration and not trying to get ahead of version one. But by and clear the integration of 6870. And if so, could you talk about what that might do to maybe just in a percentage terms for the build material cost and therefore potential to drive down the price point going forward?\nJeffrey Parker\nSo, yeah our intention is that the first product that will incorporate the 6870 in volume will be our Milo products. And that we would expect will be available in volumes at the beginning of 2018. So until then we are Milo incorporates a less integrated solution that of course lets us gets to market quicker but not as highly integrated.\nNo question that the 6870 we believe we'll significantly further our competitive advantage. In terms of percentages, we already have underway some integration further that we'll reduce our cost even beyond where we're starting which we're pretty excited about. And so kind of depends where we compare it to. I would say that, from our starting point to a more highly integrated 6870 based unit, I mean it'll increase our margins, healthy double-digit percentage I'll just say that.\nCarter Driscoll\nOkay. And then maybe can you talk about some of the lateral in terms of product opportunities you mentioned say small routers, talk about some of the product opportunities in the near-term beyond the initial use for home and small business Wi-Fi?\nJeffrey Parker\nSure. So, one other things that we're going to be looking into is that once you provided a whole home Wi-Fi and a small business Wi-Fi solution, we believe there is other products that would be natural for us to bring to market that we think consumers and small business owners would really want to get from us the same brand, controlled from the same app, set up in the same manner. I am reticent to kind of describe exactly which products those are right now because I don’t want to inform potential competitors exactly where we are going, but what we certainly see is that there is a growing do it yourself for market where people are not looking to bring an IT people, but want to do it themselves. They want it simple, they want it reliable, they want it cost effective and they would like for everything to be kind of seamless.\nSo without going into detail, I’ll just say that there is we think a very significant opportunity to expand the product line beyond the whole home small office network opportunity once people get comfortable and familiar with that that we would be a natural brand to help expand that.\nThat said, personally we think there is a lot of opportunity just for this offering we are bringing right now. We did a survey few months ago, on whether the percentage of home owners who have a Wi-Fi problems, they want to fix that we believe Milo fixes and in North America it's about 50% of the home owners report they do not have satisfactory Wi-Fi in their homes. So that’s a 90 to 100 million user market, that’s a significant market. Even the other 50% who say we don’t have the problem, about half of those say they'd like to still extend their Wi-Fi but they didn’t know if there is a way to do that.\nSo we really like our starting point here and I think at this price it becomes a very easy decision for awful lot of consumers who want to fix the Wi-Fi but don’t really want to spend what they perceive to be a lot of money to do that.\nCarter Driscoll\nAnd then if I may just squeeze in one more. So you've obviously gone direct to consumer. You could certainly argue that same with Amazon and the site variation. But you also mentioned some other path to non-dilutive it financing. Is it -- could I infer that maybe you could look to white box, this product at some point for say, I don't know a telecom company, I know I like to chuck my Verizon extender into the garbage jeep immediately if your product deliver this as you hope it well, would that be a path that you are exploring today or any type of color you could talk about in terms of lateral extension of the addressable market or your covered market I should say strategy?\nJeffrey Parker\nSure, so we yes, we are exploring some opportunities to provide this product directly to people who are delivering Internet services to consumers and small businesses and we’re in some of the test phases of that right now, I think that if you are a service provider and you are providing Wi-Fi today and you are getting the calls about why am I not getting Wi-Fi from the box you given me, every place I needed and you can provide a solution that's cost effective and reliable, has the cloud capabilities, so your own people can get in and see everything that it takes to support a customer properly, we think it's a very, very attractive offering.\nThere's one firm we are talking to who actually has smaller units, that's not a service provider but someone who actually owns a large number of small rental type properties. And they have looked at something like that as being a very attractive feature to include when they sign up a new renter.\nSo we think there's a lot of different angles to approach the market beyond direct to consumer sales, one at a time. But more the bulk type applications for people who either have customers or people who own properties that want to solve this problem as part of their offering. So yes, that is definitely another part of the market that we are in the middle of exploring already.\nCarter Driscoll\nAll right and if you will permit me just one last quick financial one, so do you feel you have adequate sources to make this initial push as far as the holiday season, assuming a successful launch and product shipments in September?\nJeffrey Parker\nWe do, yeah, we do feel we have adequate capital to get it launched and to be able to do a good ramp. But one of the things we have to be mindful of is I believe and I hope that the demand for this will be significant and that's what we have to be prepared to respond to.\nI mean I think this product kind of opens up a whole new category that doesn't really exist, in this space where people want to -- I mean I have talked to some consumers who have tried to use other types of products to solve this problem. And one of the feedbacks I have gotten is at this price if this works like we say it works and as the testing has shown that it works the decision making time by consumers is going to be very short. So we are very hopeful that as the word goes and it starts to kind of grow and feed on itself that we need to be able to keep up with that ramp. So yes, we are fine for the initial launch and what I think will happen the balance of this year but we are also looking beyond that.\nCarter Driscoll\nPerfect, thanks for taking all my questions, I will go back in queue.\nJeffrey Parker\nThank you.\nOperator\nThank you. [Operator Instructions]. Our next question will come from the line of Louis Tieterton, with Private Investor. Please proceed.\nUnidentified Analyst\nHello Jeff. How are you?\nJeffrey Parker\nHi, Lou. I am fine thank you.\nUnidentified Analyst\nThis is not a question as such, just a comment. I like the slide you have. You guys need bigger print. I had a hard time reading a lot of this and I tried to expand it as far as I could. So hopefully in the future maybe you can put a little bit bigger and stand out a little bit better and it will be easier for us to read. Otherwise I think was very good.\nOne another comment. I think you know my son is very technologically oriented, as a kind of a big job. He indicates you are absolutely right. If this thing does what you say it does, at the price point that you just indicated it's going to take a little way, it's key -- he can't wait that if so we will see what happens.\nJeffrey Parker\nWell we appreciate that and we are anxious to get a system out there to him and to many others who are I think on this call, who are hoping to have systems this month which we are going to be delivering. So font size noted and I will make that comment to the team that works in that area. Thank you, Lou.\nUnidentified Analyst\nOkay.\nOperator\nThank you, and I am showing no further questions over the phone lines. So now it's my pleasure to hand the conference over back to Mr. Jeff Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for some closing comments and remarks.\nJeffrey Parker\nWell again folks thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to hear and update on ParkerVision and the new Milo product launch. I hope that many/all of you will become Milo customers and look forward to getting those of you that do want to become a customer a unit as quickly as possible, many of you this month.\nSo thanks a lot. Have a great balance of your week. Bye-bye.\nOperator\nThat does conclude today's conference. If you wish to access our archived audio cast replay of this call you may do so by visiting the company website www.parkervision.com. Thank you and have a great day.\nCopyright policy: All transcripts on this site are the copyright of Seeking Alpha. However, we view them as an important resource for bloggers and journalists, and are excited to contribute to the democratization of financial information on the Internet. (Until now investors have had to pay thousands of dollars in subscription fees for transcripts.) So our reproduction policy is as follows: You may quote up to 400 words of any transcript on the condition that you attribute the transcript to Seeking Alpha and either link to the original transcript or to www.SeekingAlpha.com. All other use is prohibited.\nTHE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE IS A TEXTUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE APPLICABLE COMPANY'S CONFERENCE CALL, CONFERENCE PRESENTATION OR OTHER AUDIO PRESENTATION, AND WHILE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE TRANSCRIPTION, THERE MAY BE MATERIAL ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INACCURACIES IN THE REPORTING OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE AUDIO PRESENTATIONS. IN NO WAY DOES SEEKING ALPHA ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISIONS MADE BASED UPON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEB SITE OR IN ANY TRANSCRIPT. USERS ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW THE APPLICABLE COMPANY'S AUDIO PRESENTATION ITSELF AND THE APPLICABLE COMPANY'S SEC FILINGS BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISIONS.", "In the current era, wireless technology is something that is mandatory. The same is used to keep devices connected and share data and information between them.\nWireless communication is preferred a lot and has replaced wired connections over the years as it is possible to share data even in long range, a faster rate and in a secure way. Wireless communication is possible via technologies such as Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi and Li-Fi, of which the last one is yet to become mainstream. The technology is chosen based on the purpose. The range plays an important role in choosing a specific wireless technology.\nAlso read: 10 things they did for the first time on the Internet\nIt is common for users to make use of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to communication with others and share data between devices. NFC is also used to some extent. But, Li-Fi is one of the latest technologies and is yet to become common. Here, you will get to know more details about the different wireless technologies and their major differences.\nStay tuned to GizBot for more updates!\nBluetooth Bluetooth is basically used when it is necessary to communicate within a short range. It was intended to replace the wired connection. It makes use of short range radio links and operates on FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) to avoid inference. Bluetooth signals operate at 2.4GHz. Bluetooth LE is a recent technology that is aimed at enabling power sensitive devices to connect permanently to the internet. Infrared Infrared is a wireless technology that lets devices to communicate with each other using short range wireless signals. With Infrared, the devices can transfer data in a bidirectional way. Infrared networks were basically designed to support only two-way connections on a temporary basis when needed. The frequency of infrared is just below red light. It assures a physically secure data transfer, very low bit error rate, and Line of Sight (LOS) wireless communication. Also read: How to Control TV and Other Devices With an Android Smartphone NFC (Near Field Communication) NFC is a standard in many smartphones and other devices. It aims at establishing radio communication between devices by bringing them close to each other or by just touching them. NFC facilitates in contactless transactions and data exchange. NFC builds upon RFID (Radio frequency indemnification) systems by letting two-way communication between the end points. NFC devices can read unpowered NFC tags. These tags can store data such as loyalty program data, debit and credit card details, PINs, etc. Also read: NFC hacks that you should know Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) Wi-Fi networks are used commonly and these connect every possible device together. Wi-Fi has been developed to facilitate wireless local area networking in the 2.4GHz or 5.2GHZ bands. There are issues related to security threat in Wi-Fi, but the same can be prevented using the several security measures that are available. The common security methods include WEP, WPA and WPA2. One similarity between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies is that both share a section of the 2.4GHz spectrum. This will pave way for some level of interference. Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) Li-Fi is a high speed, bidirectional and fully networked wireless communication network like Wi-Fi. Both Wi-Fi and Li-Fi work towards facilitating easy transfer of data. However, Li-Fi that transmits data via light is said to be 100 times faster than Wi-Fi as it can reach a speed of 224 Gbps. Li-Fi uses infrared or near ultraviolet spectrum to transmit information. The biggest advantage of this technology is that the light ways cannot pass through walls, so there is a stronger range resulting in high security from hacking and high-speed connectivity. Also read: Now Download Your Files at 224GB Per Second Using Li-Fi Technology Verdict Of these wireless technologies that are detailed above, the latest Li-Fi technology is the best one. It is yet to become mainstream and practically implemented for us to understand its advantages and disadvantages. But it is clear that it is much faster, cheaper, and more secure than Wi-Fi that we use widely. Moreover, Li-Fi is free from electromagnetic interference too. However, this one incurs high installation cost and has a low reliability than the other technologies. With the advancement of Wi-Fi, we already don't use Bluetooth to a great extent. Eventually, the latest technologies will be used widely in the years to come.", "By Jon Norris\nAre you yearning to travel but don’t want to give up your career? Consider life as a “digital nomad” — a freelancer or remote employee who works while travelling the globe.\nOften Millennials and Baby Boomers, these nomads are taking advantage of technologies such as Skype and Slack, plus easy Wi-Fi access and cheap global flights, to experience the world without officially leaving the workforce. It’s a natural evolution of freelancing trends — in the United States, for example, more than a third of the workforce does freelance work, with “work location flexibility” cited as one of the top three reasons for doing so.\nDutch native Lisa van den Berg, who has been a digital nomad with her husband since early 2015, views her lifestyle as “the perfect way to combine travel and work. As long as there’s a decent internet connection, you can just go when and where you want,” she said.\nWhether logging onto their laptops from a beach in Thailand, an Airbnb in Iceland or a cafe in Paris, digital nomads are ushering in the latest iteration of work in the digital age.\nA Growing Industry\nWith the rise in employees working everywhere but in an office, companies are popping up to support them. One such organisation, Unsettled, sets up 30-day co-working experiences “for creatives, entrepreneurs and other professionals who are looking to combine work and world travel.”\nAlan Winslow\nMichael Youngblood, co-founder of Unsettled, views the rise of digital nomadism as part of a cyclical change that reflects “the overall devolution of the structures of work.” Currently based in North Carolina, Youngblood is a true embodiment of nomadic living — he spent just 13 days at home in the first half of 2017, racking up time in such far-flung spots as Bali, Argentina, Colombia, Jordan, Spain and Croatia.\n“Sixty years ago, it was the rise of the ‘corporate man,’” he said. “We take it for granted today that [working in an office is] the only way to work. People are sick of the requirements that come with that. As big as that shift was in the 1940s and ’50s, it seems we are going through a similar big shift today.”\nGetting Started\nIf you have a full-time job, you can start by approaching your employer about remote working arrangements. This will enable you to keep the stability (and paycheck) of a full-time job while testing the waters of working abroad or on the road.\nNot all companies will be open to the idea, so you may need to take the plunge and go freelance. Start by finding freelance gigs to work on in your spare time, networking to build up your connections for future jobs and setting up a savings account to foot any unexpected bills.\nIf you’re living somewhere expensive and most of your salary goes toward paying fixed costs such as rent and utilities, start reducing those expenditures to save up for a move. This may mean moving in with friends or family to cut down on rent, but just think how much further those pennies will go in a more affordable part of the world like Thailand or Vietnam.\nRemote Tools\nA variety of tools exist to help you work remotely. Nomad List gives information on cost of living and other details for most countries, helping you plan your travels. Toggl tracks your time on projects, while Trello helps you manage multiple tasks. Slack is a popular communication tool, and WeTransfer makes it easy to share large files.\nStaying Safe\nSecurity is a big concern for digital nomads. A stolen laptop or hacked email not only means lost work, but it can also severely erode trust with your employer. Here are four ways to keep your digital assets safe while travelling:\nCreate Unique Passwords: A strong password (eight to 12 letters, numbers and special characters) is your front line for protection against hackers. Be sure to use unique passwords for each of your systems and devices and keep track of them with a site such as LastPass— it’s much safer than scribbling them down on a piece of paper. Beware Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi can be especially vulnerable to malicious attacks, so connect only to trusted networks, or restrict public Wi-Fi use to less sensitive work. When you need a more secure connection, you can tap a site such as Copass, which allows you to access a system of global co-working spaces. Use Cloud Storage And Software: Cloud storage and data protection software can be true lifesavers when you’re working abroad. Cloud storage will give you access to documents from virtually anywhere with an internet connection, while data protection software protects your information from a variety of hazards. Louise Croft of Digital Nomad Girl recommends CrashPlan, which automatically saves everything on her computer and external hard drives to the cloud. Protect Your Belongings: Digital security is important, but so is protecting your devices in the real world. To prepare for a loss, download an app such as Preyfor your phone and laptop to make them trackable. When you are travelling, always stow your laptop, tablet or phone in your hand luggage, just in case.\nYou don’t need to wait until retirement to get out and see the world. With the right tech tools, you can be just as successful working from the road as from an office — and enjoy life-changing travel experiences at the same time.\nBrian Futterman\nAlan Winslow\nReece McMillian\nUnsettled\nUnsettled\nErina Baftiroska\nJon Norris is a freelance writer based in Brighton, U.K., covering technology, society and the future of work.", "CLEVELAND, July 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 7SIGNAL is pleased to announce American Fidelity as the latest organization to monitor and manage its Wi-Fi networks proactively to improve the Wi-Fi experience for its associates and customers.\nAmerican Fidelity Assurance Company (AFA) provides voluntary supplemental health insurance products (cancer, disability, life and hospital indemnity) and tax deferred annuities to more than 1 million customers in 49 states and 23 countries. The company has ranked on Fortune magazine's \"100 Best Companies to Work for\" list twelve times.\n\"We are honored to welcome an industry leader like American Fidelity as a customer,\" stated Tom Barrett, president and CEO of 7SIGNAL. \"Their commitment to providing the most productive workplace environment for the purpose of better serving their customer is unmatched. By adopting 7SIGNAL's Wi-Fi performance management system, American Fidelity has chosen to manage Wi-Fi like a strategic asset. High quality, resilient wireless experiences have simply become that important.\"\nAfter installing a new Voice over Wi-Fi phone system, American Fidelity was searching for a way to proactively monitor the Wi-Fi end user experience. As a result, they turned to 7SIGNAL, The Wi-Fi Performance Company, to implement a system that would not only help American Fidelity proactively monitor the environment today, but also provide a system of continuous Wi-Fi service assurance moving forward.\n\"We invested in wireless networks because we want to continually enhance communication and increase collaboration,\" said Jay La Valle, Lead Infrastructure Engineer for American Fidelity. \"To accomplish this, we need a system that monitors and measures the Wi-Fi experience 24 by seven. We identified 7SIGNAL as a comprehensive Wi-Fi performance management system that met our requirements.\"\nAbout American Fidelity Assurance Company\nAmerican Fidelity Assurance Company is a supplemental benefits provider serving more than 1 million Customers across 49 states with a focus on offering a different opinion for Customers in the education, public sector, auto retail and healthcare industries. American Fidelity has earned an \"A+\" (Superior) from the A.M. Best Company since 1982. One of the nation's leading insurance company rating services, A.M. Best conducts a strict review process for financial stability every year.\nAmerican Fidelity has been recognized as one of the \"100 Best Companies to Work for in America\" by global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work® and Fortune Magazine 12 times.\nThe Company has been named to several other lists by Fortune, including: Best Workplaces for Millennials, Best Workplaces in Finance and Insurance, Best Companies for Giving Back, Best Workplaces for Women, Best Workplaces for Diversity and the Human Capital 30: Companies that Put Employees Front and Center.\nAbout 7SIGNAL\n7SIGNAL (http://www.7signal.com) develops cloud-based Wi-Fi performance management software that enables enterprises, such as Booz Allen Hamilton, and IBM, as well as large healthcare systems like Kaiser Permanente, and University Hospitals to manage the Wi-Fi experience from the end-user's point of view. The 7SIGNAL system gathers Wi-Fi performance data across the enterprise and its analytics engine presents the data as Key Performance Indicators in a browser dashboard, giving network administrators immediate visibility of Wi-Fi health and performance, enterprise-wide. The system enables businesses to significantly improve Wi-Fi baseline performance without adding access points, reduce troubleshooting time by 50%, and lower the total cost of ownership of maintaining reliable, high performance wireless LANs.\nContact:\nEric Camulli\n2167772900\n197983@email4pr.com\nView original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-fidelity-selects-7signal-to-enhance-wi-fi-experiences-300675665.html\nSOURCE 7SIGNAL", "Outdoor watering can be a messy but necessary task for both amateur and professional gardening aficionados. Do you give your plants too much water? Too little? When do you find time to take care of all your little green dependents? In addition, more than three-quarters of American households don’t have in-ground sprinklers in their yards, which necessitates manual watering of lawns, gardens or container plants with a hose. There are smarter ways to tackle this task.\nNow, the worldwide irrigation manufacturer Orbit is aiming to take the guesswork out of hosing down the garden with a new product, the B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer. The company announced the new product at this year’s CES 2018, along with HomeKit integration for its consumer line of irrigation products.\nThis nifty new device enables consumers to automate, manage, and optimize the entire watering process. The accompanying app allows the timer to program watering down to the second, which can be important for complex tasks like self-sustaining hydroponics projects or simple ones like filling a bird bath. The device is also controllable by voice with Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri and HomeKit platforms. It also has Wi-Fi connectivity, available through a dedicated Wi-Fi hub, as well as Bluetooth connectivity. Previously, the B-hyve’s earlier iteration offered smart home functionality through Alexa.\nBasically, the timer attaches to any standard outdoor faucet, fitting on before the hose is attached. Small or simple garden watering needs can be met by the timer functions on the app. For more complex gardening projects, users can implement an interesting innovation on the timer. The B-hyve device can use weather data to automatically alter watering times or produce an EPA WaterSense certified schedule; users simply plug in location conditions such as plant types, soil type, sprinkler version, et cetera. This “fully smart” automation can also be applied to multiple B-hyve timers that can then be daisy-chained together for maximum efficiency.\nIn addition, the app offers real-time monitoring and updates, captures a user’s personal watering history, and enables remote connectivity so weekend gardeners can change their watering preferences on the fly.\n“This is a revolutionary product that lets consumers easily manage their watering systems from anywhere, at any time,” Orbit President Stuart Eyring said in a statement. “The B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer is poised to change the way we water and marks yet another important milestone for Orbit as we continue down our path to bring smart yard technology to the masses — all while delivering significant water savings.”\nThe B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer and Wi-Fi hub are available for $70 via home-improvement retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Those with a green thumb and more ambitious plans can also purchase additional B-hyve timers separately for $40.", "What do you expect to happen when you hit the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi buttons in the iOS 11 Control Center? If you've used previous versions of iOS, you probably think those buttons disable their respective wireless connections, like they did before. But that's not how things work in iOS 11, and now the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has criticized Apple for putting iPhone owners at risk with a misleading and uninformative design.\nWith iOS 11, these buttons only sort of disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Your phone will remain connected to Apple devices via Bluetooth, utilities like Handoff will continue to function, and location services will stay active. That means you aren't turning off these wireless connections so much as you're disabling them for non-Apple devices and services. This distinction isn't made clear in iOS; the visual indicators are the same as before.\nNor does the operating system make it clear that disabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi via Control Center is a temporary measure. Apple explained in a support article that Wi-Fi will reactivate if:\nYou turn on Wi-Fi in Control Center.\nYou connect to a Wi-Fi network in Settings > Wi-Fi.\nYou walk or drive to a new location.\nIt's 5 AM local time.\nYou restart your device.\nBluetooth is the same, minus the reactivation when you leave your current location. Again, this isn't how these controls worked in previous versions of iOS, which actually disabled these connections until you reactivated them. Apple changed how a common setting works and didn't make those changes clear in iOS 11 itself—it explained things in a support article that the vast majority of iPhone owners are unlikely to read.\nHere's what the EFF said about these changes:\nIn an attempt to keep you connected to Apple devices and services, iOS 11 compromises users' security. Such a loophole in connectivity can potentially leave users open to new attacks. Closing this loophole would not be a hard fix for Apple to make. At a bare minimum, Apple should make the Control Center toggles last until the user flips them back on, rather than overriding the user’s choice early the next morning. It's simply a question of communicating better to users, and giving them control and clarity when they want their settings off—not “off-ish.”\nIt's already hard enough to get people to care about their device's security. Changing a long-established behavior without notice and with the apparent goal of avoiding support tickets asking why their Apple Watch doesn't work with Bluetooth disabled probably won't help matters. This change benefits Apple, and it could make things easier for people who don't understand how these connections work, but it does so at the expense of people who expect turning a setting \"off\" to actually, well, turn it off.", "If you find yourself gazing yearningly out the window at the sunshine and wish your working life didn’t have to interfere with enjoying the weather, this guide may help you marry the two.\nWhen the summer brings gorgeous weather, the idea of having to retreat inside and stare at a screen for hours on end is a pretty dreadful one.\nThe pull of nature, particularly when it’s nice out, is a hard one to resist, but it’s surely a necessary evil because you need to get your work done. What if it were possible, however, to marry your desire to enjoy the sunshine with your need to work?\nFirst and foremost, before we can continue, it’s important to emphasise that you should stock up on SPF 30 (one that has a five-star UVA/UVB rating) and apply before venturing out, and then reapply every 90 minutes. Don’t forget to reapply after swimming, showering or towelling off.\nChange up your schedule (within reason)\nThe savviest companies are becoming wise to the importance of offering employees flexibility. The reality is, every individual has unique demands on their time, and it’s becoming apparent that the future of work is a future where organisations are giving their workers the breathing space to tweak their schedules in non-disruptive ways so that they can attend to childcare duties, go to appointments and generally just achieve a better work-life balance.\nIf your employer allows you flexitime, take advantage and make a concerted effort to get into work earlier so that you can in turn leave earlier, and get some sunshine afterwards.\nIf your schedule is a little more rigid, for whatever reason, you could set your alarm a little earlier and take some chill time to yourself while enjoying the balmy summer morning. We know, of course, that the idea of leaving your bed earlier than necessary is a pretty painful one, but the value of being able to enjoy some of the weather and take some time to yourself before starting your working day can’t be overlooked.\nIncorporate walking into your day\nSince the weather is nice, why don’t you try parking your car a little farther from the office or getting off the bus a few stops early? Not only will this give you time to catch some rays, it’s also a great way to sneak exercise into your daily routine.\nIf you have meetings but don’t fancy the idea of sitting in a conference room, you could suggest a walking meeting. Walking around in sunshine is a great way to get conversation (and your creative juices) flowing, so you may find that you actually end up getting a lot more out of it than a vitamin D boost.\nOf course, your lunch hour is always yours, so you can also take a nice promenade during that time. Bring yourself to a park with your lunch in hand and settle in with a good book or perhaps a career-boosting podcast.\nWork outside\nMany employees have the opportunity to work remotely from time to time. If this option is available to you, you could try setting up a little outdoor office so that you can fill your lungs with fresh air while crossing things off your to-do list.\nThere are a few things to consider, however. You may have laptop screen glare to contend with, though some laptops have built-in measures to counteract this. You could also make a DIY laptop sun shade or you could just opt to sit in the shade, period.\nYou will need to make sure that you can access Wi-Fi from wherever you are. If you’re working just outside your home, make sure your Wi-Fi connection extends to your little al fresco office. Check which public parks or spaces have free connections, though always be mindful that public Wi-Fi is unsecured, so amend your behaviour accordingly. You could also bring a Wi-Fi portable hotspot or use your phone to ensure you have connectivity.", "It's Mint SIM vs. Project Fi in this head-to-head comparison.\nMint SIM and Project Fi are \"alternative carriers\" or mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). They're not the Big Four (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile), but they lease coverage from those networks and resell it to you for less. Plans are often prepaid and fixed contracts are few and far between.\nLet's compare Mint SIM and Project Fi to see how they stack up against one another.\nAdvertisement\nMint SIM background\nWho owns it? Ultra Mobile\nWhich network does it use? T-Mobile 4G LTE\nHow long has it been around? Since 2016\nTethering allowed? No.\nCheapest plan: $45 for 3 months: 2GB 4G LTE, unlimited nationwide talk, text, and 2G data\nProject Fi background\nWho owns it? Google\nWhich network does it use? Sprint CDMA and LTE, T-Mobile 4G LTE, U.S. Cellular CDMA and LTE\nHow long has it been around? Since 2015\nTethering allowed? Yes\nCheapest plan: $20/month: Unlimited nationwide talk and text, unlimited international text\nAdvertisement\nMint SIM plans\nMint SIM doesn't operate with traditional contracts. You pay up front for your term, which can be 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months, with \"buying in bulk\" saving you more money in the long run. All plans include unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data, though you only get so much 4G LTE per month. Unlimited international texting is included in all plans.\nDuration Small (2GB LTE) Medium (5GB LTE) Large (10GB LTE) 3 months $15/month ($45 upfront) $20/month ($60 upfront) $25/month ($75 upfront) 6 months $18/month ($108 upfront) $24/month ($144 upfront) $30/month ($180 upfront) 12 months $15/month ($180 upfront) $20/month ($240 upfront) $25/month ($300 upfront)\nAdd-ons\nAs far as add-ons are concerned, Mint SIM's selection is very slim:\nExtra data:\n1GB/month: $10\n3GB/month: $20\nInternational credit:\nMint SIM's plans contain no international calling, though unlimited international texting is included. You can add international calling credit to your account in $5, $10, or $20 increments.\nYou can see a list of international rates here.\nMint SIM also offers a 7-day money back guarantee on service plans.\nMint SIM phones\nMint SIM uses T-Mobile's nationwide network. Any phone built for T-Mobile will work with Mint SIM's LTE network and Wi-Fi calling options. For Unlocked phones, the network requirements are:\nPhones supporting only 1900 MHZ and 850 MHz will be able to use the service, but won't be able to access the high-speed network in many parts of the U.S.\n1900 MHZ and 850 MHz will be able to use the service, but won't be able to access the high-speed network in many parts of the U.S. A fully compatible phone is one that supports the AWS bands (1700/2100 MHz), the 1900 MHz and 850 MHz bands and Band 12 (700 MHz).\nIf you're not sure the phone you have will work, give Mint a call at 844-646-8746 (6-6 PT Mon-Fri, 8-5 PT on Saturday) or you can chat with a specialist at the Mint SIM website.\nProject Fi plans\nProject Fi offers two types of plans: family and single line. What you get with each plan is the same, but you'll save money on each additional family plan line (up to 5 lines).\nThe Basics 1GB LTE Price $20/month $10/month Free Extras Unlimited international texting\nCall and text from any Android or iPhone\nFamily Plan\nThe Basics 1GB LTE Primary line price $20/month $10/month Secondary lines (up to 5) $15/month $10/month Free Extras Unlimited international texting\nCall and text from any Android or iPhone\nNote: Google calls the base Project Fi plan \"The Basics.\" No data is included and must be purchased at the rate of $10/GB. Data is not shared between lines on a family plan. Each line pays the same $10 per GB of data (domestic and international in 135 countries) with the cost of any unused data refunded at the end of each month\nAdd-ons\nData-only SIM:\nGoogle offers a data-only SIM card to use in any compatible LTE device, It shares data with the primary line at the same $10/GB rate. You need to have at least one line of service and purchase a minimum of 1GB of data to use the data-only SIM card.\nData pricing:\n1GB of 4G LTE: $10/month\nPhone Insurance:\n$5 per month per device covers accidental damages and device malfunctions. You can make one in a 12-month period. Deductibles are $79 for Pixel, $99 for Pixel XL, $69 for Nexus 5X, $99 for Nexus 6P. When you make a claim Google will ship out a replacement device the next business day.\nInternational add-ons:\nInternational cellular calls cost $0.20 per minute.\nGoogle Wi-Fi services:\nYour Project Fi phone service includes Wi-Fi calling and texting anywhere in the world. In addition, Google VPN services are available and allow you to connect to open Wi-Fi hotspots safely and securely.\nProject Fi and Google Hangouts apps:\nThe Project Fi app is tied to your Google account and can be installed on any Android or iPhone. You can pay your bill, check account balances and talk to customer service through the app at no cost. The Google Hangouts app allows calls and texts using your Project Fi number on any Android or iPhone.\nProject Fi phones\nProject Fi only supports phones from Google. That means your selection is currently limited to:\nNexus 5X\nNexus 6P\nGoogle Pixel\nGoogle Pixel XL\nNote: While it's possible to enable Project Fi on unsupported phones, this is against the Project Fi terms of service.\nA data-only SIM is available and can be used in any compatible LTE device as long as at least one line of Fi service is active.\nWhich should I go with?\nGoogle's Project Fi refunds you for any unused data every month, but the $10/GB baseline means it will always be the more expensive option when buying data. From a pure price perspective, Mint SIM is the better bargain.\nThat being said, if you aren't using a lot of data every month or can take advantage of the Google VPN Wi-Fi offloading, Project Fi's options and services can be compelling. Google is a bit more forward thinking than most other carriers and services like the free VPN that connects you to open WI-Fi hotspots and free international texting from any Android or iPhone can't be ignored. Nor can the excellent coverage map Project Fi offers through the combined network of T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular and Wi-Fi services.\nThe final thing to consider is phone choice. Your new Samsung Galaxy S8 or iPhone isn't supported on Project Fi, which only officially supports phones from Google. Both, as well as many other unlocked models, are supported by Mint SIM.\nBoth carriers are a great way to break free of the shackles of the Big Four carriers, but your usage will determine which is best for you.", "Whole-House Wireless\nWith the explosion in popularity of smart home devices and countless streaming media services like Hulu, Netflix, and Spotify, whole-house Wi-Fi coverage has become a must. Many of the latest wireless routers can provide strong coverage to most rooms of a typical medium-size house, but larger homes and dwellings with dense walls, multiple floors, metal and concrete substructures, and other structural impediments may require additional components to bring Wi-Fi to areas that the router can't reach. Range extenders do a good job of filling in dead zones, but typically provide only half the bandwidth that you get from your main router. Access points offer more bandwidth than range extenders, but require a wired connection to the main router. And both solutions typically create a new network SSID that you have to log in to as you move from one area of the house to another.\nIf all this sounds too complicated, consider installing a Wi-Fi system instead.\nWhat Is a Wi-Fi System?\nDesigned to blanket your home with wireless coverage, Wi-Fi systems are a hybrid of sorts, made up of several networking components. There's a main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, that you place throughout your house. They are all part of a single wireless network, and share the same SSID and password. Unlike range extenders, which communicate with the router via the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio bands, most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to talk to the router and to each other. Each node serves as a hop point for other nodes in the system. This helps the nodes farthest from the router to deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal as they are talking to other nodes and not relying on one-to-one communications with the router. Not all Wi-Fi systems use mesh networking, however; some use a dedicated radio band to communicate with the router and with each other. As with mesh, the dedicated band frees up the standard-use 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for client use.\nEasy Set Up and App-Based Network Management\nSetting up and maintaining a traditional wireless home network can be daunting, even if you're tech-savvy. Wi-Fi systems, on the other hand, are geared toward users with little or no technical knowledge and can be installed in minutes. They typically come with a user-friendly mobile app that walks you through the installation process with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions. The app tells you where to place each node for maximum coverage and chooses the best Wi-Fi channel and radio band for optimal throughput performance, so you can maintain a strong wireless connection as you move about the house. Wi-Fi systems are easy to expand (with no current limit on the number of nodes you can add) and manage using your smartphone, allowing you to disable Wi-Fi access to specific devices with the press of a button and give certain devices network priority without having to log in to a complicated network console.\nDesign and Features\nWi-Fi systems look nothing like a traditional setup with a router and range extender. The router and nodes use internal antennas and are almost always tastefully designed so you can place them out in the open rather than in a closet or under a desk. (Don't expect to find a lot of flashing LED indicators—these systems are designed to blend in with your home's décor.) They usually have at least one LAN port for connecting to devices like TVs and gaming consoles, but USB connectivity is a rare feature at this point.\nSee How We Test Wireless Routers\nWi-Fi systems are multi-band networking devices that operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands and use 802.11ac wireless technology. Some models offer support for Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology, which streams data to multiple compatible wireless clients simultaneously rather than sequentially. Most Wi-Fi systems use band steering to automatically select the least-crowded radio band for the best performance and offer easy-to-use parental controls, guest networking, and device prioritization options. While designed for ease of use, they usually let you configure port forwarding and wireless security settings but lack the advanced networking management options such as individual band control, firewall settings, and wireless transmission rate settings that you get with a traditional router. Nor can you use third-party WRT firmware to customize the system for enhanced performance and network monitoring.\nWi-Fi Mesh vs. Range Extender\nWi-Fi systems range in price from around $130 for a single-node system to as high as $500 for a three-piece system like our Editors' Choice, the Linksys Velop, which, in the 3-Pack iteration we tested, covers 6,000 square feet. In most cases, they'll cost you more than you'd pay for a similarly powered router and range extender solution. But remember: Wi-Fi systems are all about ease of use. They're a snap to set up and manage, offer whole-house coverage via a series of attractive nodes, and they provide seamless room-to-room roaming over a single network. If you want total control over your network and require the best possible throughput performance and connectivity options, stick with a traditional router solution. If you don't want to deal with things like assigning radio bands and logging in to different networks as you move throughout your home, however, a Wi-Fi system makes sense.\nClick through below to the full reviews of the best Wi-Fi systems we've tested. Need some more help getting all your devices up and running their fastest? Check out our tips for troubleshooting your Internet connection.", "When a phone is designed to behave in a way other than what the UI suggests, it results in both security and privacy problems. A user has no visual or textual clues to understand the device's behavior, which can result in a loss of trust in operating system designers to faithfully communicate what’s going on. Since users rely on the operating system as the bedrock for most security and privacy decisions, no matter what app or connected device they may be using, this trust is fundamental.\nApple recently confirmed that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are not fully disabled when toggled off in Control Center on iOS 11, and the change has generated some fresh criticism from a prominent non-profit digital rights group.For background, when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are toggled off, an iPhone or iPad on iOS 11 merely disconnects from a Wi-Fi network and Bluetooth accessories. The actual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios in the device remain activated.Moreover, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth automatically reenable at 5:00 a.m. local time each day, or if the device is restarted.iOS 11 works this way so that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth continue to be available for AirDrop, AirPlay, Apple Pencil, Apple Watch, Location Services, and Continuity features like Handoff and Instant Hotspot.As a result of the change, the Electronic Frontier Foundation believes that iOS 11 compromises users' security . In a critical article, the EFF said the toggles are \"misleading\" and \"bad for user security.\"The EFF said the \"loophole in connectivity\" can potentially leave users open to new attacks, and it linked to a white paper that unveils apparent zero day vulnerabilities and security flaws in modern Bluetooth stacks.The article added that, at a bare minimum, Apple should keep the Control Center toggles off until the user flips them back on, rather than overriding the user's choice at 5:00 a.m. local time the next morning.Overall, the EFF's arguments are generally the same as those shared by iOS 11 users who are unhappy with the change. The toggles still behave the same in the iOS 11.1 beta, however, so there's no indication Apple will reverse course.iOS 11 users can still completely disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for all networks and devices by toggling them off in the Settings app. A device can also be placed in Airplane Mode with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth disabled.In a support document , Apple said users should try to keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on for the best experience on an iOS device.", "24Getting ready for summer may be the last thing on your mind when you are trying to dig your way out from under three feet of snow, but 24\nHere we give you a few tips for some of the most popular backyard additions and changes, with planning you can start right now.\nAdding a pool\nIf you’re a fan of having a pool in your backyard, you undoubtedly know that building one can be an expensive and time-intensive proposition. Experts say a pool can be built within six to eight weeks, but keep in mind that’s for a very simple pool with no weather delays or other issues popping up. More complex pools can take three to six months. And that’s just for the build itself.\nPool planning can drive anyone nuts – how big should it be? What style? What shape? Should it get full sun or should it go partway under a tree, which will create shade but also a leaves-in-the-pool situation? Do you want a spa? What materials should you use? And which company?\nThis is all part of the fun of building a pool. Heed a few tips from Pool Spa Outdoor.\n“Think you might be ready to take the plunge? If you’re planning to buy your first backyard swimming pool, you probably need a few tips to get started,” said Pool Spa Outdoor. “Learn how to establish a budget, find a pool builder, and always remember to put fun on the list.\nOutdoor Kitchens\nNo one addition to your backyard is hotter right now than adding an outdoor kitchen. But, the planning is critical to making sure you get a kitchen that functions well, looks great, and makes the best use of your space.\n“Before you do anything else, spend some time thinking about what you really want and need in an outdoor kitchen,” said HGTV. “Ask yourself how you’ll actually use the new space and what makes the most sense in terms of your home’s architecture and its existing landscaping.”\nSee HGTV.com or Houzz.com for some design ideas or learn a few key tips from Better Homes and Gardens (bhg.com), and make sure before you get started, you ask yourself a few key questions from Red Beacon:\nWill you be using the kitchen year-round? If so, there is weather-proofing to consider. Where will you locate the kitchen? The closer to the house, “the lower expense for electrical and plumbing work.” What do you plan to cook in the outdoor kitchen? Is a barbecue enough or do you need a range, a refrigerator, maybe even a pizza oven? Do you need a sink? The plumbing costs will increase (but so will the convenience). Where do you envision seating? “Decide on the seating area keeping in mind that the seating has to be comfortable and appropriate for outdoor use.”\nAnd if you need a new barbecue grill, Lifehacker says the best time to buy is January through March, before the weather starts to heat up, so keep your eyes open for sales.\nYour Lawn\nEveryone knows spring is the best time to plant flowers. But do you know when the best time to perk up your lawn is?\nMany experts say that laying sod is best in “spring and early autumn… because cool temperatures combined with occasional rain help sod quickly root,” said Better Homes and Gardens. But, “you can lay sod anytime during the growing season,” if you care for it properly. “If you lay sod in summer, water at least once a day for several weeks.”\nFor DIY sod tips, see Better Homes and Gardens (bhg.com).\nIf you don’t want the expense of sod – it costs “about $400 to cover a 1,000-square-foot backyard (double that installed) – said This Old House, you can seed.\nBest results for seeding are often achieved in the fall in cold-weather climates, because “fall’s cooler temperatures prevent the seeds from drying out, but there’s still enough sun and rain to help them germinate before going into hibernation for the winter, without the competition of crabgrass and other weeds that die off this time of year,” said This Old House.\nBut grass seed can be planted in the spring with good results, said Greenview, if you heed a few tips, mainly: “Do not apply weed control products to the grass. Delay the weed control application until the grass seed has germinated and you have mowed the grass at least three times.”\nWritten by Jaymi Naciri for www.RealtyTimes.com Copyright © 2018 Realty Times All Rights Reserved.", "Don't let GPS errors stop you from playing Pokémon Go!\nPokémon Go is everywhere, and that's great for Android gamers around the world. But if you're getting a \"GPS signal not found\" error when you launch the game, here's how to fix it!\nGPS errors? First, make sure GPS is enabled!\nMany Android phones come with their GPS radios turned off by default in order to save battery life, since the technology is very battery-intensive. Here's how to turn it on.\nNote: This example was done on a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, but these steps should apply to most Android devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher.\nTap on your phone's Settings icon or access Settings through Quick Settings. Scroll down to Privacy and safety. Tap on it. Tap on Location. Make sure Location toggle is in the on position. Tap on Locating method. This may also be called Location mode. Tap GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks. This may also be called High accuracy. Ensure that Wi-Fi is also turned on throughout the game, even if your phone is not connected to a network.\nPokémon Go uses both local Wi-Fi (also known as Assistive GPS), your closest mobile network tower, and GPS satellites to accurately place you in the game world. Turning on just Wi-Fi and mobile network-based location tracking will make your character jump around and less likely to be placed close to Pokémon.\nStill getting an error even with GPS enabled?\nGPS satellites are finicky things. While the radios inside Android phones have improved significantly over the last few years, they're still not perfect, and may sometimes have trouble locating you, especially indoors.\nIf you're still getting GPS errors even after turning everything on, take a step outside and hold your phone steady for around 30 seconds. That should allow the GPS satellites to lock onto your phone and get things back to normal.\nMORE: Common Pokémon Go problems and how to fix them!\nCan you still play the game without GPS?\nYes! If you don't have a phone with GPS, or are using a Wi-Fi tablet that doesn't have a GPS radio, it's still possible to play Pokémon Go. Unfortunately, the experience won't be as good, since you'll need to be in areas that have strong Wi-Fi signals, such as restaurants, bars, coffee shops, or other businesses, that you can connect to.\nSince Pokémon Go relies on having an internet connection, it will be able to locate you with just a Wi-Fi signal — just don't expect to compete on the same level as your Android phone-wielding friends.\nGetting a driving warning when you're not actually driving?\nThat's a GPS problem! It's called GPS drift and it is usually caused when your phone can't latch onto a strong GPS signal while indoors. The quick fix is to turn on Wi-Fi, or to get close to a window, which will make it easier for a satellite to lock onto your GPS location.\nMore: How to avoid a driving warning in Pokémon Go\nUpdate to the latest version\nAre you getting a lot of GPS errors even after following all the steps above? Update to the latest version from the Play Store!", "Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus smartphones have been announced in Malaysia. The budget devices were launched in China in December 2018. In Malaysia, the Redmi 5 is available at RM 679 (Rs 11,200 approx) in Gold colour option. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is priced at RM 749 (Rs 12,360 approx) and it comes in Blue, Black, and Gold colour options.\nXiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus feature a metal unibody design and rounded corners. The smartphones run company’s MIUI 9 software. Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus feature a 12MP rear camera with 1.25μm pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, and flash. Features supported include PDAF, HDR, Panorama mode, Burst mode, and Face recognition mode. The front shooter is 5MP. The fingerprint sensor in both the smartphones is present on the back.\nXiaomi Redmi 5 gets a 5.7-inch HD+ screen with a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels, and a pixel density of 282 ppi. It sports a bezel-less display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. The smartphone is powered by 1.8GHz Snapdragon 450 processor with Adreno 506 GPU. It comes in two storage variants – 2GB RAM + 16GB storage option or 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM variant.\nXiaomi Redmi 5 packs a 3,300mAh battery. It measures 151.8 x 72.8 x 7.7 mm, and weighs 157 grams. Connectivity options on the Redmi 5 include 802.11b / g / n, 2.4G Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, and Beidou positioning. Sensors supported are: Distance sensor, Gyro, Accelerometer, Shock motor, and Ambient light sensor.\nXiaomi Redmi 5 Plus comes with a bigger 5.99-inches Full HD+ screen (2160 x 1080 pixel resolution) with a pixel density of 403 ppi and 18: 9 screen ratio. It runs 2.0GHz Snapdragon 625 processor with Adreno 506 GPU. Redmi 5 Plus will be available in two storage options – 3GB RAM + 32GB storage and 4GB RAM + 64GB storage. It packs a 4,000mAh battery.\nXiaomi Redmi 5 Plus measures 158.5 x 75.45 x 8.05 mm, and it weighs 180 grams. It supports 802.11a / b / g / n, 2.4G Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, and 5G Wi-Fi. Sensors include distance sensor, Gyro, Accelerometer, Shock motor, Ambient light sensor, and Hall sensor.\nFor all the latest Technology News, download Indian Express App\n© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd", "The video will start in 8 Cancel\nGet daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe See our privacy notice Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nRevellers rocking out at Godiva Festival will be treated to free Wi-Fi for the first time this year.\nThe announcement means those dancing away to acts like Jake Bugg and Ronan Keating will be able to share their videos and photos online without eating up their data.\nAnd Coventry City Council is hoping to make it a permanent offer in the War Memorial Park from next year.\nThe authority has also revealed plans to see if it can begin offering free Wi-Fi to visitors to Coombe Abbey and Coombe Country Park too.\nAnd it says work to bring free Wi-Fi to the city centre will be complete by this August.\nThis infrastructure will also support a low power network that will allow sensors to be installed that can measure pollution, rainfall and more - and allow the council to pull in money from advertisers.\nIt will be the first time free Wi-Fi is available at the festival, which has been running since 1997.\nSee below for this year's full line-up.\nWhat the council say\n\"This will create excellent opportunities for advertising revenue as well as address digital inclusion as all visitors with a mobile device will get access,\" a Digital First report created for members of the council's Finance and Corporate Services Scrutiny Board reads.\n\"Opportunities for promoting social networking/promotion at the event will also be possible.\n\"We are also reviewing options to offer free Wi-Fi to visitors to Coombe Abbey and Park.\"\nHow will it work?\nThe council will be using the third party Citi-Wise app to offer free Wi-Fi to the public.\nPeople will be prompted to use the app to log on and start browsing.\nThe report adds: \"Through the app we will be able to promote events, share history of the city and sell advertising.\n\"We will also be able to use the data captured by the app to show where people are using the service around the city, as well as other reports.\n\"The Citi-Wise app will provide the opportunity to centralise event promotion in to a single place moving forwards and will support the known City of Culture requirements at this stage.\"\nGodiva Festival: Full line-up\nFriday\nSo far headliner Jake Bugg is the only act confirmed for the Friday night.\nThere are three other slots yet to be announced, according to the Godiva Festival website.\nSaturday\nThere are still some slots yet to be announced.\nBut the Saturday show will see the likes of Jonas Blue, Gabrielle, Professor Green, Little Comets and Blood Red Shoes take to the stage.\nSunday\nEx Boyzone member Ronan Keating is headlining on the Sunday.\nThe rest of the acts are yet to be announced.\nVisit the festival's website for more information.\nDownload our all-new mobile app to get the latest news, sport and what's on. Click here for iPhone and here for Android\nLooking for an older story? Search our archives\nSearch for jobs, motors and property, or place an advert or family notice here.", "Amazon's latest perk ... free delivery to your car.\nThe Seattle company on Tuesday began offering delivery in 37 cities to Amazon Prime members who own newer General Motors or Volvo vehicles.\nThe company will expand the number of locations as well as eligible vehicle makes and models.\nAmazon has steadily broadened its reach into places long considered no-go zones for most people outside of the immediate family, starting with smart speakers in the home that await voice commands to come to life.\nLast year, Amazon launched Amazon Key which lets those with a Wi-Fi-connected lock to unlock their front doors so that packages could be left inside. Earlier this year, the company acquired Ring, which makes Wi-Fi-connected cameras and doorbells.\nThe in-car delivery service is available to members of Amazon Prime whose cars are parked in publicly accessible areas, such as on the street in front of an apartment building, at a workplace parking lot, or in a driveway. Amazon won't deliver to a private parking garage or other places where access to a vehicle is not readily available. Packages are placed in the vehicle's trunk or out of plain sight.\nDeliveries are available right now to Prime members with 2015 year or newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicles with GM's OnStar connected-car service, and those with a 2015 or newer Volvo vehicle with an active Volvo On Call account.\nCustomers must download the Amazon Key app to which they can link a connected car.\nGet the Biz Briefing newsletter! The latest LI business news in your inbox Monday through Friday. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.\nOn the day a package is scheduled for delivery, customers can use the Amazon Key app to confirm that their car is parked in a place where a delivery can be made.\nThe app also provides notifications with an expected 4-hour delivery window and notifies customers when the package is on its way and when it's been delivered. Customers can track when their car was unlocked and relocked through the app, where they can also rate the experience.\n\"Receiving a package securely and reliably in your car, without you having to be there, is something we think many people will appreciate,\" said Atif Rafiq, chief digital officer at Volvo Cars. \"This mix of car and commerce is starting the next wave of innovation and we intend to be at the forefront.\"\nTo check eligibility and to sign up for Amazon Key In-Car, visit amazon.com/keyincar.", "“Amazon’s latest perk… free delivery to your car,” Mae Anderson reports for The Associated Press. “The Seattle company on Tuesday began offering delivery in 37 cities to Amazon Prime members who own newer General Motors or Volvo vehicles.”\n“The company will expand the number of locations as well as eligible vehicle makes and models going forward,” Anderson reports. “Last year, Amazon launched Amazon Key which lets those who with a Wi-Fi-connected lock to unlock their front doors so that packages could be left inside. Earlier this year, the company acquired Ring, which makes Wi-Fi-connected cameras and doorbells.”\n“The in-car delivery service is available to members of Amazon Prime whose cars are parked in publicly accessible areas, such as on the street in front of an apartment building, at a workplace parking lot, or in a driveway,” Anderson reports. “Packages are placed in the vehicle’s trunk or out of plain sight. Deliveries are available right now to Prime members with 2015 year or newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicles with GM’s OnStar connected-car service, and those with a 2015 or newer Volvo vehicle with an active Volvo On Call account. Customers must download the Amazon Key app to which they can link a connected car.”\nRead more in the full article here.", "The henhouse door is opening on backyard chickens in four Toronto neighbourhoods after approval of a three-year pilot project to take them off the list of prohibited animals.\nOf course, there are plenty of chickens illegally in the city already. The Globe sought out an underground urban farmer and promised anonymity to protect her against a bylaw crackdown.\nEmily, a thirtysomething lawyer and resident of the Junction Triangle in west Toronto (an area not covered by the pilot), has been raising chickens in the city for several months. She and her partner, a hospital manager, are both allergic to fur pets, so they saw the chickens as a way to have animals with the side benefits of being outdoors and getting eggs. But they didn't feel qualified to go all in on their backyard coop, so they eased in with renting two chickens in May. Yes, renting.\nStory continues below advertisement\nThey named their clandestine cluckers Red and Poulet and after a getting-to-know-each-other period, the quartet settled into a friendly routine. The birds have a small run in their coop and range about the yard when the couple are home. Barbecues with friends included free-roaming chickens and they became attractions for neighbourhood kids. The couple shared eggs – each bird was laying one a day at their peak – with co-workers and friends.\nAs the cool weather approaches, Red and Poulet will leave for their home farm Oct. 15. The couple paid about $550 to rent the chickens, which included a coop, feed and customer support.\nThey had fun with their poultry pair, but Emily says they may not be mini-farmers next year. It was a lot of obligation and clean-up, she says, and they had to arrange for chicken-sitting when they went away.\nIs there a steep learning curve around chickens?\nThey're weird animals and they have habits that we weren't expecting. They dust bathe, which means they dig holes in your yard and throw the dirt around them to clean themselves. So we have four or five holes in our backyard. Looking after them is fairly straightforward. You feed them, you let them out. It's just more getting used to their behaviours. Picking them up was really the main thing we struggled with initially. One of them was really flighty when we first got them, so we would be chasing her around the yard for 10 minutes at a time trying to get her in the coop.\nHave there been issues with your neighbours?\nWe were really worried about that. We have a yard that's a strange layout where we have a next-door neighbour but we are also perpendicular to three or four other yards. So we have a lot of neighbours who would easily realize that we had chickens. So we made a flyer about a week before they came just explaining what we were doing and the program and saying they are not noisy, they are not smelly, and don't worry, we'll bring you eggs. And luckily, all our neighbours were really excited about it.\nStory continues below advertisement\nStory continues below advertisement\nDid you worry about getting caught?\nI think we did at the beginning, because even though our neighbours said they were fine with it, there are a lot of yards that see into ours, so I'm sure more people knew. As a couple of months went by, there was nothing. And they really aren't loud. I think people think they are because they think of roosters but hens aren't loud. They smell if you put your nose right next to the coop but they don't smell in a general way. So as soon as we realized that they weren't disturbing anyone and it would take someone who just didn't like the idea to complain, I think we felt better about it.\nWill you miss your chickens when they leave?\nWe will. They definitely got used to us, so if we're sitting in the backyard eating our dinner, they'll try to eat some of it, too. And they hover around us and they like us and they follow us around the backyard. There are obligations, like there are with any pet, that we won't miss, like cleaning the coop. That is not fun. They do poop a lot and that's something I think people should know if they are going to get chickens. They will poop all over your yard, multiple times … But they do have a lot of personality. They are fun … There is a lot of reward. They are cute and quirky.\nWhat do you think of the city's pilot?\nI think it's a good idea. I think they are just like any other pet, really. I don't think there is any risk that means they should be banned. I think regulating it is a good idea because if there are any concerns about people not looking after them or animal welfare, the city has the right to come inspect. A pilot project is a good way to get people to buy in. I think probably most people if they saw backyard chickens they would see it's not a problem in the way it's been made out to be a problem. They're just bigger birds. There are birds in everyone's backyard.\nStory continues below advertisement\nThis interview has been edited and condensed.", "The new iPad Pro 10.5, with its beautifully enlarged display in a smaller form factor, is out now. Here's what Apple's new tablet looks like on the inside.\nTeardown specialists iFixit have released their complete breakdown of what the new Pro 10.5 has hiding beneath that rapid new 120 Hz panel, and it looks like it's going to be a hard one to fix.\nAfter performing a deep dive into the internals of the device, iFixit claims that a fused front panel will increase the costs of any screen repair you might need carried out.\nAlso, \"gobs of adhesive\" hold each component into each place, posing further challenges when attempting to fix the flagship tablet. This glue might be trying to put off users from gaining access to the device, but the thinner bezel actually makes prising open the unit a little easier. Yet, this adhesive also prevents the Pro 10.5 from being the second truly recyclable iPad after the original Pro.\nCheck out the teardown video below:\nAlso making things easier is the arrangement of the display cables. For only the second time in an iPad, Apple have placed the display cables right down the centre of the tablet, reducing the risk of accidentally snagging one when performing repairs.\nHowever, there is a curious difference between the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi and Cellular models. In the Wi-Fi only version there is a mysterious black plastic box where the Cellular unit would be in its mobile internet-capable sister.\nMaking things more interesting is the fact that this plastic block was not present in the Wi-Fi only 12.9-inch model.\n\"We are speculating that it adds support to the display assembly, as opposed to empty space as seen in earlier iPads,\" iFixit report.\nRelated: 10.5-inch iPad Pro vs 12.9-inch iPad Pro\nWill you be upgrading your iPad to the new iPad Pro 10.5? Let us know in the comments below.", "The airport was inaugurated in 2015. Express The airport was inaugurated in 2015. Express\nPassengers at the Chandigarh International Airport are expected to get the Wi-Fi services from the next week. This was announced by state-run BSNL that will provide the service. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had awarded the work of installation Wi-Fi at the Chandigarh International Airport to the BSNL. The new terminal of the Chandigarh International Airport, which was inaugurated in 2015, has no Wi-Fi facilities for the passengers at present.\nJ S Sahota, general manager, BSNL Telecom District, Chandigarh, told the Chandigarh Newsline on Monday that the process of installation of Wi-Fi equipment at the airport has been started. “There was some delay about receiving the equipment. But we are now expecting to provide the facility to the passengers in the next one week.”\nHe said once the service is started, the passengers would be provided free access to the facility for the first 20 minutes. “Those who want to use it further, will be provided an option to recharge it online to continue its use,” he said.\nThe new terminal of Chandigarh International Airport located in Mohali was inaugurated by PM Modi in 2015. The international flights at the airport, however, started last year only. Off late, several new destinations have been added by the airlines, which has also increased the domestic and international passenger traffic at the airport.\nInstallation of Wi-Fi is one of the main demands raised by the passengers at the airport. “This facility should have been started earlier. This is an important airport and it is disappointing that this airport still doesn’t have Wi-Fi facility,” said Anurag Verma, a Patiala resident.\nFor all the latest India News, download Indian Express App now", "× Amazon’s latest perk – free delivery inside your car\nSAN FRANCISCO — Amazon’s latest perk … free delivery to your car.\nThe Seattle company on Tuesday began offering delivery in 37 cities to Amazon Prime members who own newer General Motors or Volvo vehicles.\nThe company will expand the number of locations as well as eligible vehicle makes and models going forward.\nAmazon has steadily expanded its reach into places long considered no-go zones for most people outside of the immediate family, starting with smart speakers in the home that await voice commands to come to life.\nLast year, Amazon launched Amazon Key which lets those who with a Wi-Fi-connected lock to unlock their front doors so that packages could be left inside. Earlier this year, the company acquired Ring, which makes Wi-Fi-connected cameras and doorbells.\nThe in-car delivery service is available to members of Amazon Prime whose cars are parked in publicly accessible areas, such as on the street in front of an apartment building, at a workplace parking lot, or in a driveway. Amazon won’t deliver to a private parking garage or other places where access to a vehicle is not readily available. Packages are placed in the vehicle’s trunk or out of plain sight.\nDeliveries are available right now to Prime members with 2015 year or newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicles with GM’s OnStar connected-car service, and those with a 2015 or newer Volvo vehicle with an active Volvo On Call account.\nCustomers must download the Amazon Key app to which they can link a connected car.\nOn the day a package is scheduled for delivery, customers can use the Amazon Key app to confirm that their car is parked in a place where a delivery can be made.\nThe app also provides notifications with an expected 4-hour delivery window and notifies customers when the package is on its way and when it’s been delivered. Customers can track when their car was unlocked and relocked through the app, where they can also rate the experience.\n“Receiving a package securely and reliably in your car, without you having to be there, is something we think many people will appreciate,” said Atif Rafiq, chief digital officer at Volvo Cars. “This mix of car and commerce is starting the next wave of innovation and we intend to be at the forefront.”\nTo check eligibility and to sign up for Amazon Key In-Car, visit amazon.com/keyincar .", "No matter if you're experienced or not, you can improve your life with home improvement. The home in which you live is a large part of your life. The following information is designed to help you get an idea of what you can do to improve your home and thus improve your life.\nSpend some time in your prospective neighborhood driving and walking through. You should have some idea about the kind of maintenance your new neighbors apply to their homes. If the area seems run down with overgrown yards and untidy homes, you will want to rethink moving into the area.\nA great way to let outdoor light inside your kitchen is by using minimal window coverings. Using dark drapery and valances can block out natural lighting and make your kitchen appear dark. Using a light colored curtain or sheer, can be a great help in lighting up your kitchen, the natural way.\nUse all the outdoor space available to you. You can turn your backyard into an extension of the house. A backyard patio is the perfect space for relaxing, barbecuing and entertaining.\nDesign a renovation with an eye to creating built-in storage. For example, a broom closet can be reborn into a small pantry, or you can add floor-level shelving to a coat closest for shoes and bags. If you are renovating to sell a home, the benefit of the added storage can be the deciding factor in a buyer's decision.\nRemodel your closet by using closet organizer kits. These kits are designed to maximize usable space in your closet. A basic kit usually comes with a closet rod and enough components to give you multiple shelves that you can adjust. Additional components can be purchased to customize your closet even more. This is a great way to add storage space in your home without a major remodel.\nPurchasing a full set of metal fixtures is one way to quickly uplift a bathroom's look. There are many varieties of bathroom hardware available, such as cabinet knobs and toilet paper holders. Look for coordinating sets of these fixtures that are easy to install in one day at home improvement stores.\nIf you're one of the many people who are suffering from lack of space in their closets, have no fear. You can easily build simple shelving inside of your closet to create more space for your clothing and accessories. Hang your purses on pegs and put your shoes in small plastic boxes to be able to later stack them on the bottom of your closet. Whatever you're not using and is out of season, consider moving them to storage or storing them under your bed.\nAsk your family members and friends for help before you start your next project to improve your home. You may not be able to locate anyone to give you a hand if you have begun. You might not be able to get the project done when you wanted to as well.\nPlace a nice centerpiece on your dining room table to create a sophisticated look. Your arrangement doesn't have to be floral in nature. You can mix celery sticks or different vegetables with flowers, or use wildflowers growing outside to create an arrangement pleasing to the eye. You can place your centerpiece into a basket or a vase.\nIf you need more room due to a growing family, don't sell your home. Instead, remodel it. Add on rooms or remodel the ones that you already have to make them bigger. This has some great benefits, it will save you a significant amount of money and the hassle of having to move.\nUnsightly air conditioning units may not be attractive, but in other regions it could be a necessity. It is easy to cover the unit with a trellis or bamboo stand. You can also use pampas grass or other ornamental yard grasses, do not plant them too closely.\nDoes a tree in front of your house look unkempt? Why not give your home a nice breath of fresh air by getting this tree shaped properly. If you do this, your front yard will change forever. There is no comparison between a trimmed tree and an unkempt one.\nAre there bare patches in your lawn with no grass? If that is the case, consider purchasing some grass seed. If your lawn is not even, your home will never look as good as it could. Revive your lawn all on your own.\nTo prevent a leaky roof make sure you do routine inspections for possible problems. You should do this after and major weather disturbances such as a strong storm, heavy rain or wind, hail storms, or heavy snow. Once you have found any discrepancies make sure you act on them right away.\nThese simple and efficient tips can be carried out by almost anyone. The more you practice the more comfortable you will become with working on improvement projects yourself and you will eventually be able to move onto more complicated issues. This is a great way to save money on your home and even improve the total value.", "Qantas passengers will have access to Foxtel, Netflix and Spotify this year when the Australian airline launches the free service.\nPassengers will be able to choose from thousands of shows, including live sport, from 35,000 feet in the air with speeds 10 times faster than conventional in-flight Wi-Fi, the carrier said.\nThe services will be available on the first domestic aircraft in February before the they are rolled out to the rest of the airline's fleet from mid-2017.\nQantas passengers will have access to Foxtel, Netflix and Spotify this year when the Australian airline launches the free service\nWhile Foxtel, Netflix and Spotify are all paid subscription services, they will offer free access to Qantas customers for up to a month after their flight with the airline.\nFoxtel will offer three days free access every time a customer flies, while Netflix and Spotify will both offer a 30-day free trial for new customers.\nQantas domestic fleet of Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 planes will be equipped with the in-flight services within the next 18 months.\nInternational routes will then be trialed after the domestic roll-out.\n'Qantas Wi-Fi to get a workout with Foxtel, Netflix and Spotify on board,' the airline posted to Twitter on Wednesday\nWhile Foxtel, Netflix and Spotify are all paid subscription services, they will offer free access to Qantas customers for up to a month after their flight with the airline\nQantas Group Executive of Brand Olivia Wirth said the offer brought the airline up to speed with customer demand and put Qantas ahead of its competitors.\n'Foxtel and Netflix both have huge catalogues that are expanding all the time, so there will be no shortage of entertainment on board,' she said.\n'The usage of data from the collection of albums we already have on our aircraft shows that music is a great way for passengers to relax as they watch the world fly by. Spotify will open this up so you can listen to virtually any song you like.'\nQantas also said it would offer real-time flight data including hotel, restaurant and transport options.\nThe airline said it was also in talks with suppliers to extend Wi-Fi services onto its international and regional fleets.\nQantas also said it would boast real-time flight data including hotel, restaurant and transport options\n'Love your work Qantas - if you could turn it on Friday morning for the 8am flight from Brisbane to Melbourne,' one Twitter user said\n'Free to air live streaming too. Need cricket!' another Twitter user said on Wednesday\nFollowing Qantas' announcement on Wednesday morning, customers were quick to share their thoughts with the airline.\n'Love your work Qantas - if you could turn it on Friday morning for the 8am flight from Brisbane to Melbourne,' one man said.\nAnother punter suggested the airline add free to air live streaming to its growing list of on-board entertainment.\n'Need cricket!' he said.", "iBall announces its latest ‘iBall Slide Elan 4G2’. The Slide as the name suggests brings sophistication with Bigger, Better and Terrific performance keeping you at the threshold of nonstop entertainment. iBall Slide Elan 4G2 delivers life to the vibrant colors and brilliant screening experience from every angle with its 25.65 cm (10.1”) IPS HD (1280X800) technology. Apart from the stunning display, the Tablet fusions it with Slim and Lightweight design with 10.4 mm thickness, weighing 575 gms. The bold looks and attractive features give a complete package to the users at a budgeted price. For strong connectivity and faster internet, the Tablet has an in-built 4G VoLTE support. The supersonic 4G network with bolt speed enables to download data like various apps, games, TV shows, movies and songs, etc. faster than ever.\niBall Slide Elan 4G2 comes with a vast 7000 mAh battery and intelligent Power management that brings plenty of power all day long and night! Elan 4G2 incorporates an additional DC pin charging slot. Equipped with Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, it makes user experience smoother & faster, helping with the Work & Play mode at ease. The device comes with Quad Core Processor that provides a speed of up to 1.3GHz, enabling you to complete tasks in no time with terrific productivity. It is powered with 2GB RAM that functions fluently providing seamless multitasking experience to the user along with 16 GB in-built memory expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD card. The device is loaded with 5MP Auto-focus Rear camera with LED Flash that functions even in low light. And for the never-ending love for selfies, the device gives a 2MP Front camera along with several preloaded features namely Multi angle, face detection, etc. It emanates several connectivity options which includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB OTG Function, Micro USB Port, Bluetooth Tethering, USB tethering, Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi hotspot. iBall Slide Elan 4G2 supports users with 9 Indian Regional System languages and 21 Indian Regional languages (read and write – keyboard support) personalizing your every experience.\nTo add more, it sports ‘Cast Screen’ Technology, which lets you mirror what you are seeing on the display of your Tablet to an external source like a TV or Monitor. Keeping you hooked to the world of entertainment and increased productivity Slide Elan 4G2 comes with terrific pre-loaded apps from entertainment, music and utility apps. Moreover, it comes with pre-Installed Word, Excel and PowerPoint stub apps.", "With absolutely no fanfare at all, Apple has just announced a new iPad simply called ‘iPad’ or ‘iPad 9.7’. It’s taking the place of the iPad Air 2 in Apple’s tablet line-up, so don’t think of this as an iPad Pro successor so much as a more affordable, mid-range offering.\nBut the iPad Air 2 was once a flagship tablet and still impresses, so just how does this new iPad 9.7 compare?\nWe’ve got all the answers here, as we put the two slates head-to-head, looking at their design, screen, power, price and more.\nDesign\nNot much has changed here, with both the new iPad 9.7 and the iPad Air 2 sporting a slim metal unibody in gold, silver or space gray.\nThere are differences to the size and weight though, with the new iPad coming in at 240 x 169.5 x 7.5mm and 469g (or 478g for the cellular model), while the iPad Air 2 is 240 x 169.5 x 6.1mm and 437g, or 444g for the cellular version.\nSo they’re the same length and width, but the iPad Air 2 is actually significantly slimmer and a little bit lighter, despite being an older model.\nThat, perhaps, is why Apple has ditched the Air moniker this year, but at 7.5mm thick the new iPad 9.7 is still far from fat.\nBoth models also have a home button on the front with Touch ID built in, so from a design perspective it’s really only the weight and thickness that differs – and those things work out in the older slate’s favor.\nScreen\nNothing seems to have changed here, with the new iPad 9.7 and the iPad Air 2 both sporting a 9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 display with a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch.\nThe lack of a change here is no surprise though, given that even the pricier iPad Pro 9.7 has a screen of that size and spec.\nOS and power\nThe new iPad 9.7 runs iOS 10.2, and while the iPad Air 2 shipped with iOS 8.1 it’s upgradeable to iOS 10.2, so there’s no difference in operating system, though it’s worth noting that the new iPad is likely to be supported with updates for longer.\nPower has been given a boost with the new slate sporting an A9 chipset, along with an M9 coprocessor. The iPad Air 2 meanwhile uses the older Apple A8X chip – that’s a generation behind, so the new iPad 9.7 should be a little snappier, though notably it’s not using Apple’s latest A10 Fusion chip.\nCamera\nApple hasn’t upgraded the new iPad’s camera to match the iPad Pro 9.7. Instead it’s stuck with the same snapper as the iPad Air 2, namely an 8MP rear one and a 1.2MP FaceTime one.\nNeither camera on either slate has a flash either, and video recording tops out at 1080p at 30 frames per second, so don’t expect to be able to shoot anything brilliant on either tablet – though why you’d want to use a 9.7-inch slate for photography is beyond us anyway.\nBattery\nApple doesn’t reveal the exact sizes of the batteries in its devices, so we don’t know yet exactly how the new iPad 9.7 stacks up, but Apple claims it can last for up to 10 hours of video watching or web browsing on Wi-Fi, which is a match for the 7,340mAh iPad Air 2, so it’s likely that they’re the same size.\nPrice\nApple’s listing the new iPad 9.7 with a starting price of $329/£339/AU$469 for a 32GB Wi-Fi model, and it tops out at $559/£559/AU$799 for a 128GB Wi-Fi and cellular version. There are only 32GB and 128GB versions available.\nThe iPad Air 2, while no longer available from Apple itself, was recently available starting at $399/£379/AU$569 for a 32GB Wi-Fi model, and rising to $629/£589/AU$879 for a 128GB Wi-Fi and cellular version.\nSo the new iPad 9.7 is actually cheaper than the iPad Air 2 was (and that’s following price drops – the iPad Air 2 launched at a higher price), though don’t be surprised if other retailers now drop the price of the iPad Air 2 below that of the new iPad.\nTakeaway\nThe new iPad 9.7 doesn’t appear much different to the iPad Air 2 and in some ways – notably the thickness and weight – it’s arguably worse.\nBut with a faster chipset it could be slightly better and slightly more future-proofed overall.\nIt’s also cheaper, which is perhaps the single biggest reason to buy it – that and the fact that the iPad Air 2 could become increasingly hard to get hold of.\nIt’s definitely not the slate to replace your aging iPad Air 2 with – check out the iPad Pro 9.7 or wait for the iPad Pro 2 if you’re interested in doing that. But if you’re after an Apple slate that won’t break the bank, the new iPad could be a strong option.", "New Wi-Fi enabled smart door lock adds sleek design, Bluetooth 5.0 and \"hands-free\" capabilities for more convenient access when entering the home\nLJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA--(Marketwired - Apr 17, 2017) - Today, Teodoor announces the smallest, most functional smart lock available to date. The lock enables \"hands-free\" access with ensured security to simplify and hasten the user's entry. Using advanced recognition technology, access codes, and combinations of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the smart lock grants access to approved users without the added hassle of searching for keys or your smartphone to unlock the door.\nTeodoor is using Bluetooth 5 technology for greater stability, promising fast and reliable wireless connectivity with increased range. Once a user is within 100 feet of the door with their smartphone, he or she will be recognized through the Teodoor app via Bluetooth, and once the user is within five to ten feet from the door, the smart lock will unlock the door.\nThe advanced authorization uses safe encrypting algorithms in the background, without storing any private information about its users creating endless possibilities -- i.e. appointing multiple people with access permission or setting schedules and reminders. It can also provide intrusion alerts to notify users if an unidentified person has forcefully opened their door.\n\"There are many smart locks on the market right now that provide keyless entry, but we're excited to be the first to design a truly 'hands-free' lock with a wide range of convenient possibilities for home owners,\" said Martin Koterle, CEO of Teodoor. \"While the most important thing is to keep you and your house safe, smart locks should also be easy to install and a pleasure to use. With Teodoor, not only can you leave your smartphone in your purse or pocket, but you don't even have to have the app open to unlock the front door.\"\nIn the unfortunate event that a user's phone is stolen, if the lock is Wi-Fi enabled (optional), users will be able to log in via Teodoor's web app and disable the phone. Users can also disable the stolen phone by using another smart device to access the app, or performing a hard reset to the Teodoor lock. The procedure is quite similar to losing your keys, however with Teodoor you can reset, while traditional locks and deadbolts security process requires the user buying a new set.\nTeodoor is available for pre-order starting at $99 ($149 for Wi-Fi enabled lock) and the product will ship end of 2017.\nAbout Teodoor\nTeodoor is an exciting team of creators from Slovenia exploring the IoT world. With its first product, the world's smallest smart lock, Teodoor seeks to provide customers with a sleek and multifunctional product in the rapidly emerging field of smart home technology. For more information on Teodoor, visit www.teodoor.com.", "\"India is a big market for the next billion users. Wi-Fi is a huge focus area and opportunity in terms of connecting these users,\" K. Suri, Director, Partnership, India, Next Billion Users, Google India, told reporters\nRepresentational Image\nGoogle's public Wi-Fi project is aiming to capture 40 million new connected users in India by 2019, resulting into at least $20 billion being added to the country's GDP, a top company executive here on Wednesday.\n\"India is a big market for the next billion users. Wi-Fi is a huge focus area and opportunity in terms of connecting these users,\" K. Suri, Director, Partnership, India, Next Billion Users, Google India, told reporters.\n\"We have found that if users have free and fast access, it could make significant change to their lives and overall economic prosperity,\" Suri added while releasing a joint study by Google and global research firm Analysys Mason.\nPublic Wi-Fi could play a key role in driving ubiquitous connectivity and digital inclusion in India.\nGoogle has currently partnered with RailTel and Indian Railways to offer public Wi-Fi in railway stations, covering 400 stations with about 7.6 million monthly active Wi-Fi users.\n\"Public Wi-Fi will connect 40 million new users to the Internet by 2019 and that would translate into tangible benefits to GDP, by around $20 billion between 2017-19 and at least $10 billion per annum thereafter,\" the study showed.\nThe report, titled \"Accelerating connectivity through public Wi-Fi: Early lessons from the railway Wi-Fi project,\" outlined an opportunity to develop a wider connectivity ecosystem with public Wi-Fi as a key component.\n\"By 2019, over 100 million users will spend an extra $3 billion annually on mobile broadband and handsets because of their experience of high-speed public Wi-Fi,\" noted Ashwinder Sethi, Principal Consultant, Analysys Mason.\n\"This has direct implications on Wi-Fi ecosystem in the country, and indirect implications on the broader connectivity ecosystem, along with government, GDP and productivity,\" he added.\nThe high-speed Wi-Fi network with uncapped bandwidth of 1 Gbit/s per station provides path-breaking digital experience to existing and new users alike.\nOffered as a free utility service under the brand name \"RailWire\", users have 30 minutes of free access to the Internet, in which they can on an average consume 350 MB of data per session.\n\"Currently, the public Wi-Fi has close to 8 million monthly active users, two-thirds of which are in a typically young age group. While 50 per cent users access the Internet multiple times a day -- 36 per cent first time Wi-Fi users on the network,\" Suri said.\n\"The most usage is of online videos streaming content and watching IPL, social networking, finance. Even with multiple users getting connected at the same time, the experience is seamless and fast, with no buffering,\" the Google executive noted.\nAs part of the next billion users initiative, Google is now building on the success of RailTel project to expand the public Wi-Fi outside train stations, into Indian cities and around the world like Indonesia and Mexico, among others, Suri 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" ]

[ "Ray Wood" ]

[ "villas", "The Man Who Won the War", "Who Made Who", "Villa Devachan", "Villa Panna", "Villa Leopolda", "Villa Publica", "villa Lemmi", "Villa Maria", "How the West Was Won", "Villa Savoye", "Villa Hermés", "Urvashi Won by Valour", "Villa Villekulla", "The Who by Numbers", "a Roman villa", "23 trillion won", "220 billion won", "Betty Who", "The Who's Tommy", "100 Windows Villa", "When", "who is singing", "Armistice of Villa Giusti", "Who Dat", "Dr. Who", "235.2 billion won", "The Pancho Villa Expedition", "Who You Are", "Villa Julie College", "near Crotchet's villa", "Who Is Fancy" ]

[ "This paper present the new approach of the Holonic Manufacturing Systems. The new concept take in consideration an associated or augmented property to belong a different concepts inspired from biological social live. The new challenge on the new millennium in manufacturing process conduct in a more sophisticated and diversification techniques to approach the planning and scheduling and finally the managing complex processing in industrial environment. The answer for new context of the globalization and the mass-customization is a high responsivness in a distributed space of orders, products, resources or other necessity. To be able to answer on to mass customization process is mandatory to have a high degree of flexibility. The last major modeling in the Holonic Manufacturing Systems and Multi-agent Systems try to integrate all the aspect could be a substantial contribution to a new value compare to the classical systems." ]

[ "Abstract This research introduces an intelligent approach for identifying the optimal production schedule to satisfy product and manufacturing constraints. In this approach, product constraints are modeled using a feature-based product representation scheme. Manufacturing constraints are described as available resources including facilities and persons. Manufacturing requirements for producing the products, including tasks and sequential constraints for conducting these tasks, are represented as part of the product feature descriptions. The optimal production process and its timing parameter values are identified using constraint-based search and agent-based collaboration. The intelligent optimal production scheduling system was implemented using Smalltalk, an object oriented programming language.", "Based on the Poisson equation of average cost Markov process, we give the formula of derivatives of system performance with respect to system parameters. Corresponding algorithm to estimate the derivatives is given. Then, Markov process models of re-entrant queueing network under some scheduling policies are established. After simulating single sample path of these models, we investigate the sensitivity of system performance to parameters of re-entrant manufacturing system under some scheduling policies. The robustness of some priority scheduling policies is given. Simulation results demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of our algorithm.", "This paper compares two metaheuristic approaches in solving a constrained transportation scheduling problem, which can be found in transporting goods in emergency situations. We compared Greedy Search, Parameter-less Evolutionary Search and Ant-Stigmergy Algorithm. The transportation scheduling/allocation problem is NP-hard, and is applicable to different real-life situations with high frequency of loading and unloading operations; like in depots, warehouses and ports. To evaluate the efficiency of the presented approaches, they were tested with four tasks based on realistic data. Each task was evaluated using group and free transportation approach. The experiments proved that all tested algorithms are viable option in solving such scheduling problems, however some performing better than others on some tasks.", "Abstract This paper describes the experimental implementation of a rule based Expert System for production scheduling in a small manufacturing company. An attempt was made to capture the local knowledge and informal heuristics used by the experienced human production scheduler and to reduce these to a set of rules which would operate on a relational database representing current shop floor status and projected future loading; the objective was for the system to produce schedules similar to those of the human. Some background information is given on the scheduling environment in the company concerned, followed by a general description of the Expert System itself. Some experiences and lessons learned from the experimental implementation are then discussed.", "Automation systems are the modern means of operation for a wide spectrum of industrial production processes, such as chemical plants, steel mills, paper mills, oil refineries or mineral processes. The automation system is increasingly not only the platform for control algorithms but also for planning and scheduling solutions. Because of the importance and relevance of automation systems for instrument and control engineers, it is highly beneficial that students and industry professionals alike get exposure to automation systems in a safe and accessible laboratory environment. This paper investigates the construction of a model discrete manufacturing plant, built with Fischertechnik model stations, and using ABB's Freelance AC800F industrial automation software. The aim is to create an automation environment which can be utilized for discrete manufacturing planning and scheduling research, software development as well as demonstration for educational purposes.", "A new prior-to-run bottleneck detection method based on orthogonal experiment (BD-OE) is proposed for job shop from the perspective of scheduling. It is built according to a new bottleneck definition which is proposed based on the principle of ''Bottlenecks determine the performance of manufacturing systems'' in TOC. The method takes the scheduling objective as estimated index, and constructs orthogonal trials by orthogonal array and dispatching rules to detect the bottleneck machine which has the greatest effect on the estimated index. It can detect the bottleneck machine before manufacturing systems run, and guide the following production process for the improvement of the performance of manufacturing systems. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed method, different scales of job shop scheduling instances and two existing bottleneck detection methods are selected for simulation. The results show that the prior-to-run bottleneck detection method is feasible, efficient and easily implemented.", "In this paper, we present an integrated object-oriented knowledge representation framework developed for modelling and analyzing manufacturing systems. The proposed framework allows for an easier integration of artificial intelligence and operations research techniques within manufacturing-dedicated intelligent objects. We particularly focus on presenting intelligent objects used for scheduling purpose. Within such a framework, the capabilities of intelligent objects incorporate simple scheduling rules as well as external knowledge sources such as a mathematical programming code, self-contained adhoc heuristic scheduling procedures, a database or an expert system shell. Illustrative applications of the concepts discussed are presented, using the object-oriented programming environment of SMALLTALK-80 on SUN workstations.", "In the first paper of this series it was found that the $\\eta$-spin 1/2 holons, spin 1/2 spinons, and $c$ pseudoparticles whose occupancy configurations describe the energy eigenstates of the one-dimensional Hubbard model emerge from the electron - rotated-electron unitary transformation. In this second paper we discuss and clarify how the relation of the electrons to the above objects can be used in a program for evaluation of finite-energy few-electron spectral functions. As a first step, here we characterize the dominant holon and spinon microscopic physical processes that originate more than 99% of the few-electron spectral weight. These dominant processes are related to exact selection rules for the values of the number of holons and spinons generated or annihilated by application onto a ground state of rotated-electron operators. We also generalize the concepts of a lower Hubbard band and upper Hubbard bands to all values of on-site Coulombian repulsion.", "A versatile, multi-machine workcentre capable of processing a range of parts is the basic manufacturing unit in an automated manufacturing system. The workcentres operate with finite buffers and multiple machines. This paper develops multi-server polling models for these systems. Since exact queueing analysis of this class of polling systems is known to be exceedingly difficult, the performance analysis is carried out using generalised stochastic Petri net (GSPN) models. The modelling issues are identified, and a hierarchical GSPN model is developed. The GSPN model can encompass a variety of system features, such as various server scheduling rules and queue service policies. >", "This paper deals with the problem of scheduling of mobile robots taking into account preemption cases in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). In addition to capability of transporting materials between some machines, mobile robots are able to perform manufacturing tasks at other machines by using their manipulation arms. These manufacturing tasks can be preempted to allow mobile robots to transport materials when needed. The performance criterion is to minimize time required to complete all tasks, i.e. makespan. A mixed-integer programming (MIP) model is formulated to find the optimal solutions for the problem. Numerical experiments are investigated to demonstrate results of the proposed approach.", "We consider an integrated production and distribution scheduling problem faced by a typical make-to-order manufacturer which relies on a third-party logistics provider for finished product delivery to customers. In the beginning of a planning horizon, the manufacturer has received a set of orders to be processed on a single production line. Completed orders are delivered to customers by a finite number of vehicles (e.g. trucks, air freight containers on specific air flights) provided by the 3PL company which follows a fixed daily or weekly shipping schedule such that the vehicles have fixed departure dates which are not part of the decisions. The problem is to find a feasible schedule that minimizes one of the following objective functions: (1) the number of late orders, (2) the number of vehicles used subject to the condition that the number of late orders is minimum. We show that both problems are solvable in polynomial time.", "With the development of information technology,manufacturing companies,especially with middle and small batch production mode,face more and more challenges.If only using single CAD,CAPP or scheduling system,information isolated island is easily produced,which will affect company competitive power.In this paper,based on existent problems of manufacturing company,integrated scheme of the system is discussed,and key technology and the function of all the modules are narrated.", "Many project scheduling and management software systems are being employed in the construction industry. Standards-based translation is one way to achieve interoperability. This study discusses the applicability of the Process Specifi cation Language (PSL) for exchanging project scheduling information among different applications. PSL was initiated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and is emerging as a standard exchange language for process information in the manufacturing industry. This paper explores how PSL can be used for exchanging project scheduling information among software programs in project management. Furthermore, we investigate how PSL could be utilized to reason about potential confl icts and to perform consistency checking on project scheduling information. Process Specifi cation Language (PSL), information exchange, consistency checking, project management", "Ford Motor Company has designed, developed, and implemented a collective system of decision support tools, supply chain visualization methods, and optimization techniques to aid its planning and scheduling in a complex automotive manufacturing environment. Although originally developed particularly for stamping plants, the system can also be applied in other manufacturing environments where setup times play a dominant role. By enabling substantial improvements in workplace planning and production scheduling, the implementation of this system has resulted in significant reductions in premium freight charges, overtime wages, and inventory costs.", "The goal of this paper is to describe a simple protocol based on passive stigmergy for agent interaction in a multiagent system, which can exhibit complex behavior, and to study the effects of alternative decisions, which can be seen as perturbations that can change the final state of the system. Several ways of visualizing the influence relations that the agents have on one another and the effects of alternative decisions are presented.", "This study was carried out in a plastic workshop of a refrigerator factory to solve problems of excessive work in process. In order to provide synchronous manufacturing between Capacity Constrained Resources (CCR) and non-Capacity Constraint Resources (non-CCR), an approach was developed based on the Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) scheduling system, which was intended for solving problems such as this. The approach was based on a heuristic that integrates Wagner-Whitin's algorithm and finite loading method to determine optimum lot sizes for non-CCR machine's material release schedule. A simulation model was used to analyze whether an improved scheduling approach was appropriate or not. An experimental study was also conducted to determine the time buffers.", "Coordinating production scheduling decisions with the process control system requires considering the evolution of the process over multiple time scales and at multiple levels of detail. From a mathematical perspective, this requires dealing with process models that are large-scale, ill-conditioned and involve both continuous and discrete variables (the former related to physical states, while the latter reflect production management decisions). In this paper, we introduce a novel methodology for time scale-bridging between production scheduling and process control. We use process operating data to obtain low-order models of the closed-loop behavior of the process, which are then incorporated in the production scheduling framework. The theoretical developments are accompanied by an illustrative case study on a methyl methacrylate process, showing excellent economic results and significantly improved computational performance.", "On the factory shop-floor adaptive automation and scheduling plays a sensitive role for production systems' agility, representing the soft layer between the factory physical resources and business processes. A fundamental requirement for adaptive shop-floor solutions is to incorporate a data structure that comprehensively integrates product, process and physical resource information. This paper presents a novel data structure entitled SKEM - STEP compliant Knowledge Engine for Manufacturing, conceived as an abstract, extensible, scalable, multi-granular, integrated and evolving platform. A software tool based on SKEM is tested through a case study to illustrate the benefits of its application for a dynamic manufacturing factory environment.", "This paper presents a research project carry out at Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia in the area of fuzzy scheduling. The fuzzy based scheduling model, in this paper, will only deal with the job assignment problem in Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (RMS). The model will select the best alternative machine with multi-criteria scheduling through an approach based on a fuzzy logic. This paper aim to show the framework of research and methodology, which aspire to be constructing based on.", "This paper presents a case study from a manufacturer of aluminum products characterized by a complex and flexible production system with a broad product variety. We examine the application of the data mining process for generating planning rules. The resulting planning rules can be implemented in a manufacturing execution system to support the decision process in decentralized manufacturing control. The aim is to discover patterns and drivers for high manufacturing lead time from ERP data in order to define planning rules with the objective to reduce lead time.", "The open-air site of Holon (Israel), dated to an age of 200 000 years has yielded a large Acheulean bone and lithic assemblage. The association between the lithics and fauna clearly demonstrates that Hominids were the prime agents in creating the assemblage. The site of Holon plays a major role in understanding the Lower Palaeolithic of the Levantine coastal area.", "Abstract Delays in the internal movement of parts can directly influence throughput performance in some manufacturing systems. A part delay model for single-vehicle material handling systems is formulated and used to link the problems of facility layout and throughput maximization in automated manufacturing systems. The model is applied through a two-phase algorithm where a vehicle scheduling procedure bounds the level of expected part delays associated with alternative layout designs. A series of test problems is used to illustrate the performance and examine the robustness of the modelling procedure.", "In this paper, our work aims to show how region growing technique may be handled by swarming agents that are self-organisation in response to the local conditions of an image environment. In this approach, we combine the stigmergy mechanism with another type of swarm behavior: particle swarm optimization (PSO). PSO is used for optimize the search of the seed pixels of homogeneous regions and adjust locally the homogeneity threshold in different parts of image. However stigmergy is used for regulation of the growing structure of homogenous regions. Some experiments conducted on synthetic and real gray level images for showing the features of this approach and to present the obtained results.", "A program processing system and method for discharge. The system comprises a handling module, a timing module and a scheduling module is triggered. Resource state data capturing module periodically crawling the application of at least one system resource projects. The timing schedule module dynamically determining at least a point of the execution time of a program based on the resource state data. Triggering module instructs the program executed in an execution time point of the timing module determines scheduling. More after the gripping module program begins execution, fetch the resource status data, as feedback data for further determination.", "This paper examines the performance of back orders in a manufacturing operation which utilizes the management and scheduling techniques of material requirements planning (MRP) and just in time (JIT). The topic is concerned with the impact of supply chain management and marketing actions such as back orders on customer service, sales, and the production system. The interjection of back orders within the time fence of the master production schedule will reduce sales, revenue and customer Service up through the supply chain, while the total system cost associated with these back orders and service levels would increase.", "According to the large deviation between the actual and the plan in project sched ule and cost which was led to by the multiple projects in parallel and considerable ran dom events during the mould manufacturing process,the earned value management method being applied to mould manufacturing project management was presented.The characteris tics of mould manufacturing project as well as the problems in the project schedule and cost management were stated.The application model of mould manufacturing project sched ule and cost forecasting was established on the principle of EVM and then a example was described to illustrate the application of EVM in the mould enterprise.The results showed that the EVM-based method can accurately analyze and predict the time limit and cost of the mould manufacturing project.", "At NASA, the first steps of the Journey to Mars are well underway with the development of NASA's next generation launch system and investments in research and technologies that should increase the affordability, capability, and safety of exploration activities. Additive Manufacturing presents a disruptive opportunity for NASA to design and manufacture hardware with new materials at dramatically reduced cost and schedule. Opportunities to incorporate additive manufacturing align very well with NASA missions and with most NASA programs related to space, science, and aeronautics. The Agency also relies on many partnerships with other government agencies, industry and academia.", "The most used tool for quality control is control chart in manufacturing industry. But it has limitations at current situation where most of manufacturing facilities are automated and several manufacturing processes have interdependent relationship such as CCM assembly line. To Solve problems, we propose quality management system based on data mining that are consisted of monitoring system where it monitors flows of processes at single window and feature extraction system where it predicts the yield of final product and identifies which processes have impact on the quality of final product. The quality management system uses decision tree, neural network, self-organizing map for data mining. We hope that the proposed system can help manufacturing process to produce stable quality of products and provides engineers useful information such as the predicted yield for current status, identification of causal processes for lots of abnormality.", "In this study, the relationship between agile manufacturing and management of variability is discussed. First, the key concepts of agility and agile manufacturing are introduced. These key concepts are then related to the management of variability. Previous studies on the modeling of variability of manufacturing systems are reviewed. Then the effects of variability of the structure of the production system, and also the processing time variability on the performance of a manufacturing system are studied by utilizing a simple model of a synchronous production line with identical stations and random processing times. Numerical results that examine the effects of the coefficient of variation of service time and the number of stations on the variability of the cycle time are also given.", "In today's intensive competitive environment in the oil and gas industry, it is important to increase efficiency in production through resource management and well scheduling (resource scheduling, for short). However, resource scheduling has been a challenge for oil and gas companies for many years because it is influenced by a number of factors including environment, regulations, stakeholders, finances, the market, and approaches to determine and plan daily schedulable tasks This paper proposes a new approach to modeling well scheduling processes in oil and gas industry using the notion of virtual enterprise with intelligent agents and contract net protocol in multiagent systems technologies. This model will lead to a flexible well scheduling application that will assist in the scheduling of resources across the well lifecycle. We show the effectiveness of the approach by implementing an experimental system and giving a case study.", "This paper presents an empirical study of non-preemptive Multicriteria-Based, called MCB for short, scheduling policy. MCB scheduling policy uses multiple criteria of each request: arrival time, deadline, and processing time, to balance the requirements on both client and server sites. Weighted aggregation method is applied in this study to conduct the different measurements to a single figure of merit. For the empirical study, an M/G/1 queuing simulation system is implemented with MATLAB to represent a general server's incoming request scheduling system. Comparative simulation results of MCB with best effort scheduling policy on an overload situation show that MCB is an optimal scheduling policy.", "Assembly systems are very common in manufacturing environments. In such systems, certain machines require more than one part type before they can start processing. Our paper presents a practical stochastic model for evaluating the performance of closed-loop assembly systems. This evaluation is difficult because of synchronization delays and the large state space required to capture the interaction of the flow of parts among the various subassemblies. We present an approximate, but computationally efficient, aggregation/disaggregation algorithm to compute the system throughput and mean queue lengths for both the matched and unmatched WIP inventory components. The aggregation computes the conditional system throughput as a function of the number of jobs in the system, whereas the mean queue lengths are obtained by disaggregation. Application of our algorithm reveals several salient operational insights, such as the increase in queue length towards the downstream machines or the concavity of the assembly sys..." ]

[ "I read the previous reviews and ordered one size smaller than I normally wear. It fits great! I wore it as a cover for my swimsuit, and loved it. It's thin and cool. Would not wear it as a sundress, but that's just my personal preference." ]

[ "I have purchased few swimsuits to try and to find most flattering.\n\nMy body now doesn't look/feel the way I would love it to look. Gained some weight. 5'9\" and 190lb - purchased XL and it fits perfectly.\n\nI purchased Blue one, as I didn't like how other ones looked.\n\nThis swimsuit was the most flattering out of all other ones I've purchased.\n#1 - It definitely has some stomach support/tummy control, so the material on the body is really fit\n#2 - It has the right length, not to short or too long for me being tall\n#3 - I love the see through Mesh material - it lays so nicely and although it's see-through, it really covers the not-so-attractive hip/butt areas.\n\nPersonally, I prefer halter tops - it would have been great, if this was a halter top... I wish also it came it different colors/patterns.\n\nI found the same suit in another color (<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Bonvince-Women-s-Swimdress-Retro-Print-Plus-Size-One-Piece-Skirtini-Cover-up-Swimsuit-XL-Yellow/dp/B079HWZFWN/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Bonvince Women's Swimdress Retro Print Plus Size One Piece Skirtini Cover up Swimsuit XL Yellow</a>) and putting pictures of it. Again both Blue and Black are the same model, just different colors/patterns.", "Poorly cut with scissor cuts visible around armholes mid thigh hem, much shorter than pictured; That being said, this would make a good swimsuit cover up , or ruche the sides with needle and thread and make a shirt for under a sweater. The plus side not quit as shiny as pictured.", "Nice swimsuit, it just didn't look fantastic on me. Free returns worked perfectly and it was very easy to send the swimsuit back and get a refund.", "Omg I can't even with how much I love this swimsuit (oh yes, I went there)! It covers all the bits that no one needs to know details about. I want to buy more in different patterns. Great price for what you get.\n\nI'm 5'5 and 180lbs. I got an 2XL because I usually fit a size 14 with a chest of 39 in\". Fits perfect. Sorry for the crappy light in photos.", "Purchase 1 and loved it s OK I bought 3 more for outside pool towels or swimsuits. They also look great as yard art!", "I ordered a size 6-8 and the packaging for the swimsuit was labeled size 6-8, but the tag on the swimsuit said 10a. The swimsuit did not fit like a size 6-8, it fit like it is a size 10. When I measured the suit it also was the measurements of a size 10. My daughter's swim lessons started this week so I did not have time to return the swimsuit and wait for another one. Really good quality, just sad the sizing was not right. For right now my daughter can only wear the top.", "Very Pleased with these shorts. Great look, fit as expected (no vanity sizes here), and unusual fabric. SUPER lightweight, feels more like a swimsuit than shorts (and by design, may be used as such, although there is no \"liner\").", "It just doesn't support large breast women. Also, don't wear in the sun under your swimsuit...burnt the girls. Great product if it fit.", "Let's be clear. The swimsuit I received is NOT the swimsuit in the picture. I've had this happen before with a wedding dress where someone in China saw a picture and attempted the same thing and then sold it using the picture of the original item. This isn't an issue of the item running small or the colors are slightly different. It's a different swimsuit!! Wish I could find out where to buy the original because I absolutely love that one.", "I really like the fabric of this particular Speedo swimsuit. It's a little heavier (not too much) and more long-lasting then the typical Speedo swimsuit, which for me has always worn out after four or five months.", "No bra,I can't look be care for before bought this swimsuit,cheaper.", "These dresses are great for hot, humid weather. The fabric is soft and stretchy, sort of like swimsuit fabric and it doesn't wrinkle. The moisture wicking fabric makes it more comfortable than cotton. I got them for traveling but they're also good for wearing around on the weekend.", "Cute swimsuit but doesn't fit right. Bottoms were too loose and had no elasticity to stay up, top was cut weird and ended up showing a lot of unnecessary skin. Good for the price, but not great.", "I had a pool party for my 1 year old baby's birthday. Needless to say I wanted to look good in a 2 piece but had a problem area (my belly)! This swimsuit worked a miracle! It fit perfect and covered exactly what I needed it to so I felt confident. I'm 5,3\" 130 lbs. The waist line was just above my belly button. I have a small chest, so tops are never problematic for me.", "This swimsuit is very awkward. The back is really loose, and its short. I usually wear a medium and ordered a large. Its too weird shaped for my liking.", "Perfect swimsuit for the senior woman with crepey legs. I wear it for snorkeling and swimming! I'm 66 years old", "Perfection! She's got gorgeous details and is perfect next to the rest of the Sword Art swimsuit figures. I would highly recommend!", "The size 7 swimsuit fits perfectly on my 6-year-old (who is 60% percentile height and weight).", "My 6 year old daughter has sensory issues and swimsuits pose a problem for her. She loves swimming, but was always so uncomfortable in ANY swimsuit I bought her....I even tried \"boy-cut shorts\", but they too were uncomfortable to her. When she wore SunBusters swim shorts for the first time, I got to watch her swim with a freedom she's never shown before. She said they felt \"wonderful\"! She used them in a highly chlorinated pool and they retained their color and shape beautifully even after I washed them. Now she can't wait to wear them again at the beach this summer. I am also thrilled that they are SPF 50+ as she is very fair skinned. Oh! Let me not forget to mention that she looks her age in these...some of the swimsuits out there these days are just too age inappropriate. Thanks SunBusters! I highly recommend these.", "These are tiny and ridiculously shapes. I don't know how they expect someone to put these in their bra or swimsuit and not look incredibly odd", "I wasn't really impressed with this swimsuit. However, since I only paid a few bucks for it, I can't really complain.", "The picture of the \"red\" suit is literally an exact photo from a 2002 swimsuit campaign that Gisele did for Missoni. They just cropped out Gisele's face! Charlotte Tilbury did the makeup for the shoot, and you can see the original photo on Charlotte's Instagram. Obviously the Missoni suit is hand crocheted and very high quality. The suit you get when you order is a strange printed, not crocheted, attempt to copy the look, but it is quite off compared to the original. It wouldn't be that bad if the pic was of the actual swimsuit. They are just completely misleading you! How unethical!", "A little baggy even when tightened all the way for our one year old, but I also don't have any other experience with reusable diapers.\nOtherwise great to wear with swim shirts - I don't think they'd fit into a swimsuit. Great price for two vs buying disposable swim diapers all summer.", "I got these shorts for a replacement to a swimsuit that I lost the shorts for. They are okay but don't have the tummy control that my original pair had.", "This was the most awful swimsuit I've ever seen in my life. It was a knock off, three sizes smaller than what it should've been, and all in all just terribly made. Do not purchase!", "Swimsuit arrived with the halter strap missing one hook, so it couldn't be attached to the swimsuit. I contacted the seller and complained, so they sent two replacement straps (took forever to arrive, just fyi). Well guess what? Both of those straps are the same - one side has a hook, the other doesn't. Seriously? Summer's almost over and it looks like I wasted my money on this suit. Oh, and it runs large, but it was cute enough to deal with for the price...if I actually had at least ONE functioning strap.", "My daughter normally wears a size 8 and this fits her well. She loves butterflies so she loves this pattern! Great swimsuit and I love the fact that since it is shorts and has short sleeves instead of a regular tank suit, I won't have to use as much sunscreen on her when at the lake this summer!", "5 stars so review shows.\nThe suit I recieved was small, smelled funny and barely resembled the swimsuit pictured.\nThe top was shoddily made and is completely unwearable.\nThe bottoms are decent I suppose.\nI do not recommend purchasing this product.", "I was very excited for the Lace Tankini to show up in the mail for my wife. I was super excited but when she tried it on, she was.. less than enthusiastic. She and I both really liked the idea of it, and really do like the look, but the swimsuit is not cut very well to her body structure. in short, it hits in all of the wrong spots, and the trunks are fairly unattractive.\n\nBe that as it may, this product does have potential! I do not feel like we should give a bad review just because my wife's figure is more petite than most. we think we can fix our problem with getting other trunks fairly easily or using it only as a cover up over another swimsuit. All in all, we do like the look, and with a few alterations it will be great for her!\n\nDisclaimer: It should be noted that I was given the opportunity to receive this product at a discounted rate in order to give an honest review and as such, good or bad, I have been honest. If i had purchased this product at full price this would not have changed my opinion at all. If anyone has any questions concerning my review, you are more than welcome to message me about any concerns.", "Note to self and others:\nDont buy/wear swimsuits with crochet patterns :(\n\nIt will leave horrendous skin patterns that look like the measles especially if you burn...\n\nJust saying!\n\nIm 53 113lbs 36C I purchased a small, the bust was a bit overflowing, so if you like that then buy it, but if you are more modest, don't buy it...also the booty area was covered, but I disliked how low cut it was on the thighs, I prefer higher cut because Im short...the actual look of the suit was cute in theory, but never again will I buy a suit with a cutout crochet pattern!", "By now!! I have tried from $16to $79 all different types of products. I have to say this is a winner on 2 counts at least. I love the design of this swimsuit, is very suitable for me! Will recommend it to my friend.", "Beautiful swimsuit! I like how the cups are removable and the halter straps are wide and helps lift. I'm 5'7\" tall, a 38D bra size, and wear a ladies size 12. I ordered the same size as the model in the picture size 50. It arrived in 3 days too." ]

[ "The United States and France are pressing for a United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Syria to remove its troops from Lebanon and stop interfering in Lebanese politics. Guest: Rami Khouri, executive editor of Beirut's Daily Star newspaper" ]

[ "Lebanon's opposition movement stages another mass rally, repeating demands for the complete withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country. Monday's turnout is a response to pro-Syrian activists, who have held their own demonstrations.", "Opposition leaders in Lebanon vow to continue street demonstrations until Syria pulls out of the country. Monday, the pro-Syrian government resigned under pressure from thousands of protesters. Michael Glackin, managing editor of the Lebanese paper The Daily Star, discusses the likelihood of a Syrian withdrawal.", "Some Syrian dissidents believe the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon would be a major defeat for the government of President Bashar Assad. Others fear there could be a crackdown on Syria's fledgling opposition movement to quash any hope of a Lebanese-style democracy movement.", "Syria is under intense international pressure. It was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon in April; Washington accuses it of supporting insurgents in Iraq. In the second story of a series on the prospects for democratic change in the Middle East, a look at whether the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad can survive.", "Syria's ancient capital, Damascus, is booming. Economic reforms, high oil prices, investments from the oil-rich Gulf and Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon have all contributed to the renaissance. Syria was forced out of Lebanon three years ago, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Lebanon's capital, Beirut, was once a shopping haven for Syrian consumers. Now, Syria's government is encouraging Syrians to shop and play at home. 'Beirutization' of Damascus Almost every week, another brand-name coffee shop opens in Damascus. New hotels are going up. Syrians can now put their money in private banks, and Western goods flood into the capital. Once a strict socialist economy, Syria is changing fast. \"A few years ago, nobody would have imagined Syria to be like this,\" says journalist Ibrahim Hamidi. After the withdrawal from Lebanon, the government accelerated economic reforms, Hamidi says. Everything Syrians used to go to Lebanon to buy is now available at home. \"If you walk out on the street now, you see very fancy cars, fancy restaurants, young nouveau riche wearing very fancy watches, wearing famous brands,\" Hamidi says. Syria's first modern shopping mall opened last year. ATM machines are new in Syria, and the goods here — electronics, clothing, kitchen appliances — are mostly imported. Analyst Reem Alaf says some Syrians call this the \"Beirutization\" of Damascus. \"Beirut was always the great shopping experience — the capitalist dream that [Syrians] didn't have. \"In addition ... over half of the population is under the age of 20. It's a very different generation that is looking for new things that the old Syria was not giving them,\" she says. 'Change Is Irreversible' Vice Prime Minister Abdullah Dardari, who is in charge of transforming the economy, says that Syria is breaking out of the old socialist model. \"This country has changed — and this change is irreversible. The wheel is already set in motion,\" Dardari says. Record oil prices have helped. Investors from the Gulf states, including Iran, have poured money into the country. Despite U.S. sanctions, European trade has increased. Dardari acknowledges that the break with neighboring Lebanon played a role. \"Before the political problems in Beirut, there was a clear decision: We should no longer push the Syrian affluent society to go to Beirut. ... If they want to consume these products, let them consume them here,\" he says. One place affluent Syrians go to consume is Damascus' rooftop Z Bar. Evelyn Saloom opened Z Bar last summer — with red velvet walls, crystal chandeliers, a creative bartender, plus a Facebook page that announces upcoming events. Saloom modeled her bar on Beirut's most famous watering holes. \"I always thought, 'Why do young Syrians go and spend their money in Lebanon? Why [do they] have to cross borders in order to enjoy a drink, have fun and dance?'\" she says. Syria has gone a long way to prove it doesn't need Lebanon anymore, and this is also new, says Saloom. \"What happened in Lebanon made Syrians improve internally. We have banks, we have insurance companies, [the] English language is now a must,\" she says. Not All Are Benefiting Equally But journalist Hamidi argues that the new era has not reached Syrians stuck in the old economy — for example, those in low-paid government jobs. \"Syria ... is changing dramatically, but not for all Syrians. The wealthiest are getting wealthier, [the] poor are getting poorer and the middle class is shrinking,\" Hamidi says. That's the result of a country rapidly transforming a 40-year history of economic control from the top. Josh Landis, an American academic who specializes in Syria, says China is Syria's model: Keep a tight lid on political opposition, open the economy and try to manage the growing income gap. \"The big question for the Syrian government is, can it keep a lid on it? Can they get the trickledown fast enough so that people don't give up hope, so the rising expectations don't explode in their hands?\" Landis says. MELISSA BLOCK, host: Syria's ancient capital, Damascus, is looking increasingly prosperous these days. There are several reasons; an economic reform program, high oil prices and more investments from around the Gulf. Another key factor is Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon three years ago. Syria was forced out after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Syrian consumers used to go to Lebanon, to Beirut to shop. But now as NPR's Deborah Amos reports, Syria's government is encouraging Syrians to shop and play at home. DEBORAH AMOS: Damascus is a boom town. Almost every week, another brand-name coffee shop opens. New hotels are going up. Syrians can now put their money in private banks, billboards in English advertise Italian fashion, and Western goods flood into the capital. Syria, once a strict socialist economy, is changing fast. Mr. IBRAHIM HAMIDI (Journalist): Like a few years ago, nobody would have imagined Syria ", "Syria agrees to pull back 14,000 troops from Lebanon by the end of March, but no timetable has been set for a complete Syrian pullout. Meanwhile, the political arm of Hezbollah calls for further demonstrations in Beirut's Martyrs' Square -- to show support for Syria's military presence in Lebanon.", "Syrian forces are withdrawing from Lebanon after nearly 30 years. The troops are gathered in the eastern Bekaa Valley, which has housed a host of radical groups over the decades. A look at the changes wrought by the impending withdrawal.", "The pullout of Syrian forces from Lebanon is almost complete. Only a few hundred Syrian troops remain in the eastern Bekaa Valley, and they are due to leave Tuesday as part of an official farewell ceremony. Michele Norris talks with Jamil Mroue, editor in chief of Lebanon's <EM>Daily Star</EM> newspaper.", "NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports that though the main focus of Syrian-Israeli talks is about the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Arab lands, tiny Lebanon hopes the talks will also confront the plight of 370,000 Palestinian refugees still living in camps that date back fifty years.", "Hezbollah calls for rallies in Beirut's Martyrs' Square to counter weeks of anti-Syrian protests in Lebanon. The militant Shiite Muslim group supports Syria's continued presence in Lebanon. Syria began Monday to pull its military back to the Bekaa Valley, which abuts the Syrian border.", "This week, President Donald Trump doubled down on his decision to pull troops from northern Syria. He says America is done trying to police the world. The withdrawal has left a power vacuum that Russia and Turkey are filling. From The Economist: Russian military police and Syrian border guards will enter areas to the east and west to ensure that the YPG vacates them as well. The Kurds will have until October 29th to withdraw to a depth of 30km along the whole border and disarm. Russian and Turkish forces will then begin patrolling the border together. Also, protests rock Chile, Spain, Iraq and Lebanon. And the Chinese government has reportedly drawn up a plan to replace Hong Kong&#8217;s embattled leader. However, Chinese officials pushed back on that story, calling it a rumor. We wrap up the global news from around the world (and play some Drake). GUESTS David Sanger, National security correspondent, The New York Times; author, &#8220;The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage and Fear in the Cyber Age&#8221;; @SangerNYT Amna Nawaz, National correspondent and substitute anchor, PBS NewsHour; @IAmAmnaNawaz Edward Luce, Chief U.S. columnist and commentator, Financial Times; his latest book is &#8220;The Retreat of Western Liberalism&#8221;; @EdwardGLuce For more, visit https://the1a.org. &copy; 2019 WAMU 88.5 &#8211; American University Radio.", "Rami Khouri, editor at large of Beirut's <EM>Daily Star</EM> newspaper, details the final withdrawal of the last Syrian troops from Lebanon. The exit of troops and intelligence officers after nearly 30 years significantly changes the political and military makeup of the Middle East.", "Syria denies that it was involved in the high-profile murders of an anti-Syrian Lebanese journalist and a Kurdish cleric. Damascus faces renewed pressure, after withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon and disclosure of its recent missile test.", "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that Syria must be held to account for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. A United Nations investigation implicates members of Syrian president Bashar al Assad's inner circle. We explore what happened, why, and what's ahead. Guests: David Ignatius, Washington Post columnist Magda Abu-Fadil, director, Institute for Professional Journalists; Lebanese American University Joshua Landis, assistant professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oklahoma; Fulbright Scholar living in Damascus and Beirut Amb. Edward Walker, president of the Middle East Institute; former ambassador to Egpyt, Israel and the United Arab Emirates NEAL CONAN, host: This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. There's a new political crisis in the Middle East that focuses on the country of Syria. Today in Damascus, thousands gathered to demonstrate against a United Nations report that implicates top Syrian officials, including members of President Bashar Al-Assad's inner circle, in the assassination of Lebanese politician Rafik al-Hariri. Hariri resigned as prime minister to protest Syrian control over Lebanon. The car bomb that killed him and 21 others last January prompted widespread demonstrations in Beirut; Syria later withdrew its troops from Lebanon. Tomorrow, the United Nations Security Council meets to discuss the report. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Syria must be held to account. French officials say there should be no action against Syria until the investigation is completed on December 15th. The crisis directly affects Syria and the government of President Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus and Lebanon, where pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud is under pressure to resign. The Bush administration also hopes to pressure Syria to cooperate on Iraq and to cut off its support for Iraqi insurgents and for Syrian allies in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, and for some Palestinian factions, as well. There is also, however, a risk of instability and more violence. If you have questions about the UN investigation and where this crisis may be headed, our number here in Washington is (800) 989-8255; (800) 989-TALK. E-mail us: totn@npr.org. Later in the program, an eyewitness account of Hurricane Wilma's extended visit to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. But first, Syria. Our first guest is David Ignatius, a columnist for The Washington Post and former foreign editor there. He joins us from the studios at The Post. Nice to have you on the program. Mr. DAVID IGNATIUS (The Washington Post): Thank you, Neal. CONAN: Why is this report so important? Mr. IGNATIUS: It's important because it presents detailed and, to me, quite devastating evidence that top Syrian government officials had a hand in ordering and then carrying out the murder of the former prime minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri. They were furious at Hariri for defying Syria's kind of mandate to control Lebanon, which it's done for more than 20 years. And two weeks after the United Nations voted to approve Security Council resolution calling on Syrian troops to withdraw at Hariri's urging, it is alleged by a source that the UN investigator, Mehlis, had that President Assad's brother, Mahar, his brother-in-law, Assek Shawkat, who's the head of military intelligence in Syria, met and plotted the assassination of this leader in a neighboring country. To see the evidence assembled of this plot, I found quite stunning, frankly. CONAN: Mm-hmm. And it is in a part of the world where such events are not unknown. It is most unusual to have them exposed like this. Mr. IGNATIUS: I think that's the thing that's really shaken and, I hope, invigorated the Arab world. Political leaders in Lebanon almost routinely over the years have been assassinated and often people have suspected a Syrian role. Prime ministers, presidents, political leaders--anytime anyone arose who might pose a threat to Syrian hegemony in Lebanon, that person often ended up dead and nothing was done and people were intimidated, as obviously was the intent. In this case, Hariri was so popular with the Lebanese--I was in Beirut in the week after his death and saw the thousands of people in the streets braving what was the risk for them of death. The Lebanese really rose up and said, `Enough. We're just not going to put up with this anymore.' And by the end of April, with the Lebanese united and the international community united behind them, Syrian troops were gone, something people never imagined. And now we have this legal investigation, and as we see with any investigation in America, o", "The Middle East is bursting at the seams from the Syrian refugee crisis. When I was in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley a few months ago, tension was mounting between the locals and the tens of thousands of Syrian refugees who've flooded into the area. Officials in one town were threatening to evict hundreds of Syrians living in a squalid camp in a muddy lot. Schools have been overwhelmed by Syrian students. The Lebanese overall have been welcoming but with no end in sight to the Syrian war many Lebanese were starting to complain that Syrian laborers are driving down wages and driving up housing prices. And now the situation could get even worse. In the wake of the terror attacks in Paris and Beirut, there've been calls to bar refugees from Europe and the U.S. The concerns were prompted by some early reports indicating that at least one the attackers in Paris may have entered Europe by posing as a refugee. Humanitarian aid groups say blocking refugees could be disastrous. \"The host countries of Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, they're already at the breaking point,\" says Brian Hansford, a spokesman for the U.N.'s High Commissioner for Refugees office in Washington. Turkey is hosting nearly 2 million officially registered Syrian refugees. Lebanon has taken in 1.2 million. Jordan is housing more than 600,000 and says it's spent $6.6 billion to process, feed and house the Syrians since the crisis began in 2011. \"One in four people in Lebanon now is a refugee,\" Hansford says. \"The infrastructure to deal with this influx is now pushed to its breaking point.\" According to the U.N. refugee agency another 7.6 million people are displaced in Syria. Many may end up fleeing their country altogether. Hansford says the world has a legal obligation, under the U.N. Convention and Protocol on Refugees, ]and his agency is very concerned about calls to block their movements. \"This is not a Greek problem. This is not a French problem. This is not a U.S. problem,\" he says. \"This is a global problem.\" He stresses that the burden of this global crisis should not fall just on Syria's neighbors. Legislation introduced by Republican Sen. Rand Paul, however, could block plans for the U.S. to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year. Paul says there needs to be a more vigorous screening of refugees to make sure none of them are coming, \"to do us harm.\" There have been similar calls in some European countries to block any more refugees from entering the E.U. President Obama has threatened to veto a House bill that would intensify screenings of refugees from Iraq and Syria. The director of migration policy for U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Kevin Appleby, Tuesday lashed out at what he called the scapegoating of refugees. \"The vast majority (of refugees) are vulnerable families, women, children, elderly and they're fleeing for their lives,\" Appleby said. \"They want what Americans want — protection for their children and a chance to live in safety.\"Chris Skopec with the International Medical Corps worries that a political backlash against migrants could make it much harder to provide aid to the millions of displaced Syrians. \"I mean it's been an uphill struggle even before this week to bring attention to their plight and to be able to provide the basics humanitarian services and protection that they're guaranteed by international humanitarian law. So indeed we are concerned.\" Even if the U.S. or Europe bars migrants, Skopec says, Syrians are going to continue to flee barrel bombs and fighting at home. \"They're going to go somewhere. They will continue to increase in numbers in Turkey Jordan that Lebanon where absorption capacity has already been reached and exceeded,\" he says. \"The ability for those countries and those populations to continue to show hospitality to accept them as refugees and provide them with basic services is being exceeded at this point and the overflow in to Europe is a result of that. We simply can't turn a blind eye to what's been happening over the past four years.\"", "NPR's Martha Raddatz reports on what's behind the U-S decision to begin withdrawing some forces from the Persian Gulf and what message the pullout sends to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The U-S sent additional troops and air power into the region in February when Iraq refused to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. President Clinton, on the advice of the Pentagon, has decided to reduce the number of U-S military personnel in the Gulf by about 50 percent.", "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unannounced stop in Beirut Sunday. She said she hopes the country can hold elections that are free of outside interference and she said the U.S. will never make any deal to sell out the Lebanese people. Guest host Lynn Neary speaks with NPR's Michelle Kelemen, who is traveling with Clinton. LYNN NEARY, host: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Lynn Neary sitting in for Liane Hansen. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unannounced stop in Beirut today. She said she hopes the country can hold elections that are free of outside interference. And she said the U.S. will never make any deal to sell out the Lebanese people. Secretary HILLARY CLINTON (Department of State): We think it's important that Lebanon have good relations with their neighbors, including Syria, but that Lebanon is an independent, free, sovereign nation. And there is nothing that we will do in any way that would undermine Lebanon's sovereignty. We don't have a right to do that. And we don't believe that would be the right thing to do. NEARY: NPR's Michele Kelemen is traveling with the secretary. We caught up with her on the bus on the way to the airport in Beirut. Good morning, Michele. MICHELE KELEMEN: Good morning, Lynn. NEARY: So why this visit now to Beirut? KELEMEN: Lebanon's preparing for parliamentary elections that are in June. And the secretary said these elections are critical. The U.S. is worried that Hezbollah, which is a group on the U.S. terrorism list, will make big gains in the elections. And when asked how the U.S. would deal with a government that has more Hezbollah members in it, she said she didn't want to speculate. But she said she wants elections to be free of violence, free of intimidation. And she certainly is here to try to boost those, she calls, forces of moderation. She met with the president of the country. And then she laid a wreath in honor of Rafiq Hariri. He's a former prime minister who was killed in a car bombing in 2005. And that was an attack that sparked protests that eventually forced out Syrian military and intelligence forces that were in Lebanon. NEARY: And what does Secretary Clinton have to say about Syrian and Iranian influence in Lebanon? KELEMEN: Well, you know, she sent a pretty powerful signal on that. A top State Department official told us on the way here that Lebanon's one of these countries that needs to be reassured about the U.S. diplomatic effort to reach out to Syria and Iran. This official who asked not to be named, said that the U.S. is making clear that its outreach to Syria won't come at the expense of Lebanon's independence. And Secretary Clinton made a very strong statement about that today. She said we will never make any deal that sells out Lebanon or the Lebanese people. NEARY: Now, I understand that you flew over Syrian airspace. Is that right? KELEMEN: We did fly over Syrian airspace while an official was talking to us. And we asked him about it and he didn't really know the procedures about how we did that. But he did say that the U.S. and Syria have definitely opened the door diplomatically. NEARY: Yeah. Secretary Clinton seems to be doing a lot of reassuring on this trip. As you mentioned, she's reassured Lebanon that the U.S. is committed to its independence. Yesterday in Baghdad, on another surprise visit there, reassured the Iraqis that the U.S. won't abandon them as they start withdrawing troops. How effective are these reassurances, do you think? KELEMEN: Well, the secretary is very strong here today. You know, we'll see how it plays because she called for no interference but then she also she made clear she was here to support forces of moderation. So, a trip like this could always backfire. As for Iraq, either she said that the U.S. will be withdrawing carefully and coordinated with the Iraqis. She also said that the U.S. won't abandon Iraqis, that, you know, that there will be a lot of civilian presence there and rebuilding still to continue. But she also held a town hall meeting where she heard a lot of worries and a lot of, you know, people asking the U.S. to do much more in helping the country's agriculture, helping the country's education system. And even one young man who was very skeptical that Iraqi security forces will be able to keep the peace. And she came after a very bloody week with very deadly suicide bombings. NEARY: Well, I know, Michele, that you have arrived at your destination, you're getting on a plane. So, thanks so much, Michele. KELEMEN: My pleasure, Lynn. NEARY: That was NPR's Michele Kelemen on the phone from Beirut.", "Since the Israel army withdrew from most of southern Lebanon after its 2006 war against Hezbollah, Lebanon and the international community have been waiting for Israeli forces to leave northern Ghajar, a border village divided into Israeli and Lebanese sectors by the United Nations in 2000. But new research suggests that the entire village may actually be Syrian, a finding that could have an impact on future talks over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Ghajar is an Alawite village of about 2,000 residents in the much-disputed border region where Syria, Lebanon and Israel have conflicting claims. Alawites, a minority sect of Shiite Muslims, live mainly in Syria. In September 2006, as Israeli forces were pulling back from southern Lebanon, NPR made a rare visit to northern Ghajar. Nervous villagers — Arabs living in a nominally Lebanese area while driving cars with Israeli license plates — urged two reporters to flee before the occupying Israeli forces showed up. Three years later, northern Ghajar is still occupied, though Israeli leaders are said to be discussing the timing of a pullout. But if new research to be published this fall in the Middle East Journal is correct, much of the world may have to adjust its thinking, and consider the possibility that Ghajar — all of it — is Syrian. The latest research by Israeli-born scholar Asher Kaufman, a professor of history at the University of Notre Dame who has researched the border area extensively, has unearthed documents from the early 1960s that raise serious questions about the modern political decision to divide the village between Lebanese and Israeli control. As a result, Kaufman says, \"In future negotiations between Israel and Syria over the fate of the Golan Heights, this village should be — in its entirety — included in these negotiations.\" Imprecise Maps Syria, Lebanon and what would become Israel were carved from land held by the Ottoman Empire until World War I. In 1967, Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria and border lands from Lebanon in later fighting. Before the early 1960s, maps of the area were notable for their inconsistency. Some maps would place Ghajar in the Syrian Golan Heights, others in Lebanon. But Kaufman says the Alawite villagers of Ghajar considered themselves Syrian, and Lebanon seemed to lay no claim to Ghajar — until the early 1960s, when the area became part of the so-called water wars among Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel. At the time, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon tried to sort out sovereignty issues in and around Ghajar and concluded, in a document found by Kaufman in U.S. archives, that Lebanese mapping efforts were \"amateurish\" and that the reality on the ground was that Ghajar was part of Syria. In 1963, after the U.S. ambassador's comments, Kaufman says Lebanon's laissez-faire attitude toward Ghajar seemed to change. 'A New Reality' \"We have, for the first time, a Lebanese map that depicts this new reality, where the village of Ghajar all of a sudden is divided into two sections. So a new reality is now being produced,\" he says. When Israel was attacked by Syria and other Arab states in June 1967, the Israeli army did not initially occupy Ghajar when it seized the Golan Heights, because the Israeli maps at the time showed Ghajar in Lebanon, which was not part of the war. But by the end of July, Israel had also occupied Ghajar, and the new Israeli maps showed the same division of the village as the earlier Lebanese map. Since then, Kaufman says, virtually all maps of the region have adopted this division. This bifurcated view of Ghajar gained further international credence in 2000, when the United Nations drew the \"blue line,\" south of which Israeli troops were to withdraw. The line passed right through Ghajar, and there things remained until 2006, when Israel reoccupied both parts of the village. The partition of Ghajar, Kaufman argues, is a historical mistake that should be corrected. \"Since 2000, the village has been divided. So there is a human tragedy for these villagers who are now simply divided between two sovereign states, and they live an impossible life,\" he says. There are political implications as well. Analysts say there are many obstacles to a resumption of Israeli-Syrian talks over the Golan Heights — not least the fact that the border region around Ghajar and the much-disputed Shebaa Farms is so murky. But should peace talks resume — and if Kaufman's findings are correct — the residents of Ghajar can at least hope that someday their village will be reunited.", "The U.S. calls on Syria's president to step down and announces new sanctions on the Damascus government. Washington's move was followed by similar action from the European Union.", "On this day when a U.N.-brokered cease-fire was supposed to go into effect in Syria, \"activists reported military attacks on two towns ... even as the government claimed its military forces have begun pulling out\" of some areas, The Associated Press reports. The BBC says: \"Activists reported shelling in Homs and areas of northern Aleppo province, and unrest in the capital, Damascus. Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, on a visit to Russia, said Damascus had taken steps to adhere to the plan by withdrawing some troops. He blamed 'armed gangs' for the ongoing violence.\" Al-Jazeera adds that \"the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said most cities were relatively calm on Tuesday after heavy bloodshed in recent days, but reported no clear sign of troop withdrawals.\" Monday, the U.S. condemned reports of Syrian troops firing into refugee camps across the borders with Turkey and Lebanon — attacks that killed \"a television cameraman in Lebanon and at least two people at a refugee camp in Turkey,\" Voice of America reports. An estimated 9,000 people have lost their lives in Syria over the past year during protests against the regime of President Bashar Assad, the U.N. estimates — most at the hands of government forces.", "The flood of Syrian refugees has been straining Lebanon for several years, and the Lebanese have now responded by imposing visa restrictions on Syria for the first time ever. Residents from the neighboring Arab states have traditionally been able to travel back and forth easily despite relations that have often been tumultuous. But more than 1 million Syrian refugees have entered Lebanon since Syria's civil war began in 2011, placing a huge burden on Lebanon, a country of just 4 million people. Syrians will be allowed to enter Lebanon on humanitarian grounds, but they will now need visas, Lebanese officials said. \"The goal is to prevent [Syrians] from taking refuge\" in Lebanon and \"to more seriously regulate the entry of Syrians,\" Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas told Agence France-Presse. The minister has estimated that the Syrian war and the refugee crisis have cost Lebanon some $20 billion. Large numbers of Syrian refugees have also entered Jordan and Turkey, which have created refugee camps to accommodate them. In contrast, most Syrians entering Lebanon have moved in among the general population. The influx has created tensions, and the Lebanese have responded in a number of ways, including curfews imposed on refugees in a number of towns and villages. The Syrians, meanwhile, have complained of abuses by some of the Lebanese curfew patrols. More than 3 million Syrians have fled their homeland since the war began, and some 6.5 million more have been displaced inside Syria.", "Good morning, here are our early stories: -- Mali's First Ebola Case In Current Outbreak Is 2-Year-Old Girl. -- Man With Hatchet Shot Dead After Attacking NYPD Officers. -- Frank Mankiewicz, Aide Who Announced Robert Kennedy's Death, Dies. And here are more early headlines: E-U Leaders Set Targets For Greenhouse Gas Cuts. (New York Times) Lebanon Says It Won't Accept Any More Syrian Refugees. (Daily Star) Japan Warns Of Activity At Volcano Near Nuclear Plant. (Reuters) Navajo Nation Court Replaces Presidential Candidate; Election Delayed. (Farmington Daily Times) Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against IRS On Tax Exempt Status. (Politico) Lawmakers Call For National Recall Of Faulty Airbags. (USA Today) China Launches Probe To Moon, Will Return Next Week. (CNN)", "Lebanon and Syria have had tense relations since 2005, when Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from its smaller neighbor after the assassination of the Lebanese prime minister. But today, the two countries are experiencing a rapprochement that could yield significant economic benefits. Wary Lebanese, however, are wondering how long the positive trend will last. The 35th anniversary of the start of the Lebanese civil war -- one of the defining Middle East conflicts of the late 20th century -- took place last week. In Beirut's Martyrs' Square, young performers danced and acted out scenes from the 15-year conflict, which left tens of thousands dead and saw the beginning of 29 years of Syrian dominance over Lebanon. But these days, some of the old enmities and barriers are beginning to dissolve. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has made one cordial visit to Damascus and is planning another, despite the widespread belief in Lebanon that Syria ordered his father's assassination in 2005 -- a charge Damascus denies. Hariri's political adviser, Mohammed Shatah, says Lebanon has not forgotten the issues that continue to divide the two countries, but that this shouldn't prevent cooperation where it's possible. \"Saad Hariri stretched a hand to Syrian leadership, which was a major step after the events of the last five years,\" says Shatah. \"We're not going to stop normal relations or normal contacts because we don't see eye to eye on some issues, important as they may be.\" For Syria, the warming trend means tapping into economic opportunities in Lebanon. For long-occupied Lebanon, the historic opening of a Syrian Embassy in Beirut is a sign that Lebanon is at last being treated as an independent, sovereign state -- something the Syrian leadership has been loath to do. There are a number of factors behind the rapprochement, notably the ongoing effort by moderate Arab states to pull Syria out of its regional alliance with Iran. Analysts say Damascus has responded positively on issues of common concern, such as the shape of the next government in Iraq. But Beirut analyst Paul Salem, with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says Iran has no reason to be worried by the recent diplomatic moves among Arab states. He says the core Damascus-Tehran strategic relationship hasn't been shaken. \"Iran is not terribly concerned that Syria is going to switch sides. Syria has not switched sides; it has remained on the same side, but improved relations with others in the region,\" Salem says. Analysts say not only has Syria not switched sides, its interests in Lebanon -- and those of Iran -- are in better shape than they have been in years. Their ally, Hezbollah, is not only an important Lebanese political player, it has an effective veto over sensitive policy decisions. The issue of disarming Hezbollah seems dormant in Beirut, despite the best efforts of Christian politician Sami Gemayel. He hopes that the topic will surge to the fore as concern mounts over reports that Syria has smuggled long-range Scud missiles over the border to Hezbollah, despite Syrian denials. \"It can't be ignored, and we will call the government to take a very clear statement about what's happening on the borders,\" Gemayel says. Analyst Karim Makdisi at the American University in Beirut says that all in all, it seems this thaw in relations between the Lebanese and the Syrians could continue for some time, but only if things remain quiet. The one potential stumbling block? The Israelis. \"Israel is always going to be the wild card in this region. It's always going to be the one that can launch an attack on any of its neighbors or any of the Arab countries anywhere across the Arab world. Then, of course, all bets are off, and it's impossible to predict what could happen,\" Makdisi says. And in the complex web that is Middle East geopolitics, analysts say a new round of violence would likely have repercussions far beyond Lebanon.", "Host Bob Edwards talks with NPRs Michele Kelemen about Bushs announcement this morning. Bush officially announced that the U-S would withdraw from the anti-ballistic missile treaty with Russia.", "Host Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Jennifer Ludden who is on the Lebanese side of the border about the current situation in the aftermath of the Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.", "The United Nations is seeking more than $6 billion for humanitarian aid to Syria. The U.N. estimates nearly three-quarters of Syria&#8217;s 22.4 million people will need humanitarian aid in 2014. The appeal coincides with a new study by the International Rescue Committee warning that starvation is now threatening the Syrian population. Bread prices have risen by 500 percent in some areas, according to the report. There also a huge refugee crisis in neighboring countries. For instance, there are more than 800,000 Syrians in Lebanon. \nJim Muir / BBC: Syrian children &#8216;freezing in refugee camps&#8217; \n\nGuest\n\nJim Muir, BBC correspondent in Beirut, Lebanon. He tweets @MuirJim.", "The United Nation's is calling for an investigation into whether the Syrian government launched a gas attack on suburbs of the capital Damascus. For more, David Greene talks to Abigail Fielding-Smith, who reports on Syria for the <em>Financial Times</em> from Beirut, Lebanon.", "Professor of Government and Foreign Relations at the University of Virginia, about U-S prospects for finding a diplomatic solution to the military conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militias in southern Lebanon. To do so, the U.S. would need help from Hezbollah's two main supporters, Syria and Iran, as well as cooperation from Israel.", "Lebanon is imposing unprecedented limits on immigration from Syria this week. Since the conflict began in Syria almost four years ago, more than a million refugees have poured into Lebanon, but now that country seems to be rolling up the welcome mat, requiring new entrees to have valid passports and meet other criteria. Meanwhile, Turkey, another major destination for Syrians, is doing the opposite &#8212; finally granting refugee status to Syrians living there. But ongoing violence continues to drive the refugee crisis, and the humanitarian problems continue to mount. Brian Hansford of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) discusses the challenges facing Syrian refugees with Here & Now&#8217;s Lisa Mullins. Guest\n\nBrian Hansford, spokesperson in Washington, D.C. for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). He tweets @B_Hansford.", "A U.N. report links Syrian officials to the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. And a threat of economic sanctions unless Syria cooperates in a further probe has many in Damascus concerned.", "Citing \"threats to U.S. Mission facilities and personnel,\" the State Department has told \"non-emergency personnel and family members\" at its embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, to leave the country. Also, State \"urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon because of current safety and security concerns.\" The news comes, of course, as the Obama administration tries to build support for its plan to strike neighboring Syria in response to evidence that President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons against his own people last month. As we reported earlier, the administration's talk about taking action has led to reports that Iran, Hezbollah and others might retaliate for any strike on the Assad regime. The State Department has also warned U.S. citizens \"against all but essential travel to Iraq.\" Earlier today, White House national security adviser Tony Blinken told Morning Edition that \"if anyone tries to do anything to escalate,\" the U.S. is prepared to respond. Update at 9:25 a.m. ET. Turkey: \"Non-emergency personnel and family members who wish to leave Adana, Turkey,\" may also do so, the State Department has announced.", "On Saturday, Syrian President Bashar Assad is expected to address his Parliament in Damascus on future plans for Syria's role in Lebanon, which may include a partial pullout of Syrian troops. Hear Megan K. Stack of the <EM>Los Angeles Times</EM> and NPR's Jacki Lyden." ]

[ "A Disquisition on Government" ]

[ "C and C++", "polite", "welterweight title", "Politeness", "no title covenant" ]

[ "Seine The Seine (/seɪn/ SAYN; French: La Seine, pronounced [la sɛːn]) is a 777-kilometre-long (483 mi) river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Source-Seine, 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre (and Honfleur on the left bank).[1] It is navigable by ocean-going vessels as far as Rouen, 120 kilometres (75 mi) from the sea. Over 60 percent of its length, as far as Burgundy, is negotiable by commercial riverboats, and nearly its whole length is available for recreational boating; excursion boats offer sightseeing tours of the Rive Droite and Rive Gauche within the city of Paris." ]

[ "Marne (river) The Marne starts in the Langres plateau, runs generally north then bends west between Saint-Dizier and Châlons-en-Champagne, joining the Seine at Charenton just upstream from Paris. Its main tributaries are the Rognon, the Blaise, the Saulx, the Ourcq, the Petit Morin and the Grand Morin.", "7th arrondissement of Paris Situated on the Rive Gauche—the \"Left\", or Southern, bank of the River Seine—this central arrondissement, which includes the historical aristocratic neighbourhood of Faubourg Saint-Germain, contains a number of French national institutions, among them the French National Assembly and numerous government ministries. It is also home to many foreign diplomatic embassies, some of them occupying outstanding Hôtels particuliers.", "Pont des Arts The Pont des Arts or Passerelle des Arts is a pedestrian bridge in Paris which crosses the River Seine. It links the Institut de France and the central square (cour carrée) of the Palais du Louvre, (which had been termed the \"Palais des Arts\" under the First French Empire).", "Paris The City of Paris's administrative limits form an East-West oval centred on the island at its historical heart, the Île de la Cité; this island is near the top of an arc of the river Seine that divides the city into southern Rive Gauche (Left Bank) and northern Rive Droite regions. Paris is the core of a built-up area that extends well beyond its limits: commonly referred to as the agglomération Parisienne, and statistically as a unité urbaine (a measure of urban area), the Paris agglomeration's 2013 population of 10,601,122 made it the largest urban area in the European Union.[3][not in citation given] City-influenced commuter activity reaches well beyond even this in a statistical aire urbaine de Paris (a measure of metropolitan area), that had a 2013 population of 12,405,426,[8] a number one-fifth the population of France,[9] the largest metropolitan area in the Eurozone.", "Eiffel Tower Work on the foundations started on 28 January 1887.[15] Those for the east and south legs were straightforward, with each leg resting on four 2 m (6.6 ft) concrete slabs, one for each of the principal girders of each leg. The west and north legs, being closer to the river Seine, were more complicated: each slab needed two piles installed by using compressed-air caissons 15 m (49 ft) long and 6 m (20 ft) in diameter driven to a depth of 22 m (72 ft)[16] to support the concrete slabs, which were 6 m (20 ft) thick. Each of these slabs supported a block of limestone with an inclined top to bear a supporting shoe for the ironwork.", "Luncheon of the Boating Party The painting, combining figures, still-life, and landscape in one work, depicts a group of Renoir's friends relaxing on a balcony at the Maison Fournaise restaurant along the Seine river in Chatou, France. The painter and art patron, Gustave Caillebotte, is seated in the lower right. Renoir's future wife, Aline Charigot, is in the foreground playing with a small dog, an affenpinscher; she replaced an earlier woman who sat for the painting but with whom Renoir became annoyed.[4] On the table is fruit and wine.", "Hudson River Afterward, leaving the Hudson Highlands, the river enters Haverstraw Bay, the widest point of the river at 3.5 miles (5.6 km) wide.[6] Shortly thereafter, the river forms the Tappan Zee and flows under the Tappan Zee Bridge, which carries the New York State Thruway between Tarrytown and Nyack in Westchester and Rockland Counties respectively. At the state line with New Jersey the west bank of the Hudson enters Bergen County. The Palisades are large, rocky cliffs along the west bank of the river; also known as Bergen Hill at their lower end in Hudson County. Further south the east bank of the river becomes Yonkers and then the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx in New York City. South of the confluence of the Hudson and Spuyten Duyvil Creek, the east bank of the river becomes Manhattan.[10] The river is sometimes still called the North River at this point. The George Washington Bridge crosses the river between Fort Lee and the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.[18] The Lincoln Tunnel and the Holland Tunnel also cross under the river between Manhattan and New Jersey. South of the Battery, the river proper ends, meeting the East River to form Upper New York Bay, also known as New York Harbor. Its outflow continues through the Narrows between Brooklyn and Staten Island, under the Verrazano Bridge, and into Lower New York Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.[10]", "River Thames The River Thames (/tɛmz/ ( listen) TEMZ) is a river that flows through southern England, most notably through London. At 215 miles (346 km), it is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom, after the River Severn. It also flows through Oxford (where it is called Isis), Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Windsor. The lower reaches of the river are called the Tideway, derived from its long tidal reach up to Teddington Lock. It rises at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, and flows into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary. The Thames drains the whole of Greater London.[1]", "Rhône The Rhône (/ˈroʊn/; French: Le Rhône [ʁon]; German: Rhone [ˈroːnə]; Walliser German: Rotten [ˈrotən]; Italian: Rodano [ˈrɔːdano]; Arpitan: Rôno [ˈʁono]; Occitan: Ròse [ˈrɔze]) is one of the major rivers of Europe and has twice the average discharge of the Loire (which is the longest French river), rising in the Rhône Glacier in the Swiss Alps at the far eastern end of the Swiss canton of Valais, passing through Lake Geneva and running through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhône (French: Le Grand Rhône) and the Little Rhône (Le Petit Rhône). The resulting delta constitutes the Camargue region.", "Detroit River The Detroit River flows for 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie.[1] By definition, this classifies it as both a river and a strait — a strait being a narrow passageway connecting two large bodies of water,[6] which is how the river earned its name from early French settlers.[7] However, today, the Detroit River is rarely referred to as a strait, because bodies of water referred to as straits are typically much wider. The Detroit River is only 0.5 to 2.5 miles (0.80 to 4.02 km) wide. The Detroit River starts on an east to west flow but then bends and runs north to south. The deepest portion of the Detroit River is 53 feet (16 m) deep in the northern portion of the river. At its source, the river is at an elevation of 574 feet (175 m) above sea level. The river drops only three feet before entering into Lake Erie at 571 feet (174 m). As the river contains no dams and no locks, it is easily navigable by even the smallest of vessels. The watershed basin for the Detroit River is approximately 700 square miles (1,800 km2).[2] Since the river is fairly short, it has few tributaries. Its largest tributary is the River Rouge in Michigan, which is actually four times longer than the Detroit River and contains most of the basin. The only other major American tributary to the Detroit River is the much smaller Ecorse River. Tributaries on the Canadian side include Little River, Turkey Creek and the River Canard. The discharge for the Detroit River is relatively high for a river of its size. The river's average discharge is approximately 188,000 cubic feet per second (5,324 m³/s), and the river's flow is constant.[8]", "Coosa River The Coosa River begins at the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers in Rome, Georgia, and ends just northeast of the Alabama state capital, Montgomery, where it joins the Tallapoosa River to form the Alabama River just south of Wetumpka. Around 90% of the Coosa River's length is located in Alabama. Coosa County, Alabama, is located on the Coosa River.", "Missouri River The Missouri River officially starts at the confluence of the Jefferson and Madison in Missouri Headwaters State Park near Three Forks, Montana, and is joined by the Gallatin a mile (1.6 km) downstream. The Missouri then passes through Canyon Ferry Lake, a reservoir west of the Big Belt Mountains. Issuing from the mountains near Cascade, the river flows northeast to the city of Great Falls, where it drops over the Great Falls of the Missouri, a series of five substantial waterfalls. It then winds east through a scenic region of canyons and badlands known as the Missouri Breaks, receiving the Marias River from the west then widening into the Fort Peck Lake reservoir a few miles above the confluence with the Musselshell River. Farther on, the river passes through the Fort Peck Dam, and immediately downstream, the Milk River joins from the north.[14][15]", "Saint Lawrence River The Saint Lawrence River begins at the outflow of Lake Ontario and flows adjacent to Gananoque, Brockville, Morristown, Ogdensburg, Massena, Cornwall, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City before draining into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the largest estuary in the world.[4] The estuary begins at the eastern tip of Île d'Orléans, just downstream from Quebec City.[2] The river becomes tidal around Quebec City.[5]", "Congo River The Congo flows generally toward the northwest from Kisangani just below the Boyoma falls, then gradually bends southwestwards, passing by Mbandaka, joining with the Ubangi River, and running into the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). Kinshasa (formerly Léopoldville) and Brazzaville are on opposite sides of the river at the Pool, where the river narrows and falls through a number of cataracts in deep canyons (collectively known as the Livingstone Falls), running by Matadi and Boma, and into the sea at the small town of Muanda.", "Yonge Street Provincial downloading separated Yonge Street from Highway 11 during the 1990s. As a result, Highway 11 does not start until Crown Hill just outside Barrie, several kilometres north of where the name \"Yonge Street\" ends. The Guinness Book of World Records no longer lists Yonge Street as the longest street in the world and has not chosen a replacement street, but cites the Pan-American Highway as the world's longest \"motorable road\".", "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (French: Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte) painted in 1884, is one of Georges Seurat's most famous works. It is a leading example of pointillist technique, executed on a large canvas. Seurat's composition includes a number of Parisians at a park on the banks of the River Seine.", "Cinema of the United States The history of cinema in the United States can trace its roots to the East Coast where, at one time, Fort Lee, New Jersey was the motion-picture capital of America. The industry got its start at the end of the 19th century with the construction of Thomas Edison's \"Black Maria\", the first motion-picture studio in West Orange, New Jersey. The cities and towns on the Hudson River and Hudson Palisades offered land at costs considerably less than New York City across the river and benefited greatly as a result of the phenomenal growth of the film industry at the turn of the 20th century.[14][15][16]", "Davenport, Iowa Davenport is located on the banks of the Mississippi River. At this point the river has a maximum depth of around 30 to 40 feet (9.1 to 12.2 m) and is 2,217 feet (676 m) wide where the Centennial Bridge crosses it. The river flows from east to west in this area, as opposed to its usual north to south direction.[25] From the river the city starts to slope north up a hill, which is steep at some points. The streets of the city, especially downtown and in the central part of the town, follow a grid design.", "Moselle The source of the Moselle is at 715 metres above sea level on the Col de Bussang on the western slopes of the Ballon d'Alsace in the Vosges. After 544 kilometres it discharges into the Rhine at the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz at a height of 59 metres above NHN. The length of the river in France is 314 kilometres,[4] for 39 kilometres it forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg, and 208 kilometres are solely within Germany.", "Latin Quarter, Paris The Latin Quarter of Paris (French: Quartier latin, IPA: [kaʁtje latɛ̃]) is an area in the 5th and the 6th arrondissements of Paris. It is situated on the left bank of the Seine, around the Sorbonne.", "Strait of Dover The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait, historically known as the Dover Narrows (French: Pas de Calais [pɑ d(ə)‿kalɛ], \"Strait of Calais\"; Dutch: Nauw van Calais [nʌu̯ vɑn kaːˈlɛː] or Straat van Dover), is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel, marking the boundary between the Channel and North Sea, separating Great Britain from continental Europe. The shortest distance across the strait, 33.3 kilometres (20.7 miles; 18.0 nautical miles), is from the South Foreland, northeast of Dover in the English county of Kent, to Cap Gris Nez, a cape near to Calais in the French département of Pas-de-Calais. Between these points lies the most popular route for cross-channel swimmers.[1] The entire strait is within the territorial waters of France and the United Kingdom, but a right of transit passage under the UNCLOS exists allowing for unrestricted shipping.[2][3][4]", "Canal du Midi The canal connects the Garonne to the Étang de Thau on the Mediterranean and along with the 193 km (120 mi) long Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers, joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau near the Mediterranean.", "Danube The Danube was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire, and today flows through 10 countries, more than any other river in the world. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for 2,860 km (1,780 mi), passing through or touching the border of Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine before emptying into the Black Sea. Its drainage basin extends into nine more countries. The Danube river basin is the most biodiverse region in Europe, and is home to hundreds of fish species, such as pike, zander, huchen, wels catfish, burbot and tench. It is also home to a large diversity of carp and sturgeon, as well as salmon and trout. A few species of euryhaline fish, such as European seabass, mullet, and eel, inhabit the Danube delta and the lower portion of the river.", "Siege of Paris (845) The Siege of Paris and the Sack of Paris of 845 was the culmination of a Viking invasion of the kingdom of the West Franks. The Viking forces were led by a Norse chieftain named \"Reginherus\", or Ragnar, who traditionally has been identified with the legendary saga character Ragnar Lodbrok. Ragnar's fleet of 120 Viking ships, carrying thousands of men, entered the Seine in March and proceeded to sail up the river. The West Frankish king Charles the Bald assembled a smaller army in response, but as the Vikings defeated one division, comprising half of the army, the remaining forces retreated. The Vikings reached Paris at the end of the month, during Easter. After plundering and occupying the city, the Vikings withdrew when they had been paid a ransom of 7,000 French livres (2,570 kilograms (83,000 ozt)) of silver and gold from Charles the Bald.", "Danube Classified as an international waterway, it originates in the town of Donaueschingen, in the Black Forest of Germany, at the confluence of the rivers Brigach and Breg. The Danube then flows southeast for about 2,800 km (1,700 mi), passing through four capital cities before emptying into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine.", "Rules of basketball The center jump ball that was used to restart a game after every successful field goal was eliminated in 1938, in favor of the ball being given to the non-scoring team from behind the end line where the goal was scored, in order to make play more continuous. The jump ball was still used to start the game and every period, and to restart the game after a held ball. However, the NBA stopped using the jump ball to start the second through fourth quarters in 1975, instead using a quarter-possession system where the loser of the jump ball takes the ball from the other end to start the second and third periods, while the winner of that jump ball takes the ball to start the fourth period from the other end of the court.", "Pennsylvania Turnpike The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A controlled-access highway, it runs for 360 miles (580 km) across the state. The turnpike begins at the Ohio state line in Lawrence County, where the road continues west into Ohio as the Ohio Turnpike. It ends at the New Jersey border at the Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge over the Delaware River in Bucks County, where it continues east as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike.", "Hudson River The lower Hudson is actually a tidal estuary, with tidal influence extending as far as the Federal Dam in Troy. Strong tides make parts of New York Harbor difficult and dangerous to navigate. During the winter, ice floes may drift south or north, depending upon the tides. The Mahican name of the river represents its partially estuarine nature: muh-he-kun-ne-tuk means \"the river that flows both ways.\"[11] The Hudson is often mistaken for one of the largest rivers in the United States, but it is an estuary throughout most of its length below Troy and thus only a small fraction of fresh water, about 15,000 cubic feet (425 m³) per second, is present. The mean fresh water discharge at the river's mouth in New York is approximately 21,400 cubic feet (606 m³) per second. The Hudson and its tributaries, notably the Mohawk River, drain a large area. Parts of the Hudson River form coves, such as Weehawken Cove in the towns of Hoboken and Weehawken in New Jersey.", "Congo River The Congo River (also spelled Kongo River and known as the Zaire River; French: (le) fleuve Congo/Zaïre; Portuguese: rio Congo/Zaire; Kongo: Nzâdi Kôngo) is the second longest river in Africa after the Nile and the second largest river in the world by discharge volume of water (after the Amazon), and the world's deepest river with measured depths in excess of 220 m (720 ft).[2] The Congo-Chambeshi River has an overall length of 4,700 km (2,920 mi), which makes it the world's ninth-longest river. The Chambeshi is a tributary of the Lualaba River, and Lualaba is the name of the Congo River upstream of Boyoma Falls, extending for 1,800 km.", "Rhine The Rhine (Latin: Rhenus, Romansh: Rein, German: Rhein, French: le Rhin,[1] Dutch: Rijn) is a European river that begins in the Swiss canton of Graubünden in the southeastern Swiss Alps, forms part of the Swiss-Austrian, Swiss-Liechtenstein, Swiss-German and then the Franco-German border, then flows through the Rhineland and eventually empties into the North Sea in the Netherlands. The largest city on the river Rhine is Cologne, Germany, with a population of more than 1,050,000 people. It is the second-longest river in Central and Western Europe (after the Danube), at about 1,230 km (760 mi),[note 2][note 1] with an average discharge of about 2,900 m3/s (100,000 cu ft/s).", "Colorado River The Colorado River is one of the principal rivers of the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico (the other being the Rio Grande). The 1,450-mile-long (2,330 km) river drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven U.S. and two Mexican states. Starting in the central Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the river flows generally southwest across the Colorado Plateau and through the Grand Canyon before reaching Lake Mead on the Arizona–Nevada border, where it turns south toward the international border. After entering Mexico, the Colorado approaches the mostly dry Colorado River Delta at the tip of the Gulf of California between Baja California and Sonora.", "Run out The batsman can be judged run out when he is closest to the end where the wicket has been put down by the opposition. The runs completed before a Run out are still scored by the batsman and his team. The bowler does not get credit for the wicket." ]

[ "If you're running XP, set up accounts for your brothers. Keep yourself as Adminstrator ... set up their accounts with restrictions on web-sites, ability to download/install, etc.\\n\\nWhen you're going to be away, simply log off. They will click on their ICON and log in as themselves ... they will each have their own desktop, etc. and won't be messing with the computer !\\n\\nMultiple user accounts. It's that simple." ]

[ "I think hardly anyone hates the army, and those who do have some serious problems. What they DO have a problem with is what Bush and co. are doing with the army, and everyone should be upset about that. Bush is taking advantage of the sacrifices made by the armed forces.", "Who cares what the personal opinion of some police officers are? They, as police officers, are supposed to be bound by law and arrest those who are doing ANYTHING illegal.Their personal opinions do not matter. If they have a problem with that, then I feel they are not loyal police officers doing the job they were hired and trained to do.", "You do not know what will be the reason you die until you do. I have known many people who smoked for many years and lived to ripe old age and died a natural death. \\n What I find so interesting is that more people are getting sicker and at younger ages no matter what they are doing in their lives.\\n Certainly smoking is not good for you. I do not believe people think it is cool anymore to do so as they did back in maybe the 50's. But then it was common to come home and have your wife hand you a martini after work too. Times change,attitudes change\\n Habits change, lifestyles change. \\n And guess what there are smokers who actually enjoy smoking and are healthier than some of their contemporaries..\\n As I said you do not know what will cause your demise. Their are many things we do and are exposed to in this world of ours that cause many health problems and Social problems (like alcohol)\\n You certainly don't hear about the guy who smokes his cigerette then smacks his kids or wife around? Or woman doing that either for that matter? Yet everyone jumps on the cigerettes are bad for you bandwagon. \\n Oops off my soapbox here... Some of these issues really are so petty and are blown out of proportion that it makes me sick.....", "It is perfectly normal. I am not sure what you mean my loathe himself to sleep, but if it helps him sleep and the music helps him then I don't see any problems at all with it. Many adults do that as well.", "Gosh, who really \"favors\" war as if they like it. There may be some, but I think most everyone would like to avoid it. \\n\\nWhat it is good for is another matter. A country and a people can control themselves and fix their own problems without war (for the most part). But what do you do with other countries that are out of your control? What do you do with Nazi Germany? Just let them take over the world? Or how about the the more controversial \"war on terror\". Do you just let terrorists keep attacking or do you try to prevent their ability to communicate and to organize? \\n\\nI sure hope that I never have to fight in a war. What I do know of it is pretty terrible. But there are some things in the world that are worth fighting for. And things that even HAVE to be fought for unless you want to die or be slaves to others.", "what do you mean 3? we got a whole crapload of problems in the whole of the philippines, not just central luzon.", "I think what you are saying is essentially true. However there have been 6 presidents since Nixon that could have helped or fixed the problem and nothing got done. Nixons move to allow the dollar to float has caused many problems with the economy. I do not remember his reasoning behind it but it was another bad decision by an repuglican.", "well first i do i agree that obesity is not a good thing in any way . America has a problem and the first step is to acknowledge this problem . this is not cool on any way or something to be proud about . however i do not think that by judging them so harshly ur making any difference . u could tell them to star living healthy a do exercise instead u go and judge them . ur attitude is not positive and not helpful at all . people is important for what they are inside and ur showing a really ugly side of u . so i hope u change ur attitude just like Americans should change theirs . think about it .", "JMeeting.com is as close to one that you will find.It still has limitations and asks to join the paying membership.You can still surf the webcams posted on the site with no problem and also display yours.It's a do what you want to do site.", "I don't know if there's one that is more practicle than another, but when I took one it was mostly just doing puzzles (timed) and some other random stuff like seeing a picture and stating what was missing, doing some math problems in my head, spelling, etc. I think it varies with the different age groups though, I was 12 when I took it.\\nWhen you get the answers back it says what subjects you're best at along with your general IQ.", "no problem with that, you can working as anything depend from your ability.. I graduated from Archaeological Departement, University Of Indonesia, and now working as IT Manager. I will get my master degree in archaeology if i have time and money of course. Since now I learning and join any archaeology community for prepared my master. I think you can do like what I do.", "I just bought a laptop from http://www.ebay.com, but the only problem there is, you never know exactly what you are getting. If you use EBay and trust me and know what you are doing then that is a great place to go. \\n\\nhttp://www.dell.com\\nhttp://www.hewlettpackard.com\\nhttp://www.gateway.com", "They were working under orders,....but the problem is that there are sadists everywhere and probably some of them enjoyed what they were doing, whilst others were sickened by it.", "Yes. The war on drugs is a failure. There are more prisons than schools and this has not solved the problem. My state Oklahoma spends $48000 on average per year for each inmate and $3000 on every student. The majority of these are non-violent drug offenders and need help not incarceration. Do we remember Prohibition? Violence increases when you make things illegal and let's face it you can get drugs as easy as you can cigarettes and liquor. Having said this IT MUST BE REGULATED. On the black market who knows what you're buying MUCH MORE DANGEROUS because it's cut with all sorts of bad stuff. Make cash from TAXES and let it help the problem. I do not condone drug use, but I do not believe the government should be able to regulate what goes into my body. Where does it end. Can't have dessert cause it causes obesity and heart problems? There will still be a drug problem as long as people take them, but making it illegal has made the problem worse despite all good intentions.", "I think that is an easy excuse for people to not do anything about the problems in the world." ]

[ "however, boutique guitars are overpriced. from a mathmatical standpoint (that is, accounting for parts and labour) they are disproportionately expensive as compared to higher end mass-produced guitars. that being said, they are worth it if you desire the quality." ]

[ "If you want a top quality acoustic guitar but don't want to fork out a small fortune then Brunswick Guitars are worth a look. They look great, play great and are worth every penny!", "For most people, they probably are not worth the money because it does take some specific skills in order to build a great playing and sounding acoustic or electric guitar. However, if you are one that is good at working with wood you may end up with an excellent guitar by basing it on a DIY guitar kit.", "Boutique amps are typically expensive, but there are a few reasons as to why they're worth the extra cash. ... The finer the materials and circuitry that they can incorporate into an amplifier's design, the better it will ultimately sound. As you'd expect, using premium components isn't cost-effective!", "There is not one Martin model that matches up with this guitar. ... So the bottom line is that YES, these guitars, Martin, Gibson and Taylor, are definitely worth the extra cost when the person playing those guitars has reached the point where they need to feed on the quality to be better and better guitarists.", "The overall tone of the guitar is warm and projects well. ... If you want a good practice guitar and can even play a show, don't pass this one up. The guitar alone is worth 3x of what the whole package costed me. I think I'll check out more Glen Burton guitars.", "There's nothing intrinsically valuable about vintage guitars: they're worth what they're worth because collectors are willing to pay those prices for them. But one day, investment fashions MAY WELL CHANGE and the guitars probably won't be worth jack.", "The ESP Original guitars are made by the same people that make the custom shop guitars and are custom shop quality. ... Whether or not the increased quality and attention to detail of the ESP model is worth it to you, only you can decide that.", "Yes they are worth it and make string changes so much faster, but you should also learn proper stringing technique which you can learn here. Follow that video and you will be able to properly restring guitars in no time and it works for both acoustics and electrics. ... I have put locking tuners on 3/5 on my guitars.", "A signature guitar is worth buying if you feel the specifications, build-quality, sound, and overall value is enough to justify the usual inflated price compared to the standard model. Alternatively, you can easily re-create a high profile guitarists signature sound without the artists signature guitar.", "The Final Verdict: Chapman Succeeds Where It Counts The same could be said if you're trying to put the Ghost Fret Pro against a Fender American Stratocaster. But for the price that Chapman guitars come with, they're well worth it. ... It can be hard to trust in a guitar brand without a lot of reviews to back it.", "Their main points are twofold; boutique pedals are way overpriced and cheap knockoff pedals are basically the same thing. ... The people building these pedals don't play guitar or have any interest in the quality of your tone, it's just an assembly job. Build as many as you can, as cheap as you can, as fast as you can.", "Gibson guitars still hold their value better than many other guitars on the market. A lot of guitars lose half or more of their value once they have been owned by somebody. Some inexpensive guitars are worth almost nothing in the resale market. As always, try before you buy.", "['Ralph Lauren. 300 Worth Avenue / 561.651.3900. ... ', 'J. McLaughlin. ... ', 'Leta Austin Foster Boutique. 64 Via Mizner / 561.655.7367. ... ', 'Stubbs & Wootton. 340 Worth Ave. / ... ', 'Grace Boutique. 249 Royal Poinciana Way / 561.469.7674. ... ', 'Betteridge. 236 Worth Avenue / 561.655.5850. ... ', 'Charlotte Kellogg. 256 Worth Avenue / 561.820.2407.']", "Z Amplification. Dr. Z Amplification is an American manufacturer of boutique guitar amplifiers.", "\"Ibanez guitars are affordable guitars that are fun to play....\" Ibanez has been making acoustic guitars since 1908, known for quality guitars at an affordable price. They come in a variety of sizes and materials and are perfect for the new guitar player or someone looking for an inexpensive guitar to take on the road.", "Whether its worth it or not depends on your preferences and your budget. I'd say that when it comes to PRS, what you're paying for is the knowledge that you can't go wrong. Objectively, their guitars are purely great quality products and will sound great regardless of what you make them play.", "And while this is not what PRS fans might be used to, this guitar is an excellent offering into the market, and if you are looking for a single-coil guitar, the Silver Sky is definitely worth checking out.”", "this guitar can look, sound and play just as good as any guitar you buy in a store if you put in the extra work and buy better hardware. the best thing about a kit guitar is you can spend what you want and make it what you want so cost of kit 200$ or so and 20-30 hours of work gives you a very nice finish.", "Value-for-Money. Definitely value-for-money. This guitar is only around $120 – that's nothing for a guitar. And if you at least change the strings then you get a decent sound out of it and it becomes actually pretty nice to play.", "As we said before, Rogue guitars are a great choice for those of you that don't want or can't invest a lot of money in your very first acoustic guitar. For just over $50, the Rogue Starter acoustic guitar does its job.", "Bogner Amplification is an American guitar amplifier manufacturing company founded by Reinhold Bogner in 1989 in Los Angeles, California. Bogner began by custom-building boutique amplifiers based on classic (blackface) Fenders, and now offers different models of serially produced amplifiers.", "Is it hard to learn guitar? Well, it's no walk in the woods at first, but playing the guitar is a skill that becomes easy with time. It takes a considerable amount of practice, but it will be soooo much more than worth it.", "As well as a range of guitars and mandolins, they make a good number of ukuleles that are firmly in the 'value' bracket at under £100. ... To be fair though, whilst I see a lot of ukuleles that look like this, the Brunswick is certainly up there with the better finishes I have seen at this price.", "Mastery Bridge really is worth the investment. Absolutely incredible what it does for the jazzmaster. ... Switching to Mastery Bridge saved muh life tho. Improved the guitar by 200%.", "[GEAR] Are Agile guitars any good? ... They're damn good guitars for the price. I recently picked up a Septor Elite 828 from Reverb for $350 and I dig it pretty hard so far. The build quality is solid, the playability is great, and the hardware is all better than anything else in the same price range.", "I play all types of music and because this guitar is so versatile, it is great for everything. The design, the finish, the sound, the performance - everything is amazing and well worth the price. Hofner made a very limited number of these special, limited edition Verythin CT's.", "They are basically very good guitars. ... The ESP Original guitars are made by the same people that make the custom shop guitars and are custom shop quality. The LTD and E-II models are made on an assembly line. That's not to say that that the LTD and E-II guitars aren't good guitars.", "PRS are expensive, but like in any field, you gotta pay the cost of quality. Some people don't like them, and that's a question of taste, but for someone who digs the instrument, they are as worth it as any other guitar in that price range.", "They are VERY good. Cort Earth series in my book are the best guitars in the $200-300 range. I've seen exceptional examples and I've seen horrible examples. These days, I've been hearing more good than bad, but...just proves that ya gotta play before ya buy!", "The guitar is expected to be worth between $80,000 and $100,000 when it goes up for auction in September 2019 by Beverly Hills' Julien's Auctions. B.B. King performs with his beloved guitar 'Lucille' at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, circa mid-1964.", "In 1989, Jackson sold Charvel/Jackson to the Japanese manufacturer IMC (International Music Corporation), who made Charvel brand guitars exclusively in Japan from 1986 to 1991. ... This confused many consumers—as, without exception, all guitars with the \"Ft. Worth\" neck plate were made in Japan.", "A baritone guitar can take your sound and your playing in competely new directions, open new vistas for your music and potentially change your approach to playing conventional guitar or bass – it's definitely worth checking out." ]

[ "native americans - Why is Christopher Columbus credited for \"discovering\" America? - History Stack Exchange up vote 46 down vote accepted Columbus is traditionally (and indeed still) credited with the discovery of the Americas for a number of reasons, some dubious but others quite legitimate. First of all, we must qualify this discovery as discovery by Old World people. Clearly, the original \"discovery\" by the human species was some 40,000 years ago by the ancestors of the indigenous populations of North and South America, but given that this original settlement was well within the pre-historical period, and that there has probably been no contact between the peoples of the Americas and the Old World (specifically Asia) in the last 10,000 years, it might be said that we implicitly mean a \"re-discovery\" (within the historical era) of the Americas. Wikipedia actually has a fairly well-written paragraph on the subject: Though Columbus was not the first European explorer to reach the Americas (having been preceded by the Norse expedition led by Leif Ericson[6]), Columbus' voyages led to the first lasting European contact with America, inaugurating a period of European exploration and colonization of foreign lands that lasted for several centuries. They had, therefore, an enormous impact in the historical development of the modern Western world. Columbus himself saw his accomplishments primarily in the light of the spreading of the Christian religion.[2] Also worth noting is that Columbus led four expeditions to the New World: the first landed on the island of Hispaniola, and others ventured to Cuba, mainland Central America (Mexico area), and the northern coast of South America. Indeed, there is no doubt/controversy that Columbus was the first historical person of the Old World to discover South America. Over the past few decades there has been some talk and a beginning of tre acceptance of the theory that the Solutrean peoples of southern France/northern Spain made it across to North America on small boats some 20,000 years ago, by navigating the iceburg-ridden North Atlantic ocean. While lying chronologically after most of the waves of migration from East Asia into North America, it is still within the pre-historical period and hence is not usually considered in this discussion -- not least, due to its non-universal acceptance at present. Now, the first matter is that there exists clear historical evidence (both archaeological and written) that the medieval land the Vikings called Vinland does indeed correspond to Newfoundland, eastern Quebec, and the northern parts of New England. This occurred some time in the late 10th century A.D. (reputably by Leif Ericsson and his crew) when they were forced off course en route to Greenland and landed in Newfoundland. A number of reasons can be given for the diminished importance of this re-discovery, as follows. The discovery was virtually lost into Viking legend during the following centuries, when the successor states of the Viking homeland (Denmark and Norway) were forged and the Age of Migrations came to a close. As far as I know, conclusive evidence for the Norse discovery only came to light during the 20th century. The Vikings never made a permanent settlement in North America. At best, they explored around a bit, sailing up some of the major rivers (perhaps even the Hudson), and doing some minor trading with the Native Americans. However, there is no reliable evidence for routine trading with the North Americans, and indeed there are sources suggesting the Vikings considered them to be an inferior people, suggesting most contact with them was probably in the form of skirmishes. Despite the small inroads made by the Norseman, the discontinuation of any exploration or settlement efforts meant that the long-term relevance of their excursion into North America was of rather little significance. The Spanish discovery and the colonisation, on the other hand, had enormous import on the world has a whole. The Vikings as a people did not represent a particularly advanced civilisation" ]

[ "Age of Exploration | European Navigators Explore the New World Age of Exploration By the end of the 15th century many things were changing in Europe. The population started to grow more quickly and a new class of merchants emerged. They wanted to buy and sell expensive and valuable products from Asia—like gold, jewels and silk. In those days, people had no refrigerators to preserve their food. They dried meat and often used salt to make it last longer. To make food taste better they used spices , like pepper or cinnamon. For centuries Europeans brought these goods on a land route from Asia over thousands of dangerous kilometres . In the 15th century the overland routes were being controlled by the Turkish Empire, which made it even more difficult for European merchants to pass through. As a result, some European countries, like Spain and Portugal, decided to find out if there was a sea route to India . With the help of new kinds of ships that could sail faster and instruments , like the quadrant, they started the Age of Exploration. Portuguese exploration At the end of the 15th century the Portuguese started to explore the west coast of Africa . They set up trading posts and collected gold and silver. They were convinced that by sailing around the coast of Africa they would find a route to India. In 1487 , the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias sailed around the southern part of the continent and got as far as the east coast of Africa, but a storm made him turn back. On his return voyage, he saw a piece of land that stretched out into the sea. The Portuguese named it the Cape of Good Hope because they were hopeful of finding a passageway to India. In 1497 Vasco Da Gama set out from Lisbon, sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and into the Indian Ocean. He reached the west coast of India in May 1498. He took some spices and gold back with him to prove that he had reached India. Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus was probably the most famous explorer of the era. He achieved fame by sailing west in search of a sea route to India. Instead of reaching India he discovered that there was an unknown mass of land in between, land that the Europeans knew nothing of. Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451 and during his early years his father took him on various sailing trips and wanted to make a merchant out of him. Like many navigators of that time, Columbus also wanted to sail to India and the Far East. He thought that if he sailed west he would also reach the Spice Islands of Asia and India. When he went to the king of Portugal to present his plan, but it was rejected. Queen Isabella of Spain admired young and brave men like Columbus and so she gave him three ships—the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria—and a crew of 90 men. Columbus left Spain on August 3, 1492. After two months of sailing westward, he landed on an island of the Bahamas, San Salvador, on October 12, 1492. Because he thought he had reached the islands near India he called the natives Indians . All together, Columbus made four voyages to the New World between 1492 and 1504. He explored the coasts of Cuba, Jamaica , Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. On his last two voyages, Columbus reached the mainland of Central and South America and travelled as far south as the mouth of the Orinoco River. After he came home from his fourth voyage, Christopher Columbus fell ill and died in 1506. Other Spanish Explorers During the early 1500s Spanish explorers travelled across most of Central and South America. They founded colonies and brought settlers to the New World. They also made the native Indians work for them. The Spaniards brought new products to the Americas ,like wheat, horses, cattle and sheep. In exchange , they grew plants that were not known in Europe, like corn and potatoes and brought them back to the Old Continent. In 1513 the Spanish explorer Vasco de Balboa landed in Panama, the part of Central America that is very narrow. With his men, he fought his way through 50 miles of jungle and was surprised to see a new sea , the Pacific Ocean.", "Manas: History and Politics, Mughals in south-west India on 27 May 1498 inaugurated a new, and extremely unpleasant, chapter in Indian history.� For some time, the Portuguese, among other Europeans, had been looking for a sea route to India , but they had been unable to break free of the stranglehold exercised by Egyptian rulers over the trade between Europe and Asia .� The Red Sea trade route was a state monopoly from which Islamic rulers earned tremendous revenues.� In the fifteenth century, the mantle of Christendom�s resistance to Islam had fallen upon Portugal ; moreover, the Portuguese had inherited the Genoese tradition of exploration.� It is reported that the idea of finding an ocean route to Ocean had become an obsession for Henry the Navigator (1394-1460), and he was also keen to find a way to circumvent the Muslim domination of the eastern Mediterranean and all the routes that connected India to Europe .� In 1454, Henry received a bull from Pope Nicholas V, which conferred on him the right to navigate the �sea to the distant shores of the Orient�, more specifically �as far as India �, whose inhabitants were to be brought to help Christians �against the enemies of the faith�.� The pagans, wherever they might be, �not yet afflicted with the plague of Islam� were to be given the �knowledge of the name of Christ.�� By the terms of the Treaty of Trodesilhas (1494), all new territories were divided between Spain .�� The stage was thus set for the Portuguese incursions into the waters surrounding India . In 1487, the Portuguese navigator, Bartholomew Dias, rounded the �Cape of Good Hope�, and so opened the sea route to India .� An expedition of four ships headed out to India in 1497, and arrived in India � in slightly less than eleven months� time.� The coming of the Portuguese introduced several new factors into Indian history.� As almost every historian has observed, it not only initiated what might be called the European era, it marked the emergence of naval power.� Doubtless, the Cholas, among others, had been a naval power, but for the first time a foreign power had come to India by way of the sea; moreover, Portuguese dominance would only extend to the coasts, since they were never able to make any significant inroads into the Indian interior.� The Portuguese ships carried cannon, but the significance of this is not commonly realized, especially by those who are merely inclined to view the Portuguese as one of a series of invaders of India, or even as specimens of �enterprising� Europeans whose mission it was to energize the �lazy natives�.� For centuries, the numerous participants in the Indian Ocean trading system � Indians, Arabs, Africans from the east coast, Chinese, Javanese, Sumatrans, among others � had ploughed the sea routes and adhered to various tacit rules of conduct.� Though all were in the trade for profit, as might be expected, no party sought to have overwhelming dominance; certainly no one had sought to enforce their power through arms.� Trade flourished, and all the parties played their role in putting down piracy:� this was a free trade zone.� Into this� arena stepped forth the Portuguese, who at once declared their intention to abide by no rules except their own, and who sought immediate and decisive advantage over the Indians and over the Indian Ocean In a word, the conduct of the Portuguese in India was �barbaric�.� Vasco da Gama�s initial conduct set the tone.� On his way to India , he encountered an unarmed vessel returning from Mecca ; as a contemporary Portuguese source states, da Gama ordered the ship emptied of its goods, and then had it set on fire, prohibiting �any Moor� being", "Cape of Good Hope | promontory, South Africa | Britannica.com Cape of Good Hope Alternative Title: Cape of Storms Similar Topics Cape Horn Cape of Good Hope, rocky promontory at the southern end of Cape Peninsula, Western Cape province, South Africa . It was first sighted by the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 on his return voyage to Portugal after ascertaining the southern limits of the African continent. One historical account says that Dias named it Cape of Storms and that John II of Portugal renamed it Cape of Good Hope (because its discovery was a good omen that India could be reached by sea from Europe); other sources attribute its present name to Dias himself. Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Western Cape province, South Africa. © PhotoSky 4t com/Shutterstock.com Explore the popular attractions of Cape Town, South Africa, and the surrounding area, including the … Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Known for the stormy weather and rough seas encountered there, the cape is situated at the convergence of the warm Mozambique-Agulhas current from the Indian Ocean and the cool Benguela current from Antarctic waters. Grass and low shrub vegetation is characteristic of the promontory, which is part of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (established 1939) that encompasses the southern tip of the peninsula. There is a lighthouse on Cape Point about 1.2 miles (2 km) east of the Cape of Good Hope. Learn More in these related articles: Bartolomeu Dias c. 1450 May 29, 1500 at sea, near Cape of Good Hope Portuguese navigator and explorer who led the first European expedition to round the Cape of Good Hope (1488), opening the sea route to Asia via the Atlantic and Indian oceans. He is usually considered to be the greatest of the Portuguese pioneers... in European exploration: The sea route east by south to Cathay ...navigate by their coasts and the seas of Guinea.” In the same year, another Portuguese navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, found encouraging evidence that this was so. In 1487 he rounded the Cape of Storms in such bad weather that he did not see it, but he satisfied himself that the coast was now trending northeastward; before turning back, he reached the Great Fish River, in what is now... More about Cape of Good Hope 1 Reference found in Britannica Articles Assorted Reference Cape of Good Hope - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky point on the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula. The Cape Peninsula sticks out from southwestern Africa into the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape of Good Hope gave its name to a European colony that once covered nearly all of southern Africa. The Cape Colony lasted until 1910, when it became a part of South Africa. Cape of Good Hope - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The southernmost tip of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula is called the Cape of Good Hope. It is known for the stormy weather and rough seas encountered there. One of the southernmost points in Africa, it is among the most famous capes in maritime history. Its discovery by Europeans in the 15th century opened the first all-water route from Europe to Asia. Article History Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unf", "Glossary of Asian Art Every culture must find a way to reconcile the polar opposites – male/female, good/bad, sky/earth, birth/death – that are characteristic of the human condition. Additive or non-dualistic cultures (Asian) accept such contradictions as imperfectly perceived parts of a greater unity: both/and, rather than either/or. Dualistic cultures (European) reject contradiction and spend enormous effort to resolve it. Ancient Egypt is uniquely a bit of both, since it accepts contradictions (additive, like the East) but also holds them in tension (dualistic, like the West). Everyone who was anyone, in the ancient world, wanted to have a good afterlife. Elites were buried with their favorite and most precious objects: weapons and pots, ceramics and bronzes, bangles, jewels, figurines, animals, and human sacrifices. This is a cultural universal, that is attested in all times and all places. Tomb walls, for those who could afford it, would be decorated with painted scenes depicting the honors of the deceased in life, and his hoped-for activities in the afterlife. For Chinese grave goods in particular, see: mingqi . Agastya, who is worshiped as an avatar of Shiva , was a legendary guru who spread the worship of Shiva throughout India. His attributes include a pot belly, a beard, and a water bottle. The Vedic god of fire, and directional guardian of the southeast. He holds an offering spoon and rides a ram. Additional attributes may include a beard, a staff, a water jar, and prayer beads. The popular center (Greek agora, Roman forum) of a classical city; its chief market and gathering place. (Also Erawan) The three-headed elephant upon which Indra rides. The third Mughal Emperor , known for his religious tolerance and the cultural brilliance of his reign. An ornament on the ridge of a roof. The Indonesian warrior ideal of imperturbability, that is similar to the Greek sophrosyne . The ribbed disk at the top of a shikhara . \"Mother,\" one of the forms of Devi . A type of early Christian pulpit, that was accessed by a triangular flight of stairs, the prototype of the Islamic minbar . Amitabha, or Amida in Japan, is the Buddha of the Western Pure Land. He is associated with Avalokiteshvara and is easy to worship: just call on his name, and you will be reborn on top of a lotus in the Western Paradise. The cult of Amida supplied a practicable route to salvation for all, becoming especially popular in Japan from the 11th century onwards. A group of five Buddhist deities with Amida at the center. From left to right, the figures are: Guanyin , a disciple, Amida , another disciple, and Mahasthamaprapta . See also: Table Of Buddhist Deities . The Buddha of Longevity, a form of Amitabha . (Indonesia) A culturally-defined state of murderous rage. (Egypt) Originally a local god of Thebes, Amun became the chief god of Egypt during the New Kingdom, when his priesthood achieved a great measure of political power and religious control vis-a-vis the temples of Egypt's many other gods. His name means \"Hidden,\" referring to the wind or air. Ananta, also known as Shesha, is the cosmic serpent on which Vishnu sleeps, sits, or reclines (Anantashayana/Anantasayin), as he dreams the universe into existence. Shesha, \"The One Who Remains,\" personifies the primordial substance out of which the universe is formed, that continues to exist when the universe ends, and that fuels the start of the next cosmic cycle. He is called Ananta, or \"Endless,\" because the primordium is eternal and the cycle of cosmic birth and death repeats forever. A disciplined process, pioneered by Dutch archaeologists in the early 20th century, of rebuilding the ruined stone and brick temples of India and Southeast Asia. It consists of the following steps: (1) The location of every existing block is carefully recorded. (2) The remains of the temple are disassembled, block by block. (3) The temple is then rebuilt, using knowledge preserved by the previous steps. (4) During reconstruction, any missing pieces are substituted by blank stones, and the entire structure is made ar", "Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. The Most South-Western Point of The African Continent | 360° Aerial Panoramas, 360° Virtual Tours Around the World, Photos of the Most Interesting Places on the Earth Photogallery Total Views: 1 152 135 The discovery of Cape of Good Hope — a geographic location with one of the most romantic names in the world — is due to Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias. At the end of the 15th century Portugal was literally obsessed with discovering the seaway to India sending one expedition after another. In 1487 this task was entrusted to Dias. His voyage, as well as his predecessors', was filled with adventures, shooting incidents with local tribes, and threats of mutiny from his crew. Dias ended up sailing only around Africa thinking that if one continues to sail forward, he would arrive to India sooner or later. After coming to this logical conclusion he turned around, and on his way home in May of 1488 he landed at what he thought was the southernmost point of Africa. The debarkation was not easy — the storm almost wrecked their ship on the cliffs. As a result, Dias named this place \"Cape of Storms\" and returned to Portugal with peace of mind. But the King Juan the Second thought that the name was too shortsighted: who would want to discover India through such obstacles? So he changed the name to the Cape of Good Hope envisioning that the sea route to India would be well travelled one day. The expedition, led by famous Vasco da Gama, became a success. By the way, he owes his fame to this voyage as it made him the first European who sailed to India. On July 8th, year 1497 the expedition made a grand exit out of the Port of Lisbon and by November of the same year sailed around the Cape of Storms, or to be precise, the Cape of Good Hope. Needless to say that the storms continuing for days and days made it very difficult and caused a damage beyond repair to one of the vessels... However, the heroic deeds of the explorers were not in vain, as now humanity possesses not only the sea route from Europe to India but also an outstanding tourist \"attraction\". Who wouldn't want to boast about standing on the most southern point of the African continent gazing at the vastness of the ocean and knowing that the only closest land is Antarctica? Centuries later, with the development of cartography, it became clear that \"the southernmost point in the continent of Africa\" was not the Cape of Good Hope but the Cape Agulhas located 155 km southeast. However, by that time, tourists already made their way to the \"imposter\" discovered by Bartolomeu Dias so the government decided to simply change the plate to read \"The Most South-Western Point of The African Continent\" :) Even this change didn't go without a trick! After arriving to Cape of Good Hope by bus tourists first ride the cable cars, then take a long walk to a high, beautiful, long stretching outbound cape with a panoramic view of the mirror-like ocean, where they take classic photos in \"Me and The Most South-Western Point of Africa\" style. However this cape, named Cape Point, is not really the most southwestern one. The real most southwestern point of the African continent is actually situated several kilometers away — it's an unremarkable place by the water, with a small parking lot nearby and an official plate that reads \"The Most South-Western Point of The African Continent\" (see photo below). This location is hardly known and is visited by less than 10% of all tourists that come to the Cape of Good Hope :) Visitor of our website has pointed that the official sign says wrong latitude (23 degrees instead of 33). Photo above with wrong sign was taken in 2003. We found photo in the web of this sign of 2006, there you can see that wrong coordinates have already been fixed.", "Bartolomeu Dias - Exploration - HISTORY.com Bartolomeu Dias A+E Networks Introduction In 1488, Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias (c. 1450-1500) became the first European mariner to round the southern tip of Africa, opening the way for a sea route from Europe to Asia. Dias’ ships rounded the perilous Cape of Good Hope and then sailed around Africa’s southernmost point, Cabo das Agulhas, to enter the waters of the Indian Ocean. Portugal and other European nations already had long-established trade ties to Asia, but the arduous overland route had been closed in the 1450s due to the Ottoman Empire’s conquest of the remnants of the Byzantine Empire. A major maritime victory for Portugal, Dias’ breakthrough opened the door to increased trade with India and other Asian powers. It also prompted Genoan explorer Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), then living in Portugal, to seek a new royal patron for a mission to establish his own sea route to the Far East. Google An Ambitious Plan Almost nothing is known about the life of Bartolomeu de Novaes Dias before 1487, except that he was at the court of João II, king of Portugal (1455-1495), and was a superintendent of the royal warehouses. He likely had much more sailing experience than his one recorded stint aboard the warship São Cristóvão. Dias was probably in his mid- to late 30s in 1486 when João appointed him to head an expedition in search of a sea route to India. Did You Know? According to Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus (c. 484-c. 425 B.C.), Egyptian pharaoh Necho II (d. 595 B.C.) sent Phoenician sailors out from the Arabian Gulf to sail around the African continent. Their journey took three years. João was entranced by the legend of Prester John, a mysterious and probably apocryphal 12th-century leader of a nation of Christians somewhere in Africa. João sent out a pair of explorers, Afonso de Paiva (c. 1460-c. 1490) and Pêro da Covilhã (c. 1450-c. 1526), to search overland for the Christian kingdom in Ethiopia. João also wanted to find a way around the southernmost point of Africa’s coastline, so just a few months after dispatching the overland explorers, he sponsored Dias in an African expedition. In August 1487, Dias’ trio of ships departed from the port of Lisbon, Portugal. Dias followed the route of 15th-century Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão (c. 1450-c. 1486), who had followed the coast of Africa as far as present-day Cape Cross, Namibia. Dias’ cargo included the standard “padrões,” the limestone markers used to stake Portuguese claims on the continent. Padrões were planted at the shoreline and served as guideposts to previous Portuguese explorations of the coast. Dias’ expedition party included six Africans who had been brought to Portugal by earlier explorers. Dias dropped off the Africans at different ports along the coastline of Africa with supplies of gold and silver and messages of goodwill from the Portuguese to the indigenous people. The last two Africans were left at a place the Portuguese sailors called Angra do Salto, probably in modern Angola, and the expedition’s supply ship was left there under guard of nine men. The Expedition Around South Africa In early January 1488, as Dias’ two ships sailed off the coast of South Africa, storms blew them away from the coast. Dias is thought to have ordered a turn to the south of about 28 degrees, probably because he had prior knowledge of southeasterly winds that would take him around the tip of Africa and keep his ships from being dashed on the notoriously rocky shoreline. João and his predecessors had obtained navigational intelligence, including a 1460 map from Venice that showed the Indian Ocean on the other side of Africa. Dias’ decision was risky, but it worked. The crew spotted landfall on February 3, 1488, about 300 miles east of present-day Cape of Good Hope. They found a bay they called São Bras (present-day Mossel Bay) and the much warmer waters of the Indian Ocean. From the shoreline, indigenous Khoikhoi pelted Dias’ ships with stones until an arrow fired by either Dias or one of his men felled a", "Thomas Jefferson and the Lewis and Clark Expedition | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Lewis and Clark Study Resource Thomas Jefferson and the Lewis and Clark Expedition Long before he became the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson had dreamed of sending explorers across North America. When Jefferson took office in 1801, most of the United States population lived within 50 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. Knowledge of the western part of the continent was limited to what had been learned from French traders and fur trappers and Spanish and British explorers. On January 18, 1803, President Jefferson sent a secret letter to Congress asking for $2,500 to fund an expedition to the Pacific Ocean. He hoped to establish trade with the Native American people of the West and find a water route to the Pacific. Jefferson also was fascinated by the prospect of what could be learned about the geography of the West, the lives and languages of the Native Americans, the plants and animals, the soil, the rocks, the weather, and how they differed from those in the East. President Jefferson's choice to lead an expedition was Meriwether Lewis, his former secretary and a fellow native of Albemarle County, Virginia. Having reached the rank of captain in the U.S. Army, Lewis possessed military discipline and experience that would prove invaluable. While in the Army, Lewis had served in a rifle company commanded by William Clark. It was Clark whom Lewis chose to assist him in leading this U.S. Army expedition, commonly known today as the \"Corps of Discovery.\" On February 28, 1803, Congress appropriated funds for the Expedition, and Jefferson's dream came closer to becoming a reality. It was important for Lewis to gain certain scientific skills and to buy equipment that would be needed on the journey. In the spring of 1803, Lewis traveled to Philadelphia to study with the leading scientists of the day. Andrew Ellicott taught Lewis map making and surveying. Benjamin Smith Barton tutored Lewis in botany, Robert Patterson in mathematics, Caspar Wistar in anatomy and fossils, and Benjamin Rush in medicine. While in Philadelphia Lewis purchased many of the items required for the journey. His shopping list included scientific instruments such as a chronometer and a sextant, an air rifle, arms and ammunition, medicines, ink and other materials for journal keeping, and a large array of other items, including 193 pounds of portable soup, a corn mill, mosquito netting, blankets, oiled linen for making tents, candles, tools, and reference books. Lewis also purchased gifts for Native Americans. It was well known that in Indian cultures gift exchange was an important sign of friendship and allegiance. To prepare for this, he bought glass beads, mirrors, scissors, thimbles, needles, tobacco, knives, and peace medals. Through the exchange of gifts, and following Jefferson's instructions to treat the Indians \"in the most friendly and conciliatory manner,\" it was hoped that knowledge of them could be acquired and trade increased. While Lewis was back in Washington in July 1803, the United States's purchase of the Louisiana territory from France was announced. Now the journey was even more important. Lewis and his party would be exploring land that belonged to the United States. Armed with Jefferson's letter of instructions, Lewis traveled to Pittsburgh and then set out on the Ohio River. At Clarksville, in present-day Indiana, he met up with William Clark. They packed the keelboat, which Lewis had designed, and two pirogues (canoe-like boats) with supplies and headed downriver. They were accompanied by some recruited soldiers, Clark's African-American slave York, and Lewis's Newfoundland dog Seaman. Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1803-04 at Camp Dubois on the east bank of the Mississippi River, upstream from St. Louis. Here the captains recruited more men, increasing the ranks of the \"Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery\" to more than 40. As spring approached, the members of the Expedition gathered food and supplies and packed them into b", "Age of Discovery : definition of Age of Discovery and synonyms of Age of Discovery (English) Cantino planisphere 1502, earliest surviving chart showing the explorations of Columbus to Central America, Corte-Real to Newfoundland, Gama to India and Cabral to Brazil. Tordesillas line depicted, Biblioteca Estense , Modena The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration and the Great Navigations, was a period in history starting in the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contact with Africa , the Americas , Asia and Oceania and mapping the planet. Historians often refer to the 'Age of Discovery' [1] [2] as the pioneer Portuguese and Spanish long-distance maritime travels in search of alternative trade routes to \" the Indies \", moved by the trade of gold , silver and spices . [3] The Age of Discovery can be seen as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern era , along with its contemporary Renaissance movement, triggering the early modern period and the rise of European nation-states . Accounts from distant lands and maps spread with the help of the new printing press fed the rise of humanism and worldly curiosity, ushering in a new age of scientific and intellectual inquiry. European overseas expansion led to the rise of colonial empires , with the contact between the Old and New Worlds producing the Columbian Exchange : a wide transfer of plants, animals, foods, human populations (including slaves ), communicable diseases , and culture between the Eastern and Western hemispheres, in one of the most significant global events concerning ecology , agriculture , and culture in history. European exploration allowed the global mapping of the world, resulting in a new world-view and distant civilizations acknowledging each other, reaching the most remote boundaries much later. Contents George III The Portuguese began systematically exploring the Atlantic coast of Africa from 1418, under the sponsorship of Prince Henry . In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias reached the Indian Ocean by this route and in about the next thirty years most of the main discoveries would occur. In 1492, racing to find a trade route to Asia, the Spanish monarchs funded Christopher Columbus ’s plan to sail west to reach the Indies by crossing the Atlantic. He landed on an uncharted continent, then seen by Europeans as a new world , America. To prevent conflict between Portugal and Spain, the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed dividing the world into two regions of exploration, where each had exclusive rights to claim newly discovered lands. In 1498, a Portuguese expedition commanded by Vasco da Gama finally achieved the dream of reaching India by sailing around Africa, opening up direct trade with Asia. Soon, the Portuguese sailed further eastward, to the valuable spice islands in 1512, landing in China one year later. Thus, Europe first received news of eastern and western Pacific within a one year span around 1512. East and west exploration overlapped in 1522, when Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan led a Spanish expedition West, achieving the first circumnavigation of the world, while Spanish conquistadors explored inland the Americas, and later, some of the South Pacific islands. Since 1495, the French and English and, much later, the Dutch entered the race of exploration after learning of these exploits, defying the Iberian monopoly on maritime trade by searching for new routes, first to the north, and into the Pacific Ocean around South America, but eventually by following the Portuguese around Africa into the Indian Ocean ; discovering Australia in 1606, New Zealand in 1642, and Hawaii in 1778. Meanwhile, from the 1580s to the 1640s Russians explored and conquered almost the whole of Siberia . Background Medieval geography Ptolemy's world map (2nd century) in a 15th century reconstruction European medieval knowledge about Asia beyond the reach of Byzantine Empire was sourced in partial reports, often obscured by legends, [", "Which Country Makes The Most Movies? Which Country Makes The Most Movies? 2008.12.31 | Filed Under: The World Hollywood was the world’s film-making capital for many years. But today, the United States is no longer number one among film making nations, it’s not even number two! Seven nations now make more full-length movies each year than the United States. Japan, France, Italy, the Philippines, the former Soviet Union, and Mexico each make more films each year than this country. But the leading movie-making nation on earth is now India. In a recent year, when only 156 films were made in the United States, 475 full-length films were made in India. Read More Which movies have portrayed the value of friendship among women? Hell Ice It’s not all about most or longest, it’s all about great movies, so Hollywood is still number one, because movies of Hollywood are still great, unlike all other countries where they only care about calling their random works with “Movies” !! Go Hollywood ! Sam Hollywood is a rich industry in comparision to bollywood(India).According to our above friend Hell Ice,Hollywood make great movies.But it’s not true.Hollywood do not make great movies,rather it makes EXPENSIVE or BIG BUDGET films.But only some of them has a meaningful story.In India,there are not Big Budget films,but there are good story movies.Hell Ice is a action loving guy,so it called hollywood movies as great.But he is not considering story,music.screenplay,etc. Bill A. Hollywood makes the crappiest movies B. The Soviet Union hasn’t existed for 20 years. C. Hollywood is essentially a employment service for the rich and untalented. Go watch Batman 15 and tell us how eating poop tastes the best. haha HOLLYWOOD MAKE MOVIES ? HUH ? Never heard in my LIFE . Where is HOLLYWOOD ? Oh Let me think Um Oh I.C where you will find only None American People makes Movies in Hollywood ? Oh alright. USA don’t know how make movies period today’s Hollywood build by the out side people , Country like Italy, German, France, Japan, UK ,India ,and Latin America . Hope you guys will able to find what I’m trying to say the critic Either all of you are overtly nationalistic indians who lives in a bubble or idiots who pretends they know something. @ SAM so you mean indian movies are better in general? Definitely, I dont agree. There are many crap movies in US but it goes the same for India and other countries. And being a great movie doesnt mean it need not be expensive. Movies are ALSO for audio visual purposes and not only story. If you think the stories or screenplay in hollywood sucks while in India its not then wake up and poke your bubble because you are an ethnocentric person babyson preson No one cares what u think. Indian movies are the best…. Ultimate Critic The critic likes to criticize and take an anti position. But Sam is also wrong. There are a few movies made by each country which are really great/ good. Some movies entertain the general public, yet a few others only satisfy the critics. There are films from different genres – some tell a great story, some are visually appealing, some humorous and others are great in action or horror. It depends on your choice. Hollywood does produce some really great movies. But then so do other countries. Since there are many English speaking/ knowing nations, they tend to watch Hollywood and UK movies more. Hence obviously their greater popularity. We are writing this post in English and so obviously you will have people who know the language and will watch hollywood movies. But then how many have watched an Akira Kurusowa Movie to know how a movie is to be made? Not many I guess………….. Dr Chopra Movies are for entertainment – Some like comedy, some action …. some drama some musicals… A typical Indian movie has to cater to over 1 BILLION and has all the above elements – Now they don’t make all perfect movies but neither does Italy, German, France, Japan, UK… As far as quantity is concerned India makes over 750 movies a year … I say watch whatever tickles your fantasies and enjoy the movies while you still c", "April 2008 news archive 7 Apart from three new US routes (to complement the existing double-daily New York JFK service), Emirates also started operating to Toronto and Sao Paulo last year to broaden its presence in the Americas. As a global hub - linking the Americas and Europe with the Middle East, Asia and Africa - it helps that Dubai airport operates throughout the day and night. A closer look at the airline�s schedules reveals the main peaks in terms of arriving and departing flights. Source: Derived from OAG Max Online data for w/c 21 April 2008 There are two major waves of inbound flights. One is between 23:00 and 01:15 and the other is between 05:00 and 07:00, while the corresponding outbound waves occur between 02:00 and 03:45, and 07:00 and 10:15. Since Dubai is unconstrained in terms of opening hours, many of the flight timings are influenced by curfews and flight restrictions at the destination airport. Around one quarter of all flights and seats operated by Emirates from Dubai are to just two countries - the UK and India. Six destinations are served in the UK: both major London airports, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and most recently, Newcastle. Source: OAG Max Online data for w/c 21 April 2008 A total of nine destinations are currently served in India, with a 10th (Calicut) due to start in July. Emirates serves just four destinations in Germany (Dűsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich) and would like to serve more. However, Lufthansa has been exerting pressure on the German regulatory authorities to try and prevent the airline from being allowed access to additional markets, such as Berlin or Stuttgart. China and South Africa both appear in the top six country markets and with the Chinese government investing heavily in various African infrastructure projects, Emirates offers ideal connections between these two regions serving Beijing and Shanghai in China and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa, plus daily flights to Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan and Tanzania. Living in Dubai 25 April 2008 This is a post from a crew website written by one of EK's captain's. He is obviously writing about the decision to move to an airline job in Dubai but this is good advise to anyone who is considering a move to Dubai in any industry. There are clearly many frustrations encountered living in Dubai; but most importantly your expereince here will be based in large part on where you are coming from. \"Moving to a new job and a new home (let alone a new country with for some, a very different culture) are two of the most stressful events in life (I think divorce and death (?) are the other two. Rather than looking at 'happiness' you may wish to investigate the various factors that influence life here. Also, and this is a 'biggy', where do you come from. I have learned a lot over the last couple of years as to the importance of this question. I have worked with people who, to me, have left good jobs with seniority. But then they tell me about how dangerous their countries are to live in. They find Dubai a safe and refreshing change and EK a decent company to work for. EK. It has its frustrations as do most if not all airlines. Some people cope well with them, others don't. For example, the ULR flights are 'killing' me because they mess up my sleep so much and I find the bunks to be totally inadequate. On the contrary I know of some who sleep very well in them and cope adequately with the sleep patterns. When I joined this was not an issue ( we had no 'long' trips) and back then we had very few eastern trips. I now find myself in a state of perpetual fatigue - this ranks high on the list of reasons why I am looking to leave. My Arab masters have no concern about me and are explicit about this in many ways so I feel little disappointment when I a", "Hinduism 101: Ganesha, Hindu Elephant God - Full Stop India Links Hinduism 101: Ganesha, Hindu Elephant God Ganesha, the much beloved elephant god of India. He is the son of Shiva , Lord of the Brahmacharis (celibates), remover of obstacles, and the Lord of Success. He is the god of wisdom whose image has become an iconic symbol for Hinduism around the world. He is the god of education with an elephant head, large ears, a curved trunk atop a huge pot-bellied human body. Followers look to him for help with wealth and knowledge. They worship him at the start of a ritual or beginning of a journey. He is the guardian deity of Hinduism. Image Ganesha is recognized by his elephant head, symbolic of auspiciousness, strength and intellectual prowess. The largest and strongest animal of India, the elephant is gentle, affectionate and loyal; These are also the qualities of Ganesha. Although he is a powerful god, he is known as a loving, forgiving deity. Ganesha’s large head is symbolic of the wisdom of the elephant. His large ears allow him to hear everything yet able to separate good from bad, reality from the unreal. He is a short man, usually shown with red or yellow skin, and four to ten arms and a pot belly. It is said his obesity is symbolic of the whole universe for which his belly contains. His trunk, always bent, is a symbol of discrimination. Ganesha uses it to remove obstacles to achieve religious ends. According to the strict rules of Hindu iconography, Ganesha figures with only two hands are taboo so he is primarily shown with four arms. Vehicle Ganesha’s vehicle is the mouse or rat. It is symbolic of a rat’s ability to creep through small holes, to slip unobserved into places not thought possible, a representation of wandering, wayward minds. Idols of Ganesha show the rat or mouse as subservient to the elephant god; an implication that the powers of Ganesha’s discrimination have tamed the rodent. Symbols As many as 57 symbols have been attributed to Ganesha. He is normally shown with one hand in the abhaya pose of protection and refuge and the second holding a sweet (modaka). Sweet balls are symbolic of the sweetness in the realization of the inner self. In the two hands behind him he often holds an ankusha (elephant goad) and a pasha (noose). The noose is to convey that worldly attachments and desires are an illusion, thus a trap. The goad is to prod man to the path of righteousness and truth. The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata (One of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana). Birth Multiple tales tell of slightly different origins for Ganesha. The most popular story ( in the most basic form) tells us that Mother Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva, once wanted to take a bath. She created a boy from the dirt of her own body, asking him to stand as a guard outside while she bathed. As this transpired Lord Shiva returned home to find a stranger at his door. As instructed by his mother, the boy prevented Lord Shiva entrance. In anger, Shiva cut off the boy’s head, upon which Parvati was stricken with great grief. In an act to console her, Shiva sent out his troops with instructions to obtain the head of the first living being encountered. They found an elephant sleeping and thus brought back its head. Shiva then attached the elephantine head to the body of the boy and revived him. He named the boy Ganapati or commander of his troops, and granted him a boon that anyone would have to worship him (Ganesha) before beginning any undertaking. Names One hundred Eight (108) names are synonymous with the Hindu god Ganesha. Among the most commonly spoken are Ganesh, Ganesha, Ganapati, and Vinayaka. These names are born from the manifestations of Ganesha. According to the Ganesha Purana (Book of Ganesha), Lord Ganesha had four manifestations. Other accounts place 32 other manifestations upon Ganesha. Followers Devotees of Ganesha are known as Ganapatyas. His images can be found in households, busine", "Famous Theorems of Mathematics/Pythagoras theorem - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Famous Theorems of Mathematics/Pythagoras theorem From Wikibooks, open books for an open world Jump to: navigation , search The Pythagoras Theorem or the Pythagorean theorem, named after the Greek mathematician Pythagoras states that: In any right triangle, the area of the square whose side is the hypotenuse (the side opposite to the right angle) is equal to the sum of the areas of the squares whose sides are the two legs (the two sides that meet at a right angle). This is usually summarized as follows: The square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides. If we let c be the length of the hypotenuse and a and b be the lengths of the other two sides, the theorem can be expressed as the equation: a {\\displaystyle a^{2}+b^{2}=c^{2}\\,} or, solved for c: . {\\displaystyle c={\\sqrt {a^{2}+b^{2}}}.\\,} If c is already given, and the length of one of the legs must be found, the following equations can be used (The following equations are simply the converse of the original equation): c {\\displaystyle c^{2}-a^{2}=b^{2}\\,} or . {\\displaystyle c^{2}-b^{2}=a^{2}.\\,} This equation provides a simple relation among the three sides of a right triangle so that if the lengths of any two sides are known, the length of the third side can be found. A generalization of this theorem is the law of cosines, which allows the computation of the length of the third side of any triangle, given the lengths of two sides and the size of the angle between them. If the angle between the sides is a right angle it reduces to the Pythagorean theorem. Contents History[ edit ] The history of the theorem can be divided into four parts: knowledge of Pythagorean triples, knowledge of the relationship between the sides of a right triangle, knowledge of the relationship between adjacent angles, and proofs of the theorem. Megalithic monuments from circa 2500 BC in Egypt, and in Northern Europe, incorporate right triangles with integer sides. Bartel Leendert van der Waerden conjectures that these Pythagorean triples were discovered algebraically. Written between 2000 and 1786 BC, the Middle Kingdom Egyptian papyrus Berlin 6619 includes a problem whose solution is a Pythagorean triple. During the reign of Hammurabi the Great, the Mesopotamian tablet Plimpton 322, written between 1790 and 1750 BC, contains many entries closely related to Pythagorean triples. The Baudhayana Sulba Sutra, the dates of which are given variously as between the 8th century BC and the 2nd century BC, in India, contains a list of Pythagorean triples discovered algebraically, a statement of the Pythagorean theorem, and a geometrical proof of the Pythagorean theorem for an isosceles right triangle. The Apastamba Sulba Sutra (circa 600 BC) contains a numerical proof of the general Pythagorean theorem, using an area computation. Van der Waerden believes that \"it was certainly based on earlier traditions\". According to Albert Bŭrk, this is the original proof of the theorem; he further theorizes that Pythagoras visited Arakonam, India, and copied it. Pythagoras, whose dates are commonly given as 569–475 BC, used algebraic methods to construct Pythagorean triples, according to Proklos's commentary on Euclid. Proklos, however, wrote between 410 and 485 AD. According to Sir Thomas L. Heath, there is no attribution of the theorem to Pythagoras for five centuries after Pythagoras lived. However, when authors such as Plutarch and Cicero attributed the theorem to Pythagoras, they did so in a way which suggests that the attribution was widely known and undoubted. Around 400 BC, according to Proklos, Plato gave a method for finding Pythagorean triples that combined algebra and geometry. Circa 300 BC, in Euclid's Elements, the oldest extant axiomatic proof of the theorem is presented. Written sometime between 500 BC and 100 AD, the Chinese text Chou Pei Suan Ching (周髀算经), (The Arithmetical Classic of the Gnomon and the Circular Paths of Heaven) gives a statement of t", "Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who discovered an ocean route from Portugal to the East. - ppt download Download Presentation is loading. Please wait. Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who discovered an ocean route from Portugal to the East. Published by Montana Hudgins Modified over 2 years ago Embed Similar presentations More Presentation on theme: \"Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who discovered an ocean route from Portugal to the East.\"— Presentation transcript: 1 2 Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who discovered an ocean route from Portugal to the East. 3 Da Gama was born to a noble family in Sines, Portugal. Da Gama's father Estavao was also an explorer. He was to have made the sea voyage from Portugal to India that eventually made his son famous, but the elder da Gama died before completing the journey. 4 Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, on July 8, 1497, heading to the East. At the time, many people thought that da Gama's trip would be impossible because it was assumed that the Indian Ocean was not connected to any other seas. Da Gama's patron was King Manuel I of Portugal. 5 Da Gama rounded Africa's Cape of Good Hope on November 22, and continued on to India. After many stops in Africa, and problems with Muslim traders who did not want interference in their profitable trade routes, da Gama reached Calicut, India on May 20, 1498. 6 At first, da Gama and his trading were well-received, but this did not last for long. Da Gama left India on August 29, 1498, after he was told to pay a large tax and leave all of his trading goods. When he left, da Gama took his goods with him, together with some Indian hostages. 7 Da Gama returned to Lisbon, Portugal, in September, Along the way many crew members died from scurvy (a disease caused by a lack of Vitamin C). Upon his return, da Gama was treated as a hero and was rewarded by the king. 8 King Manuel I of Portugal then sent da Gama, now an Admiral, on another expedition to India ( ). On this second trip, da Gama took 20 armed ships (anticipating problems from Muslim traders). On this voyage, da Gama killed hundreds of Muslims, often brutally, in order to demonstrate his power. 9 After King Manuel's death, King John III sent da Gama to India as a Portuguese viceroy (the King's representative in India). Vasco da Gama died of an illness in India on December 24, 1524; his remains were returned to Portugal for burial.", "The First Europeans < Early America < History 1994 < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction and beyond The First Europeans The first Europeans to arrive in North America -- at least the first for whom there is solid evidence -- were Norse, traveling west from Greenland, where Erik the Red had founded a settlement around the year 985. In 1001 his son Leif is thought to have explored the northeast coast of what is now Canada and spent at least one winter there. While Norse sagas suggest that Viking sailors explored the Atlantic coast of North America down as far as the Bahamas, such claims remain unproven. In 1963, however, the ruins of some Norse houses dating from that era were discovered at L'Anse-aux-Meadows in northern Newfoundland, thus supporting at least some of the claims the Norse sagas make. In 1497, just five years after Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean looking for a western route to Asia, a Venetian sailor named John Cabot arrived in Newfoundland on a mission for the British king. Although fairly quickly forgotten, Cabot's journey was later to provide the basis for British claims to North America. It also opened the way to the rich fishing grounds off George's Banks, to which European fishermen, particularly the Portuguese, were soon making regular visits. Columbus, of course, never saw the mainland United States, but the first explorations of the continental United States were launched from the Spanish possessions that he helped establish. The first of these took place in 1513 when a group of men under Juan Ponce de Leon landed on the Florida coast near the present city of St. Augustine. With the conquest of Mexico in 1522, the Spanish further solidified their position in the Western Hemisphere. The ensuing discoveries added to Europe's knowledge of what was now named America -- after the Italian Amerigo Vespucci, who wrote a widely popular account of his voyages to a \"New World.\" By 1529 reliable maps of the Atlantic coastline from Labrador to Tierra del Fuego had been drawn up, although it would take more than another century before hope of discovering a \"Northwest Passage\" to Asia would be completely abandoned. Among the most significant early Spanish explorations was that of Hernando De Soto , a veteran conquistador who had accompanied Francisco Pizzaro during the conquest of Peru. Leaving Havana in 1539, De Soto's expedition landed in Florida and ranged through the southeastern United States as far as the Mississippi River in search of riches. Another Spaniard, Francisco Coronado , set out from Mexico in 1540 in search of the mythical Seven Cities of Cibola. Coronado's travels took him to the Grand Canyon and Kansas, but failed to reveal the gold or treasure his men sought. However, Coronado's party did leave the peoples of the region a remarkable, if unintended gift: enough horses escaped from his party to transform life on the Great Plains. Within a few generations, the Plains Indians had become masters of horsemanship, greatly expanding the range and scope of their activities. While the Spanish were pushing up from the south, the northern portion of the present-day United States was slowly being revealed through the journeys of men such as Giovanni da Verrazano. A Florentine who sailed for the French, Verrazano made landfall in North Carolina in 1524, then sailed north along the Atlantic coast past what is now New York harbor. A decade later, the Frenchman Jacques Cartier set sail with the hope -- like the other Europeans before him -- of finding a sea passage to Asia. Cartier's expeditions along the St. Lawrence River laid the foundations for the French claims to North America, which were to last until 1763. Following the collapse of their first Quebec colony in the 1540s, French Huguenots attempted to settle the northern coast of Florida two decades later. The Spanish, viewing the French as a threat to their trade route along the Gulf Stream, destroyed the colony in 1565. Ironically, the leader of the Spanish forces, Pedro Menendez, would soon establish a town not f", "Dutch Colonization Dutch and English Colonization in New England Although the Netherlands only controlled the Hudson River Valley from 1609 until 1664, in that short time, Dutch entrepreneurs established New Netherland, a series of trading posts, towns, and forts up and down the Hudson River that laid the groundwork for towns that still exist today. Fort Orange, the northernmost of the Dutch outposts, is known today as Albany; New York City's original name was New Amsterdam, and the New Netherland's third major settlement, Wiltwyck, is known today as Kingston. Unlike New York City and Albany, however, where the traces of colonization can be difficult to find, in Kingston, the history of New York's Dutch colonization is quite evident. In 1609, two years after English settlers established the colony of Jamestown in Virginia, the Dutch East India Company hired English sailor Henry Hudson to find a northeast passage to India. After unsuccessfully searching for a route above Norway, Hudson turned his ship west and sailed across the Atlantic. Hudson hoped to discover a \"northwest passage,\" that would allow a ship to cross the entirety of the North American continent and gain access to the Pacific Ocean, and from there, India. After arriving off the coast of Cape Cod, Hudson eventually sailed into the mouth of a large river, today called the Hudson River. Making his way as far as present-day Albany before the river became too shallow for his ship to continue north, Hudson returned to Europe and claimed the entire Hudson River Valley for his Dutch employers. After unsuccessful efforts at colonization, the Dutch Parliament chartered the \"West India Company,\" a national-joint stock company that would organize and oversee all Dutch ventures in the Western Hemisphere. Sponsored by the West India Company, 30 families arrived in North America in 1624, establishing a settlement on present-day Manhattan. Much like English colonists in Virginia, however, the Dutch settlers did not take much of an interest in agriculture, and focused on the more lucrative fur trade. In 1626, Director General Peter Minuit arrived in Manhattan, charged by the West India Company with the task of administering the struggling colony. Minuit \"purchased\" Manhattan Island from Native American Indians for the now legendary price of 60 guilders, formally established New Amsterdam, and consolidated and strengthened a fort located far up the Hudson River, named Fort Orange. The colony grew slowly, as settlers, responding to generous land-grant and trade policies, slowly spread north up the Hudson River. The slow expansion of New Netherland, however, caused conflicts with both English colonists and Native Americans in the region. In the 1630s, the new Director General Wouter van Twiller sent an expedition out from New Amsterdam up to the Connecticut River into lands claimed by English settlers. Faced with the prospect of armed conflict, Twiller was forced to back down and recall the expedition, losing any claims to the Connecticut Valley. In the upper reaches of the Hudson Valley around Fort Orange, (present-day Albany) where the needs of the profitable fur trade required a careful policy of appeasement with the Iroquois Confederacy, the Dutch authorities maintained peace, but corruption and lax trading policies plagued the area. In the lower Hudson Valley, where more colonists were setting up small farms, Native Americans came to be viewed as obstacles to European settlement. In the 1630s and early 1640s, the Dutch Director Generals carried on a brutal series of campaigns against the area's Native Americans, largely succeeding in crushing the strength of the \"River Indians,\" but also managing to create a bitter atmosphere of tension and suspicion between European settlers and Native Americans. Director General Peter Stuyvesant The year 1640 marked a turning point for the colony. The West India Company gave up its trade monopoly, enabling other businessmen to invest in New Netherland. Profits flowed to Amsterdam, encouraging new economic activity in th", "Karen's Articles Karen's Articles ~ karenmccreedy ~ Leave a comment Imagine walking the best part of 2,000 miles. Now imagine doing it over mountains, broken ice, glaciers and soft snow, in temperatures far below freezing. And there isn’t enough food; and you’re getting frostbite. Scott of the Antarctic does a very good job of illustrating how it must have felt to have been one of the men who made that journey for real when, in 1911, Captain Robert Falcon Scott led a British expedition to the South Pole in the hope of being the first to reach it. After crossing 900 miles of ice, mountains, glaciers and snow, they reached the Pole in January 1912, only to find that the Norwegians (using dogs) had beaten them to it. Bitter disappointment turned to a fight for survival as they tried to make their way back to base. The film was made with help and co-operation from survivors of the expedition, and relatives of those who didn’t make it home. The action begins in 1904, as Scott (John Mills) makes his way home on the Discovery from an earlier Antarctic expedition, and follows his efforts to raise funds via public subscription for a second trip. Volunteers arrive at his office, hoping to get the opportunity to go with him, and Captain Oates (Derek Bond) travels from India to find Scott at a fundraising talk. The departure of the ship Terra Nova from New Zealand, on the last leg of the journey to Antarctic waters, is cleverly filmed with close-ups and crowd shots, to avoid the expense of huge sets or location filming; and a similar technique is sometimes used on the actors for some of the scenes near the South Pole – the absence of misting breath gives away the studio shots. As the polar winter sets in, Scott’s lecture to his men on the planned route and the equipment and stores that will be used, serves to remind the audience of the risks involved in the expedition. Portraying Scott’s mistakes Scott’s decision to take ponies and mechanical sleds, rather than dogs – one of the major errors of judgement that contributed to the expedition’s ultimate failure – is a recurring theme throughout. We see him trying out the sleds in Norway, where he is advised to take “dogs, dogs and dogs”; during the briefing his men ask why they do not have more dogs; and when his small team finally reaches the South Pole, having man-hauled their sleds for hundreds of miles, there is a telling close-up of husky-prints in the snow around the Norwegian flag. The last-minute decision to take five men, not four, to the Pole (which meant more time and fuel when cooking); the unforeseen injury to Evans; Oates’ frost-bitten foot; the unexpectedly bad weather – all are faithfully documented. Oates’ announcement that he is “Just going outside, and I may be some time,” is as poignant, and as understated as the original diary entry suggests. The agony of being so close to salvation – just 11 miles – is illustrated with diagrams in Scott’s diary, as he notes their progress over the last 29 miles in ever-diminishing stages : 8 miles, then 5 and a half, then four and a half. As exhausted as they were, they might still have made it if only the weather had not broken so much earlier than anticipated. Trapped in their tent, out of fuel, out of food, out of hope, all they could do was write their last letters and wait for the end to come. The enduring story After all the hope, all the planning, all the expectation, the expedition ended in failure. But it was such a courageous failure that Scott and his men passed into British folklore. The film identifies some of the things that went wrong, but doesn’t dwell on them, choosing instead to highlight the bravery and endurance of the men who walked 1800 miles in the worst conditions on earth. Their story endures because we recognise the spirit that drove them on – the same spirit that put man on the moon: the desire to ‘make the first footprint’. Summary Though John Mills’ portrayal of Scott makes him a good deal more cuddly than the real man apparently was, the film does not shy away from pointing out the mistakes that were m", "First to sail around the world Home » vehicles » First to sail around the world First to sail around the world The Age of Discovery was led by the the great sea adventurers in their search for a route to spice markets of the Far East when the eastern Mediterranean were blocked by powerful rivals. When Vasco da Gama sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to reach India in 1498, the Portuguese concentrated their efforts to the south and east. The Spanish, who agreed to divide the world in two with the Portuguese in the Treaty of Tordesillas on 7 June 1494, sailed west. They were not aware of the American continents and no one knew there was a Pacific Ocean. The New World Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), an Italian who had moved to Spain, theorized that since the earth was a sphere, a ship could reach the Far East from the opposite direction. He convinced the monarchs to sponsor his search, setting sail in August 1492 with a fleet of three ships, the Niña, the Pinta, and the flagship Santa Maria. After 10 weeks, he sighted an island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador. Thinking he had found islands near Japan, he sailed on until he reached Cuba (which he thought was China) and Haiti. He encountered dark-skinned peoples whom he called “Indians” because he assumed he had been sailing in the Indian Ocean. Columbus made 3 more voyages to the New World which he thought was the East, in 1493, 1497 and 1502, exploring Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, and Trinidad. He never reached North America, and until he died, thought he had reached Asia. Replica of the Santa Maria. Photo via Library of Congress North America already discovered Columbus did not know but Viking ships reached North America almost 500 year before he had set sail. Sailing from Iceland in mid-990, Biarni Heriolfsson was blown off course and located an unknown land. He did not explore or name it. In 1002 Leifr Eiriksson backtracked Biarni’s course and reached the coast of present-day Canada. Eiriksson then sailed south and discovered an island he called Vinland (present-day Newfoundland) where he established a colony and traded for 3 years with the native population known as Skraelings. The Skraelings eventually forced them to leave, but the Vikings continued to sail to Canada for timber. “New Found Land” In 1497, King Henry VII granted John Cabot (1450-1498) a charter to explore. On 2 May Cabot and a crew of 18 left Bristol, England in a small ship called The Matthew. Cabot sailed farther north than Columbus did, out of the way of the Spanish territories. On 24 June the crew sighted land. Cabot was convinced he had found an island off the coast of Asia and named it “new found land.” It was the first documented landing in Newfoundland since the Viking voyages. Cabot returned to England on 6 August 1497, and although he brought no spices or treasure back with him, he was the first to map out the North American coast. Replica of Cabot’s The Matthew. Naming “America” Amerigo Vespucci The Portuguese-Spanish dividing line ran through the Atlantic with Spain gaining lands to the west, including the Americas. Brazil was granted to Portugal, who gained eastern Africa and India. But without accurate measurements, the question on the exact line persisted. In 1501, King Manuel I of Portugal dispatched fleets to Brazil, one of the officers being the Italian Amerigo Vespucci. He was among the first explorers to report that South America was a continent, not an island, calling it the “New World”. An excellent mapmaker, Vespucci sold copies of his maps to German cartographer Martin Waldseemuller, who, when reproducing it in 1507, gave Vespucci credit by writing his first name on the South American continent. Thus the southern continent became known as “America”. The first circumnavigation The first circumnavigation of the globe was led by Ferdinand Magellan, who was born in Oporto, Portugal in 1480. In 1505, Magellan enlisted in the navy where he learned seamanship and naval warfare under Portuguese viceroys in India. In 1509, he took part in the Battle of Die, whic", "Christopher Columbus - Exploration - HISTORY.com Christopher Columbus A+E Networks Introduction The explorer Christopher Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain: in 1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502. He was determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, but he never did. Instead, he accidentally stumbled upon the Americas. Though he did not really “discover” the New World–millions of people already lived there–his journeys marked the beginning of centuries of trans-Atlantic conquest and colonization. Google Christopher Columbus: The Age of Discovery During the 15th and 16th centuries, leaders of several European nations sponsored expeditions abroad in the hope that explorers would find great wealth and vast undiscovered lands. The Portuguese were the earliest participants in this “Age of Discovery.” Starting in about 1420, small Portuguese ships known as caravels zipped along the African coast, carrying spices, gold, slaves and other goods from Asia and Africa to Europe. Did You Know? Christopher Columbus was not the first person to propose that a person could reach Asia by sailing west from Europe. In fact, scholars argue that the idea is almost as old as the idea that the Earth is round. (That is, it dates back to early Rome.) Other European nations, particularly Spain, were eager to share in the seemingly limitless riches of the “Far East.” By the end of the 15th century, Spain’s “Reconquista”–the expulsion of Jews and Muslims out of the kingdom after centuries of war–was complete, and the nation turned its attention to exploration and conquest in other areas of the world. Christopher Columbus: Early Life Christopher Columbus, the son of a wool merchant, was born in Genoa in about 1451. When he was still a teenager, he got a job on a merchant ship. He remained at sea until 1470, when French privateers attacked his ship as it sailed north along the Portuguese coast. The boat sank, but the young Columbus floated to shore on a scrap of wood and made his way to Lisbon, where he studied mathematics, astronomy, cartography and navigation. He also began to hatch the plan that would change the world forever. Christopher Columbus: The First Voyage At the end of the 15th century, it was nearly impossible to reach Asia from Europe by land. The route was long and arduous, and encounters with hostile armies were difficult to avoid. Portuguese explorers solved this problem by taking to the sea: They sailed south along the West African coast and around the Cape of Good Hope. But Columbus had a different idea: Why not sail west across the Atlantic instead of around the massive African continent? The young navigator’s logic was sound, but his math was faulty. He argued (incorrectly) that the circumference of the Earth was much smaller than his contemporaries believed it was; accordingly, he believed that the journey by boat from Europe to Asia should be not only possible but comparatively easy. He presented his plan to officials in Portugal and England, but it was not until 1491 that he found a sympathetic audience: the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. Columbus wanted fame and fortune. Ferdinand and Isabella wanted the same, along with the opportunity to export Catholicism to lands across the globe. (Columbus, a devout Catholic, was equally enthusiastic about this possibility.) Columbus’ contract with the Spanish rulers promised that he could keep 10 percent of whatever riches he found, along with a noble title and the governorship of any lands he should encounter. On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail from Spain in three ships: the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. On October 12, the ships made landfall–not in Asia, as Columbus assumed, but on one of the Bahamian islands. For months, Columbus sailed from island to island in what we now know as the Caribbean, looking for the “pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices, and other objects and merchandise whatsoever” that he had promised to his Spanish patrons, but he did not find much. In March 1493, leaving", "Biography of PT Barnum - The Prince of Humbugs America’s Master Showman and the Prince of Humbugs The art of spectacle reached it’s zenith during the Gilded Age in America and PT Barnum was it’s greatest protagonist. Who said there’s a sucker born every minute? Well it wasn’t Phineas Taylor (aka PT) Barnum, though that phrase has often been attributed to him. Actually it was said to a reporter by one of Barnum’s competitors to explain how Barnum had managed to steal his idea and his audience. Barnum greatly respected his customers and would have been more likely to say there’s a \"customer\" born every minute. He did say \"Every crowd has a silver lining,\" and he spent his entire adult life bringing crowds together so that he could separate them from their silver. PT Barnum was the most famous and colorful master showman of 19th century America. In an age when hucksterism and spectacle were the norm, Barnum raised it to a high art. He was often called \"The Shakespeare of Advertising\" because he believed in the power of advertising and publicity and used it to profit from the public's taste for what he called \"Humbug.\" Barnum called himself the \"Prince of Humbugs\" because he could deceive people in such a way that they were greatly entertained, even though most of the attractions he promoted didn’t even come close to the tremendous buildup he gave them. The master showman was born in Bethel, Connecticut in 1810. His father died when he was fifteen years old and he was left alone to make his own way in the world. Through hard work and pluck he had saved enough by 1829 to start a weekly abolitionist newspaper called The Herald of Freedom. Unfortunately he was soon put out of business after several libel suits and a prosecution which resulted in a short jail term. He moved to New York in 1834, and began his career in show business when he discovered Joice Heth, a woman who claimed to be 161 years old and had once been a slave and a nurse to George Washington. Heth entertained audiences with stories and songs about the young George Washington and drew very large crowds because, as one of Barnum’s handbills proclaimed, she \"…was the first person who put clothes on the unconscious infant, who, in after days, led our heroic fathers on to glory, to victory, and freedom.\" Eventually the public's interest in her waned, so Barnum—ever resourceful— started spreading rumors that Heth was actually not a person at all, but instead was a mechanical automaton. One of Barnum’s anonymous letters to the newspaper said, \"Joice Heth is not a human being. What purports to be a remarkably old woman, is simply a curiously constructed automaton, made up of whalebone, India-rubber, and numbers springs that ingeniously put together, and made to move at the slightest touch according to the will of the operator.\" As a result of Barnum’s campaign to discredit Heth, many people revisited the exhibit to determine for themselves whether they had been duped the first time.—all the while Barnum continued to rake in the cash. Eventually Heth died and Barnum cashed in on her again when he had a public autopsy performed to determine her actual age. It turned out that Heth couldn’t have been much more than 80 years old. Barnum declared that he was \"shocked\" to find out he had been duped. In 1841, Barnum opened the American Museum, located on Broadway in the heart of New York City. It became one of the most famous places of amusement in the entire world, where \"500,000 natural and artificial curiosities from every corner of the globe\" were on exhibit. The collection included minerals, fossils, animals, natural wonders, minor deceptions and elaborate hoaxes. Also on display were a wide range of physical \"freaks,\" including people he claimed were the world's tallest, shortest, heaviest, thinnest and hairiest, along with albinos, bearded ladies and other oddities. Barnum’s Human Menagerie Charles Stratton was a dwarf who was only 5 years old when Barnum began exhibiting him as General Tom Thumb. He was dressed in costumes imitating Napoleon, Hercules, Samso", "Cabral Discovers Brazil | History Today Cabral Discovers Brazil Brazil , Portugal Empire Richard Cavendish explains how a fleet led by Pedro Álvares Cabral reached the Brazilian coast on April 22nd, 1500. The discovery of Brazil was an episode in the creation of a Portuguese commercial empire which in less than a hundred years extended to four continents. The Portuguese established West African coastal stations from early in the fifteenth century. In 1499 Vasco da Gama returned in triumph to Lisbon from his epoch-making voyage to India round the Cape of Good Hope. In the following year, King Manuel I sent a fresh expedition to India, of thirteen ships and 1,200 men. With da Gama pleading exhaustion, the command was given to a trusted courtier named Pedro Álvares Cabral, still only in his thirties. After a solemn Mass attended by the king in Lisbon, the fleet left the mouth of the Tagus early in March and sailed south-west past the African coast before turning out into the Atlantic to get the benefit of the prevailing winds and currents. Apparently carried further west than intended, Cabral’s ships crossed the Atlantic at its narrowest point and bumped accidentally into Brazil. This is the generally accepted story, at any rate, though there are suggestions that Portuguese voyagers had secretly reached the South American coast earlier and that Cabral’s landfall was no accident. At least it is clear that the Americas would have been discovered before long even if Columbus had not sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Cabral and his men sighted the hump of Monte Pascoal on the coast and sailed north for three days to find a landfall near what is now Porto Seguro. A reconnaissance party went ashore on April 21st and the main landing was made the following day, when Cabral formally claimed what he called True Cross Island for Portugal, erected a cross and held a Christian service to mark the occasion. (The territory fell to Portugal anyway, under the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494.) The local Amerindian population, still living in the Stone Age as hunter-gatherers and fishers, came out to see their white visitors. What they thought of them is not on record, but the expedition’s official scribe, Pero Vaz da Caminha, gave an account of Portuguese reactions in a letter to King Manuel, which has been called Brazil’s birth certificate. He portrayed a land of burgeoning fertility, populated by childlike naked savages. The male warriors painted their bodies vividly in red and black quarterings. The women were attractive and one had coloured her buttocks and thighs black, while leaving the rest of her body unadorned. ‘Another,’ he wrote, ‘had both knees and calves so painted, but her privy parts so naked and exposed with such innocence that there was no shame there.’ After staying another eight days, Cabral sailed back across the Atlantic to round the Cape of Good Hope and reach Calicut on the west coast of India. Behind him he left two degredados, exiled criminals, who acquired native women and fathered the first of Brazil’s mestizo population, which in time would vastly outnumber the Indians. A follow-up expedition of 1501 under Gonzalo Coelho, with Amerigo Vespucci as its chronicler, explored some 2,000 miles of the Brazilian coast and paved the way for subsequent systematic Portuguese settlement. Cabral, however, was given no further employment. He retired in dudgeon to his country estate until his death in 1520.", "Vasco da Gama - Exploration - HISTORY.com Vasco da Gama A+E Networks Introduction The Portuguese nobleman Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) sailed from Lisbon in 1497 on a mission to reach India and open a sea route from Europe to the East. After sailing down the western coast of Africa and rounding the Cape of Good Hope, his expedition made numerous stops in Africa before reaching the trading post of Calicut, India, in May 1498. Da Gama received a hero’s welcome back in Portugal, and was sent on a second expedition to India in 1502, during which he brutally clashed with Muslim traders in the region. Two decades later, da Gama again returned to India, this time as Portuguese viceroy; he died there of an illness in late 1524. Google Vasco da Gama’s Early Life and First Voyage to India Born circa 1460, Vasco da Gama was the son of a minor nobleman who commanded the fortress at Sines, located on the coast of the Alentejo province in southwestern Portugal. Little else is known about his early life, but in 1492 King John II sent da Gama to the port city of Setubal (south of Lisbon) and to the Algarve region to seize French ships in retaliation for French attacks on Portuguese shipping interests. Did You Know? By the time Vasco da Gama returned from his first voyage to India in 1499, he had spent more than two years away from home, including 300 days at sea, and had traveled some 24,000 miles. Only 54 of his original crew of 170 men returned with him; the majority (including da Gama's brother Paolo) had died of illnesses such as scurvy. In 1497, John’s successor, King Manuel I (crowned in 1495), chose da Gama to lead a Portuguese fleet to India in search of a maritime route from Western Europe to the East. At the time, the Muslims held a monopoly of trade with India and other Eastern nations, thanks to their geographical position. Da Gama sailed from Lisbon that July with four vessels, traveling south along the coast of Africa before veering far off into the southern Atlantic in order to avoid unfavorable currents. The fleet was finally able to round the Cape of Good Hope at Africa’s southern tip in late November, and headed north along Africa’s eastern coast, making stops at what is now Mozambique, Mombasa and Malindi (both now in Kenya). With the help of a local navigator, da Gama was able to cross the Indian Ocean and reach the coast of India at Calicut (now Kozhikode) in May 1498. Relations with Local Population & Rival Traders Though the local Hindu population of Calicut initially welcomed the arrival of the Portuguese sailors (who mistook them for Christians), tensions quickly flared after da Gama offered their ruler a collection of relatively cheap goods as an arrival gift. This conflict, along with hostility from Muslim traders, led Da Gama to leave without concluding a treaty and return to Portugal. A much larger fleet, commanded by Pedro Alvares Cabral, was dispatched to capitalize on da Gama’s discoveries and secure a trading post at Calicut. After Muslim traders killed 50 of his men, Cabral retaliated by burning 10 Muslim cargo vessels and killing the nearly 600 sailors aboard. He then moved on to Cochin, where he established the first Portuguese trading post in India. In 1502, King Manuel put da Gama in charge of another Indian expedition, which sailed that February. On this voyage, da Gama attacked Arab shipping interests in the region and used force to reach an agreement with Calicut’s ruler. For these brutal demonstrations of power, da Gama was vilified throughout India and the region. Upon his return to Portugal, by contrast, he was richly rewarded for another successful voyage. Da Gama’s Later Life and Last Voyage to India Da Gama had married a well-born woman sometime after returning from his first voyage to India; the couple would have six sons. For the next 20 years, da Gama continued to advise the Portuguese ruler on Indian affairs, but he was not sent back to the region until 1524, when King John III appointed him as Portuguese viceroy in India. Da Gama arrived in Goa with the task of combating the growing corru", "Adolf Hitler: Myth, Legend, Truth... <Adolf Hitler Investigating the story of Adolf Hitler is similar to exploring a fractal, as the further one travels into it, the more complex it becomes. One of the major difficulties in achieving an authentic level of understanding of the Hitler phenomenon is the abundance of spurious sources. The migraines of many a historian can be directly attributable to this reality. The myths abound: Hitler was Jewish with a Rothschild ancestor; Hitler had only one testicle; Hitler had two testicles, but one was bitten off by a goat; Hitler once lived in Liverpool, England; Hitler was insane; Hitler contracted syphilis from a French prostitute during WW1; Hitler took Golden Showers on alternate Thursdays; Hitler knew nothing about the Holocaust and would have disapproved had he known; Hitler's 'real' name was Schicklgruber; Scientists have cloned Hitler's lip, and it is growing a mustache; Hitler never wanted war but was forced into it by an 'International Jewish/Maxist/Capitalist Conspiracy'; Hitler was a homosexual; Hitler escaped his presumed death in the Bunker and is at this very moment playing cards with Elvis and some mildly nervous Arab fellows; and so on. Most of us have heard at least a few of these, and possibly believed a few as well. The ambiguous and sometimes contradictory evidence is ready made for those who would tell the story with an agenda; German politicians and so-called 'Revisionist' historians being two of the most obvious. Objectivity, the ideal of the true historian, is harder to come by in the field of Hitler Studies than in nearly any other discipline not theologically based. In a field that touches on such charged issues and events as Nationalism, Racism, the events collectively referred to as the Holocaust, the very nature of war and peace and good and evil, emotions tend to cloud, or at least effect, the judgment of even the most disciplined scholar. Ron Rosenbaum called it a 'terra incognita of ambiguity and incertitude where armies of scholars clash in evidentiary darkness over the spectral shadows of Hitler's past'. Adolf HITLER: A Universal Symbol Sixty years after his death, the mass-destroyer is more popular than ever. In India he symbolizes resistance, in Egypt prosperity, in Peru discipline. The Senegalese celebrate him as a hero of anti-colonialism and the Chinese in Hong Kong as a champion of style. Presumably, Hitler is the only European who, more than half a century after his death, is still widely known around the world. Other contemporary politicians, such as Churchill or de Gaulle, are merely remembered in the respective linguistic or cultural spheres; the same goes for intellectual heroes like G�the, Kant, Cervantes, Shakespeare. But only the mass-murderer Hitler is part of popular knowledge in Korea, Japan, Namibia or Uruguay, even outside the academic islands. Hitler, the German, is not only the most well-known European, but beside the religious founders Mohammed, Jesus, Buddha or the slayers Genghis Khan or Stalin perhaps one of the most well-known figures of all time. These are the results of journalistic polls by five members of our newspaper in the Southern parts of the world. For Europeans, who like to view their continent as the cradle of the Enlightenment and humanism, it is a rather embarrassing finding. And a disconcerting if not downright shocking one. Because Hitler is viewed in a positive light by millions of non-Europeans. However, if one listens closely, this disconcertment slightly wanes. Most of the time, it is not the historical Hitler, the politician of hatred and extermination who is celebrated or even wished to reappear, but a figure of fantasy with few real attributes. Hitler has a cathartic function, in which each culture projects its specific experiences, preferences and problems. In the corrupt and chaotic economies of South America, Hitler is read as a code for order and national unity. Africans, on the other hand, admire the strong man in him, the myth of power, but also the enemy of the former colonialists France and", "Pushka Pawnshop Contact About Pushka Pawnshop David (Pawnbroker) started working at a jewelry store in the Bronx, as a trainee back in 1989. After some time working, he earned the position of store manager. In 1997, David established his own jewelry store \"King David Jewelry\" and has gained expertise in the jewelry industry as a loose diamond grader, watch maker and has a keen eye for fine jewelry. Adding to his own dimension to an already thriving business, David has established yet another highly successful business; a Pawn Shop. He is able to do this with his experience, integrity, honesty and reliabilty in the industry. David Handles everything you would expect to find in a well organized pawn shop. The professionals at \"Pushka Pawnshop\" have the knowledge and expertise to provide you with the best service, every time around. Pushka Pawnshop Inc. is licensed as a pawnshop in the State of New York. DOCA # 1269318 History of the Pawnshop Ask three people about the origin of pawnshops and you'll get three different answers, each with is own variation of the truth. Most people agree that they don't know for sure where \"pawnbroking\" started, however the act of lending money can be traced back to ancient China over 3000 years ago. Pawnbroking is also known to have existed in early ancient Roman and Grecian civilizations as well. Due to years of financial uncertainty and economic depressions, pawnshops became a necessity throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. The pawnshop symbol of the three gold balls is believed to have originated with the Medici Family of the Tuscany area of Italy. The Medici family crest (or coat of arms) was three gold balls. One story of the crest is that one of the Medici's in the employ of Emperor Charles the Great fought a giant and slew him with three sacks of rocks, thus forming three gold balls as part of their family crest. The Medici family and the Lombard's in England were the primary money lenders in Europe. The Lombard's are attributed with operating many pawnshops during this time, as well as being the first registered money lenders in England. Over time many financial lenders came to know of the fame and fortune of the Medici family and adopted their family emblem (the three gold balls) as their own, in hopes of similar success. The three balls became a worldwide symbol of money lenders, now known as \"pawnbrokers\". Some customers of pawnshos during the Middle Ages included many royal figures. One such example is Queen Isabella of Spain who pawned her crown jewels to finance Columbus' voyage to America. It is possible to imagine that, had a pawnbroker not lent the Queen money, Columbus might never have made the voyage to America, and our history could have been different. While many people believe Pawnshops to be an evil industry funding terrorists and drug users, there are some 50+ million people in this country without bank accounts. Lack of banking relationships make it nearly impossible to obtain any kind of loan from a bank. The pawn industry fills that gap and helps people obtain some quick money when a bank says no. Many modern day customers of pawnshops include politicians, movie stars, sports figures, and business owners.", "On the trail of Kipling's Kim – Travel guide at Wikivoyage This article is an itinerary . Rudyard Kipling with his father Kim, by Rudyard Kipling, is set in British India under the Raj at the turn of the 20th century. The story is about coming-of-age, adventure, espionage, travel, and the diversity of India's ethnic groups and characters, and is one of Kipling's best known works. Kimball O'Hara is a 'poor white' 13-year-old Anglo-Irish orphan happily living on the streets of Lahore , where he is known far and wide as \"Little Friend of All the World.\" He encounters Teshoo Lama, a Tibetan monk in search of a river of healing that will free him from the Buddhist cycle of rebirth. The worldly-wise Kim takes charge of the equally naive Lama, guarding and guiding him on the road while furthering his own quest for a \"Red Bull on a Green Field\" - his father's old regimental badge. 'Captured' by the regiment, Kim is saved from a military orphanage by the lama's decision to pay for the best education available to a Sahib's son in India. At the same time Mahbub Ali, an old Lahore acquaintance, brings Kim's background and talents to the attention of Colonel Creighton of the Ethnological Survey - which also covers intelligence gathering operations throughout the sub-continent, referred to as the Great Game. For the next three years, Kim receives a strict British education in term-time - while perfecting skills of another sort during his holidays. Finally released at age 16, he re-joins the Lama to wander across northern India - the one to 'graduate' into his vocation, the other to fulfill his quest. The modern day traveller who attempts to retrace Kim's path will naturally find that much has changed, while quite a bit hasn't. Some of the train journeys that Kim took are no longer possible, because the routes now cross the international border between India and Pakistan, two countries that are in a state of conflict. The British have left, but many of their institutions endure and the people Kim encountered may dress and speak very differently from his time, but continue to be an interesting lot. Central Asia continues to be an area of conflict, though the disputants have now changed. Understand[ edit ] Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) Kipling was a short-story writer, poet and novelist. He was born in Bombay to John Lockwood Kipling who at that time taught at the JJ School of art. He was shipped to Britain at the age of 5 to be educated, and returned to India as a teenager. His 5 years in Lahore while Lockwood Kipling was curator of the Lahore museum were formative. He used Lahore as the base to write extensively about India. There is no doubt of his understanding of India or his love for the Indian character, as displayed in one of his most famous poems, Gunga Din. But Kipling was also an unabashed imperialist who believed in the cultural superiority of British institutions. His problematic and controversial poem The White Man's Burden , encouraging American imperialism in the Philippines , is of a piece with his view that spreading the benefits of modern civilization to the less developed peoples of the world was a solemn duty, a necessary burden even, for the whites. Having said that, it is unlikely that Kipling was a racist in the modern sense - he would probably view the cultural superiority of the white people a result of historical factors rather than an innate feature of skin colour. Kipling left behind a rich body of work, including great children's literature like The Jungle Book, poems like If-, probably the most famous depiction of British stoicism, and clearly deserved his Nobel prize for Literature. On the other hand, his act of raising a purse for General Dyer, the perpetrator of the Jallianwala Bag massacre at Amritsar , an atrocity that appalled even that arch-imperialist Churchill, was among his most shameful acts. One gets the feeling that to read Kim is to read the story of Kipling's life as he would have liked to live it. Of course, Kim was an orphan while Kipling was not; and Kim entered adolescence speaking fluent U", "Archaeology - Ancient History Encyclopedia Archaeology by Maisie Jewkes published on 15 July 2013 Archaeology is a wide subject and definitions can vary, but broadly, it is the study of the culture and history of past peoples and their societies by uncovering and studying their material remains, i.e. tools, ruins, and pottery . Archaeology and history are different subjects but have things in common and constantly work with each other. While historians study books, tablets, and other written information to learn about the past, archaeologists uncover, date, and trace the source of such items, and in their turn focus on learning through material culture. As much of human history is prehistoric (before written records), archaeology plays an important role in understanding the past. Different environments and climates help or hinder the survival of materials, e.g. papyri can survive thousands of years in the hot and dry desert but would not survive in damp conditions. Waterlogged conditions, such as bogs, can preserve organic material, like wood, and underwater wrecks are also excavated using diving equipment. Working everywhere from digging in the ground to testing samples in laboratories, archaeology is a wide-ranging discipline and has many sub-sections of expertise. The two rapidly widening areas are experimental archaeology and ethnoarchaeology. Experimental archaeology tries to recreate ancient techniques, such as glass making or Egyptian beer brewing. Ethnoarchaeology is living among modern ethnic communities, with the purpose of understanding how they hunt, work, and live. Using this information, archaeologists hope to better understand ancient communities. Archaeology of the Past The first scientific excavation has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson in Virginia, USA. Archaeology as an academic study, career, and university subject is a fairly recent development. Nevertheless an interest in the past is not new. Humankind has always been interested in its history. Most cultures have a myth or story that explains their foundation and distant ancestors. Ancient rulers have sometimes collected ancient relics or rebuilt monuments and buildings. This can often be seen as political strategy - a leader wanting to be identified with a great figure or civilisation from the past. On the other hand, ancient leaders have also been known for their curiosity and learning. King Nabonidus of Babylon , for example, had a keen interest in the past and investigated many sites and buildings. In one temple he found the foundation stone from 2200 years before. He housed his finds in a kind of museum at his capital of Babylon. The Roman and Greek historians wrote books about the past, and the stories of famous heroes and leaders have come down to us. However, modern archaeology, or at least its theories and practice, stem from the antiquarian tradition. In the 17th and 18th centuries CE, wealthy gentleman scholars, or antiquarians as they are also known, began to collect classical artefacts. Fuelled by interest they began to make some of the first studies of sites, like Pompeii , and drew ancient monuments in detail. The first scientific excavation has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson (third president of the United States of America) who dug up some of the burial mounds on his property in the state of Virginia, USA. The beginnings of modern field techniques were pioneered by General Augustus Lane-Fox Pitt Rivers, who excavated barrows at Camborne Chase with systematic recording and procedure. In the USA in the 1960s CE, archaeology went through a phase of new theories, often called processual archaeology. This approach has a scientific approach to questions and designs models to suggest answers and test its theories. Famous Archaeologists Archaeology is a time consuming study; it often takes many years of toil before an archaeologist makes a breakthrough or discovers a site. Famous archaeologists are often connected to their most famous find or theory. To name the score of people who worked and made developments in archaeology would t", "What's in a (South African) name? Tweet on Twitter Saddled with the burden of apartheid and colonial-slanted textbooks, South Africans have tended to take their identities from their political leanings. But “mixed marriages” are as old as South Africa itself. As the meaning of democracy dawns, more people are finding family tree research the key to understanding their own heritages. The first written records of births, deaths and marriages, imcomplete though they are, came with Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck in 1652, when he set out to establish a way station at the Cape of Good Hope with the aid of Robben Island. The case of the Khoi interpreter Perhaps the most representative of the mix of South African ancestry lines dating from those early days is the marriage of Krotoa, a Khoi interpreter who worked for Van Riebeeck and married a colleague of his, Danish explorer Pieter Meerhof. Burdened with the double obligation of fitting into European society and being loyal to her own people, Krotoa’s life was made even harder when Meerhof was seconded to Robben Island as superintendent. SA family history on the Web – Family history research has become far more accessible (and addictive) since the advent of the Internet. Sharon Marshall offers a primer of sites for South African amateur genies. Left as one of only two women on the island when her husband was killed on a slaving expedition, and shunned by both societies, Krotoa succumbed to depression and an alcohol-related death, but left behind at least eight children, the descendants of one of whom was the progenitor of the Zaaiman family in South Africa. Some of them went on to become key figures from all spectrums – including white ex-premiers Paul Kruger, Jan Smuts and FW de Klerk. Slave routes, slave roots Then came the slaves: in 1658 the first two boatloads – one from Angola and one from west Africa – arrived, and some of these went on to marry Dutch citizens of the Cape or bear children by them after intermarriage became outlawed. One couple, Anna and Evert, who were purchased by the Dutch from African slave lords in Benin in 1658, produced a daughter who went on to have a son by prosperous Dutchman Bastiaan Colyn. Her son, Johannes, married a descendant of the wealthy Cloete family and purchased De Hoop op Constantia, still one of the finest estates in the Cape. After west Africa was declared out of bounds, the Dutch East India Company began bringing in slaves from the east – either from their base in Djakarta or China, Sri Lanka or India, often with Arabs as middlemen. The first boatloads arrived in 1681, and by 1730 they had extended their operations to include the Mascarenes, Mozambique and Zanzibar, with Portuguese colonists as middlemen. With only 19 European women and 100 white free burghers at the Cape in 1677, most 13th generation South Africans with colonial ancestry have at least one slave ancestor from these parts. Though European female numbers increased 30 years later, slave women were often favoured for their beauty, and many became the ancestral mothers (or stammoeders) of generations of families in South Africa. Angela of Bengal Before the first official slave consignments had been sanctioned, Angela of Bengal (or Maaij Ansela) was bought by Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of the Dutch colony, was resold and freed by her master. She then married Arnoldus Willemsz Bason, and became the stammoeder of the Basson family in South Africa. SA roots in literature: new reviews – The dawn of the new SA spawned a new quest for ancestral roots and the “real” story of how “the Rainbow Nation” got here – topics covered in an increasingly wide range of literature. Sharon Marshall reviews a selection of the latest offerings. Through marriages of her children, Maaij (or Mooi, Beautiful) Ansela is also the stammoeder of the Bergh and Van As families. One of her descendants was Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius, who married Anna Retief, niece of slain trekboer Piet. In 1692, four of the 34 Cape Town free burghers had ex-slave wives, but according to “Cape Town, Making of a C", "Silk Road Definition & History [Silk Route & Trade Routes] Silk Road Trade & Travel Encyclopedia 丝绸之路网站（丝路网站） İPEK YOLU ve YOLLARI ANSİKLOPEDİSİ www.ipekyollari.net Definition & History of the \"Silk Road,\" or \"Silk Route\" (The \"Silk Routes\" are collectively known as the \"Silk Road\") T�rk�e The \"Silk Road\" is a network of ancient overland trade routes that extended across the Asian continent and connected China to the Mediterranean Sea. For centuries, the \"Silk Road\" also enabled the transmission of knowledge and ideas between the Eastern and Western worlds. The summary below is a selection of definitions and entries commonly found on the Internet and in reference books. As students explore this subject in depth, and try to define the Silk Road, they will realize that the Silk Road is a term that varies in meaning (making it an excellent essay topic). Click for Incense, Spice, Silk & Maritime Routes -- \"The Silk Road\" is made up of an interconnected network of trade routes that have bridged the Asian and Mediterranean worlds since antiquity. -- \"The Silk Road\" is a series of trade routes between China and the Mediterranean Sea, extending some 6,400 km (4,000 mi). [The total length of all routes can be debated] -- \"The Silk Road\" is an ancient overland trade route that connects China with Europe. Originally a caravan route and used from c. 100 BC, the 4,000-mi (6,400-km) route began in Xi'an, China, followed the Great Wall to the northwest, climbed the Pamir Mountains, crossed Afghanistan, and went on to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where goods were taken by ship to Venice and other European cities. Silk and other items were carried westward, while such goods as wool, gold, and silver were carried eastward. -- \"The Silk Road\" is a trade route that passed from the eastern borders of Europe through north India, then through the oasis kingdoms at the borders of the Himalaya mountain range and the Taklamakan Desert, terminating in the desert regions of Tun-huang in western China. This route served as the primary path of commerce for the states along its way until the 15th century, when maritime routes became increasingly used. Its significance for Buddhism is that it was the principal path for the early transmission of Buddhism from India to China, and later for Chinese pilgrims travelling from China to India in search of teachings and scriptures. After the 8th century, Islam spread along the Silk Road across Central Asia to China. Scientific developments, knowledge, and new inventions were also shared upon the routes. The rise and fall of empires along the regions of the routes also had an impact on trade and cultural exchanges. The Silk Routes influence carried over into Korea and Japan, and along the maritime routes which extended to the Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Malacca, Sri Lanka, India, the Persian Gulf, Egypt, Italy, and Portugal and beyond. The \"Silk Road\" has been proposed for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage. -- \"The Silk Road\" is a series of interconnected trade routes linking Asia and Europe, consisting of a network of caravan routes running from China across Central Asia to the shores of the Mediterranean. Its starting point was the ancient Chinese capital of Chang'an (modern Xi'an) in China; the endpoints were a number of cities on the Eastern Mediterranean. Some of its branches ran into South Asia, while others ended at Caspian or Black Sea ports. Among the modern countries traversed by the various routes are China, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It flourished from the 2d cent. BC to the 15th cent. AD, when sea routes between Europe and Asia were established, though caravan trade continued along the Silk Road into the 17th century and later. At different times the Silk Road was under the control of the Chinese, Turks, and Mongols. The end of the security provided by \"Pax Mongolica\" under the Mongol Empire was a factor in the route's decreased usage. The Mongol expansion throughout the Asian", "Robert A. F. Thurman, Ph.D. - Tibet House US Robert A. F. Thurman, Ph.D. Dr. Elizabeth Visceglia Robert A. F. Thurman, Ph.D. Robert A. F. Thurman is who the NY Times Magazine refers to as “The Dalai Lama’s man in America.” A scholar, author, former Tibetan Buddhist monk, co-founder with Richard Gere of Tibet House in New York City, a close personal friend of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and father of five children including the actress, Uma Thurman, he is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University. Time magazine named him one of the “25 Most Influential Americans.” He has lectured all over the world; his charisma and enthusiasm draw packed audiences. Robert Thurman’s flair for the dramatic may be attributed to the weekly Shakespeare readings hosted by his parents, in which Robert participated alongside such guests as Laurence Olivier. He managed to get himself kicked out of Exeter just prior to graduation for playing hooky in a failed attempt to join Fidel Castro’s Cuban guerrilla army in 1958. Harvard University admitted him anyway, but a deep dissatisfaction and questioning led him to drop out and he traveled on a “vision quest” as a pilgrim to India. Returning home to attend his father’s funeral, he met a Mongolian monk, Geshe Wangyal, and thus began Thurman’s life-long passion for Tibetan Buddhism. In 1964, Geshe Wangyal introduced Thurman to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and described Robert as, “…a crazy American boy, very intelligent and with a good heart (though a little proud), who spoke Tibetan well and had learned something about Buddhism [and] wanted to become a monk…. Geshe Wangyal was leaving it up to His Holiness to decide.” Thurman became the first Westerner to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk. He was 24 and the Dalai Lama 29. They eventually met weekly and His Holiness would quickly refer Thurman’s questions concerning Buddhism to another teacher and turn the conversation to Freud, physics, and other “Western” topics of interest to him. Thurman describes this phase of his life: “All I wanted was to stay in the 2,500-year-old Buddhist community of seekers of enlightenment, to be embraced as a monk. My inner world was rich, full of insights and delightful visions, with a sense of luck and privilege at having access to such great teachers and teachings and the time to study and try to realize them.” But when he returned to the United States, Thurman found that his career as a monk was not viable, so “I decided that I wanted to learn more Buddhist languages, read more Buddhist texts.… The only lay institution in America comparable to monasticism is the university, so in the end I turned to academia.” Robert Thurman currently holds the first endowed chair in this field of study in the United States, at Columbia University, where he serves as president of the board of the American Institute Buddhist Studies. Thurman is not only a scholar, but a champion of the preservation of Tibetan culture. In 1987, he and actor Richard Gere founded New York City’s Tibet House, a nonprofit institution devoted to preserving the living culture of Tibet, where he currently serves as president of the board of trustees. Thurman writes, “What I have learned from these people [Tibetans] has forever changed my life, and I believe their culture contains an inner science particularly relevant to the difficult time in which we live. My desire is to share some of the profound hope for our future that they have shared with me.” Personal website:", "Google Map of Cape Town, South Africa - Nations Online Project Google Earth Cape Town Map ___ Satellite View and Map of Cape Town (Africaans: Kaapstad), Western Cape, South Africa (45-degree view available) Panorama view of Cape Town's City Bowl as seen from Lion's Head.The City Bowl is a natural amphitheatre-shaped area bordered by Table Bay and defined by the mountains of Signal Hill, Lion's Head, Table Mountain and Devil's Peak. The bowl is quite good to see when you use the terrain display on the map below. Image by: AerialcamSA About Cape Town Satellite view is showing Cape Town, second most populous city and the legislative capital of South Africa , located in the south-western corner of the country at the foot of Table Mountain. The city sprawls over the northern end of the Cape Peninsula between Table Bay and False Bay. Cape Town was founded in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company ( VOC ) as a resupply station for ships travelling from Amsterdam to the spice-producing islands of East Africa ( Zanzibar ) and Batavia ( Jakarta , Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia ). For their future shipping route service area, the Dutch first built a mud fort (Fort de Goede Hoop), then they laid out irrigated vegetable gardens and orchards and traded with the local Khoikhois for meat. Relics of the Dutch market gardening can still be visited at Company's Garden. To keep the town running, the settlers needed more personnel, and so they undertook a slaving voyage from the Cape to Mauritius and Madagascar. Between 1666 and 1679 the Dutch built another bastion to better fortify and organize their assets. With this work done, the Dutch consolidated their position of the first permanent European settlement in Southern Africa and 'kaap stad' became the economic center of the Cape Colony. Satellite image of Cape peninsula with Cape Town, Table Mountain, False Bay (right) and Table Bay (left) with the small Robben Island. Image: NASA Today Cape Town is one of South Africa's three capitals (the others being: Pretoria and Bloemfontein ), it is the seat of the Parliament of South Africa, the country's legislative capital, and the capital of Western Cape province. The city has a population of 3.74 million inhabitants (2011). Languages spoken in Cape Town are Afrikaans (36%), Xhosa (30%), and English (25%). Cape Town is one of the most popular international tourist destination not only in South Africa, but in Africa. The 'African capital of cool' is #2 in National Geographic's Top 10 list of Beach Cities . Some of the highlights are: Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (get the whole picture on top of Table Mountain), Grand Parade (town square - surrounded by the Cape Town City Hall, the Castle of Good Hope, and the Cape Town railway station), Robben Island (former prison island, most prominent inmate: Nelson Mandela), Cape Peninsula with Cape of Good Hope (the southern end of Africa, known for stormy weather and rough seas), Groot Constantia and Constantia Valley (sprawling mansions and lush vineyards), South African National Gallery (Dutch, French and British works from the 17th to the 19th century), Iziko South African Museum And Planetarium at the Company's Garden (fossils, animals, human tools & clothing). Just zoom in to see Cape Town City Center in a 45-degree view. The map shows a city map of Cape Town with expressways, main roads and streets, and the location of Cape Town International Airport ( IATA code : CPT) 17.7 km (11 mi) by road (via N2) east of the city. To the west you see Cape Town's landmark the Table Mountain with its flat top. To find a location use the form below. To find a location type: street or place, city, optional: state, country. Local Time Cape Town:", "Ugly Betty (TV Series 2006–2010) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error A young, smart and wise woman named Betty Suarez goes on a journey to find her inner beauty. The only problem is that it's hard for a slightly less attractive woman to find her beauty ... See full summary » Creators: It's the end of an era, but the beginning, Betty hopes, of something wonderful. In the series finale, which also features appearances by familiar faces from the past, Betty finds it hard to tell ... 9.5 The season-end cliffhanger: Justin is thrilled with the boy playing Tony in the school play falls mysteriously ill and he is promoted from understudy. Santos finds trouble when he stops at a store to... 9.0 Against the backdrop of Ignacio's multi-culti holiday dinner that he prepares for his new flame Jean, who is Jewish, Betty and Hilda have pregnancy scares. Worse, they purchase their Be-Shure instant... 8.9 a list of 21 titles created 29 Sep 2011 a list of 25 titles created 14 Jul 2013 a list of 40 titles created 09 Jan 2015 a list of 40 titles created 07 May 2015 a list of 27 titles created 29 Sep 2015 Search for \" Ugly Betty \" on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Title: Ugly Betty (2006–2010) 6.5/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 48 wins & 117 nominations. See more awards » Videos Edit Storyline A young, smart and wise woman named Betty Suarez goes on a journey to find her inner beauty. The only problem is that it's hard for a slightly less attractive woman to find her beauty surrounded by tall skinny models at a fashion magazine but Betty doesn't let this stop her or her positive attitude towards her work. Written by James Robson Fashion has a new face (UK) See more » Genres: 28 September 2006 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Betty the Ugly See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia Chris Williams , who plays Wilhelldiva Hater (the drag queen parody of Wilhelmina Slater), is Vanessa Williams' brother. See more » Quotes Amanda Tanen : Hey, what's different about you? Did you get your hair cut? Betty Suarez : I'm wearing an eye patch. Amanda Tanen : You didn't always have that? Ugly Betty: A Diamond In The Rough 28 September 2006 | by bondgirl6781 (Florida, USA) – See all my reviews I fell in love with this show! Executively produced by Salma Hayek and starring the always lovely America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, a young woman who breaks into the fashion industry as an assistant to the editor-in-chief of Mode magazine Daniel Meade (sexy Eric Mabius). Betty is sweet, smart, and always on top of things, but of course she is not the most beautiful girl, but when they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder they were not kidding. Squaring off against Daniel Meade is the conniving Wilhemina (Vanessa Williams...I smell Emmy) who covets the title of editor-in-chief. I just saw the pilot episode and this show is a winner and I hope it stays on the air because of America Ferrera who is lovely and spirited as Betty. She is without question the female heroine that all young women need in times where women are expected to be sexy and beautiful under superficial means. 75 of 105 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes", "Pangboche Hand « Trafficking Culture Author: Donna Yates Last Modified: 14 Aug 2013 The Pangboche Hand is an alleged Yeti hand, stolen from a Nepali monastery. A finger was stolen in 1958 and smuggled by actor James Stewart and the complete hand was stolen in the early 1990s. The Nepali village of Pangboche is quite close to the base of Mount Everest and is a stopping point on the most heavily used route for climbers and trekkers on their way to Everest Base Camp (Stevens 1993: 412). It is considered to be a holy place. According to legend, Lama Sangwa Dorjee, who brought Buddhism to the region in the 17th century, flew over the Himalayas and landed on a rock at Pangboche, leaving his footprints in the stone and founding several monasteries. The monastery at Pangboche is the oldest monastery attributed to either Lama Sangwa Dorjee or one of his incarnations. The Pangboche Monastery is famous for being the home of a fragmentary mummified hand that is said to have come from a Yeti. Yeti are well-known characters in high-Himalaya popular mythology and have been incorporated into the local interpretation of Buddhism. Yeti are also a common topic of conversation between western climbers and the Indigenous people of the region. Most climbers report hearing stories of Yeti (e.g. Shipton 1952: 140; Tenzig Norgay 1955: 24), and some report seeing evidence of Yeti with their own eyes or participate in searches for evidence of the Yeti (e.g. Bishop 1962 for the search conducted by the Sir Edmund Hillary). At least historically, the Yeti was perceived as a threat to the people of the region, and a widespread fear of Yeti has been recorded among the Sherpa (Bjønness 1986: 291). The Pangboche hand was treated as a ritual object that was connected to the luck and safety of the monastery. Other monasteries in the region also have yeti relics which served similar purposes, for example a yeti skullcap housed at the Khumjung monestary (Burns 1962). Theft of a Finger (1958) In 1958 an explorer named Peter Byrne traveled to the Himalayas to look for evidence of the existence of the Yeti (Hill 2011). While staying at Pangboche, Byrne reported that a Nepalese-speaking monastery custodian showed him what looked like a large mummified primate hand (Byrne 2011). Back in London, Byrne related the story of the hand to Professor William Osman Hill, a primatologist at the Royal College of Surgeon’s Hunterian Museum, and to Tom Slick, a Texas oil heir and the funder of the Yeti expedition. Pangboche finger. Image from Daily Mail. Both Hill and Slick were interested in obtaining the hand, however Byrne made it clear that the lamas at Pangboche believed that the removal of the hand would bring disaster to the temple (Hill 2011). In the most lurid version of the story, which seems to have been told in several different ways, the three men are then alleged to have hatched a plan to steal one of the fingers for scientific testing. Prof. Hill is said to have produced a brown paper bag that contained a desiccated human finger for Byrne to take back to Nepal (Hill 2011). Once there, this account has Byrne stealing one of the fingers from the Yeti hand, and replacing it with the finger provided by Prof. Hill (Hill 2011). Writing in 2011, Byrne presents a slightly different account of how he came into possession of the finger than has been previously published in the media. He claims that, upon receiving a wire from Hill and Slick instructing him to obtain the hand while he was still in Nepal, he began to bargain with the lamas (Byrne 2011). He states that they agreed to give him a finger if he replaced it with another finger and made a contribution to the temple. Byrne then hiked back to India, flew to London, obtained the finger from Hill, and returned with it to Nepal (Byrne 2011). There he wired it into place with the permission of the monks. Other accounts state that he got the monks drunk so that they would not protest (Allsop 2007). An Unlikely Smuggler Byrne states that he planned to hold on to the finger for a few months and then find someone in Kathm", "Parental Involvement Can Help in Choosing Marriage Partners, Experts Say - The New York Times The New York Times Weddings |Modern Lessons From Arranged Marriages Search Continue reading the main story Photo Rita and Deepak Sarma of Shaker Heights, Ohio, fell in love but married only after both their families approved. Credit Michael F. McElroy for The New York Times WHETHER arranged marriages produce loving, respectful relationships is a question almost as old as the institution of marriage itself. In an era when 40 to 50 percent of all American marriages end in divorce, some marriage experts are asking whether arranged marriages produce better relationships in the long run than do typical American marriages, in which people find each other on their own and romance is the foundation. Experts also ask whether there are lessons in how arranged marriages evolve that can be applied to nonarranged marriages in the United States. Among them is Robert Epstein, a senior research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavior Research and Technology in Vista, Calif., and author of a new study, “How Love Emerges in Arranged Marriages.” He found that one key to a strong arranged marriage is the amount of parental involvement at its start. The most important thing parents of the couple do, he said, is to “screen for deal breakers.” “They’re trying to figure out whether something could go wrong that could drive people apart,” Dr. Epstein said. Continue reading the main story Some couples who have entered into satisfying arranged marriages do attribute the success of their unions to the involvement of their parents. A. J. Khubani was 25 in 1985 when his parents tried to get him to visit Inder Sen Israni and Maya Israni in Jaipur, India, friends of the Khubani family, and meet the couple’s daughter Poonam. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “I just refused,” said Mr. Khubani, who was not keen on settling down because he had just started Telebrands, a company in Fairfield, N.J., that sells inventions via infomercials on late-night television. “I didn’t see why it was so important that I had to fly across the world to see one girl,” Mr. Khubani, now 52, remembered. Ms. Israni, now Mrs. Khubani, was not ready, either. At the time she was a soap opera star and rising Bollywood actress. Getting them to meet took some prodding: Mr. Khubani’s father, knowing that his son was going to Asia on business, offered to pay his way if he stopped in Jaipur. The young man and woman both relented, with the casual assumption that they would just please their parents “and that would be the end of it,” Mrs. Khubani said. When they finally met, neither was impressed. Mrs. Khubani recalled, “It wasn’t love at first sight at all.” Love did not kick in until Mr. Khubani became sick and the young woman he had just met stayed by his bedside to care for him. “Nobody understood his accent because he was so American,” she said, and so she was his translator. For Mr. Khubani, her caring and elegant manners sealed the deal. “Spending a couple of days in the room with her, alone, I fell in love with her,” he said. They have been married for 27 years. Arranged marriages can work “because they remove so much of the anxiety about ‘is this the right person?’ ” said Brian J. Willoughby, an assistant professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. “Arranged marriages start cold and heat up and boil over time as the couple grows. Nonarranged marriages are expected to start out boiling hot but many eventually find that this heat dissipates and we’re left with a relationship that’s cold.” Photo The parents of A. J. Khubani of Saddle River, N.J., sent him to India to meet his future wife, Poonam, 27 years ago. Credit Danny Ghitis for The New York Times He also credited supportive parents. “Whether it be financial support for weddings, schooling or housing, or emotional support for either partner, parents provide valuable resources for couples as they navigate the marital transition,” Dr. Willoughby said. But does it really take a village to b" ]

[ "I have had this chlorinator for 1 1/2 years and it is no longer filling with water. I have taken the valve off checked for clogs and am going to have to purchase another one. This will be the third in 4 years. After reading reviews about the other brands, Pentair & rainbow, I think they are probably all about the same. They work well until they don't, which is just after the one year warranty expires. It is easier to replace with the same so as not to have to redo plumbing." ]

[ "I needed to use floppies to transfer data to an old CNC machine. Worked well without any drivers in Win7 x64\n\nUpdate: well after about a year it stopped working... maybe I will take it apart and try to fix it... I assume there is no warranty on it...", "This little gem worked flawlessly... for about 5 weeks. We probably used it about 15 times during that period and plugged it into the charging cord each night. Yesterday morning it was totally without life. No lights, no sound, no pairing, no connection... completely dead. I am guessing it probably is the charging port which seems to be the bane of many Bluetooth speakers. We had the same problem with the Amazon Basics Bluetooth speaker but that was after using it for well over a year. I contacted Amazon about returning this item for replacement but it was outside the 30 day return window. They suggested checking with the documentation that came with the product for warranty information. Of course, I don't have that because it was working like a charm for the first 30 days and my place isn't big enough to save every box and multi-language manual that comes with every device I've purchased over the years. Live and learn.", "Jawbone.....Guess I should return it. Couldn't get it to work....Don't know the warranty or how to do it. I was really excited about it but didn't work for me", "Buyer beware. Warranty not that great. If you need to return this camera under warranty you will first need a return authorization(RA). You will only get a RA after an interrogation by their customer service dept. about your battery purchasing choices, SD card brand, and SD card formatting skills. You will also be required to preform a 5 step set of instructions to \"reset\" the camera which includes an overnight time period of \"rest.\" IF you are lucky enough to get permission to return the camera you will get a used one in return. Your \"new\" used camera will also have no additional warranty. Not impressed by the camera, it would only take a picture if the subject was within 2 feet of the lens, even less impressed by Stealth Cams replacement policy.\n\nThe following is a copy and paste from their web site: \"WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PRODUCT SENT TO US WITHOUT AN (sic) RETURN ATHORIZATION\"", "It charged my phone 3 times then died. Seller wasn't willing to stand behind their product.\n\nI purchased this for a phone that is only used occasionally because my other phone uses wireless charging, so my bedside and car chargers are wireless and I didn't want to carry a lightning cable.\n\nBecause I use the phone so rarely I only charged it 3 times during the 30 day return period. I tried a 4th charge 3 days after the return period ended, but it no longer worked and has not worked since. When I contacted the seller their response was \"since your order was already beyond the warranty date...\"\n\nI wouldn't recommend either the item or the seller.", "Interesting look at a sad period in our history. I don't know how accurate it is compared to the actual facts, but it tied in with things I have read about the whole blacklisting period and Helen Mirren's portrayal of Hedda Hopper was very believable. Well acted by Bryan Cranston and Diane Lane.", "didn't receive the warranty and it is supposed to have a lifetime warranty, so I wasn't pleased about that, especially when I was giving as a gift.", "I just got off of the phone with the Kitchenaid \"service' line.\nThis is the fourth mixer that I have had since approximately April, 2008. I kept moving up the product line hoping to find one that would work well in making bread since I had invested quite a bit in the attachments for the product.\n\nThe first mixer, an Ultra, failed completely approximately one month after the warranty was over. I purchased a new Artisan to replace it, thinking that I had just had some bad luck and that the slightly larger Artisan would be more robust. The Artisan, which was purchased on September 9, 2009 failed on May 13, 2010. I requested a warranty replacement on that date. After a long series of delays, including lost paperwork and the shipping label being undeliverable because the wrong address was used, a replacement was shipped on June 30. 2010, more than 6 weeks after the problem was reported. The replacement unit produced a \"clicking\" noise when working from the beginning, but the sound has been getting worse over time. I checked on the KitchenAid forum, where it was suggested that this indicates that the worm gear is failing.\n\nThe warranty indicated that \" Your replacement unit will also be covered by our one year limited warranty\", which I believed meant that it was covered for one year from the time the replacement unit was received. However when I contacted the customer service call line, they pointed out that my original unit was 40 days past the warranty period from the original purchase and the replacement unit warranty only covers the original warranty period. If I was aware of this, I would have sent the unit back when I noticed the clicking on the first use, rather than waiting and hoping it would get better.\n\nAnother unfortunate consideration is that the original mixer had been purchased by Visa, who doubled the length of the warranty. But the replacement unit was not the original unit and so was not technically purchased by Visa. So, the original unit would still have been under warranty with them, but the replacement one is not.. .\n\nI fixed this unit and gave it to my daughter for light work and purchase the professional 5 model. However, I read a review on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KP26M1XNP-Professional-6-Quart-Nickel/dp/B0002Y5X9W\nindicating that the problems I had been having with heavy duty work were likely due to a problem withthe gearbox casing that was being repaired in some units. I phoned Kitchenaid customer service on February 15, 2011, while my mixer was still well within warrenty, to inquire about changed metal gearboxes. If I had one of the \"unfixed\" units, I was planning on returning it (which was an option at the store I dealt with) and buy a different machine. The woman on the phone line indicated the only way they could tell if the switch to metal gearbox cover had been made was to take the machine apart. The woman indicated that they would make a note on the file and that if it failed past the warranty they would address the issue. Sure enough, it failed in Feb, 2013. I phoned the customer service line, with the notes that I had made on dates of calls, etc. and was told that they had no record of any such note and would do nothing since the unit was off of warrenty. Basically, but not unexpectedly, I was lied to by the person on the phone in line and am again stuck with a non-functioning unit that does not do the job it was meant to do. The annoying part is that I had the opportunity to return the machine at the time, but naively believed that when they said they would make a note on the file and stand behind their product, they would keep their word.\n\nWould I buy anything from Kitchenaid (or Whirlpool or Jenn-Air, thir other lines) now? What do you think?", "The phone is great- as long as it works. It's small, but does everything you need from a droid. However, the screen died after 7 months, and despite the 1 year warranty, the company declared it out of warranty as it's an 'International\" phone. There is NO warranty from the company when bought on Amazon, according to them. Thankfully, Amazon is working with us.", "A good read, well written. Interesting to learn about life of a keeper in that time period, but you know from early on there is no good answer to their dilemma. So sad!", "Beware, the Kettle quit working within the 2 year Limited Guarantee period (approximately 7 months) I took it in for repair under the warranty. The Repair Shop stated that they were unable replace the broken part and referred me to Krups Customer Service for a replacement. Krups' customer service department advised me that the Tea Makers is no longer available and offered to replace with a 10 or 12 cup Coffee Maker that now retails for approximately 50% of what I paid for the kettle.", "This could be a legendary grade mouse. However, the company support is terrible and they will not fix manufacturing flaws. The coating used to provide that rubbery feel is crap and dissolves after some time; they, of course, will not try to fix this defect because the warranty period is expired. Funny from a company that claims to only use the best components.\n\nStay away if you want to use your mouse long-term.", "Edit 2: Anker customer service contacted me via Amazon and offered a free refurbished product in exchange for the faulyu device. They shipped the refurbished product at no cost to me within a few days. The replacement product works as advertised, just as the original device did for the first 12 months.\n\nEdit: All the four (4) USB 2.0 ports on this device stopped working. None of the devices connected to the USB 2.0 had heavy current draw (2 printers and mouse and keyboard). Contacted Anker costumer service and no offer of help as I had past their warranty period by one (1) month.\n\nThe product is well-made, feels really solid, and runs cooler than expected. I'm using it currently as a dock for my Yoga 2 Pro and I have two 23 inch screens connected to it. It handles it all pretty well, but at some points it runs a little slow or screen resolution looks weird, but those are issues directly from the laptop and not the dock.", "This thing is only $6??? With a lifetime warranty??? If you're thinking about buying one, just do it. Once I ordered mine, all of my roommates ordered ones for their keychains as well. In no way will this replace a full size multi-tool, but for something that stays on your keychain all day, it certainly comes in handy. The bottle opener works well - once you get it attached to your keychain properly. Don't attach it through the clip, and it works great (I use it all the time). The knife isn't bad and works fine when nothing else is available. The screwdriver functions fine for small tasks. For a tool that is only about 2\" long, this thing is a life saver.", "I purchased a Nuvision 8inch Windows tablet new on 12/15/16. The tablet has stopped working completely. It won't turn on, or take a charge. I sent in a warranty request from Nuvision and they have informed me that unless it was sold by Nuvision International they will not honor the warranty. Be aware that Nuvision will not honor the warranty on a tablet purchased from Amazon.", "This is a great case, period.\nI would not trust my LP bass to anything less.\nI have customized my bass from top to bottom but wouldn't change a thing about this case.\nIt's really that well made.", "These are very well done stories. The characters are interesting and imaginative. They are set in period - early 29th century. Some humor thrown in for good measure. Definitely good entertainment that you don't have to be embarrassed about.", "Watch works well and is fairly accurate. It's not comfortable to wear for extended periods of time and it's rather large (I'm petite and it looks huge on my wrist/arm).", "This is by far one of the funniest comedy albums I've ever heard. Period! The only thing frustrating about it is I cannot find any other albums or work by John. Sure wish I could find something.", "This is worth every penny. When I have it on, I don't even think about my chest. And I am a runner with a 34H bra size! My only caution is to take it off as soon as you are done working out if you have sensitive skin. It is tight, which is why it works so well, but I can't wear it for an extended period (like, hours) without it digging in and hurting my skin. But I love it for workouts and just bought my second one. I recommend it to all my well endowed friends!", "Best socks for work if you walk a lot, keeps the calves compressed = no cramps. Lifetime warranty, best sock for work out there.", "Very informative about life in that time period! Opened my eyes about what life was about, it wasn't all brutish and short!", "Disclaimer: I was provided 1 Apple MFi Certified Lightning Cable - Skiva USBLink (3.2 ft / 1m) 8-pin Lightning Sync and Charge Cable [Model No.: CB101] for testing and review and was asked only to give my honest opinion.\n\nAbout Me: I am a self employed Apple/Mac/iPhone/iPad consultant. I've used and technically supported Apple made and 3rd party Apple related hardware, software, peripherals and products since 1986.\n\nAbout this product:\nPros:\n > Light\n > Proficient\n > Apple MFi Certified\n > Good length\n > Fair price for quality\n > 1 year warranty\n > Good customer service by phone or eMail.\n > Worked well with my previous iPhone 6 case.\n > Worked well with my new iPhone 6s case.\n > Worked well with my iPad Air.\n\nCons:\n > None so far.\n\nThe Skiva 3.2 ft USBLink Lightening cable may be thinner than its Apple counterpart, but seems to be holding up to every day wear and tear. I've already had an official Apple cable fail on me within a few months of use. A cable is a cable. It will prove itself in time or not. So far, the Skiva cable is working well.\n\nI owned a 10 ft Skiva Lightening cable that had some connectivity issues over a month out of the cable's warranty. Skiva happily replaced it at no cost, even out of warranty. A few email information trades and it was on its way. The replacement has been working fine since.\n\nOver all, looking at quality, warranty vs price, I would recommend this cable to any of my clients.\n\n<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Apple-MFi-Certified-Lightning-Cable-Skiva-USBLink-3-2-ft-1m-8-pin-Lightning-Sync-and-Charge-Cable-with-Slimmest-Connector-Head-for-iPhone-6-6Plus-5s-iPad-Air-mini-more-Model-No-CB101/dp/B00B7E1D7W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Apple MFi Certified Lightning Cable - Skiva USBLink (3.2 ft / 1m) 8-pin Lightning Sync and Charge Cable with Slimmest Connector Head for iPhone 6 6Plus 5s, iPad Air mini, & more [Model No.: CB101</a>]", "A very readable and informative book about an important President and a period of American history I knew too little about. Polk's presidency made the U.S. a coast to coast empire and is largely lost in the shadow of the cataclysm of the Civil War which followed. Merry brings this important President and period to life.", "This is a very well written, informative and easy to read book. It has everything you need to consider for sheltering-in-place. While most people have probably sheltered in place for a short period due to a snow storm, tornado warning or hurricane, what if you and your family (or for employers, you and your employees!) had to shelter in place for a prolonged period of time?\n\nI highly recommend this book to anybody interested in emergency preparedness and the safety of their family. I also think that people who do think about SIP tend to focus on only their homes - as the author points out, you may need to SIP at work, in a restaurant, in your vehicle or anywhere you may happen to be. If you have never thought about that you should. Bryan Foster, aka Zion Prepper, will show you how.\n\nDo not hesitate to buy this book.", "THIS IS THE BEST CAR WASH...PERIOD! Don't use more than what is directed. It is strong...it works brilliantly...it smells great. I can't say enough good things about this company. All of their products I have found, are the best in their category.", "It is a piece of offal. It does not work. Period. DO NOT BUY IT!!!!!!" ]

[ " Do you want to feel and look healthy, physically and mentally? Well, here are some tips to help you out. " ]

[ "Emotional resilience is key to maintaining mental and physical health. Positive thinking reduces the destructive physical effects of stress and wards off depression.", "Staying healthy while pregnant is important not only for your physical and mental well being, but also for your growing baby's. Health is a combination of a number things, including making lifestyle changes, getting proper nutrition, exercising regularly, and avoiding unhealthy/dangerous activities.", "Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Therapy can help you improve your mental health, but the cost often makes it difficult for people to take part in.", "Most parents’ dream is for their child to be healthy and happy. This includes your child’s physical health, as well as their emotional and mental health.", "A dog, also known as human's best friend, is happiest when he's healthy. Ensuring your dog's physical and mental well-being means keeping him stimulated, even when you are not home.", "Being physically attractive is an aim for many people out there. Being confident about your looks can contribute to good physical and mental health, and can make you happier throughout the day.", "Gerbils can be great little pets for you and your family. To keep them happy and healthy you simply need to provide them with a home that meets their physical and mental needs.", "Before a gymnastics competition, both your body and mind should be as healthy as possible so you can have a successful performance. Here are some of the most important things to keep remember as you prepare both physically and mentally for competition day.", "Friendships are essential to living a healthy and happy life. Spending time regularly with friends has many health benefits, including higher life expectancy, lower incidences of physical and mental illness, and generally feeling happier.", "Meditation as a health boosting activity is a great option for both mental and physical health. Because clinical validation is still expanding on what meditation has to offer, it is an ideal practice to supplement existing medical and healthy lifestyle choices.", "Stress is a natural response to challenging circumstances. Normal levels of stress are healthy and even beneficial, but excessive stress can have negative effects on your physical, mental, emotional, and social health.", "Basketball is a physically demanding sport that requires a certain level of physical and mental preparedness. It also demands a heightened level of organization and time management.", "Proper education on sex is essential in promoting healthy living both mentally and physically. Teaching sex education can be difficult if you don't know where to start, how to approach it, or even what to teach.", "Play is an important part of your dog’s mental and physical health. Not only is it a crucial form of physical exercise, but engaging in regular play also offers your dog a valuable means of stress-relief and mental stimulation.", "Engaging in regular exercise is beneficial for your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, but it can be difficult to squeeze in a trip to the gym during a busy day.", "“Food puzzles” are contraptions that challenge cats to figure out how to get food and treats. These puzzles—usually constructed of plastic or cardboard—have been proven to keep cats mentally, emotionally and physically healthy by stimulating their natural hunting instinct.", "There are a lot of benefits to be gained from participating in a competition, such as perseverance, mental and physical exercise, and social interaction.", " This article will cover physical, social, and mental values necessary for a student to improve their learning capability and value in their studies. ", "Your oral health is as important as any other component of your physical health. Taking care of your teeth and gums is essential for living a healthy physical life.", " Driving is like an art, not everyone is physically or mentally able to do it well. To some, it comes naturally, to others, it takes time. ", "Physical activity is great for children and helps with their physical and mental development. [1] Unfortunately, sometimes outdoor play is impossible because of bad weather or a lack of outdoor space.", "Meditation is an excellent practice that can improve your physical, mental and spiritual health. [1] But if you are just starting to meditate, you might have some questions: How should you position yourself physically?", "Mentally flexible people have an expansive way of perceiving the world. Similar to physical flexibility, mental or psychological flexibility requires challenging the mind to go beyond its typical range of motion.", "Art therapy for children provides an effective and creative treatment for those with emotional, psychological, physical, mental or social problems or disabilities.", "Exercise is an effective strategy for reducing stress. In addition to helping you lose weight and feel physically stronger and healthier, exercise benefits your mental and emotional well being.", "Bad mental hygiene refers to unhealthy ways of thinking and acting that can lead to negative mental health issues. Therefore, it is important to try to overcome bad mental hygiene while promoting good mental hygiene -- healthy ways of behavior that can lead to positive mental health assets.", "Someone getting inpatient treatment, whether for a physical injury of for mental or addiction issues, typically cannot leave treatment to appear in court.", " Want to feel amazing physically, mentally and emotionally? Start with Step 1 below for some great ideas on how you can achieve all three! ", "A stress buster is an individual or a professional who can help people to come out of the stress conditions mentally, physically and psychologically.", "Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease can be physically challenging, but they also can be mentally and emotionally difficult to handle.", "Conversion disorder, also called Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder, is a mental illness that is relatively uncommon. If a person has conversion disorder, they have physical symptoms with no underlying medical or physical reason.", "Sleep is integral to good physical health and mental well-being. Occasionally, it may be difficult getting to bed on time and to fall or stay asleep." ]

[ "why the heck would they want to legalize it in the first place? If they were doing it for the medicinal value, you'd still need a prescription for it and recreational use would still be illegal, besides, there are a whole lot of drugs out there which are more effective.\\nIf it were legal for recreational use, that would just result in increased consumption and more fatal traffic accidents, etc. Nothing good would come from it." ]

[ "No, I won´t go to Germany at that time. You will hardly get a ticket on a legal way. Furthermore, it will be overcrowded, lots of hooligans,...\\n\\nI will watch the matches on TV.", "Being that they legalized marijuana, I would say Denver Colorado. The Mile \"High\" City!!", "any topic of debate is going to be controversial, i would try gay marriage, capital punishment, abortion, legalization of marijuana (i had an english class that someone won for it once), school uniforms, prayer in schools, evolution, just to name a few. a great series is taking sides (i think) it has the viewpoints and different ideas for that sort of debate.", "Yes...legalized for both. Marijuana is actually less dangerous for recreational use than alcohol--which is legal. Plus...the government could make a lot of money from legalization.", "There's really no way to quantify that if this is a serious question.\\n\\nIf it's a joke question, isn't marijuana legal in The Netherlands?", "www.greenrevolutionnow.org explains it all 11 states have legal marijuana laws thats 22% of the usa", "'weed' or marijuana is the least dangerous.\\n\\nIt is not phsically addictive, and no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose.\\n\\nMarijuana should not be considered a narcotic, and should be legalized, but still a controlled substance.", "Although 11 states have legalized the use of marijuana for certain medicinal purposes, the federal government has laws on the book making it illegal for doctors to prescribe marijuana. Last year, in Gonzales v. Raich, the Supreme Court upheld the federal government's right to regulate drug use in the states. Effectively, then, medical marijuana use is illegal.", "gun control, abortion, cable vs. sattelite, repub. vs. dem., gay marriage, legalizing marijuana.", "Yes, marijuana should be legal, because the current system of illegalization is unfair. Why are cigarettes, which are proven to be tons more times unhealthy and deadly than marijuana, legal? Cigs kill through a physical addiction as well as a psychological addiction, which means that you actually become physically dependent on the drug and you enjoy how it makes you feel, and therefore you develop the diseases that kill you. On the other hand, marijuana does not cause a physical addiction, but a psychological addiction. So you don't die from weed, and there are very few reports that support the direct disease development of weed that kills you. So why are cigs legal and taxed, but weed isn't? Why don't they just make weed legal, tax the hell out of it so it can benefit the economy, and set an age limit for 21 years-old, just like alcohol. This will benefit everyone, because it will allow taxes for law enforcement to go towards people who are actually committing violent crimes instead of trying to calm down after a hard day by smoking weed. Also, it will stop the violence that erupts over the weed drug war between gangs and thugs. Money will no longer be an issue for the gangs to fight about over the weed.\\n\\nWe all know why weed is illegal - because the majority of its users are minorities and those in poverty. Sure, there is a fair share of middle and upper class young people who smoke weed, but the majority are those of us in the lower tier of society. If it was made legal, then those in power (the rich, upper class and conservative citizens) would not have as much power over us. Bottom line. Dispute it if you want, but the evidence is clear.\\n\\nIt's the same thing with why a smaller amount of crack carries a harsher legal penalty than the same amount of pure cocaine. Poor minorities use crack, upper class citizens use pure cocaine.", "It is far safer than drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco are physically addictive, and both are lethal in high doses; marijuana is non-toxic and not physically addictive.\\n\\nThe biggest danger from marijuana is the legal threat.\\n\\nThere is no good reason for it to be illegal, none whatsoever.", "They didn´t win in 1988, they won in 1984.", "I thought only California allowed medicinal marijuana use. Lord knows, it is all over the place in the county where I live, LEGALLY!", "Because these medications can damage the kidneys and liver is why people want medical marijuana to be legalized. It is supposed to be very helpful with arthritis, as well as a great number of other ailments.\\n\\nI'm assuming that that's not the answer you are looking for, so why not ask the doctor for meds that are less harmful, look into herbal remedies, and see what type of exercise (or physical therapy) might help.\\n\\nI wish your father well.", "Alcohol acts primarily on the nerve cells within the brain. Alcohol interferes with communication between nerve cells and all other cells, suppressing the activities of excitatory nerve pathways and increasing the activities of inhibitory nerve pathways. \\n\\nIn addition to the brain, the side effects of marijuana reach many other parts of the body. Marijuana is filled with hundreds of chemicals, and when it is burned, hundreds of additional compounds are produced. When marijuana is inhaled or ingested in some other form, several short-term effects occur. Some of the marijuana's side effects are: \\nProblems with memory and learning \\nDistorted perception \\nDifficulty with thinking and problem solving \\nLoss of coordination \\nIncreased heart rate \\nAnxiety, paranoia and panic attacks \\n\\n\\nAs you can see neither is better than the other. Except for the fact that marijuana does have medicinal qualities, an I think it should be legalized for that purpose. Also, just a side note. marijuana is legal in Alaska.. At least, the last I heard.. You could grow it for you own use.. not to sale..", "Why is it so important for so many people to intrude into the lives of others? A better question to ask other than \"Why should it be leagalized?\" is \"Why is it illegal?\" Why has the government decided that some drugs (alchohol, nicotiene, caffiene) should be legal for unregulated consumption, and a basically harmless soft drug like marijuana with debatable medicinal benifits is demonized and thrown into the same catagory as herion and cocaine which like alchohol have ruined millions of lives and killed millions of people?\\n\\nWhy are you so concerned with what people do with their personal time?", "ah yes, Indian hemp. I've only ever heard two cases in the time I've looked at the issue of industrial hemp. I found references to one of the cases for the source. \\n\\nThe ones I've seen have the DEA ripping up industrial hemp and telling the media that they have stopped a marijuana supply. Legally there is no difference between growing industrial hemp and marijuana. \\n\\nThe motivations the Indians have is that hemp is a legal cash crop in the US that is a greater value than all but tobacco. It's value is somewhere in the hundreds of dollars per ton and several tons per acre. Unfortunately it is illegal to grow in the US. You may eat, wear, buy, sell, but not grow industrial hemp in the US. Thus it would be a nice cash crop to grow in the US. Instead we purchase raw industrial hemp from Canada were it is legal to grow. \\n\\nI'm afraid I can't speak of reasons why Indians might want it for the marijuana drug, I can't think of any arguments I may have seen on that topic.", "I don't know, but that's a damn good question. Even if it wasn't legal, there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to speculate on it (as long as no one's directly saying, \"Who can sell me marijuana?\" or similar). After all, if I have to read questions like \"Did god take a dump and call it a muslim\" and \"Should we hang gays like they do Afganistan or gas them like Hitler did?\" and these questions get to stay... well, we should be able to discuss marijuana. After all, it fosters love, not hate.", "The marijuana industry is more lucrative than any legal product could be because it is not regulated. But it doesn't actually help the Mexican economy because it's all underground.", "I live in California and there are many \"clubs\" around here for the medical/medicinal marijuana users to purchase. There are also co-op growers who have a state issued lisence to grow and/or distribute to the clubs. This is not to say that marijuana is legal here, just that there are ways to get around it. Get your card.", "Marijuana is decriminalized in Amsterdam. It is legal to sell it in designated coffee shops, and to carry 1 ounce on you. So, it isn't exactly legal or illegal. You aren't supposed to smoke out in the open though, just inside coffee shops and your own home.", "she's from trinidad and tobago! my country! lol big ups to t&t, lol..anyway she won ms. universe in 1999", "Yes, I think marajuana should be legalized. Compare it to our two most popular legal \"recreational drugs.\" Marijuana is only mildly addictive especially in comparison to tobacco. The affects of marijuana lower inhibitions, but unlike alcohol it is nearly impossible to overdose. When was the last time you heard of someone getting high on pot and beating someone up? It would be far more likely they got an uncontrollable case of the giggles. Now consider how dangerous someone who is drunk on alchohol - their aggressor response is heightened, not diminished.\\n\\nAnd I would also like to state: I don't drink and I don't smoke marijuana. This is just my observations.", "Myth: United States law has always treated hemp and marijuana the same. \\n\\nReality: The history of federal drug laws clearly shows that at one time the U.S. government understood and accepted the distinction between hemp and marijuana. \\n\\n\\nMyth: Smoking industrial hemp gets a person high.\\n\\nReality: The THC levels in industrial hemp are so low that no one could get high from smoking it. Moreover, hemp contains a relatively high percentage of another cannabinoid, CBD, that actually blocks the marijuana high. Hemp, it turns out, is not only not marijuana; it could be called \"antimarijuana.\" \\n\\n\\nMyth: Even though THC levels are low in hemp, the THC can be extracted and concentrated to produce a powerful drug.\\n\\nReality: Extracting THC from industrial hemp and further refining it to eliminate the preponderance of CBD would require such an expensive, hazardous, and time-consuming process that it is extremely unlikely anyone would ever attempt it, rather than simply obtaining high-THC marijuana instead.\\n\\n\\nMyth: Hemp fields would be used to hide marijuana plants.\\n\\nReality: Hemp is grown quite differently from marijuana. Moreover, it is harvested at a different time than marijuana. Finally, cross-pollination between hemp plants and marijuana plants would significantly reduce the potency of the marijuana plant.\\n\\n\\nMyth: Legalizing hemp while continuing the prohibition on marijuana would burden local police forces.\\n\\nReality: In countries where hemp is grown as an agricultural crop, the police have experienced no such burdens. \\n\\n\\nMyth: Feral hemp must be eradicated because it can be sold as marijuana.\\n\\nReality: Feral hemp, or ditchweed, is a remnant of the hemp once grown on more than 400,000 acres by U.S. farmers. It contains extremely low levels of THC, as low as .05 percent. It has no drug value, but does offer important environmental benefits as a nesting habitat for birds. About 99 percent of the \"marijuana\" being eradicated by the federal government-at great public expense-is this harmless ditchweed. Might it be that the drug enforcement agencies want to convince us that ditchweed is hemp in order to protect their large eradication budgets? \\n\\n\\nMyth: Those who want to legalize hemp are actually seeking a backdoor way to legalize marijuana.\\n\\nReality: It is true that many of the first hemp stores were started by industrial-hemp advocates who were also in favor of legalizing marijuana. However, as the hemp industry has matured, it has come to be dominated by those who see hemp as the agricultural and industrial crop that it is, and see hemp legalization as a different issue than marijuana legalization. In any case, should we oppose a very good idea simply because some of those who support it also support other ideas with which we disagree? \\n\\n\\nMyth: Hemp oil is a source of THC.\\n\\nReality: Hemp oil is an increasingly popular product, used for an expanding variety of purposes. The washed hemp seed contains no THC at all. The tiny amounts of THC contained in industrial hemp are in the glands of the plant itself. Sometimes, in the manufacturing process, some THC- and CBD-containing resin sticks to the seed, resulting in traces of THC in the oil that is produced. The concentration of these cannabinoids in the oil is infinitesimal. No one can get high from using hemp oil. \\n\\n\\nMyth: Legalizing hemp would send the wrong message to children.\\n\\nReality: It is the current refusal of the drug enforcement agencies to distinguish between an agricultural crop and a drug crop that is sending the wrong message to children. \\n\\n\\nMyth: Hemp is not economically viable, and should therefore be outlawed. \\n\\nReality: The market for hemp products is growing rapidly. But even if it were not, when has a crop ever been outlawed simply because government agencies thought it would be unprofitable to grow?", "This decision is binding on Ontario's lower courts, which means that no-one can be convicted of pot possession in Ontario. This effectively means that marijuana is now legal in Canada's largest province.", "I won´t send a mail to any star ...\\nIf you do, you shouldn´t expect an answer from him!!!", "Yes, marijuana should be legalized. If you were to put the stats together, you would see that many, many more rapes, murders, thefts, assaults, fatal car crashes, deadly occupational accidents, and various other crimes have been committed under the influence of alcohol. Recently, a young man was arrested for murdering his mother. His line of defense was that he was under the influence of Marijuana. Marijuana does not make one aggressive in the least. Anyone that does or has smoked will testify to that. Marijuana has a relaxing effect, not to mention its medicinal benefits. As for prostitution, it should also be legalized. It is THE oldest profession in the WORLD. You cannot put a restriction on ones body. The only way to stop it would be to eliminate one of the sexes. Just my guess, but there would probably be a drop in sex crimes and sexually transmitted diseases if prostitution were to become legal. THE ONLY REASON NEITHER OF THESE THINGS ARE LEGAL, IS BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT CANT FIGURE A WAY TO CONTROL OR TAX THEM. (Like cigarettes and alcohol. Which by the way is two very high contributors to our mortality rate here in America.) Hence the war against them.", "Well, that depends on what substances you are talking about. Personally, I think that an adult should be allowed to engage in activities that are not harmful to anyone else and do not infringe on the rights of others. Having said that, I do not necessarily believe that full legalization is the way to go. In the case of marijuana, for instance, it is theorized that the price might actually increase if the government started regulating and taxing the sale of marijuana. I think a more logical solution, at least in the case of marijuana, would be decriminalization. The government would not regulate the industry; instead, they could monitor the sale of the plant to minors, insuring that everyone who chooses to buy marijuana is an adult(just like cigarettes).", "Yes. You can have up to 5 plants OR 1 oz. You can have that ounce on your person, however you must be 19 years old. You can not store marijuana in plastic bags, especially of the zip-lock type as this is consider intent to sell. You can not sell it AT ALL. I lived there 16 years and it was voted to restore legal marijuana in 2003.", "The Constitution gives congress the power to make laws. States can also pass laws specific to there jurisdiction as long as the state law does not violate federal law. In cases where there is no federal law, states are free to come up with their own. An example that has had a lot of attention in recent years is the legalization of marijuana. Some states have past laws to make it legal but the federal government still says its a crime to possess it. If you live in a state where marijuana has been legalized, the federal government could still arrest you for violating federal law.", "ASK HER BY HERSELF SO IF SHE DOESN'T YOU WON;T BE HUMILIATED.... IF SHE DOES GOOD LUCK....", "because the thc in marijuana opens up the blood vessels making them less constricted, and the oxygenated blood in the cappilaries becomes more prevelant in the eyes, which is the same reason why people with glaucoma(acute constricting of blood vessels in the eyes) use marijuana for their condition." ]

[ "Joseph Lister (1827-1912) Select from the menus below to find out more about a particular person. Joseph Lister (1827-1912) Add image to my collection Joseph Lister is the surgeon who introduced new principles of cleanliness which transformed surgical practice in the late 1800s. We take it for granted that a surgeon will guard a patient's safety by using aseptic methods. But this was not always the case, and until Lister introduced sterile surgery, a patient could undergo a procedure successfully only to die from a postoperative infection known as ‘ward fever’. Born in Essex, Lister was interested in surgery from an early stage - he was present at the first surgical procedure carried out under anaesthetic in 1846. Lister continued his studies in London and passed his examinations, becoming a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1852. He was recommended to visit Professor of Clinical Surgery James Syme (1799-1870) in Edinburgh and became his dresser, then house surgeon and then his son-in-law. Lister moved to Glasgow in 1860 and became a Professor of Surgery. He read Pasteur's work on micro-organisms and decided to experiment with using one of Pasteur's proposed techniques, that of exposing the wound to chemicals. He chose dressings soaked with carbolic acid (phenol) to cover the wound and the rate of infection was vastly reduced. Lister then experimented with hand-washing, sterilising instruments and spraying carbolic in the theatre while operating, in order to limit infection. His lowered infection rate was very good and Listerian principles were adopted throughout many countries by a number of surgeons. Lister is now known as the ‘father of antiseptic surgery’." ]

[ "Robert Koch Winner of the 1905 Nobel Prize in Medicine 1905 Nobel Laureate in Medicine for his investigations and discoveries in relation to tuberculosis. Background Place of birth: Klausthal (Germany) Residence: Germany Education: Studied at G�ttingen to become a physician and surgeon Affiliation: Hygienic Institute at Berlin (Professor and Director, 1885); Institut f�r Infektions-Krankheiten (Institute for Infectious Diseases, Berlin - Director from 1891) Discovered the tuberculosis bacillus (1882) Led a German expedition to Egypt and India, where he discovered the cholera bacillus (1883) Featured Internet Links", "2012 | British Journal of Medical Practitioners Chlorhexidine; Oral decontamination; Ventilator associated pneumonia; Mechanical ventilation Introduction Nosocomial pneumonia in patients receiving mechanical ventilation, also called ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), is an important nosocomial infection worldwide which leads to an increased length of hospital stay, healthcare costs, and mortality.(1,2,3,4,5) The incidence of VAP ranges from 9% to 27% with a crude mortality rate that can exceed up to 50%. (6,7,8,9) Aspiration of bacteria from the upper digestive tract is an important proposed mechanism in the pathogenesis of VAP.(9, 10) The normal flora of the oral cavity may include up to 350 different bacterial species, with tendencies for groups of bacteria to colonize different surfaces in the mouth. For example, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Actinomyces viscosus, and Bacteroides gingivalis mainly colonize the teeth; Streptococcus salivarius mainly colonizes the dorsal aspect of the tongue; and Streptococcus mitis is found on both buccal and tooth surfaces.(11) Because of a number of processes, however, critically ill patients lose a protective substance called fibronectin from the tooth surface. Loss of fibronectin reduces the host defence mechanism mediated by reticuloendothelial cells. This reduction in turn results in an environment conducive to attachment of microorganism to buccal and pharyngeal epithelial cells.(12) Addressing the formation of dental plaque and its continued existence by optimizing oral hygiene in critically ill patients is an important strategy for minimizing VAP.(13) Two different interventions aimed at decreasing the oral bacterial load are selective decontamination of the digestive tract involving administration of non absorbable antibiotics by mouth, through a naso-gastric tube, and oral decontamination, which is limited to topical oral application of antibiotics or antiseptics.(14) Though meta-analysis of antibiotics in decontamination of digestive tracts have found positive results(15) , the use of this intervention is, however, limited by concern about the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria.(16) One alternative to oral decontamination with antibiotics is to use antiseptics, such as chlorhexidine which act rapidly at multiple target sites and accordingly may be less prone to induce drug resistance.(17) Recently a meta-analysis of four trials on chlorhexidine failed to show a significant reduction in rates of ventilator associated pneumonia(18) but, subsequent randomised controlled trials, however, suggested benefit from this approach.(19) Current guidelines from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommend topical oral chlorhexidine 0.12% during the perioperative period for adults undergoing cardiac surgery (grade II evidence). The routine use of antiseptic oral decontamination for the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia, however, remains unresolved.(8) Despite the lack of firm evidence favouring this preventive intervention, a recent survey across 59 European intensive care units from five countries showed that 61% of the respondents used oral decontamination with chlorhexidine. As the emphasis on evidence based practice is increasing day by day, integrating recent evidence by meta-analysis could greatly benefit patient care and ensure safer practices. Hence we carried out this meta-analytic review to ascertain the effect of oral decontamination using chlorhexidine in the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia and mortality in mechanically ventilated adults.(20) Methods Articles published from 1990 to May 2011 in English which were indexed in the following databases were searched: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Joanna Briggs Institute, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Google search engine. We also screened previous meta-analyses and the references lists from all the retrieved articles for additional studies. Further searches were carried out in two trial registers ( www.clinicaltrials.gov/ and www.controlled-trials.com/ ) and on web pos", "Scottish Inventions & The Inventors Behind Them Scottish Inventions & The Canny Scots Behind Them Did you know that a whole bunch of things that you use/see every day are Scottish inventions? Things like the TV and telephone keep us connected and entertained. Lynch-pin inventions in industry and agriculture helped move farming and industry forward. Let's not forget life-saving Penicillin which helps us survive infections. It was a Scot who realized that malaria was transmitted by mosquitoes leading to treatment options.... and a Scottish inventor pioneered the use of anesthesia for women in childbirth, Here's a list of the inventions devised by canny (clever) Scottish folk.... Scottish Inventions in Medicine Hypnosis - James Braid (1795 - 1860) Born in Fife. James Braid was a surgeon, physician and founding pioneer of the practice of hypnosis, often regarded as the 'Father of Hypnosis'. He published an influential book on the subject in 1843 called 'Neurypnology or The Rationale of Nervous Sleep Considered In Relation With Animal Magnetism'. The term 'hypnosis' came from the Greek God of sleep 'Hypnos'. Penicillin - Sir Alexander Fleming (1881 - 1955) Born in Ayrshire. Alexander Fleming was a scientist (biologist and pharmacologist) who was heavily involved in scientific medical research particularly in the area of bacteria and antiseptics. In 1928, while working with the flu virus, he 'accidentally' discovered the antibiotic Penicillin - this is not only one of the most important in terms of Scottish inventions, but on an international level. He was Knighted in 1944, and received the Nobel Prize in 1945. Another of Fleming's discoveries was the vaccine for typhoid. Anesthesia in Childbirth - Sir James Young Simpson (1811 - 1870) Born in Bathgate, Linlithgowshire. James Young Simpson was a hysician and obstetrician who pioneered the use of anesthetics (especially chloroform) during surgery and childbirth. He faced fierce opposition from others in the field of medicine, religion and politics. He also introduced several new obstetric techniques and practices which improved care for women both then and now. (As a mom myself, I owe this man a debt of thanks!) Treatment of Malaria - Sir Patrick Manson (1844 - 1922) Born in Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire. Patrick Manson was a doctor and medical pioneer who spent his life studying tropical diseases, and was heavily involved in researching the condition commonly known as 'elephantiasis'. During his studies, he discovered that malaria was transmitted by mosquitoes. His efforts led to the foundation of the Medical School of Hong Kong, and the London School of Tropical Medicine. He is sometimes called 'the father of tropical medicine'. Scottish Inventions in Science/Industry/Agriculture The Television - John Logie Baird (1888 - 1946) Born in Helensburgh, Dumbarton. John Logie Baird was an engineer who invented the television in 1926 - he was the first to demonstrate a working television set and transmit a recognizable image. This is one of the Scottish inventions that the majority of the world use every day. During WWII he was involved in the development of RADAR (Radio detection a nd ranging) with fellow Scottish inventor Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt, and at one time also took out patent on fiber-optics. The Telephone - Alexander Graham Bell (1847 - 1922) Born in Edinburgh. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone without really trying to. In fact he was actually simply trying to build a device that would transmit sounds telegraphically so that deaf people could 'hear' them. He continued to teach the deaf, deaf-mute and blind after inventing the telephone, and the famous Helen Keller was one of his pupils. He also was responsible for a handful of other significant Scottish inventions, including a phonograph, hydrofoils, and an iron lung. The Vacuum Flask - Sir James Dewar (1842 - 1923) Born in Kincardine, Fife. James Dewar was a talented physicist who invented the vacuum flask in 1892, (at first called the 'Dewar Flask' but later renam", "The Stories of Anton Chekhov by Anton Chekhov - The 30th Greatest Fiction Book of All Time Sign In The Stories of Anton Chekhov by Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian short-story writer, playwright and physician, considered to be one of the greatest short-story writers in the history of world literature. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Chekhov practised as a doctor throughout most of his literary career: \"Medicine is my lawful wife,\" he once said, \"and literature is my mistress.\"", "Medical History Timeline | Timetoast timelines Medical History Timeline Oct 6th, 1040 Gunpowder Invented The Chinese invented gunpowder as early as the 9th century, but the first found written formula for it was discovered in 1040. Gunpowder lead to gunshot wounds which gave way to new medical treatments. Oct 6th, 1440 Printing Press Invented Invented by Johannes Gutenberg, the printing process was now perfected which made for an easy, fast, and efficient way to print many copies of a document at ones. Made books possible and more knowledge was shared. Oct 5th, 1452 Leonardo da Vinci Born in 1452, Leonardo da Vinci was a world famous artist who also ended up dissecting dead people and drawing out the way the body looked on the inside. This lead to better understanding of the way the human body works. Apr 1st, 1578 William Harvey Born in 1578 and died in 1657described the circulation of blood to and from the heart during his lifetime. Oct 6th, 1632 Anton Von Leeuwenhoek Known as the father of microbiology, he invented the microscope. He is also famous for his research on single celled organisms. Oct 6th, 1686 Gabriel Farenheit He was a physicist, engineer, and glass blower who ended up inventing the mercury thermometer and naming it after himself. Oct 6th, 1784 Most known for discovering electricity, Benjamin Franklin also created the \"bi-focal\" in 1784. Oct 3rd, 1796 In 1796 he developed a vaccine for smallpox by experimenting with cow pox. Oct 6th, 1800 Chemical Batteries Invented Alessandro Volta developed the chemical battery in 1800 which is still around today, used in many small technological devices, especially in the medical field. Oct 6th, 1816 He invented the stethoscope in 1816 which led to better diagnosis of heart problems. May 6th, 1820 Florence Nightingale Born in 1820, Florence Nightingale is known as the founder of modern nursing. She established a nursing school in 1860. Oct 6th, 1843 Robert Kock Born in 1843, Robert Koch developed the culture plate metiod to identify pathogens in his lifetime. He's also well known for isolating the tuberculosis bacteria. Oct 6th, 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell She became the first woman to qualify as a doctor in the U.S. and she also was the one who inspired Nightingale to go into nursing which led to the care of many mentally ill patients. Oct 3rd, 1856 Gregory Mendel First experimented heredity by observing pea plants and went on to discover and establish the patterns of heredity. Oct 6th, 1856 Sigmund Freud He studied the effects of the unconscious mind on the body. He helped to develop the practice of psychology and psychiatry because he was determined the mind and body work together. Apr 5th, 1862 Louis Pasteur Louis Pasteur developed the process of pasteurizing which elimnated the dangerous disease-causing bacterias in milk which led to safer drinking. Oct 7th, 1862 Plastic Invented The first plastic was invented by Alexander Parkes in 1862 when he presented it in London. Plastic is now used in many different types of medical equipment and/or supplies; ie: prescription bottles, breathing tubes, hospital beds. Oct 6th, 1870 Dorthea Dix Most known for work in the battlefield as an Army nurse. She also is famous for working with mentally ill patients. Oct 5th, 1881 Clara Barton Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 which aids people in donations of blood, food, and money. Oct 6th, 1883 Joseph Lister He was an English surgeon who was the developer of antiseptic surgery and was one of the first people to believe in sterilizing medical equipment, preventing the spread of serious diseases and bacterias. Oct 6th, 1890 Antitoxins Invented Emil Von Behring discovers the antitoxins and works with them and uses them to aid in his development of different vaccines for diptheria and tetanus. Oct 3rd, 1895 William Roentgen discovered X-Rays in 1895. Aug 2nd, 1910 Marie Curie Isolates Radium Also known as the \"mother of modern physics\" Marie Curie discovered how to isolate radium in 1910. Oct 7th, 1910 First Successful Helicopter The helicopter was invented in 17", "medicinal herbs: BAY TREE - Laurus nobilis medicinal herbs Family: Lauraceae (Laurel Family) Medicinal use of Bay Tree: The bay tree has a long history of folk use in the treatment of many ailments, particularly as an aid to digestion and in the treatment of bronchitis and influenza. It has also been used to treat various types of cancer. The fruits and leaves are not usually administered internally, other than as a stimulant in veterinary practice, but were formerly employed in the treatment of hysteria, amenorrhoea, flatulent colic etc. Another report says that the leaves are used mainly to treat upper respiratory tract disorders and to ease arthritic aches and pains. It is settling to the stomach and has a tonic effect, stimulating the appetite and the secretion of digestive juices. The leaves are antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emetic in large doses, emmenagogue, narcotic, parasiticide, stimulant and stomachic. The fruit is antiseptic, aromatic, digestive, narcotic and stimulant. An infusion has been used to improve the appetite and as an emmenagogue. The fruit has also been used in making carminative medicines and was used in the past to promote abortion. A fixed oil from the fruit is used externally to treat sprains, bruises etc, and is sometimes used as ear drops to relieve pain. The essential oil from the leaves has narcotic, antibacterial and fungicidal properties. Description of the plant: Damp rocks and ravines, thickets and old walls. Edible parts of Bay Tree: Leaves - fresh or dried. A spicy, aromatic flavouring, bay leaves are commonly used as a flavouring for soups, stews etc and form an essential ingredient of the herb mix \"Bouquet Garni\". The leaves can be used fresh or are harvested in the summer and dried. The flavour of freshly dried, crushed or shredded leaves is stronger than fresh leaves, but the leaves should not be stored for longer than a year since they will then lose their flavour. The dried fruit is used as a flavouring. The dried leaves are brewed into a herbal tea. An essential oil obtained from the leaves is used as a food flavouring. Yields can vary from 1 - 3% oil. Other uses of the herb: An essential oil from the fruit is used in soap making. The plant is highly resistant to pests and diseases, it is said to protect neighbouring plants from insect and health problems. The leaves are highly aromatic and can be used as an insect repellent, the dried leaves protect stored grain, beans etc from weevils. It is also used as a strewing herb because of its aromatic smell and antiseptic properties. Very tolerant of clipping, it can be grown as a screen or hedge in areas suited to its outdoor cultivation. Wood - sweetly-scented, does not wear quickly. Used for marqueterie work, walking sticks and friction sticks for making fires. Propagation of Bay Tree: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in early autumn in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and give them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Can take 6 months. Cuttings of mature side shoots, 10 - 12cm with a heel, November/December in a cold frame. Leave for 18 months. High percentage. Layering. Cultivation of the herb: Damp rocks and ravines, thickets and old walls. Known hazards of Laurus nobilis: None known", "Joseph Lister Joseph Lister Location of death: Walmer, Kent, England Cause of death: unspecified Nationality: England Executive summary: Pioneer of antiseptic surgery English surgeon, born at Upton, in Essex, on the 5th of April 1827. His father, Joseph Jackson Lister, F.R.S., was eminent in science, especially in optical science, his chief claim to remembrance being that by certain improvements in lenses he raised the compound microscope from the position of a scientific toy, \"distorting as much as it magnified\", to its present place as a powerful engine of research. Other members of Lister's family were eminent in natural science. In his boyhood Joseph Lister was educated at Quaker schools; first at Hitchin in Hertfordshire, and afterwards at Tottenham, near London. In 1844 he entered University College, London, as a student in arts, and took his B.A. degree at the University of London in 1847. He continued at University College as a medical student, and became M.B. and F.R.C.S. in 1852. The keen young student was not long in bringing his faculties to bear upon pathology and the practice of medicine. While house-surgeon at University College Hospital, he had charge of certain cases during an outbreak of hospital gangrene, and carefully observed the phenomena of the disease and the effects of treatment upon it. He was thus early led to suspect the parasitic nature of the disorder, and searched with the microscope the material of the spreading sore, in the hope of discovering in it some invading fungus; he soon convinced himself of the cardinal truth that its causes were purely local. He also minutely investigated cases of pyaemia, another terrible scourge of hospitals at that time, and made camera lucida sketches of the appearances revealed by the microscope. To realize Lister's work it is necessary to remember the condition of surgical practice at that date. About the middle of the 19th century the introduction of anaesthetics had relieved the patient of much of the horror of the knife, and the surgeon of the duty of speed in his work. The agony of the sufferer had naturally and rightly compelled the public to demand rapid if not slap-dash surgery, and the surgeon to pride himself on it. Within decent limits of precision, the quickest craftsman was the best. With anaesthetics this state of things at any rate was changed. The pain of the operation itself no longer counted, and the surgeon was enabled not only to be as cautious and sedulous as dexterous, but also to venture upon long, profound and intricate operations which before had been out of the question. Yet unhappily this new enfranchisement seemed to be but an ironical liberty of Nature, who with the other hand took away what she had given. Direct healing of surgical wounds (\"by first intention\"), far from being the rule, was a piece of luck too rare to enter into the calculations of the operator; while of the graver surgical undertakings, however successful mechanically, the mortality by sepsis was ghastly. Suppuration, phagedaena and septic poisonings of the system carried away even the most promising patients and followed even trifling operations. Often, too, these diseases rose to the height of epidemic pestilences, so that patients, however extreme their need, dreaded the very name of hospital, and the most skillful surgeons distrusted their own craft. New hospitals or new wards were built, yet after a very short time the new became as pestiferous as the old; and even scrupulous care in ventilation and housemaids' cleanliness failed to prevent the devastation. Surgery had enlarged its freedom, but only to find the weight of its new responsibilities more than it could bear. When Lister was appointed to the chair of surgery in Glasgow the infirmary of that city was a hotbed of septic disease; so much so that his hospital visits evidently distressed him greatly. Windows were widely opened, piles of clean towels were supplied, but still the pestilence stalked through the wards. The building stands today as it stood then, with no substantial alteration; but by th", "Joseph Lister Biography - Childhood, Life Achievements & Timeline Physicians Joseph Lister Biography Joseph Lister was a British surgeon who was the founder of antiseptic medicine. This biography of Joseph Lister provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline. Quick Facts 1902 - Copley Medal See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Joseph Lister was a British surgeon who was the founder of antiseptic medicine and a pioneer in preventive medicine. He is credited to have introduced the method of sterilizing surgical instruments with carbolic acid which greatly reduced the risk of post-operative infections in patients. Up until that time, it was generally believed that chemical damage from exposures to bad air was responsible for infections in wounds and doctors were not even required to wash their hands before performing surgeries. Lister read about the experiments in fermentation conducted by French chemist Louis Pasteur and conducted his own experiments to conclude that micro-organisms were responsible for the infections in patients. He set about trying to find an effective method of eliminating the micro-organisms by exposing them to strong chemicals. After extensive experimentation, he found an effective antiseptic in carbolic acid. He treated the surgical instruments and wounds of patients with the chemical and discovered that when the solution was swabbed on wounds, it remarkably reduced the incidence of gangrene. Excited by his findings, he published his results in ‘The Lancet’. He instructed other surgeons to wash their hands and instruments with 5% carbolic acid solutions before operations, and this dramatically brought down the mortality rates from infection. Hailed a hero for his significant discoveries, Lister won worldwide acclaim and was made a baron by Queen Victoria. Childhood & Early Life Joseph Lister was born on 5 April 1827, in West Ham, England, to Joseph Jackson Lister, an amateur British opticist and physicist and his wife Isabella Harris, as one of their seven children. His father was a pioneer of achromatic object lenses for the compound microscope. Bright and curious as a young child, he studied fish and small animals. It did not take him long to realize that he was meant to be a surgeon when he grew up. He studied mathematics, natural science, and languages in Grove House School, and became fluent in French and German. He entered University College in London in 1844 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1847. He then registered as a medical student at the same college and graduated with a bachelor of medicine with honors in 1852. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and house surgeon at University College Hospital the same year. Career He went to Edinburgh, Scotland, in the fall of 1853 and became acquainted with James Syme, the greatest surgical teacher of his day. The following year, Lister became an assistant to Syme at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He was appointed a surgeon at the infirmary in 1856 and became a professor of surgery at the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow in 1860. During that era, surgeries were very risky procedures. Many times the patients would develop infections and die shortly afterwards even if the actual surgery had been successful. It was generally believed that it was exposure to bad air that caused infections in wounds. In 1864, Lister read a paper published by the French chemist, Louis Pasteur, which showed that fermentation and food spoilage could be caused by the presence of micro-organisms. Pasteur had also given three possible methods of eliminating micro-organisms—filtration, exposure to heat, or exposure to chemical solutions. Intrigued by Pasteur’s findings, Lister conducted his own experiments which confirmed the Frenchman’s discoveries. Lister was now motivated to develop \"antiseptic\" techniques for wounds. At around the same time, Lister also read about the treatment of sewage with a chemical called carbolic acid that had led to a reduction in disea", "First human heart transplant - Dec 03, 1967 - HISTORY.com First human heart transplant Publisher A+E Networks On December 3, 1967, 53-year-old Lewis Washkansky receives the first human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Washkansky, a South African grocer dying from chronic heart disease, received the transplant from Denise Darvall, a 25-year-old woman who was fatally injured in a car accident. Surgeon Christiaan Barnard, who trained at the University of Cape Town and in the United States, performed the revolutionary medical operation. The technique Barnard employed had been initially developed by a group of American researchers in the 1950s. American surgeon Norman Shumway achieved the first successful heart transplant, in a dog, at Stanford University in California in 1958. After Washkansky’s surgery, he was given drugs to suppress his immune system and keep his body from rejecting the heart. These drugs also left him susceptible to sickness, however, and 18 days later he died from double pneumonia. Despite the setback, Washkansky’s new heart had functioned normally until his death. In the 1970s, the development of better anti-rejection drugs made transplantation more viable. Dr. Barnard continued to perform heart transplant operations, and by the late 1970s many of his patients were living up to five years with their new hearts. Successful heart transplant surgery continues to be performed today, but finding appropriate donors is extremely difficult. Related Videos", "Penicillin discovered - Feb 14, 1929 - HISTORY.com Penicillin discovered Publisher A+E Networks Sir Alexander Fleming was a young bacteriologist when an accidental discovery led to one of the great developments of modern medicine on this day in 1929. Having left a plate of staphylococcus bacteria uncovered, Fleming noticed that a mold that had fallen on the culture had killed many of the bacteria. He identified the mold as penicillium notatum, similar to the kind found on bread. On February 14, 1929, Fleming introduced his mold by-product called penicillin to cure bacterial infections. Related Videos", "Vincent van Gogh: The Paintings (Portrait of Doctor Gachet) Portrait of Doctor Gachet Next painting The Portrait of Doctor Gachet is one of Van Gogh's most famous paintings. It's notable for a number of reasons. It was painted in the last few months of Vincent's life and the subject has been the focus of a great deal of controversy. How competent was Doctor Gachet? What did Vincent mean when he wrote to Theo \"First of all, he is sicker than I am, I think, or shall we say just as much\" ( Letter 648 )? This portrait is also one of Van Gogh's most well known since it holds the distinction as the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. On 15 May 1990 The Portrait of Doctor Gachet was sold within three minutes for $82.5 million (U.S.) to Ryoei Saito, Japan's second-largest paper manufacturer. This record remains unbeaten, but an ironic footnote to this sale is the recent news that Christie's has purchased the work back from Mr. Saito for one-eighth the price he paid for it. This marks a dramatic change in the vitality of the Japanese art-buying community from its zenith in the 1980's. In fact, Vincent did two portraits of Gachet: this and a companion piece ( F 754 ). In his original catalogue raisonn�, Jacob Baart de la Faille considered the work above to be the superior of the two, but the editors of the 1970 catalogue disagreed and maintained that both works were the product of comparable skill. Whatever the opinion, it's clear that this particular Gachet portrait has had the far more colourful history. Note the plant on the table in front of Gachet. This is foxglove, from which the drug digitalis is derived. Some consider this to be a symbol for Gachet's profession or perhaps an indication that Van Gogh himself was being treated with digitalis while under Gachet's care.", "Saint Luke-Patron Saint of Doctors Saint Luke Patron Saint of Doctors St. Luke was the author of two of the books that make up the Bible: the Gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles. He was also not Jewish, but both a Gentile and a Greek. St. Luke was also a physician. We can't assume because of his profession that he was well-off, though. Some Biblical scholars have put forward the theory that Luke could very well have been born into slavery. At that time, wealthy families were known to train slaves in the medical arts; that way, they had access to a family physician in residence. St. Luke travelled with St. Paul and ministered with him, starting in about 51 AD. What became of St. Luke after St. Paul's death is not clear; some accounts claim he was martyred and others state he lived to old age. What we do know about this man we learn from his writing. The Gospel According to Luke includes accounts of numerous miracles and parables. St. Luke's Gospel includes the story of the Prodigal Son being welcomed home by his father, which is an indication of St. Luke's feelings that forgiveness and mercy to those who have sinned are of primary importance. St. Luke's Gospel also includes the story of the forgiven woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. We can also conclude that St. Luke had a great respect for women, especially the women in Jesus' life. He writes about the Annunciation; part of the Hail Mary is taken directly from St. Luke's writings (\"Hail Mary full of Grace\"). Words spoken by Mary's cousin Elizabeth and recorded by St. Luke are also still used today (\"Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus\"). St. Luke is the patron saint of doctors and surgeons, which certainly makes sense, given his profession. When depicted in paintings, oftentimes he is shown with either an ox or a calf. These animals are symbols of sacrifice and bring to mind Jesus' sacrifice for the sake of humanity.", "BBC - History - William Harvey z William Harvey © Harvey was an English physician who was the first to describe accurately how blood was pumped around the body by the heart. William Harvey was born in Folkestone, Kent on 1 April 1578. His father was a merchant. Harvey was educated at King's College, Canterbury and then at Cambridge University. He then studied medicine at the University of Padua in Italy, where the scientist and surgeon Hieronymus Fabricius tutored him. Fabricius, who was fascinated by anatomy, recognised that the veins in the human body had one-way valves, but was puzzled as to their function. It was Harvey who took the foundation of Fabricius's teaching, and went on to solve the riddle of what part the valves played in the circulation of blood through the body. On his return from Italy in 1602, Harvey established himself as a physician. His career was helped by his marriage to Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Elizabeth I's physician, in 1604. In 1607, he became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and, in 1609, was appointed physician to St Bartholomew's Hospital. In 1618, he became physician to Elizabeth's successor James I and to James' son Charles when he became king. Both James and Charles took a close interest in and encouraged Harvey's research. Harvey's research was furthered through the dissection of animals. He first revealed his findings at the College of Physicians in 1616, and in 1628 he published his theories in a book entitled 'Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus' ('An Anatomical Study of the Motion of the Heart and of the Blood in Animals'), where he explained how the heart propelled the blood in a circular course through the body. His discovery was received with great interest in England, although it was greeted with some scepticism on the Continent. Harvey was also the first to suggest that humans and other mammals reproduced via the fertilisation of an egg by sperm. It took a further two centuries before a mammalian egg was finally observed, but nonetheless Harvey's theory won credibility during his lifetime. Harvey retained a close relationship with the royal family through the English Civil War and witnessed the Battle of Edgehill. Thanks to Charles I he was, for a short time, warden of Merton College, Oxford (1645 - 1646). He died on 3 June 1657.", "Vasectomy Procedure, Effects, Risks, Effectiveness, and More A vasectomy is considered a permanent method of birth control . A vasectomy prevents the release of sperm when a man ejaculates. During a vasectomy, the vas deferens from each testicle is clamped, cut, or otherwise sealed. This prevents sperm from mixing with the semen that is ejaculated from the penis . An egg cannot be fertilized when there are no sperm in the semen. The testicles continue to produce sperm, but the sperm are reabsorbed by the body. (This also happens to sperm that are not ejaculated after a while, regardless of whether you have had a vasectomy.) Because the tubes are blocked before the seminal vesicles and prostate , you still ejaculate about the same amount of fluid. It usually takes several months after a vasectomy for all remaining sperm to be ejaculated or reabsorbed. You must use another method of birth control until you have a semen sample tested and it shows a zero sperm count . Otherwise, you can still get your partner pregnant . What happens During a vasectomy: Your testicles and scrotum are cleaned with an antiseptic and possibly shaved. You may be given an oral or intravenous (IV) medicine to reduce anxiety and make you sleepy. If you do take this medicine, you may not remember much about the procedure. Each vas deferens is located by touch. A local anesthetic is injected into the area. Your doctor makes one or two small openings in your scrotum. Through an opening, the two vas deferens tubes are cut. The two ends of the vas deferens are tied, stitched, or sealed. Electrocautery may be used to seal the ends with heat. Scar tissue from the surgery helps block the tubes. The vas deferens is then replaced inside the scrotum and the skin is closed with stitches that dissolve and do not have to be removed. The procedure takes about 20 to 30 minutes and can be done in an office or clinic. It may be done by a family medicine doctor , a urologist , or a general surgeon . No-scalpel vasectomy is a technique that uses a small clamp with pointed ends. Instead of using a scalpel to cut the skin, the clamp is poked through the skin of the scrotum and then opened. The benefits of this procedure include less bleeding, a smaller hole in the skin, and fewer complications. No-scalpel vasectomy is as effective as traditional vasectomy. 1 In the Vasclip implant procedure, the vas deferens is locked closed with a device called a Vasclip. The vas deferens is not cut, sutured, or cauterized (sealed by burning), which possibly reduces the potential for pain and complications. Some studies show that clipping is not as effective as other methods of sealing off the vas deferens. 1 What To Expect After Surgery Your scrotum will be numb for 1 to 2 hours after a vasectomy. Apply cold packs to the area and lie on your back as much as possible for the rest of the day. Wearing snug underwear or a jockstrap will help ease discomfort and protect the area. You may have some swelling and minor pain in your scrotum for several days after the surgery. Unless your work is strenuous, you will be able to return to work in 1 or 2 days. Avoid heavy lifting for a week. You can resume sexual intercourse as soon as you are comfortable, usually in about a week. But you can still get your partner pregnant until your sperm count is zero. You must use another method of birth control until you have a follow-up sperm count test 2 months after the vasectomy (or after 10 to 20 ejaculations over a shorter period of time). Once your sperm count is zero, no other birth control method is necessary. Most men go back to the doctor's office to have their sperm count checked. But there is also a home test available. A vasectomy will not interfere with your sex drive , ability to have erections, sensation of orgasm, or ability to ejaculate. You may have occasional mild aching in your testicles during sexual arousal for a few months after the surgery. Why It Is Done A vasectomy is a permanent method of birth control. Only consider this method when you are sure that you do not want to have a chil", "Alexander Fleming, Scottish biologist and pharmacologist Alexander Fleming, Scottish biologist and pharmacologist Author: Was born on 06 aug 1881. Died on 11 mar 1955, at 73 years old. Country: Biography: Biography Alexander Fleming Sir Fleming published many articles on bacteriology, immunology and chemotherapy. His best-known achievements are the discovery of the enzyme lysozyme in 1923 and the antibiotic substance penicillin from the fungus Penicillium notatum in 1928, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 with Howard Walter Florey and Ernst Boris Chain.", "ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID (ASPIRIN) Hazard Symbols: XN, Risk Phrases: 22/36/37/38, Safety Phrases:26/28 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SALICYLIC ACID Salicylic Acid is a white crystalline powder or needle-shaped crystals with sweetish taste; soluble in acetone, ether, alcohol, boiling water, benzene and turpentine, sparingly soluble in chloroformbenzene, slightly soluble in water; melts at 158°C. The sodium salt form (sodium salicylate) is common commercially, prepared from mainly sodium phenolate with carbon dioxide under heating and pressure. It contains both a hydroxyl and a carboxyl group, which react with either an acid or an alcohol. The carboxyl group forms esters with alcohols; e.g. methyl salicylate is formed with methanol, which used in food flavorings and preservatives; menthyl salicylate is formed with methanol, which is used in suntan lotions. The hydroxyl group reacts with acetic acid to form acetylsalicylic acid (called aspirin) which is the most widely common antiseptic and antipyretic agent. Phenyl salicylate (called salol) is formed with phenol, which is also used as an antiseptic and antipyretic agent. The sodium salt (Sodium salicylate), a shiny white powder, is used for antiseptics preparations and as a preservative. In addition to its analgesic and antipyretic properties, salicylic acid possesses keratinolytic properties and fungicidal properties. It ans its derivatives are used in the treatment of hyperkeratotic, dandruff, ichthyosis and psoriasis as well as in the treatment of fungal skin infections such as tinea. Para-Aminosalicylic acid (abbreviated PAS and PASA) is an analogue of para-aminobenzoic acid (abbreviated PABA) that inhibits folic acid synthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is bacteriostatic, inhibits growth and multiplication of the tubercle bacillus. Para-Aminosalicylic acid and its sodium salt (sodium p-Aminosalicylate) are bacteriostatic against mycobacteria and used in the treatment of tuberculosis; administered orally. Brand names are Tubasal, Nemasol Sodium and etc. Aminosalicylic acids are pharmaceutically active ingredients including anti-infectives against colds, flu, or other virus infections. Mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid, abbreviated 5-ASA) an active metabolite of sulfasalazine, used to treat inflammation of the rectum and lower colon, mild to moderate ulcerative colitis proctosigmoiditis, and proctitis. Para-Aminosalicylic acid (4-hydroxybenzoic acid) is used as an intermediate of bacteriostatic agent specially for parabens (alkyl esters of p-hydroxy benzoic acid) which used in food and personal care products as a preservative. It is applied in the production of liquid crystal polymers. It is also used as an intermediate of dyes, insecticides, pharmaceutical, pesticides and other chemical compounds. Salicylic Acid and its derivatives are important for the preparation of other pharmaceutical products, dyes, flavours, and preservatives.", "Multiple Sketch for the Banqueting House Ceiling by Peter Paul Rubens - Art Fund Art Fund Tate Art Funded in 2008 Rubens was commissioned by James I to create an allegorical painted ceiling for the new Banqueting House at Whitehall. Multiple Sketch for the Banqueting House Ceiling by Peter Paul Rubens, 1629–1630 Details Oil on wooden board Dimensions: 94.7 x 63 cm Art Fund grant: £600,000 ( Total: £5,700,000; Tax remission) Acquired in: Vendor: Christie's The ceiling was designed to celebrate the peaceful union of Scotland and England following the death of Elizabeth I. This work is Rubens's preliminary sketch for seven of the nine eventual compartments of the ceiling. In the centre, the apotheosis of James I is shown set in an oval. At the two shorter sides are processions of children, infant Bacchants and cherubs with chariots, animals, a festoon, and a cornucopia of fruit. At the longer sides, in ovals, are Hercules and Minerva, and personifications of Abundance and Temperance, triumphing over personifications of vices. This work was acquired after a public campaign where donations could be made through a special Art Fund website. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation. Provenance ? Acquired in Rome by a syndicate including Thomas Trevor, 2nd Viscount Hampden, Motteux and O'Brien; Christie's, 1799; private collection; Glynde Place, Glynde; by descent to Mrs H Brand; by descent to Lord Hampden of Glynde. Share this article 20 January – 26 March 2017 Free to all 20 January – 2 April 2017 Free to all 18 January – 5 March 2017 50% off with National Art Pass 18 January – 16 April 2017 Free to all 14 January – 2 April 2017 Free to all", "TV ACRES: Blood & Blood Types > Spock (Star Trek) Blood & Blood Types Spock - On the sci-fi adventure STAR TREK/NBC/1966-69 Vulcan Science Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) had a different blood color that the rest of his human crew on the starship Enterprise. What color is Spock's blood? It is green because the oxidizing agent in Vulcan blood is copper, not iron, as it is in humans. Copper oxide (verdigris) gave Spock's blood its blue-green hue. We discovered this on episode \"Journey to Babel\" when Spock's Vulcan father, Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard) suffers a heart attack that requires surgery and a life-giving transfusion of T- Negative blood from Spock. Initially, Spock refuses to donate blood because a knife attack had put Captain Kirk (William Shatner) out of action and put Spock in command of the ship. Logic dictated his responsibility to command the Enterprise outweighed taking time out from a crisis to give his father blood. In the end, he gave the blood because Kirk faked recovery and returned to the bridge, thus freeing Spock to go to the sickbay and assist in his father's surgery. In the movie Star Trek III: Search for Spock (1984), Doctor McCoy (DeForest Kelley) mentions Spock blood after Spock surreptitiously performed a Vulcan mind-meld on the Doctor and deposited his \"Katra\" or life-force inside McCoy's brain. Upon hearing the facts of the matter McCoy exclaimed \"That green-blooded son of a bitch! It's his revenge for all the arguments he lost.\" TRIVIA NOTE: In June 2007, the medical journal The Lancet reported a case from October 2005 of a 42-year-old man who needed surgery in both lower legs after falling asleep in a kneeling position. His condition necessitated \"urgent fasciotomies, limb-saving procedures which involve making surgical incisions to relieve pressure and swelling\". While inserting an arterial catheter in the man's wrist artery, surgeons noticed a discharge of dark greenish-black blood oozing from their patient. Could he be Vulcan? Not really. The man had taken large doses of an anti-migraine drug named sumatriptan. This high in sulphur drug was responsible for changing the color from red to green. According to Dr Alana Flexman of St Paul's Hospital in Vancouver \"The patient recovered uneventfully, and stopped taking sumatriptan after discharge. When seen five weeks after his last dose, he was found to have no sulfhaemoglobin in his blood.\" Numerous news outlets covered the story and freely associated the man's green blood with Star Trek's Vulcan Mr. Spock. Cited as \"Dark Green Blood in the Operating Theatre\" The Lancet Volume 369 Issue: 9577 (June 9 - 15 2007) p. 1972. Flexman, Alana M; Del Vicario, Giuseppe; Schwarz, Stephan KW. External Links", "Thomas Edison - Wikiquote Thomas Edison Jump to: navigation , search Genius is one percent inspiration , ninety nine percent perspiration. Thomas Alva Edison ( 11 February 1847 – 18 October 1931 ) was an American inventor and businessman who developed many devices which greatly influenced life worldwide into the twenty-first century. Contents Quotes[ edit ] Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power ! Discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I'll show you a failure. Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. I find out what the world needs. Then, I go ahead and invent it. We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything. Hell, there are no rules here — we're trying to accomplish something. Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless. To Monsieur Eiffel the Engineer, the brave builder of so gigantic and original a specimen of modern Engineering from one who has the greatest respect and admiration for all Engineers including the Great Engineer the Bon Dieu. When Thomas Edison visited The Eiffel Tower, he signed the guestbook with this message, as quoted in The Tallest Tower by Joseph Harris, p. 95. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. This is presented as a statement of 1877, as quoted in From Telegraph to Light Bulb with Thomas Edison (2007) by Deborah Headstrom-Page, p. 22. During all those years of experimentation and research, I never once made a discovery. All my work was deductive, and the results I achieved were those of invention, pure and simple. I would construct a theory and work on its lines until I found it was untenable. Then it would be discarded at once and another theory evolved. This was the only possible way for me to work out the problem. … I speak without exaggeration when I say that I have constructed 3,000 different theories in connection with the electric light, each one of them reasonable and apparently likely to be true. Yet only in two cases did my experiments prove the truth of my theory. My chief difficulty was in constructing the carbon filament. . . . Every quarter of the globe was ransacked by my agents, and all sorts of the queerest materials used, until finally the shred of bamboo, now utilized by us, was settled upon. On his years of research in developing the electric light bulb, as quoted in \"Talks with Edison\" by [[w:George Parsons Lathrop|George Parsons Lathrop] in Harper's magazine, Vol. 80 (February 1890), p. 425. The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. This has been reprinted many times with slight variations on the wording; it is part of a much larger quote directly from Edison published in 1903: Nineteen hundred and three will bring great advances in surgery, in the study of bacteria, in the knowledge of the cause and prevention of disease. Medicine is played out. Every new discovery of bacteria shows us all the more convincingly that we have been wrong and that the million tons of stuff we have taken was all useless. The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. They may even discover the germ of old age. I don't predict it, but it might be by the sacrifice of animal life human life could be prolonged. Surgery, diet, antiseptics — these three are the vital things of the future in preserving the health of humanity. There were never so many able, active minds at work on the problems of diseases as now, and all their discoveries are tending to the simple truth — that you can't improve on nature. As quoted in \"Wizard Edison\" in The Newark Advocate (2 January 1903)", "Bob Smith (doctor) | Psychology Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Professional Psychology: Debating Chamber · Psychology Journals · Psychologists Bob Smith (Robert Holbrook Smith, b. 8 August 1879 ; d. 16 November 1950 ) was a medical doctor and surgeon from Akron, Ohio , also known as Dr Bob. He was born and raised in St. Johnsbury, Vermont . After graduation from Dartmouth College in 1902, he completed medical school at the University of Michigan . He co-founded the self-help movement Alcoholics Anonymous with Bill Wilson , in 1935 . Smith was called the \"Prince of Twelfth Steppers\" by Bill Wilson because he personally helped more than 5000 alcoholics without charge. Also, it was in his home that the basic ideas of A.A. were developed. Many A.A. ideas developed initially in an offshoot of the then-popular Oxford Group , which was then a Christian movement. Dr. Bob said that A.A.'s basic ideas came from their study of the Bible, that he personally did not write or have anything to do with the later writing of the 12 Steps, but that the Steps, simmered down to their essence, simply meant \"love and service.\" See also", "Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) Encino & Beverly Hills | Sean Younai, MD Home » Facial Rejuvenation » Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) Consultations offered at our four convenient locations in Encino, Beverly Hills, Glendale and Bakersfield Adults and children alike are often unhappy with the appearance of their ears. If the size, shape, or protrusion of your ears is problematic for you, ear surgery could be the answer you are looking for. Ear surgery, also called otoplasty, is used to permanently correct any issue you may have with your ears. These procedures are often also referred to as ear pinning or ear reduction surgery. Because they are cosmetic surgical procedures, however, they can only treat the appearance of the external ear. Otoplasty is performed using an incision in the back of the ear. Special sutures are then placed within the structure of the outer ear to pin it closer to the head. The cartilage may also be removed to reshape the ear if it is too large or comes to a point, or simply repositioned. Ear surgery can also be used in cases of traumatic injury or excessive stretching with large-gauge earrings to reshape the ears into a more natural shape. Ear surgery is the most popular plastic surgery among children. In fact, it is often recommended that kids get this surgery as soon as possible. There are two reasons for this. First, ears reach adult size around age seven in most people, at which point they can be operated on safely. The other reason that most people choose to do this procedure as early as possible is to spare the child from the teasing that often comes with having big ears. Dr. Younai has performed countless ear surgeries and can make your ears aesthetically pleasing, no matter what your current issue is. Following surgery, your results should be immediately apparent. You will need to avoid strenuous or potentially dangerous activities during your recovery, and will be asked to sleep with your head elevated for a few days following surgery. You scars will be naturally concealed in the folds behind your ears, and the results are permanent. Contents 7 Risks & Complications Introduction Otoplasty, also known as Ear Pinning, Ear Pinback, or Ear Reduction Surgery, is the cosmetic plastic surgery procedure that permanently corrects protruding ears. Otoplasty does so by positioning the ears closer to the head (Ear Pinning), reshaping them,reducing their size, and making them more symmetrical. Protruding Ear Deformity is the most prevalent congenital malformation of the head and neck area. Besides Protruding Ears, other External Ear deformities are also corrected by Otoplasty. These deformities include: Cup Ear or irregular development of the outer ears; Lop Ear or Bat Ear, where the edge of the ear’s exterior grows at a sharp and protruding angle; Cauliflower Ear, caused by crush injury to ear cartilage; \"Spock’s Ear\" with protruding sharp edge; Shell Ear, with missing folds and creases, as well as ears that are too large or too small. Otoplasty ranks as the most commonly performed plastic surgery Procedure on children between ages five and fourteen. Ear Pinning is one cosmetic surgery where \"earlier is better\" because of the devastating blows to a child’s self-esteem, who is teased for having protruding ears; being called names such as \"Dumbo,\" \"Mickey Mouse\" and \"Rabbit Ears.\" The optimal time for performing otoplasty in children is just before they start school, or at about the age of seven. At this age the ears have grown to nearly their adult size and the child is old enough to be able to undergo surgery safely. It also gives children a chance to correct their facial deformity before starting to socialize with peers in school. Otoplasty has also been a blessing for thousands of adults who have spent their lives feeling self-conscious about their \"big ears.\" They have hidden their ears with hairstyles, hats, and avoided wearing ear jewelry. With Otoplasty they have gained the freedom to wear their hair short or pulled back, wear earrings, and no longer feel embarrassed about their look.", "James K. Polk - U.S. Presidents - HISTORY.com Google James Polk’s Early Years James Knox Polk was born on November 2, 1795, in a log cabin in Mecklenburg, North Carolina . As a boy, Polk, the eldest of 10 children, moved with his family to Columbia, Tennessee , where his father became a prosperous land surveyor, planter and businessman. The younger Polk was often sick as a child, and as a teen he survived a major operation for urinary stones. The surgery was done before the advent of modern antiseptics and anesthesia; Polk was reportedly given some brandy as a sedative. A top student, Polk graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1818 and studied law under a leading Nashville attorney. He was admitted to the bar in 1820 and opened a law practice in Columbia. He entered politics in 1823, when he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives. Did You Know? In addition to being nicknamed \"Young Hickory,\" Polk, an eloquent orator who was small in stature, was dubbed \"Napoleon of the Stump.\" In 1824, Polk married Sarah Childress (1803-91), a well-educated Tennessean and devout Presbyterian from a wealthy family. The couple never had children, and Sarah Polk became her husband’s close advisor throughout his political career. As first lady, she was a charming and popular hostess, although she banned hard liquor from the White House and eschewed dancing, the theater and horse races. The Tennessee Politician In 1825, Tennessee voters elected James Polk to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he would serve seven terms and act as speaker of the House from 1935 to 1939. In Congress, Polk was a protégé of America’s seventh president, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), a fellow Democrat and Tennessean who was in the White House from 1829 to 1837. Polk favored states’ rights and supported Jackson’s plan to dismantle the Bank of the United States and replace it with a decentralized government banking system. Polk later earned the nickname “Young Hickory,” a reference to his mentor Jackson, who was dubbed “Old Hickory” for his toughness. Polk left Congress in 1839 to become governor of Tennessee. He ran for reelection in 1841 and lost; another run for the governorship in 1843 also ended in defeat The Dark Horse Candidate In 1844, James Polk unexpectedly became the Democrats’ nominee for president. He emerged as a compromise candidate after the more likely choice, former president Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), who had lost his reelection bid in 1840, failed to secure the party’s nomination. Polk thus became America’s first dark horse presidential candidate. George Dallas (1792-1864), a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania , was chosen as Polk’s running mate. In the general election, Polk ran against U.S. Senator Henry Clay (1777-1852), a Kentuckian and a founder of the Whig Party . The Whigs used the campaign slogan “Who is James K. Polk?”–an allusion to the fact that Polk was not well known outside the world of politics. However, Polk’s expansionist platform favoring the annexation of Texas appealed to voters. He narrowly won the presidency with 49.5 percent of the popular vote and an electoral margin of 170-105. James Polk as President At age 49, James Polk was younger than any previous president when he entered the White House. A workaholic, America’s new chief executive set an ambitious agenda with four major goals: cut tariffs, reestablish an independent U.S. Treasury, secure the Oregon Territory and acquire the territories of California and New Mexico from Mexico. Polk eventually achieved all his goals. He was a champion of manifest destiny–the belief that the United States was fated to expand across the North American continent–and by the end of his four years in office, the nation extended, for the first time, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. In 1845, the United States completed its annexation of Texas, which became the 28th state on December 29. This move led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations with Mexico (from which Texas had revolted in 1836). After the United States sent troops to a disputed border r", "First Human-to-Human Heart Transplant is Performed | World History Project First Human-to-Human Heart Transplant is Performed I was 15 years old when Christiaan Barnard performed the first heart transplant. I still have the Life magazine cover. My dad was a cardiologist, so the drama carried out in the public's imagination was reinforced by my respect for the practice of medicine and discovery. My ultimate choice of going into surgery and then into heart surgery and then heart transplantation I trace back to that single operation. This procedure reversed what had been inevitable death from heart disease, restoring the opportunity of new life. It demonstrated the ability of an individual working with a team to revolutionize health care. The interesting thing is that it was the relatively inexperienced Barnard who made history in the new field. He beat to the punch—and undercut—more systematic and more disciplined scientists and surgeons of the time. Dr. Norman Shumway of Stanford University (who was my mentor) had patiently and with great rigor made a decade of systematic research by writing papers, teaching others and working through the challenges of the procedure. Barnard, who watched some of these procedures being carried out when he trained in the U.S., went back to South Africa and—with very little background and at the age of 45—seized the moment and performed this transplant. His patient died 18 days later, for Barnard was racing ahead of medicine's understanding of tissue rejection. But the pioneering spirit of that operation captured me at the time. Frist is majority leader of the U.S. Senate Source: Bill Frist Added by: Kevin Rogers 1967: The first human-to-human heart transplant is performed. The operation is a success, but the patient dies after complications set in. South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard, who prepared for this day by performing a number of experimental heart transplants involving dogs, led a 30-member surgical team in implanting the heart of a young woman into 53-year-old Louis Washkansky, a Cape Town grocer suffering from diabetes and incurable heart disease. Washkansky received the heart of Denise Darvall, a 25-year-old bank clerk who was left brain-dead following an automobile accident the day before. She was removed from life support, and her father gave permission for her heart to be given to Washkansky. The transplant, performed at Cape Town's Groote Schuur Hospital, was a success. Washkansky's body did not reject the heart, due in large part to the immunosuppressive drugs he received. But those drugs also weakened his immune system, and he contracted double pneumonia, which killed him 18 days after the transplant. Barnard, who became an international celebrity (and reveled in it) as a result of the transplant, soldiered on. Over the next several years he performed additional heart transplants, with the survival times for his patients gradually improving. One patient, Dorothy Fisher, survived for 24 years after receiving a new heart in 1969. Other surgeons, however, weren't as bullish on transplant surgery, because of the high risk of organ rejection by the recipient. It wasn't until cyclosporine came into widespread use in the early 1980s that an effective means of reducing that risk was found. After that, organ-transplant surgery took off. Barnard, meanwhile, became more interested in anti-aging research, and his reputation took a hit when he lent his name to Glycel, an anti-aging skin cream that in the end did nothing at all to slow the process. Barnard died in 2001. Source: Tony Long Added by: Kevin Rogers \"On Saturday, I was a surgeon in South Africa, very little known. On Monday, I was world renowned.\" That's how Dr. Christiaan Barnard recalled events in December of 1967, when he became the first surgeon to perform a heart transplant on a human being. Barnard was the son of a rather poor Afrikaner preacher and his wife, and grew up in Beaufort West, a town on South Africa's semi-arid Great Karroo plateau. He studied medicine at the University of Cape Town and at the University", "Gift Sets The \"Button in Ear\" - a worldwide trademark of unmistakeable quality In 1904 Franz Steiff, Margarete’s nephew was looking for a way to protect Steiff products from imitation. His great idea later became the epitome of quality and handiwork: a metal button in the ear as a protection label. Initially engraved with an elephant motive, the metal button soon wore the trademark and therefore became inseparable with the brand. \"Steiff - Button in Ear\" is a world wide renowned and unique trademark, which still stands for quality, richness of ideas and entrepreneurial spirit.", "Sir John Harrington - Sir John Harrington Biography - Poem Hunter Sir John Harrington - Sir John Harrington Biography - Poem Hunter Biography Biography of Sir John Harrington John Harington (also spelled Harrington) (4 August 1561 – 20 November 1612), of Kelston, was a courtier, author and master of art. He became a prominent member of Queen Elizabeth I's court, and was known as her 'saucy Godson'. But because of his poetry and other writings, he fell in and out of favour with the Queen, as well as with her successor, James I. The work for which he is best known today, A New Discourse of a Stale Subject, called the Metamorphosis of Ajax (1596) is in fact a political allegory, a 'device' in the contemporary sense of an emblem, not in the modern sense of a mechanical device. It is a coded attack, as his autograph marginal notes make clear, on the 'stercus' or excrement that was poisoning society with torture and state-sponsored 'libells' against his relatives Thomas Markham and Ralph Sheldon. The work enjoyed considerable popularity on its publication in 1596. Harington is most popularly known as the inventor of the Flush toilet. He is also remembered for the political epigram, \"Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason? Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason.\" Harington continued to write, even though he had vowed to give up poetry upon the death of Queen Elizabeth. He published just one more slim volume of verse in 1607, but continued to send letters both to friends and to the king's eldest son, Prince Henry, until 1609. Some of these letters were later collected by Harington's descendant, Henry Harington, and published under the title of Nugae Antiquae in 1769. The volume is a significant source for the history of the Tudor re-conquest of Ireland. Orlando Furioso", "1000+ images about W Heath Robinson on Pinterest | Peeling potatoes, Drawing board and Pulley Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas W Heath Robinson William Heath Robinson (signed as W. Heath Robinson, 31 May 1872 – 13 September 1944) was an English cartoonist and illustrator, best known for drawings of eccentric machines. In the UK, the term \"Heath Robinson\" has entered the language as a description of any unnecessarily complex and implausible contraption, similar to \"Rube Goldberg\" in the U.S. \"Heath Robinson\" is perhaps more often used in relation to temporary fixes using ingenuity and whatever is to hand. 51 Pins797 Followers", "The English Patient: Character Profiles | Novelguide The English Patient: Character Profiles Total Votes: 143 David Caravaggio Caravaggio was a thief before the Second World War (in Canada), and was used for this purpose during the war in Cairo and Italy. He was tortured and had his thumbs removed by a German inquisitor. He comes to the villa after discovering Hana is there as he knew her as a child and young woman in Canada. Geoffrey Clifton Clifton is the husband of Katharine and both are referred to in the novel’s epigraph. Caravaggio reveals towards the end of the novel that Clifton had been working for British Intelligence. Hana During the war, Hana was a nurse and continues to nurse the English patient in the villa at the beginning of the novel. She is depicted as being mentally scarred by the war and is grieving for the death of her father. Katharine Clifton Katharine’s affair with the English patient is a central back story of the novel. Kirpal Singh/Kip He is most commonly referred to as Kip and during the war and through his stay at the villa he works in a bomb disposal unit for the British Army. After the death of his mentor, Lord Suffolk, he also helped to construct Bailey Bridges in the invasion of Italy. He leaves the villa in rage and disgust after learning of the dropping of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Madox Madox, like the Cliftons, does not appear in the present storyline in the villa. He was a colleague and friend of the English patient and committed suicide in church at the outbreak of war. The English Patient/Count Ladislaus de Almásy This eponymous anti-hero is also one of the main protagonists. The identity of this supposed English patient is revealed gradually and on Caravaggio’s prompting. Caravaggio believes correctly that this patient is not English but Hungarian, and worked for the German powers during the war.", "Classic Film Series: Dr. Strangelove | Lakeport Main Street Association - California Classic Film Series: Dr. Strangelove Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Soper Reese Community Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport Suggested Donation -- $5 Doors open at 5:30. Movie begins at 6:00 pm The Soper Reese Theater’s Classic Movie Series continues in 2012 with a 1964 historic film directed by Stanley Kubrick. This memorable cult film classic reflects the time of the 1960s, with the Cold War at its bitter coldest, the Cuban Missile Crisis in the forefront and the hydrogen bomb a scary new technology. Director Stanley Kubrick challenged film audiences with a movie about the possibilities of the wrong person pushing the wrong nuclear button -- and played the crazy situation for laughs. Dr. Strangelove is a jet-black comic satire (with a script from director Stanley Kubrick, Peter George, and Terry Southern) and includes cast of brilliant comic performances (including three from Peter Sellers) which have kept the film vivid and entertaining. In 1989, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film \"culturally significant\" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry . Check the theatre’s web site ( www.soperreesetheatre.com ) or call 263-0577 to see what other classics are coming up. More information: http://www.soperreesetheatre.com (707) 263-577", "Dactylography Dactylography DactylographyOr the Study of Finger-Printsby Henry Faulds Or the Study of Finger-Prints by Henry Faulds (Free International Shipping)[+] Add to cart$8.70 Paperback Excerpt Dactylography deals with what is of scientific interest and practical value in regard to the lineations in the Skin on the fingers and toes, or rather on the hands and feet of men, monkeys, and allied tribes, which lineations form patterns of great variety and persistence. The Greeks used the term (sim-mos 708 «086; (daktylos tou podos, finger of the foot) for a toe and the toes are of almost as much interest to the dactylographer as the fingers, and present similar patterns for study. Book Details", "Dr Chris Barnard performs the world’s first human heart transplant | South African History Online South African History Online Home » Dr Chris Barnard performs the world’s first human heart transplant Dr Chris Barnard performs the world’s first human heart transplant Dr. Chris Barnard Source: http://www.heart-transplant.co.uk/louis.html Sunday, 3 December 1967 On 3 December 1967, South African doctor, Dr Christiaan (Chris) Barnard , performed the world's first human to human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town. This extraordinary event which pushed the boundaries of science into the dawn of a new medical epoch took place inside Charles Saint Theatre at Groote Schuur Hospital. After a decade of heart surgery, Barnard and his gifted cardiothoracic team of thirty (which included his brother Marius), were well equipped to perform the nine hour long operation. The recipient was Louis Washkansky , a fifty three year old grocer with a debilitating heart condition. Washkansky received the heart of Denise Darvall, a young woman who was run over by a car on 2 December and had been declared brain dead after suffering serious brain damage. Her father, Edward Darvall agreed to the donation of his daughter's heart and kidneys. The operation started shortly after midnight on a Saturday night and was completed the next morning just before 6 a.m. when the new heart in the chest of Louis Washkansky was electrically shocked into action. After regaining consciousness he was able to talk and on occasion, to walk but his condition deteriorated and died of pneumonia eighteen days after the heart transplant. Groote Schuur Hospital has set up the ‘Heart of Cape Town Museum’ which honours those who played a leading role in the surgical feat. Theatres A and B are the orginal theatres and have been recreated to display an authentic representation of the ground breaking operation. References: • Fischer, J. (2011) ‘Louis Washkansky’ from To Transplant and Beyond [online]. Available at www.heart-transplant.co.uk [Accessed 04 November 2011] • Malan, M. (1968). Heart Transplant: The Story of Barnard and the \"Ultimate In Cardiac Surgery. Johannesburg: Voortrekkerspers.", "ThatsGreece.gr - Matzourana (Marjoram) Home » Greek Cuisine » Beverages » Infusions » Matzourana (Marjoram) Matzourana (Marjoram) Marjoram (Origanum majorana, Lamiaceae) is a somewhat cold-sensitive perennial herb or undershrub with sweet pine and citrus flavours. Marjoram is indigenous to the Mediterranean area, and was known to the Greeks and Romans as a symbol of happiness. Marjoram is cultivated for its aromatic leaves, either green or dry, for culinary purposes; the tops are cut as the plants begin to flower and are dried slowly in the shade. The plant's height is about 60 cm, the stem is square, and ramose. The leaves are small, however, furry, oval and have a characteristic beautiful lavender smell. The flowers are usually small and white. In Greece marjoram has been known since ancient times where it was used as medicine for gastric and intestinal discomfort. Now it is grown as an ornamental and aromatic plant in pots and gardens. The leaves are used as a spice, usually for meat and fish, but also as an infusion. From the leaves of the plant we can extract essential oils which are used as an antiseptic while they also have use in perfumery. When sipped as an infusion, it is sweetened usually with honey. This is made just like sage -by steeping sprigs of the dried herb in boiling water, covering the mixture and letting it stand for about 5 minutes. It must be strained to drink.", "James Avery dead: Actor most famous as 'Uncle Phil' in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air passes away after heart surgery | The Independent James Avery dead: Actor most famous as 'Uncle Phil' in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air passes away after heart surgery Alfonso Ribeiro mourns passing of 'second father' Wednesday 1 January 2014 18:49 BST Click to follow The Independent Online James Avery in 2004 Getty Images James Avery, the actor most famous for his role as the judge \"Uncle Phil\" Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, has died, according to reports. He was 65 years old. Avery's publicist, Cynthia Snyder, told the Associated Press that he died in Glendale, California, yesterday following complications from open heart surgery. Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Banks' son, Carlton, in the show, tweeted: \"I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away. He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly.\" Avery's stern patriarch often clashed with a young Will Smith's cool teenage protagonist in the popular US show from the 1990s. The sitcom, which aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996, was set in the Banks' mansion, to which Smith's character was sent from Philadelphia when things got tough in his own neighborhood. Fans came to know the imposing Banks as Uncle Phil. Avery liked to say that the way to be an actor was to act, and he had a busy and diverse career before, during and after Fresh Prince. His TV credits included Grey's Anatomy, NYPD Blue and Dallas, and among his many films were Fletch, Nightflyers and 8 Million Ways to Die. His voice alone brought him many jobs, notably as Shredder in the animated TV series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. According to Ms Snyder, he will be seen in the film Wish I Was Here, directed by Zach Braff and scheduled to premiere later this month at the Sundance festival. Avery grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and served in the navy in Vietnam in the late 1960s. After returning to the States, he settled in California and studied drama and literature at the University of California at San Diego. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and stepson, Kevin Waters. The news comes just a week after Fresh Prince of Bel Air producer Jeff Pollack was found dead aged 54. The famed director, who was behind comedies such as Lost & Found, and Above The Rim, died suddenly last Monday morning in Hermosa Beach, California. He was found in Greenbelt Park, which is a popular spot for jogging and outdoor activities in the area. He was wearing jogging clothes, lieutenant Tom Thompson of the Hermosa Beach Police Department confirmed. 13 show all Final farewell: The legends that left us in 2013 1/13 Lou Reed, musician, The Velvet Underground: 1942 - 2913: \"Reed didn’t seem happy for a day of his life; except when he was wrecking someone else’s day by being too entirely himself, which was rarely a likeable proposition.\" Getty Images AFP/Getty 2/13 Marcia Wallace, the voice of The Simpson's Edna Krabbappel: 1942 - 2013: \"Wallace played Bart Simpson's jaded school teacher - known for her sharp, derisory laugh - for more than 20 years, winning an Emmy for the role in 1992.\" Fox Fox 3/13 Phil Chevron, musician, The Pogues: 1957 - 2013: \"The Irish singer, guitarist and songwriter Philip Chevron played a pivotal role with two groups who put his country on the music map.\" Getty Images Getty Images 4/13 Tom Clancy: 1947 - 2013: \"Clancy, 66, sold some 50 million books over his three-decade writing career. Most famously, he created CIA analyst and later US president, Jack Ryan, who tackled Soviet submarines in Red October.\" AP AP 5/13 Ken Norton, former heavyweight boxing champion who beat Muhammad Ali: 1943 - 2013: \"Ken Norton was making less than $500 a fight before he was selected as an easy option for Muhammad Ali in what would become the first of arguably boxing's finest heavyweight trilogy.\" Getty Images Getty Images 6/13 Sir David Frost, broadcaster: 1939 - 2013: \"His spellbinding interrogation of Richard Nixon in 1977, the first after the President’s resignation over Watergate, was his career-defining moment.\" Get" ]

[ "the second largest" ]

[ "Where's the beef?", "Where Is the Love?", "Schwartz & Gross", "Where Are Ü Now", "Where's Your Love", "S&S Power", "Where I Wanna Be", "Where I Ought to Be", "Grosse Pointe Blank", "Where We're Meant to Be", "Grosse Pointe Shores" ]

[ "Carl Sagan once said that if you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. In his book <em>The Toaster Project</em>, author and artist Thomas Thwaites describes his effort to build a cheap plastic toaster from scratch, and what the project taught him about material goods, self-reliance, international commerce, and globalization." ]

[ "You click 'em, we collect 'em. These are the BPP staff picks from the most popular stories on the Web: Lack of outdoor exercise and poor eating habits in American kids is causing a resurgence in rickets/ Latest iPod trend: the intellectual iPod, podcasting ivory tower lectures/ Elderly cardiologists give up one of medicine's most famous fueds/ Lots of searches out there for the \"meaning of R.S.V.P.,\" which can mean only that holiday party invitations are upon us/ Cheap and charitable laptop deal sets off price war", "A musician searches for a creative (cheap) fix to a noisy exhaust. Also, the Wisdom of Homer, a very expensive clogged drain, and on Stump the Chumps--Ray stands alone. Will he have the last laugh?", "EBay may soon be giving up the gavel as the world's biggest online auction site. The company is announcing a major overhaul that would make it easier for merchants to sell items for a fixed price. Alex Chadwick talks to Business Week technology correspondent Catherine Holahan about the company's shift to an Amazon-style business model that emphasizes buying over bidding. ALEX CHADWICK, host: This is Day to Day. I'm Alex Chadwick ALEX COHEN, host: And I'm Alex Cohen. In a few minutes, going to the Olympics as an athlete but not to compete. We hear what life is like as a sparring partner. CHADWICK: First, life online evolving from eBay to ebuy, the online auction site is changing to sell more items at a set price. Catherine Holahan is technology correspondent for Business Week Online. Catherine, your article on this says it's the Amazon effect, that's the phrase you use in your first line. What do you mean? Ms. CATHERINE HOLAHAN (Technology Correspondent, Business Week): Well, Amazon has really seen spectacular growth in part because it appeals to the convenient online shopper. People know they can just go to Amazon, you know, couple of searches, couple clicks, and they're done with their shopping experience. And so eBay is trying to capture some of that growth magic by also offering more fixed price items to appeal to that same convenience online shopper. CHADWICK: You cite very specific numbers, Amazon's results for the first quarter of this year, their growth. Ms. HOLAHAN: Yeah, Amazon has really just seen spectacular growth quarter after quarter, obviously not all of that is on their core shopping. They have some other businesses as well, but eBay, meanwhile, has seen its growth steadily decline. CHADWICK: Now, if you go to eBay, and you click on there, many items on there will have a buy it now price. Never mind going through the auction process, you can just buy it right now for this price which is usually, what, 10 or 15 or 20 percent over the base - beginning bid price. Ms. HOLAHAN: Right, the new pricing structure should - is aimed at increasing that. EBay's looking at it and saying, well, we're going to basically change our fees, so it's going to be very inexpensive for you to list items on eBay, and we'll take most of our commission from the sales. And the hope with that is it encourages more people to put it in the buy it now category because before if you had to pay a lot up front to just list your item on eBay, then you wanted to sell at an auction where you at least you knew it was going to sell at the end of the day, and you wouldn't be out that money. CHADWICK: And that's one of the things about eBay. You paid at the front to get an item listed, whether it's sold or not. Ms. HOLAHAN: Exactly, and Amazon has never done that. Amazon has really said to sellers, we just want to take a commission of your sales. And so eBay is clearly moving more towards that model, which is a big change. CHADWICK: Catherine, this is a business story for eBay, but I think it's kind of a cultural story for online because there was something about this auction process that seemed very exciting to a lot of people going online. That is, people would go online specifically for the eBay experience. It seemed like such a kind of exciting market place. What do you think about that? Ms. HOLAHAN: Oh, sure. I mean, it was the thrill of winning. And I remember talking to sellers, and they would say, you know, kind of in the old days of eBay, you know, back in the late 1990s, you could put a new toaster on eBay that would retail for 40 bucks, and people get so excited about bidding for that toaster that you could sell it for double. Those days... CHADWICK: You could sell this 40 dollar toaster for 80 dollars? Ms. HOLAHAN: You sell your 40 dollar toaster for 80 dollars just because there would be two people warring over getting that toaster and bidding on it and wanting to win it. And that kind of extra 40 bucks was the win premium that you got from selling on eBay. And those days have gone in some respects because, one, there's just so much information online. People know that a 40 dollar toaster is a 40 dollar toaster, so they're not willing to pay more than the 40 dollars, and neither is anybody else in that bidding process. So when you're dealing with that kind of educated marketplace, you really should only have auctions on items that are unique and very difficult to price. CHADWICK: When eBay considers becoming more of that retail site and not an auction site, aren't they talking about maybe not being eBay anymore, that company that people I think have some kind of fondness for. It's got an identity, and the identity is, it's an auction site. Ms. HOLAHAN: That's true, and it's one reason why they're very careful to say, well, auctions will never disappear from eBay. We'll always have auctions somewhere on the site, and we'll always do certain thing to highlight some of our more kitchy merchandise tha", "You're on Amazon.com. You're buying, say, a toaster, and you're checking out the customer reviews. You assume the people writing these reviews are people like you — people who wanted a toaster, went online and bought one. As it turns out, a lot of reviews on Amazon are written by people who are nothing like you. They're written by elite reviewers who are sent free merchandise to review products. In other words, it's possible that the guy reviewing that toaster you're looking at wasn't in the market for a toaster to begin with and didn't pay a cent for it. As of Tuesday, Michael Erb was the No. 1 customer reviewer on Amazon. He has reviewed everything from doorbells to travel mugs to toothbrushes. \"I have so many Bluetooth speakers, it's ridiculous,\" he told me. \"I've got enough lithium ion batteries in my house to blow up a city block.\" As Erb has risen up the ranks among Amazon reviewers, the stream of free stuff has grown because manufacturers have started sending stuff directly to him to review. \"I have to admit it has probably caused a little bit of a strain on my marriage because my wife goes crazy,\" he says. \"Literally every other day there's UPS boxes piled up at the door.\" Erb is a member of Amazon Vine, an invitation-only program for the site's top reviewers. At least once a month, Amazon sends Erb a list of products. He gets to choose any two items from the list. \"My only obligation is that I need to write a review of those two items within 30 days,\" Erb told me. \"And I get to keep the items after I review them.\" Like other top reviewers, Erb says he reviews so many products because he likes sharing his knowledge and getting feedback from other customers. Amazon also fuels competition among reviewers by making their rankings public. And top reviewers do get a lot of free stuff. Through Vine, Erb has received everything from cheap earbuds (worth a few bucks) to multifunction laser printers (retail price about $500) to a spin bike (worth almost $1,000). In all, he says, he's received thousands of dollars worth of merchandise through the program. Amazon does have some rules on the freebies. Erb can't sell the products or give them away. In fact, Amazon can ask for the stuff back any time it wants. But in the five years Erb has been in the program, Amazon has never asked for anything back. Anindya Ghose, an NYU professor who studies consumer reviews, said Vine members might review things more positively than people who had to pay for their stuff. \"As humans we are hard-wired to give in to this sort of enticement where if you continuously get things for free, then you're more likely to be biased positively than biased negatively,\" he said. But Julie Law, an Amazon spokeswoman, told me Vine reviews have fewer stars, on average, than other reviewers on the site. (Correction: An earlier version of this sentence said Law said Vine reviews are more negative than other reviews.) Law said the Vine program was created to deal with some of the inherent challenges in customer reviews. For example, if someone has a bad experience with shipping or a particular seller, their review may be more about that specific experience than about the product itself. So Amazon works with the site's most trusted reviewers to populate the site with more useful reviews. Even a product with negative reviews sells better than a product with no reviews at all.", "It's a story steeped deeply in \"nevermore\" jokes, so I'll give it to you straight. For more than 60 years, a mystery visitor has laid three roses and half a bottle of cognac on Edgar Allen Poe's grave in Baltimore in the wee hours of his birthday. The event has become a pilgrimage for die-hard Poe fans, some of whom travel hundreds of miles. About three dozen stood huddled in blankets during the overnight cold Tuesday, peering through the churchyard's iron gates hoping to catch a glimpse of the figure known only as the \"Poe toaster.\" The sun rose this morning, and no roses. No one knows why the toaster no-showed.", "Physicists have a grand theory that describes how tiny particles interact to form all the stuff we see in the universe — everything from planets to toasters to human beings. But there is one particle predicted by this theory that has never been detected in experiments. It's called the Higgs boson. Scientists are dying to know if it really exists — and now researchers are closer to finding out than ever before. To hear the latest results from the search, physicists recently crammed into an auditorium at CERN, the world's largest particle physics lab, near Geneva. Someone wrote on Twitter, \"Room full to the rafters. People would hang from the lamps if the security guards would let them.\" The Higgs boson is a famous subatomic particle first theorized to exist back in the mid-1960s. It's a key part of some beautiful mathematics that would explain a fundamental mystery: why things have mass. If the Higgs exists, scientists should now be able to find it — using a brand new machine at CERN called the Large Hadron Collider. The collider sends bits of atoms racing around a 17-mile circular track. They smash together and spew out subatomic rubble that scientists can study for signs of the Higgs. The jargon came fast and furious on Tuesday as researchers showed off colorful PowerPoint slides packed with graphs and numbers and equations. The bottom line: Two different experiments saw some things that might be traces of the Higgs ... or maybe not. CERN's director-general, a physicist named Rolf-Dieter Heuer, described them as \"intriguing hints.\" \"But please be prudent. We have not found it yet. We have not excluded it yet,\" cautioned Heuer. \"Stay tuned for next year.\" Researchers believe they'll be able to make a more definitive statement on the Higgs in 2012. These new data do narrow the search. Drew Baden, a physicist at the University of Maryland, says they're running out of places where the Higgs could be hiding. It reminds him of the old joke about how when you find something, it's always in the last place you look. But in this case, he says, it's no sure thing that the Higgs is there to find — so the suspense is growing. Baden compares the Higgs search to looking for your favorite pair of socks. Imagine you rummage through your dresser and finally find them in the last possible drawer. That probably wouldn't surprise you. But what if your dresser had 100 drawers and you've already looked through 99 of them — how would you feel about your chances of finding the socks? \"I mean, I'd be suspicious that it's not there,\" says Baden. That's sort of the situation that the Higgs-searchers are in. \"So far, we've opened up a lot of these drawers,\" Baden says. \"And so far, we haven't seen it.\" If the Higgs is not found in the next year or so, he says, scientists may have to totally rethink their ideas about the inner workings of the universe.", "What if you could look into a crystal ball and see the future? Well, futurist Syd Mead has no crystal ball, but he does make a living trying to predict what the future could mean for everything from your toaster to the family car. Michele Norris talks with Mead, who helped design the 2019 world of <em>Blade Runner</em>, about what our lives may look like as we head into 2008 and the years beyond.", "For decades, until 2010, someone appeared at Edgar Allan Poe's grave site in Baltimore before dawn on Jan. 19 — his birthday. The mysterious visitor, who was never identified, would leave behind three roses and a half-filled bottle of cognac as a tribute to the man who wrote The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher and other classic poems and tales. Last night, there was no visit. So, as the Baltimore Sun tells us, early today: \"A tired Jeff Jerome, curator of the city's Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, 'officially' pronounced the Poe-toasting tradition over. Having spent the night inside Westminster Hall [on the burial grounds], awaiting the toaster's arrival, Jerome declared that the furtive stranger's poignant tribute would be left nevermore.\" What happened to the toaster? Who was it? That all sounds like a good mystery to explore.", "Ewart \"U-Roy\" Beckford, who transformed the Jamaican art of toasting, or deejaying, from a sound system phenomenon into a hit-making art form that deeply influenced generations of dancehall artists as well as the formation of early hip-hop, has died. U-Roy's partner, Marcia Smikle, told the Jamaica Gleaner that he'd been unwell for some time; the news was also confirmed by Trojan Records. He was 78. Respectfully referred to as The Teacher, The Originator or simply Daddy, U-Roy wasn't the best-known name in Jamaican music among an international audience, yet exerted an incalculable influence on the development of reggae and dancehall and its offshoots, most notably hip-hop. \"This is a very sad day for Jamaica and for the dancehall genre, we lost a pioneer; he's someone who every deejay should look up to – and I do,\" Jamaican dancehall superstar Sean Paul tells NPR. \"Hearing his name growing up, hearing his songs, he came with a different style; before U-Roy, no one was toasting on records and filling in the blanks.\" Sean's own vocal contributions to Sia's 2016 No. 1 hit \"Cheap Thrills\" bears U-Roy's influence, he says. \"The little ad libs on that record, the budda-bang-bang, I learned that from him,\" offers the platinum-selling and Grammy-winning artist. \"He pioneered the way for someone like myself to do what I do.\" The toasting art form that U-Roy, born in Kingston in 1941, brought to prominence evolved from the early days of Jamaica's sound system dances. Back when just a single turntable was used to play records at a dance, the selector (who chooses the records) was called upon to keep the crowd engaged with playful vocal patter as he flipped the disc from side A to side B. Citing jazz scatting as a primary inspiration, U-Roy's melodic, precisely timed flow advanced the rhyming style of Jamaica's earliest toasters, including Count Matchuki, King Sporty, King Stitt and Lord Comic. U-Roy started toasting in 1961, rising through the ranks to become the top deejay on dub innovator King Tubby's prominent sound system, Hometown Hi-Fi, in the late '60s. Tubby's revolutionary dub mixes, stripping out vocals and various instruments from a record, gave toasters like U-Roy the opportunity to fully display their vocal finesse. Singer John Holt had observed U-Roy toasting live on an instrumental version of Holt's single \"Wear You To the Ball,\" produced by Duke Reid. Holt told Reid to bring U-Roy in the studio; his productions with U-Roy spawned the radio singles \"Wear You to the Ball,\" \"Wake the Town\" and \"Rule the Nation.\" U-Roy went on to record for various producers in Jamaica. He was signed to Virgin Records in the mid-'70s, bringing his distinctive vocals to a wider international audience. He launched his own sound system, Stur Gav, which he named after his sons, and brought forward another generation of toasters including Ranking Joe, Brigadier Jerry, Charlie Chaplin and Shabba Ranks. Through a deal with Epic Records in 1991, Shabba would take deejaying and dancehall reggae to a mainstream US audience, onto the Billboard charts and win two Grammys. Shabba's 1993 single \"Respect\" honoring the dancehall greats that preceded him highlights U- Roy's profound impact on any toaster who has ever held a mic: \"cool cool U-Roy dun rule, U-Roy the godfather of the deejay school.\" In 2019, at the 10th anniversary of their Reeewind series of live events in New York, promoter Garfield \"Chin\" Bourne, CEO of Irish and Chin Promotions, recruited Shabba to crown U-Roy – a gesture that brought tears to the elder artist's eyes. \"We brought in Shabba to show a younger generation that might not know that this is who Shabba gives all credit to for his existence,\" Chin tells NPR. \"U-Roy did not originate deejaying, but he became the best at it, his voice was so electrifying, that other deejays that followed wanted to be as melodious as he was and make those smooth rhymes like he did.\" U-Roy's flow also laid some of the groundwork for what would become rap in the U.S. \"Most of the early hip-hop artists had Caribbean roots and were directly influenced by Jamaica's dancehall space,\" Chin says, citing the cadence heard in Sugar Hill Gang's prototypical hit \"Rapper's Delight\" as \"directly descended from that smooth lyrical flow that U-Roy perfected. He is the godfather of dancehall and hip-hop too.\" In the early 1990s, as Jamaican dancehall was enjoying widespread commercial success with toasters like Shabba, Super Cat and Buju Banton, this journalist interviewed U-Roy about his pioneering role in this significant development. With characteristic humility, U-Roy said he was happy that deejay music had reached so far, even though he was somewhat surprised by it. \"If you had said back then that this music from the sound systems would get Jamaicans on American radio, I would have not believed it,\" he said, \"but I am glad to see this happening now and to have played a small part in it.\"", "NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Helen Ellis, author of the book American Housewife. The book of short stories begins with the line - \"Inspired by Beyonce, I stallion walk to the toaster.\"", "Two emus will no longer be able to use their long necks to pluck toast out of toasters. After the birds learned to climb the steps to the establishment, the bar owners put up a rope to keep them out.", "#NPRreads is a weekly feature on Twitter and in The Two-Way. The premise is simple: Correspondents, editors and producers from our newsroom share the pieces that have kept them reading, using the #NPRreads hashtag. Each weekend, we highlight some of the best stories. From Kristen Hartmann, Project Manager, Education: I have liked Maria Popova's clever curation of knowledge worth considering on brainpickings.org for a while; I don't always manage to read the weekly newsletter, but when I do, I end up with a new angle on familiar topics. Last week, I found myself reading about leisure, something I struggle with (paradoxically): as an admitted Type-A person, if I can't optimize, measure, or manage an activity, I find it hard to engage with – and trying to optimize leisure often leaves me doing more much work in the pursuit of \"relaxation.\" What kept me reading this week was Popova's article on the thoughts of Josef Pieper, a German philosopher, whose 1948 book Leisure, the Basis of Culture traced three key aspects of work: activity, effort, and social contribution – and how they help us learn the difference between leisure and taking a short break from work. I'm still learning how to \"be at leisure\" as opposed to \"vacationing,\" but now my Type-A self has a new and more relaxed goal to shoot for. From News Assistant Gabe Rosenberg: Back in the old days, if you wanted a toasted bagel, you would have to roast it over a fireplace or a stove. Of course, back then you'd probably also have to make the bagel from scratch, too, but that's neither here nor there. As detailed in this excellent history of the modern toaster, from the breakfast site Extra Crispy, the journey to make the perfect piece of toasted bread was a long one. The first automatic pop-up toaster, which could brown both sides at the same time but had a timer so it wouldn't burn, wasn't introduced until 1925 by the Waters Genter Company. The article, which includes some great morsels of information from the Toaster Museum Foundation (which is a thing that apparently exists), also counts down some of the previous decades' fleeting toaster trends, like hippie print colors, coffee-machines-and-toaster combinations, and the specialized bagel toaster. \"There's a real emotional appeal to the toasters, you know? More than some other practical appliances in the kitchen,\" says Jeanine Head Miller of the Henry Ford Museum. After all, what other kitchen conveniences got their own animated movie? From Tanya Ballard Brown, an NPR.org editor: Like many people, I wanted to know why the Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Mich., who was charged with shooting and killing six people in February, did it. Why would someone just suddenly decide to murder six people? Why?! You toss ideas around in your head – a mental break maybe? — trying to make sense of what is often inexplicable. In his GQ piece, writer Chris Heath tick-tocks Dalton's day, tracks down people who worked with him, lived near him, and did business with him trying to form a picture of who this man was, looking for clues that may have foreshadowed what happened that Saturday. He also scoured police reports, pulling together the explanation that Dalton offered reluctantly during interrogation: his phone told him to do it via the Uber app. Which, for me, raises more questions than it answers. Ultimately, we may never know why Dalton may have done it. I am guessing knowing doesn't make anything better for the people who lost loved ones that day. From James Doubek, Production Assistant, Digital News: Three years ago, I went to La Moneda in Santiago, Chile. It's the site where on Sept. 11, 1973, tanks and the air force attacked the sitting president, Salvador Allende, a democratically-elected Marxist. The coup was successful, and Gen. Augusto Pinochet ruled the country in a totalitarian dictatorship until democracy was restored in 1990. In neighboring Argentina, the country experienced its own military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983. As many as 30,000 political opponents were killed or \"disappeared.\" What happened in both of these countries involves one man here in the U.S.: Henry Kissinger. Human rights activists have for decades accused Kissinger, the former secretary of state and national security adviser in the Nixon and Ford administrations, of complicity and even support of the campaign of terror against leftists in Latin America in the 1970s. Recently-released documents give more credence to these allegations. The New Yorker's Jon Lee Anderson writes that the \"latest revelations compound a portrait of Kissinger as the ruthless cheerleader, if not the active co-conspirator, of Latin American military regimes engaged in war crimes.\" The article is a reminder of some U.S. foreign-policy history, and why still today the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Kissinger remains so controversial. From Elissa Nadworny, ‎NPR Ed Producer & Editor: Understanding where people live — and why they choose to live there — is integral to how ", "Private companies and the government are both searching for ways to reduce the cost of going into space. But as NPR's David Kestenbaum reports, no one is even close to finding a truly cheap way to put things in orbit around the earth.", "Climbing gasoline prices have forced the oil industry to search for alternatives to importing oil from the Middle East. The federal government estimates that the oil shale of the Rocky Mountains holds more than a trillion barrels of burnable fuel. But the oil is locked inside of the rock, and finding a cheap way to extract it hasn't proven easy.", "This week on The Best of Car Talk, Glen is looking for a cheap VW Cabrio, after his girlfriend Fluffy dumped him for a guy named Thor and took her car with her. Glen's friend suggested searching in backyards for a car with a blown engine. Is this likely to succeed, assuming Glen doesn't have access to Tommy's backyard? Elsewhere, Jeryldine's car is infested with arachnids, and the suggested remedies may take up even more space than the creatures; Lacy's Accord is ejecting engine parts; and, Barry may need a few gallons of extra virgin olive oil to get his Mazda out of his garage. Also, on Stump the Chumps, we find out if Lisa quieted her Civic so she could talk to the cute guy next door. All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.", "To mark National Cereal Day, we take a look at the latest batch of cereal flavors — from candy-flavored puffs of color to ones that are supposed to taste like toaster pastries.", "As the search for cheap, safe and non-carbon emitting sources of energy continues, a band of scientists say the answer may be nuclear reactors fueled by thorium. Others caution that thorium reactors pose waste and proliferation risks. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the pros and cons of thorium reactors.", "The emergency room nurses at the University of Alabama at Birmingham wrote and performed the rap for national nurses' week. It's kind of beyond genius, maybe even eternal. And we want one, too. Listeners, get the beat on, please -- write us a rap, either for the BPP or the NPR or your new toaster over. Whatever's got you, make it rhyme. Please.", "The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that it had filed a lawsuit against the Black and Decker Company for failing to effectively recall a toaster that catches fire. The CPSC took the unusual action because it said the company had failed to cooperate in the recall effort after two years of negotiations. The commission has not filed such a suit against a company since the 1980s. NPR's Barbara Bradley reports.", "It's been a big year for German filmmaker Wim Wenders: He received a lifetime achievement award at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, the Museum of Modern Art had a retrospective of his work and his latest Oscar-nominated documentary, The Salt of the Earth, came out in March. This week also marks the opening of \"Wim Wenders: Portraits Along the Road,\" a nationwide traveling retrospective of his films, many of which have been restored after years of being out of circulation. Wenders joins NPR's Rachel Martin to talk about how he transitioned from painting to filmmaking and the one big story that's defined his filmmaking career. Interview Highlights On his early decision to become a painter My first impressions of beauty [were] not in life but strictly in paintings because I was born right after the war. My hometown of Duesseldorf was flattened, 90 percent of the city was in ruins, and as a kid that's what you take for granted. That's what the world looks like. But there was a better world and that was all these cheap art prints my parents had on their walls. And there were some old Dutch paintings and French landscapes ... and these cheap prints gave me the idea that there was a different kind of world out there. On how he transitioned from painting to filmmaking I was very much encouraged by American painters who started to use cameras — Andy Warhol, Stan Brakhage. These were painters I liked and all of a sudden they're all making movies. And I started to think that cameras were a logical next step for painters to hold on to. So I started to make little short films, but looked at them as painterly things. I didn't think of myself as a filmmaker; I made these movies as a painter. ... All of a sudden, I realized filmmaking was something else than painting, and filmmaking used montages and sounds and dialogue and music. And slowly my totally non-narrative films became more and more narrative. Slowly but surely, I turned from a painter to a storyteller. On the kinds of stories he's drawn to When I first shot my films and all these critics started to write about them ... they wrote that this kid from Germany made all these movies about angst, alienation and America. And I call them my AAA reviews because they all said I was this guy specializing in alienation and angst and America. These were my themes and they came from my own biography. And alienation was certainly a thing that I knew a lot about, especially as a German kid growing up in post-war Germany under very heavy American cultural influences but still [not] really at ease with his own upbringing and with his own culture and with his own past. So the big thing in my life was the discovery of America long before I ever went there. So these critics with their AAA reviews had it right. On his early fear of making a film set in the American West, and how he overcame that fear to make 1984's Paris, Texas The scary thing about it was ... whatever you do, you'd fall into the trap of repeating something that you've already seen — all these Westerns, all these movies made in the American West, they seemed to limit the possibilities that you had of seeing it for yourself. So I swore to myself when we finally started Paris, Texas that I wasn't going to copy or imitate any film I'd ever seen and that I was going to film the West as if nobody had ever been there. And in order to do so, I prepared myself and I traveled for several months all on my own just to photograph the American West in order to have the liberty to see it from scratch and to see those colors and this incredible light that doesn't exist anywhere in the world. To just see it on my own and not be afraid I'd be repeating something I know already. On his belief that it is possible to have a new idea I think anybody who starts something — a musician, a poet — it's necessary that you believe nobody opened this territory before, even if you're wrong and if later on, in hindsight, you realize this was touching on certain other ideas that you had before. There is only a limited amount of things you can tell and if you look at the history of filmmaking, most great filmmakers actually were working on one story for all their lives. I mean John Ford or [Alfred] Hitchcock, if you look at their work they were all telling one big story each time in new variations. On the big story he has been telling with his films There's a film of John Ford called The Searchers and sometimes I think that's [my] main topic. ... It's searchers. It's people who are searching, trying to define what they live for, trying to find [the] meaning of their lives, trying to find their role in life, looking for love, searching searching searching. That seems to be the key thing my characters are doing. On whether he thinks of himself as a searcher Yep, that's my middle name.", "When the price of one bitcoin soared to almost $20,000 late last year, an influx of entrepreneurs and developers scoured North America in search of cheap hydropower for bitcoin &#8220;mining.&#8221; The cryptocurrency businesses bring tech jobs, but they also use huge amounts of electricity. Tom Banse (@TomBanse) from the Northwest News Network reports.", "Ryan O'Connell, creator and star of the Netflix series, Special, talks about the challenges of writing about his cerebral palsy for the first time. Then he plays a game that combines geography, the Olsen twins, and Bravo's, The Real Housewives. Love About Town podcast hosts Kenice Mobley and Rohan Padhye guess which came first: Sliced bread or the electric toaster? Plus, childhood friends actor Micah Stock (Netflix's Bonding) and comic Beth Stelling (HBO Max Girl Daddy) play a game about their home state, Ohio.", "Starting Oct. 6, Egg McMuffins, hotcakes, hash browns and more will be available all day at McDonald's. On Tuesday, the company officially approved the decision to offer breakfast items all day at its more than 14,000 U.S. locations, which generally stopped selling the menu items around 10:30 or 11 a.m. The restaurant giant has been testing the all-day breakfast plan at select locations in the U.S. since this spring, and based on the results, franchises voted in favor of expanding the offering. McDonald's USA President Mike Andres is optimistic the expansion could revitalize McDonald's drooping sales. \"This is the consumers' idea. This is what they want us to do,\" Andres said, according to The Wall Street Journal. \"That's why I think this could be the catalyst for our turnaround.\" McDonald's says that 25 percent of its U.S. sales are from breakfast items, and the extended time window for breakfast menu items could mean an uptick in sales. The new strategy, however, required some not-insignificant infrastructural adjustments to accommodate the change. The Journal reports: \"McDonald's restaurants are built to produce lunch and dinner items using the same equipment that makes breakfast but not at the same time, so operators needed to add or change equipment and processes. \"Operators needed separate grills to ensure that raw eggs don't come into contact with burgers. The task force identified a small model for eggs that sits on rolling carts, which carry utensils used just for eggs and can be moved for the best fit in each McDonald's kitchen. \"Operators also needed new toasters, because existing units can only be adjusted to warm either hamburger buns or muffins, which toast at different temperatures. Now, most restaurants are being outfitted with two toasters connected together that can toast both buns and muffins at the same time. \"Altogether, the investment can range from $500 to $5,000 per restaurant, depending on what equipment franchisees already have, a McDonald's spokeswoman said. Many franchisees have already installed the new equipment.\" Although the nationwide all-day breakfast rollout is still more than a month away, McDonald's has already tweeted directly at more than 100,000 Twitter users who expressed an interest in all-day breakfast.", "In this playlist, stories about the curious nature of spaghetti, the power of quiet minds, and a quest to build a toaster from scratch. These TED Radio Hour stories will make you curious and maybe even ignite some creative ideas of your own.", "Introduction: Cheap Thrills Cheap. Cheap suit. Cheap date. Cheap shot. It's a dirty word, rife with negative associations. We hear the word cheap and we think, miser, whore, Wal-Mart, made in China, something that's going to fall apart. It's an insult, almost any way you look at it. An eighty-four-year-old man heard about my interest in cheapness and got so excited that he offered himself up for an interview about his frugal ways. At the end of our conversation, he said, sheepishly, \"Please don't use my name ... I don't want people to think I'm cheap.\" My father has been called cheap for most of his life, by family members, friends, colleagues, and me. Dad is an economist in both senses of the word. He was an economics professor for thirty-three years at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. And he's also a master economizer, a legend in our extended family. I remember him dashing around the house turning lights off all the time, even if the room's occupant had just left to make a brief phone call. If I was in the shower for longer than a few minutes, I'd hear a knock on the bathroom door, followed by my father's voice saying, \"Laur, you're using too much water.\" He refuses to use the dishwasher; instead, he insists on washing all the plates and cutlery by hand. At some point, we discovered that he was using cold water and no soap; that explained why the knives and forks were often encrusted with the remnants of recent meals. His latest conceit? He doesn't like to use the brakes on his car because he doesn't want to wear them out. So he coasts when he's approaching a red light, or employs a series of light taps and thrusts, a system he believes minimizes brake wear and tear. Dad also prefers to use hand signals out the window instead of the car's turning lights. I recently learned that he uses his tea bags not three or four times, like most proud cheapskates, but ten or twelve times. (\"I just dip it in for a few seconds, until the water gets a little color,\" he says.) I spent my girlhood doing homework at the kitchen table, sock-clad feet nestling on the radiator, hands resting on the oven as it cooled down from dinner. This was the only way to stay warm during New England winters, when my father forbade us from turning the thermostat above fifty degrees. Cold? \"Put on another sweater,\" he'd snap in his native Queens accent. Once he even tried to ration toilet paper, sitting the family down after dinner to tell us how much we could use for each bodily function. Proving too hard to enforce, however, these rules were eventually forgotten. It's easy to mock these extremes of thrift, to marvel at the amount of time, thought, and emotional energy that some people will expend just to save a few dollars, even a few pennies. We call them eccentrics. We call them irrational. If we're related to them, and even if we're not, we complain bitterly about how cheap they are. Then we turn into them — at least, I did. And maybe we realize they were onto something. * * * This book is a reconsideration of cheapness. It asks why we malign and make fun of people who save money. After all, when we as a nation and as individuals are so dangerously overleveraged, when we've watched our global financial system teeter and then tumble because of greed and ill-considered spending, when all of us could use a little more parsimony in our daily lives, why is it an insult to be called cheap? The word cheap actually started out with a positive spin. It derives from the Latin word caupo, or tradesman; evolved into the noun ceap (a trade) in Old English; and came to be used in Middle English mostly in the phrase \"good chepe,\" meaning \"good bargain\" or \"good price.\" The opposite phrase was not \"bad chepe\" but \"dear chepe,\" which referred to high prices. By the sixteenth century, cheap was employed, without judgment, as a synonym for \"inexpensive.\" But soon the word began assuming more malignant meanings. When the Earl of Clarendon wrote in 1674 of \"the cheap laughter of all illiterate men,\" he referred to laughter too inexpensive, too easily obtained, and thus worthless. Cheapness came to indicate not just a low price but low quality as well. In 1820s America, a \"cheap John\" or \"cheap Jack\" was a man who peddled flimsy pots, ill-fitting suits, and inferior merchandise of all types, asking unreasonably high prices to begin with and gradually letting his customers haggle him down. And in 1880, a story in Harper's Magazine mentioned a character named Isaacson, \"a traveling cheap-John who had opened a stock of secondhand garments for ladies and gentlemen in a disused sh**- house on the wharf.\" It was a contemptible profession, and through that usage, the word cheap entered our vocabulary as a term of derision, an adjective synonymous with miserly or stingy. Every culture, it seems, sustains a deep discomfort with the figure of the miser. A Native American legend tells of a hunter who refused to bring his kills back", "Ewart &#8220;U-Roy&#8221; Beckford was a Jamaican deejay who elevated the art of toasting — talking over a record to the rhythm of the song — to an international phenomenon. He helped start the career of early toasters and artists like Shabba Ranks, and even early hip-hop can be traced to U-Roy&#8217;s vocal style. U-Roy died last week at 78. Host Jane Clayson speaks with Patricia Meschino, writer for Billboard, about U-Roy&#8217;s legacy. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.", "Yesterday I was searching for forecasted figures on Internet connectivity in the US, which naturally got me thinking about the past. Do you remember how impressed you were in the '90s when you logged in, waited 20 minutes for a site's graphics to download, and then first viewed the wonders of the Internet? Was it apparent to you back then how much would change -- how information would be more useful affixed to a map (or, I'm sorry, \"mashed up\" on), how international phone calls would become cheap and easy with VoIP, or how you'd stop writing checks because you can just pay everything online? If you said yes, then you're a FUTURIST. Way to go. Read More >> The folks at the Pew Internet & American Life Project are futurists, too, and they have made some very interesting observations about how things will have evolved by 2020. Key findings of the 2008 report The Future of the Internet III include these predictions: -The transparency of people and organizations will increase, but that will not necessarily yield more personal integrity, social tolerance, or forgiveness.-Voice recognition and touch user-interfaces with the Internet will be more prevalent and accepted by 2020.-The divisions between personal time and work time and between physical and virtual reality will be further erased for everyone who's connected, and the results will be mixed in terms of social relations. What does it all mean!? When I think of how different the web is now from when it started, it's not hard to imagine the URL bar melting away entirely as virtual and real meld together. I mean, it could be a lot like this, right?:", "Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. Challenge from Feb. 19: From Eric Berlin of Milford, Connecticut: Think of two different words meaning desire. Add the same letter in front of each of them, and you'll get two new words, each meaning \"to get rid of.\" What words are these? Answer: P, added to \"itch\" and \"urge,\" gives you PITCH and PURGE Winner: Avie Katz of Cupertino, California. Challenge from Feb. 26: Take the phrase, \"take bets on.\" Rearrange those 10 letters to name something to eat. What is it? DON GONYEA, host: From NPR News, this is WEEKEND EDITION. I'm Don Gonyea sitting in for Liane Hansen. And joining us is puzzle master Will Shortz. Hey, Will. Mr. WILL SHORTZ (NPR Puzzle Master; The New York Times Crossword Editor): Hi, Don, welcome back. GONYEA: It's fun to be back in this chair. I've been covering the White House for the last five years and I have to tell you, my kids are much more impressed that I'm talking to you than that I see the President all the time . Mr. SHORTZ: That's so funny. GONYEA: And they're home listening, so why don't you remind us, if you would, of the challenge you left us with last week. Mr. SHORTZ: Yes, it came from listener Eric Berlin of Milford, Connecticut. I said, think of two different words meaning desire, add the same letter in front of each of them, and you'll get two new words, each meaning get rid of. What words are these? GONYEA: And the answer is? Mr. SHORTZ: The words meaning desire are itch and urge, put a P in front of each of them and you get pitch and purge. GONYEA: Pitch and purge, all right. Well, we had over 1400 entries from people who tried to solve the puzzle. And our winner, as always, randomly selected from the correct answers, is Avie Mr. KATZ from Cupertino, California. Avie, are you there? Mr. AVIE KATZ (Puzzle Winner, Cupertino, California): Yes, I am. GONYEA: Did I say that correctly? Is it Cup-ertino? Mr. KATZ: Cooper-tino. GONYEA: Cupertino, Cupertino. Tell me where that is. Mr. KATZ: Well, Cupertino is in, in the heart of Silicon Valley near San Jose, and it's, we've just celebrated our 50th anniversary of existence. GONYEA: Excellent. And, and what do you do there? Mr. KATZ: I am president of the school board for the high school district. And I'm for reelection in November. GONYEA: All right. Maybe next week we'll have to give equal time to somebody. How long have you been playing the puzzle every Sunday? Mr. KATZ: Well, my daughter and I have been listening to it for about a year. GONYEA: All right. Mr. KATZ: And we play it together. GONYEA: And you're ready to play now? Mr. KATZ: I'm about to find out. GONYEA: Well, here we go. Will, meet Avie, and let's play the game. Mr. SHORTZ: All right, Avie and Don, the initials E.T. stand for extra-terrestrial. They're also the initials of the following familiar two-word phrases. Answer the clues to get them. And number one, if a politician is attacked on television, what he might demand. Mr. KATZ: Extra time? Mr. SHORTZ: Well, what kind of time? A different kind of time, and Don just said it. GONYEA: This has already come up today. Mr. KATZ: Equal time. Mr. SHORTZ: Equal time is it. Good. That is so funny that that came up a few seconds ago. Number two: a tourist site in Paris. Mr. KATZ: Eiffel Tower. Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. A sitting duck for an attack. Mr. KATZ: Sitting duck for an attack. Boy, I don't know. Mr. SHORTZ: Do you know this one, Don? GONYEA: I think I do. No Dick Cheney jokes, here. Mr. SHORTZ: Go ahead. GONYEA: Would it be easy target? Mr. SHORTZ: Easy target is it. Try this one: a flowing out of water at the beach. Mr. KATZ: Ebb tide. Mr. SHORTZ: Ebb tide is right. A kitchen sand clock that goes three to five minutes. Mr. KATZ: Egg timer. Mr. SHORTZ: Right. It doesn't make local stops. Mr. KATZ: Express train. Mr. SHORTZ: Right. A kitchen appliance that browns bread. Mr. KATZ: A kitchen appliance that browns bread. A toaster. Mr. SHORTZ: What kind? Mr. KATZ: An electric toaster. Mr. SHORTZ: Electric toaster is right. A device used in a TV. Mr. KATZ: An electric tube? Mr. SHORTZ: What kind of tube? A different kind of tube. GONYEA: It's an electronic term, right? Mr. SHORTZ: Yeah, in fact you just said the first eight letters of your, of that, Don. Mr. KATZ: Electronic. Mr. SHORTZ: Electron tube is it. Mr. KATZ: Electron tube, okay, good. Mr. SHORTZ: Try this one. Whom a student learns grammar from. Mr. KATZ: English teacher. Mr. SHORTZ: Right. A completely regular three-sided shape. Mr. KATZ: Equilateral triangle. Mr. SHORTZ: That's right. Money owed the government when someone dies. Mr. KATZ: Let's see, that would be a tax, it would be estate tax. Mr. SHORTZ: Estate tax is right. What Caesar reputedly said to Brutus. Mr. KATZ: Et tu, Brute? Mr. SHORTZ: Et tu is right. Piece of furniture beside a sofa. Mr. KATZ: End table. Mr. SHORTZ: Uh-huh. A state", "Rome wasn't built in a day but, relatively speaking, Atlantic City was. Over the last few weeks I've been catching up on season 1 of HBO's fantastic series Boardwalk Empire. While the show might appear to be about graft, liquor, violence, sex and exquisitely drawn characters (all set in my home state of New Jersey, naturally) there is another equally important topic laying just below the surface. Boardwalk Empire lays out the rapid invention of everything we now take for granted. Watching the show it's absolutely dizzying to recognize how quickly this machine life of instant communication, rapid transportation and the omnipresent electric frizzle of running current were assembled. Boardwalk Empire opens just as prohibition is set to take effect. The horror of the world's first industrial-scale conflict (what we now call World War I) has just ended. There are cars everywhere but not paved \"highways.\" You could watch movies but you could not listen to them. You could listen to music on a gramophone but not on the radio (the first station, Pittsburg's KDKA, goes on air in November 1920). You could use electricity to wash clothes but not to dry them. It's a world that stands, for the briefest instant, between two ways of organizing culture, two ways of being human. Within another decade or two America had stepped across the threshold of \"modernity\" and even the memory of that \"other way\" of seemed wiped out. Read More There is a scene in the first season where Nucky Thompson, the Atlantic City political boss, stares dejectedly at an electric toaster he bought for his hated father, and which the father never used. It's a telling moment. For Nucky the toaster was the height of modernism, a symbol of the new world. Electrical appliances were popping up like daisies in the 1920s and 1930s, altering every aspect of American life. Electric vacuum cleaners shortened the daily task of sweeping (and the more odious work of hauling carpets outside for beating). Electric mixers, like Sunbeam's inexpensive 1931 Mixmaster, eliminated the hand kneading of dough. With the advent of electric refrigerators, hauling heavy slabs of ice from the icehouse to the kitchen also faded into memory. Even intimate acts like shaving gave way to electrification as the first mass market shavers developed by Jacob Schick appeared in the early 1930s. In 1920 less than 35 percent of all households had electricity. By 1940, that number doubled. In rural areas the number of households with electric power increased by a factor of almost 30 in the same time period. Electric power running to almost every home created a redistribution of work and time that was without precedent in all the long millennia that preceded it. With electric power running appliances, it was as if each family had the equivalent of a team of servants doing their vacuuming and their sewing, preserving their food, washing their dishes and, of course, cleaning and drying their clothes. Electric appliances reshaped the experience of daily time and created a new, mass-market vision of leisure. What was true for electrification was also true for every other aspect of modern American life. Cars multiplied and roads were built for them to run upon. Planes began to fill the sky and airports where built where they could be launched and landed. Radio (and then TV) stitched distant cities together, allowing Seattle, San Francisco and Syracuse to experience the same prize fight, world series home run or election speech. It took just decades to build a world we now can't imagine not existing. And that failure of imagination is the point. With the discovery of cheap oil we had the power to multiply every effect while simultaneously multiplying our own numbers beyond limits that might have been imposed \"naturally.\" It happened so fast that very few people ever asked, \"Can this last?\" Now we are pretty sure it can't. Now we are challenged with rebuilding what was built 100 years ago using all we have learned in the last 30. \"Sustainability\" is not a political applause line, it is simply a recognition of the simplest of facts; the planet is only so big. So while we mostly seem unable to imagine a world that looks different from the one we inhabit now, it's an imaginative skill we will need to cultivate. The power of powerful fiction like Boardwalk Empire is that it lets us develop the imaginative capacity to see present day realities more clearly. We built this reality very quickly. It should be understood that it can be unbuilt, purposely or not, just as fast. You can keep up with more of what Adam Frank is thinking on Facebook and Twitter. His new book is About Time: Cosmology and Culture at the Twilight of the Big Bang.", "San Francisco is about to spend $25 million to answer a simple question: How much should a city charge for parking? The price should be cheap enough that most of the metered spaces and city parking lots are always almost full. But it shouldn't be so cheap that spaces are entirely full, leaving drivers frustrated and adding to congestion as cars circle endlessly looking for a place to park. \"It's the 'Goldilocks' principle of parking spaces,\" said Donald Shoup, a professor of urban planning at UCLA who wrote a book called \"The High Cost of Free Parking.\" Shoup's work was the inspiration for a high-tech project San Francisco is launching today. Its aim: to set parking prices just right. Read More: Your phone will guide you to a parking spot The system will use electronic sensors to measure real-time demand for parking spaces, and adjust prices accordingly. When there are lots of empty spaces, it will be cheap to park. When spaces are hard to find, rates will be higher. \"It's basic supply and demand,\" Shoup said. The range in prices will be huge: from 25 cents an hour to a maximum of $6 an hour, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority. Eventually, drivers will be able to find open parking spaces by going online, checking their mobile phones or reading for new electronic signs that will be posted throughout the city. (Warning to SF pedestrians: Watch out for drivers who are checking their phones to search for a parking place.) Today's first phase begins with the installation of 190 new meters in the Hayes Valley area of San Francisco. Over the next two years, the city will be testing the system at 6,000 metered spaces across city and at 12,250 spaces in 15 of the city’s parking garages. \"It's good for commerce and getting the price right,\" Shoup said, pointing to the economic efficiency of the plan. \"Let the market do something good for this service.\" For More on Shoup: Check out his \"Shoupista\" following on Facebook.", "A couple weeks ago a writer friend texted me a screengrab of an Instagram of a stocky guy in a tight black T-shirt tucked into pleated black slacks. The pants were held at his actual waist by a black leather belt with a gold buckle. After the photo the friend texted simply \"NORMCORE?\" The man in black was Samuel Herring, lead singer of Future Islands, and he was already meme-ing his way into the hearts of thousands on Tumblr because of a certain dance move. This was, quite possibly, the best and worst introduction to Future Islands. Worst because, well, NORMCORE. Best because the band's performance on The Late Show with David Letterman, from whence the original Instagram came, was anything but normal. They played Singles' lead single \"Seasons (Waiting on You).\" Herring howled and grumbled his way through it, dipping down low to do said dance move, then standing tall to audibly pound his chest and search for meaning. It was mesmerizing, like watching a young Marlon Brando yell \"Stellaaaaaa\" into the Barrymore's cheap seats. The rest of the band just stood there like stagehands doing their jobs. Great performances like that raise expectations, especially if they're introductions, especially if they're to promote a new album on national television. So that is the weight on Singles, and yet, miraculously, it doesn't crumble. Singles is extremely catchy, well-constructed classic pop: winsome and simple melodies, yearning lyrics, bass lines that will never die. It is also dark and desperate and serious in a way that feels fairly rare these days. There is no ironic withdrawal, no equivocation to avoid abuse, just pure commitment. Herring's voice, which can go from searching whisper to hoarse demonic shout on a pivot, does much of this heavy lifting. He sings like a Teamster with an adorable family of twelve. Must be a Baltimore thing. With Singles, Herring and his bandmates, Gerrit Welmers and William Cashion, have hit upon something that seemed in development on their previous records. Captivating and confident songwriting coalesce with a troubling vision of fields once green and now fallow, falls from grace, and fading away. Honest and earnest when few asked for it; willing to bare their souls, no matter how abnormal they might be, in front of millions; searching for answers where there are probably none; and yet still ideal for an oblivious two-step. Future Islands are probably deserving of something more in this existence than a four-second gif-loop with no sound, but these are dark times. At least they're dancing on the edge of the abyss.", "Manassas, Va., is one of the areas hardest hit by the real estate slump in the state. More than 10 percent of the houses went into foreclosure last year. But foreclosures mean cheap houses for those looking to buy." ]

[ "Definitely I found out what to do.\nMaybe this will help somebody else.\n\n\nI wrote this before :\n\n\n$entity_field[0][\"value\"] = field_get_items($entity_type, $entity, \"field_nb_of_tickets\");\n\n\nThis is what's new :\n\n\nI did put the foreign field's value in a variable before adding it to the current field :\n\n$nb_of_tickets= field_get_items($entity_type, $entity, \"field_nb_of_tickets\");\n\n$entity_field[0][\"value\"] = $entity_field[0][\"value\"] + $nb_of_tickets;\n\nNow it works." ]

[ "lower_bound and upper_bound set the range of primary key of items you want to retrieve. If you want to get first 10 items, then call get_table_rows by lower_bound and upper_bound with the value &quot;&quot;, and it will return &quot;next_key&quot; in the result. Then pass the value of &quot;next_key&quot; to lower_bound (or if you want to call with &quot;reverse&quot;: true, then next_key needs to be passed to upper_bound). You don't need to set both of lower_bound and upper_bound, because the number of items is deteremined by &quot;limit&quot;: 10.\nUpdated(04/17/2021)\nEosSharp is outdated. You need to add EosSharp to your project (instead of installing by NuGet), and modify it.\nhttps://github.com/GetScatter/eos-sharp/blob/32bca887/EosSharp/EosSharp.Core/Api/v1/Definitions/EosApiMethodDef.t4#L252-L261\n Response = new Field[] \n {\n new Field() { Name = &quot;rows&quot;, Type = &quot;List&lt;object&gt;&quot;},\n new Field() { Name = &quot;more&quot;, Type = &quot;bool&quot; },\n new Field() { Name = &quot;next_key&quot;, Type = &quot;string&quot; } // add this line\n },\n GenericResponse = new Field[] \n {\n new Field() { Name = &quot;rows&quot;, Type = &quot;List&lt;TRowType&gt;&quot;},\n new Field() { Name = &quot;more&quot;, Type = &quot;bool&quot; },\n new Field() { Name = &quot;next_key&quot;, Type = &quot;string&quot; } // add this line\n }", "I continue, as I've mentioned before, to be concerned that the data model here doesn't quite make sense. But diving in...\nLet's start with the basics. You have two objects, Opportunity and this other object, which I'm going to call Line Item since that is the role that it plays. Your Line Items are associated with an Opportunity, which means that the Line Item object contains a lookup field to the Opportunity record. This is a one-to-many relationship: an Opportunity has many Line Items, each Line Item has exactly one Opportunity.\n\nto populate custom field 1 from Opportunity with custom field 1a from Object 1.\nto populate custom field 2 from Opportunity with custom field 2a from Object 1.\n\nThese expectations do not fit a one-to-many relationship. Remember, Opportunity is the one, Line Item is the many. How are you proposing to get the field values from multiple Line Item records into a single field on one Opportunity?\nClassically, this is the use case for a Roll-Up Summary Field, or for one of the products (like Declarative Lookup Rollup Summaries) that extends roll-up functionality to situations not supported by the native Roll-Up Summary Field.\nThe way that you articulate it below\n\nEssentially, I want the process to keep the value in custom field 1 on Opportunity and also add the value of custom field2, when it gets populated on Object 1.\n\nsounds like what you have is multiple fields on the Opportunity, and you want to populate them with fields from the related Line Items in sequence as the Line Items are created.\nThis does not really make sense to me and it certainly won't scale well, but it is possible. (What happens when you get to 4 Line Items? Do you need 4 fields? What about 12?)\nYou'd need to build out your Process to condition its update actions on whether or not the related Opportunity's fields are blank. You'd update Field 1, for example, if it's blank. You'd update Field 2 if field 1 is not blank and Field 2 is blank. You'd update Field 3 (if needed) if Field 1 and 2 are not blank and Field 3 is blank.\nThis will get messy, fast. I strongly suspect this is either (a) a data model that is mismatched with the problem it is intended to solve or (b) an x-y problem.\nEdit\nPer your comments, what you want is to concatenate the values of a specific field from your Line Items on the parent Opportunity.\nYou can either build your Process Builder automation to take into account existing values in the field and concatenate new values, rather than overwriting the existing value, or use Declarative Lookup Rollup Summaries to build a Concatenate Distinct rollup to populate the field.\nYour formula field is really a completely different problem. You will need to finish a successful solution for summarizing this line-level detail at the Opportunity level before you are able to begin writing a formula field against it.", "In your example you use list B and list A which are difficult to follow in the code examples. In my example I'll use these two fictional lists: \n\n\nList Project (Title, ProductOwner) \nList TimeReport (Hours, Date, Project:Title)\n\n\nOne can load a time report and see the corresponding Project Title. \nSay, we want to load the whole lookup item and see even ProductOwner of the Project for a particular TimeReport.\n\nThis gets all the context and lists:\n\nvar ctx = SP.ClientContext.get_current();\nvar web = ctx.get_web();\nvar lists = web.get_lists();\nvar listTimeReport = lists.getByTitle(\"TimeReport\");\nvar listProject = lists.getByTitle(\"Project\");\n\n//just get the first item\nvar timereport1 = listTimeReport.getItemById(1);\nctx.load(timereport1);\nctx.executeQueryAsync();\n\n\nLookup Field in JSOM\n\nA lookup field in a JSOM SP.ListItem is an object (that's why toString() outputs [Object Object]), which contains different fields:\n\nvar lookupField = timereport1.get_item(\"Project\");\n\n\nTo get the actual value of the lookup field, the function called get_lookupValue has to be invoked. This gets the lookup field: the field from the other list, in many cases just Title, but it can be anything.\n\nvar lookupTitle = lookupField.get_lookupValue();\n\n\n\n\nOther fields from the lookup item in JSOM\n\nMaybe only the lookup field isn't enough. In the standard listviews we can click on the lookup field to open the list item from the lookup list. To do so in JSOM, we have to load this lookup item separately. There we the have the lookup id:\n\nvar lookupId = lookupField.get_lookupId();\n\n\nWith this id we can load the whole item. Of couse, we can use the CAML to get only fields we want. We can even load a bunch of lookup items at the same time. But in this simple example we load only one item:\n\nvar projectItem = listProject.getItemById(lookupId);\nctx.load(projectItem)\nctx.executeQueryAsync()\n\n\nWhen we have loaded the the whole or parts of the corresponding project item, we can get all the fields from the project information, e.g. ProductOwner:\n\nvar productOwner = projectItem.get_item(\"ProductOwner\");\n\n\nThe original code example\n\nHere is an example of getting the title of the lookup field and the whole lookup item (with all fields):\n\nHere is the original code example with List A and List B:\n\nvar ctx = SP.ClientContext.get_current();\nvar web = ctx.get_web();\nvar lists = web.get_lists();\nvar listB = lists.getByTitle(\"ListB\");\nvar listA = lists.getByTitle(\"ListA\");\n\n//just get the first item\nvar listBItem = listB.getItemById(1);\nctx.load(listBItem)\nctx.executeQueryAsync(function() {\n var listAItem = item.get_item(\"SubMenuItemIdRefTitle\");\n var listAItemId = listAItem.get_lookupId();\n var title = listAItem.get_lookupValue();\n alert(title);\n var fullListAItem = listA.getItemById(listAItemId)\n ctx.load(fullListAItem)\n ctx.executeQueryAsync({\n var modified = fullListAItem.get_item(\"Modified\");\n alert(\"Success. For example, we can get the Modified field of the lookup field: \"\n + modified);\n }); \n});\n\n\nNo error handling is provided for brevity. The id of the first item is hardcoded (1) just to simplify the example.", "How about the definition as on the Wikipedia: Code review is systematic examination of computer source code.\n\nI think the main added value of code reviews is knowledge sharing and not finding defects. That's why I would like to add a bit of more text, how about this:\n\n\n Code review is systematic examination of computer source code with the goal of sharing knowledge and minimizing defects.\n\n\nAfter reading The Best Kept Secrets of Peer Code Review by SmartBear I really think the lightweight checklist-based code review they describe is a good fit for a standard for code-reviews.\n\nThe checklist-based code review works a bit as following:\n\n\nProgrammer reviews his/her own code. Puts any found mistakes on a checklist and dates the last occurrence\nUse this same checklist to check each line of code of other programmers, update the occurrence field when you find an issue\nUse part of checklist of team members as a team checklist\nMake sure the list does not become to long, max 20 items\nTime-box code review sessions, with a max of one hour\nAfter a while remove items that stop occurring from the checklist\n\n\nThis way you always have an list of issues the team members are making. They can learn from each others mistakes. If used correctly the team will stop making the same mistakes over time and thus can remove items from the checklist.", "Your question is not clear (enough), at least not yet, so I'll try with 2 variations ...\n\nField C is about Single values\n\nIt think your rule needs at least 2 corrections:\n\n\nAdd a Rules condition like \"entity has field\", for each \"token\" that you want to use in any rules Action, but which is not (yet) showing up to actually select it in some Rules Action.\nWhen using a Rules Action like \"Set a data value\", you can indeed only set such value for 1 variable. However if you want to \"Set a data value\" for another variable, just add a 2nd Rules Action to do so for that other variable.\n\n\nField C is about Multiple values\n\nMaybe your question is rather something like so:\n\n\n If this Rules Event happens, then I want to add the node reference in field A to field C, and I also want to add the node reference in field B to field C (and field C is a multi value node reference field\".\n\n\nIn this case, using \"Set a data value\" is completely wrong. Instead you need to use an action like \"Add item to a list\". I.e.:\n\n\nRules Action 1 is to add A to the list C (possibly you also need a Rules Condition like \"Entity has field\" (for A)).\nRules Action 2 is to add B to the list C (possibly you also need a Rules Condition like \"Entity has field\" (for B)).\n\n\nRefer to my answer to \"How to set multiple values to an unlimited Term Refence field with Rules\" for way more details about \"Add item to a list\".\n\nRecommendations to improve the alternative answer\n\nNow (after about a day of extra questions/comments to the question from No Sssweat and myself), it finally became clear what the real question was ...\n\nHere is a variation of the Rule in the alternative answer:\n\n{ \"rules_improved_combination_of_taxonomy_terms\" : {\n \"LABEL\" : \"Improved combination of taxonomy terms\",\n \"PLUGIN\" : \"reaction rule\",\n \"OWNER\" : \"rules\",\n \"REQUIRES\" : [ \"rules\" ],\n \"ON\" : { \"node_view--article\" : { \"bundle\" : \"article\" } },\n \"DO\" : [\n { \"drupal_message\" : { \"message\" : \"[node:field-a][node:field-b]\" } },\n { \"variable_add\" : {\n \"USING\" : { \"type\" : \"text\", \"value\" : \"[node:field-a][node:field-b]\" },\n \"PROVIDE\" : { \"variable_added\" : { \"variable_added\" : \"Added variable\" } }\n }\n },\n { \"entity_create\" : {\n \"USING\" : {\n \"type\" : \"taxonomy_term\",\n \"param_name\" : \"[variable-added:value]\",\n \"param_vocabulary\" : \"tags\"\n },\n \"PROVIDE\" : { \"entity_created\" : { \"entity_created\" : \"Created entity\" } }\n }\n },\n { \"entity_save\" : { \"data\" : [ \"entity-created\" ], \"immediate\" : \"1\" } },\n { \"data_set\" : { \"data\" : [ \"node:field-c\" ], \"value\" : [ \"entity-created\" ] } },\n { \"entity_save\" : { \"data\" : [ \"node:field-c\" ], \"immediate\" : \"1\" } }\n ]\n }\n}\n\n\nThese are the extra refinements needed to make it work:\n\n\nAdd an action to save an entity (twice), because since you used Rules Event to just wake up after viewing a node, you need to remind the Rules module to also save what you've been creating/updating.\nRemove the Fetch entity (no need for that).\n\n\nBy the way, the clue to debug the rule in the other answer can be found if you turn on rules logging: you'll see that the fetch entity didn't return any results, so blank, which is also what got saved in field C ...\n\nDemo:\n\nField A: Bonjour\nField B: World\nField C: BonjourWorld\n\n\nAt least that's what happened in my tests. If I change A to Hello (or No), B to Liu (or Sssweat), then C gets updated to HelloLiu (or NoSssweat) ... \n\nBe Aware: I can think of some further improvements of all this, but for now I consider this rule as \"Make it right before you make it better\" ... try it in your own setup to confirm it does answer the quetion (but please don't post enhancement requests via extra comments, instead post a new question if needed).\n\nDisclaimer: I don't have a clue what those non-English \"pictures\" are (I bet they are characters in your native language ...).", "You can add a field in your Sitecore item template such as add a checkbox field for \"Do not Allow Search Engine to Index Page\", based on this field value you can render a meta tag in your HTML page head section:\n\n&lt;META NAME=\"robots\" CONTENT=\"noindex\"&gt;\n\n\nyou can find more information here\n\nhttps://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-unindex-pages-from-search-engines", "You are always getting ALL items in final state through LinkDB first and then filtering them down by date. This query will continue to become slower and slower.\n\nWhat you can do is use the sitecore_master_index to query for your referring items:\n\n$criteria = @(\n @{Filter = \"Equals\"; Field = \"__workflow_state\"; Value = \"c674d9dfb5ea4f3b8871f80b2f214f28\" },\n @{Filter = \"Equals\"; Field = \"_path\"; Value = \"0de95ae441ab4d019eb067441b7c2450\" }, # Replace with Short ID of /sitecore/content/mysite\n @{Filter = \"InclusiveRange\"; Field = \"__smallcreateddate\"; Value = [string[]]@([datetime]::Today.AddDays(-30).ToString(\"yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ\"), [datetime]::Now.ToString(\"yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ\"))},\n @{Filter = \"InclusiveRange\"; Field = \"__smallupdateddate\"; Value = [string[]]@([datetime]::Today.AddDays(-30).ToString(\"yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ\"), [datetime]::Now.ToString(\"yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ\"))}\n)\n$props = @{\n Index = \"sitecore_master_index\"\n Criteria = $criteria\n}\n\n$referringItems = Find-Item @props | Initialize-Item\n\n$listofWorkflowItems = @()\nForeach($item in $referringItems) \n{\n $rendering = $item | Get-Rendering \n $addInList = New-Object System.Object\n $addInList | Add-Member -type NoteProperty -name ID -Value $item.ID\n $addInList | Add-Member -type NoteProperty -name Path -Value $item.FullPath\n $addInList | Add-Member -type NoteProperty -name ItemCreateDate -Value $item.Created \n if($item.'__Never publish' -eq 1)\n {\n $addInList | Add-Member -type NoteProperty -name Publishable -Value 'True'\n }\n else{\n $addInList | Add-Member -type NoteProperty -name Publishable -Value 'False'\n } \n $workflowdetailList = Get-ItemWorkflowEvent -Id $item.ID | Where-Object { $_.NewState -eq '{C674D9DF-B5EA-4F3B-8871-F80B2F214F28}' } | Sort-Object -Property Date -Descending\n Foreach($workflow in $workflowdetailList){\n $addInList | Add-Member -type NoteProperty -name WorkflowApprover -Value $workflow.User\n $addInList | Add-Member -type NoteProperty -name ApprovedDate -Value $workflow.Date\n break\n } \n if($rendering){\n $addInList | Add-Member -type NoteProperty -name URL -Value $item.FullPath.Replace(\"/sitecore/content/abc-website/home\",\"https://abc.com\") \n } \n $listofWorkflowItems += $addInList\n}\n$listofWorkflowItems | Show-ListView", "Sitecore PowerShell Extensions\n\nAt first your question made me think of this where the user wants to find media items of a certain length. I encourage you to check that out to see some different ways you can use SPE to query items.\n\nOption 1\n\nYour case is similar but may be a little expensive. In that case the Sitecore Content Search API may be ideal for you.\n\nYou'll need a computed field that stores all the base templates in the index. It's very likely the field is simply not being indexed by default and you need to uncomment it as described here. Alternatively, you can add a computed index as seen here.\n\n# Taking a guess at the field name in the search index.\n$criteria = @(\n @{Filter=\"Contains\";Field=\"_templates\";Value=\"c8615df965d14529859f9abb4da977b8\"}\n)\nFind-Item -Index sitecore_master_index -Criteria $criteria\n\n\nOption 2\n\nMatthew makes a good point in the comment below. Another option would be to query all of the items under the specified root and test for the inheritance.\n\n$templateId = [Sitecore.Data.ID]::Parse(\"{76036F5E-CBCE-46D1-AF0A-4143F9B557AA}\")\n$searchPath = \"master:/sitecore/content/home\"\n$allthethings = @(Get-Item -Path $searchPath) + @(Get-ChildItem -Path $searchPath -Recurse)\nforeach($onething in $allthethings) {\n $doesItInherit = [Sitecore.Data.Managers.TemplateManager]::GetTemplate($onething.TemplateID, $onething.Database).InheritsFrom($templateId)\n if($doesItInherit) {\n $onething\n }\n}\n\n\nOption 3 :thumbs-up:\n\nLikely the best option is to simply use the Link Database to find all items referenced.\n\n# Sample Item\n$template = Get-Item -Path \"master:\" -ID \"{76036F5E-CBCE-46D1-AF0A-4143F9B557AA}\"\nGet-ItemReferrer -Item $template | Where-Object { $_.Paths.IsContentItem }\n\n\nA more complete example for looking at all levels of inheritance can be found here.", "That is a valid approach although it may work better with a shorter list of external items then it would with a long list of such items as performance of the UI tends to start getting wonky if you have 1000's of keywords in a category.\n\nAnother way to handle it is to build a GUI extension that directly queries the external data source to present your editors with a list of items to select from. There multiple ways to handle this: \n\n\nYou could write an extension invoked using a custom url for the field the relationship will be stored in. The custom url could present a list of external data items, pulled directly from the external data source, for the user to select and then pass the value the user selects back to the field. This might work better in situations where you require some sort of advanced search capability to make it easy for the user to find the item they want in the external system. \nYou could you write an extension that just overrode the default control inserted by the GUI for a specific field. For instance, instead of a select list pulling from a category you could define the field as a generic text field and have a GUI extension insert itself in place of the text field for that specific schema and have that extension present a select list pulling from your external source.\n\n\nOne way we handled this in a situation where we wanted to related components with external data elements represented by distinct pages on one of our websites was to have the user paste the URL of the external item into the field in the Tridion component. This worked for us because:\n\n\nThe url contains the ID of the underlying object in our external system (in this case a ravendb respository) \nThe editors were discovering the content they wanted to relate to the tridion components by browsing the website with the external items anyway so, although the process was 'manual', they didn't have to actually look up any ids or take extra steps for the process to work for us.", "For passing values to forms:\n\nThere is a Drupal Module called Prepopulate which allows you to prefill fields on node forms using $_REQUEST variables. \n\nIt is quite simple to use and merely requires you to rewrite the links to contain the field values you want to pass along. If you want to fill field_your_fieldon your ticket node, the link would need to look like this:\n\nhttp://www.example.com/node/add/ticket?edit[field_your_field]=desired field value\n\n\n\n\nThat said, this wont hide any fields on the form, merely provide default values for them. If you want tickets with different fields, you could always use multiple node types. \n\n\n\nIf you want to actually hide fields based on the url, you could reuse the node form on custom pages and manipulate their fields there as you need.\n\nYou will need menu entries for your different node displays to distinguish which node form you want to call.\n\nfunction ticket_module_menu() {\n $items['ticket/add/tech-ticket'] = array(\n 'page callback' =&gt; 'drupal_get_form',\n 'page arguments' =&gt; array('ticket_module_tech_ticket'),\n 'access callback' =&gt; 'create ticket content', //or put a custom permission\n );\n\n $items['ticket/add/support-ticket'] = array(\n 'page callback' =&gt; 'drupal_get_form',\n 'page arguments' =&gt; array('ticket_module_support_ticket'),\n 'access callback' =&gt; 'create ticket content', //or put a custom permission\n );\n\n return $items;\n}\n\n\nAnd then create a form for each entry:\n\nfunction ticket_module_tech_ticket() {\n module_load_include('inc', 'node', 'node.pages');\n\n //get node add form for node type ticket\n $form = node_add('ticket');\n\n //Hide fields you do not want to display\n $form['field_your_field1']['#access'] = 0;\n $form['field_your_field1']['und'][0]['value']['#disabled'] = TRUE;\n\n return $form;\n}\n\nfunction ticket_module_support_ticket() {\n module_load_include('inc', 'node', 'node.pages');\n\n //get node add form for node type ticket\n $form = node_add('ticket');\n\n //Hide fields you do not want to display\n $form['field_your_field2']['#access'] = 0;\n $form['field_your_field2']['und'][0]['value']['#disabled'] = TRUE;\n\n return $form;\n}", "Out-of-the-box, no. There wouldn't be a way to simply see the previous state of the item when the comment was made. One way you could accomplish this is by using a SharePoint Designer workflow: \n\n\nYou could make the comments field not display in the edit form (you can do this in PowerShell or with some third-party tools)\nAdd a new column for inputting comments\nWhen an item is saved, append the new comment to the commends field with the data you want, and then clear the input field\n\n\nPS to hide a field:\n\n$web = Get-SPWeb YOUR_WEB_URL\n$list = $web.Lists[\"YOUR_LIST_NAME\"]\n$field = $list.Fields[\"YOUR_FIELD_INTERNAL_NAME\"]\n$field.ShowInEditForm = $false\n$field.Update()", "I don't feel I fully understand how you will be using the data on the back end, but here are some ideas.\n\nIt sounds like the best way to solve this problem would be to build a custom field-type plugin that stored checkbox data in the way that you need it to be stored on the back end.\n\nA simpler workaround may be to use a multi-line Plain Text field as your \"checkbox\" field. You could display things however you want to the users on the front-end, and submit the checkbox data behind the scenes in a way that stores the data in that field in a readable way. While the data may not behave like a checklist, you would get a snapshot of the checklist items for each submission and the length of items could vary.\n\nTo capture the User ID and To-do List ID, you might be able to use the Sprout Hidden Field or Sprout Invisible Field which would just store those IDs in a plain text field.\n\nIf you wish to store the ID as relational data, you'll need to create the appropriate relational field (such as a Users Relations field) and submit the ID as an array:\n\n&lt;input type=\"hidden\" name=\"fields[usersFieldHandle][]\" value=\"{{ currentUser.id }}\"&gt;\n\nAdditional examples of inputs to submit data from the front-end can be found in the Craft Field Guide", "Microsoft Docs\nSystem Managed\nThese fields should not be modified manually. The items should always be in an ordered list with the indexes managed by the system.\n\nBacklog Priority: A number usually assigned by a background process used to track the list order of items on a backlog or board in the web portal.\nBug, Epic, Feature, Product backlog item, Task (Scrum)\n\nand\n\nStack Rank: A number, usually assigned by a background process, used to track the list order of items on a backlog or board in the web portal.\nBug, Epic, Feature, Requirement (CMMI), Risk (CMMI), Task, User Story (Agile)\n\nUser Managed\nTracking the business desires should be tracked separately.\n\nPriority: A subjective rating of the bug, issue, task, or test case as it relates to the business.\nBug, Change Request, Epic, Feature, Impediment, Issue, Product backlog item, Requirement, Risk, Shared Step, Task, Test Case, User Story\n\nand\n\nTime Criticality: A subjective unit of measure that captures the how the business value decreases over time. Higher values indicate that the epic or feature is inherently more time critical than those items with lower values.\nEpic, Feature\n\nOther fields are also available; see the linked documentation. Shared understanding of the values used in these fields is critical. This is a part of Transparency in the Scrum framework.", "EDIT: Glass should just map the property (make sure you've got the template id and auto mapping enabled for the Player model as well).\n\nIf you find it's still not mapping - try explicitly specifying the field name from your PlayerCard model:\n\n[SitecoreField(MyFields.DroplinkFieldName)]\n\npublic virtual Player Player {get; set;}\n\n\nAs mentioned above - you should be able to use the Standard Values on the template for the PayerCard to do what you want with standard Sitecore functionality (so no coding required). This will work in Glass or any other ORM because they just hook off the standard functionality of the CMS.\n\nFind your PlayerCard template within the Sitecore Content Editor (or using Rocks!):\n\n\n\nGo to the Builder Options Tab:\n\n\n\nClick on Standard Values:\n\n\n\nThis will add an item under your template called __Standard Values - on this item - you set the Player field to point to your Default Player item in the content tree.\n\nIf your site is multilingual - you'll either need to have this field as Shared or if you want different values selected for each language - add a version for each language to the __Standard Values.\n\nIf you're using Unicorn or TDS for your content synchronisation - you'll need to make sure the Default item makes it to each environment with the same ID (so include it in content which gets deployed to all environments).", "You could use Cascading Dropdown using jquery.SPServices. Download the library here, and save it to your site (for example, you could save it at /_catalogs/masterpage/js).\n\nAssuming you have 3 lists:\n\nList A has 2 fields: ID, NameA\n\nList B has 3 fields: ID, NameB, AID (this is a lookup field to the list A item)\n\nList C (here is the list who has 2 choice columns) has 3 fields: ID, TitleA (lookup to list A), TitleB (lookup to list B).\n\nThen on your list C form (add / edit form), you could add the following code:\n\n// Refer to the library\n&lt;script src=\"/_catalogs/masterpage/js/jquery.SPServices-2014.02.min.js\"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;\n\n// Start cascading dropdown code\n&lt;script type=\"text/javascript\"&gt;\n$(document).ready(function() {\n $().SPServices.SPCascadeDropdowns({\n relationshipList: \"B\", // The list who has reference to list A\n relationshipListParentColumn: \"AID\", // The 'foreign key' of the relationshipList\n relationshipListChildColumn: \"NameB\", // The value (anything you want to display) field of the relationshipList\n parentColumn: \"TitleA\", // The field on list C which refer to the list A (this is the first choice column)\n childColumn: \"TitleB\", // The field on list C which refer to the list B (this is the second choice column)\n debug: true\n });\n});\n&lt;/script&gt;", "Consider the following approach: \n\n\nPut a Script Editor Webpart to your page, below or above the fields\nCreate a script element and put there a script, that would perform the following:\n\n\nget values of First name and Last name fields\nperform the web service call\ndisplay the results\n\n\n\nGet field values\n\nI assume you're using OOTB list form, so in this case field values can be acquired via CSR.\n\nGo to your form page, open developer console (F12->Console tab in IE), and execute the following code:\n\ndocument.querySelector(\"#onetIDListForm div[webpartid]\").id\n\n\nYou will see something like this:\n\n\n\nIn my case it is \"WebPartWPQ2\". You need \"WPQ2\" part of this string. Now you can get the CSR context object for this webpart.\n\nvar csrContext = window[\"WPQ2FormCtx\"];\n\n\nHaving the context, it is very simple to get the field values:\n\nvar firstName = window[\"WPQ2FormCtx\"].ListData[\"FirstName\"];\nvar lastName = window[\"WPQ2FormCtx\"].ListData[\"Title\"]; // this is Last name for OOTB Contacts list\n\n\nNote: Please use internal names of your fields. E.g. it might be First_x0020_Name, because if you create fields manually, spaces are transformed into _x0020_. The example above is for the OOTB Contacts list.\n\n\n\nWeb Service Call\n\nNow, you have First name and Last name values. How do you perform soap request and get the results?\n\nI recommend leveraging an opensource library for that purpose. There are plenty of those. For example:\n\n\nhttp://javascriptsoapclient.codeplex.com/\n\n\nOr if you don't want to meddle with libraries, then have a look at this SO answer, that provides example code for accessing SOAP web service from JS.\n\n\nhttps://stackoverflow.com/a/11404133/361687\n\n\nDisplaying results\n\nIf you're content with having your data below or above the list form, then you can simply add something like &lt;div id=\"mydiv\"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; into the Script Editor WebPart, and then $get('mydiv').innerHTML = '... html here, based on received results ...'; will do the trick.\n\nIf you need to put the data you receive from the Web Service inside the form rather than below or above, you then might want to read the following CodeProject article, explaining in detail how that can be done using CSR (see section \"Example: manipulating form layout\"):\n\n\nSharePoint 2013 Client Side Rendering: List Forms", "You will need to use a product instead of a custom order field.\n\nIn Store 2, the checkout tag and add to cart tag both submit to the same URL, so you can use this to add optional products to the cart during checkout.\n\nTo do this, the high level overview is that you simply submit a hidden field with the entry_id along with the standard update cart fields.\n\nFor example:\n\n&lt;input type=\"hidden\" name=\"items[0][entry_id]\" value=\"123\" /&gt;\n&lt;!-- hidden input so that unselecting the checkbox submits 0 quantity --&gt;\n&lt;input type=\"hidden\" name=\"items[0][update_qty]\" value=\"0\" /&gt;\n&lt;input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"items[0][update_qty]\" value=\"1\" selected /&gt; Gift wrapping?\n\n\nupdate_qty is exactly like item_qty, except that it overwrites any existing quantity in the cart rather than adding to it.\n\nThe only difference between this and the regular add to cart form is that you have to wrap the inputs with items[num][]. This allows multiple products to be added/updated at once.\n\nThis is similar to how the product form tag works (they all submit to the same endpoint).", "Thus far, using the object model has been the only way I have been able to successfully do this. I encountered the same issues as you when using PowerShell.\n\nUsing Jaspers' post SP2010: Setting BCS column and related fields as my guide, I used the following code to iterate through all the items in my Resumes document library, read the value from the \"regular\" EmployeeID field for each item, set the \"external\" EmplData_ID value, then set all the \"secondary field\" values based on this value.\n\nusing (SPSite site = new SPSite(SPContext.Current.Site.ID))\n{\n using (SPWeb web = site.OpenWeb(SPContext.Current.Web.ID))\n {\n web.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true;\n SPList resumesList = web.Lists[\"Resumes\"];\n\n foreach (SPListItem item in resumesList.Items)\n {\n SPBusinessDataField dataField = item.Fields[\"EmplData_ID\"] as SPBusinessDataField;\n // Set the \"external\" Employee ID field value\n item[dataField.RelatedField] = item[\"EmployeeID\"];\n // Now set all the secondary field values\n SetSecondaryFields(item, dataField, GetEntityInstance(\"http://sp2010srv\", \"Employee\", int.Parse(item[\"EmployeeID\"].ToString())));\n item.UpdateOverwriteVersion();\n }\n }\n}\n\n\nHere is the code for the two helper methods GetEntityInstance and SetSecondaryFields:\n\nprivate static IEntityInstance GetEntityInstance(string nameSpace, string entityName, int entityId)\n{\n BdcService service = SPFarm.Local.Services.GetValue&lt;BdcService&gt;();\n IMetadataCatalog catalog = service.GetDatabaseBackedMetadataCatalog(SPServiceContext.Current);\n IEntity entity = catalog.GetEntity(nameSpace, entityName);\n ILobSystemInstance LobSysteminstance = entity.GetLobSystem().GetLobSystemInstances()[0].Value;\n IEntityInstance entInstance = null;\n\n // Get methods collection \n foreach (KeyValuePair&lt;string, IMethod&gt; method in entity.GetMethods())\n {\n // Get current method's instance \n IMethodInstance methodInstance = method.Value.GetMethodInstances()[method.Key];\n // Execute specific finder method. \n if (methodInstance.MethodInstanceType == MethodInstanceType.SpecificFinder)\n {\n // Create new identity \n Identity id = new Identity(entityId);\n // Execute specific finder method and get the entity instance \n entInstance = entity.FindSpecific(id, entity.GetLobSystem().GetLobSystemInstances()[0].Value);\n }\n } \n\n return entInstance;\n}\n\nprivate static void SetSecondaryFields(SPListItem listItem, SPBusinessDataField dataField, IEntityInstance entityInstance)\n{\n // Convert the entity to a formatted datatable\n DataTable dtBDCData = entityInstance.EntityAsFormattedDataTable;\n\n // Set the BCS field itself (Display Value)\n listItem[dataField.Id] = dtBDCData.Rows[0][dataField.BdcFieldName].ToString();\n\n // Get the specific finder method to get the columns that returns\n IMethodInstance method = entityInstance.Entity.GetMethodInstances(MethodInstanceType.SpecificFinder)[0].Value;\n ITypeDescriptorCollection oDescriptors = method.GetReturnTypeDescriptor().GetChildTypeDescriptors()[0].GetChildTypeDescriptors();\n\n // Set the column names to the correct values\n foreach (ITypeDescriptor oType in oDescriptors)\n {\n if (oType.ContainsLocalizedDisplayName())\n {\n if (dtBDCData.Columns.Contains(oType.Name))\n {\n dtBDCData.Columns[oType.Name].ColumnName = oType.GetLocalizedDisplayName();\n }\n }\n }\n\n // get the secondary field display names; these should be set\n string[] sSecondaryFieldsDisplayNames = dataField.GetSecondaryFieldsNames();\n\n // loop through the fields and set each column to its value\n foreach (string columnNameint in sSecondaryFieldsDisplayNames)\n {\n Guid gFieldID = listItem.Fields[String.Format(\"{0}: {1}\", dataField.Title, columnNameint)].Id;\n listItem[gFieldID] = dtBDCData.Rows[0][columnNameint].ToString();\n }\n}", "General\n\nDefault Values\n\nJava uses default values for all its fields. Meaning :\n\n\npublic Node(){\n item = null;\n next = null;\n}\n\n\n\nDoes nothing except take up space for you. I would remove it, and the other lines / constructors like it. Some consider it bad practice to rely on the default values, you can then explicitly state the default value of a field on the same row as you are declaring it.\n\nprivate Node head = null;\n\n\nReference\n\nInconsistency\n\nYou are inconsistent at spacing your code. I also recommend having fields at the right below the class declaration. I should not have to look for the fields, I want to find them instantly.\n\nBug in remove, insertBefore\n\nIf head is null, then current.next will throw a NullPointerException. I suggest guarding against null for head first in the method.\n\nif (head == null) {\n System.out.println (\"Item doesn't exist in the list.\");\n return;\n}\n\n\nNitpicks\n\npublic void add(T item)\n\nYou always execute the size++; why have it in two different places? And not directly under Node p = new Node (item);\n\npublic boolean isEmpty()\n\nLooks perfect, why can't every method turn out to be like this? One option is to match against head == null as well, however in terms micro-optimization, it is slower.\n\npublic int getSize()\n\nNothing needs to be said, a simple getter.\n\npublic void remove(T item)\n\nInstead of letting it handle the error printing, let remove return a boolean, true if removed, false if not, making it more flexible to use in future applications.", "The image component has an Experience Editor Button. If you check the item /sitecore/layout/Renderings/Feature/Experience Accelerator/Media/Image you will see that the field &quot;Experience Editor Buttons&quot; there has a selection &quot;Edit Image&quot;. This is the button that is added in the XP editor.\nYou can achieve similar functionality with Edit Frames (edit frames can be added through the variants).\nMore information on both options can be found in this blog: https://himynameistim.com/blog/custom-experience-buttons-vs-edit-frames-in-sitecore\nFrom that blog:\n\nTo set up a custom experience button:\n\nIn the core database navigate to /sitecore/content/Applications/WebEdit/Custom Experience Buttons and\ncreate a new item based on Field Editor Button.\nOn your button item make sure you set an icon and the list of fields the button should allow the content editor to edit. These\nshould be pipe separated.\nSwitch to the master DB and navigate to the rendering item for your component\nIn the field for Experience Editor Buttons select the new button\n\n\nUpdate\nIn the Fields section of the button you have to add the exact names of the fields you want to add. As far I can see in the screenshot, you didn't use the names of the fields of a Promo template so that is the reason the editor is blank (the fields you added do not exist in that context)", "There were two things wrong here:\n\n\nIncorrect indexer for the type of field\nBad (default) format for storing IDs.\n\n\nThe default indexing process meant that we were indexing the raw field value of the multilist as a string. The fact that there was a custom IndexedItem class with an array property did not change this and in fact, the raw field text was appearing in the first element of this array. The solution to this was to index the field as a computed index field meaning it would be indexed as an array. I created a custom ComputedIndexField class (implementing Sitecore.ContentSearch.ComputedFields.IComputedIndexField). This ComputedIndexField was patched under sitecore\\contentSearch\\configuration\\indexes\\index@id=myindex\\configuration\\documentOptions\\fields@hint=raw:AddComputedIndexField with the element:\n\n&lt;field fieldName=\"search_tags\"&gt;MyProject.Foundation.Indexing.Infrastructure.Fields.SearchTagsComputedField, MyProject.Foundation.Indexing&lt;/field&gt;\n\n\nThe class is below:\n\npublic class SearchTagsComputedField : IComputedIndexField\n{\n public string FieldName { get; set; }\n public string ReturnType { get; set; }\n\n public object ComputeFieldValue(IIndexable indexable)\n {\n var indexItem = indexable as SitecoreIndexableItem;\n if (indexItem == null)\n {\n return null;\n }\n\n var item = indexItem.Item;\n var tagsFieldValue = item[Templates.ISearchDetails.Fields.Tags];\n var ids = ID.ParseArray(tagsFieldValue);\n var idList = ids.Select(IdHelper.NormalizeGuid).ToList();\n return idList;\n }\n}\n\n\nWe read the raw value of the field, then use ID.ParseArray to get a collection of IDs. Sitecore.ContentSearch.Utilities.IdHelper.NormalizeGuid(ID) converts the IDs to strings in the numeric format (≡ guid.ToString(\"N\")). \n\nNote that IdHelper.NormalizeGuid(string) formats IDs with dashes (≡ guid.ToString(\"D\")) which is pretty crazy IMHO!\n\nIndexing IDs in the numeric format is a better idea, especially with Azure search as it does not seem to treat dashes in the same way as Lucene.", "In order to set a lookup field using CSOM, the ID of the item from the lookup list should be specified. This ID can then be used to set the listitem's FieldLookupValue.\n\n FieldLookupValue lv = new FieldLookupValue();\n lv.LookupId = 1;\n item[\"Project\"] = lv;\n item.Update();\n clientContext.ExecuteQuery();\n\n\nBelow is provided the complete example for specifying a lookup field using CSOM\n\npublic static void SetListItemLookupValue()\n{\n ClientContext clientContext = new ClientContext(\"http://intranet.contoso.com/\");\n List list = clientContext.Web.Lists.GetByTitle(\"Docs\");\n FieldCollection fields = list.Fields;\n CamlQuery camlQueryForItem = new CamlQuery();\n camlQueryForItem.ViewXml = @\"&lt;View&gt;\n &lt;Query&gt;\n &lt;Where&gt;\n &lt;Eq&gt;\n &lt;FieldRef Name='ID'/&gt;\n &lt;Value Type='Counter'&gt;4&lt;/Value&gt;\n &lt;/Eq&gt;\n &lt;/Where&gt;\n &lt;/Query&gt;\n &lt;/View&gt;\";\n ListItemCollection listItems = list.GetItems(camlQueryForItem);\n clientContext.Load(listItems, items =&gt; items.Include\n (listItem =&gt; listItem[\"Project\"],\n listItem =&gt; listItem[\"Editor\"],\n listItem =&gt; listItem[\"Title\"]));\n clientContext.ExecuteQuery();\n ListItem item = listItems[0];\n\n FieldLookupValue lv = item[\"Project\"] as FieldLookupValue;\n if(lv == null) lv = new FieldLookupValue();\n lv.LookupId = 1;\n item[\"Project\"] = lv;\n item.Update();\n clientContext.ExecuteQuery(); \n}", "In order to easily use the field value in a &lt;Text /&gt; field helper component, you will need to adjust your query a bit:\n\nquery {\n contextItem: item(path: \"{22C1A19D-CEE3-5E4E-ADB5-373A0E225C91}\") {\n id\n path\n ...on AppRoute {\n articleTag {\n jss\n }\n }\n }\n}\n\n\nThe result of the query will give you something like this for the articleTag field:\n\n\"articleTag\": {\n \"jss\": {\n \"id\": \"5f705809-5366-505e-999d-f7c6ce48ef3e\",\n \"url\": \"/path/to/referenced/item\",\n \"fields\": {\n \"Manual\": {\n \"value\": \"This is some text in the Manual field from the item that is referenced by the Article Tag field\"\n }\n }\n }\n}\n\n\nNote: in Experience Editor, the result will also contain an \"editable\" property/value, e.g.\n\n\"Manual\": {\n \"value\": \"This is some text in the Manual field from the item that is referenced by the Article Tag field\",\n \"editable\": \"[Experience Editor markup goes here]\"\n}\n\n\nThen you would pass the jss.fields.Manual property to the field helper component, e.g.\n\nconst { contextItem } = graphQLResult;\n\n&lt;Text field={contextItem.articleTag.jss.fields.Manual} /&gt;\n\n\nThe jss property is a JSON blob that contains the field value as rendered by Layout Service/JSS and is for use in JSS field helper components.\n\nAlternatively, you don't have to use the JSS field helper components. If you just need the articleTag.targetItem.fields.Manual value to display as text in your component, you can certainly do that.\n\nquery {\n contextItem: item(path: \"{22C1A19D-CEE3-5E4E-ADB5-373A0E225C91}\") {\n id\n path\n ...on AppRoute {\n articleTag {\n targetItem {\n Manual: field(name:\"Manual\"){\n value\n }\n }\n }\n }\n }\n}\n\n\nThe result of the query will give you something like this for the articleTag field:\n\n\"articleTag\": {\n \"targetItem\": {\n \"Manual\": {\n \"value\": \"This is some text in the Manual field from the item that is referenced by the Article Tag field\"\n }\n }\n}\n\n\nUsage:\n\nconst { contextItem } = graphQLResult;\n\n&lt;div&gt;\n Name: {contextItem.articleTag.targetItem.Manual.value}\n&lt;/div&gt;\n\n\nHowever, that value will not be editable in Experience Editor. If you need the field/value to be editable, you should use the value from the jss property.\n\nThe sample apps have good examples of this in the GraphQL-ConnectedDemo component and query. The links below are to the React sample, but the Vue and Angular samples have similar.\n\nQuery: https://github.com/Sitecore/jss/blob/dev/samples/react/src/components/GraphQL-ConnectedDemo/query.graphql\n\nComponent: https://github.com/Sitecore/jss/blob/dev/samples/react/src/components/GraphQL-ConnectedDemo/index.js", "I think your first UX challenge is that the Add Button will fall off the bottom of the screen (fall beneath the fold) as soon as you add a few people. If that Add button's click is the moment that you save your data, then letting it leave the visible part of the screen is dangerous. The user may leave the app with unsaved data and should the app subsequently close (due to resource crunch or the phone being turned off), that data would be lost forever. \n\nTo address this, I would suggest saving your data every time it changes. Change the quantity, auto save it. Add a person to an item, auto save it. There should never be a moment when the data on the screen and the data which has been saved differ from each other. \n\nSimilarly, why are you waiting for them to press the Done button before splitting the bill? Just add each person's current total next to their name in the \"person selection\" area.\n\nThis should allow you to drop both the Add and Done buttons, leaving you with two lists, (items and people) and two buttons (new-item and back). \n\nThe item entry form should only appear after new-item is tapped, or when one of the existing items is tapped, signifying that the user wants to edit that previously entered item.\n\nTapping the user list, selecting a user when the item entry form is not open, should possibly repurpose the item list, showing the selected user's price for each item (along with how many people are also paying for that item's total purchase).\n\nOne more thought...\nHow much does the sushi cost? Is the app dedicated to a particular restaurant, so the prices are already know to it, or should a unit price field be added near the quantity field?", "From the CartThrob documentation.\n\n\n Decide whether or not you will manage inventory on an item-wide or\n based on a specific group of item-options. Select the inventory field\n in CT settings > product settings > product channels. Map your\n inventory field to the field that will be used to track inventory. If\n you haven't created an inventory field yet, just add a text field to\n your channel fields for your product channel.\n\n\nhttps://www.cartthrob.com/docs/pages/application_flow/#how-inventory-is-tracked", "I managed to find out how these fields were getting their values defaulted. There was custom code written in our solution that hooked into the OnItemCreated event. The code was checking for this specific template and setting the item fields based on some custom logic.\n\nIt was something similar to this.", "Update, if you need the field to look blank, you can use a zero width space as the \"empty\" value:\n\n\nGet the character on your clipboard here\nIn Step 1 below, modify the \"API Name\" of the picklist value (you'll see it in saved picklist values on the field). Paste the zero width space in as the API name.\nIn Step 2 below, paste that same zero width space into the default value of the field.\n\n\nThis is a hack, technically, but the field LOOKS empty. \n\nOriginal\n\nTry adding ---None--- as the first picklist value in the actual list of values and then make the first value the default one. \n\nThen you can add all the translations you need.\n\nStep 1:\n\n\nStep 2:", "Create a list \"Divisions\" to hold division names\nCreate a list \"Branches\" to hold branch names, with a Lookup field to the Divisions list\nAdd a Lookup field to \"Divisions\" and another Lookup field to \"Branches\" in your main list, where you're trying to limit branches by division.\nIn your main list, on the List tab in the ribbon, go to List Settings. Click Advanced Settings. Change the last option (Launch forms in a dialog?) to No and click OK.\nIn your main list, click \"Add new item\"\nOn the new item form page, Edit Page (from Site Actions)\nAdd a Content Editor Web Part and \"Click here to add new content\"\nOn the ribbon click HTML and select Edit HTML Source\n\n\nAdd the below code, then click Stop Editing. Repeat for edit form (edit an item, Edit Page, add code, stop editing)\n\n&lt;script src=\"https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.12.0/jquery.min.js\"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;\n&lt;script src=\"https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery.SPServices/2014.02/jquery.SPServices-2014.02.min.js\"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;\n&lt;script&gt;\n siteURL = \"http://yoursiteurl\";\n ParentList = \"Divisions\";\n ChildList = \"Branches\"; //The list containing branches and a lookup to divisions\n MainList = \"Cascading\";\n\n $(document).ready(function(){\n $().SPServices.SPCascadeDropdowns({\n relationshipWebURL: siteURL,\n listName: MainList,\n relationshipList: ChildList, \n relationshipListParentColumn: \"Divisions\", //The name of the divisions column in your Branches list\n relationshipListChildColumn: \"Title\", //The name of the branches column in your Branches list\n relationshipListSortColumn: \"Title\", //The name of the branches column in your Branches list\n parentColumn: \"Division\", //The name of the division column in your main list\n childColumn: \"Branch\" //the name of the branch column in your main list\n });\n });\n&lt;/script&gt;", "Have a look at the Drupal Commerce issue about \"Revise the way we handle price amount values\". Especially comment nr 37 in it, which states:\n\n\n The price field is and will continue to store price amounts as integers ...\n\n\nSo rounding an amount of 1500 dollarcents is ... still 1500, right? And that is the amount of user points you're granting. And because of that, your rule works as implemented: you're using that value of 1500 as the amount of userpoints to be granted.\n\nObviously, all you need to do next is to expand your rule to devide the price by 100 first (before rounding it). I assume you know how to do that, if not use this link ... bonus hint: have a look at the example rule included in the answer to \"How to add up all items of a field collection field using Rules?\", especially the \"Calculate a value\" Rules Action.", "A SharePoint 2010 list view web part can only interpret one wildcard filter from the query string parameters at a time.\n\nIf you need to apply multiple wildcard filters to a list view, you can use SharePoint Designer to add parameters to the list view and filter the view by those parameters. \n\nYou can then hook into those parameters with web part connections through the browser, using filter web parts or the more basic HTML form web part, or you can have the parameter values come from the query string.\n\nUsing SharePoint Designer to Automatically Filter on Query String Parameters\n\n\nEdit the desired page in SharePoint Designer\nClick within the body of a list view on the page to bring up the List View Tools menu in the ribbon\nIn the Options tab in List View Tools, click the Parameters button to open the \"Data View Parameters\" dialog\nClick the \"New Parameter\" button\n\n\nName the parameter something meaningful; I'd go with topicFilter if you're filtering on the topic field, for example\nChange the Parameter Source to \"Query String\"\nSet the Query String Variable to a short value, such as \"topic\"... this is what you'll be appending to the URL as a query string parameter\nIf you want certain items to be displayed or hidden when no parameter value is provided, put in a default value based on your requirements\nClick the \"OK\" button when done\n\nClick within the body of your list view again and this time click the Filter button in the Options tab\nAdd a new clause\n\n\nChoose the column you want your parameter to filter against in the Field Name column\nChoose \"Contains\" from the dropdown in the Comparison column\nIn the Value dropdown, choose your newly created parameter value (which you named in step 4 above)\n\n\n\nWhen you save the page, your list view will now filter on the value provided to the query string. For example, if you added a parameter that uses a query string variable called \"topic\", you can filter by that parameter by appending ?topic=value to your URL, where value is the value by which you want to filter.\n\nYou can repeat the process to add more filtering parameters to filter on multiple fields.\n\nHaving the Filters Show All Items By Default\n\nThe above technique generally results in the list view showing no items until you provide the required filtering parameters.\n\nIf you need the opposite functionality-- with the view showing all items, but allowing you to gradually drill down based on provided filter values-- the only option I'm aware of is to have the default value for the filter be something that will always be true. Unfortunately, that's very much dependent on your column values. \n\nFor example, if you can finagle it so that your topic column always contains the topic plus an asterisk character, then a default filter value of * will show all entries. \n\nA potential solution is to copy the column values to another column with some wildcard character appended. This can be accomplished via workflow or event receiver, or even just a calculated column, although that can affect your filtering options since calculated columns can't be indexed. The new column can be hidden from the forms as desired, since you don't want users directly changing its value. \n\nOnce you have the new column populated, you can then adjust your list view in SharePoint Designer so that the parameter has that wildcard character as a default value, and then adjust the filtering so that it filters against the new column instead.", "Step 1\n\nTo get your rule to work like you want it to work, for the \"Complaint\"-part you should use these Rules Conditions (in the specified order):\n\n\nEntity has field, for your \"select list\" field.\nList contains item, whereas:\n\n\nthe list is also about that same \"select list\" field.\nthe item you want to check for (if it is contained in the list) is \"Complaint\".\n\n\n\nWith those 2 Rules Conditions, your Rules Action to be performed is to send the eMail to complaint@web.com.\n\nFor an example Rule (in rules export format) in which you can see this at work, refer to the answer to \"How to check for product taxonomy term in Rules actions (Ubercart)\". In that case it's about a list of taxonomy terms, but the idea is the same.\n\nStep 2\n\nCreate a similar rule by reepeating Step 1, but now for \"Feedback\".\n\nStep 3 (optional)\n\nIf you'd be willing to also use the Conditional Rules module, you could merge the rules from Step 1 and 2 in a single rule, ie because this module allows you to include Rules Conditions as part of Rules Actions.", "Adding to what @mark-cassidy said:\n\n\nLinks Database stores relations between field values, and items for each database (web, master, core, and additional ones), language and version.\nA Clone keeps a reference back to it's originator item in the __Source field. This will add 1 entry to the Links database per item, field, database, version, and language.\n\n\nSee in the image below the entries in the Links database for a cloned item:\n\n\n\nFor the sake of illustration, I cloned the sample Home page that comes in a vanilla XP 9.1.1 installation, published it, and checked the links database.\n\n\n\nThe cloned item (Cloned Home) has a total of 22 rows, while the original one (Home) has a total of 41 rows. \n\nWhile it is true to say that cloned items produce less entries in the database - as long as they continue as clones -, they still produce nearly half the amount of the original one.\n\nIn the image below the first set of records are from the cloned item. The second are from the original item." ]

[ "Listen afternoons all week to DJ Flexx for your chance to win a Pay-Per-View prize pack, which includes a $250 Visa gift card, two T-shirts and two posters.\nAnd be sure to check out one of the most anticipated boxing events — Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor — on August 26.\nCourtesy of Mayweather Promotions and Verizon" ]

[ "Floyd Mayweather fights Conor McGregor in a 154-pound matchup on August 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada.\nThe unlikely, unprecedented bout pits the undefeated American boxer against the pound-for-pound king of mixed-martial arts (MMA). Both men rank as the undisputed pay-per-view champions of their respective sports. Mayweather exceeded 4.4 million buys in his 2015 fight against Manny Pacquiao and McGregor attracted 1.6 million subscribers in his victory over Nate Diaz last year.\nOn a Wednesday evening conference call, Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe, UFC President Dana White, and Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza raised expectations that domestic pay-per-view buys could break records.\n“We’re going to have our calculators ready and all the batteries charged,” Espinoza said. “The sky’s the limit.”\nMcGregor, although 21-3 in MMA, makes his boxing debut against the man some consider the best practitioner of the sweet science in history. Mayweather, 40, returns from a two-year retirement. Despite the layoff, he remains a heavy betting favorite.\nEllerbe tried to inflate the chances of his boss’s foe, noting McGregor fighting in his prime at 28 and his heavy hands. “When he touches people,” he noted, “they fall out.” Dana White pointed to McGregor’s southpaw style as a “kink” in Mayweather’s armor.\nThe parties characterized the negotiations as almost effortless. They refused to reveal the purse split or absolute paydays. The fighters agreed to 10-ounce gloves and USADA drug testing. White dismissed the notion of McGregor resorting to MMA tactics should the fight go the wrong way for him by stating that he likes money more than anything and would face massive “lawsuits” if he violated the agreed upon rules. No one on the conference call confirmed a pay-per-view price. But White saying. “You can’t charge what you normally charge for a pay-per view,” indicates a pricing-point similar to the $99 cost of the Pacquiao-Mayweather pay-per view.\n“We’ve actually tapped into the audience that doesn’t follow either sport,” Espinoza maintained. “This is such an unprecedented event, such a spectacle.”", "Floyd Mayweather Jr. will come out of retirement to meet UFC star Conor McGregor in an Aug. 26 boxing match that will feature two of the top-selling fighters in the world.\nThe two fighters both announced the fight Wednesday, after months of speculation about whether Mayweather would be lured back to the ring at the age of 40 to face a mixed martial arts fighter who has never had a pro boxing fight.\nOddsmakers immediately made Mayweather a big 11-1 favorite in a fight that will take place in a boxing ring and be governed by boxing rules. It will take place at 69.85 kg.\n“It’s official,” Mayweather said on Instagram next to a video poster of both fighters.\n“THE FIGHT IS ON,” McGregor tweeted several minutes earlier, posting a picture of himself next to one of Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr.\nMayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face the Irish UFC superstar at the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip. He had tweeted a picture of himself sparring in recent days to show he was already getting ready for the bout.\n“This is really an unprecedented event,” said Stephen Espinoza, who heads Showtime Sports, which will handle the pay-per-view. “Really we haven’t seen anything in modern history that resembles it, it’s impossible to predict how many sales this will do.”\nEspinoza said the fight came together quickly after McGregor and the UFC reached agreement last month on their end of the deal and Mayweather’s team pushed for the fight in recent days.\n“All parties were motivated and reasonable and thrilled we could get everything done,” he said. “The sky’s the limit on this.”\nMcGregor, the wildly popular UFC star, is 21-3 in UFC fights, and is coming off a win in November against Eddie Alvarez in which he became the promotion’s first two-division champion. Though he hasn’t boxed professionally, McGregor did box while growing up and is known for his striking expertise in UFC.\n“The impossible deal is now happening,” UFC chief Dana White said on ESPN.\nThe two fighters are expected to do a press tour shortly before going into final training for the fight. The cost of tickets and the price of the pay-per-view has not been decided, though the pay-per-view is expected to be at or near the $99.95 charged for Mayweather’s 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao that drew a record 4.4 million pay-per-view buys.\nMayweather will come off a two-year retirement in a bout that McGregor has been pushing for nearly that long. It finally came together and Nevada boxing officials on Wednesday approved the date for a Mayweather Promotions bout.\nMayweather last fought in September 2015, beating Andre Berto and then announcing his retirement. His fight before that, a decision win over Pacquiao, was the richest in boxing history and reportedly made him more than $200 million.", "The sporting world was left stunned on Wednesday night when it was announced that the undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather would come out of retirement to fight UFC star Conor McGregor on August 26.\nThe two men both revealed a date had been set on their respective social media accounts, with oddsmakers immediately setting Mayweather as the huge 11/1 favourite in a fight that will take place in a boxing ring governed by boxing rules.\nThe fight will take place at 154 pounds.\nMayweather published a short promotional video on Instagram which confirmed the involvement of Showtime Sports and appeared to reveal the fight would be held at the T-Mobile arena on the Las Vegas Strip.\n“This is really an unprecedented event,” said Stephen Espinoza, who heads Showtime Sports, which will handle the pay-per-view. “Really we haven't seen anything in modern history that resembles it, it's impossible to predict how many sales this will do.”\nThe two fighters are expected to do a press tour shortly before going into final training for the fight.\nMayweather v McGregor: In numbers\n19 show all Mayweather v McGregor: In numbers\n1/19 Mayweather v McGregor: In numbers What are the numbers behind the eagerly-anticipated super-fight between the two men?\n2/19 Zero The number of defeats Mayweather has suffered in his 19-year professional career Getty Images\n3/19 1 The number of times Mayweather has touched the canvas throughout his professional career. He came back to win the fight via a unanimous decision Getty Images\n4/19 2 The number of UFC championship belts McGregor (briefly) held when he defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 Zuffa LLC via Getty Images\n5/19 3 The number of times McGregor has been defeated: losing to Artemji Sitenkov in 2008, Joseph Duffy in 2010 and Nate Diaz in 2016 Getty Images\n6/19 12 McGregor’s age when he began boxing at Crumlin Boxing Club under two-time Olympian Phil Sutcliffe Getty Images\n7/19 13 The number of seconds it took McGregor to knock out José Aldo at UFC 194, to win the UFC Featherweight Championship Getty Images\n8/19 23 The number of fights Mayweather has won by decision Getty Images\n9/19 25 In 2016, Mayweather was ranked by ESPN as the greatest boxer, pound for pound, of the last 25 years Getty Images\n10/19 40 Mayweather’s age. He is 12 years older than McGregor Getty Images\n11/19 46% Mayweather’s average connect rate, according to CompuBox and compiled over his past nine fights. It’s one of the best in the history of the sport Getty Images\n12/19 49 The number of wins Mayweather has racked up in his professional career. He requires only one more to surpass Rocky Marciono’s flawless record of 49-0. Getty Images\n13/19 84-8 £150,000 Mayweather’s sterling amateur record. He won the national Golden Glove championships at three different weight classes Getty Images\n14/19 $150,000 The fine dished out to McGregor for throwing a bottle at Nate Diaz in a press conference ahead of UFC 202. The fine has delayed the announcement of a boxing match against Mayweather Getty Images\n15/19 1,650,000 The pay-per-view buy rate for McGregor’s eagerly anticipated rematch against Diaz at UFC 202, making the event the most successful non-boxing PPV event in the history of fightsports Getty Images\n16/19 19,500,000 The number of PPV buys Mayweather has garnered in his entire career Getty Images\n17/19 $34,000,000 McGregor’s career earnings, as estimated by Forbes at the start of June 2017 Getty Images\n18/19 $1,300,000,000 The total revenue Mayweather has generated in his career Getty Images\n19/19 14,000,000,000 The number of social media impressions Conor McGregor made in 2016 Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas\nThe cost of tickets and the price of the pay-per-view has not been decided, although the pay-per-view is expected to be at or near the $99.95 charged for Mayweather's 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao, that drew a record 4.4 million pay-per-view buys.\nIn the United Kingdom, the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight was broadcast on Sky Sports and cost £19.95 to watch. In Ireland, the fight cost €24.95. The Mayweather v McGregor fight will likely be priced at an even higher fee.\nThe pay-per-view revenue for the event would likely gross tens of millions of dollars. It comes less than a month before Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez meet in a highly anticipated fight Sept. 16 that could rival it for pay-per-view buys.\nMcGregor is the UFC's most lucrative fighter ( Getty )\n“As with every Mayweather and McGregor fight part of the appeal is the spectacle and outsize personalities who are participating in it,” Espinoza said.\nThere has not yet been any information on how much tickets for the fight will cost, although as with the pay-per-view price, ticket costs will likely rival those charged for the Mayweather v Pacquaio fight.\nMayweather v Pacquaio, dubbed ‘The Fight of the Century’, was held at the 17,157-capacity MGM Grand Garden Arena, while the American’s fight against McGregor appears more likely to be staged at the 20,000-capacity T-Mobile Arena.\n'Money' Mayweather has generated $1.3 billion in revenue throughout his career (Getty)\nNevertheless, ticket prices would likely be similar. Tickets for the previous fight cost between $1,500 and $7,500 and were notoriously difficult to purchase, because of the amount handed out to sponsors, promoters and celebrities.\nThe tickets made available to the public sold old within seconds of going on sale, with tickets immediately appearing on ticket exchange websites for as much as $85,000.\nThe most expensive, priced at $128,705 (£85,348), were floor side seats.\nMayweather's fight against McGregor has already been tipped to become the most lucrative fight in the history of sport, with some describing it as the world’s first billion-dollar fight.", "Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather is no fantasy.\nToday (June 14), Mayweather took to his Instagram account to announce that a boxing match between himself and McGregor is indeed official. See it for yourself.\nMcGregor and Mayweather will do battle inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Aug. 26. It’ll be the main event of a Showtime pay-per-view (PPV).\nYesterday, an event was marked for Aug. 26 on the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) calendar. The card was penciled in by Mayweather Promotions. Later on, the NSAC confirmed they had approved the event.\nMcGregor is the reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight title holder, while Mayweather is coming out of retirement in hopes of going 50-0 in his professional boxing career.", "The long-in-the-works negotiations to pit multiple world-title-winning boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC champ Conor McGregor in the boxing ring are now a done deal, and it is certain to be a knockout for pay-per-view cash and Showtime.\nMayweather, semi-retired from his unblemished 49-0 boxing career that featured several mega-fights that made him the PPV king, made the announcement on his Instagram account today that he will fight current UFC lightweight champ McGregor on August 26 in Los Vegas. It will be produced and distributed via Showtime’s PPV arm.\nMayweather, 40, has not fought since September 2015, and now the two years-plus of smack talk will culminate in a fight against McGregor, 28, who has never been in even an amateur boxing match. Showtime said the matchup will be a boxing event, contested in a ring, under boxing rules.\nShowtime and HBO teamed to air the biggest PPV event of all time, in which Mayweather fought Manny Pacquiao in May 2015. The networks said about 4.6 million viewers tuned in, amassing more than $400 million in revenue domestically. McGregor, meanwhile, has three of the mixed martial arts org’s five top PPV totals.\nShowtime handles Mayweather’s fights.\n“We are thrilled to bring this incredible event to a global television audience via Showtime PPV,” said Stephen Espinoza, EVP and GM of Showtime Sports. “This matchup is unprecedented. There has been overwhelming demand from fight fans and it’s great to be able to deliver.\n“As we’ve already seen this evening, Mayweather vs. McGregor has generated buzz that reaches far beyond that of the considerable boxing and MMA audience. Both Floyd and Conor are trend-setting personalities who’ve transcended their respective sports. They carry unmatched reputations for spectacle and athleticism, and together they will create a once-in-a-lifetime event.”", "Follow KYS On Twitter: Follow @939WKYS\nThe much talked about fight between future Boxing Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather & UFC Champion Conor McGregor has reportedly been signed and sealed. The two fighters are set to box August 26th in Las Vegas, Nevada.\nTerms of the deal were not available but this fight is expected to be one of the biggest pay-per-view draws ever.\nSign Up For Our Newsletter!\nClose Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription.\nThe mega-fight will take place at either the MGM Grand Garden or T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Neither UFC president Dana White, Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe could be reached for comment.\nMayweather decided to put down his gloves after posting a 49-0 record and wins over Manny Pacquiao and his final match versus Andre Berto. He currently promotes a vast stable of fighters under his Maywether Promotions banner including Baltimore’s IBF Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis own McGregor currently the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion with a 21 and 3 record (18 Wins by knockout).\nMcGregor took to Twitter to announce the fight.\nTHE FIGHT IS ON. pic.twitter.com/KhW0u3jRft — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 14, 2017\nIf you don’t know, the other guy in the photo is Floyd Mayweather’s father.\nSource | Yahoo Sports\nAlso Check Out: Baltimore Native Gervonta Davis Wins IBF Junior Lightweight Title\nAlso Check Out: Floyd Mayweather Caught Arguing With His Daughter’s Cheer Team Judges", "Several hours have passed since either Conor McGregor or Floyd Mayweather Jr. have done something to generate headlines across the Internet so it was past time for a new development in the saga of the rumored mega-fight.\nIt was Mayweather’s turn to hit social media shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning.\n“Listen, Conor McGregor, if you really want to get this fight done,” Mayweather posted on Twitter. “Take care of your business with the UFC and then have your people get in touch with my people.”\nIt was a big change from Tuesday afternoon when Mayweather shot down rumors of a deal between the two fighters to compete in a boxing match by posting on Twitter that he was enjoying retirement.\nIn the Tuesday posting on social media, Mayweather didn’t mention McGregor by name.\nMcGregor responded with a picture of himself in Las Vegas, suggesting his presence in Mayweather’s hometown had caused the boxer to back down from the challenge.\nMayweather’s latest post references the UFC’s insistence that the organization would have to be involved in any potential deal involving McGregor, who is under contract with the organization.\nThe fighters have sparred in the media for the last year. Each has said they would need a guaranteed purse of at least $100 million, plus a share of pay-per-view revenues to make a deal on what would be a historic fight.\nLast month, UFC president Dana White offered both fighters $25 million and a share of the pay-per-view revenue.\nSources have confirmed talks have taken place though no deal appears imminent, despite a Tuesday report in The Irish Sun that McGregor and Mayweather had come to terms on a deal pending resolution of a “third party hold-up.”\nContact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-277-8028. Follow @adamhilllvrj on Twitter.", "By TIM DAHLBERG\nAP Boxing Writer\nLAS VEGAS (AP) - Floyd Mayweather Jr. will come out of retirement to meet UFC star Conor McGregor in an Aug. 26 boxing match that will feature two of the top-selling fighters in the world.\nThe two fighters both announced the fight Wednesday, after months of speculation about whether Mayweather would return at the age of 40 to face a mixed martial arts fighter who has never had a pro boxing fight.\nOddsmakers immediately made Mayweather a big 11-1 favorite in a fight that will take place in a boxing ring and be governed by boxing rules. It will take place at 154 pounds.\n\"It's official,\" Mayweather said on Instagram next to a video poster of both fighters.\n\"THE FIGHT IS ON,\" McGregor tweeted several minutes earlier, posting a picture of himself next to one of Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr.\nMayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face the Irish UFC superstar at the T-Mobile arena on the Las Vegas Strip. He had tweeted a picture of himself sparring in recent days to show he was already getting ready for the bout.\n\"This is really an unprecedented event,\" said Stephen Espinoza, who heads Showtime Sports, which will handle the pay-per-view. \"Really we haven't seen anything in modern history that resembles it, it's impossible to predict how many sales this will do.\"\nEspinoza said the fight came together quickly after McGregor and the UFC reached agreement last month on their end of the deal and Mayweather's team pushed for the fight in recent days.\n\"All parties were motivated and reasonable and thrilled we could get everything done,\" he said. \"The sky's the limit on this.\"\nFinancial terms were not released, though Mayweather got the greater share of revenue when he fought Manny Pacquiao and is expected to have a similar percentage against McGregor.\nDepending on pay-per-view sales, both fighters could earn huge purses, though probably not the $200 million or so Mayweather earned for Pacquiao.\n\"Everybody's happy,\" said Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe.\nMcGregor, the wildly popular UFC star, is 21-3 in UFC fights, and is coming off a win in November against Eddie Alvarez. Though he hasn't boxed professionally, McGregor did box while growing up and is known for his striking expertise in UFC.\n\"The reason he's such a superstar is this guy will fight anyone, anywhere and at any time,\" UFC chief Dana White said about his fighter. \"It's the right fight at the right place at the right time.\"\nThe two fighters are expected to do a press tour that should provide fireworks shortly before going into final training for the fight.\nThe cost of tickets and the price of the pay-per-view has not been decided, though the pay-per-view is expected to be at or near the $99.95 charged for Mayweather's 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao that drew a record 4.4 million pay-per-view buys.\nMayweather will come off a two-year retirement in a bout that McGregor has been pushing for nearly that long. It finally came together and Nevada boxing officials on Wednesday approved the date for a Mayweather Promotions bout.\nMayweather last fought in September 2015, beating Andre Berto and then announcing his retirement. His fight before that, a decision win over Pacquiao, was the richest in boxing history and reportedly made him more than $200 million.\nThough oddsmakers make Mayweather a big favorite, the thought of the fight has excited many in the MMA world. It has also intrigued some in boxing, though most dismiss McGregor's chances under boxing rules against one of the greatest defensive fighters in history.\nAdding to McGregor's challenge the fighters will be using 10-ounce boxing gloves instead of the smaller UFC gloves and he will not be allowed to use the leg kicks or takedowns that are used in mixed martial arts.\nEven if the actual bout may not shape up as a great matchup, the run-up to the fight will. Both fighters are noted for their ability to sell their fights, and both have exchanged in trash talking and more to promote their bouts.\n\"As with every Mayweather and McGregor fight part of the appeal is the spectacle and outsize personalities who are participating in it,\" Espinoza said.\nThe pay-per-view revenue for the event would likely gross tens of millions of dollars. It comes less than a month before Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez meet in a highly anticipated fight Sept. 16 that could rival it for pay-per-view buys.\nCopyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.", "Share this:\nTweet\nThe much-anticipated superfight is going down, but will it haul in the bucks?\nConor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced Wednesday they will fight each other on Aug. 26, in Las Vegas. So now that the fight has a date and a venue (T-Mobile Arena), it’s time to talk money.\nMayweather’s bout with Manny Pacquiao in 2015 shattered records, bringing in a whopping $623.5 million. And many believe the tussle between the undefeated Mayweather and the Irish UFC champion has a chance to eclipse that number.\nESPN’s Darren Rovell talked to a number of experts from the boxing, gambling, marketing, ticketing and merchandise worlds to determine if the Mayweather-McGregor fight will indeed be the most lucrative bout ever.\nAnd he determined that while Mayweather and McGregor both are insanely marketable, the fight will fall short of the staggering number posted by Mayweather-Pacquiao.\nWhile Rovell estimates Mayweather’s fight with McGregor will beat the Pacquiao fight in sponsorship sales, merchandise and pay-per-view purchases, he concludes the battle between the two outspoken fighters will come up short in ticket sales and betting.\nThe ESPN business reporter puts the average price of a ticket to the Aug. 26 showdown at $3,600, which falls short of the average ticket to Mayweather-Pacquiao that sold for an average of $4,451 per ticket. Rovell estimates Mayweather-McGregor will take in $60.5 million in ticket sales, almost $20 million less than the $79.1 million that Mayweather’s fight with Pacquiao claimed.\nBut where the superfight between “Money” and “The Notorious” really will fall short is in the betting market. Mayweather’s defeat of Pacquiao drew $70 million in gambling, but his fight with McGregor is projected to bring in only $30 million in gambling due to the initial odds.\nRovell estimates that when all the money is counted up, Mayweather-McGregor will be worth $589.5 million, or $34 million less than Mayweather-Pacquiao.\nThat’s still a large chunk of change.\nThumbnail photo via Joshua Dahl/USA TODAY Sports Images", "By Carol Barry | Metro |\nConor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather have settled the terms of their super fight, according to reports in Ireland.\nThe two combat sports stars have been verbally sparring for months while McGregor insisted his next fight will be in a boxing ring against Mayweather.\nMayweather too has said he believes the fight will go ahead as he prepares to come out of retirement to face the UFC star.\nMcGregor has never boxed professionally, but obtained a license in December and has been training for a fight in the ring.\nThe Irish Sun claim the deal is done between the fighters and that they are waiting on a third party to sign off on the contract.\nMcGregor and Mayweather have reportedly settled on the fight purses and pay-per-view cuts, but have yet to put pen to paper.\nThat may be because the third party is UFC boss Dana White who has already said he does not want his biggest star in the ring with a 49-0 boxer.\nWhite warned McGregor that fighting the UFC would lead to an ‘epic fall’, but the president did make his own offer to Mayweather to fight the Irishman.\nBut White may sign off on the fight when the clash could be the biggest pay-per-view event in boxing history.\nMayweather has already said he will not fight for anything less than $100 million, while McGregor would be in line to smash his UFC purse record, $3 million, by facing the American.\nMcGregor will be in Las Vegas this week to film an anti-bullying video as per his settlement with the Nevada State Athletic Commission after the bottle throwing incident with Nate Diaz at UFC 202.\nIt is believed the UFC lightweight champion will use the time in Vegas to get the deal signed off on by the third party.", "Former multiple world champion Floyd Mayweather has agreed a deal for a boxing match against mixed martial artist Conor McGregor in Las Vegas on August 26.\nMayweather confirmed the bout - which will take place under normal boxing rules despite McGregor having never boxed either amateur or professionally - via social media.\nThe 40-year-old Mayweather announced his retirement after winning his 49th straight bout against Andre Berto also in Las Vegas in September 2015.\nMayweather will reportedly be paid over 100 million US dollars for the contest, which will be broadcast on pay-per-view networks across the world.\nMcGregor has become one of the most recognisable mixed martial artists in the world since he won the UFC featherweight title in December 2015.", "The Mayweather vs. McGregor megafight is almost here.\nUndefeated welterweight boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. will come out of retirement to face UFC superstar Conor McGregor on Saturday, Aug. 26, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Mayweather vs. McGregor tickets are expected to cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000.\nMORE: Trailer for Mayweather vs. McGregor will get you pumped\nMayweather, regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of all time, opened as a huge favorite to beat McGregor in the boxing match, but the underdog's odds were slashed in half after their world tour.\nMayweather last fought on Sept. 12, 2015, with a win over Andre Berto to push his record to 49-0 and retain his welterweight championship. McGregor is 21-3 as an MMA fighter and has won UFC championships at 145 and 155 pounds. Mayweather and McGregor will fight at 154 pounds, according to UFC President Dana White.\nMORE: Boxing experts react to Mayweather vs. McGregor announcement\nHow do the two match up? Here is everything you need to know about the Mayweather vs. McGregor megafight.\nWhen, where is the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight?\nMayweather vs. McGregor will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Aug. 26.\nHow to watch Mayweather-McGregor fight, PPV price\nMayweather vs. McGregor will be available in the U.S. on Showtime boxing pay-per-view with live streaming available for various devices. The PPV fight will cost $99.95 in HD (or $89.95 for SD).\nIn Germany and Austria, live streaming of the fight will be available on the DAZN platform, in some cases for free. You can find out more about coverage in this region from SPOX.\nMayweather vs. McGregor odds\nThe opening moneyline tabbed Mayweather as a huge favorite at -2,250 with McGregor at +950. It quickly dipped to -1,100 for Mayweather and +700 and the early wagers had the line down to -800 for Mayweather and +500 for McGregor. What does that mean? For the laymen, it means that a $100 bet on McGregor would win $500 plus the original wager back if he were to win. But in order to win $100 with a Mayweather victory, someone would have to place a wager of $800.\nAs of mid-July, McGregor was being given 7:2 odds (+350) after his world media tour, while Mayweather dropped to a 1:5 (-500) favorite.\nMayweather vs. McGregor purse\nUFC president Dana White previously stated Mayweather could pocket around $100 million for the fight, with McGregor hauling in around $75 million. That would be a record payday for McGregor. The pay-per-view is expected to gross around $475 million.\nTale of the tape, records\nMayweather McGregor Records 49-0, 26 KOs 21-3, 18 KOs Height/Weight 5-8, 147 5-9, 154 Reach 73 inches 74 inches Age 40 28\nDetails for Mayweather vs. McGregor fight\nThe fight will be a 12-round bout at 154 pounds and the boxers will each wear 10-ounce gloves. The undercard for the main event is expected to include only boxers under Mayweather's promotion firm, Mayweather Promotions. Those boxers include Badou Jack with WBA world light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly as a possible opponent. IBF super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis could also defend his belt.", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nSo it's finally here. Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor have agreed on a date and are set to face off in a ring on August 26.\nThe Las Vegas super-fight, which was confirmed on Wednesday night following weeks of negotiations, will be contested over 12 rounds and could generate upwards of £500million.\nThe fight is the first of its kind.\nIt will be the first time Mayweather, the greatest boxer of his generation with a perfect record from 49 bouts, will step into a ring in two years.\nVideo Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now\nIt will also be the first time Dublin-born McGregor, the current UFC lightweight title holder, will box professionally.\nUnsurprisingly the fight has split opinion among fans. On one hand purists see the event devaluing the sport of boxing, while others find the whole idea fascinating.\nThe money involved is undoubtedly a huge draw for the athletes.\n(Photo: Getty Images)\nUFC president Dana White has claimed McGregor, the man who revolutionised the sport of MMA, will pocket $100million (£78.5m) from the fight.\nMayweather on the other hand is likely to take home significantly more from the fight, which will be contested at light-middleweight - a figure north of £100million.\nTaking to Twitter in their droves on Thursday morning, fight fans have all had something to say about the confirmed event.\n(Photo: PA)\nAnd interestingly, many have a similar view on things.\nMost think the idea is a bit ridiculous... but that aside, are still prepared to pay to watch the fight. Well, you can't miss it, can you?", "\"THE FIGHT IS ON,\" McGregor tweeted several minutes earlier, posting a picture of himself next to one of Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr.\nMayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face the Irish UFC superstar at the MGM Grand arena. He had tweeted a picture of himself sparring in recent days to show he was already getting ready for the bout.\n\"This is really an unprecedented event,\" said Stephen Espinoza, who heads Showtime Sports, which will handle the pay-per-view. \"Really we haven't seen anything in modern history that resembles it, it's impossible to predict how many sales this will do.\"\nEspinoza said the fight came together quickly after McGregor and the UFC reached agreement last month on their end of the deal and Mayweather's team pushed for the fight in recent days.\n\"All parties were motivated and reasonable and thrilled we could get everything done,\" he said. \"The sky's the limit on this.\"\nMayweather will fight at the relatively advanced age of 41 in a bout that McGregor has been pushing for months. It finally came together and Nevada boxing officials on Wednesday approved the date for a Mayweather Promotions bout.\nThough oddsmakers make Mayweather a big favorite, the thought of the fight has excited many in the MMA world. It has also intrigued some in boxing, though most dismiss McGregor's chances under boxing rules against one of the greatest defensive fighters in history.\nEven if the actual bout may not shape up as a great matchup, the run-up to the fight will. Both fighters are noted for their ability to sell their fights, and both have exchanged in trash talking and more to promote their bouts.\n\"As with every Mayweather and McGregor fight part of the appeal is the spectacle and outsize personalities who are participating in it,\" Espinoza said.\nThe pay-per-view revenue for the event would likely gross tens of millions of dollars. It comes less than a month before Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez meet in a highly anticipated fight Sept. 16 that could rival it for pay-per-view buys.", "Apparently, dreams do come true.\nConor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather have finally agreed terms for a fight as the world prepares for what could be the most anticipated bout of all time.\nUFC legend McGregor and undefeated Mayweather will take to the ring on August 26 in Las Vegas with the war of words finally coming to a head in Sin City.\nArticle continues below\nMcGregor, having never boxed professionally, is undoubtedly the underdog, but Mayweather, who has not fought for two years since his victory over Andre Berto in September 2015, will be taking nothing for granted.\nMayweather comes into the bout with an immense 49-0 record and will be desperate to make it 50 when he battles the Irishman.\nArticle continues below\nThe fight will be conducted under boxing rules, for 12 rounds in the 154lb light-middleweight division.\nAlready an almighty bidding war is expected for the rights to televise the titanic battle in the UK between broadcast giants BT Sports and Sky.\nThe sheer scale of the numbers involved is quite simply dazzling.\nRumoured sums of at least $500 million leave one having to sit and breathe deeply, with each fighter expected to earn around $100 million each.\nThere has been a bitter back and forth between the two men as McGregor tried to draw Mayweather out, and now, it seems to have worked.\nBoth men held nothing back as they subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) fired vicious verbal jabs in the others direction.\nFinally, the world has a date to look forward to, when all the noise will end and two of the biggest names in sport get down to business in the ring.\nThe build up will be unlike anything we have seen before. Already anticipation levels are at an all-time high and it is only just beginning.\nThe August 26 bout could quite easily eclipse the Manny Pacquiao-Mayweather blockbuster in magnitude before a punch is even thrown.\nDo YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms", "LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor posted on their social media Wednesday that “It’s Official!!!” and “The Fight Is On,” hours after an Aug. 26 fight date at the MGM Grand was approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.\nThe August fight date was also confirmed by Showtime executive vice president Stephen Espinoza.\nMayweather Promotions secured the Showtime pay-per-view date, setting up a novel showdown between the 40-year-old Mayweather (49-0), who retired as boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, and McGregor, the UFC’s only simultaneous two-division champion.\nThough Mayweather’s supreme skill, seen in his one-sided victory over Manny Pacquiao in 2015, is viewed as the top reason that McGregor is considered more than a 25-1 underdog, the brash Irishman’s verbal ability and striking power create intrigue to help sell a fight that could potentially challenge Mayweather-Pacquiao’s 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.\nThanks to months of taunts, McGregor goaded former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo into pursuing a quick knockout in their 2015 meeting. Instead, Aldo rushed into a left-handed punch and was finished in a title-fight-record 13 seconds.\nMcGregor later avenged a loss to Nate Diaz with sharp boxing skills, and he decked then-lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez repeatedly before finishing him in November.\nMayweather’s resume includes boxing sessions against world-class pugilists Oscar De La Hoya, Diego Corrales, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez and Pacquiao.\nMGM Grand was also the venue for the record-shattering $72-million live gate for Mayweather’s victory over Pacquiao.\nMayweather, his manager, Al Haymon, and UFC President Dana White were said to be still negotiating purse splits and pay-per-view percentages when McGregor first posted his news.\nThough some insiders speculated the date was too soon, given the need for training time, both fighters have recently posted photos of themselves in the gym, and the date is ideal for McGregor, who has told White he’d like to fight once in the UFC as well before the end of the year.\nWhile Mayweather, 40, has been sidelined since announcing his retirement following a victory over Andre Berto in September 2015, McGregor has been off since producing the striking clinic in winning the lightweight (155-pound) belt from Alvarez in November in the main event of the UFC’s first Madison Square Garden card.\nMcGregor has taken this year off because of the birth of his son.\nThe placement of the fight at the MGM Grand might seem odd considering that Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena seats about 4,000 more fans, but a fight promotional expert said the MGM Grand is ideal because it allows Mayweather and Haymon to dictate prices to ticket brokers.\n“They know the formula, know what the supply and demand will be,” said the official, who declined to be identified because he’s employed by a rival promoter.\n“By adding in 4,000 extra seats, the brokers might’ve tried to say, ‘We’re not paying that … ,’ but now they really have no choice.”\nlance.pugmire@latimes.com\nTwitter: @latimespugmire", "California: Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor -- the kingpins of their respective sports -- announced Wednesday they would fight on August 26 in Las Vegas.\nThe 40-year-old Mayweather announced the fight on his Instagram account with a graphic saying \"IT`S OFFICIAL!!!\" showing pictures of both fighters and listing Las Vegas as the location. McGregor sent out a tweet stating \"THE FIGHT IS ON.\" He also included photos of the pair.\nMMA promoter Dana White said the bout would take place at the T-Mobile Arena and it would be a boxing match at 154-pounds with 10 ounce gloves.\n\"We have been in negotiations for a while,\" White told American sports broadcaster ESPN. \"The negotiations went smooth. Floyd Mayweather surrounds himself with smart people and we got the deal done.\"\nMcGregor is the top pay-per-view draw in UFC while Mayweather had been the moneyspinner in some of boxing`s biggest bouts, including matchups with Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao and US star Oscar De La Hoya. Mayweather earned $250 million for his fight against Pacquiao.\nNeither Mayweather or McGregor have competed this year. Mayweather retired from pro boxing in 2015 after defeating Andre Berto, while McGregor (21-3) defeated Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.\nWhite said the key to finalizing the fight was luring Mayweather out of his 23-month retirement.\n\"Everybody is happy with this deal,\" White said. \"Nobody is bummed out.\"\nThe boxing format heavily favours the undefeated Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs) who many consider to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.\nMcGregor, a 28-year-old Irishman, will be entering unknown territory as he has not stepped in a boxing ring since he was a teenager.Despite having little or no boxing experience, White insists his MMA client McGregor is confident of victory. McGregor is UFC`s only simultaneous two-division champion.\n\"He is absolutely, 100 percent positive he will win this fight. When two men step into the ring anything can happen,\" White said of southpaw McGregor.\nThere will, of course, be no titles on the line, but it is an opportunity for both to cash in financially.\nThe fight is expected to be a pay-for-view blockbuster, as organizers are hoping it can challenge the 4.6 million pay-per-view buys for Mayweather-Pacquiao.\nNot everyone will be excited to see a Mayweather-McGregor exhibition match, especially considering that McGregor is a 25-1 underdog.\nBoxing champion turned promoter De La Hoya said a fight between the two would be an embarrassment for the sport of boxing.\nBut the trash-talking Irishman has a dedicated fan base and knows how to sell tickets.\nIn his last fight, McGregor won the lightweight title from Alvarez in November 2015 in UFC`s first Madison Square Garden card.\nAt one time promoters were looking at a September 16 date for Mayweather-McGregor but it is now taken by a Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin middleweight world championship fight at T-Mobile Arena.\nMcGregor received a California boxing license last year but is still waiting for his Nevada boxing license application to be approved.", "Floyd Mayweather's bout with Conor McGregor will be \"the biggest fight ever\", according to UFC president Dana White.\nFormer multi-weight world champion Mayweather confirmed a deal has been agreed for a boxing match against mixed martial arts champion McGregor in Las Vegas on 26 August.\nMayweather will reportedly be paid over $100million for the contest, which will be broadcast on pay-per-view networks across the world.\nAnd White, in whose organisation Irishman McGregor has become a world champion, told Fox Sports: \"It's definitely the biggest fight ever in combat sports history, and probably going to be the biggest payday ever.\n\"Let's just put it this way - all sides involved are pretty happy with their deals!\"\nThe 40-year-old Mayweather announced his retirement after winning his 49th straight bout against Andre Berto, also in Las Vegas in September 2015.\nThree months later McGregor won the UFC featherweight title. After splitting two high-profile bouts with Nate Diaz, he then knocked out Eddie Alvarez to add the organisation's lightweight title in December last year.\nThe fight was first mooted in a series of exchanges on social media, in which McGregor urged Mayweather to step up and sign.\nGiven McGregor's non-existent boxing experience and Mayweather's reputation as one of the finest fighters in history, many observers are already predicting a mis-match but White told ESPN: \"(McGregor) is absolutely 100 per cent positive that he wins this fight, and I stopped doubting Conor McGregor a long time ago.\n\"Floyd Mayweather is 40 years old, he's always had problems with southpaws. Conor McGregor is 27 and he is a southpaw. Whenever Conor hits people, they fall.\n\"I'm not saying Conor McGregor's going to win. I'm not saying Floyd Mayweather's going to win. But the reason Conor McGregor's as big as he is is he'll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. He will go after Floyd Mayweather and he will try to knock him out.\"\nWhite said the fight would be at 154lbs - light middleweight - telling Fox: \"It's going to be 12 rounds, they're going to wear 10oz gloves, 154lbs, a boxing ring, Mayweather Promotions will build the undercard - it's going to be a boxing event.\"\nWhite told reporters in a conference call that there is no language in the contract concerning a rematch.", "The most anticipated fight in boxing has finally been announced (Pictures: Getty)\nFloyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor’s hotly anticipated superfight has finally been agreed, with the two fighters confirming the news on Wednesday evening.\nTony Bellew reveals the one thing David Haye must do for him if he wants rematch\nThe negotiations to set up the crossover fight have become one of the longest-running sagas in recent sports news, but they have at last agreed fees and terms and committed to the showdown.\nThe fight will take place in Las Vegas on Saturday August 26 as Mayweather looks to retain his undefeated record in the ring, having won his previous 49 bouts.\nMcGregor and Mayweather have been involved in constant verbal scraps as they struggled to agree terms, and the Irishman was in typically antagonistic mood when he announced the fight.\nRather than posting a picture of Mayweather Jnr, McGregor teased the upcoming fight with a picture of his father and trainer.\nTHE FIGHT IS ON. pic.twitter.com/KhW0u3jRft — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 14, 2017\nThe bout will be distributed via Showtime pay-per-view, while Mayweather Promotions will be the lead promoter, with the venue expected to be either the MGM Grand Garden or T-Mobile Arena.\nMayweather has not fought since 2015, having seemingly retired, but has been enticed back into the ring for a fight that could earn each man in excess of $100 million\nWhile Mayweather is considered one of the all-time great pound-for-pound boxers, McGregor has never boxed before, either amateur or pro, but is the first man to hold two UFC championships simultaneously.\nThe bookies make Mayweather the overwhelming favourite to win the fight, despite McGregor having trained intensively over the past few months in preparation for taking on Mayweather.\nMORE: Conor McGregor tops Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko on Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list", "LAS VEGAS (AP) Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC star Conor McGregor will meet Aug. 26 in a boxing match that will feature two of the top-selling fighters in the world.\nThe two fighters both announced the fight Wednesday, after months of speculation about whether Mayweather would come out of retirement at the age of 40 to face a mixed martial arts fighter who has never had a pro boxing match.\nOddsmakers immediately made Mayweather a big 11-1 favorite in a fight that will take place in a boxing ring and be governed by boxing rules.\n“It’s official,” Mayweather said on Instagram next to a video poster of both fighters.\n“THE FIGHT IS ON,” McGregor tweeted several minutes earlier, posting a picture of himself next to one of Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr.\nMayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face the Irish UFC superstar at the MGM Grand arena. He had tweeted a picture of himself sparring in recent days to show he was already getting ready for the bout.\n“This is really an unprecedented event,” said Stephen Espinoza, who heads Showtime Sports, which will handle the pay-per-view. “Really we haven’t seen anything in modern history that resembles it, it’s impossible to predict how many sales this will do.”\nEspinoza said the fight came together quickly after McGregor and the UFC reached agreement last month on their end of the deal and Mayweather’s team pushed for the fight in recent days.\n“All parties were motivated and reasonable and thrilled we could get everything done,” he said. “The sky’s the limit on this.”\nMayweather will fight at the relatively advanced age of 41 in a bout that McGregor has been pushing for months. It finally came together and Nevada boxing officials on Wednesday approved the date for a Mayweather Promotions bout.\nThough oddsmakers make Mayweather a big favorite, the thought of the fight has excited many in the MMA world. It has also intrigued some in boxing, though most dismiss McGregor’s chances under boxing rules against one of the greatest defensive fighters in history.\nEven if the actual bout may not shape up as a great matchup, the run-up to the fight will. Both fighters are noted for their ability to sell their fights, and both have exchanged in trash talking and more to promote their bouts.\n“As with every Mayweather and McGregor fight part of the appeal is the spectacle and outsize personalities who are participating in it,” Espinoza said.\nThe pay-per-view revenue for the event would likely gross tens of millions of dollars. It comes less than a month before Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez meet in a highly anticipated fight Sept. 16 that could rival it for pay-per-view buys.\n—\nThis story has been corrected to show that Mayweather is 40 years old, not 41.", "Showtime Sports has released the official poster for the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing match, which was officially announced today.\nMayweather (49-0 boxing) and McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will clash in a 154-pound boxing bout on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas. The card will be a Showtime pay-per-view broadcast, though a price point has not been announced.\nThe fight is already being touted as one of the most financially lucrative combat sports contests in history, and the artwork that will go along with promotion for the fight has been released.\nFor more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.", "Aug 11, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Conor McGregor hits a heavy bag during a media workout in preparation for his fight against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at UFC Performance Institute. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports\n(Reuters) - Fight fans attending the much-hyped boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial artist Conor McGregor will have a chance to rub shoulders with the stars in Las Vegas -- but it won't come cheap.\nThe cheapest ticket listed on reseller StubHub is going for an eye-watering $1675 with two weeks to go until the Aug. 26 fight which pits undefeated boxer Mayweather against the UFC's lightweight champion in a 12-round super welterweight matchup.\n\"Usually for these large events it's comparable to a Super Bowl. There's going to be a lot of stars at these events, especially in the high-priced ticket range, the ringside seats,\" StubHub spokesman Cameron Papp said.\n\"This is a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list event, so the die-hard Mayweather and McGregor fans are usually going to find their way to the event.\"\nAug 10, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Floyd Mayweather Jr. hits a heavy bag during a media workout in preparation for his fight against Conor McGregor at Mayweather Boxing Club. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports\nThe fight has not yet sold out, with high face values and a lack of access seeming to have slowed down demand.\nYet Leonard Ellebre, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, dismissed concerns about the fight's popularity earlier in the week.\n\"This isn't a damn Rolling Stones concert. They're the only thing that sells out in seconds, he told reporters at Mayweather's media workout in Las Vegas on Thursday.\n\"Right now we have over 60 million (dollars) in ticket sales - what part of that remotely looks like ticket sales are slow?\n\"We're talking about tickets that go form $500 to $10,000. That's an expensive ticket.\"", "Unbeaten American professional boxer Floyd Mayweather will fight Irish mixed martial artist and UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor in a much-hyped boxing match on August 26 (August 27 in Australian time) in Las Vegas.\nMayweather and McGregor both confirmed the fight on social media on Thursday.\nThe fight, reportedly worth more than $100 million to Mayweather alone, will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.\nThe Nevada Athletic Commission on Wednesday approved the request from Mayweather Promotions to put on a boxing card.\nThe bout will be distributed via Showtime pay-per-view. It will be an entirely boxing card. Mayweather Promotions will be the lead promoter.\n“Negotiations went smooth, Floyd is surrounded by some smart people and we got this thing done. The impossible deal is now done,” UFC boss Dana White told ESPN.\n“It will be in a ring, it’s a boxing event. Mayweather Promotions will build the undercard for it.\n“Conor McGregor is a guy who’s done a lot of good things over here (in UFC), for the sport and for this company. He wanted this and obviously the fans wanted it too.\n“Not only for him - at the end of the day, my job is to make fights that the fans want to see.”\nIt is a stunning development given that Mayweather, the greatest boxer of his era, had said he was retired after compiling a 49-0 pro record from 1996 through 2015.\nMayweather is considered the greatest boxer of his generation and among the best of all-time. The fight with McGregor, in addition to paying him in excess of nine figures, will give him the opportunity to improve to 50-0.\nMcGregor is one of the elite mixed martial arts fighters in the world, but has never boxed before, either amateur or pro.\nThe fight will take place under normal boxing rules, with 12 rounds fought at 154 pounds.\nMcGregor and Mayweather. Pic: Getty More\nHe won the UFC’s featherweight title in a 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo on Dec. 12, 2015.\nHe then split a pair of non-title welterweight fights with Nate Diaz before knocking out Eddie Alvarez on Nov. 12, 2016, in New York to win the lightweight belt and become the first fighter to hold two UFC championships simultaneously.\nwith Kevin Iole, Yahoo Sports", "FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2016, file photo, Conor McGregor gestures toward fans while working out at Madison Square Garden in New York. Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Wednesday, June 14, 2017, he will come out of retirement to face UFC star Conor McGregor in a boxing match on Aug. 26. Mayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face a mixed martial arts fighter who has never been in a scheduled 12-round fight at the MGM Grand arena. The fight will take place in a boxing ring and be governed by boxing rules. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)\nLAS VEGAS >> Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Wednesday he will come out of retirement to face UFC star Conor McGregor in a boxing match on Aug. 26.\nMayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face a mixed martial arts fighter who has never been in a scheduled 12-round fight at the MGM Grand arena. The fight that will take place in a boxing ring and be governed by boxing rules.\n“It’s official,” Mayweather said on his Instagram account next to a video poster of both fighters.\n“THE FIGHT IS ON,” McGregor tweeted several minutes earlier, posting a picture of himself next to one of Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr.\nAdvertisement\nMayweather will fight at the relatively advanced age of 41 in a bout that McGregor has been pushing for months. It finally came together over the last few days, and Nevada boxing officials on Wednesday approved the date for a Mayweather Promotions bout.\nThough Las Vegas oddsmakers have made Mayweather a heavy 10-1 favorite, the thought of the fight has excited many in the MMA world. It has also intrigued some in boxing, though most dismiss McGregor’s chances under boxing rules against one of the greatest defensive fighters in history.\nEven if the actual bout may not shape up as a great matchup, the run-up to the fight will. Both fighters are noted for their ability to sell their fights, and both have exchanged in trash talking and more to promote their bouts.\nThe fight will be televised on pay-per-view on Showtime and would likely gross tens of millions of dollars. It comes less than a month before Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez meet in a highly anticipated fight that could rival it for pay-per-view buys.", "* Mayweather favourite to win at T-Mobile Arena * To be broadcast on Showtime pay-per-view * Both camps say happy with deal\nUndefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, two of the most popular athletes in their respective sports, have agreed to a crossover fight in the ring on August 26 in Las Vegas.\nThe fight confirmed on Wednesday is expected to gross millions of dollars, with Mayweather a solid favourite.\nMayweather, 40, retired in 2015 with an unblemished 49-0 professional boxing record while boastful Irishman McGregor, 28, is the UFC's lightweight champion.\n\"IT'S OFFICIAL!!!\" Mayweather wrote on his Twitter account alongside a short video that included photos of both fighters.\n\"THE FIGHT IS ON,\" McGregor tweeted minutes before Mayweather's post.\nTHE FIGHT IS ON. pic.twitter.com/KhW0u3jRft — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 14, 2017\nThe two fighters had gone back and forth for nearly a year on the showdown, each demanding $100 million for the fight.\nBoth camps declined to disclose financial details during a call with reporters but said all sides were satisfied.\n\"Nobody is bummed out about this deal,\" UFC president Dana White said. \"Everybody's happy,\" Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe said.\nWhite told ESPN that the 12-round fight would take place at the T-Mobile Arena and that McGregor would weigh in at 154 pounds.\nMayweather Promotions will publicize the event, which will be available on Showtime pay-per-view.\n\"I talked to Conor McGregor this morning,\" White said. \"He is absolutely, 100% positive that he wins this fight.\"\nIf McGregor pulls that off, it would rank among the greatest boxing upsets of all time.\nMayweather is widely regarded as one of the best defensive fighters ever, and prides himself on his ability to evade punishment with his movement and to make adjustments on the fly.\nMcGregor, the UFC's reigning lightweight champion and former featherweight champion, is known as much for his bravado as for his explosive knockout power inside an MMA octagon.\nThe Irishman became the first UFC fighter to hold two belts simultaneously when he knocked out Eddie Alvarez in New York last November for the lightweight championship.\nKnown for his devastating striking and highlight-reel knockouts, McGregor is also quick on his feet but few would back him to beat one of the most complete boxers of all time.\nA win for Mayweather would move him ahead of former heavyweight great Rocky Marciano, who also retired with a perfect 49-0 career record.\nShowtime Sports executive vice president Stephen Espinoza said the fight had the potential to appeal to an entirely new category of fans.\n\"We're not only drawing from the universe of boxing fans and the universe of MMA fans, we've actually tapped into the audience that doesn't follow either sport,\" he said. \"This is an unprecedented event.\"", "It’s on: Mayweather to fight UFC star McGregor Aug. 26 in Las Vegas\nJohn Locher / AP\nFloyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC star Conor McGregor will meet Aug. 26 in a boxing match that will feature two of the top-selling fighters in the world.\nThe two fighters both announced the fight Wednesday, after months of speculation about whether Mayweather would come out of retirement at the age of 40 to face a mixed martial arts fighter who has never had a pro boxing match.\nOddsmakers immediately made Mayweather a big 11-1 favorite in a fight that will take place in a boxing ring and be governed by boxing rules.\n\"It's official,\" Mayweather said on Instagram next to a video poster of both fighters.\n\"THE FIGHT IS ON,\" McGregor tweeted several minutes earlier, posting a picture of himself next to one of Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr.\nMayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face the Irish UFC superstar at the MGM Grand arena. He had tweeted a picture of himself sparring in recent days to show he was already getting ready for the bout.\n\"This is really an unprecedented event,\" said Stephen Espinoza, who heads Showtime Sports, which will handle the pay-per-view. \"Really we haven't seen anything in modern history that resembles it, it's impossible to predict how many sales this will do.\"\nEspinoza said the fight came together quickly after McGregor and the UFC reached agreement last month on their end of the deal and Mayweather's team pushed for the fight in recent days.\n\"All parties were motivated and reasonable and thrilled we could get everything done,\" he said. \"The sky's the limit on this.\"\nMayweather will fight at the relatively advanced age of 41 in a bout that McGregor has been pushing for months. It finally came together and Nevada boxing officials on Wednesday approved the date for a Mayweather Promotions bout.\nThough oddsmakers make Mayweather a big favorite, the thought of the fight has excited many in the MMA world. It has also intrigued some in boxing, though most dismiss McGregor's chances under boxing rules against one of the greatest defensive fighters in history.\nEven if the actual bout may not shape up as a great matchup, the run-up to the fight will. Both fighters are noted for their ability to sell their fights, and both have exchanged in trash talking and more to promote their bouts.\n\"As with every Mayweather and McGregor fight part of the appeal is the spectacle and outsize personalities who are participating in it,\" Espinoza said.\nThe pay-per-view revenue for the event would likely gross tens of millions of dollars. It comes less than a month before Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez meet in a highly anticipated fight Sept. 16 that could rival it for pay-per-view buys.", "GETTY Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr will fight on August 26\nThe internet went into meltdown on Wednesday when Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather finally confirmed a date had been set for them to fight. McGregor tweeted “the fight is on” in reference to the bout, while Mayweather revealed the date in an Instagram post. Mayweather, 40, is undefeated in his boxing career and could go 50-0 if he beats the Irishman.\nThe five-weight world champion will come out of retirement for the second time to face UFC champion McGregor, 28. He first hung up his gloves in 2008 after 39 fights and then again in 2015, after matching Rocky Marciano’s career record of 49 matches unbeaten. McGregor, who has never boxed professionally, had previously challenged Mayweather to fight under mixed marital arts rules.\nConor McGregor v Floyd Mayweather: A timeline of the superfight buildup Thu, May 18, 2017 Express Sport takes a look at the timeline leading up to a proposed superfight between UFC star Conor McGregor and retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Play slideshow CONOR McGREGOR 1 of 12 May 18, 2017: McGregor confirms he's signed a deal to fight Floyd Mayweather\nUFC president Dana White, who negotiated terms for the southpaw, told ESPN that talks went “smoothly”. He added: “Floyd Mayweather surrounds himself with smart people and we got the deal done. The impossible deal is now done.\"\nThe impossible deal is now done Dana White, UFC president\nThe pair are both tipped to earn £78m ($100m) from the fight. Conor McGregor v Floyd Mayweather date The fighters will meet in the ring on August 26, 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 12-round fight will be light-middle weight at 154lbs.\nConor McGregor v Floyd Mayweather odds Bookmakers have made Mayweather the favourite to win the bout, dismissing McGregor’s chances in a boxing match. Betting site Oddschecker give Mayweather 1/12 odds of a victory with McGregor a 6/1 outsider. Paddy Power are offering 40/1 odds of Mayweather knocking McGregor out in the first round.\nGETTY Floyd Mayweather is undefeated in 49 fights", "After all the talk, all the back-and-forths and speculation, it has finally happened.\nUnbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather will fight UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor in a boxing match. Yes, it's actually happening.\nThe event will take place on Aug 26 in Las Vegas, Yahoo Sports reported on Wednesday evening.\nArticle continues below\nMayweather and McGregor were both extremely well prepared for the announcement. Both men had social media posts ready to go within an hour of the breaking news; Mayweather's featured a video while McGregor posted a humorous picture.\nTerms of the deal - something that held up negotiations for months on end - are not available at this point, but the fight will either be at the MGM Grand Garden or T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.\nArticle continues below\nThe Nevada Athletic Commission approved the request from Mayweather Promotions on Wednesday to put on a boxing card on Aug 26 at the MGM Grand. The venue could change, however, to T-Mobile according to Yahoo Sports' sources.\nThe bout will be distributed via Showtime pay-per-view, but, interestingly enough, it will an entirely boxing card. That means any dreams of other 'cross-promotional superfights' have come to a halt.\nThere will be no David Haye versus Jimi Manuwa, for example.\nMayweather Promotions will be the lead promoter of the event and it certainly seems as if Money has got all his bases covered in holding this event. What the UFC gets out of this deal, or McGregor for that matter, remains to be seen.\nPlenty of fighters from the UFC have expressed an interest in being a part of the card and have claimed they could hang with their boxing contemporaries.\nUnfortunately, it doesn't look like that is the route this event is going to take and it is being treated as a legitimate boxing show.\nAs such, one should expect the card to be filled up by fighters from Mayweather's boxing stable, like Gervonta Davis.\nThe bookies have made Mayweather the early favourites with odds typically looking like 1/16 for Money. Can McGregor shock the world and pull off the ultimate upset? Or, will Mayweather go 50-0?\nDo YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms", "Floyd Mayweather Jr., the best boxer of this generation, is ending his retirement to meet wildly popular UFC champion Conor McGregor, who’ll test himself against massive odds outside the octagon.\nMayweather posted on social media Wednesday that “It’s Official!!!” and McGregor posted, “The Fight Is On,” hours after an Aug. 26 fight date at the MGM Grand was approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.\nMayweather Promotions secured the Showtime pay-per-view date, setting up a novel showdown between the 40-year-old Mayweather (49-0), who retired as boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, and McGregor, the UFC’s only simultaneous two-division champion.\nThough the bout was approved for the MGM Grand, UFC President Dana White said it will take place instead across the Las Vegas Strip at T-Mobile Arena.\n“Part of the appeal is that the fights these guys participate in are more than boxing events or MMA fights. … They’re true spectacles that mainstream society wants to experience,” said Showtime executive vice president Stephen Espinoza.\n“This is a competition you haven’t seen before. The reputations of these men precede themselves, making this a true sporting spectacle. It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime event.”\nThough Mayweather’s supreme skill, seen in his one-sided victory over Manny Pacquiao in 2015, is viewed as the top reason that McGregor is considered a more than 25-1 underdog, the brash Irishman’s outspokenness and striking power create sufficient intrigue to sell a fight that could challenge Mayweather-Pacquiao’s 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.\nMayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe speculated that the fight could generate $500 million in live-gate and pay-per-view sales.\n“Floyd Mayweather has been dominant for so long that people take him for granted,” Espinoza said. “But he’s taken two years off, he is 40, and he’s fighting a much larger, younger, stronger opponent who might not be an experienced boxer, but is experienced in combat sports and knows how to win fights.\n“Boxing rarely goes the way of conventional wisdom, and part of that could be the result of a guy who’s taken some time off and is older.”\nAfter months of taunts, McGregor goaded former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo into pursuing a quick knockout in their 2015 meeting. Instead, Aldo rushed into a left-handed punch and was finished in a title-fight-record 13 seconds.\nMcGregor later avenged a loss to heavier Nate Diaz with sharp boxing skills, and he decked then-lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez repeatedly before finishing him in November.\nYet many fight-game veterans believe that White, by allowing McGregor to risk a one-sided loss, could severely damage the UFC brand a year after the company was sold for $4 billion. To that, White said, “absolutely not.\n“Conor’s a mixed martial artist going into a boxing match with arguably the greatest boxer of all time. It actually elevates Conor McGregor, that this kid who had so much to lose is willing to step in and is absolutely confident he will win this fight,” White said.\n“It’s one of the many reasons that people love Conor McGregor. Win, lose or draw, they’ll continue to love Conor McGregor. … He’ll fight anybody.”\nMayweather’s resume includes boxing sessions against world-class pugilists Oscar De La Hoya, Diego Corrales, Miguel Cotto and Pacquiao.\nThe deal came suddenly and surprisingly.\nA late-night phone call from Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe led to the addition of the subject to the agenda for Wednesday’s Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting.\nMcGregor first posted the news, flashing a picture of Floyd Mayweather Sr. instead of his son, in a side-by-side Twitter post to jab at his opponent’s age.\n“These guys are so anxious to get in camp and get at each other’s throats that they’re ahead of the venue and television [pay-per-view price] prongs,” Espinoza said.\n“It’s amazing what can be done when you have two motivated fighters. There were no snags, no hassles, no changeups at all. … The volume of details to make the fight took time, but not the fighters.”\nTerms of the deal were not revealed, with White saying, “Nobody’s bummed out about this deal.”\nThough some insiders speculated that the date was too soon, given the need for training time, both fighters recently posted photos showing themselves in the gym, and the date is ideal for McGregor, who has told White he’d like to fight once in the UFC as well before the end of the year.\nThe date takes away significant attention from the Sept. 16 middleweight title fight between unbeaten three-belt champion Gennady Golovkin and Mexico’s former two-division champion, Canelo Alvarez.\nWhile Mayweather, 40, has been sidelined since announcing his retirement after a victory over Andre Berto in September 2015, McGregor has been off since winning the lightweight (155-pound) belt from Alvarez in November in the main event of the UFC’s first Madison Square Garden card.\nMcGregor has taken this year off because of the birth of his first child, a son.\nlance.pugmire@latimes.com\nTwitter: @latimespugmire", "By TIM DAHLBERGAP Boxing Writer\nLAS VEGAS (AP) - Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC star Conor McGregor will meet Aug. 26 in a boxing match that will feature two of the top-selling fighters in the world.\nThe two fighters both announced the fight Wednesday, after months of speculation about whether Mayweather would come out of retirement at the age of 40 to face a mixed martial arts fighter who has never had a pro boxing match.\nOddsmakers immediately made Mayweather a big 11-1 favorite in a fight that will take place in a boxing ring and be governed by boxing rules.\n\"It's official,\" Mayweather said on Instagram next to a video poster of both fighters.\n\"THE FIGHT IS ON,\" McGregor tweeted several minutes earlier, posting a picture of himself next to one of Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr.\nMayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face the Irish UFC superstar at the MGM Grand arena. He had tweeted a picture of himself sparring in recent days to show he was already getting ready for the bout.\n\"This is really an unprecedented event,\" said Stephen Espinoza, who heads Showtime Sports, which will handle the pay-per-view. \"Really we haven't seen anything in modern history that resembles it, it's impossible to predict how many sales this will do.\"\nEspinoza said the fight came together quickly after McGregor and the UFC reached agreement last month on their end of the deal and Mayweather's team pushed for the fight in recent days.\n\"All parties were motivated and reasonable and thrilled we could get everything done,\" he said. \"The sky's the limit on this.\"\nMayweather will fight at the relatively advanced age of 41 in a bout that McGregor has been pushing for months. It finally came together and Nevada boxing officials on Wednesday approved the date for a Mayweather Promotions bout.\nThough oddsmakers make Mayweather a big favorite, the thought of the fight has excited many in the MMA world. It has also intrigued some in boxing, though most dismiss McGregor's chances under boxing rules against one of the greatest defensive fighters in history.\nEven if the actual bout may not shape up as a great matchup, the run-up to the fight will. Both fighters are noted for their ability to sell their fights, and both have exchanged in trash talking and more to promote their bouts.\n\"As with every Mayweather and McGregor fight part of the appeal is the spectacle and outsize personalities who are participating in it,\" Espinoza said.\nThe pay-per-view revenue for the event would likely gross tens of millions of dollars. It comes less than a month before Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez meet in a highly anticipated fight Sept. 16 that could rival it for pay-per-view buys.\n___\nThis story has been corrected to show that Mayweather is 40 years old, not 41.\nCopyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.", "Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor are inching closer to a final contract to fight. (FILE)\nThe Nevada State Athletic Commission has approved the Floyd Mayweather Jr. promotional date of August 26 at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.\nAccording to FOX5 Sports Reporter Vince Sapienza, the proposed fight between Mayweather and Conor McGregor will also be aired on Showtime.\nI can confirm the Nevada State Athletic Commission has approved @MayweatherPromo date of Aug. 26th @MGMGrand, will be aired by @Showtime — Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) June 14, 2017\nThe mega-fight between the two superstars still hasn't been officially approved by the athletic commission, as documents from both are missing, but many in the boxing world say the fight is imminent.\nStay with FOX5 for updates on this story when more information becomes availale.\nCopyright 2017 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.", "Boxer Floyd Mayweather announced an August 26 fight against UFC star Conor McGregor on Instagram on Wednesday.\nMayweather, who retired following a September 2015 fight, will fight McGregor in a boxing match at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, according to ESPN.\nUFC president Dana White said the fight would be at 154 pounds with 10-ounce gloves. It will be broadcast by Showtime Pay-Per-View.\nMcGregor is 21-3 as a UFC fighter and is considered one of the best MMA fighters in the world. He will be making his professional boxing debut against Mayweather. Mayweather is unbeaten in 49 fights and is considered a massive favorite to defeat McGregor.\nMayweather, 40, is recognized as one of the best fighters in the history of boxing.\nMayweather’s 2015 fight against Manny Pacquiao generated record revenue for both participants with both boxers making nine figures. The McGregor fight is expected to rival those amounts.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this report." ]

[ "I really like this product. It is easy to throw in lunch bag and go. It taste good. Recommend this purchase." ]

[ "This is probably some of the best chocolate I have tasted. I actually bought it at a store in Toronto and the bar was old and white. It was still better than any chocolate that I have tasted and I have probably had about 1000 different labels. Highly recommended", "On Sri Lanka - which means \"Resplendent Island\" in Sanskrit - tea has been cultivated since the second half of the 19th century. After in 1869 most of the island's coffee plantations were devastated by a fungus that left the few (at the time, only experimentally planted) tea bushes untouched, a Scotsman named James Taylor, who had acquired some basic knowledge on tea plantation in Northern India, was put in charge of production. Under his shrewd management, output rose from a mere 23 lbs. to 81.3 tons between 1873 and 1880, and further to 22,899.8 tons by 1890.<br /><br />Most of Sri Lanka's tea plantations are situated at elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet in the island's southwestern part, to the east of Colombo and in the south. Although the island changed its official name from the colonial Ceylon (from Selan Dwipa, which possibly means \"Island of Gems\") to Sri Lanka in 1972, many companies continue to use the old name for its tea.<br /><br />Taylors' single-estate Ceylon tea comes from one of Sri Lanka's oldest and most distinguished tea growing areas, the Dimbula region on the western slopes of the southern/central mountain range; with plantations from approximately 3,500 to 5,000 feet above sea level. It is representative of the lighter teas for which this area is particularly well-known. Like all Ceylon teas, it makes for an excellent breakfast tea, but also great pick me up throughout the day." ]

[ "There is a whole line of Asian shirts that were banned. Here is a list of them with pictures: http://www.snopes.com/racial/business/tshirts.htm\\n\\nA couple of them are located in this eBay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/Abercrombie-Fitch-T-shirt-Lot-Moving-to-NY-Small_W0QQitemZ8409406317QQcategoryZ57990QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem\\n\\nOther then that, you will have to search for them individually on places like eBay." ]

[ "best I could find was a t-shirt with a silkscreened image\\n\"Dyed using 100% Hawaiian red dirt from the beautiful Garden Island of Kauai. \\nHeavyweight 5.6 oz cotton crewneck tee shirt\"\\nhttp://www.realdirthawaii.com/rd_shaka_t.htm", "http://www.cooltan.com/\\n\\nThey also have t-shirts that are tan through also!", "I haven't seen it, but it's available here\\n\\nhttp://www.asiancult.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_33_68&products_id=2157&osCsid=035fc51aa20532f74096ec2f5882d2d2", "Create a store at http://www.cafepress.com - all you have to do is create images with photoshop, and they'll put them on T-shirts and sell them for you. You get the difference of the base price and the markup price. Very easy, no strings attached, you just need to get people there to buy your t-shirts.", "Church of Godzilla, PTL.\\n\\nhttp://www.8ball.co.uk/tshirt/3/26677/T-Shirt/TV-&-Film-T-Shirts/Church-Of-Godzilla-T-Shirt/", "i wera abercrombie and fitch, hollister, american eagle, stuff from pacsun like billabong and sideout, and other cool stuff!", "why dont you email abercrombie and ask them contact them threw this link\\nhttp://www.abercrombie.com/anf/lifestyles/html/contactus.html\\ni hope it works out it sound like it would be fun job", "No (i wish) but where did u get a'Jim'll fix it' T-Shirt. I really really want one\\n\\nCheers", "A CD, t-shirt, movie, a gift certificate...... anything really . If he is a good friend he won't care what you buy him he will love whatever you pick.", "try liverpoolfc.tv where you can get a \"we all dream of a team of Carraghers\" t-shirt", "This sounds like a custom made shirt, and not one you'll find on these \"generic\" t-shirt sites. You're best bet, is to try to contact E-37's firehouse, and see if the t-shirt is available thru them. If Boston is like Chicago, there are several stations who have shirts made up to sell to visiting firemen, buffs, or whoever just walks in to visit. These shirts aren't even available at the fire commissary. So, give em a call..if they don't have them, I'm sure they can point you in the right direction!\\n\\n(I also posted this same answer to your other inquiry)", "Try this site you I have several of their shirts and they hold up pretty well.\\n\\nhttp://www.aoshirts.com/", "i like both, but abercrombie better. im wearing it right now, along with chick by nikki hilton.", "They sell them at U.S. Cellular Field. There are shirts that say Cuck the Fubs, Cubs Suck, and my favorite one has the Cubs logo but it reads \"cork\" instead of \"Cubs\"", "Find a t shirt you like and a photo of dean martin on the internet, and take it to a t shirt shop that transfers photos. There are tons of shops that do that.", "Oriental trading company is a good place to start. They have several items like CTR items and WWJD items for a resonable price shipped right to your door.", "Abercrombie-for kids\\nAbercrombie&Fitch-for men and women(teens)", "Stamp it on T-shirts and give away 10 000 free. Find 10 top sportsmen to wear your T-shirts.", "WEll, i do gymnastics. Usually i wear a leotard with shorts over it and my gym's t-shirt. it also depends where you go to do gymnastics. The gymnastics place i used to go to, most people just wore shorts and t-shirts or tank tops, but where i go now, most people wear leotards. To be safe, the first time you go, just wear a sweatsuit or shorts and a t-shirt, and see what everyone else is wearing. i dont live in baltimore, but you can get them, at any store like target or wal-mart, but for a larger selection, i suggest a specialty store.", "im pretty sure the T stands for the way it looks becuase it doesnt have a collar and it has shirt sleeves and its a shirt... so im saying they call it a T-shirt becuase its shaped like a T and is a shirt =D hope u do good on ur report", "I think you can buy one on the internet at uproar.com\\n\\nI may be mistaken.", "jeans and a t-shirt...", "You can purchase it here. It is towards the bottom of the page...", "Look at Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/NEVER-SUMMER-Mens-MD-HALF-EAGLE-Long-Sleeve-T-SHIRT_W0QQitemZ7224011738QQcategoryZ36290QQcmdZViewItem", "Victoria Secret, Abrocrombie,American Eagle.Oops and HOT TOPIC!!!!", "There are two. Currently they are:\\n\\n01 Neil Abercrombie D Honolulu \\n02 Ed Case D Honolulu", "There is a place called SMC (Specialty Merchandise Company)\\nLook them up online", "Being a racist against white people is just as possible as being a racist against blacks, hispanics, or asians. There are groups that are racist towards white people. \"The Black Nationals\" is the most prominent right now, although the \"New Black Panthers\" is catching up quickly.", "plain blue jeans and a t-shirt", "Best thing to use is an old white cotton t-shirt and some kind of regular glass cleaner. (Windex is fine.)\\n\\nYou can buy the expenive eye-glass cleaners, but they aren't so good... Well... if you buy the anti-fogging kind for cold weather, that' a good use for it.\\n\\nHeck, a shirt tail and a little spit will work, but beware of harsh fabric or it could scratch your glasses.\\n\\nTake care.", "you can go on eBay and they have ABC dist. products on their and also LTD dist. is also a great spot", "7 night cruise will have 2 formal nights and 3 to 5 night will have one formal night where you should come in a suit or at least a dress shirt and a tie.\\nMost other nights at dinner, it's collared shirt or a polo shirt.. but I have seen people in T shirt and Jeans even some people in shorts... it's not like they are going to kick you out or not serve you but since you are in a public place, sharing tables with others, you want to be courteous and dress properly for dinner.\\n\\nLunches, breakfasts or alternative dinners, you can pretty much wear whatever you want.. T shirts.. shorts..\\n\\nCruise casual would be minimum of a Polo style shirt or a short sleeve button down shirt.. and jeans or khaki pants.." ]

[ "Crews are responding to an explosion at a home near 77th and Old Cheney Rd.\nScanner traffic says two people are severely burned and there is debris in the streets. They say the home is leveled. There are reports of ammunition going off in the home.\nWe have a reporter on the scene and will bring you updates as soon as possible." ]

[ "Firefighters from at least three departments battled and knocked down a massive blaze in a Firestone neighborhood after an explosion was reported Monday afternoon.\nOne person, who was in the home, was taken from the scene by an AirLife medical helicopter. The person’s name, age, gender and condition were not released.\nFrederick-Firestone Fire Protection District spokeswoman Summer Campos said a call about the fire came in at about 4:30 p.m. The fire was burning near the intersection of Colorado 119 and Weld County Road 13, northwest of the Firestone Regional Sports Complex.\nCrews are providing aid to @FFFPD for a residential structure fire near Hwy 119 / WCR 13 in Firestone. Significant smoke visible in the area — Mt View Fire Rescue (@MVFireRescue) April 17, 2017\n“We did call in extra resources,” she said. “We’re just working on getting it under control. We’re just making sure that everything is officially out.”\nCampo said authorities were called to the scene on reports of a house explosion.\n“We don’t know if that’s actually what happened,” she said.\nOfficials didn’t immediately have any further information on injuries. No one was reported missing as of 6 p.m.\nThe fire briefly began to spread into an adjacent home but crews were able to knock it down.\nTelevision news helicopter images from the scene showed firefighters spraying water into the smoking remnants of the house. It appeared as if neighboring homes were damaged as well.\nBy about 6 p.m., all that was left of the home was a smoldering crater surrounded by debris.\n“It’s going to take some time to figure out what caused that explosion,” Campos said. “We don’t know that at this time.”", "Posted By: Channel 8 Eyewitness News\n8@klkntv.com\n(Lincoln, NE) – Omaha based band 311 is coming to the capitol city!\nThey'll be playing in downtown Lincoln as part of a concert series called \"Lincoln on the Streets.\" The show will be on June 30th at Centennial Mall and M Street. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 17 at 10AM at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 800.745.3000.\nThe stop is part of a 40-show North American summer tour launching on June 22 in Cleveland. 311 is set to return with their 12th studio album titled MOSAIC , due out worldwide summer 2017 on BMG. The multi-platinum band’s first single, “Too Much To Think,” premiered on alternative radio on Friday, March 10. The new album MOSAIC is available to pre-order now at http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/threeeleven3.\nTour pre-sale tickets and VIP bundles start to go on sale March 14. Tour info at http://www.311.com/shows.", "CBS4CBS4 is now on CBSMiami.com. It’s the same great news, weather, and investigations you found on cbs4.com, but we’ve added a whole new range of great items and features to help you get more out […]\nMy TV 33My TV33 is on CBSMiami.comIt’s the same great news, weather, and investigations you found on cbs4.com, but we’ve added a whole new range of great items and features to help you get more out of […]\nWQAMMiami’s Sports Radio 560 WQAM is South Florida’s original sports station. For over 20 years, WQAM has brought the region live coverage of their favorite teams and been home to the most popular and beloved […]\nSouth Florida H.S. SportsSFHSSports is now on CBSMiami.com! We’re a part of the CBS Miami family… Visit us at http://miami.cbslocal.com/category/sfhssports . Our “crew” J.T. Wilcox SFHSSports Managing Editor JT.Wilcox@CBSRadio.com Larry Blustein SFHSSports Senior Writer FloridaKids1@aol.com […]", "NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Police Department says it is responding to a report of an explosion near Times Square.\nThe response is centered in the area of the Port Authority bus terminal near 42nd Street and 8th Avenue.\nIt’s led to delays along some of the subway lines that pass beneath the bus terminal.\nSome passengers have been evacuated as a precaution.\nThere were no immediate reports of injuries.\nKeep checking WDTN.com for the latest news, weather and sports. To get alerts for breaking news, grab the FREE WDTN News App for iPhone or Android.\nLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest breaking news", "FIRESTONE, Colo. — Two people were declared missing and in the rubble of a two-story home that was leveled in an explosion and fire, the Frederick Firestone Fire Protection District said Tuesday morning.\nInvestigators will go in and remove the rubble to search for the two, a process that will be very slow, fire spokeswoman Summer Campos said.\nThe explosion and fire happened around 4:45 p.m. Monday in the 6300 block of Twilight Avenue near Colorado and Firestone boulevards.\nIt’s believed two men were fixing a hot water heater in the home’s basement when the explosion happened, but that has not been confirmed.\nTwo people were taken to a hospital, including one who was airlifted by Flight for Life. Their conditions are unknown.\nThe investigation by Frederick Firestone Fire Protection District, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Firestone Police Department into the cause of the explosion could take weeks, Campos said.\nThe American Red Cross said it is assisting two adults from the house and two adults from a neighboring home who were affected.", "NEW YORK (AP) — The suspect in a pipe bomb explosion in New York City’s subway system at one point had a license to drive livery cars and for-hire vehicles.\nAuthorities have identified the attacker as 27-year-old Akayed Ullah. The blast in an underground subway corridor during the Monday morning rush hour injured three people, as well as Ullah.\nREAD MORE: NYPD commissioner: Pipe bomb was terror-related\nNew York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission says records show he had a for-hire license from March 2012 through March 2015. It then expired and wasn’t renewed. At the time, a for-hire license did not allow someone to drive one of the city’s yellow taxis.\nThe TLC says there are no records to indicate if he actually used the license to work as a car driver.\nNYC Pipe Bomb Explosion View as list View as gallery Open Gallery This photo from a 2011 drivers license shows Akayed Ullah, the suspect in the explosion near New York's Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Ullah is suspected of strapping a pipe bomb to his body and setting off the crude device under 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, injuring himself and a few others. (New York Department of Motor Vehicles via AP) Police block off a sidewalk while responding to a report of an explosion near Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) A police officer stands guard in front of Port Authority Bus Terminal as law enforcement respond to a report of an explosion near Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) Police stand guard in front of the Port Authority Bus Terminal near New York’s Times Square following an explosion on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Police say the explosion happened in an underground passageway under 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) Police block a street by Port Authority Bus Terminal near New York’s Times Square following an explosion on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Police say the explosion happened in an underground passageway under 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) Police secure Eighth Avenue outside the Port Authority Bus Terminal following an explosion near New York's Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Police said a man with a pipe bomb strapped to him set off the crude device in an underground passageway under 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. (AP Photo/Chuck Zoeller) Law enforcement officials work following an explosion near New York's Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Police said a man with a pipe bomb strapped to him set off the crude device in an underground passageway under 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) Law enforcement officials work following an explosion near New York's Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Police said a man with a pipe bomb strapped to his body set off the crude device in a passageway under 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) Police stand guard in front of Port Authority Bus Terminal following an explosion near New York's Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Police said a man with a pipe bomb strapped to him set off the crude device in an underground passageway under 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)\nGrab the FREE WDTN News App for iPhone or Android. Stay up to date with all the local news, weather and sports as well as live newscasts and events as they happen.\nLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest news, weather and sports.", "KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN) – The Montgomery County Coroner ruled the victim’s death from the Kettering house explosion as an accident.\nThe victim inside the Kettering house on North Claridge Drive was 58-year-old Darlene Baumgardener when it exploded Tuesday, December 5.\nThe coroner said the victim died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries and thermal injuries in which her death was ruled an accident.\nOfficers said Baumgardener was the only person in the house at the time of the explosion\nREAD MORE: Coroner identifies woman from Kettering house explosion\nGrab the FREE WDTN News App for iPhone or Android. Stay up to date with all the local news, weather and sports as well as live newscasts and events as they happen.\nLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest news, weather and sports.", "Firefighters from at least three departments battled and knocked down a massive blaze in a Firestone neighborhood after an explosion was reported Monday afternoon.\nOfficials told Tribune media partner 7News that a woman who was injured in the fire was taken by helicopter to a local hospital, while another person was transported in an ambulance. Their conditions weren't not immediately known Monday evening. No one was reported missing as of 6 p.m.\nFrederick-Firestone Fire Protection District spokeswoman Summer Campos said a call about the fire came in at about 4:30 p.m. The fire was burning near the intersection of Colo. 119 and Weld County Road 13, near the Firestone Regional Sports Complex, about 20 miles southwest of Greeley.\n\"We did call in extra resources,\" she said. \"We're just working on getting it under control. We're just making sure that everything is officially out.\"\nCampos said authorities were called to the scene on report of a house explosion.\n\"We don't know if that's actually what happened,\" she said.\nFor more from The Denver Post, click here.", "FIRESTONE, Colo. – Firefighters are fighting a large house fire after a reported explosion in Firestone on Monday afternoon, officials said.\nThe house is located in the 6300 block of Twilight Avenue near the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Firestone Boulevard.\nOfficials did not immediately confirm any injuries or what may have caused the explosion.\nThis story is developing and we will update with the latest. We have a crew headed to the scene.", "SALINA, Kan. (AP) – Saline County authorities say a homeless man who was found badly burned in a field near Salina apparently started a fire to stay warm.\nSheriff Roger Soldan says 49-year-old Brett Hageman, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was found unconscious Saturday by firefighters who responded to a fire just north of Salina.\nAuthorities found a lighter nearby and believe Hageman started the fire and then fell asleep.\nThe Salina Journal report s Hageman was in critical condition Monday at a Wichita hospital.\nGet breaking news, weather and traffic on the go. Download our News App and our Weather App for your phone and tablet. Follow and like us on Facebook and Twitter.", "Police investigating a blast that rocked the northern Athenian suburb of Ano Liosia in the early hours of Monday are looking into the target’s personal and professional ties, a report by the ANA-MPA news agency said.\nThe blast occurred around 4 a.m. by a batch of dynamite being detonated outside the front entrance of a detached home on Sina Street. It blew out neighbors’ windows and caused damage to the property and a few cars parked in the vicinity, but no injuries.\nA police source quoted by the ANA-MPA said the house belongs to a 70-year-old man who was released from prison in Germany about a year-and-a-half ago, where he had been sentenced for illegal tobacco smuggling.\nPolice arriving at the scene of the blast questioned a security guard – a family relation of the owner – who claimed that he did not see the perpetrators, and found that the power had been cut, immobilizing the security camera. The 70-year-old was not at home when investigators sought him for questioning.", "Five people have been displaced after a cooking fire at a Lincoln Road triplex Tuesday night.\nFire crews were called to 692 Lincoln Rd., shortly after 7:30 p.m. after a pot of grease on a stove ignited.\nFire crews were able to quickly bring the blaze under control, but not before it did damage estimated at $70,000.\nThe five residents of the three units were being found alternative accommodation.\nThe building was boarded up until repairs can be done.", "Illinois’ bicentennial “Best Of” voters have a tough decision to make this week.\nWhat is Illinois’ best historic site? The list on which the public can vote includes Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home, Lincoln’s home, and Lincoln’s New Salem.\nThe list also includes Illinois’ old capitols in Springfield and Vandalia, and Route 66. Voting is open till Friday. To vote, click on IllinoisTop200.com.", "23 homes remain in the danger zone in South Sioux City, Nebraska after a grain elevator exploded on Tuesday.\nOn Wednesday crews assessed the structure and brought in equipment to help stabilize it.\nOSHA was on scene as well as Urban Search and Rescue.\nThe task force is working on putting up barriers -- or large containers up -- to prevent any damage to those 23 homes that could still be in danger if the structure falls.\n\"They have a plan for snow fence. They are going to try to barricade the area away from people -- vehicle and pedestrian,\" said Chief Ed Mahon, South Sioux City Police Department, \"The benefit of that is we are going to be able to shrink our evacuation area.\"\nThe homes that still need to be evacuated are between W. 23rd street and W. 26th Street.\nThose homes include:\nW. 23rd: 414,416,420 and 428.\nW. 24th -- 408,409,410,411,413 and 418.\nW. 25th -- 416,418,419,429, 610 and 614\nW. 26th -- 407,409,410,412,414,415 and 425.\nIf homeowners need to retrieve items from their homes they can go to the command post at W. 27th and 3rd Avenue.\nThere will be a press conference Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at 25th and Willow Street.\nWe will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.", "Stevens County deputies are investigating after several mailboxes were damaged in some kind of explosion on Friday. Deputies aren't sure what caused the explosion, but say it was an isolated incident.\nStevens County Sheriff Kendall Allen says it happened around 10:45 p.m. near Stoney Peak Way in Nine Mile Falls. Neighbors reported hearing a large explosion. Deputies responded and collected evidence at the scene.\nRight now it's unclear whether the explosion was meant to target someone specific or if it was random. Deputies don't have a suspect.\nThe investigation is ongoing.", "Lincoln Police are investigating an attempted burglary.\nIt happened at Corner Stone Baptist Church, near 63rd and Colby St, around 3:30 Monday morning.\nPolice say an alarm went off after something crashed through a window. They say no one went inside the church and nothing was taken.\nThey are still investigating.", "NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED WHEN AN EXPLOSION BLEW OFF A MANHOLE COVER AT 7TH AND JACKSON STREETS WEDNESDAY MORNING.\nSMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXPOSED MANHOLE WHEN FIRE CREWS ARRIVED AROUND 11AM.\nA MIDAMERICAN ENERGY REPAIR CREW WAS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE AND A SPOKESMAN SAYS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE SMALL EXPLOSION WAS THE FAILURE OF AN ELECTRICAL CABLE OR CONNECTION THAT CREATED A SUDDEN DISCHARGE OF ELECTRICITY.\nNO CUSTOMERS WERE AFFECTED BY THE INCIDENT.\nPHOTO BY GEORGE LINDBLADE", "Emergency services are at the scene of a gas explosion at a house in Leicester this morning.\nPolice, ambulance and fire crews are at an address in Allington Drive, Birstall, amid reports of a loud bang at 7.30am.\nTwo people are injured and are being attended to by paramedics. The nature of their injuries is not yet known. According to the BBC, one person remains unaccounted for.", "In just a couple of days, the Philadelphia Eagles could be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in franchise history. Of course, standing between them is a New England Patriots team that's looking for its sixth title since 2002.\nFor the Eagles, this is their first trip to the Super Bowl since they lost to the Pats back in 2005. And while a lot's changed in the decade-plus since, the head coach/quarterback combo on the opposing sideline will be just as it was the last time the Eagles and Pats played in February.\nOn the Birds sideline, however, it'll be a pair of first-timers in second-year head coach Doug Pederson and backup quarterback Nick Foles, who helped lead this team to two postseason upsets after taking over for an injured Carson Wentz in Week 14. Whether or not that lack of experience plays a role in the outcome of Sunday's game remains to be seen – although the conference championship stage didn't look too big for Foles.\nWho's going to come away victorious? Let's take a look at how the experts – the human ones, not the animals – see things playing out at Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis...\n• Jimmy Kempski, PhillyVoice: Eagles 29, Patriots 24\nThe Patriots' 5.5-point spread in their favor is more about their mystique than their current talent. This Eagles team is better, I think they know it, and they're not intimidated in the slightest. They're better in the trenches, they're far better on defense, and these two offenses, on the whole, really aren't that far apart. The Eagles are going to win this game, fly home, and ride down Broad Street. Plan accordingly.\n• ESPN staff: They had quite a few people making predictions. Here's a look at all of them, with the people picking the Birds in bold.\nEXPERT PICK Todd Archer NE 26-20 Sarah Barshop NE 23-20 Dane Beavers NE 30-27 Stephania Bell NE 31-20 Chris Berman NE 24-21 Matthew Berry NE 21-17 Matt Bowen NE 27-20 Tedy Bruschi NE 24-21 Heather Burns NE 24-21 Rich Cimini PHI 24-20 Ryan Clark PHI 24-20 Mike Clay NE 26-22 Jac Collinsworth NE 24-20 Greg Cosell PHI 27-24 Courtney Cronin NE 24-19 Jeff Darlington NE 24-22 Rob Demovsky NE 31-23 Jeff Dickerson NE 24-19 Michael DiRocco NE 24-21 Mike Drago PHI 35-24 Ben Fawkes PHI 24-21 Dave Fleming PHI 28-24 Mike Golic PHI 31-10 Mike Golic Jr. NE 27-21 Alden Gonzalez NE 31-24 Dan Graziano PHI 24-20 Mike Greenberg NE 27-13 Paul Gutierrez NE 27-23 Matt Hasselbeck NE 28-3 Tim Hasselbeck NE 27-17 Brady Henderson NE 27-21 Jamison Hensley NE 34-7 Keyshawn Johnson PHI 31-24 KC Joyner NE 31-24 Lisa Kerney PHI 28-24 Mina Kimes NE 28-24 Suzy Kolber NE 23-17 Jenna Laine NE 29-27 Steve Levy NE 26-20 Vaughn McClure NE 24-21 Tim McManus PHI 24-21 Alisha Miller NE 28-21 Roman Modrowski NE 31-14 Chris Mortensen PHI 34-24 Randy Moss NE 32-28 David Newton NE 24-21 Wendi Nix NE 28-24 Katie Nolan NE 27-24 Ian O'Connor NE 27-20 John Pluym NE 24-20 Sam Ponder PHI 31-28 Jordan Raanan NE 24-22 Jason Reid NE 27-24 Mike Reiss NE 30-17 Katie Richcreek NE 31-24 Louis Riddick NE 24-21 John Roberts NE 27-24 Mike Rodak NE 34-31 Michael Rothstein NE 28-24 Diana Russini NE 24-20 Rex Ryan NE 24-21 Mike Sando NE 27-20 Jeff Saturday PHI 20-17 Aaron Schatz NE 27-23 Adam Schefter NE 27-24 Kevin Seifert NE 27-20 Stephen A. Smith PHI 31-27 Sarah Spain PHI 24-20 Chris Sprow PHI 27-24 Adam Teicher PHI 27-17 Katherine Terrell PHI 24-21 Mike Triplett NE 30-23 Jim Trotter NE 27-24 Nick Wagoner NE 27-17 Josh Weinfuss PHI 27-24 Mike Wells NE 27-17 Seth Wickersham NE 38-9 Eric Williams PHI 28-17 Trey Wingo PHI 24-21 Cameron Wolfe PHI 26-23 Charles Woodson PHI 30-23 Darren Woodson NE 31-28 Damien Woody NE 30-24 Field Yates NE 26-21 Steve Young NE 31-30\n• NFL.com staff: They also had a ton of people picking the game. And, once again, most were going for the Pats (although it doesn't seem quite as lopsided as ESPN).\nEXPERT PICK Elliot Harrison NE 30-23 David Carr PHI 34-28 Gregg Rosenthal NE 31-30 Tom Pelissero NE 27-24 Gil Brandt NE 24-21 Mike Garafolo PHI 27-21 Maurice Jones-Drew NE 21-17 Alex Gelhar PHI 24-23 Nate Burleson NE 30-20 Adam Schein NE 26-23 James Palmer PHI 24-17 Charley Casserly NE 24-13 Reggie Wayne NE 31-20 Marcas Grant NE 27-20 Omar Ruiz PHI 27-24 Adam Rank NE 27-23 James Jones NE 31-24\n• CBSSports.com staff: Three of their eight experts are picking the Eagles.\n• USA TODAY staff: All six all picking the Patriots.\n• FiveThirtyEight: Nate Silver's forecasting machine gives the Eagles a 42 percent chance of winning and has them listed as a 2.5-point underdog.\n• OddsShark: Eagles fans better hope it doesn't go the way this computer is predicting.\n• SBNation staff: Five of their seven experts are picking the Pats.\n• Bleeding Green Nation staff: They're all-in on the Eagles. Every last one of them.\n• NJ.com staff: Six of their eight NFL writers are picking the Eagles to win, including Eliot Shorr-Parks, who sees a 24-20 win for the Birds, with local boy Corey Clement winning MVP.\nPicking this game is tough. The Eagles have all the momentum, and the Patriots seem to be falling apart at the seams. The Eagles are better on both sides of the ball, and the coaching matchup is not as much of a mismatch as it seems. The question is, can the Eagles—who are playing with a backup—overcome playing the best quarterback of all time? My bet is that somehow, someway, they will—barely.\n• The Eagles Wire staff: All seven of their writers have the Eagles winning, including Turron Davenport, who is predicting a 27-20 final score:\nThe Eagles match up well with the Patriots on both sides of the ball, but their biggest advantage comes in the trenches. They have to find ways to suffocate Tom Brady in the pocket, which starts with Fletcher Cox. Offensively, they will have to run the ball behind their powerful offensive line, which will set up big plays via play-action.\n• Ed Barkowitz, Philadelphia Daily News: Eagles 26, Patriots 21.\nHaven’t seen anything in Nick Foles’ makeup to suggest that the stage will be too big for him here. Ditto for Doug Pederson, who should be fine as long as he doesn’t consult his former boss on time-management questions. The Patriots, of course, are generally unflappable. Maybe Pederson can invite Tom Coughlin to join him on the sidelines, similar to when Michael Corleone brought in Vincenzo Pentangeli in the Godfather II.\n• PhillyInfluencer.com staff: All eight writers are picking the Eagles, including PhillyVoice contributor Nick Piccone, who has the Birds winning 31-21:\nWe haven’t seen this coaching excellence in as long as I can remember. What’s going to be key is being able to adjust to Belichick’s adjustments. Whether the Eagles jump out to a hot start or cold, the team needs to remember the game is 60 minutes long. Some other teams have seemed to forget that. But that can’t happen on Sunday. Not on the biggest stage in sports. Not to us. I believe in Pederson and his coaching staff. I believe in these players. Every dynasty comes to an end, and now’s as good a chance as any that a team has had to dethrone the Patriots.\n• CBS Boston: All three of their writers are picking the Pats.\n• David Steele, Sporting News: Eagles 26, Patriots 24.\nThe Eagles are great enough to not be such big underdogs against the Patriots. They’re great enough to beat them, keep that trophy collection in Foxborough at five, and finally start one of their own. They’re great enough to etch into the history books, ‘Nick Foles beat Tom Brady in the Super Bowl.’\n• Vinny Iyer, Sporting News: Patriots 30, Eagles 27\nThe Eagles will make more plays in the slot with Nelshon Agholor working on former Eagle Eric Rowe, and the Patriots will see Danny Amendola cool off against Patrick Robinson. Overall, not much will separate the offense explosiveness. And with weather not being a factor, the game likely will come down to the final possession.\nFollow Matt on Twitter: @matt_mullin\nLike us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports", "Multiple ambulances have been requested at the scene of a rollover crash involving a van in northeast Oklahoma City, Friday evening.\nSix EMSA units were requested due to the two-vehicle crash involving a green pickup and a 16-passenger van, near NE 11th St. and N. Kate Ave., just to the east of N. Lottie Ave.\nAccording to the Oklahoma Police Department, seven people were transported to local hospitals including one in critical condition. There were a total of 18 people involved in the crash, 15 in the van and three in the truck. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.\nKeep checking with News 9 and News9.com for more information.\nA 6th @EMSAOK unit has been requested by @OKCFD at NE 11 / Kate. Numerous critical patients. 6:08 pm — Oklahoma City Fire (@OKCFD) May 12, 2017\nThat's the yield sign the driver of the truck didn't obey, according to bystanders. @NEWS9 pic.twitter.com/Cc15jtTvjU — Grant Hermes News 9 (@GrantHermesKWTV) May 12, 2017", "Obituaries\nALMA WILWERDING, 76, of Papillion, NE, died Saturday, Dec. 31st, at Selected Specialty Hospital, in Papillion. A Mass of Christian Burial for ALMA WILWERDING will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Jan. 4th, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.\nFriends may call at the funeral home from 4-until 8-p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3rd, with a Wake Servce at 7-p.m.\nGraveside services will be held 3-p.m. Wed., at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Northboro, IA.\nALMA WILWERDING is survived by:\nHer daughters – Pat (Jerry) Bissen, of Harlan; Joanne (Mike) Erlbacher, of Earling; Kinda Barragan, of Defiance; Diane (Dave) Lothridge, of Omaha, & Julie Mathison, of Stanton.\nHer son – Denny (Lou) Wilwerding, of Omaha.\nHer brother – Gary (Chery) Bredensteiner, of Lincoln, NE.\n13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.", "Last updated: Tuesday February 14th, 8:25pm\nCareless cooking is listed as the cause of a fire in the 600 block of Lincoln Road Tuesday evening.\nFire crews were called to the two storey triplex just after 7:30pm, and found fire on the main floor in the kitchen.\nThey were able to bring it under control quickly and damage is set at $70,000.\nFive people have been displaced. There were no injuries.", "Please enable Javascript to watch this video\nGUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. -- Firefighters are investigating an explosion and fire at a Guilford County mobile home.\nThe explosion happened at a mobile home in the 5100 block of Coble Church Road in the southeastern part of the county Tuesday evening.\nFirefighters on the scene said the mobile home was unoccupied at the time of the explosion. No injuries were reported.\nIt is unclear if anyone lived at the mobile home.\nThe mobile home was destroyed.\nFirefighters do not yet know what caused the explosion.", "Twenty years ago, Manitobans watched in horror as a devastating flood swallowed up most of Grand Forks, N.D.\nOn April 18, 1997, the city’s dike system began to succumb to the rising Red River. Over the next few days, nearly four feet of water covered 75 per cent of Grand Forks. More than 40,000 people were forced from their homes and damage estimates were in the billions of dollars.\nRELATED: Looking back at the Winnipeg blizzard that led to the Flood of the Century\nNot only were the streets flooded, but a fire also broke out in downtown Grand Forks as the water continued to rise.\nGlobal News will be live tweeting each moment of the flood, using archived videos and pictures.\nTimeline of 1997 Grand Forks flood\nApril 18, 2:45 a.m: Red River at 51.42 ft.\nApril 18, 4:15 a.m: Boils appear in the dike protecting the Lincoln Park area. City orders evacuation of around 600 homes, including 106 residents of a retirement home near the Red River in East Grand Forks.\nApril 18, 6 a.m: City orders evacuation of Riverside Park and Central Park area.\nApril 18, 8 a.m. Water runs out of north end of Lincoln Park Golf Course and down Lincoln Drive.\nApril 18, 11:15 a.m: “It’s one of the major disasters of our time,“ Grand Forks Mayor Pat Owens tells reporters.\nApril 18, 11:35 a.m: National Weather Services revises its crest projection to 53 ft.\nApril 18, 12 p.m: Red River at 52.19 ft.\nApr 18, 12:15 p.m: First break in East Grand Forks dikes comes near Folson Park. But ring dike temporarily saves area.\nApr 18, 3:30 p.m: Dike south of Murray Bridge in East Grand Forks breaks, resulting in flooding of entire Point area (the area south of the Red River).\nApril 18, 4 p.m: Sirens sound as Point area ordered evacuated, and Murray Bridge closes.\nApril 18, 4:30 p.m: Water in Lincoln Drive area reaches same level as river, leaving about 300 homes in water, many of them to the rooftops.\nApril 18, 7:14 p.m: River reaches 52.62 ft., up 18 inches in 18 hours.\nApril 18, 8:08 p.m: National Weather Services revises crest for 54 ft.\nApril 18, 8:20 p.m: Central Park area fills rapidly.\nApril 18, 9:40 p.m: Emergency Operations Center at Grand Forks police station moves to University of North Dakota as storm sewer backup runs down Fifth Street. Within 30 minutes, the police station basement is full of water.\nApril 18: 10 p.m: River reaches 52.76 ft.; mayor bans sale of alcohol in Grand Forks.\nApril 18: 11 p.m: East Grand Forks dike near Kennedy Bridge fails, cutting the last link between the two cities and flooding Sherlock Park homes.\nApril 19, 12 a.m: Water flows off dike by Murray Bridge, flooding land inside Griggs Park in East Grand Forks.\nApril 19, 1 a.m: Water comes over the dike by Valley Golf Course in East Grand Forks.\nApril 19, 7:10 a.m: Water tops the dike in Riverside Park.\nApril 19, 7:50 a.m: National Guard begins diking East Grand Forks Police Department.\nApril 19, 8 a.m: Grand Forks water plant fails.\nApril 19, 10 a.m: City orders evacuation of all areas in Grand Forks east of Washington Street.\nApril 19, 11 a.m: University of North Dakota president calls off classes for the semester, two weeks before final exams are to start.\nApril 19, 12 p.m: Approximately 50 per cent of Grand Forks and virtually all of East Grand Forks are flooded.\nApril 20, 5:30 a.m: A large fire started in Grand Forks, engulfing eleven buildings and sixty apartment units before being extinguished.\nApril 20, 7 a.m: Red River at 53.7 ft.\nApril 20, 10 a.m: Grand Forks water supply exhausted.\nApril 20, 11:30 a.m: Mayor announces 24-hour curfew in mandatory evacuation zones.\nApril 20, 2 p.m: A helicopter dumps water on the smouldering downtown fire.\nApril 20, 7 p.m: United Hospital evacuates the last of its patients.\nApril 20, 8 p.m: 75 per cent of Grand Forks’ residents are evacuated.\nApril 20, 9 p.m: Red River at 53.99 ft.\nSource: University of North Dakota\nThe surreal sight of a flooded downtown Grand Forks engulfed in flames was a grim warning to Manitoba of the destructive power the river could soon unleash on Manitobans.\nOver the next few weeks Global News will release more archival videos, pictures and stories of the flood that transformed the future of our city and province.", "A home was left obliterated and a father and son narrowly escaped with their lives after a terrifying gas explosion on Monday night.\nAll that was left of the Point Breeze rowhome on Tuesday morning was a pile of rubble after the entire facade was blown out throwing debris across the street outside.\nBut miraculously, the only people inside - a 57-year-old father and his son, 12 - escaped with minor injuries.\nA possible gas explosion was responsible for the home explosion that took place on Monday\nWhen the blast occurred, the father - Peter Ash - had been washing his hands in the second-floor bathroom but he was knocked to the first floor.\n'We just heard a big boom and I felt heat all over my hand and face,' Peter Ash said to 6 ABC. 'I had no idea that the whole front of the house had come off. It was an explosion, like a military explosion.'\nHis son had been on the first floor at the time of the explosion.\n'I was playing on the PS3 and all of a sudden I heard a loud noise and the whole wall just fell down. I thought it was a tornado,' Jordan added.\n'Everything was like, surreal,' Ash said, according to NBC 10. 'It's like, it wasn't real. Am I here? Am I seeing this? Am I feeling this?'\nPeter Ash, 57, was washing his hands in his second floor bathroom when he was blasted to the first floor while his 12-year-old son was already on the first\nFirefighters and other officials were still investigating going into Tuesday morning\nThe blast is said to have been caused by a gas explosion but that has yet to be confirmed.\nFirefighters and other officials were still investigating going into Tuesday morning.\nPower outages were reported in the immediate vicinity of the neighborhood.\nBoth the building that collapsed and another were evacuated.\nNo officers were reported as being injured on the scene.\nBoth were said to have escaped with minor injuries\nPower outages were reported in the immediate vicinity of the neighborhood", "LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - LMPD has responded to a stabbing in downtown Louisville near the Greyhound bus station.\nMetroSafe confirmed that shortly after 9 p.m. Monday, a man was stabbed in the 700 block of West Muhammad Ali.\nDOWNLOAD OUR APPS\nNews & Weather Apps\nMetroSafe also verified that the victim was taken to the University of Louisville Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He told police that he was stabbed at an old gas station across from the bus station before walking to Greyhound to get help, MetroSafe said.\nAnyone with information about this case is asked to call 574-LMPD.\nPlease refresh this WAVE3.com page for updates to this developing story as new information becomes available.\nCopyright 2017 WAVE 3 News. All rights reserved.", "LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - The Latest on an explosion at a UPS freight hub in Kentucky (all times local):\n10:40 a.m.\nFire department officials say fire damage was minimal in an explosion that rocked a UPS freight hub in Lexington, Kentucky.\nLexington Battalion Chief Jason Wells says the Wednesday morning blast included a small fire in the facility.\nWells says eight people received medical attention, but says they are \"extremely lucky\" the injuries weren't worse.\nWells says two people taken to the hospital suffered from burns and possible concussions, and six others in the vicinity of the explosion were taken to the hospital for observation as a precaution.\nWells told news outlets that a truck and trailer with an acetylene tank exploded in the building. The cause of the explosion wasn't yet known, but the blast wasn't suspicious.\nFire officials say the facility has been evacuated and everyone is accounted for.\n9 a.m.\nPolice in Kentucky's second-largest city say they're responding to a large explosion.\nNews outlets report that a business in Lexington has been damaged by the Wednesday morning explosion. The reports say that the back of a building appears to have been damaged.\nBusinesses near the site on Blue Sky Parkway reported a loud explosion shortly before 8 a.m. EDT. The blast was felt inside other buildings.\nLexington police urged people to avoid the Blue Sky Parkway area.\nNo other details were immediately available.\nCopyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.", "PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Utility crews are on the scene of Monday night’s explosion that rocked a Philadelphia neighborhood and ripped apart a row home.\nUtility crews were in Point Breeze on Tuesday with gas detectors in hand as investigators are still trying to figure out what led to the explosion.\n“The building is in a state of disrepair,” said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel.\nThe home on South 20th Street remains a mangled mess after authorities say a blast rocked the neighborhood around 7:30 p.m. The boom was so loud that a nearby fire station responded even before getting called.\nThe explosion sent much of what was inside the home outside onto the street and on top of cars. The years of memories made by the family who lived here is now in ruins.\n“It was terrible,” said one neighbor. “I saw the whole front fall down.”\nA 12-year-old boy and his 57-year-old dad were inside the home at the time. The father was upstairs, washing his hands when the floor below him collapsed. He fell to the first floor where his son was and both were able to escape.\nPhiladelphia Police Union Offering $5,000 Reward In Shooting That Injured 21-Month-Old, Father\nNeighbors called it a miracle.\n“Thank God, because the way that building looks, thank God,” said one neighbor.\n“We’re very thankful and hopefully we can figure out what caused it,” said Thiel.\nInvestigators are expected to come back with heavy equipment later Tuesday to look inside the home.", "Sonora, CA — The Sonora Police Department pulled over a truck on South Washington Street because the driver was suspected of being under the influence.\nIt happened Sunday at 12:30pm. The police department responded to the area because of an earlier tip about the vehicle swerving near Highway 49 and Pesce Way. The vehicle was a Dodge pickup truck with paper license plates. After it was pulled over, officers learned that it had been stolen out of Modesto. The driver, 22-year-old Daniel Lee Chisum of Modesto, was arrested for vehicle theft and possession of stolen property. The lone passenger, 37-year-old Maurice Lincoln Matthews of Tracy, was not connected to the vehicle theft, but was cited for being in possession of drug paraphernalia. Chisum was taken to Tuolumne County Jail and booked on $30,000 bail.\nWritten by BJ Hansen. If you see breaking news, traffic or weather contact us at the News Hotline at 532-6397. If you have a photo regarding this news story or any Mother Lode News Story please email news@clarkebroadcasting.com. For other traffic information provided by CalTrans traffic reports for Highway’s 4, 49, 59, 108, and 120 and other Highways around the Mother Lode including Stockton and Valley Springs click on the \"Traffic\" tab or keyword: traffic", "This is the Denver7 breaking and developing news blog. Throughout the day, this story will be updated with both minor and large breaking news events that our readers care about. Check back as we continue to update this story.\n4:12 p.m.: Thornton Police are securing an area in the 1600 block of East 78th Avenue after a report of shots fired. Police say someone shot a gun in the air and ran back inside the house. Police are not clear if the person is still inside the house. Welby Elementary is on lock out status due to the 78th Avenue police activity. Parents can pick their kids up at Valley View Elementary, located at 660 West 70th Avenue.\nBuses lined up to pick up kids at Welby Community School. pic.twitter.com/16d1dI4CVd — Lance Hernandez (@lancehernandez7) February 2, 2018\n3:59 p.m.: The Adams County Sheriff's Office is warning residents to avoid the 1600 block of East 78th Avenue because of what they call a \"developing incident.\" No other details were immediately available.", "Amy Adams and husband Darren Le Gallo kicked off the weekend with some family bonding.\nThe couple took their daughter Aviana, seven, to the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on Friday.\nDuring their artistic outing, the Golden Globe winner, 43, looked effortlessly chic in a cherry-adorned blouse and cuffed blue jeans.\nFamily outing! Amy Adams and husband Darren Le Gallo kicked off the weekend with some family bonding, taking daughter Aviana to the Pacific Design Center museum in West Hollywood Friday\nAmy was all smiles as she styled her signature red locks in textured curls cast over one shoulder.\nThe Arrival star dressed up her look with nude mules and a splashy red satchel.\nBesides her famous mom, Aviana looked sweet in a navy shirt tucked into a light blue A-line skirt with stripes which she paired with natural leather Birkenstocks.\nDad Darren, 43, donned dark joggers with a grey pocket tee and hat.\nGinger snap! Amy was all smiles as she styled her signature red locks in textured curls cast over one shoulder\nHeel's to you! The Arrival star dressed up her look with nude mules and a splashy red satchel\nFollowing in mom's footsteps! Aviana looked just as fashionable as her mom in a navy shirt tucked into a light blue A-line skirt which she paired with natural leather Birkenstocks\nLe Gallo, who is also an actor, sported significant salt and pepper on his face and Nike sneakers on foot while carrying a large tote bag for the ladies in his life.\nFollowing the museum, Amy refueled with a quick cup of coffee from a nearby shop.\nHer husband made a quick call before the family hopped into a dark sedan and ventured home.\nWhile Amy and Darren have been together for about 15 years and were engaged back in 2008, the duo didn't get married until 2015.\nBerry nice! The Golden Globe winner looked effortlessly chic in a cherry-adorned blouse and cuffed blue jeans during the trip out\nCoffee break! Following the museum, Amy refueled with a quick cup of coffee from a nearby shop\nHomeward bound: Her husband made a quick call before the family hopped into a dark sedan and ventured home\nGetting political! This year will see the star as Lynne Cheney, the wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney, in the biopic Backseat that's currently filming\nThis year will see the star as Lynne Cheney, the wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney, in the biopic Backseat that's currently filming.\nShe stars opposite Christian Bale as Cheney, Sam Rockwell as president George W. Bush and Steve Carell as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.\nThe actress will also take on the role of detective Camille Preaker in the TV adaptation of Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn's novel Sharp Objects.", "Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter\nARNOLD (KDKA) – Firefighters in Arnold believe a firework sparked a fire on Third Avenue early Wednesday morning.\nThe fire marshal will now further investigate and arrived at the scene around 6:30 a.m.\nNeighbors from two nearby homes tell KDKA that police officers started banging on their doors around 4 a.m., asking them to evacuate in case the flames spread.\nThe fire quickly spread to a vacant home next door because the two homes sit very close together, set back about 50 yards off the road.\nThe Arnold fire chief told KDKA that both homes are vacant and that neither had utilities hooked up.\nNo one was injured and firefighters kept cool with bottles of water and a cooling tent.\nStay With KDKA.com For More Details" ]

[ "By . Wills Robinson . A record number of starfish are dying as a result of a disease which wastes away their arms and turns them into 'goo'. The sea creatures are falling victim to the mystery condition which causes white lesions to grow along their limbs, before they disintegrate. It has wiped out 95 per cent of the animals in some tide pools along the West Coast of America and scientists are struggling to find a way to stop the spike in deaths, because they do not know what is causing the deadly epidemic. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Wasting disease: The star fish's arms disintegrate after white lesions have spread over their limbs . In August, marine biologist Jonathan Martin noticed dead starfish, which looked like their arms had been chopped off, while he was scuba-diving. He swam along the water bed, analysing the disintegrated sea stars, before filming their wasting bodies and posting the video on Facebook. Dead starfish, with missing arms, have since turned up along the coast of the United States from Alaska down to Southern California, and scientists believe sea creatures as far south as Mexico could be at risk. Pete Raimondi, chairman of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, told CBS News: 'What's happening? We don't know yet. We think it's bacterial. 'We also know that it can move between species. They get a wound and the bacteria will just kind of eat the species away.' In the past, researchers have linked sea star wasting disease outbreaks to rising ocean temperatures. Decapitated: The condition causes the sea creatures to look as though their limbs have been chopped off . The largest number of deaths occurred along the coast of Southern California from 1983-1984, during an El Nino year, where the temperature of the Pacific Ocean increases. 'We're not having an El Nino year this year. That's what's really troublesome about this,' Raimondi added. Until researchers can properly map the outbreak, Mr Raimondi added, it will be difficult to determine the cause, or an underlying link between the regional outbreaks. So far, the disease has killed 95 . percent of certain species in some tide pools. The overall population . numbers in the millions, but Mr Ramondi said it was troubling to see such a . large percentage die off in an individual tide pool. Expansion: There has been an infestation of jellyfish in oceans around the world causing an increase in the number of people being stung on holiday . As sea stars die out, many ecosystems of other animals will also be affected with the population of . creatures like mussels expanding. Now marine biologists are trying to find out the root causes of the mystery disease, so researchers can start to determine how to control the outbreak. While star fish are decreasing in numbers, scientists around the world are reporting a boom in the number of jellyfish, resulting in more tourists being stung while on holiday. In Hawaii there it has been reported that between 800 or 1,000 people have been stung in a day, while in Spain or Florida, up to half a million people have been affected during a spike in the population. The massive increase in numbers has reportedly caused the deaths of thousands of farmed salmon in Ireland and caused a nuclear plant in Sweden to temporarily shut down. Dr. Lisa-Ann Gershwin, who has recently written a book on jellyfish blooms, told CNN the increasing activity was because of overfishing and changing water temperatures." ]

[ "Some vegetarians start young, as this comical video demonstrates. Footage shows three-year-old Luiz Antonio from Brazil being presented with a fanciful dish of octopus gnocchi at the dinner table. But instead of digging into the seafood feast, he starts asking about where the tentacled creature set before him came from with English subtitles detailing his train of thought. 'This octopus isn't real is it? Where's its head? Is its head in the sea? Did the man hack it [off]?' the youngster says while grimacing at his dinner plate. Scroll down for video . Yuck! Footage shows three-year-old Luiz Antonio from Brazil being presented with a fanciful dish of octopus gnocchi at the dinner table . Pulling faces: But instead of digging into the seafood feast he starts asking about where the tentacled creature set before him came from with English subtitles detailing his train of thought . His mother reassures him that she only cooked using the octopuses 'little legs chopped'. She adds that the creature had to be dissected so it could be eaten. 'Or we'd have to swallow it whole,' she notes. Luiz remains uninspired by his dinner. He then puts forwards the argument that octopus is an animal just like chicken, pig, cow and fish. He continues: 'So when we eat the animals they die. Why?  I don’t like that they die. I like that they keep standing and happy. Look of horror: Luiz's mother reassures him that she only cooked using the octopuses 'little legs chopped' Comical scene: His mother is reduced to tears through laughter as she listens to the case in hand . Getting his way: After more than two minutes of discussion, Luiz is told he doesn't have to eat the octopus and he can just stick to the potato and rice instead . 'Those animals are for us to take care, not eat them.' His mother is reduced to tears through laughter as she listens to the case in hand. 'I'm just a little moved by you,' she chuckles when Luiz asks what's wrong. After more than two minutes of discussion, Luiz is told he doesn't have to eat the octopus and he can just stick to the potato and rice instead. Although the clip was filmed almost two years ago, it has recently resurfaced online. To date it has been watched more than 4.8 million times. It's not known if Luiz has stuck to his vegetarian pledge.", "By . Lizzie Edmonds . A grandmother has today spoken of her shock at finding a dead lizard wrapped in a cucumber she bought at Aldi. Jenny Wilkinson, 54, was about to chop up the vegetable and give it to her one-year-old grandson, Theo, when she spotted an unusual mark near the top. Upon further inspection, she realised the strange brown patch was a lizard that had been squashed in to the cucumber when it was vacuum-packed. Grandmother Jenny Wilkinson, 54, was about to chop up this Aldi cucumber when she noticed a strange brown mark (pictured). On closer inspection, she realised it was a lizard squashed in the packaging . Mrs Wilkinson, who was about to give the vegetable to her grandson Theo, one, says the creature must have got into the batch when the cucumbers were packaged in Holland . Mrs Wilkinson believes the small reptile must have got into the batch when the cucumbers were packaged in their country of origin - Holland. Horrified, the grandmother - who bought the 39p cucumber from a branch of Aldi in Cowes, Isle of Wight - wrote an email to the supermarket with photographs of the creature. She has since been given £20 worth of vouchers as an apology. Mrs Wilkinson, a chocolate shop owner, said: 'I was looking after my grandson, Theo, for the day and I went to Aldi to get some shopping. 'Theo is teething and loves cucumber, so I bought him some to eat when we got back home. Mrs Wilkinson had bought the cucumber for 39p from an Aldi supermarket in Cowes, Isle of Wight . 'I didn’t notice anything unusual in the shop or at the till at all. 'When . I got home I was about to take off the wrapper and chop it up when I . noticed something near one end, and when I looked closer, I realised it . was a lizard. 'It looked as though it had been splatted against the cucumber while it was being wrapped up. 'It’s a good job I noticed it because otherwise I could have fed it to Theo without realising. 'It’s worrying because it makes you wonder what else could be out there, it obviously wasn’t thoroughly checked before going on the shelf. There should be more quality control.' The company has since given the chocolate shop owner £20 in vouchers as an apology . Giles Hurley, an Aldi spokesman, said: 'We have stringent product specifications and exacting quality control measures in place to ensure the quality of all our fresh products. 'We have investigated this with our supplier and can confirm it is an isolated matter. 'We have apologised to Mrs Wilkinson and provided her with a gesture of goodwill for any inconvenience caused.'", "By . Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 08:49 EST, 24 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:14 EST, 24 January 2013 . Thousands of dead starfish have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire after a period of stormy weather. Shocked photographer Simon Peck estimates that 4,000 starfish - along with whelks' eggs and pieces of shell - had surfaced on Cleethorpes beach. Experts think that the animals were dislodged by rough waters in the recent wintry weather, with a similar incident happening at the same time last year. Puzzle: Photographer Simon Peck was shocked to find around 4,000 starfish and bits of shell on the beach . Wetlands: Whelks' eggs also appeared at Cleethorpes beach. In the past, sea potatoes have washed up . Poignant: It's thought that rough seas dislodged the sea creatures at a sandy part of the coastline . Mass starfish strandings, known as ‘wrecks’, are not uncommon in Britain and typically occur once or twice a year as a result of storms. Most starfish travel alone or in small groups, but congregate in their millions if a particular area of the seabed is rich in food or to reproduce. Despite its name, the starfish is not a fish but an echinoderm and holds on to the ocean floor using their suction-cupped tube feet underneath their limbs. Wreck: Mass stranding in Devon in 2010 . They are therefore vulnerable during bad weather at sea as storms send strong currents through the beds where they are feeding, plucking them off their prey. The currents then carry them to the shore, and dump them on the beach. Although tides and strong currents are . the most likely cause of this recent mass stranding, in a similar . incident in Japan last year, starvation was to blame. When hundreds of starfish stranded in southern Japan scientists said lack of food had made them too weak to hold on to the ocean floor. Due to environmental hazards and overfishing of mussels, starfish are . moving closer to the shore, becoming more vulnerable to tide and . currents. Richard Harrington, communications . manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said: 'These are all common starfish Asterias . rubens. 'The fact that there's what appear to be whelk eggs and different . shells in these pictures, both shallow water residents, along with the . common starfish, would back up the likelihood that it is simply stormy . weather that has caused this big strand. 'We were aware of a strand like this in the region at this time last year, too. 'Mass strandings of . starfish and sea potatoes, a kind of sand-dwelling sea urchin, happen . quite regularly in different parts of the coast. 'They seem to occur most in winter, and . around sandy areas, when it's likely that rough seas in shallow water . dislodge them in large numbers. 'Strandings . like this may be associated with breeding, indicated if all of the . specimens that washed up are mature adults, but the common starfish . tends to aggregate and spawn most in spring and summer - so that is . unlikely.' Millions of common starfish live in . British seas. About the size of a hand, they are pinky orange when . alive, but turn a bright orange when dry. Their . ideal feeding ground is a mussel bed, where millions of starfish will . congregate at any one time. And it's here where they are most at risk. Violent . storms can send terrifically strong currents through the mussel beds . where they are feeding, pluck them off their prey, carry them to the . shore and dump thousands at a time on to a beach. In . the past, some mass strandings have been blamed on overfishing - with . dredgers used to scrape the sea floor for mussels dislodging starfish or . covering them with mud and sand. Coastal confusion: Similar 'mass strandings' have happened in the past - mostly in winter, around sandy areas . Strange: A similar stranding was seen last year. Sometimes they happen in Spring during breeding season .", "When a lobster turned up a conservation centre filled with eggs and missing both its claws and half of its legs, prospects looked bleak. But in an extraordinary quirk of nature the lobster managed to regrow its four missing legs as well as its distinctive claws in record time. Dubbed Clawdia, the lobster shocked staff at the National Lobster Hatchery in Cornwall by regrowing her limbs in just one moult - the regeneration process of lobsters. Clawdia the lobster was missing four arms and both claws and managed to grow them all in one process . The crustacean regnerated four of her legs and both her claws in a single moult after four months at the centre . Ben Marshall, a senior technician at the centre, said: 'She was brought in by one of the fishermen as she was full of eggs. 'We put her in our hatchery, as we do with all our lobsters. But she wasn't in a very good condition and was missing half of her legs. 'But luckily she has moulted in a reasonable amount of time. There appeared not only all legs but also two perfect little claws.' Clawdia came to the hatchery about four months ago and will be kept thee until the new year when her shell has hardened again. This becomes soft during the regeneration process. Mr Marshall said being able to see her regrow so many limbs was very unique. 'It's very unusual,' he added. 'It's not unusual for lobsters to regenerate but they usually do this in the sea. But we were able to actually witness this. She grew everything back all at once.' Clawdia the lobster was brought into the hatchery in Cornwall heavily laden with legs and missing vital limbs . Mr Marshall said Clawdia was likely to have lost her limbs and her claws by fighting other lobsters, which is common among the crustaceans. Carly Daniels a scientist at the facility added: 'We've never seen anything quite like this. 'She may have lost the limbs fighting or from a predator attack. 'But to regrow them all so fast is amazing.' Bob Bayet, director of the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine, said: 'Lobsters can regenerate their limbs. It will take several moults and years to obtain full size.' Lobsters grow by shedding their exoskeleton which is known as moulting. As this happens their body tissues absorb water and they swell, rupturing the exoskeleton. When this occurs a new exoskeleton begins to harden - a process that can take from a few hours to several weeks. During each moult the length of a lobster increases by up to 15 per cent and its weight can double. Lobsters can regrow their limbs by moulting . After a successful moult the lobster eats its old exoskeleton, giving the animal the calcium it needs to harden its new shell. Appendages and limbs can be regenerated through the moulting period but this can make it last longer. Young lobsters can moult up to five times a year whereas for adults this may take place every two years. All lobsters continue to grow throughout their lives.", "Video footage of a glowing squid-like creature swimming in a harbour, might have baffled experts, but the mysterious animal has now been declared a hoax. Stunned eyewitnesses had filmed the strange, luminescent, tentacled creature, which was flashing a variety of colours floating close to the top of the water in Bristol. But it has now been revealed that the paranormal animal was part of an elaborate marketing stunt to promote a new TV programme. Creature from the deep? It has now been revealed that the 'alien squid' was part of an elaborate marketing stunt to promote a new TV programme . Sightings of the creature by the public puzzled marine biologists. Dr Steve Simpson, from the School of Biological Sciences at Bristol University, said: ‘It's very intriguing - I don't really know what to make of it.’ The guerrilla campaign was created to launch a new show called ‘The Happenings’ on Watch, which features the magicians ‘Barry and Stewart’ and is made by the producers of Derren Brown. The guerrilla video campaign featuring the mysterious creature was made to launch a new show called 'The Happenings' on Watch, which features the magicians 'Barry and Stewart' and is created by the producers of Derren Brown . The TV show is described as a ‘new type of narrative magic show’ that brings film scenes to life, which are unleashed upon unsuspecting residents from towns across the UK and the U.S. It launches on Monday December 9 at 9pm on Watch. The videos, which include ‘paranormal’ events and what is described as a ‘giant bioluminescent alien’ have racked up over one million views since they appeared on YouTube four months ago. The videos, which include 'paranormal' events and what is described as a 'giant bioluminescent alien' have racked up over one million views since they appeared on YouTube four months ago . The squid looked more mysterious at a distance but the new images allow people to see how the 15ft model was constructed . Bristolians took to social media to report the 15ft, squid-like alien pulsing beneath the water in the city's harbour. Videos and images shot by stunned locals of the tentacled alien first appeared on Tuesday and within 24 hours over 3.5 million related tweets were written. Before the hoax was revealed, one Twitter user questioned whether the squid had escaped from Bristol Zoo. Here the 'animal' lies in wait outside a local bar. Its presence in Bristol harbour had baffled marine biologists . This bizarre sight greeted people walking along Bristol harbourside - described by some as an 'alien-like creature' floating underwater . Dozens of people were left flummoxed after spotting the creature and quickly grabbed cameras to snap it. Some people suggested that Bristol artist Banksy might have had something to do with the strange object. Marine biologists admitted they were baffled by the footage and suggested it could have been a marine salp which had drifted off . course by the weather. Dr Steve Simpson, from the School of Biological Sciences at Bristol University, said before the unveiling: 'This is either a very interesting animal or someone's very cool interpretation of a marine creature.' Marine biologists claimed the footage could be a marine salp which had drifted off course by the weather. Dr Simpson said: 'There is a possibility that it is a special type of jellyfish or a marine salp. It's very unusual and I haven't really seen anything like it before though. 'What makes it even more unusual is that fact that it showed up in the middle of a really busy area. 'There are various marine animals that have biological illuminating abilities and they are able to make themselves flash. 'It . is entirely possible that it is a marine creature which has been . brought into the harbour because of the storms or maybe it was trying to . shelter from the stormy seas. Dozens of people were left flummoxed after spotting the creature and quickly grabbed cameras to snap it . Stunned eyewitnesses filmed the strange, luminescent, tentacled object which was flashing a variety of colours floating close to the top of the water . Intrigue: Marine biologists claimed it could be a salp which had drifted off course . He theorised that spring tides could have dragged an unknown animal in from the sea, or that someone had created a 'very cool' interpretation of a squid. Some people believed that Bristol legend Banksy may have had something to do with the weird object. Dozens of people were left flummoxed after spotting the creature and quickly grabbed cameras to snap it. Scientists said what made the sight unusual was the fact that the creature showed up in the middle of a really busy area. There are various marine animals that have biological illuminating abilities and they are able to make themselves flash . Alex Gordon-Lennox, 22, who was one of the many people to witness the strange creature, said: 'It was just floating down the harbour. I've never seen anything like it before. 'I only noticed it because it was flashing and was so bright. I was out with some friends that night so we watched it travel down the water a bit and then it just seemed to disappear. 'It looked a bit like a jellyfish or a squid or something. It was amazing.'", "A robot that can print itself new 'body' parts and adapt to environments has been made. In a video, the machine is shown struggling - but succeeding - to crawl along the ground after having one of its four limbs removed. And it could herald future robots that can learn how to overcome difficult conditions on other worlds like Mars. Scientists at University of Oslo have created robots that learn to adapt. The multi-limbed machines can overcome environmental challenges. In a video a robot with a limb removed learns how to walk (shown) The robots were created by a team of scientists from the University of Oslo. To make them a 3D printer is fed a list of parameters for the robots including desired speed, size and efficiency. A simulator then pits several different creations in 'fights to the death' before the winning robot is sent to the 3D printer for production. The robot was then 'taught' that it was missing a limb and told to try and walk across the floor. In the video it can be seen how the robot adapts to its situation, and still manages to 'walk' or rawl across the floor. The 3D printers used by the university cost up to £280,000 ($430,000) and are capable of an extremely high level of precision. The robots were created by a team of scientists from the University of Oslo. To make them a 3D printer is fed a list of parameters for the robots including desired speed, size and efficiencies. A simulator then pits several different creations with different limbs and features in 'fights to the death' before selecting a winner . Robots of the future won't just be smart, they could also have ninja-like reflexes. Researchers in the US are studying the way cats and athletes rotate their body mid-air, and hope to recreate that movement in droids. The aim is to reduce the impact on falling robots - especially those that may one day be used for search-and-rescue missions in hazardous conditions. Professor Karen Liu at Georgia Tech University has been simulating the physics of everything from falling cats to the mid-air orientation of divers and astronauts. The study involved using a small robot consisting of a main body and two symmetric legs with paddles. According to IEEE Spectrum, the potential benefits of such a robot are numerous. For example, a Mars rover equipped with a 3D printer could autonomously get itself out of sticky situations. 'In the future, robots must be able to solve tasks in deep mines on distant planets, in radioactive disaster areas, in hazardous landslip areas and on the sea bed beneath the Antarctic,' said Professor Kyrre Glette, from the Robotics and Intelligent Systems research group. 'These environments are so extreme that no human being can cope. Everything needs to be automatically controlled. 'Imagine that the robot is entering the wreckage of a nuclear power plant. It finds a staircase that no-one has thought of. 'The robot takes a picture. The picture is analysed. The arms of one of the robots is fitted with a printer. 'This produces a new robot, or a new part for the existing robot, which enables it to negotiate the stairs.' The research team (shown with some of the robots) say that the technique of autonomously creating parts could be used by future robots on other planets in the solar system .", "A three-bedroom semi detached house was rented for up to £40,000 a year by rogue landlords despite having a tree poking through the wall in one of its rooms. The property in Clapham, south London, is among a handful which slipped through the hands of Lambeth council in the 1970s when local authorities did not have enough money to refurbish them. Passed on to housing associations and cooperatives, it eventually fell into the hands of a rogue landlord who has illegally extended the property into the garden, failing to chop down a large tree. Worryingly the landlord, who has not been named by authorities, used the tree's branches as a router for electricity for its eight tenants. Council officials discovered that a property in Clapham, south London, had been extended around a tree in its back garden which landlords failed to chop down when expanding, instead opting to use its branches to route electricity . The 'appalling' conditions were discovered by the council when officials visited the site to take back ownership of the run-down house. 'The conditions the people in this illegal HMO were living in were truly appalling, and represented a genuine danger to life and limb,' said Councillor Matthew Bennett. 'It is shocking that someone can make money exploiting people by illegally renting out such dangerous accommodation with no regard for the safety of the people living there. 'We have 21,000 people on our housing waiting list, 1,800 families in temporary accommodation, and 1,300 families who are severely overcrowded. 'With this housing need, it would be irresponsible to spend our money refurbishing shortlife properties which are in a very poor state of disrepair – particularly when they are being misused for these exploitative and illegal purposes.' The house, which has been illegally converted into flats, had only one bathroom with a single bath and filthy toilet for occupants to share. It is located on a quiet residential street in south London where the average property costs £715,000. Experts estimated the property in a leafy, residential street, was earning landlords up to £40,000 a year by renting each of the rooms out . Each of the tiny rooms was being rented individually, it is thought, for around £100 a week. Originally the property was a three-bedroom house . Officials found spare mattresses, wood shavings and cardboard boxes scattered around the property when they turned up to repossess it . A disused microwave, ladder, chairs and scraps of wood lie in the house's garden for council officials to clear up after it was vacated . The only bathroom in the run-down property had just one filthy toilet and grubby bath for all eight of its occupants to share . A bundle of clothes lie in the corner of one of the bedrooms beside a discarded mattress. The property is thought to have been run by rogue landlords whose hands it fell into after being given to housing associations and cooperatives in the 1970s . Council chiefs slammed the landlord for maintaining the property to such low standards describing it as a 'risk to life and limb' Though very little detail about the landlord and tenants is known (all had fled by the time authorities arrived at the property), experts estimate that each room may have been let out for around £100 a week - pulling £41,600 a year. It is one of 1,200 properties that were licensed to housing associations and cooperatives in the 1970s on a short-term basis when the council didn't have the funds to refurbish them to a high-enough standard. Forty years after falling into the hands of negligent owners, the flats and houses are being reclaimed by the Government. Last week electricians discovered another of the 'short-life' properties had been rerouting its electricity to other people's metres. Experts said it was one of the most dangerous sites they had seen in 35 years and that it was a miracle no one in the property had been electrocuted. Lambeth Council is considering launching legal action against the landlord. The property on Clapham's Rectory Gardens (pictured) in south London is one of more than 1,200 which fell into the wrong hands decades ago .", "A two-metre stingray weighing more than 100 kilograms has been set free after being trapped for four days in a rock pool south of Sydney. The large female was released on Wednesday following alleged attempts to gas and even spear the stingray by members of the public to get the animal out of the North Cronulla pool which she became trapped in on Saturday. Manly Sea Life Sanctuary staff organised the 45-minute rescue, with help from Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Sutherland Shire Council lifeguards. Trapping the stingray in the net only took about 10 minutes at the North Cronulla rock pool . The stingray was at least 100kg with six people struggling to lift the animal onto the rock pool edge . The stingray was too large to swim back over the ledge without assistance from the rescuers . Manly Sea Life sciences manager Rob Townsend told MailOnline that although he had conducted similar rescues of stingrays in a rock pool, none had been as large as this one. ‘It would have to be at least 100 kilos because six of us struggled to lift her,’ he said. The team tried to persuade the creature to swim over the edge of the pool but after numerous attempts it seemed she was too large for the task. 'She was too big to manipulate herself to swim over,' Mr Townsend explained. The only option left was to capture the stingray in a big net and take over to the pool’s edge. It was alleged that members of the public attempted to gas and even spear the large female during the four days before she was freed . Manly Sea Life Sanctuary staff organised the 45-minute rescue, with help from Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Sutherland Shire Council lifeguards . The stringray needed encouragement by the rescue team to swim off the rock platform . 'We waited for large waves and floated her over the crest of the wave,' he said . Mr Townsend said it took another 5-10 minutes to persuade the stingray to swim off the rock platform. 'We had to stand in her way if she was heading in the wrong direction to encourage her to swim further because they have sophisticated sensory organs,' he said. He heard that there were attempts from members of the public to gas, and even spear the stingray during the four days before she was freed. 'It's not protected species so people are perfectly well within their rights to chop it up for flake although the action is questionable,' he said. 'Setting wild animals free always feels good - its one of the best things we do.' Mr Townsend said: 'setting wild animals free always feels good - it's one of the best things we do'", "A minke whale has washed up on a Scarborough beach after it got tangled up in lobster pot ropes. Unusually, two minke whales washed up on shores at opposite ends of the country this week. Another one was found on Thurso beach, Caithness, northern Scotland, after it drowned when caught in ropes. Scroll down for video . Washed up: A dead minke whale was found on Scarborough beach with some lacerations to its tale . Dead: t is thought that the whale became tangled in lobster pots off the Yorkshire coast . The minke whale caused a stir among people in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, whose interest in the mammal caused them to be cut off by the raising tide. Sea life experts believe the whale had already died in the sea before being deposited onto sands of South Bay in Scarborough yesterday. A post-mortem carried out at the scene confirmed that the eight metre animal had drowned after being tangled in a lobster pot. Todd German, an aquarist from Scarborough Sea Life Centre, said he was alarmed by the behaviour of the people on the beach who climbed on top of the whale or became distracted and cut off by the rising tide. He said: 'They really do carry a lot of diseases which you can catch just from touching them. But even though it was a big, smelly, rotting whale people were quite happy to go up and touch it. 'Yesterday we even had people climbing up on top of the whale and riding it. You wouldn’t do that to a dead cat or dog. 'The coast guard got called out several times to people who were going to look at the whale and got cut-off. 'We want to encourage people to see whales up close when they can – it’s beautiful to see such a large animal which you only normally get a fleeting glimpse of. But we would just like to remind people to use their heads.' Unusual: Minke whales are solitary creatures, but can be curious and investigate boats . Spectacle: Onlookers snapped pictures after the beached washed ashore . Scarborough: The whale underwent a postmortem to ascertain what had happened to it . The giant mammal was removed for . incineration by a team involving the sea life centre, Scarborough . Borough Council and the RSPCA. It was first spotted by the crew of a boat floating in the sea near North Bay on Wednesday night. It underwent an autopsy conducted by the Zoological Society of London. Lindsey . Crawford from Sea Life Scarborough told Yorkshire Coast Radio: ‘With an . animal that large, you can't just take it off the beach ... The main . reason we wanted to go down was to see if there were any obvious wounds . of why it's died. ‘Body condition was quite healthy, . it's quite a nice looking animal, the only thing was a few lacerations . around the tail area, possibly made by ropes or netting. ‘People . would be very surprised at what is actually on their doorsteps. We have . some beautiful animals in our sea and Minke Whales are one of them.’ The Scottish whale is believed to be the first to be washed ashore on Thurso beach in Caithness, in several decades . A post-mortem by the Scottish Agricultural College revealed she had drowned at sea three to four days prior to washing up on the shore . The Scottish whale is believed to be the first to be washed ashore on Thurso beach in Caithness, in several decades. Senior SSPCA Inspector Audrey Gunn said: ‘I was called to a whale stranding on Tuesday evening at Thurso Beach. ‘Unfortunately, it was already dead before I arrived and had been dead for a wee while. ‘It was a minke whale measuring 7.5 meters. ‘A post-mortem by the Scottish Agricultural College revealed she had drowned at sea three to four days prior to washing up on the shore. ‘We believe she may have become caught up in rope as there was damage to her mouth and marks consistent with this. This was a very sad end for such a beautiful creature.’ Highland Council warned members of the public to stay away from the whale for health reasons, before taking it to a landfill site yesterday morning.", "Footage of what appears to be a great white shark in the sea off Cornwall has ignited fears that a real-life Jaws is roaming Britain's coastline. Fisherman Nigel Hodge, 44, was on his boat 20 miles off Falmouth when he spotted it on the port side of his boat and pulled out his mobile phone to film it. Shark experts who have viewed his footage said it was certainly not native to British waters and that it was 'probably a great white'. Fisherman Nigel Hodge filmed this shark, said by some experts to resemble a great white, off Falmouth . Man-eater in Cornwall?  The footage shows a 14ft creature lurking alongside Mr Hodge's boat, Wave Chieftain . Mr Hodge, who runs fishing and boat trips with his Cornish Fishing business, was fishing when he spotted the enormous creature, which he estimated at more than 12ft long, circling his boat. He said: 'I was fishing on the starboard side and went to the port side to get the deck hose when I saw it.' Mr Hodge said he didn't want to suggest what he thought, but common consensus on his Cornish Fishing Facebook page, where he posted the footage, was that it was either a great white or an oceanic great. David Turner, a shark specialist and author of The Shark Fisherman, said: 'If the fish was was 14ft long, it probably was a great white - it wouldn't be the first off Falmouth.' He said a similar sized shark was seen off Falmouth last year, and said it was most likely swimming around looking for food. Shark aficionado Roger Bowring wrote: 'Looks like a small great white', before adding: 'The more I look at it, the more it looks like a great white.' Other shark watchers suggested it might be an even more deadly oceanic whitetip, a species described by oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as 'the most dangerous of all sharks'.  Four years ago an oceanic whitetip terrorised guests at the popular Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh, killing one woman and attacking four others. A source at Falmouth coastguard told MailOnline they hadn't had any reported sightings of a great white . 'We do get sharks of various types off the coast of Cornwall, it's not unusual, but they're primarily the large basking sharks.' Terrifying man-eater: The great white shark has rows of serrated teeth and can smell blood a mile away . Experts said it was a basking shark because of its shape and its fins, and also ruled out other species such as mako, porbeagle, bull shark or thresher. Great whites, made famous by the 1975 film Jaws, weigh 2,000lbs and are feared as man-eaters. They have razor-sharp serrated teeth and can smell a single drop of blood from a mile away. They usually prefer warmer waters than those around Britain, but scientists have warned they may be tempted to the southern British coastline as sea temperatures rise, particularly after a hot summer. Earlier this year a great white named Lydia was spotted 1,000 miles off the south west, having swum 19,000 miles across the Atlantic from America.  Marine biologists said it appeared to be heading for Britain, where the mild weather had left the sea teeming with smaller fish to eat. This afternoon the UK-based Shark Trust played down fears of a killer circling our shores, saying it was most likely a young basking shark. Ali Hood, director of conservation, said: 'We’re yet to have a verified sighting of a white sharks in our waters. We do have an environment that is suitable.' Warm blooded great white sharks live in coastal temperate waters around the world, preferring areas that have lots of seals for them to eat. They have been found in water as shallow as 300metres deep, and waters going down 1,200metres, in locations including Australia, New Zealand, America's west and east coasts, Sout Africa, South America, and off Japan and Korea. Great whites have also been spotted in the Mediterranean. They don't like water that is too warm, so are rarely spotted in tropical waters, and they either swim right at the bottom near the sea bed or up at the top. Where the sharks roam: Great whites live in coastal temperate waters around the world (marked in red) All attempts to keep a great white in captivity have failed because marine biologists have failed to work out the ideal conditions to keep them in.  One great white in Australia had to be released because it kept banging its head against the aquarium wall. As a result, those who wish to see great whites close up have to go diving in shark cages. Last week British expat Paul Wilcox, 50, was mauled to death by a great white in Australia's Byron Bay.  The businessman was doing his regular one-kilometre swim when the shark bit into his leg, leaving him to bleed to death in the water.", "(CNN) -- When you are creating the most anticipated horror video game of 2013, there is a certain trepidation about how you are going to bring the scares to your audience. Visceral Games hopes it's up to the challenge with its latest title, \"Dead Space 3.\" In the series' third installment, everyone's favorite head case, Isaac Clarke, is back, and still trying to get the visions of a twisted future out of his head. Aliens are still transforming humans into hideous necromorphs (zombie-like creatures made from different body parts) and it is up to Isaac to save humanity from a fate worse than death. Steve Papoutsis, executive producer of the \"Dead Space\" franchise, said his team recognized that keeping things fresh and scary for fans in the third title would be a challenge. It was easy to frighten players in the first game just by introducing the team's horrifying creations, and the second title offered new scares by changing the pacing of the action. 'Dead Space 2' is scary, limb-slicing fun . 'Dead Space: Extraction' (the first of the series) This time, Papoutsis said, the developers are adding new creatures and answering plot questions that have lingered throughout the franchise. However, they really wanted to dive into the head of Isaac more than in previous titles, and in co-op play, that element takes on a new life. \"When you decide to play with a friend, you get details about John Carver (the co-op character) and his back story and his personal journey,\" Papoutsis said. \"We actually leverage that by delivering psychological horror moments. You'll have the psychological dementia that only occur in co-op and really bring details out.\" Papoutsis said those dementia moments are highlighted by action occurring on one player's screen while the other player sees nothing. For example, Player One may see Player Two grabbing his head and asking what's going on. Meanwhile, Player Two is involved in a battle for his life against necromorphs. The question then becomes which character is seeing the world as it really is. \"Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.\" -- James Stephens, \"The Crock of Gold\" The development team at Visceral also moved away from \"timed\" scares, frightening moments that are keyed by a character moving to a specific spot in the game. They focused on an overall package of elements -- music, characters, mental tension and even background environments -- to create the feeling of angst players have come to enjoy from the franchise. \"One of the things we looked at over the course of this game is how does our environment play into scares? That's why we really liked the concept of (icy planet) Tau Volantis,\" Papoutsis said. \"It spoke to us about things like survival, subzero conditions, low visibility. \"All these things reinforce the horror element. How can we surprise and delight and keep the players guessing?\" Papoutsis proudly said he has no fear. However, when pushed, he admitted he does get vertigo from time to time when he's high in the air. He said when designing the horror moments in the game, his team members search for the \"relatability moments,\" things that frighten them and in turn will frighten the player. He said the visual moments in the game that could potentially happen, or that players could envision happening, create the most fear and tension. \"The enemies, for instance. These are twisted, suffering humans. The fact you can see the necromorphs with their limbs twisted, spiky bits are sticking up, jaws are missing -- that resonates at a primal level, because you look at it and go, \"Wow. That would be super painful to have that happen to me.'\" \"You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.\" -- Eric Hoffer . Papoutsis said the game's art and design teams also pushed the boundaries of current gaming systems to make scary moments look and feel even more traumatic. \"There are definitely more things to do,\" Papoutsis said. \"We've added a lot more exploration elements.\" He is hoping players will get deep into the missions, find out more about the characters and grow more attached to what happens to Isaac. It gives him personal enjoyment when players talk about getting emotionally invested in the game -- through either the story or the horror. \"It takes such a big effort for the team to create some of these scenarios. When you hear a player talk about the moments in a way that expresses how much fun or tension or excitement they had playing through them, it is extremely satisfying and one of the coolest things about making games,\" he said. While he wouldn't reveal what he would call his \"OMG moment\" in the game, Papoutsis said there are definitely a couple of moments in that will surprise and shock players. \"We're anxious to see how our players react to them,\" he said. As such, Papoutsis is inviting players to reach out on Twitter to him (@leveluptime) as they play. He said he enjoys bouncing ideas off fans and is very interested in their reactions to the latest chapter in the franchise. \"Dead Space 3\" became available Tuesday in North America and releases Thursday in Australia and Friday in Europe. It can be played on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC. It is rated M for Mature due to blood and gore, intense violence and strong language.", "It may not be a looker, but the Lusitanian toadfish can do much more than croak. The fish, which lives in rocky crevices in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and glides over the muddy sea floor, can whistle, croak and grunt. Scientists have found that Halobatrachus didactylus makes five types of calls not only to attract a mate, but to warn off rivals too may be trying to swipe their nesting site. Lusitanian toadfish (pictured) make five types of calls and males can even sing in choruses to attract mates. The fish woo females with long, rhythmical boatwhistles, which also act as a deterrent to love rivals, . Male fish woo females with long, rhythmical noises that sound like boat whistles, which also act as a deterrent to love rivals, New Scientist reported. They build nests under rocks during mating season, which runs from May to July and sing to attract female visitors. If they are successful, the pair mate and the male looks after young that hatch from sticky eggs until they are ready to fend for themselves after around a month. Because males, which grow up to 20 inches (50cm) long, are fiercely territorial, their song also serves as a warning for rivals to stay away. Males build nests under rocks during mating season (pictured), which runs from May to July and sing to attract female visitors. The creature is well camouflaged so sound is the best way to get attention . This is important because males nest close together to one another and form singing choruses like frogs or toads to demonstrate their virility and strength. The whistles vary according to the size of the fish, meaning that specific calls from larger specimens are particularly effective at deterring another fish from picking a fight and stealing a nest. Lusitanian toadfish typically weigh more than four lbs (2kg) and their large, flat heads and wide mouths, make them look like toads, giving their their name. Portuguese scientists discovered that the sounds made by Lusitanian toadfish indicate who they are, their motivation and information about their nest. If they are successful, the pair mate and the male looks after young that hatch from sticky eggs until they are ready to fend for themselves after around a month. Here, a female lays eggs, which stick to the roof of a nest . The experts analysed the frequencies of different songs.  Water temperature, tide level, fish motivation and the level of social interactions affected most acoustic parameters analysed (shown above). For example, during low tide, the sounds made by the fish were shorter in duration and had lower main frequencies . Male mice sing to woo females, scientists claim. They also change their tune depending on whether she is within sight or not. The females, meanwhile, seem to like some of the songs more than others. In a quirky study that could shed help shed light on autism and other conditions that involve difficulties in communication, researchers from Duke University in North Carolina studied male mice that were either placed in a cage with a female – or one with just her scent. Special equipment was used to record and analyse their squeaks, which are so high-pitched that people can’t hear them. This revealed that they sang one song when they could simply smell a female and another one when they could see her. When they could merely smell a potential mate, they belted out an extremely shrill and complex song, perhaps in an attempt to make themselves known. But when she was within sight, they serenaded her more softly. These songs also had a more simple structure and were longer. Clara Amorim of ISPA University Institute in Portugal studied the different sounds made by the fish, which contracts muscles in its swim bladders to release air, a little like bagpipe. It makes different sounds by contracting its bladders in various ways. To prove that 'boatwhistles' are used as a deterrent as well as for seduction, her team deflated the swim bladders of fish under anaesthesia, so that the creatures could still contract their muscles, but were rendered silent. The team found that mute males were more likely to face intruders in their nests, suggesting that 'boatwhistles' are an effective warning siren. ‘Boatwhistles are a cheap way to exclude intruders without engaging in a fight,’ Dr Amorim said. ‘Seeing that a nest is occupied is not as effective as hearing that there is a male in the nest eager to defend its territory.’ The sounds are modified by environmental factors such as tide level and water temperature as well as courtship motivation and by social interactions. For example, during low tide, the water temperature rises slightly and it's harder for sound to travel in shallow waters, which means that fewer fish sing and their noises are shorter in length and lower in pitch. They found that males that are desperate to mate sing a lot more at higher frequencies with longer notes. Males singing as part of a chorus sing more than they do when they are alone. Fish that sing the most, were found to be capable of a contracting their sound-producing muscles more and therefore showed that their body is in good condition. This means that males that can sing for longer have more energy reserves to defend the nest and to care for the eggs, and could enjoy higher social status and reproductive success as a result. Other fish sing too, such as clownfish, which click their jaws together to scare off intruders. Male Lusitanian toadfish build nests under rocks during mating season, which runs from May to July and sing to attract female visitors. Other fish sing too, such as clownfish (pictured), which click their jaws together to scare off intruders .", "An eye-catching two-toned lobster called Harley Quinn has become even more striking after moulting to reveal electric blue skin down one side of his body . He is the star attraction of the aquarium and it’s easy to see why. An eye-catching two-toned lobster called Harley Quinn has become even more striking after moulting to reveal electric blue skin down one side of his body. The strangely pigmented creature was captured near Bridlington in East Yorkshire in 2010 and has been looked after by curious staff who have since monitored his colourful transition at Scarborough Sea Life Centre. The chances of a lobster being two separate colours on each half of its body is around one in 50million and Harley Quinn is arguably even rarer as his claws are the opposite colours to the corresponding sides of his body, making him look like he has been divided into four. He is named after the comic servants called harlequins, who wore brightly coloured suits. The sea creature amazed experts when it was caught in 2010 with a yellow, red and black body, buts its unusual appearance has intensified with each moult. Harley, who is thought to be five or six years old, has now shed his unique armour for the second time since his arrival at the centre and his keepers were delighted to see his new suit is his most spectacular yet. ‘Whereas he was a reddish-black on one side and sandy colour on the other, he has now adopted a deep electric blue down one side,' said Amy McFarlane, of the centre. Lobsters shed their hard shells as they . outgrow them and need a quiet safe haven for a few days while a new . larger shell develops and hardens. A-moulting-mazing: The sea creature had surprised experts after it was caught in 2010 with a yellow, red and black body, buts its unusual appearance has intensified with each moult and it now has electric blue colouring. The lobster named Harley Quinn is pictured centre, with his two old coats, which have been carefully preserved . The lobster’s colour combination is rarer than one in 50million. Research suggests that one in every two million lobsters is pure blue, one in 30million is yellow and one in 100million is albino . The lobster is divided into two colours by a straight line down his carapace because of a genetic mutation. The two sides of the creature developed independently with one half having none of the blue colouring, crustacyanin. Selection for the animal pigmentation starts at the first cell division of the embryo so genes from one pigment went to one cells and the others to another, resulting in its half-and-half appearance. It is thought Harley Quinn has blue colouring because of another mutation. Research by the University of Connecticut discovered that the genetic defect that makes lobsters blue in colour is the presence of too much protein. Experts believe that the protein together with a red carotenoid molecule combine to create the striking colour. The colouring of most young lobsters . intensifies every time they moult and a spokesman for the centre told . MailOnline: ‘The process is much the same with normal lobsters but I’ve . never seen one that's half and half with a weird transfer of colour on its . claws – he looks like an old fashioned harlequin jester.’ 'The line down his back is dead straight. It’s almost as if someone has used a ruler and he was designed by a draftsman.’ The lobster’s two-toned colouring is the result of a genetic mutation. The two sides of the creature developed independently with one half lacking the blue colouring, crustacyanin. Ed Baker of the Office of Marine Programs at the University of Rhode Island told Science Blogs: ‘Selection for pigmentation starts at the first cell division of the embryo. Genes from one pigment went to one cell while the others went to the other. All subsequent divisions carry the same information.’ The centre’s spokesman explained that the aquarium has been home to albino lobsters in the past but the blue colour is also very rare. Whiter shade of pale: An albino lobster named Santa Claws was discovered off the coast of Bridport, Dorset. Only three albino lobsters have been found in britain in the last 20 years . Research by the University of Connecticut discovered that the genetic defect that makes lobsters blue in colour is the presence of too much protein. Experts believe that the protein combines with a red carotenoid molecule to create the striking colour. Ms McFarlane said: ‘He's such a striking individual he did extremely well to avoid predators like conger eels and seals when he was in the open sea. Now safe from attack, he could live another sixty or seventy years. ‘There have been unusual coloured lobsters found in the past but he is remarkable because he has two colours separated by a near perfect straight line along the back of his carapace.’ While Harley might be different to the other lobsters, he acts in the same way and ‘doesn’t know he’s different,’ according to the centre's spokesman. Lucky escape: A red lobster called Gumbo (pictured right) was saved from the pot in 2010 at Billingsgate fish market, London. Research suggests that one in every two million lobsters is pure blue, (left) one in 30million is yellow and one in 100million is albino. But red is so rare that it could be one in a billion .", "Thousands of amateur and professional photographers slipped into their wetsuits and came face-to-face with extreme danger in the pursuit of the best underwater photograph of the year. From an open-mouthed shark to the wreckage of a ship, the spectacular photographs taken from the depths of the sea baffle the imagination and show nature at its most spectacular. Jaws: Sam Cahir won first prize in the wide angle category with this spectacular image of the moment a mako shark opens its jaws and swims towards his camera off the coast of Australia . Best in Show: This unusual look at nature was selected as the best photograph in any category. Hamid Rad took the image looking at the sky in New Guinea . Golden seabed: Thousands of entries mean the competition boasts a spectacular range of photographs. Here, a cloud of tadpoles float in the golden Campbell River in British Columbia, Canada . Graceful: This group of mantra rays were captured in a peaceful moment by an amateur photographer. Some of the winning entries include human subjects, such as the diver who is following in their path . Hamid Rad won best in show with his . portrait of a fish-eye view of the world. The picture, taken in New . Guinea, won the reefscapes category and was selected as the best overall . shot in this year's competition. Thousands . of photographers from 15 countries entered into the seven categories- . compact cameras, divers, animal portraits, animal behaviour, reefscapes, . surfs and sharks. 15 per . cent of proceeds from the entries are donated to marine conservation . projects. More than £50,000 worth of prizes have been awarded to group . finalists and winners. The . competition, in its seventh year, is part of a series of underwater . imaging events and has become one of the biggest and most prestigious in . the world. Whirlpool: A diver on the seabed in Cabo, New Mexico, works next to a huge shoal of fish who swirl around each other . Swimming with sharks: You could be forgiven for thinking this image was photoshopped. A model darts through the water with a white shark n the Philippines . Technicolor: In contrast to many of the moody pictures, this atmospheric scene shows the colour of sea creatures to their fullest . Backdrop: The dramatic surroundings in these pictures make the subject stand out. Thousands of small fish make way for a larger species (left), while a shipwreck in Eliat, Israel, plays second fiddle to a seahorse . Taking the plunge: The winning picture in the surf category was taken in New South Wales . Lone diver: This finalist in the divers category shows the brilliant blue of the clear Tenerife sea . Deep blue sea: Photographs in the animal portrait category show underwater creatures in great detail . Spectacular reef: A wave breaking in the Red Sea makes for a jaw dropping backdrop to the stunning coral reef . Close up: From the bulbous eyes of this tiny goby fish to its fluorescent lips, this image shows the benefits of compact photography . Watery depths: A large fish is encircled by a shoal of thousands off the coast of Eden Rock in Grand Cayman . Exploring the depths: These three deep sea divers light the water around them in a dramatic portrait of light and dark . Sticking together: A trio of pelicans dunk their heads in the water in New South Wales (left) while hundreds of fish in a shoal (right) move as a pack . Ominous: This mean-looking barracuda leads the way in a sinister image that won the bronze award in the novice category . Aquatic dancing: Two seahorses embrace in a mating ritual in Singer Island, Florida. This photograph won bronze in the animal behaviour category . Mirror image: The aptly named guitar shark looks like the rockstar of the marine world in this image taken off the coast of Sao Tome, Africa, which was a finalist in the sharks category . Fluorescent: Some of the vibrant neon colours found in the depths of the sea look like they belong at a rave . Following the leader: A group of sharks circle a bay in the Caribbean . Wide-eyed: This close-up of a seal captures the vulnerability of the animal . What lies beneath: A shark off the Faial Islands, Azores, skims the surface of the water with its fin . Devil is in the detail: Some images show just the silhouette of an animal, like these silhouettes of sharks in Indonesia (left). Others aim to capture every part of marine wildlife, like this colourful squid in the Philippines (right) The good, the bad and the ugly: This bulbous bobtail squid glows in the dark . Dramatic: Entries range from this fish with a crustacean in its mouth (left) to a diver reaching towards the light in a dark cave in Croatia (right) Mythical: A woman superhero floats in a swimming pool holding a chandelier in this unusual image that seems out of place in the competition . Silhouette: The outline of free diver Natalia Avseenko (left) and a close-up of a tiny octopus (right) in Bali were placed in the final line-up .", "They're known to hold hands while sleeping so as to not drift away from one another. And now otters are reaching out their paws to humans at a Japanese marine mark where visitors are offered the chance to shake hands with the adorable animals. The Asian small-clawed Otters, which are the smallest in the species, can stretch their tiny paws out of holes cut in their glass enclosures to meet passers-by. Visitors at the marine park can shake hands with the adorable otters who are the smallest of their kind . Visitors are given cut up pieces of fish to entice the animals to the enclosure's front . By holding out the great scent of Wakasagi Smelt, visitors can entice the animals towards them at the Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park in Miura. For just 500 yen (£2.95), guests can meet and greet the animals at allotted times in the day, reports RocketNews24. Zookeepers dish out chopped up fish to coax shyer creatures to the glass where queues have begun to grow so rapidly the park now recommends making a reservation to avoid disappointment. Visitors can even bring their own pets into the park which houses dolphins, sharks, sea lions and penguins. The otters, which are the smallest in . the world, weigh less than 5kg and are particularly distinguished by . their squishy, webbed paws. The animals are known for their tiny claws which do not grow beyond their fleshy, webbed paws . The animals are typically found dwelling in fresh water habitats when in the wild . Other animals at the marine park include dolphins, sharks, sea lions and penguins . For just 500 yen (the equivalent of £2.95) visitors can feed the animals and have their fingers grabbed through the tiny holes . This species can be found in coastal regions from southern India to South China, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Java, and Palawan. It . is known from all regions of Sabah and Sarawak, Brunei, central . Kalimantan, and most parts of Borneo with most dwelling in fresh water . habitats. The animals which mate for life have a life span of between 11 and 16 in the wild. They use vocalisations, scents and trail markings to communicate with each other. The animals are considered to be under serious threat by rapid habitat destruction, hunting and pollution. Their population trend is in decline despite being a protected species. The Asian small clawed otter doesn't grow to weigh more than five kilograms . The Asian small clawed otter mates for life and typically has two litters of pups . The animals are considered under serious threat despite being a protected species .", "This is the adorable moment a sea lion pup climbed onto a surfer's board off the coast of San Diego in Southern California, before cuddling up to him and riding the waves with him for more than an hour. The small marine creature reportedly approached longtime surfer and father-of-one, Dan Murphy, as he was taking to the water at Cardiff-by-the-Sea, off the shore of San Elijo Campground, on Sunday. It leaped onto the back of Mr Murphy's board and 'hugged' him from behind, leading him to think he was being attacked. But when the surfer whirled around, he saw it was only the 'scared-looking' pup. The sea lion pup jumped onto surfer Dan Murphy's board while he was in the water off of the San Diego coast . Pup hopped onto the back of Mr Murphy's board and 'hugged' him, leading him to think he was being attacked . The sea lion eventually crawled into Mr Murphy's lap and spend more than an hour riding the waves with him . For the next 20 minutes, the animal apparently held on tightly to Mr Murphy, before crawling into his lap 'like a puppy'. It then floated on the board and rode the waves with the surfer for a further hour. However, eventually, Mr Murphy, who has a seven-month-old baby son, had to nudge the pup off his board, and encourage it to swim off, because he needed to go home. He told NBC that the farewell was a tearful one, saying: 'I was literally in tears... I waved to him.' Speaking of the experience overall, he added: 'He spent well over an hour on my board... you see those pups around this time of year, [but] I’ve never seen them interact with people like that.' While Mr Murphy was frolicking in the ocean with the sea lion pup, his friend, Eileen Quinetela, was snapping photos of the incredible encounter. One picture shows the pup sunbathing on the board. Others depict the animal cuddling up to Mr Murphy, 'hugging' him from behind, and another surfer riding past sporting an amazed expression. They were met by an array of stunned and envious responses from Mr Murphy's friends, with one Facebook user writing: 'OMG that's incredible!! A seal is hugging you!!!', and another saying: 'That's awesome.' Mr Murphy said: 'He spent well over an hour on my board... you see those pups around this time of year' Nearly 2,000 seas lions have washed up on shores in California in sick and starving conditions so far this year . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has sounded the alarm over the surge in famished pups . It comes as California remains in the midst of a sea lion pup crisis, with nearly 2,000 of the animals having washed up on the state's shores in sick and starving conditions so far this year. Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sounded the alarm over the surge in famished pups, saying there has been 'an unusually large increase' in sea lion strandings. In January and February, strandings were 20 times the average rate for the time of year. In a conference call with reporters, an NOAA official said that up to March 15, more than 1,800 sea lions had been recorded, 750 of which were brought into the group's facilities, to be fed back up. The pups were also treated for any health problems before being released back into the ocean. Other pups have been cared for - and eventually returned to the wild - by SeaWorld trainers in the region. While Mr Murphy was with the pup, his friend Eileen Quinetela was snapping photos of the unique encounter . Experts believe warming ocean temperatures are partly responsible for the enormous rise in sea lion strandings . Speaking to NBC, Mr Murphy said the pup that jumped on to his board on Sunday morning did not appear malnourished and was comfortable around him, so may have been a rehabilitated sea lion. Experts believe warming sea temperatures are at least, in part, responsible for the enormous rise in sea lion strandings, changing the availability of fish and other organisms on which sea lions prey. Female sea lions, which weigh some 100 kilos (against some 400 kg for males), have to swim further to find food, leading them to become prematurely separated from their pups. The next two months are likely to see an even greater surge in strandings, along the lines of a 2013 Unusual Mortality Event (UME), experts say, before hopefully the numbers will start to fall. Nate Mantua of NOAA said one piece of good news was signs of northerly winds which would help bring colder waters more rich in nutrients, at least in northern California. This could ease the food crisis which is driving the strandings, he said. Mr Murphy said the little sea lion that jumped on to his board on Sunday morning did not appear malnourished .", "By . Ryan Lipman . Conservationists have launched a fresh attack on the killing of sharks cull off Western Australia after a tiger shark was shot three times and took 15 minutes to die. According to environmental group Sea Shepherd, the three-metre long creature was caught about 1km off Mullaloo Beach, north of Perth, on Monday. A hook pierced its head and the creature sustained further injuries as it thrashed around and tried to free itself. Scroll down for video . Brutal: Department of Fisheries Western Australia authorities haul up a 3m tiger shark that had been killed as part of a cull - sparking debate from conservation groups . When found by Western Australian Fisheries, the department reportedly used its boat, bearing the slogan slogan fish for the future, to drag the distressed animal. Following this, three fatal shots were then fired into the shark's head before it was hauled onto the boat and then later dumped out to sea. Sea Shepherd Australia managing director Jeff Hanson said it took the shark up to 15 minutes to die. 'The reason they killed it its part of the fisheries' policy that any shark more than thee metres will be killed,' he said of the cull's conditions. 'We won't accept the Japanese whaling fleets doing that. They're (the fisheries) killing a protecting species.' Mr Hanson alleged the Western Australia Fisheries authorities have used tactics such as running the Sea Shepherd's boats out of fuel and dumping sharks in exclusion zones to prevent them seeing the full extent of the cull. The drum line program was introduced in January after seven fatal shark attacks in Western Australia waters in the last three years . Sea Shepherd crew member Tim Watters he struggled to comprehend the treatment of the shark. 'I have now seen first hand the barbaric, senseless, cruel and tragedy of the Western Australia shark cull,' he said. Drum lines: The animal shot dead was found 1km off Mullaloo Beach, north of Perth, in an attempt to stop attacks on humans . 'I have seen today a beautiful female 3m plus tiger shark in such a stressed state, thrashing around for her life, before being pulled alongside and shot three times. Mr Watters said it was likely the shark was pregnant at its time of death, given the time of year. 'I have just returned from defending the whales in the Antarctic Southern Ocean whale sanctuary and can not believe what I am seeing right off our Western Australia coast, it rivals that of any cruelty and insanity of the Japanese whale poachers. A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesperson said as of March 16, 110 tiger sharks had been killed. 'It's not an unusual occurrence,' he said of killing the shark and added that the rifles used were the most humane way of doing so. The spokesman confirmed sharks under three metres are released alive as soon as possible, while those more than three metres of the bull, tiger or white species are killed humanely after being caught. 'Sharks under three metres are released if they are alive and OK. But we do pull up some dead sharks,' he said. With sharks being killed daily as part of the cull, the spokesman said the aim was to make beaches safer. Earlier on Monday, the non-profit conservation organisation saw an injured 2.7m tiger shark caught on a drum line 1km off Scarborough Beach, north of Perth, be released by Western Australia Fisheries, despite its injuries. With the animal believed to have been hooked during the night, the fisheries officers inspected the caught animal. Despite the animal's wounds, after pulling the shark on board, it was released into the water near its original capture still bleeding. Sea Shepherd Captain Mike Dicks said with the possibility of the shark being hooked over night, it would have been unable to swim and get vital oxygen to its organs. This causes the animal to go into a tonic state of immobility. Tiger shark: The animal can grow up to 5 metres and is regarded as one of the most dangerous species of shark - making up a large number of the attacks on humans . Mr Dicks said the contrary to the cull protecting the public from sharks, it was doing the opposite. 'It makes public safety worse with sharks being drawn closer to our beaches stimulated by bait,' he said. Mr Hanson said despite the shark's release, it could have died or been attacked by other animals. 'We don't know - it's hard to say,' he said. 'It really wasn't in a good state.' Both of the the incidents were caught on video by the Sea Shepherd organisation, watching from a nearby boat. Mr Hanson said the cull was not about sharks being more important that humans, but wanted to see alternatives used to killing the animals. 'Healthy oceans give humanity oxygen and oceans need sharks,' he said. Mr Hanson added in a time of animal conservation including sharks, the Westrern Australia government was using 1950s solutions for the issue. He cited the protection of the great white shark, which is also being killed as part of the government's cull. Alternatives include eco-barriers and relying on a shark spotters program, where surfers and swimmers collect data on sharks to asses the level of shark danger. The Australian Federal Government approved the cull, which ends in three years, but the Western Australia Government is seeking to extending these until 2019. Sea Shepherd Australia aims to stop the destruction of habitat and killing of ocean wildlife and recently failed to secure a Supreme Court injunction to force the WA government to suspend the cull. The trial of the cull runs until April 30.", "By . Sarah Griffiths . Photographers are known to risk life and limb to snap terrible events in war zones. But two professionals from Hawaii have braved the destructive power of nature by capturing the moment when lava flows into the sea – from the water. CJ Kale and Nick Selway claim to be the first to bring this unique view of lava flow from the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii to the world. The power of nature: The photographers swam in 110 degree water just 20 feet away from the eruption (pictured) so they could get closer for short bursts - but would have to swim back right away to get into cooler water and recover . They had to enter the water within feet of where the lava was running into the surf, braving the scalding water and dodging ‘lava bombs’ floating towards them. ‘We swam in 110°C water just 20 feet away we could get closer for short bursts but would have to swim back right away to get into cooler water,' Mr Kale told Fotoflock. ‘The sand is not really sand it is more like glass and the water is filled with volcanic glass and lava bombs,’ which he explained are chunks of lava that are hot and float around on the water’s surface until they cool and sink. ‘We both came out of the water pretty cut up but it was worth it to capture a view that has not been done before,’ he said. Brave: The intrepid duo had to enter the water within feet . of where the lava was running into the surf, braving the scalding water . and dodging ‘lava bombs’ floating towards them. On the left, liquid lava streams into the steaming sea and on the right the light from the glowing rock is reflected on the surface of a wave . Close shave: The photographers have suffered burns for getting so close to their fiery subjects (pictured). CJ Kale said: 'Each volcano photo I capture is truly a unique moment in time never to be captured the same again' The pair are able to capture dangerous sites and situations together which they say are too risky to enter into alone. They had to wait five years for the right conditions to photograph the eruption. Of course their endeavour to snap the perfect picture is incredibly risky and in 2011 Mr Kale shattered his ankle by falling into a ‘lava tube’. Mr Selway had to rescue his friend using a camera bag and tripod as they had no rope and construct a make-shift splint from a tripod leg and belt to help him walk the mile-and-a-half back to the car. Mr Kale write on his Facebook page: ‘I have been asked many times why I take such extreme risks for my photography. Here is the reason why. I don't want to make fake photos on the computer but I have to compete with people who do.’ Hot property: CJ Kale and Nick Selway claim to be the first photographers to bring a unique view of lava flow from the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii to the world - from the surf near the erruption (pictured) Risky but worth it: Mr Kale said: ‘I have been asked many times why I take such . extreme risks for my photography. Here is the reason why. I don't want . to make fake photos on the computer but I have to compete with people . who do.’ The violence of an eruption and a snaking flow of lava is pictured on the left, while a rainbow frames a trickle of lava running down rock into the sea on the right . ‘So to make my images stand out in a world of photoshopped falsehoods I need to take extreme risks to capture things that haven't been done before. ‘I do it so I can support my family off of my art. I love being a father and I want the best for my kids. I am willing to go to the ends of the earth to give it to them. But what father isn't.’ Mr Kale and Mr Selway use SPL surf housings to keep the water out of their specialist Canon 5D Mark2 cameras. Mr Kale was brought up on the Waianae Coast in Hawaii and told Gizmodo: ‘There is no other place in the world that you can photography within feet of where you stood the day before and capture such dramatically different images. ‘Each volcano photo I capture is truly a unique moment in time never to be captured the same again.’ The photographers both live in Kailua Kona and run the Lava Light Gallery together. Dodging bombs: While the water might look clear in this picture, the photographers said the sand felt like glass and there were red hot 'lava bombs' floating in the sea that could have hurt them . Timing is everything: The duo are able to capture dangerous sites together which they say are too dangerous to do so alone. They had to wait five years for the right conditions to photograph the eruption. They braved the hot water to take the image on the left and got incredibly close to a lava flow to show it next to the misty sea (right)", "(CNN) -- He is a towering figure in the history of cinema, a colossus who has frightened and thrilled audiences in equal measure. Now King Kong, the famous silverback from the silver screen, is roaring and pounding his way onto the theatrical stage. Merian C. Cooper's 1933 classic fantasy tale of a giant gorilla has become a musical reality at the Regent Theatre, in Melbourne, Australia -- thanks to a six-meter high robotic puppet, and the pioneering work of puppeteer Sonny Tilders. \"It's been amazing. They're not just praising the puppet, they are praising the character. That is so rewarding,\" Tilders told CNN. The animatronics expert leads a 35-strong team at The Creature Technology Company in west Melbourne and has an impressive track record in both film and theater. The 46-year-old has more than two decades' experience making high-tech puppets and counts \"Stars Wars -- Revenge of the Sith\" and \"The Chronicles of Narnia\" among his many movie credits. He was also the robotic brains behind the hugely successful \"Walking with Dinosaurs -- The Arena Spectacular\" stage show, but the scale of King Kong was unlike anything he had attempted before. The rubber and rabbit fur model seen hanging off the Empire State Building swatting bi-planes in the original film was 24 inches tall. The modern stage incarnation of Kong stands six meters high and weighs more than a ton. Read this: Yoda, E.T. and the greatest movie puppets . When the multi-million dollar project started five years ago, Tilders originally set out to create a fully animatronic creature but ended up combining old-fashioned puppetry with modern robotics. \"We were considering having two versions. We were developing other technologies that we would need for animatronic limbs to move,\" he said. \"But to cut a long story short, we were so impressed by what the manned puppet could do that we had a change of heart and said we should do the whole show with marionette puppets. It made much more sense.\" Suspended from the ceiling, Kong's limbs are manipulated on stage by 10 specially trained stage circus artists who scurry over and around the puppet, shifting his arms and legs by hand or using ropes. Clad in black from head to toe, these shadowy figures called the \"King's Men,\" work in tandem with three off-stage puppeteers -- the \"voodoo\" operators -- who control the mechanical functions inside Kong. Around 300 meters of electrical wiring are crammed inside the puppet's steel and aluminum shell powering 16 microprocessors and 15 servo motors which move Kong's eyes, eyebrows and eyelids, nose, lips, jaw, neck and shoulders. He also makes sounds -- a vital part of making his movements appear realistic, says Tilders. Marrying the mechanical functions of interior with the organic-looking Lycra and latex exterior is one of the big challenges of animatronics, Tilders says. \"We wanted to create a puppet that was really dynamic on stage. One of the ways to solve that and not kill anyone or destroy the puppet or the stage itself was to make his extremities -- his arms and fists -- in a way that has as little steel as possible.\" Read this: Huge mechanical beasts stalk French theme park . From the elbow down, Kong's arms are filled with air, allowing him to furiously pound the floor without causing a minor earthquake. Overlaying the air bags are a series of sculptured muscle bags made from a stretchy nylon material that expands and contracts to mimic the sinewy movements of the real thing. He might not be the largest marionette in the world - that record is held by France's street theater company Royal de Luxe -- but he is, says Tilders, the most articulated. \"Often (big puppets) are quite simple and slow, but what we've developed is a hybrid technology enabling us to do some powerful and specific moves.\" The Creature Technology Company's ambitions were aided by UK-based stage automation experts Stage Technologies who provided the four-ton track-and-trolley system suspended above the stage. \"It's a machine that allows Kong to both move around the stage and be raised up and down but also take different positions,\" said Stage Technologies' Group CEO Mark Ager. \"We move his torso with eight winches and that allows us to change the aspect of it. So, for instance, when he walks, his shoulders can roll from side to side. It's basically a big boys version of a wooden cross you see on smaller puppets.\" The company, which is currently helping pop star Pink fly around stage on her world tour, has previously assisted Tilders with the Walking with Dinosaurs project, helping create a flying prehistoric bird called an Ornithocheirus. But the complexity of Kong surpassed anything they have previously built, leading to a few nerves as opening night approached. \"Given (Kong) is the main actor it was quite a concern, but it is incredible,\" he said. \"There's an awful lot of engineering that goes into something that looks so effortless. He feels real. I think you have to see inferior robotic incarnations to see quite how clever (Kong) is.\" Overall, it's been an extraordinary collaboration of engineering and software expertise with sculptors, artists, musicians and actors creating a unique spectacle. The critics like it too. Many have warmed to the show itself since it opened in June and almost all have heaped lavish praise on Kong himself. It's only a matter of time before audiences worldwide get their chance to feel the towering stage presence of Kong, said Tilders. \"It's definitely going overseas,\" he said. \"The financial model can't rely on 20 million people in Australia. Obviously, we would love to go to Broadway because that's the natural home for the story.\"", "The first ever record of an oceanic shark giving birth has been uncovered by scientists. The photo, taken off Malapascua Island in the Philippines, reveals the body of an elusive baby thresher shark emerging from its mother. But the image by Australian photographer, Attila Kaszo, was left lying in a junk computer folder for years after biologists failed to spot its significance. Scroll down for video . The first record of an oceanic shark giving birth has been uncovered by scientists. The photo, taken in the Philippines several in 2013, reveals the body of an elusive baby thresher shark emerging from its mother . While researchers know that most shark species give birth to live young, the conditions under which they do so has been a mystery. Researchers believe this image could help shed light on how and where sharks give birth. Lead researcher Dr Simon Oliver from the University of Chester told BBC News that seeing the image was one of the most exciting moments of his career. The shark was at a seamount – or undersea mountain – which acts as an area where the creatures can clean themselves by having parasites eaten away by smaller fish wrasse. The image was captured off Malapascua Island in in the Visayan Sea, 4.2 miles (6.8km) across a shallow strait from the northernmost tip of Cebu Island . For sharks, there is no place like home. This is especially true when these magnificent creatures want to give birth after having wandered far and wide across the planet’s oceans for several years at time. A 20-year study, conducted in the Bahamas, shows that despite their impressive travels, female lemon sharks always return to the same location where they were born to give birth. The idea of females returning to their place of birth has been shown in a number of marine species, including salmon and sea turtles. The international team, who reported their findings in the journal Molecular Ecology, said this is the first time this behaviour has been seen sharks. ‘We used each shark’s individual DNA fingerprint to construct a large family tree,’ explained Dr Kevin Feldheim at The Field Museum and the lead author of the study. ‘We found that new born sharks captured in the mid-1990s left the safety of the islands when they were between five and eight years old. 'We observed a large female pelagic thresher shark swimming back and forth across a cleaning station in an agitated state,' Dr Oliver wrote in the journal Coral Reefs. 'We were unable to decipher the cause of the shark's distress from our observation post 50ft (15 metres) away, although it was evident that cleaner wrasse were taking bites from its pelvic region. 'We observed the shark for a total of four minutes, during which we took its photograph for identification purposes.' Researchers believe that this area also serves as a pupping ground, and that images of more sharks giving birth could be taken in the future. Tese creatures are endangered as a result of human activities. Sharks live a long time and take many years to mature, which is one reason why they are extremely vulnerable to overfishing . 'It may well be, or at least the first time that the event has been photographed, but this is always difficult to say definitively,' Dr Simon Thorrold, a senior scientist from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts told the BBC. Thresher sharks, also known as fox sharks, received their name due to their predatory habits. Unlike other shark species, thresher sharks use their whip-like tail to swat-and-swipe at schools of fish, allowing them to stun and eat their prey. But these creatures are endangered as a result of human activities. Sharks live a long time and take many years to mature, which is one reason why they are extremely vulnerable to overfishing . All three thresher shark species are listed as either 'Threatened' or 'Vulnerable' to extinction by the IUCN Red List. Dr Simon Thorrold that the photograph, while shedding light on these mysterious creatures, may be of 'limited importance' when it comes to shark conservation. All three thresher shark species are listed as either 'Threatened' or 'Vulnerable' to extinction by the IUCN .", "A teenager who was savaged by an alligator is on the road to recovery and even joking about his ordeal with friends and family - despite having his right arm ripped off. Kaleb Langdale had been swimming in the Caloosahatchee River in Moore Haven, Florida, when he was attacked by the 11ft beast on Monday afternoon. The 17-year-old thought he had swam away from the giant alligator, only for it to clamp on to his right arm - leaving the teenager with a choice of his life or his limb. Scroll down for video . Savaged: Kaleb Langdale, pictured before and after his ordeal with the alligator, lost his right arm after wrestling with the 11ft beast in Moore Haven, Florida . Now after swimming to safety without . part of his right arm, the brave teen has been recovering in hospital, . where he has been in good spirits since his death-defying ordeal. Brave Kaleb has even joked with his sister that now she 'won't be the only left-handed person in the family'. The alligator terror began on Monday afternoon when Kaleb's friends spotted the huge beast near him and shouted. Kaleb attempted to subdue the . alligator by grabbing under its bottom jaw - a move he had apparently . seen performed on TV - only to be dragged down by the creature. The . teenager surfaced and began to swim away when the alligator appeared . calmer, only for it to lunge at his arm as he threw it behind him while . swimming away. His sister Rebecca told news-press.com: . 'He knew he was losing (his arm), so he just took his feet, buried his . feet in the alligator’s head and just pushed so that he could get it . free,' Hayes said. She added, 'If it would have grabbed his body ... he would have drowned.' Fearsome: The alligator, pictured after it was caught and killed, clamped its jaws onto Kaleb's right arm while he was swimming in Moore Haven, Florida . Caught: The 11-foot alligator that attacked Kaleb is pulled from the water after it was killed . Swimming spot: The alligator was a known 'nuisance' and had been tagged for removal the day Mr Langdale was attacked . 'Once it popped loose, he just swam as hard and fast as he could to the dock, where some friends of his pulled him up.' After Kaleb was rushed to hospital, emergency services made a desperate attempt to hunt the beast and recover Kaleb's right arm. Unfortunately, despite finding the creature and killing it, the arm was in too bad a condition to be reattached to the teenager in hospital.", "This snappy shark was clearly not in the mood for a close-up, snatching one petrified photographer's camera straight out of his arms before swimming off into the distance with it. After posing for several pictures during a diving expedition in the Bahamas, the toothy tyrant obviously decided enough was enough. Swimming up to the horrified photographer, the Tiger shark grabbed the expensive camera in his ferocious jaws. Surrounded: The diver, pictured holding the specialist camera above, is circled by several Tiger sharks on the seabed in the Bahamas . Thief: As the other sharks move away, one stays close to the diver and eyes up the camera . It then calmly swam off with the £11,000 piece of kit. Thankfully, the photographer and guide managed to get the camera back - as the disinterested shark dropped it only 100 metres away. Fellow photographer, Miguel Lasa, watched the sly shark pinch the camera and managed to capture the commotion on camera. The 49-year-old, who works as a GP in the north east of England, said: 'The shark literally took the camera straight from the hands of our guide photographer. What's that you got there? The creature looks straight down the camera at the photographer, perhaps trying to decipher what he is holding . What are you looking at? The deadly animal gets up close and personal to the divers showing off his daunting set of teeth . 'The equipment has arms and strobes attached so it immediately attracted the attention of the shark, it's very bulky so it was easy for the shark to grab hold of. 'They are very powerful and can swim long distances very fast. 'Luckily though the shark decided to drop the camera onto the sea bed about 100 metres away. 'The guide was actually very lucky to get the camera back. 'It cost around £11,000 with the housing and it would have only taken him a few minutes to swim miles away. 'Miraculously . it was in perfect condition without so much as a scratch. It's amazing . really considering the slightest crack would allow the salt water in and . destroy it in seconds. 'It's crazy how sharks can have such sharp teeth and such a gentle bite.' It's mine now! The Tiger shark makes off with the £11,000 piece of kit held tightly in his grasp . Expensive steal: The divers said the equipment, which has arms and strobes attached, was quite easy for the shark to pick-up in his jaws . Miguel said although it was a once in a lifetime experience he was petrified of what might happen next. He said: 'At the time I was diving without a cage, it was a great experience but I wouldn't do it again as it was too dangerous. 'When I saw the shark take the camera from the photographer I rushed to try and get a shot of the extraordinary event. 'Fortunately I managed to get it. 'I was scared though. You never know when a shark is getting too close. 'They have powerful bites and could take your arm or leg off in a split second. Not bothered: The culprit thankfully dropped the equipment, in good condition, 100 metres away . 'I wasn't worried about my camera but I was worried for my personal safety. 'I've never seen anything like this before. It was an amazing event.' Tiger sharks are considered . to be one of the most dangerous shark species in the world. They are . responsible for many recorded attacks on humans, second only to the . great white shark. However, its usual prey is varied and can include anything from crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, and sea snakes, to dolphins and even other smaller sharks. The tiger shark is considered a near threatened species due to fishing by humans.", "When he was found crammed into a chicken coup, his rescuers feared for the worst. But three months after Budi the orangutan was taken to safety in Indonesia, the little ape has finally left intensive care - and is almost able to stand by himself. His heartbreaking plight and subsequent recovery has earned him fans around the world. And from being so ill that he cried in pain if he was touched, he is now beginning to take his first steps - albeit with some assistance. Scroll down for video . Ordeal: These were the appalling conditions Budi was found in when International Animal Rescue was asked to help by his owner, who admitted he was ill . First steps: With the aid of physiotherapy, Budi's twisted and weakened limbs have begun to return to normal and she has made her first steps with the help of charity workers . Eating too: Fed for ten months on condensed milk, the little orangutan had lost the muscle use of his jaws, but is now beginning to feed himself . In new video footage aired on The Doctors on CBS his amazing recovery is apparent. With the help of vets and other volunteers with charity International Animal Rescue (IAR), Budi is seen beginning to walk, his species' distinctive long arms being the key to getting moving. Alan Knight, the chief executive of IAR, said: 'It’s hard to believe this healthy young infant is the same poor creature we found lying on his back in a cage, completely unable to move or sit up. 'When Budi was rescued he was so weak and fragile that we all feared he wouldn’t survive. But he has proved to be a real fighter and is now safely on the road to recovery. 'He still has a long way to go but his pain has subsided, the swelling in his body and limbs has disappeared, he has a healthy appetite and is becoming more energetic and active by the day.' Budi is just one of the many orangutans exposed to appalling conditions in Borneo, where their natural habitats are increasingly under threat. Many are orphaned during logging operations and the orphans kept as pets, with the people supposed to be looking after them entirely unaware of their needs. Open wide: Budi had been unable to even open and close his mouth but is now feeding well at the sanctuary in Borneo which has rescued him and which depends on donations to help him and other animals . In training: Eventually vets will be able to see if Budi can swing through the trees like his relatives in the wild . Sleeping well: At first Budi would scream in pain if touched but is now settling into a more normal life . In Budi's case he was given just condensed milk, which meant that when the charity was contacted by his owner, he did not know how to chew, and his limbs - thanks to his poor diet - were misshapen, weak and swollen. His owner, who lives in Kubing, in the Ketapang area of Western Borneo, had admitted he was ill when she asked for help from the charity. Since his rescue Budi has learned how to eat properly, as he has gained the muscle strength to open and close his mouth, and been given physiotherapy to overcome the problems in his legs and arms. Although he is yet to return to the trees where his species should live, the charity is hopeful of more progress. At just over a year, Budi is still a baby, and a normal orangutan will not climb trees unassisted until they are around two, when they move in the branches by holding hands with other orangutans. In the wild the apes will be weaned around the age of four, and a year later begin to spend time away from their mothers. The typical orangutan lifespan in captivity or the wild is around 30 years, and 45 years is towards the top of expectations. The oldest recorded lifespan was Guas, who died aged 59 at the Philadelphia Zoo, Pennsylvania, in 1977, the Los Angeles Times reported. Budi's recovery will take many years and it is still too early to tell if he will be able to survive in the wild, his rescuers say. The charity estimates it will cost about £5,000 a year to care for the little orangutan and he is likely to need six or seven years of rehabilitation before he can even be considered for release into the wild. If Budi does not regain the strength he will need to fend for himself in the forest, International Animal Rescue will have to cover the cost of caring for him in their sanctuary for the rest of his life. It has already received tens of thousands of dollars in donations for Budi and other animals' plight, but says more are welcome. International Animal Rescue, the British charity based in Uckfield, East Sussex saves animals, big and small, from suffering around the world. Work includes freeing and caring for dancing bears in India, rescuing primates from captivity in Indonesia, and sterilising and vaccinating stray dogs and cats in developing countries. Wherever possible, the charity returns rescued animals to their natural environment but it also provides a permanent home for those that can no longer survive in the wild. International Animal Rescue works to educate the public in the compassionate and humane treatment of all animals. Sound scientific evidence forms the basis of its decision-making and determines the course of its rescue operations. It also works with other like-minded organisations and government departments to strengthen legislation to protect animals from cruelty and neglect." ]

[ "The Science of Fire - HOME These burning gases give off heat causing a chain reaction and the fire gets hotter. ... as a small one, it will raise the temperature less possibly below the point of ... to a higher temperature than wood to get it to burn (which takes more heat) but ... This must be tempered with understanding that you can blow the fuel away.", "Being Good Tempered | SkillsYouNeed Learn what it means to be 'good tempered' and how you can ensure that you ... and, further, as he ought when he ought, and as long as he ought is praised. ... views or feelings have been treated as less important than someone else's, ... Choleric people are also quick to anger, and are ready to be angry with ... These are:.", "jeopardy/1954_Qs.txt at master jedoublen/jeopardy GitHub THE \"LONG\" & THE \"SHORT\" OF IT | Someone with a quick temper is said to have one of these less than lengthy ignition devices | Short fuse. right: Karim.", "New Jersey Driver Manual: Chapter 5 - State.NJ.us Be prepared: Learn what to do in any situation when you have to act fast, and ... Road rage occurs when motorists lose their tempers or become frustrated ... A motorist should never do any of these while driving. ... often used is to keep one car length back (about 20 feet) for each 10 miles per hour of ..... traffic control devices.", "Patent US4209709 - Anti-theft ignition system - Google Patents Jun 24, 1980 ... An anti-theft ignition system including a generally tamper-proof ... of said counting means is selectively encoded to one of said words. 4. .... compartment to preclude hot-wiring, but such efforts have not been entirely successful. ..... So long as these pulses are being applied to multivibrator 242 with less than..." ]

[ "Ignition system - Wikipedia An ignition system generates a spark or heats an electrode to a high temperature to ignite a ... The first electric spark ignition was probably Alessandro Volta's toy electric pistol ... In about 1902, Bosch introduced a double-coil magneto, with a fixed ... magnetos weighed less than having a battery and dynamo or alternator.", "Tales of a Breathalyzer Tech | The Fix - Page 0 Oct 29, 2012 ... Ignition Interlock Devices make sure a driver is sober before starting his or her car. ... About 249,000 IIDs are currently in use around the USmore than double the ... I know that they don't want to be in the situation they're in. .... I guess he was having someone blow into [the IID] for him. ... sobriety tests.", "Automobile Ignition System History - Motorera The young engineer was Charles Franklin Kettering. ... The devices also quickly burned themselves to death as a result of electrical arcing. ... with a self-starter and battery for \"modern starting,\" and a hand crank that sprung the magneto ... There have been only four basic auto ignition systems during the last 100 years -- hot...", "flame throwers - Memidex dictionary/thesaurus a weapon that squirts ignited fuel for several yards ... a device that expels from a nozzle a burning stream of liquid or semiliquid fuel under pressure | a ... A weapon that projects ignited incendiary fuel, such as napalm, in a steady stream.", "Flamethrower - Wikipedia A flamethrower is a mechanical incendiary device designed to project a long, controllable ... The weapon is limited to only a few seconds of burn time since it uses fuel .... a rubber tube and over a simple igniting wick device in a steel nozzle.", "quick - definition of quick in English | Oxford Dictionaries You can change your cookie settings at any time. .... true, and Agarkar, with his quick eye, could do no wrong under such circumstances. .... 1The soft tender flesh below the growing part of a fingernail or toenail. ... 1.1The central or most sensitive part of someone or something. ... 'she was cut to the quick by his accusation'.", "Words Have Meaning | hogewash Apr 3, 2016 ... 3. of an angle: exceeding 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. 4. not pointed or acute. Clearly, someone lacks sharpness or quickness of intellect to the .... world did he mean, that Aaron is an angle greater than 90 degrees?", "Only Solitaire reviews A-B: HTML version For those who have no need of lengthy reviews, here's just one or two quick .... had more than a simply competent country-blues singing style and a professional, ..... The only band to have, during various stages of their history, hosted four of ...... Battles: Another math-rock outfit from the depths of New York City, this one...", "If you - MIT ... a hair of the dog that bit you a hair of the same wolf a hair to make a tether of a ..... short time hot as hell a shot between wind and water a shot in the arm a shot in ..... beaten down beaten zone beater plate beater up beat generation be at hand ..... down break-down gang breakdown product breakdown voltage breaker off...", "Mean - definition of mean by The Free Dictionary 5. informal chiefly US and Canadian bad-tempered; vicious ... a. a quantity having a value intermediate between the values of other quantities; an average, ... What someone means is what they are referring to or intend to say. ... In conversation, you can use 'I mean' to explain or correct something that you have just said.", "Obtuse meaning (5 definitions) Dict.us ... 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees (2) : having an obtuse angle <an obtuse ... 2 a : lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect : INSENSITIVE,...", "Finding an open or short circuit - Troubleshooting car wiring and ... Troubleshooting car wiring and electrical problems for ignition switch, lights and ..... or the device itself has failed open (like an internal short having melted a...", "arrest and search study guide 2010 - Exploring issuing the driver of a vehicle a speeding ticket the officer notices a weapon. .... Regardless of the specific type of technique or style used to handcuff a suspect .... bomb incidents in your physical security plan, you can reduce the potential for ... knowledge or believes that an explosive or incendiary bomb has been or will.", "Hookah Bars - no-smoke.org There is a common misconception that hookah smoke is less harmful than ... Hookah bars or cafes have been in the U.S. for many years, primarily in communities with Middle ... One Hookah Session Delivers 25 Times the Tar of a Cigarette ..... culture, where people smoke tobacco and inhale directly from this device.", "An Insurgency of Things: Foray into the World of Improvised ... 3 days ago ... Unlike precision weapons, IEDs are neither smart nor dumb. ... Life only makes sense in a Porta-Potty. ... Opposing forces frustrate and mutate one another while setting conditions .... The article is divided into four sections. ... These range through human-triggered devices that use cellphones, garage door...", "combustible - Memidex dictionary/thesaurus able to catch fire and burn easily | excitable; easily annoyed | a combustible ... [formal] able to burn easily | likely to suddenly become dangerous or violent (12 of...", "Marquette Literary Review - Marquette University Sara Patek, General Editor .... flames placed in front of my face the wick becoming blue, orange, then ... He flicked the little wooden stick's red dipped sulfur .... watching with awe as the light spread with such speed, yelling Ride! as loud as I ... gave me for my May birthday and some freshly collected tinder I'd gathered on.", "The Sizzle - The New Yorker If a Texaco salesman at a filling station has asked you, Is your oil at the proper level today, sir? ... 1, Don't Sell the SteakSell the Sizzle! ... Visitors have been known to jump out of their chair when he conjures up this small furnace, .... was form-fitting or whether it choked a man so long as she didn't have to sew on buttons...", "Welcome to Adobe GoLive 4 - ESLnotes.com Brendan Frasier A young, handsome and very athletic high school student, who .... You could fit in if you really want to, or you could hack around with a chip on ... to become comfortable by putting away your clothes and other possessions. ..... Don't knock it! .... In this context, \"to cool off\" is to calm down after becoming angry.", "Technology Archives MonitechMonitech Information about our ignition interlock devices and related technology used to reduce ... of self-driving cars: have you looked around at the cars being driven by people, ... If you fail or refuse this rolling re-test, alarms will sound the horn will honk ... To many drivers, having to blow into the device every time they drive feels...", "Forge - Wikipedia A forge is a type of hearth used for heating metals, or the workplace (smithy) where such a ... The slack tub also provides water to control the fire in the forge. .... A gas forge is simple to operate compared to coal forges, and the fire ... There are many types of hammer used in a blacksmith's workshop but this will .... Hand tools.", "10 Reasons People Divorce After Less Than A Year Of Marriage ... Jan 21, 2015 ... It's hard to count the number of celebrity couples who rushed into marriage then ... We all know someone (or have a friend who knows someone) who walked ... the case, why did they go forward with the marriage in the first place? ... One month after we were married he went out drinking with some friends.", "Tempo Markings Tempo means time in Italian. ... adagio: very slow. allegretto: fairly quick, slightly slower than allegro. allegro: lively, rather quick. ... less slow than largo. largo: slow and broad. lentamente: slowly. lento: slow. moderato: moderate ... Dance music was played at a certain tempo, depending on its style, so as to be danceable.", "Random | A Life in Many Small Parts Dec 9, 2015 ... This Chanukah as we kindle the candles, let's hope there's light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. .... But with climate change, if you can't see the problem or make an immediate .... subject: jump the gun, loose cannon, armed with the facts, going great guns, go off half-cocked, be on target, getting loaded,...", "Scene 6 - Hamlet OnLine Jul 17, 2015 ... #06-018 Polonius: \"And in part, him;\" but you may say, \"not well, \"And I know him a little. ... #06-035 The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind, The brief flash and ..... The word means is still used in this way sometimes, although it isn't heard often any more. .... slight sallies - small attacks (on Laertes's character.).", "Journalism Education: How To Write Good Story Leads Depending on what you're writing about, certain leads may be more appropriate than others. ... It's meant to give a reader a quick summary of the story in as few words as possible (should be 30 words or less), usually in one sentence. .... at which point it wasn't breaking news and a summary lead wouldn't have worked well.", "The Why Not 100: 72 SMART STEVEN WRIGHT ONE-LINERS Feb 2, 2014 ... ... comedian, the man with the funky hair and the deadpan delivery, ... But some masters of comedy write in sentencesone-liners, very funny self-contained morsels. .... If you were going to shoot a mime, would you use a silencer? .... instead of asking for a room with a view, I asked for a room with an outlet.", "The Wendy's Story Dave Thomas opens the first Wendy's restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, at 257 E. ... featuring a quick-service restaurant industry innovation -- a Pick-Up Window with a ... becoming the first quick-service chain with less than 1,000 restaurants to .... Wendy's introduces the Baconator a double cheeseburger with six strips of...", "SmokeLong Quarterly - Features For certain, almost always, rarely never, flash fiction demands a word count, not the outdated kind ... 1. a brief, sudden burst of bright light: a flash of lightning. ... of things, when the ho-hum turns extraordinary, gone \"ere one can say it lightens. .... 45. flash in the pan, a. a brief, intense effort that produces no really significant...", "MSDS - An Explanation of Common Terms - Web Information Service If the term you are looking for is not described in this publication, other good sources ... Due to the large number of medical terms which might be used on an MSDS, ... The auto-ignition temperature is the lowest temperature at which a material ..... If the gas accumulates so that its lower explosive limit (LEL) is reached and if...", "Think You Have Fresh Eggs? Here's How to Tell The quick test to tell if you have fresh eggs, moderately fresh eggs, or old ones that ... Do you suspect your fresh eggs might be less than really fresh? If so ... The second way to test the freshness of your egg is to carefully place the egg in a cup of water. Fresh eggs will sink and remain flat lengthwise at the bottom of the cup.", "BondJames Bond But the fact remains that there have been more movies in the James Bond series than in ... Some of these characteristics are Bond's quick wit, smooth style, debonair ... It turns out that he does a very good job, second only to Connery. ... to portray Bond in this film is that Lazenby played Bond as someone who could become..." ]

[ "History of rail transport in the United States The Americans closely followed and copied British railroad technology. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first common carrier and started passenger train service in May 1830, initially using horses to pull train cars.[7]:90 The South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company was the first to use steam locomotives regularly beginning with the Best Friend of Charleston, the first American-built locomotive intended for revenue service, in December 1830." ]

[ "Canadian Pacific Railway The railway was originally built between Eastern Canada and British Columbia between 1881 and 1885 (connecting with Ottawa Valley and Georgian Bay area lines built earlier), fulfilling a promise extended to British Columbia when it entered Confederation in 1871. It was Canada's first transcontinental railway, but no longer reaches the Atlantic coast. Primarily a freight railway, the CPR was for decades the only practical means of long-distance passenger transport in most regions of Canada, and was instrumental in the settlement and development of Western Canada. The CPR became one of the largest and most powerful companies in Canada, a position it held as late as 1975.[3] Its primary passenger services were eliminated in 1986, after being assumed by Via Rail Canada in 1978. A beaver was chosen as the railway's logo in honor of Sir Donald A Smith (1st. Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal) who had risen from Factor to Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company over a lengthy career in the beaver fur trade. Smith was a principal financier of the C.P.R.[4] staking much of his personal wealth. In 1885, he drove the last spike to complete the transcontinental line.[4]", "Boeing 707 Trans World Airlines flew the last scheduled 707 flight for passengers by a US carrier on October 30, 1983,[28] although 707s remained in scheduled service by airlines from other nations for much longer. Middle East Airlines of Lebanon flew 707s and 720s in front-line passenger service until the end of the 1990s. Since LADE of Argentina took its 707-320Bs from regular service in 2007, Saha Airlines of Iran was the last airline to keep 707s in scheduled passenger service until April 2013.[29]", "Pan American World Airways Pan American World Airways, known from its founding until 1950 as Pan American Airways[1] and commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991. Founded in 1927 as a scheduled air mail and passenger service operating between Key West, Florida, and Havana, Cuba, the airline became a major company credited with many innovations that shaped the international airline industry, including the widespread use of jet aircraft, jumbo jets, and computerized reservation systems.[2] It was also a founding member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global airline industry association.[3] Identified by its blue globe logo (\"The Blue Meatball\"),[4] the use of the word \"Clipper\" in aircraft names and call signs, and the white pilot uniform caps, the airline was a cultural icon of the 20th century. In an era dominated by flag carriers that were wholly or majority government-owned, it was also the unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States. During most of the jet era, Pan Am's flagship terminal was the Worldport located at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.[2]", "Pullman Strike The Pullman Strike was a nationwide railroad strike in the United States on May 11, 1894, and a turning point for US labor law. It pitted the American Railway Union (ARU) against the Pullman Company, the main railroads, and the federal government of the United States under President Grover Cleveland. The strike and boycott shut down much of the nation's freight and passenger traffic west of Detroit, Michigan. The conflict began in Pullman, Chicago, on May 11 when nearly 4,000 factory employees of the Pullman Company began a wildcat strike in response to recent reductions in wages.", "Interstate Commerce Commission The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was a regulatory agency in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads (and later trucking) to ensure fair rates, to eliminate race discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including interstate bus lines and telephone companies. Congress expanded ICC authority to regulate other modes of commerce beginning in 1906. The agency was abolished in 1995, and its remaining functions were transferred to the Surface Transportation Board.", "History of television P>The first regularly scheduled television service in the United States began on July 2, 1928, fifteen months before the United Kingdom. The Federal Radio Commission authorized C. F. Jenkins to broadcast from experimental station W3XK in Wheaton Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. For at least the first eighteen months, 48-line silhouette images from motion picture film were broadcast, although beginning in the summer of 1929 he occasionally broadcast in halftones.[149][150]", "Net neutrality in the United States Following this ruling in Verizon Communications Inc. v. FCC (2014), the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received 3.7 million comments urging it to change classification of the Internet to a telecommunications service, which would allow the FCC to uphold net neutrality. The FCC then changed its analysis, reclassified retail providers of BIAS as common carriers, and adopted revised open Internet requirements. On February 26, 2015, the FCC ruled in favor of net neutrality by reclassifying broadband as a common carrier under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 and Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.[8][9][10] On April 13, 2015, the FCC published the final rule on its new \"net neutrality\" regulations.[11][12] These rules went into effect on June 12, 2015.[13]", "Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 Congress passed a minor amendment to the Act in 1903, the Elkins Act.[13] Major amendments were enacted in 1906 and 1910. The Hepburn Act of 1906 authorized the ICC to set maximum railroad rates, and extended the agency's authority to cover bridges, terminals, ferries, sleeping cars, express companies and oil pipelines.[14] The Mann-Elkins Act of 1910 strengthened ICC authority over railroad rates and expanded its jurisdiction to include regulation of telephone, telegraph, and cable companies.[15] The Valuation Act of 1913 required the ICC to organize a Bureau of Valuation that would assess the value of railroad property. This information would be used to set freight shipping rates.[16]", "Adelaide–Darwin railway The Adelaide–Darwin railway is a 2,979 kilometre south-north transcontinental railway in Australia, between the cities of Adelaide and Darwin. Built in stages in the twentieth century, the line was completed in 2004 when the Alice Springs to Darwin line opened. It is used by The Ghan passenger train and freight trains operated by Genesee & Wyoming Australia.", "Indian Railways As of March 2017, IR's rolling stock consisted of 277,987 freight wagons, 70,937 passenger coaches and 11,452 locomotives.[3] IR owns locomotive and coach-production facilities at several locations in India.", "Codeshare agreement Under a code sharing agreement, the airline that administrates the flight (the one holding the operational permissions, airport slots and planning/controlling the flight and responsible for the ground handling services) is commonly called the operating carrier, often abbreviated OPE CXR, even though the IATA SSIM term \"Administrating carrier\" is more precise. The reason for this is that a third carrier is involved, typically in the case that the airline originally planning to operate the flight needs to hire a subcontractor to operate the flight on their behalf (typically a wet lease, meaning an aircraft is leased with crew and all facilities to fly, commonly due to capacity limitations, technical problems etc.) In this case, the airline carrying the passenger should be designated the operating carrier, since it is the one carrying the passengers/cargo.", "Transcontinental railroad A transcontinental railroad in the United States is any continuous rail line connecting a location on the U.S. Pacific coast with one or more of the railroads of the nation's eastern trunk line rail systems operating between the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers and the U.S. Atlantic coast. The first concrete plan for a transcontinental railroad in the United States was presented to Congress by Asa Whitney in 1845.[2]", "Postage stamps and postal history of the United States It would be private enterprise, however, that brought stamps to the U. S. On February 1, 1842 a new carrier service called \"City Despatch Post\" began operations in New York City, introducing the first adhesive postage stamp ever produced in the western hemisphere, which it required its clients to use for all mail. This stamp was a 3¢ issue bearing a rather amateurish drawing of George Washington,[9] printed from line engraved plates in sheets of 42 images. The company had been founded by Henry Thomas Windsor, a London merchant who at the time was living in Hoboken, New Jersey. Alexander M. Greig was advertised as the post's \"agent,\" and as a result, historians and philatelists have tended to refer to the firm simply as \"Greig's City Despatch Post,\" making no mention of Windsor.[10] In another innovation, the company placed mail-collection boxes around the city for the convenience of its customers.", "Citizens band radio The citizens band radio service originated in the United States as one of several personal radio services regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These services began in 1945 to permit citizens a radio band for personal communication (e.g., radio-controlled model airplanes and family and business communications). In 1948, the original CB radios were designed for operation on the 460–470 MHz UHF band.[3] There were two classes of CB radio: \"A\" and \"B\". Class B radios had simpler technical requirements, and were limited to a smaller frequency range. Al Gross established the Citizens Radio Corporation during the late 1940s to manufacture Class B handhelds for the general public.[4]", "San Diego Trolley The San Diego Trolley's three main lines operate regular service between 5am and midnight, seven days a week. Limited service on particular segments is provided before 5am and after midnight, however; but there is no rail service between 2am and 3:30am.[12] During these hours when there is no passenger service, freight trains of the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad operate on the trolley's right of way.", "First Transcontinental Railroad In February 1860, Iowa Representative Samuel Curtis introduced a bill to fund the railroad. It passed the House but died when it could not be reconciled with the Senate version due to opposition from southern states who wanted a southern route near the 42nd parallel.[30] Curtis tried and failed again in 1861. After the southern states seceded from the Union, the House of Representatives approved the bill on May 6, 1862, and the Senate on June 20. Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 into law on July 1. It authorized creation of two companies, the Central Pacific in the west and the Union Pacific in the mid-west, to build the railroad. The legislation called for building and operating a new railroad from the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, Iowa, west to Sacramento, California, and on to San Francisco Bay.[31] A second law to supplement the first was passed in 1864.[32]", "Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline's operations and subsidiaries have scheduled passenger and cargo services to 201[4][5] destinations in more than 60 countries worldwide including codeshares and joint ventures. Cathay Pacific operates a fleet of wide-body aircraft, consisting of Airbus A330, Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 equipment.[6] Cathay Pacific Cargo operates two models of the Boeing 747. Wholly owned subsidiary airline Cathay Dragon operates to 44 destinations in the Asia-Pacific region from its Hong Kong base. In 2010, Cathay Pacific and Cathay Pacific Cargo, together with Dragonair (rebranded Cathay Dragon), carried nearly 27 million passengers and over 1.8 million tons of cargo and mail.", "First Transcontinental Railroad Building a railroad line that connected the United States coast-to-coast was advocated in 1832 when Dr. Hartwell Carver published an article in the New York Courier & Enquirer advocating building a transcontinental railroad from Lake Michigan to Oregon. In 1847 he submitted to the U.S. Congress a \"Proposal for a Charter to Build a Railroad from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean\", seeking a congressional charter to support his idea.[20][21]", "Air France Flight 447 Air France Flight 447 (AF447/AFR447)[a] was a scheduled passenger international flight from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris, France, which crashed on 1 June 2009. The Airbus A330, operated by Air France, stalled and did not recover, eventually crashing into the Atlantic Ocean at 02:14 UTC, killing all 228 passengers and crew on board the aircraft.", "Shinkansen The Tōkaidō Shinkansen began service on 1 October 1964, in time for the first Tokyo Olympics.[13] The conventional Limited Express service took six hours and 40 minutes from Tokyo to Osaka, but the Shinkansen made the trip in just four hours, shortened to three hours and ten minutes by 1965. It enabled day trips between Tokyo and Osaka, the two largest metropolises in Japan, changed the style of business and life of the Japanese people significantly, and increased new traffic demand. The service was an immediate success, reaching the 100 million passenger mark in less than three years on 13 July 1967, and one billion passengers in 1976. Sixteen-car trains were introduced for Expo '70 in Osaka. With an average of 23,000 passengers per hour in each direction in 1992, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen is the world's busiest high-speed rail line.[14]", "Pony Express Officially operating as the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express Company of 1859, in 1860 it became the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company; this firm was founded by William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell, all of whom were notable in the freighting business.[1]", "Time zone Charles F. Dowd proposed a system of one-hour standard time zones for American railroads about 1863, although he published nothing on the matter at that time and did not consult railroad officials until 1869. In 1870 he proposed four ideal time zones (having north–south borders), the first centered on Washington, D.C., but by 1872 the first was centered on the meridian 75° W of Greenwich, with geographic borders (for example, sections of the Appalachian Mountains). Dowd's system was never accepted by American railroads. Instead, U.S. and Canadian railroads implemented a version proposed by William F. Allen, the editor of the Traveler's Official Railway Guide.[6] The borders of its time zones ran through railroad stations, often in major cities. For example, the border between its Eastern and Central time zones ran through Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Charleston. It was inaugurated on Sunday, November 18, 1883, also called \"The Day of Two Noons\",[7] when each railroad station clock was reset as standard-time noon was reached within each time zone. The zones were named Intercolonial, Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Within a year 85% of all cities with populations over 10,000, about 200 cities, were using standard time.[8] A notable exception was Detroit (which is about halfway between the meridians of eastern time and central time) which kept local time until 1900, then tried Central Standard Time, local mean time, and Eastern Standard Time before a May 1915 ordinance settled on EST and was ratified by popular vote in August 1916. The confusion of times came to an end when Standard zone time was formally adopted by the U.S. Congress in the Standard Time Act of March 19, 1918.", "Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U A new installment in the Super Smash Bros. series for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS was announced at E3 2011, but development did not begin until 2012, and the game's official unveiling did not come until E3 2013. The gameplay was designed to be somewhere between that of the faster, more competition-oriented Melee and the slower, more casual-friendly Brawl. The 3DS version was released in Japan in September 2014, and in North America, Europe, and Australia the following month. The Wii U version was released in North America, Europe, and Australia in November 2014, and in Japan the following month.", "Shadow zone The reason for this is that the velocity for P-waves and S-waves is governed by both the different properties in the material which they travel through and the different mathematical relationships they share in each case. The three properties are: incompressibility ( k {\\displaystyle k} ), density ( p {\\displaystyle p} ) and rigidity ( u {\\displaystyle u} ). P-wave velocity is equal to ( k + 4 3 u ) / p {\\displaystyle {\\sqrt {(k+{\\tfrac {4}{3}}u)/p}}} whereas S-wave velocity is equal to ( u / p ) {\\displaystyle {\\sqrt {(u/p)}}} and so S-wave velocity is entirely dependent on the rigidity of the material it travels through. Liquids, however, have zero rigidity, hence always making the S-wave velocity overall zero and as such S-waves lose all velocity when travelling through a liquid. P-waves, however, are only partially dependent on rigidity and as such still maintain some velocity (if greatly reduced) when travelling through a liquid.[4] Analysis of the seismology of various recorded earthquakes and their shadow zones, led geologist Richard Oldham to deduce in 1906 the liquid nature of the Earth's outer core.[5]", "Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport's passenger traffic hovered around the five million mark between 1998 and 2008, apart from in 2002 when the airport suffered a 13% drop in traffic. Fairbanks and Juneau are the next busiest airports though neither managed more than half a million passengers last year. Anchorage traffic peaks in June, July and August when passenger numbers are twice as high as between October and April.[18] Most major U.S. passenger carriers serve ANC, with the majority of passenger flight operations by Alaska Airlines to and from Seattle (an average of 20 flights per day) and Fairbanks (an average of 13 flights per day).", "Travel agency The modern travel agency first appeared in the second half of the 19th century with its root in 1758 as establishment of Cox & Kings Ltd.[1] In the year 1970, Cox & Kings the longest established travel company[2] centered its focus on its business of travel and tourism. Lately Thomas Cook also established a chain of agencies in the last quarter of the 19th century, in association with the Midland Railway. They not only sold their own tours to the public, but in addition, represented other tour companies. Other British pioneer travel agencies were Dean & Dawson,[3] the Polytechnic Touring Association, and the Co-operative Wholesale Society. The oldest travel agency in the United States is Brownell Travel; on 4 July 1887, Walter T. Brownell led ten travelers on a European tour, setting sail from New York on the SS Devonia.[4]", "First Transcontinental Railroad The First Transcontinental Railroad (known originally as the \"Pacific Railroad\" and later as the \"Overland Route\") was a 1,912-mile (3,077 km) continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern U.S. rail network at Omaha, Nebraska/Council Bluffs, Iowa with the Pacific coast at the Oakland Long Wharf on San Francisco Bay.[1] The rail line was built by three private companies over public lands provided by extensive US land grants.[2] Construction was financed by both state and US government subsidy bonds as well as by company issued mortgage bonds.[3][4][5][N 1] The Western Pacific Railroad Company built 132 mi (212 km) of track from Oakland/Alameda to Sacramento, California. The Central Pacific Railroad Company of California (CPRR) constructed 690 mi (1,110 km) eastward from Sacramento to Promontory Summit, Utah Territory (U.T.). The Union Pacific built 1,085 mi (1,746 km) from the road's eastern terminus at Council Bluffs near Omaha, Nebraska westward to Promontory Summit.[7][8][9]", "Auto Train Auto Train is an 855-mile-long (1,376 km) scheduled train service for passengers and their automobiles operated by Amtrak between Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.), and Sanford, Florida (near Orlando). Although there are similar services around the world, the Auto Train is the only one of its kind in the United States.[3] The Auto Train is the only north–south Amtrak train in the east to use Superliner cars.", "Weigh station Weigh stations were primarily created to collect road use taxes before IFTA created an integrated system of doing so. While taxes can still be paid at weigh stations, their primary function is now enforcement of tax and safety regulations. These include: to check freight carrier compliance with fuel tax laws; to check weight restrictions; to check equipment safety; to check compliance with hours of service Regulations. Weigh stations are regulated by individual state governments and therefore have vastly different requirements from state to state. They are typically operated by the state's Department of Transportation (DOT) or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in conjunction with the state highway patrol or state police, thus enabling enforcement of applicable laws. The federal maximum weight is set at 80,000 pounds. Trucks exceeding the federal weight limit can still operate on the country's highways with an overweight permit, but such permits are only issued before the scheduled trip and expire at the end of the trip. Overweight permits are only issued for loads that cannot be broken down to smaller shipments that fall below the federal weight limit, and if there is no other alternative to moving the cargo by truck. Permitted oversize trucks are often required to coordinate with the Departments of Transportation and law enforcement agencies of the transited states before the trip begins, as most states require oversize trucks to be escorted. Many states have weigh in motion technology that allow a continuous flow of truck weighing.", "Navigation light In 1838 the United States passed an act requiring steamboats running between sunset and sunrise to carry one or more signal lights; color, visibility and location were not specified. In 1848 the United Kingdom passed regulations that required steam vessels to display red and green sidelights as well as a white masthead light. In 1849 the U.S. Congress extended the light requirements to sailing vessels. In 1889 the United States convened the first International Maritime Conference to consider regulations for preventing collisions. The resulting Washington Conference Rules were adopted by the U.S in 1890 and became effective internationally in 1897. Within these rules was the requirement for steamships to carry a second mast head light. The international 1948 Safety of Life at Sea Conference recommended a mandatory second masthead light solely for power driven vessels over 150 feet in length and a fixed sternlight for almost all vessels. The regulations have changed little since then.[1]", "Metropolitan Railway steam locomotives In 1933 the Metropolitan Railway was absorbed into the newly created London Passenger Transport Board and on 1 November 1937 the later G, H and K Class steam locomotives were transferred to the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) who took over all freight workings and became responsible for hauling passenger trains with steam locomotives north of Rickmansworth. From the early 1940s these were replaced by ex Great Central Railway locomotives, now classified LNER Class A5. These were replaced by LNER L1s after 1948 and ten years later in 1958 when the joint line was transferred to British Railway's London Midland Region former LMS locomotives replaced the L1s.[20] Steam working ended on passenger trains after the introduction of the A Stock in 1961.[21]", "Copenhagen Airport Copenhagen Airport has two terminals, Terminals 2 and 3, which handle all flights and share a common airside passenger concourse as well as the arrivals section which houses customs and baggage claim and is physically located in Terminal 3. The newest section, CPH Go, dedicated to low-cost carriers opened in October 2010. So far, EasyJet, Transavia and Ryanair are the only airlines operating from this facility, which is accessed from terminal 3. An all new Terminal 4 has been discussed, but replaced by plans to expand the current facilities in appropriate increments.[13] Copenhagen Airport says passengers have easy transfer possibilities.[14]" ]

[ "Media playback is unsupported on your device\n24 August 2015 Last updated at 16:19 BST\nThe band have sold fifty million records, and had 91 number ones.\nBut Zayn left the group in March 2015, leading to some people questioning the band's future.\nNow, The Sun newspaper has said that the Harry, Liam, Louis, and Niall will be going their separate ways after the release of their fifth studio album next March.\nMartin's been getting fans' reactions to the news." ]

[ "The members say they'll continue as a four-piece after Zayn Malik announced he was leaving the group last week to \"live like a normal 22-year-old\".\nHis departure was followed by rumours on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook that One Direction was about to break up.\nBut Liam Payne thanked fans for sticking with the band and for \"not thinking it's finished\".\nHe tweeted: \"I can see a lot of people thanking us for staying but your the real Heros here thanks for not thinking it's finished.\"\nThe band continued their On the Road Again tour and have been playing concerts in South Africa.\nThey start the European leg of the tour by playing Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 5 and 6 June.\nZayn Malik quit the group last week after flying back to the UK, having been \"signed off with stress\".\nIt was after reports that he'd cheated on his 21-year-old fiancee, Perrie Edwards.\nHe told The Sun that he was \"upset\" for the group's fans and he said there was no bad blood between him and his former bandmates, who he said had been \"really supportive\".\nIt's thought he's working on a solo album with producer Naughty Boy, who's worked on tracks for Emeli Sande, Cheryl Cole and Leona Lewis.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "Malik is working on the NBC show, titled Boys, with TV producer Dick Wolf, the Hollywood Reporter said.\n\"Zayn certainly brings an authentic point of view to this world where kids are catapulted into fame at a dizzying speed,\" NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke said.\nMalik, 23, left the globally successful boy band last year to go solo.\nBoys will focus on the formation of a boy band which goes on to huge success, but also looks at the pressures it puts on the members.\nIt may draw on the experiences of One Direction, who formed on X Factor in 2010 and went on to achieve mass popularity and success plus a cluster of awards including six Brits.\nSince going solo, Malik has had hits including Pillow Talk and Like I Would but has struggled with performing live, pulling out of a Dubai concert on Tuesday because of what he calls \"extreme anxiety\".\nThe singer, who will be one of the show's executive producers, said: \"Dick Wolf is a legend and the opportunity to work with him and NBC to create a compelling drama series is awesome.\"\nWriter and producer Wolf is most famous for the hugely successful and Emmy-winning Law & Order TV series.\nHowever Simon Cowell, who signed One Direction after The X Factor, said he was disappointed Malik did not approach him with the idea first.\n\"I think he should have come to me with it, if I'm being honest with you,\" Cowell told Entertainment Tonight.\n\"I do actually believe that when they've got these ideas, bearing in mind where we started, they should actually come to me.\"\nFollow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "The group played the Soccer City stadium in the South African city of Johannesburg.\nAt the start of the gig, Harry Styles told the crowd: \"You have no idea how much we love you right now.\"\nZayn quit the group saying he wanted to be a \"normal 22-year-old\" who was able \"to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight\".\nAt the gig, Zayn's face was removed from the video montage which introduced the boys before they went on stage.\nOn Twitter, people at the gig were reporting that Niall and Louis picked up Zayn's solos.\nThousands of fans packed out the gig, many of them sad that One Direction are now a four-piece.\n15-year-old Bianca told Newsbeat: \"Come back Zayn. We respect your decision but we needed to see your beautiful face. South Africa loves you.\"\nAnother fan said: \"It's disappointing but things change, things happen. I think sooner or later they will break up but I don't want it to happen. He must rejoin them.\"\nEarlier this month, Malik walked away from the band's world tour after being signed off with stress.\nA week later he'd left the group for good saying: \"My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.\n\"I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right.\"\nOne Direction were quick to say they were staying together and they'll record a fifth album later this year.\nZayn reportedly visited a west London recording studio last week to work on solo material with Naughty Boy; who helped launch the careers of Emeli Sande and Sam Smith.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "The Japanese boy band, which sold 35m records up to last year, will disband on 31 December, its management agency said on Sunday.\nRumours of a split had been rife since the turn of the year, but had all previously been denied.\nIts five members, who are aged between 39 and 43, are now expected to pursue solo careers.\nThe band, formed in 1988, has built up a huge fanbase in Japan and throughout Asia with members appearing frequently in films, soap operas, and commercials.\nMembers of SMAP, which stands for \"Sports Music Assemble People\", have also appeared on cookery shows and Japanese coverage of the Rio Olympics.\nTheir popularity has even made them ambassadors for diplomatic relations between Japan, China and South Korea.\nIn 2011, they were the first Japanese pop group to visit China in a decade, amid a row between the countries over disputed territory. Their Beijing concert was attended by 40,000 people.\nA statement by the group's managers Johnny and Associates said they were \"truly and deeply pained and sorry\" to not be able to take part in 25th anniversary celebrations.", "The singer was shooting a video for his first solo single, Sign Of The Times.\nMitchell Partridge, who runs the firm Skye Ghillie, was taking clients fishing at the Storr Lochs when scenes for the music video were shot.\nWednesday's stunt in north east Skye saw Styles dangling from a helicopter while being filmed from another.\nIn April last year, Kanye West visited Skye to make a music video.\nThe US musician's trip prompted a pun-filled tweet from Police Scotland and tongue in cheek report in a local newspaper.\nSign Of The Times is Styles' first material since One Direction declared a hiatus in January 2016.", "But it seems Sinitta has a good idea why Zayn Malik had to pull out of the One Direction tour.\nIn a statement the band said he'd been \"signed off with stress\", and Simon Cowell's wing lady thinks that's down to their punishing schedule.\nSinitta reckons it's \"burn out\", and that the singer could probably do with a few decent nights of sleep.\n\"I know their schedule has just been non-stop ever since they left the show (X Factor).\"\nUnfortunately for Zayn, taking a few days off is often all that's needed to spark rumours that he's leaving the band.\n\"Nothing like that's been announced,\" said Sinitta.\n\"Let's just see what happens.\n\"When we don't see them here, it's not that they're resting, it's that they're in another country.\n\"They're literally promoting their records non-stop around the world, so they don't get a lot of downtime.\"\nThe X Factor judge was also keen to dismiss claims Simon Cowell's record label Syco had been pushing the boy band too hard.\n\"They are hungry, they are excited, they want to go and meet all the fans.\n\"They're trying to meet all the fans' demands and not leave anybody out.\n\"But it's hard to be there for everybody all the time, but we've only got One Direction.\"\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "After a four-year break to pursue solo projects, the band has got back together to try and build on the 25 top 40 hits they had between 1997 and 2012.\nThe Wonder Stuff, whose hits have included Size Of A Cow and Dizzy with comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, will also play Loopallu.\nThe festival will be held on 30 September and 1 October.\nOther acts confirmed include The Selector, Galleon Blast - folk rockers whose line up includes BBC Radio DJ Mark Radcliffe - Manran and Lucy Spraggan, who appeared in 2012's X Factor competition.", "Producer Naughty Boy posted a link to the track early on Tuesday, with the words \"let the music do the talking\".\nIt came less than a week after Zayn confirmed he was quitting 1D.\nEarlier on, the band's Louis Tomlinson accused Naughty Boy of being \"inconsiderate\" to fans after he retweeted a video about Zayn.\nThe pair argued on Twitter hours before the demo was made public.\nZayn quit One Direction last week saying he wanted to be a \"normal 22-year-old\", but early on Tuesday Naughty Boy tweeted a link to his first solo song I Won't Mind.\nThe track on SoundCloud is now unavailable, but it included the caption: \"There is nothing but love for what was left behind. That's why we don't mind. ;) #zaughty #zinabad.\"\nNaughty Boy, whose real name is Shahid Khan, has previously worked with Emeli Sande, Tinie Tempah, Ed Sheeran, Leona Lewis and Rihanna.\nThe producer tweeted the song hours after having an argument with Zayn Malik's former One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson.\nLouis accused the producer of \"trying to wind the fans up\" after he retweeted a video saying \"Zaughty will rise\", a reference to working with Zayn.\nLouis later tweeted: \"Wow @NaughtyBoyMusic you're so inconsiderate pal, seriously how old are you? Grow up! #masterofallwisdom.\"\nSo far, Zayn hasn't commented on the solo material.\nAs the band carries on as a four-piece, Zayn has been removed from the video montage which plays at the beginning of One Direction's shows.\nFans in Johannesburg, South Africa, noticed Zayn was missing from the footage at the band's show on Sunday.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "The Horizons project has already helped two dozen acts since 2014 - with radio airplay and UK festival appearances.\n\"Supporting new music is at the heart of what the BBC does across the whole of the UK, and internationally,\" said BBC Music's Jason Carter.\nBands and solo artists have until 12 February to apply.\n\"We're proud to support Horizons for a further year and see another 12 artists have a creative and potentially career changing 2016,\" said the Arts Council's Lisa Matthews.\n\"There's been some incredible opportunities created so far and we're looking forward with excitement to more incredible music experiences.\"\nSolo artist Violet Skies said the 2015 project had meant a \"mad year\" for her.\nShe said: \"I've been lucky enough to tick off a lot of things from my musical bucket list - The Great Escape, Festival No.6, Sŵn, Maida Vale and now, I'm looking forward to Eurosonic and SXSW festival in 2016.\n\"It's been a lovely little Welsh family of talented musicians and a really good support team - it's nice to turn up at festivals or a show knowing you have people there to help you.\"", "He has worked on the project with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, directing the ensemble himself - without a conductor - from the piano stool.\nHis \"Beethoven journey\" began in 2011 with the idea to focus on the work of a single composer. And while the three Proms concerts that will host his final performances of Beethoven's five piano concertos were planned from the beginning of the project, the Beethoven seed was planted in Andsnes much earlier.\n\"Beethoven's music has been growing in me since I was a child,\" he says, \"and when I was a student I felt the revolutionary character of the music\".\nLater it was the \"human aspect\" of Beethoven's music, the search for \"answers to the big questions\", that touched the pianist.\nAnd despite Beethoven's image as a serious and often grumpy character, Andsnes has found the piano concertos to be \"full of happiness\" and surprises.\n\"There's an irrationality which is fun to play with as a musician,\" he says.\nPlay is a quality that came through strongly in Andsnes's performance at Prom 10 on Friday.\nThere was an optimism on display, which carried into more melodramatic episodes, such as in the first movement of the third concerto in C minor. And an immense energy was shared between the pianist and the orchestra, who between them brought the movement to a roaring end.\nThere was no sense of catharsis, just the impression of a musician who has grown with the music.\nAndsnes gave himself all the time in the world going into the second movement, which opens with a spacious piano solo. And he had plenty left in the tank for the show-pony prancings of the final movement, with the Norwegian as ringmaster, bobbing up and down in his seat as he directed the musicians.\nWorking on the project with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Andsnes has performed Beethoven's five piano concertos, and the \"Choral Fantasy\" for piano, chorus and orchestra, in no fewer than 55 cities, in 22 different countries.\nAfter such an intensive period working with just a limited number of works, the pianist says he has revisited \"millions of small details\".\n\"A lot of these details become part of the sub-conscious,\" he says, until the performance of these elements happens \"automatically, in a way where it breathes more naturally.\"\n\"And then you are working on other things again, and making the performance more organic. And at the same time, maybe more surprising.\"\nPlayfulness was complemented with punch and vigour in Thursday's Prom 9, which opened with concerto No. 1.\nThe Mahler Chamber Orchestra's clean sound and tight articulation heard the staccatos of the opening section double back from the back the Royal Albert Hall. The ensemble's phrasing popped with crisp definition, and with Andsnes and his piano tucked closely into the orchestra, transitions into tender solo passages were smooth and unfussy.\nBeing so close to the musicians is both a necessity and an advantage. Andsnes needs to conduct the orchestra sometimes with a mere raise of the eyebrows - his hands are busy at the keyboard - and he relies heavily on the trust he has built up with the musicians over the course of the project.\nAnd sitting with the orchestra at close quarters means they can hear each other very clearly and very quickly - enabling the instrumentalists to pick up on the pianist's slightest musical gesture.\nAndsnes says concentrating solely on Beethoven was an opportunity to \"try to understand one language\" better.\n\"It's been really liberating to have this focus,\" he says. \"Beethoven was so great for the piano. That's where so much of his experimentation happened, and where he developed as a composer.\"\nAndsnes admits that at the start of the project he was nervous. The received wisdom is that one can never grow tired of the great composers. But would it really work out that way? Perhaps - after four years - he would never be able to face Beethoven again?\nThe Proms \"is the last destination on my Beethoven journey,\" he says, \"and for sure, I will have a few years break from these concertos now.\"\n\"It's been very intense and I'm longing to play other music as well. But I will come back to this and I will love this music for ever.\"\nThe project reaches its end at the Proms on Sunday evening with Beethoven's final \"Emperor\" piano concerto, and it will be a special occasion for the Norwegian pianist.\n\"I've been thinking about that moment for a long time and I'm sure I will feel very emotional. It's been very intense.\n\"The really difficult thing will be to say goodbye to the Mahler Chamber Orchestra,\" says Andsnes, \"because there are deep friendships there now. That will be very difficult. I don't know when I will see them next.\"\nSo as he reaches the end of one pilgrimage, is it too soon to think about starting another?\n\"I'm not sure,\" Andsnes hestitates.\n\"I was thinking of this as a once in a lifetime project. But one can find other composers one can do big projects with and I've been intrigued by the fact that my personal journey has led me to understand and love this music so much better.\n\"I like to have a focus when it comes to repertoire, so we'll see.\"\nLeif Ove Andsnes performs Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 5 with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra at the BBC Proms on Sunday 26 July.", "The rock-pop boyband sold five million records at the start of the millennium, scoring number one hits with Year 3000 and What I Go To School For.\nBut Simpson walked out after a record-breaking 12-night engagement at Wembley Arena, saying his time in the band was \"like torture\".\nBusted will pick up where they left off, playing Wembley on 11 May, 2016.\nThe reunion was sparked by a road trip to Philadelphia, where the trio - Simpson, Matt Willis and James Bourne - recorded \"three or four\" new songs.\n\"I was astounded to find out James had actually been listening to a lot of the same music I'd been listening to,\" said Simpson. \"When I left the band in 2005, we were worlds away creatively.\n\"It was quite poignant to think that we'd landed 10 years later and there was some creative common ground.\"\n\"It was just a really fun time,\" added Bourne. \"It felt like we were just hanging out with old, good friends.\"\nThe band announced their comeback at the Soho Hotel in London - the same venue where they revealed their break-up in January 2005.\nA dedicated group of two dozen fans waited for the band outside, after travelling from across the UK in anticipation of the reunion.\n\"It's magical!\" said Rebecca, who had travelled to London from Ireland. \"We're going to wet ourselves!\"\n\"Busted are my entire life,\" said London-based Melissa. \"They've always amazed me, no matter what they've done. Solo, in different bands, they've always been so good to me.\"\n\"It's been 11 years, nearly, which is too long to wait,\" said Roxy, from Oxford. \"I feel like it's going to be different this time - because when they were Busted before, we were all kids and now we're adults. So it's a different audience they're going for.\"\nSpeaking at the press conference, Simpson said he was surprised as anyone by his return to the pop band - after carving out a successful rock career in Fightstar.\n\"I've lost count of the number of times where I've said publicly I wouldn't do this again. But I have changed my mind.\"\n\"We went to Philadelphia, we wrote new music and that changed everything. I was very ready to go to Philadelphia and come away thinking 'it just doesn't feel right'.\n\"The fact that it did feel right is just as much of a shock to me as it is to anyone sitting in this room today.\"\nThe band promised new material to accompany their tour, acknowledging that their back catalogue was currently rather meagre.\n\"Busted only had two albums,\" said Willis, who said the group would have to \"play every song that you know then start all over again\" on their 13-date tour.\nWhen Busted split in 2005, they were one of the biggest bands in the UK, with two multi-platinum albums and two Brit Awards.\nSimpson continued to make music, both with Fightstar and as a solo artist. Willis won the 2006 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here and appeared in the West End production of Wicked, while Bourne wrote songs for Melanie C, The Jonas Brothers and his own band Son of Dork.\nIn 2014, Willis and Bourne formed the seven-piece \"supergroup\" McBusted with the members of fellow boy-band McFly, releasing a top 10 album and supporting One Direction on tour.\nAccording to media reports at the time, Simpson sold his share of the Busted copyright to his former bandmates for a six-figure sum to enable the supergroup's formation.\nSpeaking in London, the band confessed that the deal remained a grey area in their reunion plans.\n\"We haven't really spoken about that,\" Simpson said. \"That's pretty low down the list of priorities.\"\n\"Charlie now works for us,\" Willis joked. \"He's on a very tight leash.\"", "The 20-year-old singer was pictured in the Sun newspaper walking on crutches after returning to the UK.\n\"Hey guys I know most of you have seen those pics today! Yes I've had major knee surgery, a much larger surgery than first anticipated,\" he tweeted.\n\"But i would like to tell u , it was a complete success! Considering the scale of it.\"\nOne Direction are due to tour later this year, with their UK dates starting in May.\n\"All I ask of you guys is that you would respect my privacy as I try to recover... for the Where We Are tour,\" he wrote on Twitter.\nEarlier this week bandmate Liam Payne apologised for a picture taken of him balancing on a ledge.\nThe photo had been posted on Twitter but has since been taken down.\nThe singer tweeted: \"You may have seen a photo of me today taken on top of a building. I regret being there and having a photo taken.\n\"It was a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. I am sorry, and do not endorse any fans trying to repeat this, as it is extremely dangerous.\"\nIt has also been announced that the band will release two books in 2014.\nThe group have signed a deal with HarperCollins to publish an official autobiography and One Direction: The Official Annual 2015.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter", "But could the likes of Daft Punk, Britney Spears, Ed Sheeran and Kelis soon be joined by One Direction?\nWell, after the Happy singer's interview with Nick Grimshaw on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, it's looking more likely.\n\"I would. What's the worst that could happen?\" said the 41-year-old when asked if he would ever work with the group.\n\"Something that we don't think is good? We don't put it out,\" he added.\nWhen asked if he would have the final say on any new material being released, the producer said: \"There's ways to deal with that.\n\"There's ways to work it out. Even if I have to step away because I don't consider it my work any more, then that's fine.\"\nDespite having a hand in two of the biggest singles of last year with Blurred Lines and Get Lucky, Pharrell says not everything he touches turns to gold.\nHe didn't mention any names, but the producer admitted there had been a few occasions when he got into the studio with an artist and things hadn't gone to plan.\n\"You just have to weather through it,\" he said.\nPharrell also talked about his solo career, having performed his new single Gust Of Wind on this weekend's X Factor.\n\"Two years ago my management said Columbia Records wanted to have a conversation with me.\n\"My life has changed ever since. I've not gotten used to it,\" he said.\n\"The only reason why I said yes was because I was so overwhelmed and touched that they even cared what I would make.\n\"I wasn't asking for it. Even up until my first show, I didn't know what I was going to do.\n\"How do I get comfortable as an artist because I'm such a producer?\"\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "The 22-year-old singer will star in the film, according to US magazine Variety, but it's thought to be a small part.\nThe drama, which is due for release in 2017, will recreate the events of the World War II evacuation of the French city Dunkirk in 1940.\nStyles will appear alongside British actors Tom Hardy, Oscar-winner Mark Rylance and Sir Kenneth Branagh in the film.\nWarner Bros, who are making the movie, are yet to comment on Harry's role. Newsround has contacted a representative for Styles for comment.\nHarry shot to fame in 2010 when he became a member of the pop group One Direction on the British talent show, The X Factor.\nThe four members are currently on a year-long break from the band, which began after they released their fifth album in March 2016.", "The song called Drag Me Down, premiered on iTunes and Spotify at 6.30am on Friday.\nNiall Horan took to social media, writing: \"Finally we get to say this! Have waited a long time but our new single Drag Me Down is out!!\"\nIt's the band's first official single since Zayn Malik left the band earlier this year.\nThe former 1D member Zayn Malik announced this week that he is launching his solo career.\nHe quit the boyband in March 2015 saying he wanted to be a \"normal 22-year-old\".", "Sean Conway, from Cheltenham, was hoping to break the record by cycling from Portugal to Russia in less than 25 days.\nHowever, after just six days and 800 miles (1,300km) he ended his journey in northern Spain due to tearing a quad muscle in his leg.\nThe ginger-bearded athlete, 36, said he felt \"pretty deflated\".\nThe world record stands at 29 days, 18 hours and Mr Conway said he was on course to break it by \"three or four days\".\nHe said: \"I've had this injury before years ago and I knew exactly what it was. It takes about a week to heal.\n\"It's not a massive, serious one but the margins are so fine on these records that there's no way even with just a day off I can afford to fall back.\"\nMr Conway was riding from Cabo de Roca in Portugal to Ufa in Russia - more than double the 2,200 miles covered over 23 days in the Tour de France.\nHe was attempting the challenge unsupported, meaning he was cycling solo and carrying all of his kit with him.\nMr Conway said he would \"100 per cent\" attempt the challenge again, adding: \"I know I can bounce back.\"\nThis is not the first time Mr Conway has taken on an endurance challenge.\nIn 2016 he completed a 4,000-mile continuous \"ultra-triathlon\", swimming, running and cycling around the coastline of mainland Britain.", "The five-piece say they have \"decided to call it a day\" and are \"immensely grateful to everyone who has helped us along the way\".\nIn a short post on the band's Facebook page, they gave special thanks to their fans.\nThey had released four albums, including Heart of Nowhere, which was recorded live in a handful of takes.\nTheir post continues: \"There are too many people to mention in this short message but we would like to take this opportunity to give special thanks to all of our amazing fans, who have supported us so magnificently over the years and made everything possible.\"\nLast November, the band also told fans that they had been \"slack\" on keeping them up to date with what they had been doing.\nAnd they posted a series of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and website links to what they have been up to during their \"hiatus to work on new stuff\".\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "It was originally designed and built for billionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, who wanted to make the world's first solo dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.\nBut after he died in a plane crash, former property investor Chris Welsh, who is based in California, bought the submarine and is now taking on the lonely challenge himself.\nChris said: \"I've been working day and night for two years pursuing this. I'm really excited to get out there and do it - I can't wait.\n\"The rewards of this is breaking ground in so many ways - in raw human exploration, on bringing back science, and in getting a better understanding of our world.\"\nThe experimental sub was created and built by British engineer Graham Hawkes.\nFitted with wings and a tail fin, its design is based on that of a plane.\nChris Welsh hopes to \"fly\" down to the bottom of the trench, and break the record for the first lone dive there, later this year.\nAfter this, he and the Virgin team also plan to plunge down four other trenches around the world, with the hope of reaching the deepest point in five oceans.", "Alberto Salazar has been under investigation since a BBC Panorama programme in 2015 made allegations about drugs use at his US training base, and a leaked report from the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) was obtained by the Sunday Times this weekend.\n\"I believe in a clean sport, \" he said. \"I do not use supplements that are banned.\"\nThe leaked report also alleged Salazar - head coach of the world famous endurance Nike Oregon Project (NOP) - routinely gave Farah and other athletes prescription drugs with potentially harmful side-effects without a justifiable medical reason.\nAccording to the Sunday Times, the leaked report claims Salazar used a banned method of infusing a legal supplement called L-carnitine.\n\"I have clearly and repeatedly refuted allegations directed against me and the Oregon Project,\" Salazar said.\n\"I believe in a clean sport and a methodical, dedicated approach to training. The Oregon Project will never permit doping and all Oregon Project athletes are required to comply with the Wada Code and IAAF rules.\n\"L-carnitine is a widely available, legal nutritional supplement that is not banned by Wada. Any use of L-carnitine was done so within Wada guidelines.\n\"In this case, to ensure my interpretation of Wada rules was correct, I also communicated in writing with Usada in advance of the use and administration of L-carnitine with Oregon Project athletes.\n\"I have voluntarily cooperated with Usada for years and met with them more than a year ago. The leaking of information and the litigation of false allegations in the press is disturbing, desperate and a denial of due process. I look forward to this unfair and protracted process reaching the conclusion I know to be true.\"\nSalazar and Farah deny they have ever broken anti-doping rules.\n\"It's deeply frustrating that I'm having to make an announcement on this subject,\" said 33-year-old Farah in a statement.\n\"I am a clean athlete who has never broken the rules in regards to substances, methods or dosages and it is upsetting that some parts of the media, despite the clear facts, continue to try to associate me with allegations of drug misuse.\n\"I'm unclear as to the Sunday Times' motivation towards me but I do understand that using my name and profile makes the story more interesting. It's entirely unfair to make assertions when it is clear from their own statements that I have done nothing wrong.\n\"As I've said many times before we all should do everything we can to have a clean sport and it is entirely right that anyone who breaks the rules should be punished.\"\nIn a statement, UK Athletics said it stood by the findings of an investigation published in 2016 that found \"there was no evidence of any impropriety on the part of Mo Farah and no reason to lack confidence in his training programme\".\nThe statement said: \"Usada have not reported back to UKA on any aspect of their investigations but we remain, at all times, completely open and cooperative with them.\n\"L-carnitine is a legal and scientifically legitimate supplement that can be used by endurance athletes. To our knowledge, all doses administered and methods of administration have been fully in accordance with Wada-approved protocol and guidelines.\"\nThe Usada interim report was passed to the Sunday Times by the suspected Russian hacking group Fancy Bears.\nThe BBC has so far been unable to verify its authenticity with Usada, or establish whether any of its reported conclusions are out of date.\nIn a statement, Usada said it could \"confirm that it has prepared a report in response to a subpoena from a state medical licensing body regarding care given by a physician to athletes associated with the Nike Oregon Project\".\nIt said: \"We understand that the licensing body is still deciding its case and as we continue to investigate whether anti-doping rules were broken, no further comment will be made at this time.\n\"Importantly, all athletes, coaches and others under the jurisdiction of the World Anti-Doping Code are innocent and presumed to have complied with the rules unless and until the established anti-doping process declares otherwise. It is unfair and reckless to state, infer or imply differently.\"\nContents of the report\nAccording to the Sunday Times, the leaked report claims that Salazar:\nSalazar maintains that drug use has always fully complied with the Wada code and that athletes were administered with L-carnitine in \"exactly the way Usada directed\".\nThe Sunday Times claims the Usada report also reveals:\nThe report, apparently written in March 2016, allegedly states: \"Usada continues to investigate circumstances related to L-carnitine use\" by Farah.\nFarah told the Sunday Times two years ago that he had \"tried a legal energy drink\" containing L-carnitine but \"saw no benefit\" and did not continue with it.\nThe newspaper also claims the report says Dr John Rogers, a medic for the British athletics team, told Usada in an interview that conversations he had with Salazar at a training camp in the French Pyrenees before the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, gave him such \"concern\" that he wrote an email at the time to his medical colleagues at UK Athletics.\nIt also says Rogers told Usada that Salazar had told him about \"off-label and unconventional\" uses of the prescription medications calcitonin and thyroxine (hormones) and high doses of vitamin D and ferrous sulphate.\nThe revelations will pile more pressure on Britain's greatest ever endurance runner, who has steadfastly refused to end his association with Salazar.\nIt raises questions too for UKA, which gave the Briton the all-clear to continue working with Salazar after an inquiry was launched following the BBC Panorama programme.\nBackground\nIn June 2015, in conjunction with the US website ProPublica, the BBC's Panorama programme Catch Me If You Can made a series of allegations about the methods at NOP, and included testimony from a number of former athletes and coaches, including Kara Goucher and Steve Magness.\nThe film alleged Salazar had a fixation on the testosterone levels of his athletes, and may have doped American Olympic medallist Galen Rupp with the banned steroid version when he was 16. The programme also alleged Salazar had conducted testosterone experiments on his sons to see how much of the drug he could apply to them before it triggered positive tests.\nThe film also alleged Salazar used thyroid medicine inappropriately with his athletes, and encouraged the use of prescription medication when there was no justifiable need.\nSalazar denied the wrongdoing alleged in the programme, and issued a 12,000-word rebuttal.\nUsada took the unusual step of confirming it had launched an investigation into NOP following the BBC and ProPublica's revelations in 2015. Earlier stories by the New York Times and the Sunday Times had also raised concerns about some of Salazar's methods.\nIt is not clear why the Usada report remains unpublished.\nBBC sports editor Dan Roan\nNine months ago, amid rumours Usada had dropped an investigation into his coach, Sir Mo Farah said he felt vindicated after standing by Alberto Salazar, the man who has helped him achieve so much success. This will raise more questions over that association.\nLast year Farah distanced himself from another controversial coach - Somalian Jama Aden. And he could now face renewed pressure to do something similar with a man who we now know Usada is still looking into.\nThis could also be awkward for Salazar's employers Nike - and for UK Athletics; not least how they came to clear Salazar in 2015 - even though it now seems one of their senior medics - Dr John Rogers - says he had raised concerns to them over the coach's methods.", "A representative for Zayn confirmed that the couple had ended their relationship but didn't give out any more details.\nThey'd been together since 2012, shortly after Little Mix won The X Factor.\nPerrie had told the BBC that she was looking forward to her wedding day because \"it's where we say we're going to be together forever\".\nHowever, Perrie wasn't wearing her diamond ring on a snap shared on Instagram by her bandmate Jesy Nelson on Monday.\nZayn Malik left One Direction earlier this year and signed a solo record deal in July.\nLittle Mix are in America at the moment on a promotional tour.", "Ellie Harrison was awarded £15,000 by Creative Scotland for the project, which would see her deliberately confined to Glasgow for a year.\nShe was criticised on social media and accused of taking a \"poverty safari\".\nNow the project has finished, she revealed that the first few months were \"overwhelming\".\nSpeaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Ms Harrison said she effectively went \"undercover\" in the face of the media storm and started working on local projects.\n\"It was an incredibly stressful first few months,\" she told The Stephen Jardine Programme.\n\"There was so much anger that was thrown at me which I just processed and I thought about what it meant. I used it fuel the project in positive directions.\"\nThe project took its named from the term which describes the poor health and life expectancy in parts of Glasgow.\nMs Harrison, who has lived in Glasgow since 2008, took time off from her post as a lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone College in Dundee to pursue the work.\nAs well as remaining in the city for the whole of 2016, she said she also travelled everywhere by foot or bicycle - cutting her carbon footprint to zero.\nThe project was designed to help her address \"conflicts and contradiction\" in her life, she said.\n\"I'd been living here but I wasn't working here,\" she added. \"I was working in Dundee so I was doing this huge commute across the country two times a week.\n\"Most of the commissions or invitations I got as an artist were in other cities, or abroad. I was doing a lot of travelling in that respect.\n\"My parents are down in London - I've got a continual pull to try and take responsibility, be a good daughter, look after them.\n\"My niece and nephew, my sister, they're all in Norwich, so it just felt like everything that I was doing was outside of this city.\n\"Why the hell was I living here? Did I really know this city? And was I actually investing any of my time, my energy, my ideas, the skills that I have acquired through all the education that I have in making it a better place? So that was the contradiction that the project was founded on.\"\nShe told the programme that she moved to the city because of the so-called \"Glasgow miracle\".\n\"That's the story that tells you there's been a post-industrial renaissance in the city, we're a city of culture, we have international art stars and that is raising the living standards of everyone in the city,\" she said.\n\"It's not happening. It's just creating more polarisation and more division.\"\nShe added: \"[The Glasgow Effect] was an opportunity for me to find out more about why Glasgow has the worst health equalities in the whole of western Europe but also, most importantly, to invest my time, energy and skills to try and improve the situation for the poorest people in this city.\"\nThe project saw her art cross over with activism - she has campaigned to nationalise the railways and improve bus services.\nHer original funding application to Creative Scotland described The Glasgow Effect as an \"extreme lifestyle experiment\".\nSome objected to the phrase, claiming that some people have no choice but to stay in Glasgow for reasons of poverty.\nMs Harrison said: \"I am absolutely aware of that. But it was an extreme lifestyle experiment. There was absolutely no escape from the project because it was this year-long durational thing.\n\"Even when I woke up in the night and I was fretting or worrying about my family who were all in other parts of the country that I couldn't go and visit them - what if something happened to them? These horrible, human fears.\n\"When that was happening, that was all part of it, for me that was one step too far. To bring my family into this art project like that, I pushed it too far. I don't regret anything, I'm glad I've got to the end of it. \"", "The former One Direction singer pulled out of several live performances earlier this year because of what he called \"extreme anxiety\".\nMalik told ES magazine: \"Anxiety is something people don't necessarily want to advertise because it's seen, in a way, like a weakness.\"\nThe 23-year-old added: \"For me to pretend that I didn't have anxiety would be fake.\"\nThe singer had been due to perform at the Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium in June and a concert in Dubai in September, but cancelled both appearances.\n\"I speak about it so that people understand that it doesn't matter what level of success you have, where you're from, who you are, what sex you are, what you do - you can still experience these things,\" Malik said.\n\"I want people to see the good side to me and, yeah, the emotional stress of maybe not fulfilling that is a lot sometimes.\"\nIn the same interview, Malik was asked whether he would have signed his record deal with One Direction knowing the pressures of fame.\nThe singer replied: \"I probably wouldn't have - I would've waited a couple more extra years.\n\"Just so I had that time to just get my head around being a famous person. I've never been able to have, what's the word? Anonymity.\n\"If I could go back, I'd have a few more years of anonymity.\"\nHe added that he was \"very ignorant at 17 - blind beyond my years\".\nThe singer launched a solo career after quitting One Direction last year. His debut solo single, Pillowtalk, debuted at number one.\nFollow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "\"Hope made a poor decision that has resulted in a negative impact on US Soccer and her team-mates,\" head coach Jill Ellis said.\nSolo, 33, will now miss matches on 8 February against France and 13 February against England.\nThis month, domestic violence charges against Solo were dropped.\nIn 2012, Solo, tested positive for a banned substance a month before winning a second Olympic gold medal.\nShe maintained she was not aware the pre-menstrual medication she had been prescribed contained a banned substance and she was cleared of any wrongdoing.\nThe US are preparing for the Women's World Cup in Canada in June when they will aim to win their third title following victories in 1991 and 1999.\nThe latest incident surrounding Solo concerns a training camp being held by the team in Carson, California.\nSolo's husband, former Seattle Seahawks NFL player Jerramy Stevens, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Los Angeles in the early hours of Monday morning.\nMedia reports claimed Solo was in the car but she was not cited in the incident by Manhattan Beach police officials.\nSolo tweeted: \"I think it's best for me to take a break, decompress from the stress of the last several months and come back mentally and physically ready to positively contribute to the team.\"", "Media playback is unsupported on your device\n27 March 2015 Last updated at 09:07 GMT\nLots of you have been sending in your comments about Zayn's decision.\nHayley's been chatting to counsellor Ian Jenkins for advice if you're feeling upset by the 1D news...\nClick here to get some more advice to help you.", "The 21-year-old singer said the track was called Someday Maybe but said she wasn't sure about if or when it would be released.\nSpeaking to Nick Grimshaw on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, she said: \"Yes, I wrote a song with Harry.\n\"It was unbelievable he's a very, very talented songwriter I was very impressed.\"\nHarry Styles also recently worked with Kodaline on the band's fourth album, while One Direction bandmates Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne were pictured in the studio with US rock band Good Charlotte during a writing session.\nIn March last year, Niall Horan tweeted about a writing session with Danny Jones, Dougie Poynter and Tom Fletcher from McBusted.\nMeghan Trainor is up for record of the year with All About That Bass at this year's Grammy Awards.\nShe said: \"It was a little bit of a surprise but All About That Bass is so out of control and has a world of its own, so I guess I understand.\n\"But it was a dream come true, it's the last dream I had on my list.\"\nAll About That Bass spent four weeks at number one in the UK and was the first track to top the Official Singles Chart on streams alone.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube", "Among her prizes were best female artist, best streaming song for Shake It Off and the ceremony's top honour, artist of the year.\nSam Smith won best new artist and accepted his trophy via a video message using a series of cards.\nOne Direction came away with two trophies, for best group and best touring artist, dedicating one of the awards to Zayn Malik, who left the band in March.\nOther Brit winners were Coldplay who won best rock album for Ghost Stories, while Irish singer Hozier picked up best rock song for Take Me To Church.", "The new movie is to be directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, the men behind the hugely successful Lego movie.\nThe criminal turned Rebellion hero returns in Star Wars' next instalment: The Force Awakens, this Christmas.\nActor Harrison Ford last played Solo in 1983's Return of the Jedi.\nNo details or castings have yet been announced but the Hollywood Reporter said the script would be written by father and son team Lawrence and Jon Kasdan.\nLawrence Kasdan co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, the latter with director JJ Abrams.\nThe untitled Han Solo project is scheduled to be released on 25 May 2018.", "The message claimed the boy instead had cancer and that the social network would donate money for surgery if users \"liked\" it or wrote comments.\nSeveral hours after the BBC reported the matter, Facebook removed the post but left its creator's account active.\nMore than a million people had engaged with the message since 1 February.\nOne security expert warned these users might now be targeted by scammers.\nSarah Allen, from St Neots, Cambridgeshire, gave media interviews in August 2016, after her then two-year-old son Jasper was covered head-to-feet in sores after contracting the virus.\nShe believes that images posted within articles about his illness were then stolen to create the fake post.\n\"We were warned people might take his pictures... because if you Google chickenpox his pictures are there,\" Mrs Allen told the BBC.\n\"So, we were well aware that might happen, but not in this respect, to say he had cancer.\"\nMrs Allen said she repeatedly messaged Facebook to complain about copyright infringement and was told on 10 February that the account in question had been removed for breaching the site's rules.\nHowever, she said, it was back online within 24 hours, without explanation.\nThe profile continues to feature posts with identical text that show images of other children, and in one case a bearded youth - despite the words referring to a \"little baby [that] has cancer\".\nOther posts from the account - which claims to belong to Pooran Singh - show images of children in hospital claiming the viewer will experience years of bad luck if they scroll down without liking and sharing.\n\"What's so disgusting [is] it's not just Jasper's pictures but [about] 100 of other people's families as well,\" Mrs Allen explained.\n\"Facebook needs to take action.\"\nThe owner of the account did not respond to a request to explain his or her actions.\nBut one security blogger said this appeared to be a case of \"like farming\", in which scammers seek to make people interact with a Facebook post so they can either direct further messages to them or sell on the profile and all its contacts.\n\"There are a lot of scams that use these kind of emotional images - oftentimes it's done to make money,\" Graham Cluley explained.\n\"They may later post something that claims you've won a prize and try and get you to enter your mobile phone number and then sign you up for a premium rate service, or ask for other personal information.\n\"The problem is that people just believe things that are posted online, and they need to be a lot more careful about what they like and share.\"\nFacebook says it is still reviewing the case with its complaints team and declined to comment further until this process had been completed.", "The star gave a characteristically charismatic performance in Leeds, one of four solo concerts that attracted more than 500,000 ticket applications.\nHe told the crowd he is eager for his new single Candy to get heavy airplay. \"That's my only hope,\" he said.\n\"I hope, I hope it's played so much on the radio that you say, turn this off.\"\nWilliams took part in the record-breaking Take That reunion last year but his famously fragile ego was wounded by the lukewarm critical and commercial reactions to his last two solo albums.\n\"Don't worry, I'm not doing Rudebox,\" he assured the Leeds crowd at one point.\nThe concert, for 2,300 fans at Leeds Academy, on Tuesday was his first full solo show since 2009, and was intimate in comparison with the stadiums he visited on his Close Encounters Tour six years ago.\nClaiming to be nervous at first, he was soon feeding off the adulation of his die-hard followers. \"I'm here folks and I'm loving this,\" he announced.\nDoing press-ups on stage, showing off robotic dance routines and cracking cheeky jokes, he was the Robbie of old - hyperactive, compelling, mischievous and needy.\nHis status in the wider pop world clearly means a lot. He recently told Music Week magazine his forthcoming album Take The Crown is a make-or-break release.\n\"Never in my career has so much hinged on one album,\" he said. \"Success feels good. When it goes away it doesn't feel so good.\n\"I'd like to be successful and I'd like to feel good for a bit longer.\"\nWilliams played just two songs from Take The Crown in Leeds - new single Candy and Losers, an angst-filled power ballad performed as a duet with one of his backing singers. On record, the track features US singer Lissie.\nThe rest of the one-and-a-half hour set was taken up with such favourites as Angels, She's The One, Let Me Entertain You and Rock DJ.\nFans had to apply for tickets in a ballot and Williams will visit Glasgow on Wednesday before travelling to Dublin, where his gig will raise money for Unicef and Childline, and Southend.\nBut his plans may be altered with his wife Ayda due to give birth to their first child any day. He told the crowd in Leeds he had a phone in his pocket that she would call if she went into labour.\nThe singer has hinted that he will go on a bigger tour next summer. On Monday, he told BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans he \"might have something on\" throughout June, for which he would be rehearsing in May.\nWilliams was arguably Britain's biggest pop star in the late 1990s and first part of the 2000s, selling 60 million solo albums and winning a record 17 Brit Awards.", "The group will play at the Etihad Stadium in their home city of Manchester on 17 and 18 June and at the T in the Park festival on 8 July.\nTickets for all three go on sale at 09:30 GMT on Friday.\nThere had been speculation about an announcement from the band after posters with their lemon logo appeared in Manchester earlier on Monday.\nThe group became indie legends in the late 1980s with their debut album, which included classic tunes like I Wanna Be Adored and I Am the Resurrection.\nIt was named the best British album of all time by the NME in 2006 and came second in a Channel 4 poll to find the best album of the millennium in 1997.\nThe quartet split up after the follow-up, 1994's Second Coming, but announced their reunion - and a new record deal - in 2011.\nThey played a series of major concerts in 2012 and 2013, but there has been no sign of new recordings.", "There were 122 foreign direct investment deals done over the course of last year, up from 119 in 2015.\nThe EY Scotland Attractiveness Survey showed Scotland was the second most popular part of the UK to invest in behind London.\nThis is the fifth year in a row that the country has been in that position.\nHowever, Scotland won a smaller share of overseas investment in 2016 than previously, with 10.7% of deals coming north of the border compared with 11.2% in 2015.\nForeign Direct Investment (FDI) in Scotland grew by 2.5% in 2016 - lower than the 7% increase recorded across the UK for that year and significantly down from 2015 when investment in Scotland grew by 51%.\nMark Harvey, EY's senior partner in Scotland, said a \"halo effect\" from events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup may have resulted in \"abnormally high\" levels of investment in 2015.\nScotland's share of the jobs created from overseas investment last year was half what it was in 2015, with 6% of UK posts created by foreign companies' investment in Scotland compared with 12.7% in 2015.\nDeals involving overseas firms created fewer jobs per project, with the average falling from 45 positions in 2015 to 24 the following year.\nThree Scottish cities were in the UK's top 10 for attracting FDI in 2016, according to the research, with Glasgow fifth after a 27% increase in the number of such projects in 2016.\nEdinburgh fell three places in the list to sixth but Aberdeen went from 10th to seventh place.\nMr Harvey said: \"Scotland's attractiveness in the eyes of investors is more in line with previous years.\n\"In 2015 it was perhaps abnormally high as a result of the 'halo effect' from high-profile events held in 2014, including the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup.\n\"Insight from investors indicates there may be a shift towards more London-centric investment in the future, which suggests Scotland needs to take action to ensure it secures a healthy share of FDI into the UK.\n\"Scotland has firmly secured its position as an attractive destination for FDI in the UK, with a further increase of projects from the record-breaking surge of inward investment in 2015.\"\nEconomy Secretary Keith Brown said: \"For the second year in a row we have attracted more projects than ever before - with 2016 up 2.5% on 2015's previous record - and Scotland has been the top UK region outside London in every one of the past five years.\n\"We enjoy resources few nations can match, including one of the most highly-educated work-forces in Europe, a long-standing reputation for innovation and an internationally-regarded brand.\n\"Today's attractiveness survey indicates these assets continue to be recognised on the world stage, with a substantial number of projects from the US, France and Germany.\n\"In fact, more than one in 50 of the investment projects across the whole of Europe are located in Scotland.\"", "The band's much talked about new album is on pause, according to bassist Mikey 'Shoes' Shuman, who says they are taking a break.\nThere was a six-year break between 2007's Era Vulgaris and their 2013 comeback, ...Like Clockwork.\nMikey has told Gigwise that he's concentrating on his other band, Mini Mansions, for now.\nIt will come as a disappointment after frontman Josh Homme said there were new songs ready to go last year and they were hoping to hit the studio as soon as they could.\nMikey says he's getting ready to release a new album Mini Mansions instead.\n\"We were eager because we were in a good spot, having fun and the record had done really well,\" he told Gigwise.\n\"But we decided to take a break because we had been going so hard for so long, and we really worked on that record for a long time.\"\nHe said there were no hard feelings.\n\"It's not like we're sick of each other and don't want to do it. It's just better to step back for a second and come back once the world has had a little bit of a break from you.\"\nShuman also says fans can be reassured there is new material in the pipeline.\n\"There will be future stuff with Queens, we're just taking a break since we had a long, long two years of touring. We'll take a break to do other stuff.\"\nMini Mansions have been touring with Royal Blood and their new single Vertigo is a collaboration with Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys.\n\"Mini Mansions is my focus right now,\" said Mikey.\n\"I think music and working with different people is the kind of process where you gain things along the way.\n\"Whether it's a big band, a small band, a different production or crew - you learn something from everybody, well I do. \"\nHe said Queens of the Stone Age were open to the idea too.\n\"It's a very open family and everyone is free to do what they want and bring different aspects about what they do to the table.\"\nMini Mansion's new album The Great Pretenders is out on Monday.\nFollow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube" ]

[ "Auscultatory gap There is evidence that auscultatory gaps are related to carotid atherosclerosis and to increased arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients, independent of age. Another cause is believed to be venous congestion within the limb that is being used for the measurement. Although these observations need to be confirmed prospectively, they suggest that auscultatory gaps may have prognostic relevance.[3]" ]

[ "Medicare Part D coverage gap The Medicare Part D coverage gap (informally known as the Medicare donut hole) is a period of consumer payment for prescription medication costs which lies between the initial coverage limit and the catastrophic-coverage threshold, when the consumer is a member of a Medicare Part D prescription-drug program administered by the United States federal government. The gap is reached after shared insurer payment - consumer payment for all covered prescription drugs reaches a government-set amount, and is left only after the consumer has paid full, unshared costs of an additional amount for the same prescriptions. Upon entering the gap, the prescription payments to date are re-set to $0 and continue until the maximum amount of the gap is reached OR the current annual period lapses: copayments made by the consumer up to the point of entering the gap are specifically not counted toward payment of the costs accruing while in the gap.[citation needed]", "Weber test The Weber and the Rinne test (/ˈrɪnə/ RIN-ə) are typically performed together with the results of each combined to determine the location and nature of any hearing losses detected. In the Weber test a vibrating tuning fork (Typically 256 Hz [2] or 512 Hz [3] used for Weber vibration test; 512 Hz used for Rinne hearing test) is placed in the middle of the forehead, above the upper lip under the nose over the teeth, or on top of the head equi-distant from the patient's ears on top of thin skin in contact with the bone. The patient is asked to report in which ear the sound is heard louder. A normal weber test has a patient reporting the sound heard equally in both sides. In an affected patient, if the defective ear hears the Weber tuning fork louder, the finding indicates a conductive hearing loss in the defective ear. In an affected patient, if the normal ear hears the tuning fork sound better, there is sensorineural hearing loss on the other (defective) ear. However, the aforegoing presumes one knows in advance which ear is defective and which is normal (such as the patient telling the clinician that they cannot hear as well in one ear versus the other) and the testing is being done to characterize the type, conductive or sensorineural, of hearing loss that is occurring. In the case where the patient is unaware or has acclimated to their hearing loss, the clinician has to use the Rinne test in conjunction with the Weber to characterize and localize any deficits. That is, an abnormal Weber test is only able to tell the clinician that there is a conductive loss in the ear which hears better or that there is a sensorineural loss in the ear which does not hear as well.", "GAP insurance Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP) insurance (also known as GAPS) was established in the North American financial industry. GAP insurance is the difference between the actual cash value of a vehicle and the balance still owed on the financing (car loan, lease, etc.).[1] GAP coverage is mainly used on new and used small vehicles (cars and trucks) and heavy trucks. Some financing companies and lease contracts require it.[2]", "Spanish flu research In the worldwide 1918 flu pandemic, \"physicians tried everything they knew, everything they had ever heard of, from the ancient art of bleeding patients, to administering oxygen, to developing new vaccines and sera (chiefly against what we now call Hemophilus influenzae—a name derived from the fact that it was originally considered the etiological agent—and several types of pneumococci). Only one therapeutic measure, transfusing blood from recovered patients to new victims, showed any hint of success.\"[21]", "Tinnitus Tinnitus is the hearing of sound when no external sound is present.[1] While often described as a ringing, it may also sound like a clicking, hiss or roaring.[2] Rarely, unclear voices or music are heard.[3] The sound may be soft or loud, low pitched or high pitched and appear to be coming from one ear or both.[2] Most of the time, it comes on gradually.[3] In some people, the sound causes depression or anxiety and can interfere with concentration.[2]", "Siren (mythology) Odysseus was curious as to what the Sirens sang to him, and so, on the advice of Circe, he had all of his sailors plug their ears with beeswax and tie him to the mast. He ordered his men to leave him tied tightly to the mast, no matter how much he would beg. When he heard their beautiful song, he ordered the sailors to untie him but they bound him tighter. When they had passed out of earshot, Odysseus demonstrated with his frowns to be released.[32] Some post-Homeric authors state that the Sirens were fated to die if someone heard their singing and escaped them, and that after Odysseus passed by they therefore flung themselves into the water and perished.[33]", "Heart sounds In healthy adults, there are two normal heart sounds, often described as a lub and a dub (or dup), that occur in sequence with each heartbeat. These are the first heart sound (S1) and second heart sound (S2), produced by the closing of the atrioventricular valves and semilunar valves, respectively. In addition to these normal sounds, a variety of other sounds may be present including heart murmurs, adventitious sounds, and gallop rhythms S3 and S4.", "Heart sounds Splitting of S2, also known as physiological split, normally occurs during inhalation because the decrease in intrathoracic pressure increases the time needed for pulmonary pressure to exceed that of the right ventricular pressure. A widely split S2 can be associated with several different cardiovascular conditions, including left bundle branch block, pulmonary stenosis, and atrial septal defect.", "Precordial catch syndrome PCS has consistent characteristics. Its symptoms begin with a sudden onset of anterior chest pain on the left side of the chest. The pain is localized and does not radiate like heart attack pain typically does. Breathing in, and sometimes breathing out, often intensifies the pain. Moving also intensifies the pain. Typically this causes the patient to freeze in place and breathe shallowly until the episode passes. Episodes typically last a couple of seconds to three minutes. In some cases it lasts for 1 hour. The frequency of episodes varies by patient, sometimes occurring daily, multiple episodes each day, or more spread out over weeks, months, or years between episodes. PCS is believed to be localized cramping of certain muscle groups. Intensity of pain can vary from a dull minor pain, to intense sharp pain possibly causing momentary vision loss/blurriness and often loss of breath.", "Terminal cleaning Nosocomial infections claim approximately 90,000 lives in the United States annually. When patients are hospitalized and identified as having methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or infections that can be spread to other patients, best practices isolate these patients in rooms that are subjected to terminal cleaning when the patient is discharged.", "Government shutdowns in the United States During the Ronald Reagan administration, there were three funding gaps leading to shutdowns lasting one day or less. A funding gap in 1990 during the George H. W. Bush administration caused a weekend shutdown. During the Bill Clinton administration, there were two full government shutdowns during 1995 and 1996 lasting five and twenty-one days respectively, based on disagreement on whether to cut government services, leading to furloughs and significant disruption. During the Barack Obama administration, a government shutdown occurred during October 1–16, 2013. The primary dispute was the Republicans' desire to delay or defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare.[1] Under the Donald Trump administration, a shutdown occurred from January 20–22, 2018, and then a funding gap occurred overnight for the first part of the day on 9 February 2018 that did not result in workers being furloughed.[2][3]", "Suprasternal notch The suprasternal notch (fossa jugularis sternalis), also known as the jugular notch or the \"Plender Gap\" is part of human anatomy. It is a large, visible dip in between the neck and the two collarbones.", "Crackles Crackles, crepitations, or rales (/ˈrɑːlz/ ( listen) RAHLZ or /ˈrælz/ RALZ[1]) are the clicking, rattling, or crackling noises that may be made by one or both lungs of a human with a respiratory disease during inhalation. They are often[citation needed] heard only with a stethoscope (\"on auscultation\"). Bilateral crackles refers to the presence of crackles in both lungs.", "Mitral valve prolapse Upon auscultation of an individual with mitral valve prolapse, a mid-systolic click, followed by a late systolic murmur heard best at the apex is common. The length of the murmur signifies the time period over which blood is leaking back into the left atrium, known as regurgitation. A murmur that lasts throughout the whole of systole is known as a holo-systolic murmur. A murmur that is mid to late systolic, although typically associated with less regurgitation, can still be associated with significant hemodynamic consequences.[4]", "Right hemisphere brain damage Patients with right hemisphere brain damage most commonly have difficulties with attention, perception, learning, memory, recognition and expression of emotion, and neglect.[3] Other frequently occurring, though slightly less common, deficits include reasoning and problem solving, awareness, and orientation.[3] It is also common for patients with right hemisphere damage to have a flat affect, lack of emotional expression, while speaking. Additionally, these patients commonly have difficulty recognizing other people's emotions when expressed through facial expressions and tone of voice.[2] Although these deficits alone may complicate therapy, the patient may also exhibit anosognosia, or ignorance of his or her impairments.[4][5] Due to possible anosognosia, it is common for patients to not become frustrated or upset when they are unable to complete tasks they were previously able to complete.[6]", "Heart sounds Heart murmurs are generated by turbulent flow of blood and a murmur to be heard as turbulent flow must require pressure difference of at least 30 mm of hg between the chambers and the pressure dominant chamber will out flow the blood to non dominant chamber in diseased condition which leads to Left-to-right shunt or Right-to-left shunt based on the pressure dominance. Turbulence may occur inside or outside the heart; if it occurs outside the heart then the turbulence is called Bruit. Murmurs may be physiological (benign) or pathological (abnormal). Abnormal murmurs can be caused by stenosis restricting the opening of a heart valve, resulting in turbulence as blood flows through it. Abnormal murmurs may also occur with valvular insufficiency (regurgitation), which allows backflow of blood when the incompetent valve closes with only partial effectiveness. Different murmurs are audible in different parts of the cardiac cycle, depending on the cause of the murmur.", "Cardiac cycle \"Ventricular diastole,\" begins when the ventricles starts to relax. At this point, some blood of the previous cycle's systole is still flowing out of the ventricles through the semilunar valves, due to the inertia of the moving blood column, which overcomes the higher pressure in the aorta/pulmonary trunk with respect to the pressure in the ventricles. This short lasting phase, called \"protodiastole\" ends with the closure of the semilunar valves, producing the second heart sound (S2). Now that both the AV valves and the semilunar valves are closed, the ventricles are now closed chambers. Hence, this phase is known as isovolumetric (also called isovolumic, isometric) relaxation phase. Then the atrioventricular (AV) valves (the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve) open, allowing blood to fill the ventricles. This ventricular inflow phase can be sub-divided into the 'first rapid filling phase' as blood rushes in from the atria as a result of ventricular dilation; a phase of slow ventricular filling called 'Diastasis', and the 'last rapid filling phase' due to atrial contraction (systole).", "Hospital-acquired infection A hospital-acquired infection (HAI), also known as a nosocomial infection, is an infection that is acquired in a hospital or other health care facility. To emphasize both hospital and nonhospital settings, it is sometimes instead called a health care–associated infection (HAI or HCAI). Such an infection can be acquired in hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation facility, outpatient clinic, or other clinical settings. Infection is spread to the susceptible patient in the clinical setting by various means. Health care staff can spread infection, in addition to contaminated equipment, bed linens, or air droplets. The infection can originate from the outside environment, another infected patient, staff that may be infected, or in some cases, the source of the infection cannot be determined. In some cases the microorganism originates from the patient's own skin microbiota, becoming opportunistic after surgery or other procedures that compromise the protective skin barrier. Though the patient may have contracted the infection from their own skin, the infection is still considered nosocomial since it develops in the health care setting.", "Trismus Trismus, also called lockjaw, is reduced opening of the jaws (limited jaw range of motion). It may be caused by spasm of the muscles of mastication or a variety of other causes.[1] Temporary trismus occurs much more frequently than permanent trismus.[2] It is known to interfere with eating, speaking, and maintaining proper oral hygiene. This interference, specifically with the patient's ability to swallow properly, results in an increased risk of aspiration. In some instances, trismus presents with altered facial appearance. The condition may be distressing and painful for the patient. Examination and treatments requiring access to the oral cavity can be limited, or in some cases impossible, due to the nature of the condition itself.", "Patulous Eustachian tube With patulous Eustachian tube, variations in upper airway pressure associated with respiration are transmitted to the middle ear through the Eustachian tube. This causes an unpleasant fullness feeling in the middle ear and alters the auditory perception. Complaints seem to include muffled hearing and autophony. In addition, patulous Eustachian tube generally feels dry with no clogged feeling or sinus pressure.", "Hospice care in the United States With practices largely defined by the Medicare system, a social insurance program in the United States, and other health insurance providers, hospice care is made available in the United States to patients of any age with any terminal prognosis who are medically certified to have less than six months to live. In 2007, hospice treatment was utilized by 1.4 million people in the United States. More than one-third of dying Americans utilize the service. However, common misperceptions regarding the length of time a patient may receive hospice care and the kinds of illnesses covered may result in hospice being underutilized. Although most hospice patients are in treatment for less than thirty days, care may extend beyond six months so long as a patient's condition continues to merit such medical outlook. Medical and social services are supplied to patients and their families by an interdisciplinary team of professional providers and volunteers who take a patient-directed approach to managing illness. Generally, treatment is not diagnostic or curative, although the patient may choose some treatment options intended to prolong life, such as CPR. Most hospice services are covered by Medicare or other providers, and many hospices can provide access to charitable resources for patients lacking such coverage.", "Foramen ovale (heart) The foramen ovale (from Latin, meaning \"oval hole\") forms in the late fourth week of gestation, as a small passageway between the septum secundum the ostium secundum. Initially the atria are separated from one another by the septum primum except for a small opening below the septum, the ostium primum. As the septum primum grows, the ostium primum narrows and eventually closes. Before it does so, bloodflow from the inferior vena cava wears down a portion of the septum primum, forming the ostium secundum. Some embryologists postulate that the ostium secundum may be formed through programmed cell death.[4]", "Cardiac cycle The mitral and tricuspid valves, also known as the atrioventricular, or AV valves, open during ventricular diastole to permit filling. Late in the filling period the atria begin to contract (atrial systole) forcing a final crop of blood into the ventricles under pressure—see cycle diagram. Then, prompted by electrical signals from the sinoatrial node, the ventricles start contracting (ventricular systole), and as back-pressure against them increases the AV valves are forced to close, which stops the blood volumes in the ventricles from flowing in or out; this is known as the isovolumic contraction stage.[4]", "Kantian ethics Kant believed that the shared ability of humans to reason should be the basis of morality, and that it is the ability to reason that makes humans morally significant. He, therefore, believed that all humans should have the right to common dignity and respect.[76] Margaret Eaton argues that, according to Kant's ethics, a medical professional must be happy for their own practices to be used by and on anyone, even if they were the patient themselves. For example, a researcher who wished to perform tests on patients without their knowledge must be happy for all researchers to do so.[77] She also argues that Kant's requirement of autonomy would mean that a patient must be able to make a fully informed decision about treatment, making it immoral to perform tests on unknowing patients. Medical research should be motivated out of respect for the patient, so they must be informed of all facts, even if this would be likely to dissuade the patient.[78] Jeremy Sugarman has argued that Kant's formulation of autonomy requires that patients are never used merely for the benefit of society, but are always treated as rational people with their own goals.[79] Aaron Hinkley notes that a Kantian account of autonomy requires respect for choices that are arrived at rationally, not for choices which are arrived at by idiosyncratic or non-rational means. He argues that there may be some difference between what a purely rational agent would choose and what a patient actually chooses, the difference being the result of non-rational idiosyncrasies. Although a Kantian physician ought not to lie to or coerce a patient, Hinkley suggests that some form of paternalism - such as through withholding information which may prompt a non-rational response - could be acceptable.[80]", "Heart sounds The first heart sound, or S1, forms the \"lub\" of \"lub-dub\" and is composed of components M1 (mitral valve closure) and T1 (tricuspid valve closure). Normally M1 precedes T1 slightly. It is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular valves, i.e. tricuspid and mitral (bicuspid), at the beginning of ventricular contraction, or systole. When the ventricles begin to contract, so do the papillary muscles in each ventricle. The papillary muscles are attached to the cusps or leaflets of the tricuspid and mitral valves via chordae tendineae (heart strings). When the papillary muscles contract, the chordae tendineae become tense and thereby prevent the backflow of blood into the lower pressure environment of the atria. The chordae tendineae act a bit like the strings on a parachute, and allow the leaflets of the valve to balloon up into the atria slightly, but not so much as to evert the cusp edges and allow back flow of blood. It is the pressure created from ventricular contraction that closes the valve, not the papillary muscles themselves. The contraction of the ventricle begins just prior to AV valves closing and prior to the semilunar valves opening. The sudden tensing of the chordae tendineae and the squeezing of the ventricles against closed semilunar valves, sends blood rushing back toward the atria, and the parachute-like valves catch the rush of blood in their leaflets causing the valve to snap shut. The S1 sound results from reverberation within the blood associated with the sudden block of flow reversal by the valves. The delay of T1 even more than normally causes the split S1 which is heard in a right bundle branch blockage.", "Backflow prevention device The simplest, most reliable way to provide backflow prevention is to provide an air gap. An air gap is simply an open vertical space between any device that connects to a plumbing system (like a valve or faucet) and any place where contaminated water can collect or pool. A simple air gap has no moving parts, other than flowing water. Many plumbing codes specify a minimum air gap distance required for various circumstances, such as a drain connection for a dishwasher, e.g., BS 6282.", "Situs inversus Many people with situs inversus totalis are unaware of their unusual anatomy until they seek medical attention for an unrelated condition, such as a rib fracture or a bout of appendicitis. The condition may also be discovered during the administration of certain medicines or during tests such as a Barium meal or enema.[4] The reversal of the organs may then lead to some confusion, as many signs and symptoms will be on the atypical side. For example, if an individual with situs inversus develops appendicitis, they will present to the physician with lower left abdominal pain, since that is where their appendix lies.[5][6] Thus, in the event of a medical problem, the knowledge that the individual has situs inversus can expedite diagnosis. People with this rare condition should inform their physicians before an examination, so the physician can redirect their search for heart sounds and other signs. Wearing a medical identification tag can help inform health care providers in the event the person is unable to communicate.", "Surgical nursing This stage begins when the ward nurse, who has prepared the patient for surgery, delivers the patient and their notes to the theatre and/or anaesthetic nurse. Many checks are undertaken in this stage to ensure a safe environment for the patient and the theatre staff. The theatre nurse carries out activities to maintain a sterile environment and to ensure the surgical equipment is working well. The nurse also organises all surgical instruments and ensures all supplies needed during the surgery are available.[2]", "Asthma An acute asthma exacerbation is commonly referred to as an asthma attack. The classic symptoms are shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness.[21] The wheezing is most often when breathing out.[96] While these are the primary symptoms of asthma,[97] some people present primarily with coughing, and in severe cases, air motion may be significantly impaired such that no wheezing is heard.[95] In children, chest pain is often present.[98]", "Respiratory sounds Respiratory sounds, breath sounds, or lung sounds refer to the specific sounds generated by the movement of air through the respiratory system. These may be easily audible or identified through auscultation of the respiratory system through the lung fields[1] with a stethoscope as well as from the spectral chacteristics of lung sounds.[2] These include normal breath sounds and adventitious or \"added\" sounds such as rales, wheezes, pleural friction rubs, stertor and stridor.", "Third heart sound S3 is thought to be caused by the oscillation of blood back and forth between the walls of the ventricles initiated by the inflow of blood from the atria. The reason the third heart sound does not occur until the middle third of diastole is probably that, during the early part of diastole, the ventricles are not filled sufficiently to create enough tension for reverberation. It may also be a result of tensing of the chordae tendineae during rapid filling and expansion of the ventricle.", "High anion gap metabolic acidosis High anion gap metabolic acidosis is caused generally by acid produced by the body,. More rarely, high anion gap metabolic acidosis may be caused by ingesting methanol or overdosing on aspirin.[1][2] The Delta Ratio is a formula that can be used to assess elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis and to evaluate whether mixed acid base disorder (metabolic acidosis) is present." ]

[ "BBC ON THIS DAY | 3 | 1984: Hundreds die in Bhopal chemical accident About This Site | Text Only 1984: Hundreds die in Bhopal chemical accident Hundreds of people have died from the effects of toxic gases which leaked from a chemical factory near the central Indian city of Bhopal. The accident happened in the early hours of this morning at the American-owned Union Carbide Pesticide Plant three miles (4.8 km) from Bhopal. Mr Y P Gokhale, managing director of Union Carbide in India, said that methyl isocyanate gas (MIC) had escaped when a valve in the plant's underground storage tank broke under pressure. Mothers didn't know their children had died, children didn't know their mothers had died and men didn't know their whole families had died<br> Ahmed Khan, Bhopal resident<br> This caused a deadly cloud of lethal gas to float from the factory over Bhopal, which is home to more than 900,000 people - many of whom live in slums. Chaos and panic broke out in the city and surrounding areas as tens of thousands of people attempted to escape. More than 20,000 people have required hospital treatment for symptoms including swollen eyes, frothing at the mouth and breathing difficulties. Thousands of dead cats, dogs, cows and birds litter the streets and the city's mortuaries are filling up fast. Bhopal resident, Ahmed Khan, said: \"We were choking and our eyes were burning. We could barely see the road through the fog, and sirens were blaring. \"We didn't know which way to run. Everybody was very confused. \"Mothers didn't know their children had died, children didn't know their mothers had died and men didn't know their whole families had died.\" The Union Carbide factory was closed immediately after the accident and three senior members of staff arrested. Medical and scientific experts have been dispatched to the scene and the Indian government has ordered a judicial inquiry. It is understood the Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, will be flying to the area within the next few days. In Context This was one of the world's worst industrial accidents. <br> Nearly 3,000 people died from the effects of the poisonous gas in the days following the disaster. <br> Estimates say that some 50,000 people were treated in the first few days suffering terrible side-effects, including blindness, kidney and liver failure. <br> Campaigners say nearly 20,000 others have since died from the effects of the leak. <br> Investigations into the disaster revealed that something had gone fundamentally wrong with a tank storing lethal methyl isocyanate (MIC). <br> In 1989 Union Carbide, which is now a subsidiary of Dow Chemical, paid the Indian Government £470m in a settlement which many described as woefully inadequate. <br> But in 1999 a voluntary group in Bhopal which believed not enough had been done to help victims, filed a lawsuit in the United States claiming Union Carbide violated international law and human rights. <br> In November 2002 India said it was seeking the extradition of former Union Carbide boss Warren Anderson from the US. <br> Mr Anderson faces charges of \"culpable homicide\" for cost-cutting at the plant which is alleged to have compromised safety standards. <br> In October 2004, the Indian Supreme Court approved a compensation plan drawn up by the state welfare commission to pay nearly $350m to more than 570,000 victims of the disaster. <br>" ]

[ "How L.A.'s 1984 Summer Olympics Became the Most Successful Games Ever How L.A.'s 1984 Summer Olympics Became the Most Successful Games Ever Go to permalink It's almost showtime for Sochi, which may or may not have its shit together by the time the opening ceremonies start. While it's too late for Sochi to change its trajectory, perhaps the 2016 host city could jot down a few tips from what are widely considered to be the most successful Olympics ever: L.A., 1984. Can Sochi Get Its Shit Together? Can Sochi Get Its Shit Together? Can Sochi Get Its Shit Together? By all accounts—except maybe Vladimir Putin's—the small Russian resort town of Sochi… Read more Read more In the late 1970s, hosting the Olympics was not a very desirable thing for a city to do. The games were seen as financially risky: Montreal's debt from the 1976 Summer Games totaled $1.5 billion dollars, which wasn't paid off until 2006. Denver was actually awarded the 1976 Winter Games but its voters did not approve public funding, so it went to Innsbruck, Austria. Plus, tensions were high when it came to international athletic competitions. Munich had suffered a deadly hostage crisis in 1972 and the Cold War was brewing. The 1980 games in Moscow were boycotted by the U.S. and other countries, and the U.S.S.R. and many other Eastern European boycotted the 1984 games. An early front-runner, Tehran, pulled out from the 1984 bidding process at the last minute due to social unrest. Advertisement Advertisement In the end, only two cities officially bid to host the 1984 Summer Games: New York City and Los Angeles. Since the U.S. could only recommend one city for the international bid, when they decided on L.A. to represent the U.S., it became the winning city by default. Preparing for challenges The Olympics are essentially a high-profile opportunity for civic rebranding: A chance for a smaller city to put itself on the map or for a larger one to reinvent itself. While L.A. was by no means a tiny hamlet looking for validation, the city was certainly hoping to turn around its reputation as a smoggy, sprawling megalopolis lacking a center or any real civic pride. Detractors were quick to judge the choice of L.A. as too big, too unprepared, and too financially strapped. Plus, L.A. had already hosted the Summer Olympics once, back in 1932. But L.A. did have one real handicap: The 1984 Summer Olympics were the first in history not to be sponsored by the government, as they still are in many countries and had previously been in the U.S. Sponsored This called for a budget-conscious Olympics, headed by local businessman Peter Ueberroth. He organized a committee that functioned more like a corporation, dubbing it LA84 and creating a board consisting of entrepreneurs and other financially savvy leaders. Accordingly, the games would be funded by unprecedented corporate sponsorships, impressive private fundraising, and, for the first time on U.S. soil, television deals. The committee sold the television rights to the broadcast to ABC for $225 million, raising a large amount of money far in advance of the games. Leave it up to the entertainment capital of the world to strike such a smart deal. Ueberroth was named Time's Man of the Year. Budget-minded development L.A.'s fiscally responsible philosophy extended to its innovative architectural strategy. The building frenzy that accompanies a winning bid is often followed by a devastating post-Olympics blow, where the city is left with rotting stadiums and empty transit systems. This is most infamously illustrated in Athens, Greece; there, not only are most of the city's 2004 venues now empty and dilapidated, but it has been theorized that the egregious expenses may have actually contributed to Greece's ongoing financial crisis. Nagano, Japan, also fell into a recession after their 1998 Winter Olympics. Much of this is illustrated in The Olympic City , where Gary Hustwit and Jon Pack traveled to hosting cities to document what happens after the games leave. Advertisement Advertisement Also, as we've seen in Sochi—which is building e", "History of Tokyo (Edo) - Wa-pedia History of Tokyo Tokyo Imperial Palace (formerly Edo Castle). Tokyo was initially established in 1457. The city was then known as Edo (江戸, literally \"bay-entrance\" ). Tokyo is therefore a new city by Eurasian standards, far more recent than most European cities and almost as recent as the first European colonies in the Americas. The Tokugawa shōgunate was established in 1603 with Edo as its seat of government - the de facto capital of Japan, although the Emperor's residence remained in Kyoto, which had been the actual capital until that time. In September of 1868, when the shōgunate came to an end, Emperor Meiji ordered Edo to be renamed \"Tokyo\" (東京), meaning \"Eastern Capital.\" The new name was meant to emphasize Tokyo's status as the new capital of Japan, both temporally and spiritually. Tokyo has been generally accepted as the sole capital of Japan since 1869, when the Emperor took up permanent residence there. However, the capital was never legally \"transferred\" to Tokyo, leading some to question whether Kyōto may still be the capital, or a co-capital. The Great Kanto earthquake struck Tokyo in 1923, killing approximately 70,000 people; a massive reconstruction plan was drawn up, but was too expensive to carry out except in part. Despite this, the city grew until the beginning of World War II. During the war, Tokyo was heavily bombed, much of the city was burned to the ground, and its population in 1945 was only half that of 1940. Following the war, Tokyo was under military occupation and governed by the allied forces. General Douglas MacArthur established the occupation headquarters in what is now the Dai-Ichi Seimei building overlooking the Imperial Palace. The American presence in Tokyo made it an important command and logistics center during the Korean War. Tokyo still hosts a number of U.S. military bases, including Yokota Air Base. During the 1950s and mid-1960s, Japan experienced what is widely described as the \"economic miracle\", which transformed the nation from wartime devastation to the world's second-largest economy by 1966. During this period, Japanese government policy placed priority on the development of infrastructure and manufacturing industries over social welfare. As a result, Japan came to dominate a range of industries including steel, ship-building, automobiles, semiconductors, and consumer electronics. Tokyo's re-emergence from wartime trauma was complete at the 1964 Summer Olympics, which publicized the city on an international stage and brought global attention to the \"economic miracle\". Beginning in the 1970s, Japanese cities experienced a massive wave of expansion as laborers began migrating from rural areas, and Tokyo was one of the most dramatic examples. As it grew steadily into the economic bubble of the late 1980s, Tokyo became one of the most dynamic cities on Earth, with a tremendous range of social and economic activities, myriad restaurants and clubs, a major financial district, tremendous industrial strength, a wealth of shops, and world-class entertainment opportunities. The construction boom of the bubble years was one of the greatest in world history (as judged by the level of building expenditures in relation to the size of the economy), leading Tokyo to have an enormously more modern capital stock of buildings than similar metropolises such as London and New York City. Although the recession following the bursting of the \"bubble economy\" in the early 1990s hurt the city, Tokyo remains the predominant economic center of East Asia, rivaled only by Hong Kong and Singapore. On March 20, 1995, Tokyo became the focus of international media attention in the wake of the Aum Shinrikyō cult terrorist organisation attack with Sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo subway system (in the tunnels beneath the political district of central Tokyo) in which 12 people were killed and thousands affected (see Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway).", "Welles scares nation - Oct 30, 1938 - HISTORY.com Welles scares nation Publisher A+E Networks Orson Welles causes a nationwide panic with his broadcast of “War of the Worlds”—a realistic radio dramatization of a Martian invasion of Earth. Orson Welles was only 23 years old when his Mercury Theater company decided to update H.G. Wells’ 19th-century science fiction novel War of the Worlds for national radio. Despite his age, Welles had been in radio for several years, most notably as the voice of “The Shadow” in the hit mystery program of the same name. “War of the Worlds” was not planned as a radio hoax, and Welles had little idea of the havoc it would cause. The show began on Sunday, October 30, at 8 p.m. A voice announced: “The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations present Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater on the air in ‘War of the Worlds’ by H.G. Wells.” Sunday evening in 1938 was prime-time in the golden age of radio, and millions of Americans had their radios turned on. But most of these Americans were listening to ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy “Charlie McCarthy” on NBC and only turned to CBS at 8:12 p.m. after the comedy sketch ended and a little-known singer went on. By then, the story of the Martian invasion was well underway. Welles introduced his radio play with a spoken introduction, followed by an announcer reading a weather report. Then, seemingly abandoning the storyline, the announcer took listeners to “the Meridian Room in the Hotel Park Plaza in downtown New York, where you will be entertained by the music of Ramon Raquello and his orchestra.” Putrid dance music played for some time, and then the scare began. An announcer broke in to report that “Professor Farrell of the Mount Jenning Observatory” had detected explosions on the planet Mars. Then the dance music came back on, followed by another interruption in which listeners were informed that a large meteor had crashed into a farmer’s field in Grovers Mills, New Jersey. Soon, an announcer was at the crash site describing a Martian emerging from a large metallic cylinder. “Good heavens,” he declared, “something’s wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake. Now here’s another and another one and another one. They look like tentacles to me … I can see the thing’s body now. It’s large, large as a bear. It glistens like wet leather. But that face, it… it … ladies and gentlemen, it’s indescribable. I can hardly force myself to keep looking at it, it’s so awful. The eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. The mouth is kind of V-shaped with saliva dripping from its rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate.” The Martians mounted walking war machines and fired “heat-ray” weapons at the puny humans gathered around the crash site. They annihilated a force of 7,000 National Guardsman, and after being attacked by artillery and bombers the Martians released a poisonous gas into the air. Soon “Martian cylinders” landed in Chicago and St. Louis. The radio play was extremely realistic, with Welles employing sophisticated sound effects and his actors doing an excellent job portraying terrified announcers and other characters. An announcer reported that widespread panic had broken out in the vicinity of the landing sites, with thousands desperately trying to flee. In fact, that was not far from the truth. Perhaps as many as a million radio listeners believed that a real Martian invasion was underway. Panic broke out across the country. In New Jersey, terrified civilians jammed highways seeking to escape the alien marauders. People begged police for gas masks to save them from the toxic gas and asked electric companies to turn off the power so that the Martians wouldn’t see their lights. One woman ran into an Indianapolis church where evening services were being held and yelled, “New York has been destroyed! It’s the end of the world! Go home and prepare to die!” When news of the real-life panic leaked into the CBS studio, Welles went on the air as himself to remind listeners that it was just fiction. There were rumors that the show", "21.3: The Alkali Metals (Group 1) - Chemistry LibreTexts 21.3: The Alkali Metals (Group 1) Last updated To describe how the alkali metals are isolated. To be familiar with the reactions, compounds, and complexes of the alkali metals. The alkali metals are so reactive that they are never found in nature in elemental form. Although some of their ores are abundant, isolating them from their ores is somewhat difficult. For these reasons, the group 1 elements were unknown until the early 19th century, when Sir Humphry Davy first prepared sodium (Na) and potassium (K) by passing an electric current through molten alkalis. (The ashes produced by the combustion of wood are largely composed of potassium and sodium carbonate.) Lithium (Li) was discovered 10 years later when the Swedish chemist Johan Arfwedson was studying the composition of a new Brazilian mineral. Cesium (Cs) and rubidium (Rb) were not discovered until the 1860s, when Robert Bunsen conducted a systematic search for new elements. Known to chemistry students as the inventor of the Bunsen burner, Bunsen’s spectroscopic studies of ores showed sky blue and deep red emission lines that he attributed to two new elements, Cs and Rb, respectively. Francium (Fr) is found in only trace amounts in nature, so our knowledge of its chemistry is limited. All the isotopes of Fr have very short half-lives, in contrast to the other elements in group 1. Sir Humphry Davy (1778–1829) Davy was born in Penzance, Cornwall, England. He was a bit of a wild man in the laboratory, often smelling and tasting the products of his experiments, which almost certainly shortened his life. He discovered the physiological effects that cause nitrous oxide to be called “laughing gas” (and became addicted to it!), and he almost lost his eyesight in an explosion of nitrogen trichloride (NCl3), which he was the first to prepare. Davy was one of the first to recognize the utility of Alessandro Volta’s “electric piles” (batteries). By connecting several “piles” in series and inserting electrodes into molten salts of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, he was able to isolate six previously unknown elements as pure metals: sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, barium, and magnesium. He also discovered boron and was the first to prepare phosphine (PH3) and hydrogen telluride (H2Te), both of which are highly toxic. Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (1811–1899) Bunsen was born and educated in Göttingen, Germany. His early work dealt with organic arsenic compounds, whose highly toxic nature and explosive tendencies almost killed him and did cost him an eye. He designed the Bunsen burner, a reliable gas burner, and used it and emission spectra to discover cesium (named for its blue line) and rubidium (named for its red line). Preparation of the Alkali Metals Because the alkali metals are among the most potent reductants known, obtaining them in pure form requires a considerable input of energy. Pure lithium and sodium for example, are typically prepared by the electrolytic reduction of molten chlorides: \\[\\mathrm{LiCl(l)}\\rightarrow\\mathrm{Li(l)}+\\frac{1}{2}\\mathrm{Cl_2(g)} \\label{21.15}\\] In practice, CaCl2 is mixed with LiCl to lower the melting point of the lithium salt. The electrolysis is carried out in an argon atmosphere rather than the nitrogen atmosphere typically used for substances that are highly reactive with O2 and water because Li reacts with nitrogen gas to form lithium nitride (Li3N). Metallic sodium is produced by the electrolysis of a molten mixture of NaCl and CaCl2. In contrast, potassium is produced commercially from the reduction of KCl by Na, followed by the fractional distillation of K(g). Although rubidium and cesium can also be produced by electrolysis, they are usually obtained by reacting their hydroxide salts with a reductant such as Mg: \\[2RbOH_{(s)} + Mg_{(s)} \\rightarrow 2Rb_{(l)} + Mg(OH)_{2(s)} \\label{21.6}\\] Massive deposits of essentially pure NaCl and KCl are found in nature and are the major sources of sodium and potassium. The other alkali metals are found in low concentration", "10 Indian Novelists Who Made It To Bookers Prize 10 INDIAN NOVELISTS WHO MADE IT TO BOOKERS PRIZE 10 Indian Novelists Who Made It To Bookers Prize 31.5K SHARES Any novelist from the Commonwealth of Nations aspires for the Man Booker Prize in their career – which can rightfully be called the Oscars of the literary world. With the announcement of the Man Booker International Prize on May 22, we bring you the 10 Indian novelists who have been shortlisted for or have won the Bookers. 1) V. S. Naipaul Image Credit: © BCCL This famed novelist might not be from mainland India per se – but he is of Indian descent, and that makes him qualify to be in this list. That being said, he would be the first Indian to be shortlisted and win the Booker in 1971 for ‘In a Free State’. He was shortlisted again in 1979 for ‘A Bend in the River’. This novel is placed at #83 on the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. 2) Anita Desai Image Credit: wordpress (dot) com Anita Desai has been shortlisted at the Bookers not once, not twice, but thrice! The first time was in 1980 for her post-partition novel ‘Clear Light of Day’. In 1984, she made the list for ‘In Custody’ that was made into a film in 1993. The third and final time was for her bi-cultural novel ‘Fasting, Feasting’ in 1999. Sahitya Akademi awardee, Desai’s last novel was ‘The Artist of Disappearance’ in 2011. 3) Salman Rushdie Image Credit: © BCCL Controversial magical realist Salman Rushdie has not only made it to the Bookers four times, but he has also won the ‘Booker of Bookers’ and ‘The Best of the Booker’ prizes as well! And the latter wins were for the novel that won him his first Booker – ‘ Midnight’s Children ’ – in 1981. ‘Shame’ (1983), ‘The Satanic Verses’ (1988) and ‘The Moor’s Last Sigh’ (1995) were the other novels that landed him in the finalists’ list in those years. 4) Rohinton Mistry Image Credit: cba (dot) ca Indo-Canadian novelist Rohinton Mistry has only written three novels till today, and has been shortlisted for Booker all three times. ‘Such a Long Journey’, which made the list in 1991, made more headlines when Bal Thackeray’s complaints got it removed from University of Mumbai’s syllabus. The second book ‘A Fine Balance’ (1996) has been successfully adapted on stage. The third and final novel by Mistry is ‘Family Matters’ (2002). 5) Arundhati Roy Image Credit: © BCCL This political activist also won the Booker in 1997 for her debut novel ‘The God of Small Things’. It was the biggest selling-book by a non-expatriate Indian author. Since then, she has written a number of books – and has been more in focus for her political stance and criticism than for them. She has been the recipient of a great many awards other than the Booker, the most significant being the Sahitya Akademi award in 2006. 6) Kiran Desai Image Credit: indiamarks (dot) com What the mother could not do, the daughter did. Kiran Desai’s daughter Anita Desai won the Man Booker in 2006 for her second and last novel ‘The Inheritance of Loss’. Her first book ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’ was also critically acclaimed from authors like Salman Rushdie. In 2010, Orhan Pamuk, the Nobel laureate for literature, publicly announced that he and Desai were in a relationship – a big news for the literary world. 7) Indra Sinha Image Credit: guim (dot) co (dot) uk This British-Indian writer had been in the finalists’ list for his novel on the Bhopal gas tragedy – ‘Animal’s People’ in 2007. This author is a passionate campaigner for justice to the victims of the incident and has done an advertisement, given many interviews and written many articles regarding the same. Having the distinction of being in the list of the top 10 British copywriters of all time, Sinha also writes non-fiction and carries out translation of ancient Sanskrit texts into English. 8) Aravind Adiga Image Credit: lpcdn (dot) ca 2008 was the third year in a row for Indian novelists to have been nominated for the Booker Prize – and it saw Chennai-born Aravind Adiga taking away the Booker for his debut", "Solar panel 4 Sulphursulfur dioxide and various nitrogen - BUS - 234 View Full Document A photovoltaic module is more commonly known as what? Solar panel 4. Sulphur/sulfur dioxide and (various) nitrogen oxides are the main contributory factors in what unhelpful environmental effect: Acid rain; Landfill run-off; Global warming; or Pesticides? Acid rain 5. What structural modification of oxygen is an air pollutant in the lower atmosphere but beneficial in the upper atmosphere? Ozone This preview has intentionally blurred sections. Sign up to view the full version. View Full Document 6. Used in various environmental terminology referring to organic life, what prefix derives from the original Greek meaning 'the course of human life'? Bio (from Greek, bios) 7. What is the climate change agreement aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, named after the Japanese city in which participating nations agreed its framework in 1997? Kyoto Protocol 8. Photopollution is a technical alternative word for what sort of pollution? Light (specifically artificial light - i.e., pollution of the natural light or darkness in the sky or environment, externally and potentially internally, by artificial light) 9. In excess of how many gallons of water are lost each day in the USA to leaks, equating to 14% of all 'withdrawals': Six million, Sixty million, Six hundred million; or Six billion? Six billion (According to the US EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, as at 2011) 10. The UN Stockholm Convention signed in 2001 seeks to limit the production and use of what, abbreviated to POPs? Persistent Organic Pollutants (or more loosely and notably, pesticides , for example DDT, extending to related chemicals such as herbicides) 11. What colourless/colorless, odourless/odorless, poisonous polluting gas is chiefly emitted by small engines typically used in lawn-mowers and chainsaws, etc? Carbon monoxide 12. What highly toxic element was traditionally used in thermometers, posing a substantial safety and disposal risk? Mercury 13. The 1987 Montreal Protocol concerns specifically, and includes in its full title, substances that deplete what? The Ozone Layer 14. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and sulphur/sulfur hexafluoride are widely referred to by what collective metaphorical term? Greenhouse Gases 15. From the Greek root words for 'house' and 'study of' what term refers to the scientific study of the relationship between living things, and their natural environment? Ecology 16. An 'R number' identifies what sort of substance having potentially significant impact on global warming when used in heating/cooling applications? Refrigerant 17. If electricity costs say 5p (or 5 cents) per kilowatt/hour, how much does a conventional 100W light bulb cost to run in a year if it is left on permanently? £43.80 (or $43.80 - a 365-day year - the calculation is: 0.05p x This is the end of the preview. Sign up to access the rest of the document. TERM activity 6-rhythm of my heart.docx Saint Augustines University Raleigh Activity 6 The Rhythm of My Heart Objectives: 1) Measure and describe your pulse (hea activity 6-rhythm of my heart.docx", "Indian Country Wisconsin - Great Lakes History: A General View Black Hawk Tens-qua-ta-wa The Great Lakes is a chain of inland lakes -- Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior -- stretching from New York to Minnesota. Because they comprise such a large waterway, they have played a vital role in the lives and histories of Indian peoples who have resided along their shores for millennia. Most Indian groups living in the Great Lakes region for the last five centuries are of the Algonkian language family. This includes such present-day Wisconsin tribes as the Menominee, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi. Some tribes--such as the Stockbridge-Munsee and the Brothertown--are also Algonkian-speaking tribes who relocated from the eastern seaboard to the Great Lakes region in the nineteenth century. The Oneida who live near Green Bay belong to the Iroquois language group and the Ho-chunk of Wisconsin are one of the few Great Lakes tribes to speak a Siouan language. Although there have been many differences in language and customs between different Indian tribes, Great Lakes Indian communities have had many things in common. They comprise a general culture called \"Woodland\" after its adaptation to North America's northeastern and southeastern woodlands. Woodland Indian societies have depended to a large degree on forest products for their survival, and Great Lakes Indians hunted, fished, gathered wild foods, and practiced agriculture for their subsistence. In many parts of the Great Lakes -- particularly northern Wisconsin -- Indians depended on wild rice as a dietary staple, while Indians in areas without wild rice generally cultivated corn. Where sugar maples grow, Great Lakes Indians established sugar-making camps in early spring and made sugar from tree sap. Establishing Trade The exact date of initial European contact with the Great Lakes Indians is unknown. During the early 1500s, European ships and fishing crews off the coast of northeastern Canada often traded with Indians there. The first recorded contact between Europeans and the Great Lakes Indians occurred between 1534 and 1542 when Jacques Cartier of France explored the St. Lawrence River. His failure to find gold or silver reduced French interest in North America but, despite this, Samuel de Champlain established the city of Quebec and along with it the colony of New France in 1608. The French quickly developed a military and economic alliance with neighboring Algonkian tribes and the Iroquoian-speaking Huron near Lake Huron. Soon, the Dutch of New Netherland established a rival colony in present-day New York, and developed similar trade networks with the five Iroquois nations (the League of the Iroquois) in upstate New York. Later, when the English conquered New Netherland in 1664 and renamed it New York, the Iroquois transferred their loyalties to the English. In the 1640s, the Iroquois began a series of wars in the Great Lakes region mainly motivated by the rich fur-bearing lands of other Indian groups, completely wiping out some tribes, including the Erie, and scattering others such as the Huron from their original homelands. The wars between the Iroquois League and the French-allied tribes persisted until 1701, although there were long periods of relative peace during that time. These wars radically changed the human landscape of the Great Lakes region. Tribes in Michigan's southern peninsula -- the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, Sauk, Fox, and Ottawa -- were pushed farther west into Wisconsin during the 1600s. Some tribes that moved into Wisconsin because of the Iroquois wars, including the Huron, Miami, Sauk, Fox, Mascouten, and Kickapoo, left Wisconsin during the 1700s for new lands west of the Mississippi or other parts of the Midwest. Some refugees of the Iroquois wars, namely the Potawatomi and Ojibwe, stayed in Wisconsin. Introduction of Disease Indian people of the Great Lakes also suffered from European diseases, which often devastated their communities. Unlike Europeans, Indians did not have natural immunities to diseases such as smallpox, measle", "Indira Gandhi becomes Indian prime minister - Jan 19, 1966 - HISTORY.com Indira Gandhi becomes Indian prime minister Share this: Indira Gandhi becomes Indian prime minister Author Indira Gandhi becomes Indian prime minister URL Publisher A+E Networks Following the death of Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi becomes head of the Congress Party and thus prime minister of India. She was India’s first female head of government and by the time of her assassination in 1984 was one of its most controversial. Gandhi was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of the independent Republic of India. She became a national political figure in 1955, when she was elected to the executive body of the Congress Party. In 1959, she served as president of the party and in 1964 was appointed to an important post in Lal Bahadur Shastri’s ruling government. Soon after becoming prime minister, Gandhi was challenged by the right wing of the Congress Party, and in the 1967 election she won only a narrow victory and thus had to rule with a deputy prime minister. In 1971, she won a resounding reelection victory over the opposition and became the undisputed leader of India. That year, she ordered India’s invasion of Pakistan in support of the creation of Bangladesh, which won her greater popularity and led her New Congress Party to a landslide victory in national elections in 1972. During the next few years, she presided over increasing civil unrest brought on by food shortages, inflation, and regional disputes. Her administration was criticized for its strong-arm tactics in dealing with these problems. Meanwhile, charges by the Socialist Party that she had defrauded the 1971 election led to a national scandal. In 1975, the High Court in Allahabad convicted her of a minor election infraction and banned her from politics for six years. In response, she declared a state of emergency throughout India, imprisoned thousands of political opponents, and restricted personal freedoms in the country. Among several unpopular programs during this period was the forced sterilization of men and women as a means of controlling population growth. In 1977, long-postponed national elections were held, and Gandhi and her party were swept from office. The next year, Gandhi’s supporters broke from the Congress Party and formed the Congress (I) Party, with the “I” standing for “Indira.” Later in 1978, she was briefly imprisoned for official corruption. Soon after the ruling Janata Party fell apart, the Congress (I) Party, with Indira as its head, won a spectacular election victory in 1980, and Gandhi was again prime minister. In the early 1980s, several regional states intensified their call for greater autonomy from New Delhi, and the Sikh secessionist movement in Punjab resorted to violence and terrorism. In 1984, the Sikh leaders set up base in their sacred Golden Temple in Amritsar. Gandhi responded by sending the Indian army in, and hundreds of Sikhs were killed in the government assault. In retaliation, Sikh members of Gandhi’s own bodyguard gunned her down on the grounds of her home on October 31, 1984. She was succeeded by her son, Rajiv Gandhi. Related Videos", "BBC NEWS | Europe | History of train tunnel tragedies Tuesday, 18 February, 2003, 15:37 GMT History of train tunnel tragedies The Paris attacks left eight dead and 200 injured The deadly subway arson in South Korea is the latest mass loss of life from accidents and attacks on trains in tunnels around the world. Correspondents say mass-transit subway systems generally have excellent safety records, but the presence of large numbers of people in enclosed spaces can hamper rescues efforts when problems do occur. South Korean arson Many people were trapped in carriages engulfed in smoke and flames More than 100 people are now known to have died in flames and smoke after a man apparently set fire to flammable liquid inside a station in Daegu, South Korea. Many of the victims were trapped in carriages unable to escape, while the thousands of rescuers who rushed to the city-centre station had to battle the heat and fumes. The intensity of the fire - which began at the tail end of the morning rush hour on 18 February 2003 - left victims' bodies charred and entangled with each other, rescuers said. Austrian inferno Only 12 people survived a blaze inside a funicular train in the Austrian ski resort of Kaprun in November 2000. A total of 155 people - most of them skiers - died when the fire started, possibly triggered by a faulty electric heater. Victims were trapped inside the carriages of the train which was 600 metres into the 3.2-kilometre-long (two-mile-long) mountain tunnel when the fire started. Prosecutors later blamed a \"mosaic of mistakes\" for the fire itself and the trouble encountered by people trying to escape and the rescuers who were trying to reach them. In July 1995, the French capital's rail system was hit repeatedly by bombers. The worst attack happened on 25 July at the Saint-Michel suburban railway (RER) station. A gas bottle packed with explosives and nails was detonated, causing horrific injuries to many passengers. Other devices were planted at the Maison Blanche metro and Musee d'Orsay RER stations. In all, eight people died and more than 200 were injured. Two members of the Algerian Armed Islamic Group were found guilty of taking part in the attacks and jailed for life. Tokyo attack Poison gas was pumped into the Tokyo subway Four months earlier, in March 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo released sarin gas into the subway system of Japan's capital. Twelve people died and about 5,000 more were taken ill as the nerve agent spread. Several members of the cult were subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Read more here Azerbaijan bombs In 1994, the metro system of Baku, the capital city of the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, came under attack. In separate incidents several months apart, bombs were detonated on trains. The attacks, blamed on a northern separatist group, left at least 20 dead and scores injured. London fire A discarded match was blamed for the blaze in London's King's Cross underground station which killed 31 people in November 1987. King's Cross escalators caught fire, trapping people underground Hundreds of commuters were using the key interchange station when the fire broke out towards the end of the evening rush hour. Wooden escalators caught fire, trapping passengers underground. The heat was so intense that it damaged concrete walls and fire officers took hours to bring the blaze under control. On This Day: King's Cross fire Moorgate crash The worst London Underground disaster happened on 28 February 1975 when a train failed to stop and smashed into a dead-end tunnel. The cause of the crash - which killed 43 people - remains unknown. The train failed to stop but the driver had been in good health and had not taken any alcohol or drugs. He was known as a careful and conscientious driver. About 70 other passengers were also injured in the crash which left the front three carriages crushed into the rear of the train.", "The dirt on toxic chemicals in household cleaning products | Toxics | Health | Science & policy | Toxics | Issues Freshwater The dirt on toxic chemicals in household cleaning products There is no requirement in Canada for manufacturers to warn consumers about the health and environmental hazards associated with chronic, or long-term, exposure to chemical ingredients in household cleaning products (Credit: Jenny Lee Silver). Canadians spend more than $275 million on household cleaning products in a year. We buy these products to fight germs, streaks, stains and odours to keep our homes sparkling clean. Cleaning is supposed to be about maintaining a healthy home, yet some common household cleaning products contain chemicals that can harm human health and the environment. What a mess. Acute and chronic effects You're probably familiar with the hazard symbols that appear on some cleaning products, along with word like \"poison\", \"corrosive\" or \"irritant.\" These hazard symbols warn consumers about acute health hazards associated with a single or short-term exposure to chemicals in the product. But there is no parallel requirement in Canada for manufacturers to warn consumers about the health and environmental hazards associated with chronic, or long-term, exposure to chemical ingredients in household cleaning products. Most of us are exposed to cleaning products and their residues at low levels on a daily basis. Sign up for our newsletter When we use these chemicals to clean our home, they linger in the air and we breathe them in. Researchers in the U.S. identified 133 unique volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from a small sample of consumer products, including six cleaning products. Each product tested emitted between one and eight chemicals classified as toxic or hazardous under U.S. federal laws Chemicals in cleaning products can also enter our bodies by absorption through the skin or through ingestion of household dust and chemical residues left on dishes and cutlery. And when cleaning products are flushed down the drain, they can have a serious impact on aquatic ecosystems. There is no regulatory requirement for ingredients to be listed on the label in a consistent format, so it can be hard to identify chemicals of concern. Here's the dirt on some hazards that may be hiding in your cleaning closet: 2-Butoxyethanol (2-BE, also known as butyl cellosolve) A skin and eye irritant also associated with blood disorders. In laboratory experiments, exposure to high doses of 2-BE has been shown to cause reproductive problems. This chemical is listed as a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act on the basis that it is harmful to human health. Health Canada identified indoor air and skin contact with cleaning products as the main pathways of exposure. Regulations limit the concentration of 2-BE in most household cleaners to 5 or 6 per cent, but higher concentrations are permitted in other products, notably and laundry stain removers (up to 22 per cent). Found in: glass cleaners, laundry stain removers, carpet cleaners, automobile cleaners, windshield wiper fluid, degreasers, oven cleaners, and rust removers. Ammonia Vapours may irritate the skin, eyes, throat, and lungs. People with asthma may be particularly sensitive to the effects of breathing ammonia. Ammonia may also cause kidney and liver damage. While ammonia also occurs naturally, the use of cleaning products containing this substance can result in higher levels of exposure to vapours than from natural sources. If ammonia is mixed with products containing chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite), highly poisonous chloramine gas is formed. Found in: window cleaners, drain cleaners, toilet cleaners, bathroom cleaners, oven cleaners, stainless-steel cleaners, car polish, and all-purpose cleaners. Coal tar dyes Derived from petrochemicals, and may be contaminated with trace amounts of heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium and lead. There is concern that synthetic dyes may cause cancer and that heavy metals can harm the nervous system and cause o", "Chewbacca | Wookieepedia | Fandom powered by Wikia \"You two play fast and loose.\" \"It's worked so far.\" ―Caluan Ematt, on Chewbacca and Han Solo's tactics [src] However, before they could depart for Tatooine to pay Jabba, Organa would ask Solo to run an errand for the Rebellion, which Chewbacca convinced him to accept—to rescue Lieutenant Caluan Ematt from Cyrkon . On the Falcon, the two made their way to the planet, only to find themselves confronted by the Vehement , which they avoided with a false IFF transponder , and landed in Motok . There, they were immediately attacked by some of Jabba's bounty hunters, including Captivator , which prompted Solo to accuse them of being \"Rebels\" and set them against ISB Commander Alecia Beck 's garrison. [11] Chewbacca slipped away with Solo to the Miss Fortune cantina , where they found their old friend Delia Leighton , to whom they asked about Ematt's location. After she told them their destination and the password, Chewbacca and Solo rented a V-40 and went into a hotel, where they met Ematt, but were attacked by the bounty hunters again, as Leighton had revealed their location to save Curtis 's life. However, they escaped and made their way to the Falcon, only to be ambushed by Beck and more than forty stoormtroopers. [11] Chewbacca, Solo and Ematt confronted by Alecia Beck. Forced to surrender, Chewbacca, Solo and Ematt were taken into custody, with Beck focusing on Ematt and leaving Chewbacca and Solo to the stormtroopers. Unbeknownst to the Imperials, Solo noticed the Miss Fortune making their way to save them, but with the magnetic field activated, it would be pointless. Once aware of Solo's intentions, Chewbacca pretended to be angry at Solo and shoved him, sending him flying into a trooper to grab his E-11 blaster rifle and destroy the field generators, flooding the hangar with Cyrkon's toxic gases. Soon enough, the Miss Fortune opened fire at the Imperials, and Chewbacca made his way to the Falcon to start the engines while Solo helped Ematt and recovered their weapons. [11] Soon in Cyrkon's orbit along with the Miss Fortune, they found themselves against the Vehement and eight TIE fighters. They engaged the starfighters , defeating several of them, until the Miss Fortune's took a hit that damaged its navicomputer; Chewbacca saw Solo's nobler side when he decided to cover the 1550-LEX space yacht to make a run for Cyrkon's atmosphere just as the Vehement's tractor beam advanced towards them. They resisted the beam by entering the planet's atmosphere themselves, while Leighton fled, and approached Motok in a dead-engine glide, daring Beck into catching the Falcon at the price of destroying the city with the tractor beam and turning Cyrkon against the Empire. As she desisted, the Falcon began its fall to the ground and the two pilots manually restarted the engines, just in time to avoid crashing into the city and escape. [11] Andelm IV Edit Sometime later, he was on an important solo mission to deliver a box, when the flight stabilizer of his ship malfunctioned. Forced to crash-land on Andelm IV , Chewbacca went to a city to obtain a replacement and engaged a Besalisk vendor. Their deal was interrupted by a fugitive young girl, Zarro , who tried to sell her stolen speeder bike . The Besalisk, however, refused and tried to betray her to the planet's crime lord, Jaum . Chewbacca stopped him, though, by having the Besalisk sell him the stabilizer. However, he did not have enough credits to buy it. Subsequently, he went to a cantina and played sabacc, successfully doubling his credits. Chewbacca then noticed the girl from before, and helped her hide from Jaum's men. [19] Afterwards, Zarro followed him as he bought the stabilizer and tried to convince into helping her save her father and friends. Unable to delay his mission, Chewbacca repaired his ship, and changed his mind to leave the planet when Zarro mentioned her people had been enslaved by Jaum. Unknown to Chewie and Zarro, Jaum was planning to export the Andelm beetle larvae to the Empire to be processed into Dedlanite ,", "Bermuda - Bermuda > Bermuda takes its name from the Spanish sea captain Juan de Bermúdez, who sighted the uninhabited islands either in 1503 or 1515. The Spanish did not claim the islands, but they soon became an important navigational landmark for galleons crossing the Atlantic between Spain and the New World. Since Bermuda is surrounded by dangerous reefs , nautical misadventures cast the Spanish ashore on several occasions and littered the sea bed with enough booty for some people to consider scuba diving in Bermuda more than a recreational sport. In 1609 Admiral Sir George Somers was en route from England with supplies for the recent British settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, when his ship, Sea Venture, was wrecked off Bermuda. Finding it a rather pleasant place to be washed up, the admiral built replacement ships of fine Bermuda cedar , sailed off and left a couple of men behind to establish a British claim to the islands. The experience of these temporary British castaways is thought to have inspired Shakespeare to write The Tempest. Somers returned to Bermuda later that same year but died soon after arrival. The British renamed Bermuda the Somers Islands in honor of the admiral, but the name failed to stick. The Virginia Company took a keen interest in the islands after hearing of their suitability for colonisation, particularly in light of Jamestown's hostile relations with the local Indians. Only three years after Somers' misadventure, the company organized 60 settlers to establish a permanent colony on the islands. Unfortunately the islands were not as abundant as was first thought. The shallow topsoil limited agriculture and the lack of water prevented commercial crops like sugar cane from being introduced. The settlers soon became reliant on food imports from the American colonies, which they paid for by supplying sea salt secured from the Turks Islands. For many years the Virginia Company, and then the Bermuda Company, ran the islands like a fiefdom. This wearied the settlers so much they sued to have the company's charter rescinded, and in 1684 Bermuda became a British crown colony. Slaves were first introduced in 1616, most of them brought forcibly from Africa though some were American Indians. They lived in degrading conditions but were generally employed as domestic servants or tradespeople rather than agricultural laborers. The skills they learnt were to stand them in good stead when slavery was abolished in 1834. At the time of emancipation 5000 of the 9000 people residing in Bermuda were registered on the census as black or 'coloured.' Despite Bermuda's reliance on trade with the American colonies, political bonds with Britain proved stronger during the American War of Independence when Bermuda remained loyal to the crown . During the War of 1812, the British Navy used Bermuda as a base from which to ransack Washington, DC. The Americans responded by confiscating the unprotected cargo of Bermuda's merchant fleet, devastating the local economy . The US Civil War proved more lucrative for the island. When the north blockaded southern ports, cotton traders employed small, fast vessels to outrun northern naval gunboats. These vessels were not capable of an Atlantic crossing, and Bermuda blossomed as a trans-shipment center on the blockade runners' route to England. Good at picking losers, the island's shortlived prosperity collapsed with the defeat of the South. Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria, is credited with putting Bermuda on the tourist map after paying an extended visit to the islands in 1883. The princess was the wife of the Governor General of Canada and was keen to escape the long Canadian winter. By the turn of the century, Bermuda was well on the way to becoming a fashionable winter destination for 'snow birds,' who flocked aboard steamers crossing regularly from New York to Hamilton . Bermuda's strategic location in the Atlantic secured it a r", "ISIS escapes Syria airstrikes by hiding at country’s largest dam, using hostages as human shield — RT News Trends Islamic State Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants are using the dam as secure shelter because bombing it would create a flood risk to countless settlements on the banks of Euphrates River in eastern Syria and Iraq. The Tabqa Dam controls the flow of the Euphrates River into south-eastern Syria and northern Iraq. It is located 40km upstream from Islamic State’s self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa. © Google Maps The huge 60-meter high, 4.5km-long facility was constructed in 1968-1973 with financial and technical aid from the Soviet Union. Construction of the dam created Lake Assad, the country's largest reservoir. Islamic State is reportedly keeping hostages and sheltering its senior commanders inside the facility. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter has promised to assist local forces in recapturing cities occupied by terrorists, starting with IS’s self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa, and also Mosul, the largest city controlled by the terror group in Iraq. Read more Pentagon talk about ‘boots on the ground’ in Syria a PR stunt - top Russian MP But chasing the terrorists out of the Raqqa area could have consequences. Officials and analysts fear that IS could blow up the dam if they lose their grip on the territory, which would cause devastating damage. Journalist and commentator on the Middle East Adel Darwish told RT that the destruction of the Tabqa Dam is dangerous not only because of a flood, but also because large number of people living in eastern Syria would be cut off from their electricity supply. Because a large number of civilian hostages are being held at the facility, it cannot be liberated with a military operation or by bombing, Darwish pointed out. “Unlike other terrorist groups, Islamic State likes holding onto territory and loss of a primary infrastructure facility would mean a defeat for them.” “Most probably they are bluffing that they would go and blow up the dam. However, they are not something we’ve experienced in any other war, so we cannot really guess what their next move is,” Darwish said. A similar situation was looming in Iraq in 2013 when IS seized control of Mosul Dam, which saddles the Tigris River near the city of Mosul - Iraq’s third largest city, which also remains under IS control. The US State Department estimated that in the event that Mosul Dam was damaged, a flood would kill as many as 500,000 people living downstream and would leave over a million people homeless. But 16 months ago Iraqi and Kurdish forces knocked the jihadists out of the facility and have continued to keep the dam safe, preventing the strategic facility from being re-captured.", "BBC - History - Historic Figures: Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) Historic Figures z Jawaharlal Nehru, June 1953 © Nehru was an Indian nationalist leader and statesman who became the first prime minister of independent India in 1947. Jawaharlal Nehru was born in Allahabad, the son of a lawyer whose family was originally from Kashmir. He was educated in England, at Harrow School, and then at Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied law at the Inner Temple in London. He returned to India in 1912 and practised law for some years. In 1916, he married Kamala Kaul and the following year they had a daughter, Indira. In 1919, Nehru joined the Indian National Congress which was fighting for greater autonomy from the British. He was heavily influenced by the organisation's leader Mohandas Gandhi. During the 1920s and 1930s Nehru was repeatedly imprisoned by the British for civil disobedience. In 1928, he was elected president of the Congress. By the end of World War Two, Nehru was recognised as Gandhi's successor. He played a central role in the negotiations over Indian independence. He opposed the Muslim League's insistence on the division of India on the basis of religion. Louis Mountbatten, the last British viceroy, advocated the division as the fastest and most workable solution and Nehru reluctantly agreed. On 15 August 1947, Nehru became the first prime minister of independent India. He held the post until his death in 1964. He implemented moderate socialist economic reforms and committed India to a policy of industrialisation. Nehru also served as foreign minister of India. In October 1947, he faced conflict with Pakistan over the state of Kashmir, which was disputed at independence. Nehru sent troops into the state to support India's claim. A United Nations ceasefire was negotiated, but Kashmir remains deeply unstable to this day. Against the background of the Cold War, Nehru developed a policy of 'positive neutrality' for India. He became one of the key spokesmen for the non-aligned countries of Africa and Asia, many of which were former colonies that wanted to avoid dependence on any major power. Despite efforts at cooperation by both countries, Indian-Chinese border disputes escalated into war in 1962 and Indian forces were decisively beaten. This had a significant impact on Nehru's declining health. He died on 27 May 1964. Two years later Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi, became prime minister. With an interruption of only three years, she held the post until her assassination in 1984. Her son Rajiv was prime minister of India from 1984 to 1989, but he too was assassinated.", "Leaf Structure, Function, and Adaptation About Watch and Favorite Watch Watching this resources will notify you when proposed changes or new versions are created so you can keep track of improvements that have been made. Favorite Favoriting this resource allows you to save it in the “My Resources” tab of your account. There, you can easily access this resource later when you’re ready to customize it or assign it to your students. Leaf Structure, Function, and Adaptation Leaves have many structures that prevent water loss, transport compounds, aid in gas exchange, and protect the plant as a whole. Learning Objective Describe the internal structure and function of a leaf Key Points The epidermis consists of the upper and lower epidermis; it aids in the regulation of gas exchange via stomata. The epidermis is one layer thick, but may have more layers to prevent transpiration . The cuticle is located outside the epidermis and protects against water loss; trichomes discourage predation. The mesophyll is found between the upper and lower epidermis; it aids in gas exchange and photosynthesis via chloroplasts . The xylem transports water and minerals to the leaves; the phloem transports the photosynthetic products to the other parts of the plant. Plants in cold climates have needle-like leaves that are reduced in size; plants in hot climates have succulent leaves that help to conserve water. Terms Full Text Leaf Structure and Function The outermost layer of the leaf is the epidermis. It consists of the upper and lower epidermis, which are present on either side of the leaf. Botanists call the upper side the adaxial surface (or adaxis) and the lower side the abaxial surface (or abaxis). The epidermis aids in the regulation of gas exchange. It contains stomata, which are openings through which the exchange of gases takes place. Two guard cells surround each stoma , regulating its opening and closing. Guard cells are the only epidermal cells to contain chloroplasts. The epidermis is usually one cell layer thick. However, in plants that grow in very hot or very cold conditions, the epidermis may be several layers thick to protect against excessive water loss from transpiration. A waxy layer known as the cuticle covers the leaves of all plant species . The cuticle reduces the rate of water loss from the leaf surface. Other leaves may have small hairs (trichomes) on the leaf surface. Trichomes help to avert herbivory by restricting insect movements or by storing toxic or bad-tasting compounds. They can also reduce the rate of transpiration by blocking air flow across the leaf surface . Trichomes give leaves a fuzzy appearance as in this (a) sundew (Drosera sp.). Leaf trichomes include (b) branched trichomes on the leaf of Arabidopsis lyrata and (c) multibranched trichomes on a mature Quercus marilandica leaf. Below the epidermis of dicot leaves are layers of cells known as the mesophyll, or \"middle leaf.\" The mesophyll of most leaves typically contains two arrangements of parenchyma cells: the palisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma . The palisade parenchyma (also called the palisade mesophyll) aids in photosynthesis and has column-shaped, tightly-packed cells. It may be present in one, two, or three layers. Below the palisade parenchyma are loosely-arranged cells of an irregular shape. These are the cells of the spongy parenchyma (or spongy mesophyll). The air space found between the spongy parenchyma cells allows gaseous exchange between the leaf and the outside atmosphere through the stomata. In aquatic plants, the intercellular spaces in the spongy parenchyma help the leaf float. Both layers of the mesophyll contain many chloroplasts. (a) (top) The central mesophyll is sandwiched between an upper and lower epidermis. The mesophyll has two layers: an upper palisade layer and a lower spongy layer. Stomata on the leaf underside allow gas exchange. A waxy cuticle covers all aerial surfaces of land plants to minimize water loss. (b) (bottom) These leaf layers are clearly visible in the scanning electron micrograph. The numerous small", "Queen (Music) - TV Tropes 2009 - Live in Ukraine note The second of two live albums made with Paul Rodgers 2012 - Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest '86 2014 - Queen: Live at the Rainbow '74 Non-album singles: 1974 - \"Seven Seas of Rhye\" note Otherwise available on their 1974 album Queen II with \"See What a Fool I've Been\" as the B-side. 1980 - \"Play the Game\" note Otherwise available on their 1980 album The Game with \"A Human Body\" as the B-side. 1981 - \"Under Pressure\" note Otherwise available on their 1982 album Hot Space. Also a collaboration with David Bowie with \"Soul Brother\" as the B-side. 1984 - \"Radio Ga Ga\" note Otherwise available on their 1984 album The Works with \"I Go Crazy\" as the B-side. 1984 - \"Thank God It's Christmas\" with \"Man on the Prowl\" as the first B-side note Otherwise available on their album The Works and \"Keep Passing the Open Windows\" as the second B-side note Otherwise available on The Works 1985 - \"One Vision\" note Otherwise available on their 1986 album A Kind of Magic with \"Blurred Vision\" as the B-side. 1986 - \"A Kind of Magic\" note Otherwise available on their album A Kind of Magic with \"A Dozen Red Roses for My Darling\" as the first B-side and \"Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme)\" as the second B-side note Otherwise available on A Kind of Magic 1986 - \"Who Wants to Live Forever\" note Available on their 1986 album A Kind of Magic with \"Killer Queen\" as the first B-side note Otherwise available on their 1974 album Killer Queen and \"Forever\" as the second B-side. 1989 - \"Breakthru\" note Otherwise available on their album The Miracle with \"Stealin'\" as the B-side. 1989 - \"The Invisible Man\" note Otherwise available on The Miracle with \"Hijack My Heart\" as the B-side. 1991 - \"I'm Going Slightly Mad\" note Otherwise available on their 1991 album Innuendo with \"Lost Opportunity\" as the first B-side and \"The Hitman\" as the second B-side. note Otherwise available on their album Innuendo 1997 - \"No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young)\" with \"Tie Your Mother Down\" as a double A-side note Otherwise available on their 1976 album A Day at the Races and \"We Will Rock You\" and \"Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme)\" as a double B-side. note Remixes otherwise not available elsewhere This band contains examples of: A Cappella : \"We Will Rock You\". The song is generally set in a cappella form, using only stomping and clapping as a rhythmic beat, except at the very end, which has a guitar solo. Alternately, there is the lesser-known \"fast\" version, played in their live shows from the late 1970's to the early 1980's. Here's a BBC semi-live recording of said version . Achievements in Ignorance : Roger Taylor's a more instinctive musician, so he doesn't know and doesn't care about the names of some of the chords or harmonic functions, etc. When he composed \"Radio Ga Ga\", he used some chords that he was completely unfamiliar with, not knowing what they were actually called. He wrote that song on piano, knowing that it would encourage him to 'feel' his way and be more creative than if he played guitar. Freddie occasionally did the opposite; he mostly wrote on piano, but composed some songs on guitar. He felt it was a good process precisely because his limited guitar skills allowed him to write without over-thinking it. All Drummers Are Animals : Roger Taylor probably cultivated the hardest rocking image in the group. Ambiguously Brown : Freddie. His real name was Farrokh Bulsara, he was born in Zanzibar, East Africa to Parsi parents, and he went to boarding school in Bombay, India . According to Wikipedia , he was named one of the 60 most influential Asian heroes of the last 60 years. Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking : The titular character from \"The March of the Black Queen\" is known to 'boil' (people), 'bake' (people) and to 'never dot her \"i\"s'. Badass Boast : In \"Princes of the Universe\", \"Gimme the Prize\", \"We Are the Champions\" (no time for losers), and \"Seven Seas of Rhye\". The lyrics also contain bits of A God Am I . Given that the first two are from Highlander this should not be surpr", "Suriname: Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities Former Dictator Bouterse Returns to Power Geography Suriname lies on the northeast coast of South America, with Guyana to the west, French Guiana to the east, and Brazil to the south. It is about one-tenth larger than Michigan. The principal rivers are the Corantijn on the Guyana border, the Marowijne in the east, and the Suriname, on which the capital city of Paramaribo is situated. Government Constitutional democracy. History Suriname's earliest inhabitants were the Surinen Indians, after whom the country is named. By the 16th century they had been supplanted by other South American Indians. Spain explored Suriname in 1593, but by 1602 the Dutch began to settle the land, followed by the English. The English transferred sovereignty to the Dutch in 1667 (the Treaty of Breda) in exchange for New Amsterdam (New York). Colonization was confined to a narrow coastal strip, and until the abolition of slavery in 1863, African slaves furnished the labor for the coffee and sugarcane plantations. Escaped African slaves fled into the interior, reconstituted their western African culture, and came to be called “Bush Negroes” by the Dutch. After 1870, East Indian laborers were imported from British India and Javanese from the Dutch East Indies. Known as Dutch Guiana, the colony was integrated into the kingdom of the Netherlands in 1948. Two years later Dutch Guiana was granted home rule, except for foreign affairs and defense. After race rioting over unemployment and inflation, the Netherlands granted Suriname complete independence on Nov. 25, 1975. A coup d'état in 1980 brought military rule. During much of the 1980s, Suriname was under the repressive control of Lieut. Col. Dési Bouterse. The Netherlands stopped all aid in 1982 when Suriname soldiers killed 15 journalists, politicians, lawyers, and union officials. Defense spending increased significantly, and the economy suffered. A guerrilla insurgency by the Jungle Commando (a Bush Negro guerrilla group) threatened to destabilize the country and was harshly suppressed by Bouterse. Free elections were held on May 25, 1991, depriving the military of much of its political power. In 1992 a peace treaty was signed between the government and several guerrilla groups. In March 1997, the president announced new economic measures, including eliminating import tariffs on most basic goods, coupled with strict price controls. Later that year, the Netherlands said it would prosecute Bouterse for cocaine trafficking. Public discontent over the 70% inflation rate prompted President Jules Wijdenbosch to hold elections in May 2000, a year ahead of schedule. The New Front for Democracy and Development, a coalition led by former president Ronald Venetiaan, won the election. Venetiaan was reelected in Aug. 2005. In May 2006, torrential flooding left more than 20,000 homeless. In July 2007, a United Nations tribunal settled a long-simmering maritime dispute between Suriname and Guyana. The UN redrew the maritime border to give both countries access to an area potentially rich in oil deposits.", "Jay Silverheels - Biography - IMDb Jay Silverheels Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (2) | Spouse (2) | Trivia (13) | Personal Quotes (2) Overview (4) 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (2) Jay Silverheels was born on Canada's Six Nation's Reserve and was one of 10 children. He was a star lacrosse player and a boxer before he entered films as a stuntman in 1938. He worked in a number of films through the 1940s before gaining notice as the Osceola brother in a Humphrey Bogart film Key Largo (1948). Most of Silverheels' roles consisted of bit parts as an Indian character. In 1949, he worked in the movie The Cowboy and the Indians (1949) with another \"B movie\" actor Clayton Moore . Later that year, Silverheels was hired to play the faithful Indian companion, Tonto, in the TV series The Lone Ranger (1949) series, which brought him the fame that his motion picture career never did. Silverheels recreated the role of Tonto in two big-screen color movies with Moore, The Lone Ranger (1956) and The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958). After the TV series ended in 1957, Silverheels could not escape the typecasting of Tonto. He would continue to appear in an occasional film and television show but became a spokesperson to improve the portrayal of Indians in the media. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com> Familiar Canadian Indian actor who shot to fame as Tonto, the faithful Indian companion of the masked man on the US television series The Lone Ranger (1949). A member of the Mohawk tribe of Canada's Six Nations Reserve, Silverheels excelled at wrestling, horse racing, football, boxing, and hockey, and became a renowned lacrosse player. With the help of actor Joe E. Brown ,Silverheels obtained work as a stuntman and extra in Hollywood films. Following military service in World War II, Silverheels returned to film and landed small, often stereotypical roles as Indian warriors in Westerns. John Huston cast him as one of the fugitive Osceola brothers in Key Largo (1948), and Silverheels followed with the two roles that would define his career, Tonto and the Apache leader Geronimo, whom he would play several times beginning with the Western classic Broken Arrow (1950). Silverheels' enormous fame as Tonto overshadowed everything else, although it did not prevent him from playing other prominent roles. Even after completing The Lone Ranger (1949)series, Silverheels continued to reprise Tonto for commercials, comic guest spots, and spoofs. Silverheels became an outspoken activist for Indian rights and a respected teacher within the Indian acting community. He appeared on talk and variety shows performing his own poetry. In later years, he began a second career as a harness racer. His health failed in the 1970s, and he died of a stroke in 1980, a beloved figure to the Baby Boom generation America. His son, Jay Silverheels Jr. has acted in television as well. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net> Spouse (2) (1946 - 5 March 1980) (his death) (4 children) Bobbie (? - 1943) (divorced) (1 child) Trivia (13) On The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962), Silverheels told Johnny Carson that he had married his Italian wife to \"get back at Christopher Columbus\". They called their children \"Indalions\". U.S. government records give Silverheels' birthdate as 26 June 1912, though virtually all cinema reference works disagree, giving instead the 1919 date listed here. Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1993. Was an avid horse-racer when not acting. When asked if he ever thought about running Silver or Scout (who portrayed the steeds of the Lone Ranger and Tonto, respectively) in a race, Silverheels laughed: \"Heck, *I* can beat Scout.\" Father of Jay Silverheels Jr. Was a full-blooded Mohawk Indian, one of 11 children of A.G.E. Smith, who had served as a decorated officer in the Canadian forces in WWI. Of the nearly 200 TV and film appearances Silverheels made with Clayton Moore , the actors co-starred in just", "James P. Sullivan | Monsters, Inc. Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia James P. Sullivan was born to Bill Sullivan and an unnamed mother . College Sulley sits back and relaxes instead of paying attention. Sulley attended Monsters University , and was looked up to by his colleagues, as he was expected to be a prodigy at scaring, due to his father being a legendary scarer. Sulley's first few months at college went well, as his name would often get him out of trouble, often resulting in no punishment whenever he was late to class. Sulley was also accepted into Roar Omega Roar , a fraternity of Scare Program students that were generally regarded as the \"popular\" kids. However, towards the end of the semester, Sulley's lack of interest in education was causing his grades to slip, ultimately resulting in his removal from Roar Omega Roar. During a simulation test for Scare Program students, Sulley got into a fight with a small monster he had become rivals with, Mike Wazowski. A physical argument between the two caused the prized scream canister of Abigail Hardscrabble, the dean of the school, being knocked over. Furious, Hardscrabble expelled the two from the Scare Program, meaning Mike and Sulley both had to switch to different classes. Sulley and his fraternity. To get back into the program, Mike offered a bet to Hardscrabble - if Mike and his new fraternity, Oozma Kappa , won the Scare Games, Mike and his friends would have to be re-admitted into the program. They were initially denied due to only having five members, but Sulley joined as well. Sulley and his fraternity somewhat struggled during the first two events, but eventually acquired their school's admiration once they made it to the final event, against Roar Omega Roar. Although Oozma Kappa was declared the winner of the final event, Sulley had tampered with the machine to allow for Mike to win, which was against the rules. An upset Mike escaped to the Human World through a Door Station, and while everyone was ordered to stay back from the door, Sulley ran in to save him. Once out, Mike and Sulley were expelled from Monsters University. Employment As Mike and Sulley were waiting for a bus back to Monstropolis, Dean Hardscrabble approached the pair and showed them a newspaper ad for Monsters, Inc., who were looking for additional employees in the mailroom. Mike and Sulley were accepted for the job, and excelled in their area, and were gradually promoted to janitors, cafeteria workers, and finally a scare team, with Sulley as the scarer and Mike as his assistant. Boo's door. A few years into their role as a scaring team, Sulley discovered a door that had not been returned to the Door Warehouse, and ended up allowing for a human (a species that was widely considered as \"toxic\" in the monster world). Uncertain of what to do, Sulley took the girl, hidden inside a gym bag, to Mike, who was enjoying a dinner with Celia Mae at Harryhausen's. The girl, later nicknamed \"Boo\" by Sulley, managed to escape from the bag, and began causing terror in the restaurant. The CDA were called upon, and the entire city and its citizens were being searched for evidence. To return Boo to her door, Mike and Sulley would have to take her inside of Monsters, Inc., so they disguised her in a costume and told their boss, Mr. Waternoose, that it was their relative's child. After Boo escaped from Sulley's grasp, he had to follow her around the building, keeping her out of trouble. However, Mike and Sulley were soon found out by Randall and Mr. Waternoose, and banished to the Himalayas, where the Abominable Snowman informed them of a village that was located towards the bottom of the summit. Sulley arrived there by sled, and made his way back into the company, where he managed to retrieve Boo. However, Randall soon regained Boo, and Mike and Sulley chased him through the Door Warehouse. Once Boo was safe again, Sulley sadly said his goodbyes to Boo, and the door was shredded. However, Mike managed to rebuild the door and surprised Sulley with it. Upon Waternoose's arrest, Monsters, Inc. was turned into a", "Tropical Storm Isaac expected to hit Gulf Coast as hurricane - CSMonitor.com Tropical Storm Isaac expected to hit Gulf Coast as hurricane Latest News The New Economy What Wal-Mart's higher wages, better training mean for US retail The storm that left 24 dead in Haiti and the Dominican Republic over the weekend had shifted course from Tampa, where the Republican National Convention had pushed back its start to Tuesday in case Isaac passed closer to the gulfside city. By Kevin McGill, Associated Press August 27, 2012 Tropical Storm Isaac is seen in the Gulf of Mexico in this NOAA handout satellite image dated August 27, 2012. The latest report from the National Hurricane Center had the storm slowing in the warm Gulf, gathering new energy. REUTERS/NOAA/GOES Project View Caption of NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Isaac rolled over the open Gulf of Mexico on Monday, where it was expected to grow into a hurricane before hitting land somewhere between Louisiana and Florida close to the seventh anniversary of the devastating Hurricane Katrina. The storm that left 24 dead in Haiti and the Dominican Republic over the weekend had shifted course from Tampa, where the Republican National Convention had pushed back its start to Tuesday in case Isaac passed closer to the gulfside city. The National Hurricane Center predicted the storm would grow to a Category 1 hurricane over the warm Gulf and possibly hit late Tuesday somewhere along a roughly 300-mile (500-kilometer) stretch from the bayous southwest of New Orleans to the Florida Panhandle. Recommended: In Pictures Hurricane Isaac That would be one day shy of seven years after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, although Katrina was a much stronger Category 5 storm with winds over 157 miles (252 kilometers) per hour. Isaac was expected to have top winds of around 90 mph (145 kph) when it hits land. Photos of the Day Photos of the Day 01/17 The size of the warning area and the storm's wide bands of rain and wind prompted emergency declarations in four states, and hurricane-tested residents were boarding up homes, stocking up on food and water or getting ready to evacuate. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said the updated levees around New Orleans are equipped to handle storms stronger than Isaac. Levee failures led to the catastrophic flooding in the area after Katrina, which killed 1,800. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, in a conference call with reporters, said people shouldn't focus just on New Orleans. \"This is not a New Orleans storm. This is a Gulf Coast storm. Some of the heaviest impact may be in Alabama and Mississippi,\" he said. At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), Isaac remained a tropical storm with top sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph). Its center was about 310 miles (500 km) southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, and it was moving northwest at 14 mph (22 kph). If the storm hits during high tide, it could push floodwaters as deep as 12 feet (four meters) on shore in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and up to six feet (1.8 meters) in the Florida Panhandle. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal called a state of emergency, and 53,000 residents of St. Charles Parish near New Orleans were told to leave ahead of the storm. The governors of Mississippi, Florida and Alabama also declared states of emergency. The U.S. government said 78 percent of the oil production in the Gulf of Mexico had been halted in preparation for Isaac. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said about 1 million barrels per day of oil production had been stopped as companies evacuated 346 offshore oil and gas production platforms. That's 17 percent of daily U.S. oil production and 6 percent of consumption. The agency said about 3 percent of daily U.S. natural gas production and consumption had also been affected. Production was expected to quickly resume after the storm passes. Even though the storm was moving well west of Tampa, tropical storm-force winds and heavy rains were possible because of Isaac's large size, forecasters said. Republicans briefly gaveled their convention to order Mo", "Aravind Adiga wins literature's Man Booker prize - USATODAY.com Aravind Adiga wins literature's Man Booker prize Updated Aravind Adiga's novel The White Tiger scored the Man Booker prize. LONDON (AP) — Aravind Adiga has won the prestigious Man Booker prize for his first novel. Adiga's novel The White Tiger features a protagonist who will use any means necessary to fulfill his dream of escaping impoverished village life for success in the big city. The judges also praised the book's humor. The 34-year-old Adiga is the youngest of the finalists for the prize. Irish writer Sebastian Barry was the bookies' favorite Tuesday in a wide-open field of finalists for the prestigious Man Booker prize for fiction. Barry's The Secret Scripture, a story of misery, memories and secrets in 1930s Ireland, was 5/2 front-runner among six contenders for the award, according to bookmakers William Hill. Rival bookies Ladbrokes had Barry as 2/1 front-runner. Both firms had Indian writer Amitav Ghosh as second-favorite for Sea of Poppies. The winner will be announced late Tuesday. The 50,000 pound (US$88,000) prize is among the world's highest-profile literary awards, open to novels in English by writers from Britain, Ireland or the Commonwealth of former British colonies. Winning brings a big boost in profile, and usually in sales. Playwright and novelist Barry was previously nominated in 2005 for A Long Long Way. Victory would make him the third Irish winner in four years. The 2005 prize went to John Banville for the The Sea, and last year's winner was Ireland's Anne Enright for The Gathering. The 2006 winner was India's Kiran Desai for The Inheritance of Loss. This year's Booker shortlist lacks the star power and household names of some previous contests. Few of the six shortlisted authors are household names, and two are first-time authors: Indian novelist Aravind Adiga, nominated for The White Tiger— the story of a man's dreams of escaping poor village life for success in the big city — and Australia's Steve Toltz, shortlisted for sprawling father-son saga A Fraction of the Whole. Two English authors are also in the running — Linda Grant for The Clothes on Their Backs and Philip Hensher for The Northern Clemency. Among those snubbed by the judging panel was Salman Rushdie, who was on the prize's 13-book long-list for the Enchantress of Florence. In July, Rushdie was named the greatest-ever winner of the literary prize for Midnight's Children, which took the Booker in 1981. Graham Sharpe, Booker expert at bookies William Hill, said the judges' decision to omit another highly praised book, Joseph O'Neill's post-9/11 New York saga Netherland, from the shortlist was inexplicable. \"It's certainly not a vintage year either for the quality of the books or the gambling on the outcome,\" Sharpe said. \"You haven't got the big names, the controversy — anything to spark a flame of interest in the shortlist.\" William Hill put 7/2 odds on Ghosh and Grant, followed by Toltz at 9/2. Adiga and Hensher were both 5/1 outsiders. The award was founded in 1969 and was long known as the Booker Prize. It was renamed when the financial services conglomerate Man Group PLC began sponsoring it five years ago. On the Net: http://www.themanbookerprize.com Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Posted E-mail | Print | To report corrections and clarifications, contact Reader Editor Brent Jones . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the \"Report Abuse\" button to make a difference. Read more .", "What Is Atelectasis? - NHLBI, NIH Share this page from the NHLBI on Blogger. Share this page from the NHLBI on Buzz. Share this page from the NHLBI on Delicious. Share this page from the NHLBI on Digg. Share this page from the NHLBI on Facebook. Add this link to the NHLBI to my browser. Email this page with Gmail. Bookmark this page with Google. Share this page from the NHLBI on LinkedIn. Share this page from the NHLBI on Messenger. Share this page from the NHLBI on MySpace. Share this page from the NHLBI on Reddit. Share this page from the NHLBI on Stumble. Share this page from the NHLBI on Tumblr. Share this page from the NHLBI on Twitter. What Is Atelectasis? Atelectasis (at-uh-LEK-tuh-sis) is a condition in which one or more areas of your lungs collapse or don't inflate properly. If only a small area or a few small areas of the lungs are affected, you may have no signs or symptoms. If a large area or several large areas of the lungs are affected, they may not be able to deliver enough oxygen to your blood. This can cause symptoms and complications. Overview To understand atelectasis, it helps to understand how the lungs work . Your lungs are organs in your chest that allow your body to take in oxygen from the air. They also help remove carbon dioxide (a waste gas that can be toxic) from your body. When you breathe, air passes through your nose and mouth into your windpipe. The air then travels to your lungs' air sacs. These sacs are called alveoli (al-VEE-uhl-eye). Small blood vessels called capillaries run through the walls of the air sacs. When air reaches the air sacs, the oxygen in the air passes through the air sac walls into the blood in the capillaries. At the same time, carbon dioxide moves from the capillaries into the air sacs. This process is called gas exchange. The air sacs must remain open and filled with air for this process to work right. Surfactant (sur-FAK-tant), a liquid that coats the inside of the lungs, helps the air sacs stay open. Deep breathing and coughing also help keep the air sacs open. (Coughing helps clear mucus and other substances from your airways.) In atelectasis, part of the lung collapses or doesn't inflate. The air sacs in that part of the lung are no longer filled with air. As a result, they can't take part in gas exchange. If only a small area or a few small areas of the lungs are affected, you may have no signs or symptoms. This is because the rest of the lung can bring in enough oxygen to make up for the collapsed part of the lung. If atelectasis affects a large area or several large areas of the lungs, your body's organs and tissues may not get enough oxygen-rich blood. Conditions and factors that keep the lungs from properly expanding and filling with air can cause atelectasis. For example, atelectasis is very common after surgery. The medicine used during surgery to temporarily put you to sleep can decrease or stop your normal effort to breathe and urge to cough. Sometimes, especially after chest or abdominal surgery, pain may keep you from wanting to take deep breaths. As a result, part of your lungs may collapse or not inflate right. Outlook The outlook for atelectasis depends on its cause. In adults, atelectasis often is short term. The collapsed air sacs slowly refill with air once the cause of the atelectasis is resolved. If atelectasis persists, it may prevent the lung from properly clearing mucus. This can lead to infections (such as pneumonia ). Atelectasis usually isn't life threatening. However, if it affects a large area of the lungs—especially in a baby, small child, or someone who has another lung disease or illness—it can be fatal if not treated quickly. Rate This Content:", "Dean Martin - Biography - IMDb Dean Martin Biography Showing all 99 items Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (3) | Trade Mark (3) | Trivia (59) | Personal Quotes (24) | Salary (4) Overview (5) 5' 11\" (1.8 m) Mini Bio (1) If there had to be an image for cool, the man to fit it would be Dean Martin. Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, to Angela (Barra) and Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber. His father was an Italian immigrant, and his mother was of Italian descent. He spoke only Italian until age five. Martin came up the hard way, with such jobs as a boxer (named Kid Crochet), a steel mill worker, a gas station worker and a card shark. In 1946, he got his first ticket to stardom, as he teamed up with another hard worker who was also trying to hit it big in Hollywood: Jerry Lewis . Films such as At War with the Army (1950) sent the team toward superstardom. The duo were to become one of Hollywood's truly great teams. They lasted 11 years together, and starred in 16 movies. They were unstoppable, but personality conflicts broke up the team. Even without Lewis, Martin was a true superstar. Few thought that Martin would go on to achieve solo success, but he did, winning critical acclaim for his role in The Young Lions (1958) with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift , and Some Came Running (1958), with Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra . Movies such as Rio Bravo (1959) brought him international fame. One of his best remembered films is in Ocean's 11 (1960), in which he played Sam Harmon alongside the other members of the legendary Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra , Sammy Davis Jr. , Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford . Martin proved potent at the box office throughout the 1960s, with films such as Bells Are Ringing (1960) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), again with Rat Pack pals Sammy Davis Jr. and Sinatra. During much of the 1960s and 1970s, Martin's movie persona of a boozing playboy prompted a series of films as secret agent Matt Helm and his own television variety show. Airport (1970) followed, featuring Martin as a pilot. He also played a phony priest in The Cannonball Run (1981). In 1965, Martin explored a new method for entertaining his fans: Television. That year he hosted one of the most successful TV series in history: The Dean Martin Show (1965), which lasted until 1973. In 1965 it won a Golden Globe Award. In 1973 he renamed it \"The Dean Martin Comedy Hour\", and from 1974 to 1984 it was renamed again, this time \"The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts\". It became one of the most successful TV series in history, skewering such greats as Bob Hope , Frank Sinatra , Lucille Ball , James Stewart , George Burns ' Milton Berle , Don Rickles Phyllis Diller , and Joe Namath . His last public role was a return to the stage, for a cross-country concert tour with Davis and Sinatra. He spoke affectionately of his fellow Rat Packers. \"The satisfaction that I get out of working with these two bums is that we have more laughs than the audience has\", Martin said. After the 1980s, Martin took it easy--that is, until his son, Dean Paul Martin died in a plane crash in 1987. Devastated by the loss, from which he never recovered, he walked out on a reunion tour with Sinatra and Davis. Martin spent his final years in solitude. He died on Christmas Day, 1995. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous and deanmartin101 Spouse (3) Born at 11:55pm-CST Interred at Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California, USA. His parents were Gaetano and Angella Crocetti. Although born in Ohio, he spoke only Italian until age 5. He had a fear of elevators and a love of comic books, which he read his entire life. His career as a boxer was described by him as follows, \"I won all but 11 fights.\" When asked how many he'd fought, he'd reply, \"A dozen.\" In reality, he fought 36 bouts and won 25 of them under the name Dino Crocetti. He reportedly fought under the nickname Kid Crochet, although no records of fights have been found under that name. Died exactly 29 years to the day (25 December 1995) after his mother, Angela Crocetti (25 December", "Bridge Street Café | EastEnders Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia [ show ] Storylines Ali and Sue Osman where the original owners of the cafe. It was also home to their taxi firm, Ozcabs. Ali took a hands off approach to running the Cafe and left most of the day to day work in the hands of Sue. When Sue and Ali's son, Hassan, died in 1985, money troubles occurred at the Cafe due to Ali and Sue's greiving. Kathy Beale stepped in to manage the Cafe so that Sue could recover. Sue eventually left Walford and Ali took control of the Cafe. In 1989, Ali's gambling addiction grew, and so he used the Cafés accounts to play poker with. After losing most of the Cafe's takings he found himself in debt with some loan sharks and he was forced to sell the Cafe to Ian Beale. Ian wanted the Cafe both to expand his business empire, and because his mother had always wanted to own the cafe. Ian changed the name to \"Kathys Cafe\" and he and his new wife Cindy began to run it. After Ian and Cindys marriage fell apart Ian had a car crash and sold the Cafe to his mother Kathy. Kathy was delighted when she was made owner of the Cafe because she had wanted it for years. She stayed in control of the Cafe until 1995, when she fell pregnant with Phil Mitchell's baby. Realising that she couldn't run the Cafe and be a housewife, Kathy decided to put the Cafe up for sale. In 1995, Ian and Cindy where reunited and Ian bought back his shares of The Cafe from Kathy following the birth of Kathy's second son. Ben Mitchell. Ian stayed in control of the cafe for the following five years and employed his latest fiancee, Melanie Healy as a waitress. Mel didn't love Ian and left him heartbroken on the night of their wedding. When Ian grassed up rival Phil Mitchell and his girlfriend to the market inspector, Phil took revenge by informing the tax officers about Ian's tax avoidance. Ian was left in a huge amount of debt and desperately tried to save the Cafe and his other businesses from bankruptcy. His attempts where dashed and he lost the Cafe. Following the downfall of the Beale empire. The Cafe was closed down for a couple of months, and reopened by the Mitchell family. Having a strong hatred for Ian and the Beale family, Phil Mitchell took great pleasure of giving the Cafe a full makeover. erasing any memory of his rival Ian Beale from the place. Ian tried to rebuild his business empire and desperately wanted to gain back control of the Cafe. Phil, realising how much the Cafe means to Ian enjoyed watching Ian suffer. In order to infuriate Ian further, Phil hired Ian's ex-wife Laura Beale as manager. In 2003, when Phil was framed for armed robbery by Den Watts , Phil signed the Cafe over to his younger and naive sister Sam. Having built a new empire for himself, Ian took advantage of Sam's vulnerability and persuaded her to sell him the Cafe. She accepted his offer and he once again took back control over the Cafe Ian employed his new love interest, Jane Collins as manager. Over the next five years. Jane and Ian's two eldest children, Peter and Lucy , would do most of the work around the Cafe whilst Ian was elsewhere making business deals. In 2009, Nick Cotten took Heather Trott, Lucy Beale, Lauren, Abi and Bradley Branning hostage because he had failed in his attempt to poison his mother Dot. Nick failed to notice that the gas cooker was on fire. Everyone managed to escape but Bradley went back into the burning Cafe to save Nick. Nick escaped and Bradley was left trapped inside as the Cafe exploded. Bradley also survived. Later that year, the Cafe was reopened with a new makeover. designed by Ian's brother in law Christian. In 2011, Ian and Jane's marriage fell apart and they went into battle for the Beale empire. Ian was desperate to protect his businesses, especially the Cafe as it was part of his history. Phil Mitchell joined forces with Jane in order to ruin him just like he did before. Phil managed to outsmart Ian and Jane won the Cafe in the divorce battle, leaving Ian devastated. However, Jane left Walford soon after gaining ownership of the Cafe. Jane so", "Piper Alpha disaster: how 167 oil rig workers died | Business | The Guardian Oil and gas companies Piper Alpha disaster: how 167 oil rig workers died Report into the 1988 disaster made over 100 recommendations about how safety should be improved in North Sea 167 out of 228 workers either on the rig or one of the safety vessels patrolling it died during the Piper Alpha disaster. Photograph: I.T.N./Rex Features Oil and gas companies Piper Alpha disaster: how 167 oil rig workers died Report into the 1988 disaster made over 100 recommendations about how safety should be improved in North Sea Close This article is 3 years old The Piper Alpha disaster which killed 167 workers on 6 July 1988 off the coast of Aberdeen is the world'sdeadliest ever oil rig accident. The controversy around it was heightened when a report into the disaster by Lord Cullen judged that the operator Occidental Petroleum had used inadequate maintenance and safety procedures. He made more than 100 recommendations about how safety should be improved in the North Sea. Along with other oil companies, Occidental had massively scaled back spending as the price of oil had plunged from more than $30 per barrel to $8 in the 1980s compared to today's level of more than $100. Piper Alpha was once Britain's biggest single oil and gas producing platform, bringing more than 300,000 barrels of crude a day – 10% of the country's total – from below the seabed 125 miles north-east of Aberdeen. It was owned by a consortium of foreign companies including Texaco and operated by Los Angeles-based Occidental, which sold off its UK interests soon after the disaster to concentrate on the US and Middle East. Oil was discovered at the Piper field in 1973 and was brought on stream three years later. By 1980 the steel platform was modified to also take gas and was connected by pipeline to the Orkney Islands. The original modules on the structure were carefully located, with the staff quarters kept well away from the most dangerous production parts of the platform. But this safety feature was diluted when the gas compression units were installed next to the central control room. Further dangers arose when Occidental decided to keep the platform producing oil and gas as it set about a series of construction, maintenance and upgrade works. A lack of communication at a shift change meant staff were not aware that they should not use a key piece of pipework which had been sealed with a temporary cover and no safety valve. Gas leaked out and ignited while firewalls that would have resisted fire on an oil platform failed to cope with the ensuing gas explosion. When the platform blew 167 out of 228 workers either on the rig or one of the safety standby vessels patrolling it died. The platform was completely destroyed and it took almost three weeks for the fire to be brought under control by famed American wild well controller, Red Adair. The accident cost the Lloyd's insurance marketmore than £1bn, making it the largest insured man-made catastrophe. Occidental paid out $100m (£66m) to families of the deceased but escaped any kind of criminal or civil sanction. No one was made personally liable in the courts either." ]

[ "If you're looking for themed rooms, go to the Feather Nest Inn - Cherry Hill, NJ. Link below:" ]

[ "rent a nice hotel room and have a nice romantic dinner there with roses and candle lights and then what ever comes next comes next", "African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey\\nDr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center\\n661 Jackson Road\\nNewtonville, NJ 08346\\n(609) 704-7262", "depends on where in southern California but in San Diego i would take a sunset dinner cruise, go to a neat restaurant (ole madrid or something like that). if money is a big object i would find something to do at the beach followed by a romantic dinner at home.", "You might want to contact the New Jersey Historical Society, linked below.", "I don't exactly understand what you mean with your question, but here is the hotel's website, just in case:", "I believe you are referring to the South Coast Winery Resort and Spa ... http://www.southcoastwinery.com/southcoast/index.jsp", "Jersey City, In New Jersey!", "Bald eagles were once plentiful in New Jersey. But by 1982, there was only one known nest and that nest had failed for 8 successive years. A group of scientists in the Endangered and NonGame Species Program (ENSP) of the New Jersey Fish, Game and Wildlife department decided to do something about it. Through dedication, the ENSP re-introduced bald eagles into New Jersey.\\n\\nIn 2003 there were 40 nests with 41 young. Since 1982, the state has monitored the bald eagle population. The data that they have collected has provided important information about the health of the eagles and the health of the environment. Also, the data has been used to protect critical habitat for bald eagles.\\n\\n. Although bald eagle recovery has made significant progress in New Jersey, there is currently no plan to remove it from the New Jersey endangered and threatened wildlife list. In spite of the successes, the bald eagle population in New Jersey is still under many pressures:\\n\\n * Habitat destruction\\n * Water quality issues\\n * Persistent chemicals that exist in the environment and food sources that cause fertility problems\\n\\n 45 pairs of bald eagles in New Jersey are making themselves at home in Cumberland County, New Jersey. They're adding sticks to their nests and laying eggs or they're watching over eggs laid in February.\\n\\nThe local breeding population of eagles are not alone. Many wandering eagles from elsewhere winter in the wilds of Southern New Jersey and can be seen from March through early April.\\n\\nIn mid-January (2004) the Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey tallied 170 Bald Eagles in New Jersey. Most of them (126) were in southern New Jersey.", "You have heard of the New Jersey Devils Hockey Team right? Well what few people outside of the state of NJ know is that the name of the team is based on an old myth some 200 or so years ago. Something about the deformed then abandoned 13th child of some preacher's wife in Southern New Jersey. He was cursed and became this horrible devil-like creature that haunts the Pine Barrens of South Jersey to this day. \\nThis link can probably shed more light on the subject than I could. \\nhttp://theshadowlands.net/jd.htm", "how about going to the zoo..in philadelphia or cape may county", "Depends on what you're looking for... if you just want to relax, go to Cape May, though it could be a long drive from where you start. If you want to party, get out of NJ and go to NY or Philly. If you go to CM, stay in one of the bed and breakfasts there-- a very nice experience-- plus, you can go to Cape May point, the beach where the sunken ship is, though I forget its name and the outdoor mall. I love it there.", "Find an inexpensive hotel, and put some candles and a radio in it, and then when you get there, go into the bathroom and change into something sexy, and just have a nice romantic evening.", "New Jersey is the Garden State, so I gues it would be in New Jersey", "Not everyone is very good at using a search engine. It does take a little bit of familiarity and skill to find what you're looking for. I've seen people type into a search engine something like: \"Where can I find plant food in New Jersey?\" .... obviously not a good search. You and I know that '\"plant food\" \"new jersey\" store' would be a much better search. Using google is easy to you and I and many other people but consider this: Think about the intelligence of the average person you know. Consider how dumb they are, then realise that half the people in the world are dumber than that.", "go where no one can find you even if its a hotel. turn off the phone take a warm bath and just relax", "you can try http://lovejones.com", "The New Jersey Devils have beat the NY Rangers 4 times, lost 3 in regulation and lost one in overtime.\\nJersey record vs NY Rangers. 4-3-1\\n\\nOctober 8, New Jersey beat New York Rangers 3-2 in OT.\\nOctober 13, New Jersey lost to New York Rangers 4-1.\\nNovember 3rd, New Jersey lost to New York Rangers 4-2.\\nNovember 5th, New Jersey lost to the Rangers 3-2 in OT.\\nDecember 20, New Jersey beat NY Rangers 3-1.\\nJan 22, New Jersey lost to NYR 3-1.\\nMarch 4, New Jersey beat NYR 2-1.\\nApril 9, New Jersey beat NYR 4-3.", "Depends on your pocketbook.\\n\\nIf you have cash, drinks at the Surf & Sand in Laguna or the Montage would surely impress. The Montage's restaurant, Studio, ROCKS.\\n\\nAlso in Laguna is Sorrento Grille. Very romantic.\\n\\nAnother romantic restaurant is Dolce on PCH in Newport Beach. Awesome food and great romance.\\n\\nFinally, another GREAT and very romantic spot is Rothschild's in Corona del Mar.\\n\\nIf you have little money, you can still have an awesome date in Orange County... \\n\\nWalk around Laguna - some of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California. \\n\\nGo to Silverado Canyon and go horseback riding.\\n\\nGo hiking in O'Neill park.\\n\\nWalk around the shipyard at the Lido in Newport and grab a nice lunch at Sabotino's.\\n\\nGo to a movie at Irvine Spectrum.\\n\\nSanta Ana has a zoo - go to the zoo and laugh at the monkeys together.\\n\\nGo to a museum... many to choose from.\\n\\nGrab a drink at Las Brisas in Laguna and watch the sunset.\\n\\nWalk the pier in Seal Beach or Huntington Beach.", "Try any of the big chain hotels in Dulles, or Reston, Chantilly, Manassas.", "your local Holiday Inn, they have reasonable rates.", "I was born in New Jersey and the only thing I have heard people say about N.J. is just how bad it is in the cities and that the people are mean. But I like New Jersey so it don't matter.", "The Mason Dixon line is up by Baltimore. People in the deep south (mississippi, New Orleans, Alabama, etc) do not consider us Southerners and I live in Southern Maryland. I consider where I live to be the south because of some of the trees we can grow here.", "Maybe go to one of the B&B's in Gruene, and go dancing at Gruene Hall. Or Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos.", "Check these sites:\\nhttp://www.state.nj.us/dep/seeds/wssym.htm\\nhttp://www.weathergraphics.com/wxcode2.gif", "I would try www.ebay.com. You'll be surprised the selection of jerseys they have. Good luck!\\n\\nBut as far as I'm concerned they only have two jerseys: the red/blue and yellow jersey\\n\\nhttp://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BARCELONA-HOME-SOCCER-JERSEY-RONALDINHO-10-XL_W0QQitemZ8798385400QQcategoryZ74024QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem\\n\\nhttp://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BARCELONA-AWAY-SOCCER-JERSEY-RONALDINHO-10-M_W0QQitemZ8798385576QQcategoryZ74024QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem", "Princeton, New Jersey", "sorry I dont live in jersey, but iam argentine!!\\nemail me!", "Go out to your favorite romantic restaurant and then spend the night at a bed and breakfast or a really nice hotel. Just spending the night somewhere besides your house will make it interesting and romantic. Also, get him something that he can take with him while he is gone, sort of something to remember you while he is away.", "yup ! take her out then suprise her with a romantic dinner at your house or take her to a hotel that night and heve the romantic dinner there. Roses... chocolate, a plush, be very sweet and let her know how much you missed her.", "1. Dining on top of the Stratosphere.\\n\\n2. In front of the Bellagio fountain.\\n\\n3. In front of the Mirage volcano.\\n\\n4. During the Pirate ship fight at the Treasure Island.\\n\\n5. Take her to one of the peaks surrounding Vegas and propose as the sun sets.\\n\\n6. Freemont Street experience\\n\\n7. On the rollercoaster at New York New York.\\n\\n8. The condolas at the Venetian. \\n\\nThese are all good places in my opinion.", "I guess it depends on where you are... I know the area I live in, New England, you need to be 21. I would call the hotel and ask the minimum age to rent a room.", "The Finest = Four Seasons Hotel New York.\\nhttp://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-339487-four_seasons_hotel_new_york-i;_ylt=AhOzrjUlMri_dNdC21gmlawJ8b8F\\n\\n\\nSimilar = The Roosevelt Hotel\\nhttp://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-375679-the_roosevelt_hotel-i;_ylt=At3Lz59mSQshk8enmG.a1EgJ8b8F" ]

[ "" ]

[ "A new surveillance video is shedding light on a deadly 2017 police shooting of Isiah Murrietta-Golding, a teenage murder suspect, as he tried to run away. It shows the 16-year-old climbing a fence then falling to the ground after being shot in the back of the head. Now the teen's parents are suing over his death. David Begnaud reports.", "Khizr Khan, the father a veteran killed in the Iraq War, joins Kendis Gibson to discuss Donald Trump Jr.'s new book, in which Trump Jr. compares his family's sacrifices to those of fallen troops. Khan added that when it was President Donald Trump's \"turn to serve, he ran away.", "Y'all, it's a big weekend for Dallas-Fort Worth. Two presidential campaign rallies, the last weekend of the State Fair and the grand opening of a new park in downtown Dallas are just a few of the many things happening this weekend. So here's what we got for ya. Thursday 1. President Donald Trump is hosting a 2020 campaign rally at the American Airlines Center on Thursday at 7 p.m. If you haven't gotten tickets yet, it appears you can still do so...", "The star center fielder had a highlight-filled 2019 Gold Glove-winning campaign", "The autumn season brings many changes, but nothing is more spectacular than leaves turning from green to gold.", "ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) A victory by Vino Rosso in the Breeders' Cup Classic was overshadowed by a fatal injury to a 15-1 long shot in the $6 million race at Santa Anita on Saturday night. Cup officials said in a statement about two hours after the race that Mongolian Groom had been euthanized after sustaining a serious fracture to his left hind leg. It's the 37th horse death at Santa Anita since last December and it occurred in the high-profile...", "A police chase turned into a rescue mission early Tuesday morning, after a person led officers on a pursuit and fell into a ravine in Oklahoma City, police officials said. According to police, officers first responded to a burglary report at a restaurant near Southwest 74th Street and Western Avenue and found a suspect vehicle. Police said they tried to pull over the vehicle, but the driver tried to take off. An officer actually jumped into the...", "President Donald Trump and other top 2016 Trump campaign officials repeatedly privately discussed how the campaign could get access to stolen Democratic emails WikiLeaks had in 2016, according to newly released interview notes from Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation.", "The Queen had a hilarious reaction when someone tried to save her life. Buzz60's Keri Lumm reports.", "With less than five minutes remaining in the Rockets' 102-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Clippers coach Doc Rivers tried to challenge a turnover that flipped possession when he team led by a point. But a miscommunication between officials and coach led to a misunderstanding that ultimately cost the Clippers three minutes later. \"We didn't deserve to win with the way we were playing right now, both offensively and defensively,...\thttps://assets.msn.com/labs/mind/BBWJY8n.html\t[{\"Label\": \"Doc Rivers\", \"Type\": \"P\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q352093\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [22], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Doc Rivers\"]}]\t[{\"Label\": \"Los Angeles Clippers\", \"Type\": \"O\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q976396\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [74, 109, 320], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Los Angeles Clippers\", \"Clippers\", \"Clippers\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Doc Rivers\", \"Type\": \"P\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q352093\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [124], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Doc Rivers\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Houston Rockets\", \"Type\": \"O\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q161345\", \"Confidence\": 0.991, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [45], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Rockets\"]}]\nN55523\tautos\tautosmotorcycles\tFather And Son Seek Adventure On Two Air-Cooled Thumpers\t\thttps://assets.msn.com/labs/mind/BBWH32Z.html\t[]\t[]\nN1103\tlifestyle\tlifestylebuzz\tCharlie Puth Kicks Off SiriusXM 'Dial Up The Moment' PHOTOS\t\thttps://assets.msn.com/labs/mind/BBWLi9b.html\t[{\"Label\": \"Sirius XM Satellite Radio\", \"Type\": \"N\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q3277465\", \"Confidence\": 0.994, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [23], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"SiriusXM\"]}]\t[]\nN33362\tnews\tnewsoffbeat\tCrashes shut down portions of state Route 8, Ohio Turnpike in northern Summit County\tAutomobile crashes have closed two stretches of highway in northern Summit County amid the season's first significant snowfall. State Route 8 southbound between state Route 303 and Seasons Road in Hudson was closed as of 11:50 a.m., with the Ohio Department of Transportation advising drivers to seek alternate routes. Another crash shut down the eastbound lanes of the Ohio Turnpike (Interstate ...\thttps://assets.msn.com/labs/mind/BBWEAdM.html\t[{\"Label\": \"Ohio State Route 8\", \"Type\": \"S\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q1163285\", \"Confidence\": 0.952, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [36], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Route 8\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Ohio Turnpike\", \"Type\": \"S\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q1131020\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [45], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Ohio Turnpike\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Summit County, Ohio\", \"Type\": \"G\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q485536\", \"Confidence\": 0.999, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [71], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Summit County\"]}]\t[{\"Label\": \"Ohio State Route 8\", \"Type\": \"S\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q1163285\", \"Confidence\": 0.952, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [128], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"State Route 8\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Ohio Turnpike\", \"Type\": \"S\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q1131020\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [370], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Ohio Turnpike\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Summit County, Ohio\", \"Type\": \"G\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q485536\", \"Confidence\": 0.999, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [68], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Summit County\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Hudson, Ohio\", \"Type\": \"G\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q579848\", \"Confidence\": 0.97, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [197], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Hudson\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Ohio Department of Transportation\", \"Type\": \"O\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q4955209\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [242], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Ohio Department of Transportation\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Ohio State Route 303\", \"Type\": \"S\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q2492312\", \"Confidence\": 0.999, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [167], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Route 303\"]}]\nN28858\tnews\telections-2020-us\tTrump noncommittal on backing Jeff Sessions for Senate\tMONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) President Donald Trump says he won't campaign against his former attorney general, whom he publicly mocked in the past, as Jeff Sessions tries to reclaim a seat in the U.S. Senate. Trump, whose relationship with Sessions soured when the attorney general recused himself from the Russia investigation, was noncommittal when asked if he would endorse Sessions. \"No, I won't. I'll see how it all goes,\" Trump said when asked if...\thttps://assets.msn.com/labs/mind/BBWtB1j.html\t[{\"Label\": \"Jeff Sessions\", \"Type\": \"P\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q358443\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [30], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Jeff Sessions\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Donald Trump\", \"Type\": \"P\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q22686\", \"Confidence\": 0.986, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [0], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Trump\"]}, {\"Label\": \"United States Senate\", \"Type\": \"B\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q66096\", \"Confidence\": 0.969, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [48], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Senate\"]}]\t[{\"Label\": \"Jeff Sessions\", \"Type\": \"P\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q358443\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [147, 236, 373], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Jeff Sessions\", \"Sessions\", \"Sessions\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Donald Trump\", \"Type\": \"P\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q22686\", \"Confidence\": 0.986, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [24, 205, 424], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"President Donald Trump\", \"Trump\", \"Trump\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Alabama\", \"Type\": \"G\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q173\", \"Confidence\": 0.995, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [12], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Ala\"]}, {\"Label\": \"United States Senate\", \"Type\": \"B\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q66096\", \"Confidence\": 0.969, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [192], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"U.S. Senate\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Associated Press\", \"Type\": \"O\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q40469\", \"Confidence\": 0.992, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [18], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"AP\"]}, {\"Label\": \"Montgomery, Alabama\", \"Type\": \"G\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q29364\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [0], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"MONTGOMERY\"]}]\nN60381\tnews\tnewsus\tYour weather today in Minneapolis\tWhat's the weather today? What's the weather for the week? Here's your forecast.\thttps://assets.msn.com/labs/mind/BBWAN5Q.html\t[{\"Label\": \"Minneapolis\", \"Type\": \"G\", \"WikidataId\": \"Q36091\", \"Confidence\": 1.0, \"OccurrenceOffsets\": [22], \"SurfaceForms\": [\"Minneapolis\"]}]\t[]\nN6850\tlifestyle\tlifestylebuzz\tDonations sought for Journal's Holiday Fund\tThe Providence Journal Holiday Fund is now accepting donations to help children and teenagers in need this holiday season. Donations to the fund will help provide such basic essentials as clothing, toiletries, baby supplies, underwear and books. \"Giving back is so important, especially during the holiday season. Your gift to our Holiday Fund ensures that children in need receive warm clothing ...", "Though deaths are going down, nonfatal infections grew nationally from 2.6 million in 2013 to 2.8 million in 2017. Some worrisome new germs are emerging.", "Prospects for an election in Japan before year-end appeared to fade after a series of scandals and gaffes in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's new cabinet, with a second minister resigning in the space of a week.", "SAN JUAN PARANGARICUTIRO, Mexico (AP) Small-scale avocado growers armed with AR-15 rifles take turns manning a vigilante checkpoint to guard against thieves and drug cartel extortionists in this town Michoacan state, the heartland of world production of the fruit locals call \"green gold.\" The region's avocado boom, fueled by soaring U.S. consumption, has raised parts of western Mexico out of poverty in just 10 years. But the scent of money has...", "SAGINAW, MI -- A crowdfunding campaign is underway to help transform a historic, vacant mansion in Saginaw into a welcome center and gathering space. The goal of the campaign is to raise $25,000 for \"The Lee Commons\" project, a community space that would feature an indoor and outdoor multi-purpose community space. If the goal is met by Dec. 31, the Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s Public ...", "AFI's top 100 movie lines have become cultural touchstones. They're part of America's pop lexicon, turning up in spoofs and memes, and staying in circulation over the years. They're famously distinct because of the stars and characters who delivered them, and the jokes, sentiments, and ideas they express.", "LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Republican Gov. Matt Bevin basked Monday in the campaign finale he craved an election-eve appearance with President Donald Trump hours before voters settle Kentucky's closely watched governor's race between Bevin and Democrat Andy Beshear. The Monday evening rally at Rupp Arena reinforced one of Bevin's main campaign themes his alliance with Trump, whose popularity surpasses the governor's in the state. Trump tweeted...", "Police are investigating the death of a 65-year-old cyclist who was struck by a car on Cross Bay Boulevard on Sunday afternoon. CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reports", "Don't let your shed become disorganized or overrun with junk! Instead, turn it into a well-lit, useful space that has everything you need at hand. We'll show you how it's done with the best shed storage ideas and projects to finally use your shed to its full potential.", "Bad movies make audiences painfully aware they're watching a movie instead of losing themselves in a story and a world. Here are mistakes from the worst movies ever made, sometimes barely made, that include everything from continuity gaffes to plot holes to the most cringe-inducing incoherence and inanity imaginable.", "While the city tries to figure out what led to the death of a construction worker at the Midtown site of Richard Branson's new Virgin Hotel, the young man's widow struggles to live with the effects of the tragic accident. \"We were expecting him to come home to eat dinner,\" Jennifer Mota said sadly of the night her late husband, Luis Miguel Duran Solano, died. Duran Solano, 24, was ...", "Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said the hearing will look at whether Trump tried to \"exploit\" Ukraine's vulnerability during its military conflict.", "The former U.N. ambassador alleges in her upcoming memoir that two White House officials tried to get her to join them in opposing some of Trump's policies.", "Heart disease, not a recurrence of cancer, is the No. 1 cause of death for breast cancer survivors and women overall.", "President Trump railed against Democrats and said the impeachment was \"very hard\" on his family at a campaign rally in Bossier City, Louisiana.", "Faced with historically heavy winds, Pacific Gas & Electric expanded its power outages across Northern California to about 1 million customers, meaning well more than 2 million people are in the dark Sunday.", "The death of a 1-year-old Florida girl Monday marked the 50th case of a child dying in a hot car this year, according to KidsandCars.org.", "The holiday season is up and running. With it comes opportunities to enjoy amazing tables full of great food, and perhaps, the worry of what might happen to your waistline. Sue Moores, RD, Kowalski's Markets Nutritionist shares a delicious tried and true strategy for keeping your weight locked in and your taste buds happy with the plan. Green Chicken Enchilada Soup Makes about 16 cups Ingredients: 1 tbsp. Kowalski's Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1...", "A death is being investigated Wednesday afternoon in a Fountain Inn neighborhood, according to Laurens County Deputy Coroner Vickie Cheek. The death was reported just after noon on James Jackson Drive in the Fountainbrook neighborhood. Sign up for our Newsletters Cheek said the body was found inside a home. Investigators at the scene were looking at a broken front window at the home, according to WYFF News 4's Renee Wunderlich who is at the...", "A 4-year-old Michigan boy was mauled to death by his family's foster dog, police said. Police said the boy's mother was also bitten by the 60-pound pit bull when she tried to defend her son from the attack Tuesday night at their home in Hazel Park. Sign up for our Newsletters Officers responding to the 911 call said they had to use a stun gun to free the boy from the dog. The boy suffered serious wounds to his neck and body. He was pronounced...", "The Missouri Botanical Garden has announced it will be breaking ground on the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center in 2020.The $92 million project is being funded entirely from private donations, spearheaded by the Taylor family and backed by garden supporters.The garden`s current visitor center opened in 1982. It was built to accommodate 250,000 visitors per year. Now, there are nearly one million ...", "President Trump on Tuesday congratulated Republican Tate Reeves on being elected governor of Mississippi, adding that a recent campaign rally and endorsement from the commander-in-chief helped push the GOP-candidate to victory in the state.", "A South Seattle family said that they were targeted with gunfire, and have no idea why. The family says they're living in fear after several rounds of shots tore through their home on Sunday night. Inside were a couple in their 70's and their two daughters. Surveillance video shows three people walking down their street, and then a series of rapid shots could be heard. The family said a couple of the bullets narrowly missed the older couple, who..." ]

[ "Canadian singer Stompin' Tom Connors dies at 77 Canadian country-folk singer Stompin' Tom Connors, whose toe-tapping musical spirit and fierce patriotism established him as one of Canada's biggest cultural icons, has died, his promoter said Wednesday night." ]

[ "Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle has died of cancer at the age of 63.", "Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle died Monday January 18 at her home in Montreal after losing her battle with cancer.", "Liam Clancy, an Irish folk singer whom Bob Dylan described as ``the best ballad singer I've ever heard in my life,'' died Friday at a hospital in Cork, Ireland.", "Canadian actor Maury Chaykin has died at age 61, his manager said Tuesday.", "David Rea, the guitarist for such Canadian music legends as Gordon Lightfoot, Ian and Sylvia Tyson, and Joni Mitchell, has died at age 65.", "Irish folk singer Liam Clancy, who is credited with popularising his country's traditional music in the United States in the 1960s, died Friday aged 74, Ireland's RTE state radio said.", "Congressman John Murtha has died today at the age of 77.", "Craggy-voiced singer Tom Waits will appear on an episode of The Simpsons this season.", "Former Oregon Symphony conductor James DePriest has died at the age of 77.", "Poly Styrene, the braces-wearing singer who belted out ``Oh bondage, up yours!'' with the band X-Ray Spex, has died at the age of 53.", "US Congressman John Murtha, an influential Pennsylvania Democrat died at 77 this Monday.", "Former Vancouver Mayor Tom Campbell, pictured welcoming Queen Elizabeth II to City Hall in 1971, passed on Friday at age 84.", "Veteran Deanna Durbin has died aged 91 Updated: 19:09, Wednesday May 1, 2013 Veteran Canadian actress and singer Deanna Durbin has died at the age of 91.", "Reeves was a country music sensation when he died nearly 50 years ago in a plane crash at the age of 39.", "London, May 2 Singer Celine Dion paid tribute to late entertainer Danny Gans, calling the Las Vegas showman ``the best in his field''.", "Gilbert Cates, a man famous for producing a record number of Academy Awards ceremonies, died Monday at age 77 of unknown causes.", "Legendary, Oscar-winning composer John Barry has died at the age of 77.", "Don Kirshner, the music mogul who shepherded the work of talented young songwriters to the top of the pop charts in the 1960s, launched the Monkees, then made his face familiar to millions of rock fans as impresario of his late-night live-music TV series in the 1970s, died Monday of heart failure in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 76.", "Dan Peek, a founding member of the popular 1970s band America and singer of high harmonies on hits that included A Horse With No Name and Ventura Highway, has died, his father said on Tuesday.", "Grammy-winning Canadian producer and artist Daniel Lanois is in hospital after suffering multiple injuries in a motorcycle accident over the weekend in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles.", "Indian singer Shamshad Begum dies Legendary Indian singer Shamshad Begum has died.", "Irish balladeer Liam Clancy, last of the Clancy Brothers troupe whose sentimental songs of old Ireland spearheaded a 1960s folk revival worldwide, has died in a Cork hospital at the age of 74.", "Former Vancouver Canuck Rick Rypien, known as ``Ripper'' to fans, was found dead today in his Alberta home, according to the CBC.", "John Barry, the English film score composer best known for his Bond music has died aged 77.", "Canadian singer Michael Bublé has added 20 2010 tour dates in the US.", "Welsh singer Tom Jones has revealed he was once considered for the role of James Bond.", "Local musician and power pop cult figure Tommy Hoehn died on Thursday at age 55 after a long struggle with cancer.", "Pate, who spent seven decades in show business, died of respiratory failure late yesterday at Gosford Hospital, a spokesman for the NSW Central Coast Area Health Service said.", "Tom Gabel, the married lead singer of punk rock band Against Me!, is to become a woman.", "Influential singer-guitarist Bert Jansch died at the age of 67 Wednesday after losing his battle with lung cancer.", "Dundee, who died at 90 last night, developed a blood clot that developed during a flight back to his Florida home after visiting Ali in Louisville, Ky., for the boxer's 70th birthday last month.", "TV pitchman Billy Mays, known for his energetic hawking of such products as Orange Glo and OxiClean, was found dead Sunday at his home in Tampa, Fla." ]

[ "semi" ]

[ "detachment", "What's Your Mama's Name", "Retinal detachment", "What Yo Name Iz?", "The Law of Detachment", "The Naming of Names", "detachable sticks", "Operation Detachment", "names", "In Another Lifetime", "bemused detachment", "Another Round", "name ''", "Another Step", "their names", "Another Weekend", "naming", "No Name", "Another Page", "another man", "another router", "Another World", "semi truck", "Another Lover", "Another Night", "Another Country", "Another Day", "another quarter", "name number", "name change", "A detachment from the besiegers", "the bank name" ]

[ "English Muffin Pizzas - Once Upon a Chef TESTED & PERFECTED RECIPE These English muffin pizzas are just as ... The key to making the best English Muffin Pizzas is to toast the English muffins before you top them with sauce and cheese. Otherwise they'll come out soft and undercooked, and the beauty is in the ... Servings: 8 mini pizzas .... Cooking Question...", "Fast English Muffin Pizzas Recipe - Allrecipes.com Fast and VERY kid friendly.. they can make them and all you have to do is bake them! Pizza sauce, cheese and their choice of topping makes this a great snack or anytime ... Cook. 10 m. Ready In. 20 m. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 ... Only we toasted the english muffins first, then added a slice of tomato, some...", "jeopardy/3074_Qs.txt at master jedoublen/jeopardy GitHub ACTIVITIES | In cooking class, you'll learn that an English muffin & tomato sauce are the starting points of a miniature this | pizza. right: Anissa. Wrong:.", "1000+ ideas about English Muffin Pizza on Pinterest | Pizza, Muffins ... Ww Points ... English Muffin Pizzas English muffins Pizza sauce -or- Marinara sauce ..... Delicious and easy mummy mini pizzas start with an English muffin base ... If you kick the cheese, and make it \"pizza with everything\", you've REALLY got ..... Pizzas Ingredients Oven Roasted Tomatoes: olive oil flavored cooking spray...", "English Muffin Pizzas > Start Cooking English Muffin Pizzas are a great snack or a meal, and they're perfect for a party. ... You'll learn how to make quick and tasty meals, plus learn the basic cooking..." ]

[ "The Pizza Lab: The Best English Muffin Pepperoni Pizza | Serious Eats Oct 28, 2013 ... And that's the problem with English muffin pizza. ... me take that one-day, two-hour after-school Cooking For Kids class, why, then I may ... some combination of zesty tomato sauce, a wheat-based bready product, and oozy ... You can see from the pizza on the left that pepperoni that goes on raw will acquire...", "Bayview 2 SpeedMatch Review Game - Super Teacher Tools Put tomato sauce, cheese & pepperoni on an English muffin & you've got a mini one of these. This necessary document cost $10 in 1980, but is now over $100.", "Ghetto Pizza : Cheap Eats - Bloglander Mar 13, 2006 ... Put the sauce on the bread and cover with the cheese. ... Muffin. By the way, I know they have all these mini-pizza things you can buy in the frozen food section. ... as the sauce. I've got some more english muffins left [runs to kitchen] ... jude the shrimp ghetto one sounds sort of like a CPK menu pizza", "English Muffin Pizza - Snack Girl Oct 26, 2009 ... Is it necessary to add 3/4 of a pound of cheese to a pizza to have it be delicious? ... The pizza sauce can be any tomato based sauce, but it should NOT ... cup of cheese (that is one-half of 1/4 cup) and you got a 100 calorie snack. ... 50 for the English muffin, 10 for the sauce, and 40 calories for the cheese.", "Fast English Muffin Pizzas Recipe - Allrecipes.com Fast and VERY kid friendly.. they can make them and all you have to do is bake them! Pizza sauce, cheese and their choice of topping makes this a great snack or ... Only we toasted the english muffins first, then added a slice of tomato, some ... I've made these ever since I can remember, they're a quick lunch staple in my...", "The Food Timeline--history notes: muffins to yogurt Muffins English muffins, crumpets, scones & bannock. American muffins ... 18th century, and recipes began to be published in the middle of the 18th century. ... In England muffins were once called \"tea cakes,\" while in America muffins are .... a thin cake cooked on a hot griddle, so that the edges curled up (crompid goes back...", "They Always Come Back: The Lost Language of Diners. Jan 7, 2008 ... Burn one, take it through the garden and pin a rose on it: hamburger with lettuce, tomato and onion. Burn the British: toasted English muffin", "Tomato Sauce 101 | Memorie di Angelina Apr 22, 2012 ... In Campania, pasta, primi piatti, reference, sauces, Toscana by Frank 22 ... I'm all for convenience when it actually makes life simpler, but it's ... But an everyday tomato saucesugo di pomodorocan be ready in ... by sauting aromatic vegetables in olive oil, add tomato, salt and (if you ... Marinara Sauce.", "Cooking Classes | The Cooking Professor | Cooking Classes and ... Moroccan Food is one of the great cuisines of the world. ... We can design a day or half day or evening program to suit your requirements. ... In this class we will focus on the more traditio. ... In this class we will take you on a journey through some of the timeless recipes such as Coq a vin, ..... Teenagers in the Kitchen (13-19).", "Eggs Benedict | The Pioneer Woman Oct 12, 2007 ... Fun & Learning Products ... You toast an English muffin, top it with a slice of Canadian Bacon, then a ... This is what it looks like a minute into cooking. ... Alternately, you can spoon up/serve up the Eggs Benedict, then stick ... as to the differences between Canadian Bacon and ham, I'd be eternally grateful.", "A Glossary Of Cooking And Barbecue Words - AmazingRibs.com A glossary of jargon and culinary terms used to describe and cooking techniques. ... of cooking, but it bears little resemblance to what we call barbecue other than it is done outdoors. ... Often used to enhance sauces and marinades, as well as the cooks. ..... Italian Americans tend to use the word to mean a tomato sauce.", "Stop Throwing Away Free Tomato Sauce | Northwest Edible Life Aug 27, 2012 ... This is why almost every canned tomato recipe calls for the initial step of coring, blanching and skinning tomatoes. ... Blanch and slip the skins of the tomatoes. ... If you are canning 50 pounds of tomatoes or more, you will definitely .... I only make sauce and so puree the whole tomato (minus the core) in my...", "Cook's Thesaurus: Pasta Shapes Spaghetti is fine for smooth tomato sauces, but a chunkier sauce needs a ... It's often served with tomato or meat sauces, or in pasta salads. ... conchiglioni = jumbo shells = giant shells Notes: Pasta shaped like conch shells come in various sizes; this ... far-FALL-lay Notes: This Italian pasta resembles bow ties or butterflies.", "salsa English definition/translation - seadict.com a type of Latin American dance music incorporating elements of jazz and rock. ... (especially in Latin American cookery) a spicy tomato sauce. Sp., lit ... or fruit, especially tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers, used as a condiment. ... 2. a sauce made from onions, tomatoes, and chillies, that you put on Spanish or Mexican food.", "Professional Cooking - Levittown Public Schools TION AND GARNISH BAKESHOP PRODUCTION YEAST PRODUCTS ... Cocktail Sauce ...... encouraged, by means of recipe variations, to see how they can apply .... prevent making foods sound low in fat just by making the portion size ...... chefs across the continent made names for themselves and their restaurants at least...", "How to make the perfect tomato sauce | Life and style | The Guardian Aug 1, 2013 ... A true classic of Italian cuisine, it is perfect for meatballs, pasta, pizzas and more. ... Angela Hartnett, in her book Cucina, admits: \"It's difficult to get really ... but if they are even bordering on the bland, then go for good, tinned fruit, every time. .... Tomato sauce: laughably basic cookery, or harder than it looks,...", "The Food Timeline--history notes: muffins to yogurt Food Timeline FAQs: mozzarella cheese to yogurt . ... Fried cheese is often composed with mozzarella. ... Muffins were most popular during the 19th century, when muffin men traversed ... Mrs. Glasse's original recipe was not titled English muffins. ...... From soups and salads to sandwiches and entrees, the portobellos are...", "culinary terms - Bakersfield College Allumette Cut into matchstick shapes; usually refers to potatoes. ... Similar to roast, but the term bak.ing usually applies to breads, pastries, ... Bechamel A sauce made by thickening milk with a roux. ... (2) To cook (certain vegetables) slowly in a small amount of liquid without ..... Volatile Evaporating quickly when heated. W.", "The Food Timeline--history notes: muffins to yogurt One of the most important and ubiquitous cheeses in Italy, though southern ones are ..... While southern England luxuriated in soft leavened wheat bread, areas like ... Today many of these customs have died out but the bannock remains in several forms. ...... In 1897 Towle began to sell his syrup in small cabin-shaped tins...", "English Muffins Recipe : Alton Brown : Food Network Get this all-star, easy-to-follow English Muffins recipe from Alton Brown. ... Insert _ Spread_ 50 Spooky Treats Halloween .... I replaced the hot water with hot milk, used butter instead of shortening, cooked on a gas griddle, with no ring molds. .... The English muffins came out perfectly ;great flavor , nooks and crannies and all.", "Gone With The Wind Cookbook?? \"I'll Never Be Hungry Again ... Gone With the Wind Cook Book: Famous Southern Cooking Recipes: Dolce & Gabbana: .... with Shrimp and Tomato Basil Cream Sauce... man, my mouth is watering ..... Fried Green Tomatoes is an awesome awesome movie! .... if this is the cake my dads family would make for every birthday party when we were kids!", "How to Make Eggs Benedict Recipe | SimplyRecipes.com Sep 3, 2016 ... Eggs Benedict, poached eggs over bacon and buttered toasted English muffin, topped with Hollandaise sauce. ... of the bacon. If you are in or around New Jersey, try it with Taylor ham. ... Add the strips of bacon or the slices of Canadian bacon. Slowly fry ... You can trim the bacon to fit the muffin if you'd like.", "Moroccan Cuisine Marocaine: /Sandwich Mini ... Apr 20, 2011 ... These Mini-Toghrifts are so soft, pliable and just a little bit chewy. ... Cute little breads. ... Several Moroccan dishes have become increasingly popular now in other parts of the world (North America, Australia and ..... Italian Oven-Dried Tomatoes Recipe / Recette Tomates Sches Au Four l'Italienne.", "List of Italian dishes - Wikipedia Linguine with Clam Sauce A mildly spicy dish that combines Linguine pasta served with tomato sauce and cooked clams. Marinated Eel Bite-size cut eel...", "When I Grow Up: The Community Helper Resource Book. Grades ... Tasty treats just for me! (point thumbs at self) .... 46 Read to the class If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by ..... 41, Tape yourself reading If You Give a Moose a Muffin.", "Classes Sofra Bakery & Cafe CLICK HERE to REGISTER for SOFRAMIZ Cookbook ... In this class, Amy and Kate will demonstrate sweet treats like, Turkish Delight Pistachio Biscotti; Citrus...", "An A-Z of breads from around the world - British Heart Foundation Ana Blanco explains all this and more in our A-Z of world breads. ... To make arepas, you'll need a special pre-cooked corn flour, water and a pinch of ... An English muffin is a small, round, flat type of yeast-leavened bread which is .... They are used to prepare many Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and wraps.", "Food, Inc. Script - transcript from the screenplay and/or the ... Although it looks like a tomato, it's kind of a notional tomato. .... If you can grow a chicken in 49 days, why would you want one you gotta .... We had these little sponges and we were allowed to dip that into a cup of water and then give him that. .... had enough food and enough calories for a sizable percentage of the human...", "Cooking Terms : The Reluctant Gourmet This liquid can then be used for making soups, sauces, braises or by itself. ... taste and should be used for cooking (high smoking point) and salad dressings. ... This is the stuff that gives those sauces you are served at fancy restaurants that ... Fondue : From the French word for melt, the term could refer to food cooked in a...", "Free Flashcards about FOOD & DRINK - StudyStack ONE OF THE IRON CHEFS, HE SPECIALIZES IN ITALIAN CUISINE, MARIO BATALI ...... MUFFINS ARE MADE IN AN IMPLEMENT NAMED FOR THIS METAL, TIN ..... TO AMERICANS AT THE 1964 WORLD'S FAIR, BELGIAN WAFFLES.", "J! Archive - Show #3574, aired 2000-03-02 If you're given full discretionary power, you've been given this, French for \"blank document\" ... You might like fries with this \"messy\" sandwich of ground beef cooked in a tomato sauce ... This U.S. firm is the world's largest processor of tomatoes...", "4 Pics 1 Word Answers - Level 1501 Onwards - iTouchApps.net - #1 ... Sep 14, 2014 ... 4 Pics 1 Word Answers: Level 1543 SNEEZE 3 pictures of a person with ... FICTION typing a story starting with once upon a time, space ship in space, .... a can of tomato sauce, flat bread, tomatoes on wine, cooking tomatoes .... a woman and a man sits at the kitchen table, UFO beams at a person,..." ]

[ "Whether for health, religious reasons, or a guest list of mixed ages, you may choose to throw a party without alcohol. A party can still be fabulous, and you won’t be adding extra calories from alcohol." ]

[ " \nThis is a tasty non-alcoholic punch that will be a crowd-pleaser. This is ideal for late teen parties where alcohol cannot be served. ", "Having a good time for New Year's Eve without throwing the big party is perfectly possible. Indeed, in many ways, it may be a whole lot more fun without the big party, as you can talk to people with ease, not experience a mess and generally have a cool time, rather than a rowdy one.", " Every cocktail party should include at least a few non-alcoholic choices for people who don't drink alcohol. This one is based on citrus flavours. ", " It doesn't matter if it's a birthday party, a school's ending party or just a plain party! This will help you throw the best pool party ever! ", "Jell-O (or jelly) boats are super fun. They're perfect for children's parties but they're also ideal for an adult party with a nautical theme. The recipe given here is alcohol free but you could substitute with an alcohol infused version for an adult party.", "If you do not like the traditional sangria , or you can not drink alcoholic beverages, then this recipe is for you: an alcohol free Sangria. It makes a refreshing summer cooler, and is great to serve at parties to \"designated drivers\".", "Many people throw parties and offer their guests alcohol in the form of beer, wine, or spirits. But you might be wondering what sort of alcohol to purchase and how much of it you should get.", "Do you want to host a night to remember? Invite your friends to a fabulous sleepover: Dance, laugh, and party! Inviting friends to your home is easy.", "For those of you who are too young to have a cocktail or if you don't like alcohol, there's no need to miss out at a party. You can enjoy a mocktail, which contains non-alcoholic ingredients that mimic a cocktail.", "Not everyone can, or wants, to drink alcohol at a summer party but naturally, everyone wishes to feel that they fit in. Non-alcoholic drinks are an idea way to bridge the divide between those sipping on cocktails and those with a need to refrain from the alcohol.", "Drinking alcohol is a common and popular practice at parties: it can ease people’s social inhibitions, contribute to a festive atmosphere, and add to a decorative theme.", "One of the most creative ways to serve alcohol at a party is to make colorful and fruity Jello shots. The process of making Jello shots is super easy, and is not that different than making regular Jello.", "The kids are coming to the party and want to sample delicious drinks too. Make a kid juice cocktail so that they can feel included in the party and enjoy a tasty non-alcoholic drink.", " Do you want to throw an awesome B-day party for your kid? Follow these simple tips and your party will be a great hit! ", "If you're throwing a party in which you're serving alcohol and your guests expect to consume alcohol (and get inebriated), that can be expensive! This article will help you figure out how much alcohol you'll need so that you don't spend any more money than you have to.", " Ever wanted to throw a Webkinz beach party? Well here's how you can. ", "In some cases, you might want to be able to drink without getting caught. If you're going to an event without alcohol, for example, you may have to conceal your booze.", "You don’t drink, but you’ve been invited to a party where things may get a little rowdy. You want to have fun, but you want to make sure you don’t end up being bored—or worse, a babysitter.", " Ever wanted to throw a sweet Valentine's Day party on AJ? Here's how! ", "At your next summertime gathering, serve your guests a delicious, refreshing fish bowl drink. Designed for multiple party goers in mind, you can make this drink with or without the alcohol.", " Whether you're celebrating a new Jonas Brothers album, or just want to throw a party, these steps will help you throw a cool Jonas Brothers party. ", " Interested in throwing a Halloween party? Here are some tips and tricks to help you throw an unforgettable party. ", "A simple punch with vodka and wine is perfect to serve at any party because it saves you from needing to mix each drink individually and affords you more time to spend with your guests.", "These cocktail treats doesn't need to be stirred nor shaken. Dress up a regular gelatin recipe by adding vodka or rum and other liqueur goodies for any adult party or gathering.", "Planning a party can be stressful, especially if it is a last minute. However, you can still throw a great party even if you only have a few hours to prepare everything.", "If you have a beautiful and spacious outdoor space, you might be thinking about hosting a party outdoors. Good weather and company can make an outdoor party an absolute blast.", "Are you a girl who loves the Hunger Games and want to throw a party based on it? This article will show you how to throw a Hunger Games themed party!", " This is how to have a great party that all your friends will love and remember! ", " Here are some pointers for throwing a Pillsbury Doughboy party! ", "Party away the night with this energizing alcoholic slush. Combining the energy input of Gatorade and Red Bull and the alcoholic lift of vodka, this is a slush suitable for a special event.", "A functional alcoholic is one who is addicted to alcohol, but manages to fulfill their daily obligations, duties, and tasks without allowing their addiction to interfere.", "Treat your friends to a fun evening by hosting a blind vodka tasting party. Before the night is over, you and your friends will have declared at least one brand of vodka as the best." ]

[ "Secondo quanto riportato dal Corriere della Sera, qualche giorno fa gli americani avrebbero intercettato la voce di una delle due ragazze. Poche parole captate attraverso i sistemi di controllo satellitari" ]

[ "Il Presidente del Consiglio, Silvio Berlusconi, è &quot;convintissimo&quot; che entro marzo il Consiglio Europeo prenderà una decisione sulla questione del Patto di stabilità. In una conferenza stampa convocata a", "(AGI) - Roma, 24 set. - Il consiglio dei ministri ha dato mandato al ministro del Welfare, Roberto Maroni, di portare una proposta sugli ammortizzatori &quot;entro lunedi&#39;&quot;. Valutata dagli altri ministri, la proposta", "&quot;La copertura delle riduzioni fiscali c&#39;è&quot;. Lo afferma il premier Silvio Berlusconi nella lettera-manifesto inviata al &quot;Foglio&quot;. Una copertura frutto anche di una &quot;azione responsabile di politica economica&quot;.", "Presentato l&apos;ordine del giorno della Margherita&quot;C&apos;è una drammatica carenza di analisi&quot; Marini: &quot;Asteniamoci sull&apos;Iraq E&apos; una mossa da forza di governo&quot;", "E&#39; stata approvata la legge &quot;salvacoste&quot; che impone il divieto di edificare entro i 2.000 metri dal mare. Il Testo impegna anche la Giunta regionale a presentare entro 12 mesi il Piano paesaggistico regionale.", "A chi ancora avesse qualche dubbio sulle relazioni bollenti che intercorrono oggi tra il mondo del cinema e quello dei videogiochi consigliamo di dare un&#39;occhiata alla voce &quot;Cast&quot; della nuova puntata di &quot;Prince of Persia&quot;, in contemporanea sugli scaffali", "Saranno installati entro il 2010 tra Modena e Monaco", "Milano - Il suo dovere è &quot;assicurare l’aria pulita&quot; e &quot;proteggere la salute&quot; di chi non fuma e per questo il ministro Girolamo Sirchia, nonostante le polemiche che definisce &quot;strumentali e inutili &quot;, non arretra di un passo: non ci saranno più", "Berlusconi rilancia: &quot;In agguato oppressione e miseria&quot;Craxi &quot;vittima di una ubriacatura giustizialista&quot; &quot;Italia a rischio comunismo la democrazia è in pericolo&quot;", "Il rapporto dell&apos;esecutivo comunitario: troppe una tantumPericolo di sforamento del parametro del 3% nel 2004 o 2005 La Commissione Ue all&apos;Italia &quot;Sforzi insufficienti per il debito&quot; Tagli fiscali non pienamente finanziati da riforme strutturaliLa replica del ministro Siniscalco: &quot;Lo saranno dal 2006&quot;", "(AGI) - Rome, Italy, 28 September - - TUESDAY&#39; 7 SEPTEMBER - Simona Torretta and Simona Pari are kidnapped in Baghdad. Twenty armed men burst into the office of &quot;Un ponte per...&quot; and made the two girls and", "Alitalia. Epifani: &quot;Berlusconi dica qualcosa, e&#39; in ballo la tenuta del trasporto aereo&quot;. Prese di beneficio in borsa. &quot;Adesso è ora che parli anche Berlusconi, che faccia sentire la sua voce anche il presidente del Consiglio&quot;.", "21:48 - Il direttore della tv Al Arabiya, Nabil al Khatib, ha detto a Controcorrente su Sky Tg24 che &quot;l&#39;ultima rivendicazione su Simona Pari e Simona Torretta va presa sul serio&quot;. &quot;Non credo - ha detto al", "ROMA - Un tempo gli italiani venivano considerati un popolo di &quot;formiche&quot;, abituati a risparmiare. Era una &quot;propensione&quot;, secondo la terminologia degli esperti, un&#39;attitudine, quasi una virtù, oltrettutto invidiata all&#39;estero.", "Microsoft premia le &quot;soffiate&quot; e regala una copia di Windows Xp a chi denuncia il possesso di sistemi operativi non orginali. Microsoft premia le &quot;soffiate&quot; e regala una copia di Windows Xp a chi denuncia il possesso di sistemi operativi non orginali.", "Il sindaco di Roma al congresso cittadino dei Dssmentisce ancora una volta una sua possibile candidatura L&apos;invito di Veltroni alla Gad &quot;Rafforziamo Romano Prodi&quot;", "Come ai vecchi tempi la Ferrari torna al concetto di &quot;Superamerica&quot;. Non una macchina normale, neanche una vetture speciale: un mondo a sé. Fatto di esclusività, prestazioni inarrivabili e quel pizzico di", "Mosca, 17 novembre 2004 - Un nuovo missile nucleare &quot;diverso da quelli posseduti dagli altri Paesi&quot; e in grado di fronteggiare con successo &quot;una delle principali minacce alla Russia&quot;: &quot;il terrorismo internazionale&quot;.", "La bomba &quot;Testa di Saddam&quot;, il &quot;pallone di Maradona&quot;e poi bombe da mortaio,bombe carta, fuochi di artificio di vario genere. E&#39; solo una parte dell&#39;elenco di materiale sequestrato dai Carabinieri della Compagnia", "Nel processo stralcio al tribunale di Milano il pm Boccassini, al termine della requisitoria, ha chiesto una condanna di reclusione per corruzione in atti giudiziari. Il pubblico ministero: &quot;Illustrerò le mie ragioni&quot;. Di Pietro: &quot;Il premier si dimetta&quot;.", "(AGI) - Milano, 22 nov. - Se il consiglio di amministrazione di Volare Group, che si riunisce proprio in queste ore, dichiarera&#39; lo stato di insolvenza della societa&#39;, il commissario straordinario &quot;sara&#39; nominato entro questa settimana&quot;.", "Emmanuelle Beart veste i panni di una prostituta nel triangolo scabroso di &quot;Nathalie&quot;. Il film di Anne Fontaine racconta la storia la storia perversa di una donna, Fanny Ardant, che arriva a pagare una prostituta", "The Al Gore documentary &quot;An Inconvenient Truth&quot; will receive a rare recognition from the Humanitas Prize, which honors screenwriting that helps &quot;liberate, enrich and unify society.&quot;", "Il premier d&apos;accordo con Fini sul partito unico: &quot;Una speranza&quot;Ma il vice Follini lo gela: &quot;Non è cosa né di oggi né di domani&quot; Berlusconi: &quot;Non penso al Colle e non voglio elezioni anticipate&quot;", "La Grande alleanza democratica sta vivendo un momento di &quot;crisi&quot;. Fausto Bertinotti ha ragione, ea questo punto tocca a Prodi dimostrare &quot;di essere un leader vero&quot;. Il segretario dei Popolari-Udeur, Clemente Mastella, in una.", "(AGI) - Roma, 17 set. - L&#39;Alitalia ei sindacati &quot;si sono reciprocamente impegnati a trovare un accordo per il nuovo contratto degli assistenti di volo entro le 19 di questa sera&quot;. E&#39; quanto riferisce il presidente", "anticipo di serie A con un gol di Schopp e spezza l&#39;equilibrio di una partita che sembrava destinata a finire 0-0. Allo stadio &quot;Rigamonti&quot; si vede una partita molto tattica e povera di conclusioni da rete.", "Oltre alle sue doti applicative e le innovative soluzioni introdotte, il browser Firefox gode anche di un complessivo consenso sul mercato ed una certa &quot;moda&quot; pro &quot;volpe rossa&quot;. Il suo attuale 6% di share", "LONDON For a newspaper nicknamed &quot;The Thunderer,&quot; the move was disclosed sotto voce: The Times of London, for more than two centuries the confident voice of the English establishment, is going fully tabloid as of Monday, dropping a broadsheet version that", "&quot;Per me sarà una sfida affascinante scendere in pista con la Toyota,&quot; ha detto martedì il compagno di squadra 2005 di Ralf Schumacher. &quot;Mi sento particolarmente motivato per questo &#39;debutto&#39;, nella gara di casa del mio nuovo team&quot;.", "&quot;Come tutte quelle di Champions, sarà una gara complicata. Però la Coppa Italia ci ha dato certezze, abbiamo dato una bella dimostrazione di carattere. Vogliamo vincere e passare il turno&quot;. L&#39;attaccante", "Washington, 21 settembre - La Cia ritiene &quot;con un alto grado di probabilità&quot; che la voce registrata nel video della decapitazione dell&#39;ostaggio statunitense Eugene Armstrong sia quella del terrorista giordano Abu Musab al Zarqawi." ]

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[ "Sign up for one of our email newsletters.\nWASHINGTON — German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG has agreed to the U.S. government's demand that it sell about $9 billion in agriculture businesses as a condition for acquiring Monsanto Co., an American seed and weed-killer maker.\nAntitrust regulators at the Justice Department say it's the biggest divestiture ever required for a merger. The regulators say they directed Bayer to divest assets such as vegetable oils, seeds and seed treatments to ensure fair competition in the market after the massive agriculture business deal goes through. The assets will be sold to BASF, a German chemical company.\nBayer's $57 billion takeover of Monsanto has been watched by competitors and environmental groups, which are fearful that the number of players in the business of selling seeds and pesticides will shrink further and give a single company an exclusive grip on the food chain.\nMonsanto, based in St. Louis, is one of the world's biggest seed companies. The merger would make Bayer the largest supplier in the world of pesticides and seeds for farmers.\nThe divestiture proposal will be filed in federal court and opened to public comment for 60 days.\nIn March, the European Union approved the merger on condition that Bayer sell $7.4 billion in assets to BASF to eliminate overlaps in seed and pesticide markets. The U.S. Justice Department said after the European action that it continued to have concerns over the proposed merger, especially its potential impact on American farmers and consumers, which could differ from its effects in Europe. Genetically modified seeds, for example, are used widely in the U.S. but are mostly banned in Europe.\nThe merger also has won approval from China, Brazil and Australia.\nBayer said it has now secured nearly all the needed government clearances for closing the deal.\n“Receipt of the (Justice Department's) approval brings us close to our goal of creating a leading company in agriculture,” Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said in a statement. “We want to help farmers across the world grow more nutritious food in a more sustainable way.”\nSome antitrust experts had warned that the merger would eliminate direct competition between two of the biggest players in the seed industry, giving the new company lopsided control over U.S. cotton acreage, and commercial seed development for canola, soybean and corn.\nTwo big mergers last year already have reshaped the global seed and pesticide market: Dow Chemical's combination with DuPont last year, and China National Chemical Corp.'s acquisition of Syngenta, a Swiss seed and pesticide maker.", "Bayer AG won U.S. antitrust approval for its $66 billion takeover of Monsanto Co., clearing the last major regulatory hurdle to form the world’s biggest seed and agricultural-chemicals provider after a nearly two-year review.\nThe companies reached a settlement with the Justice Department that resolves the government’s concerns the merger as initially structured would harm consumers and farmers, the U.S. said in a statement Tuesday. The agreement requires the sale of assets to BASF SE that Bayer has previously announced. The divestiture package is worth about $9 billion, the largest in a U.S. merger enforcement case, the government said.\n“America’s farm system is of critical importance to our economy, to our food system, and to our way of life,” Makan Delrahim, the head of the department’s antitrust division, said on a call with reporters. “American farmers and consumers rely on head-to-head competition between Bayer and Monsanto.”\nFor Bayer, acquiring Monsanto is the last step in a corporate transformation as the 154-year-old company shed its plastics business and remade itself as a life-science company with equally-sized health and agriculture units. Once the deal is through, three global behemoths will dominate the world’s agriculture industry, a prospect that has left farmers worried about the possibility of higher prices and less choice.\nSignificant divestitures\nThe settlement came together after Justice Department antitrust officials pressed for significant divestitures to remedy the competition problems from combining the two companies. The companies have received antitrust approval from most jurisdictions around the world. Bayer has said it’s confident the deal will close by the June 14 deadline.\nBayer expects to receive the approvals it needs from Canada and Mexico in the coming days, according to a statement from the Leverkusen, Germany-based company. The European Union approved BASF as the buyer of the assets Tuesday.\nBayer can then close the deal once it has the remaining approvals even though the integration of the two companies won’t happen until the BASF divestitures are finished, which will probably be in about two months. Monsanto, based in St. Louis, said it was pleased with the U.S. approval.\nMerger wave\nThe Monsanto takeover extends a series of tie-ups in the agricultural industry. Last year, U.S. and EU regulators approved two other major deals in the sector, Dow Chemical Co.’s merger with DuPont Co. and China National Chemical Corp.’s takeover of Syngenta AG. With about $48 billion in sales from their combined businesses, Bayer and Monsanto will surpass those of both DowDuPont Inc. and China National.\nThe Justice Department said without the asset sales, the merger would have created a range of competitive harms. Both companies sell seeds and chemicals to farmers, and the combination would have raised prices and reduced choice, the U.S. said. The deal as initially proposed also would have combined Bayer’s seed treatments with Monsanto seeds, giving Bayer the incentive and ability to raise prices that rival seed companies pay for treatments, the government said.\nBoth companies also compete in developing technology that improves crop yields for farmers, the government added.\n“When BASF combines the divestiture assets with its existing portfolio of crop protection products, it will have the breadth of product offerings to step into Bayer’s shoes and be an effective competitor to the other integrated agricultural technology companies,” Delrahim said.\nMore divestitures\nBayer initially agreed in October to sell some of its seed and chemical businesses to BASF for 5.9 billion euros ($6.8 billion). The deal included the Liberty herbicide brand, cotton and soybean seeds, and seed-trait and breeding capabilities.\nThen in April, Bayer said it was selling more pieces of its agricultural business to BASF for as much as 1.7 billion euros to satisfy regulators. That deal covered Bayer’s vegetable-seeds business, other herbicides, research on wheat hybrids, and Bayer’s digital farming business. Those businesses had combined sales of 2.2 billion euros last year.\nBob Young, president of Agricultural Prospects in Grasonville, Maryland, said the merger is a good idea given that DowDuPont deal was approved. Currently, only DowDuPont has the advantage of streamlining both seed and chemical research and development within one company.\n“If you were going to let Dow-DuPont go forward, then you probably want this one to go forward, too,” Young said.\n‘Toxic mega-merger’\nFriends of the Earth, an environmentalist group, criticized the government’s decision to approve the merger, calling it a “toxic mega-merger” that will hurt farmers and consumers.\n“The DOJ’s weak divestment requirements will do nothing to stop Bayer-Monsanto from controlling more and more of our food system,” Tiffany Finck-Haynes, senior food futures campaigner with Friends of the Earth, said in a statement. “This merger will damage the bargaining power of family farmers, prevent farmers from accessing diverse seed varieties, and allow seed prices to rise.”", "German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG has agreed to the U.S. government’s demand that it sell about $9 billion in agriculture businesses as condition for acquiring Monsanto Co., a U.S. seed and weed-killer maker.\nAntitrust regulators at the Justice Department say it’s the biggest divestiture ever required for a merger. The regulators say they directed Bayer to divest assets such as vegetable oils, seeds and seed treatments to ensure fair competition in the market after the massive agriculture business deal goes through. The assets will be sold to BASF, a German chemical company.\nBayer’s $57 billion takeover of Monsanto has been watched by competitors and environmental groups, which are fearful that the number of players in the business of selling seeds and pesticides will shrink further and give a single company an exclusive grip on the food chain.\nMonsanto, based in St. Louis, is one of the world’s biggest seed companies. The merger would make Bayer the largest supplier in the world of pesticides and seeds for farmers.\nThe divestiture proposal will be filed in federal court and opened to public comment for 60 days.\nIn March, the European Union approved the merger on condition that Bayer sell $7.4 billion in assets to BASF to eliminate overlaps in seed and pesticide markets. The U.S. Justice Department said after the European action that it continued to have concerns over the proposed merger, especially its potential impact on American farmers and consumers, which could differ from its effects in Europe. Genetically modified seeds, for example, are used widely in the U.S. but mostly banned in Europe.\nThe merger also has won approval from China, Brazil and Australia.\nBayer said it has now secured nearly all the needed government clearances for closing the deal.\n“Receipt of the (Justice Department’s) approval brings us close to our goal of creating a leading company in agriculture,” Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said in a statement. “We want to help farmers across the world grow more nutritious food in a more sustainable way.”\nSome antitrust experts had warned that the merger would eliminate direct competition between two of the biggest players in the seed industry, giving the new company lopsided control over U.S. cotton acreage, and commercial seed development for canola, soybean and corn.\nTwo big mergers last year already have reshaped the global seed and pesticide market: Dow Chemical’s combination with DuPont last year, and China National Chemical Corp.’s acquisition of Syngenta, a Swiss seed and pesticide maker.\n© The Associated Press. All rights reserved.", "Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Tuesday it has agreed to sell additional TV stations in a bid to win approval for its proposed acquisition of Tribune Media.\nSinclair is filing revised plans with the Federal Communications Commission to divest 23 stations in 18 markets, including Tribune-owned stations in Denver; Sacramento, Calif.; Cleveland; Dallas; Houston; and Miami. Buyers have yet to be announced for some of these stations.\n“While we continue to believe that we had a strong and supportable rationale for not having to divest stations, we are happy to announce this significant step forward in our plan to create a leading broadcast platform with local focus and national reach,” Sinclair President and CEO Chris Ripley said in a news release.\nSinclair announced in February that it would sell Tribune stations WGN-TV in Chicago and WPIX-TV in New York, as well as stations in eight other markets, to get under an FCC ownership cap.\nThe divestiture list got longer Tuesday, although Sinclair has decided to keep WPIX after closing its proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of Chicago-based Tribune Media, pending approval from federal regulators.\nA Maryland auto dealer agreed to buy WGN-TV for $60 million as part of the divestiture plan. Critics say the station will essentially remain in the Sinclair fold through a services agreement that keeps it in charge of everything from programming to ad sales. Sinclair plans to operate several of the stations added to the divestiture list through similar shared services agreements with the named buyers.\nThe licensee of WGN-TV would be a newly formed company headed by Steven Fader, a longtime business associate of Sinclair Executive Chairman David Smith.\nIn a companywide memo Tuesday obtained by the Chicago Tribune, Tribune Media CEO Peter Kern thanked employees for their “understanding and patience” and urged them to focus “on the business at hand,” regardless of who ends up owning their station.\n“I know this has been a long and at times frustrating process for you; and we still are not yet at the finish line,” Kern said. “While today's filing helps clarify some things, we don't yet have clarity on everything and in fact, there are still many issues we cannot discuss with Sinclair or these other buyers.”\nSinclair said Tuesday that it expects the Tribune Media acquisition to close in the late second quarter or early third quarter of this year, pending regulatory approval.\nHunt Valley, Md.-based Sinclair agreed to buy Tribune Media’s TV stations in May, creating what would be the largest ownership group in the U.S. with 233 TV stations — before any required divestitures. The deal has been facilitated by the FCC’s easing of ownership restrictions last year, but it still exceeds a 39 percent cap in national audience reach.\nThe deal, which must pass muster with the FCC and the Department of Justice, has met with opposition from liberal groups and media advocates over concerns that Sinclair's right-leaning editorial views would unduly influence local news at Tribune Media’s 42 TV stations. Others have objected on the basis of media concentration.\nThe criticism reached a crescendo after the website Deadspin posted a video on March 31 featuring TV news anchors at Sinclair stations across the country reading the same script in a must-run promo echoing President Donald Trump’s “fake news” allegations against mainstream media.\nIn addition to TV stations, Tribune Media owns WGN-AM 720 and cable channel WGN America, which also would be sold to Sinclair as part of the deal. In 2014, Tribune Media spun off its newspaper holdings, including the Chicago Tribune, into the company now known as Tronc.\nrchannick@chicagotribune.com\nTwitter @RobertChannick", "REUTERS: U.S. computer maker Dell Technologies Inc and business software provider VMware Inc have decided to explore options that could include a potential merger of the two companies, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.\nThe move, which may not result in any deal, comes as Dell, the world’s largest privately held technology company, seeks new avenues for growth following its debt-laden acquisition of data storage provider EMC Corp for US$67 billion in 2016.\nDell plans to announce as early as Friday that it will review a possible reverse merger with VMware, as well as other alternatives, including an initial public offering or asset divestitures, the three sources said.\nVMware plans to announce that it will form a special committee of board directors to consider a combination with Dell, according to the sources. VMware is 80 percent-owned by Dell, so the special committee is aimed at making any combination subject to approval by disinterested directors who will safeguard the interests of VMware minority shareholders, the sources added.\nThe sources asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. Dell declined to comment, while VMWare did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\nDell is under pressure to boost its profitability after the EMC deal failed to deliver the cost savings and performance it projected, while higher component costs and a challenging data storage market have eroded its margins.\nAdvertisement\nAdvertisement\nThe Round Rock, Texas-based company has struggled with fierce competition in the storage market, as cloud-based rivals such as Amazon.com Inc’s AWS and Microsoft Corp’s Azure put pressure on prices. Dell’s infrastructure chief, former EMC executive David Goulden, departed last fall, and the firm has since been working to reorganize its storage operations.\nThe PC market, which Dell CEO Michael Dell helped shape by founding Dell in 1984 as a college freshman with US$1,000 in savings, has remained stagnant due to the popularity of smart phones and tablets, shrinking by 0.2 percent in 2017, according to International Data Corporation.\nA reverse merger would see VMware, which has a market capitalization of US$51 billion, buy Dell, rather than Dell buy the minority stake in VMware it does not already own. A lockup provision prevents Dell from buying out VMware until September.\n\"Irrespective of whether VMware or Dell is the acquirer, we think the terms of trade would have to entail a premium to VMware minority shareholders,\" UBS Securities LLC desk-based analyst Evren Ergin wrote in a sales commentary note on Thursday.\nAnother consideration for Dell in its deliberations is offering an eventual path to private equity firm Silver Lake to cash out on its investment in the company. Silver Lake helped bankroll Michael Dell’s US$24.9 billion deal in 2013 to take the company private and owns about 18 percent of the company.\n(Reporting by Liana B. Baker in San Francisco and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lisa Shumaker)", "[PDF] Download Dream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring and Historic Presidency (Young Readers) Ebook | READ ONLINE\nDownload at http://skamaker.com/X2h/?book=031651439X\nDownload Dream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring and Historic Presidency (Young Readers) read ebook Online PDF EPUB KINDLE\nDream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring and Historic Presidency (Young Readers) pdf download\nDream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring and Historic Presidency (Young Readers) read online\nDream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring and Historic Presidency (Young Readers) epub\nDream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring and Historic Presidency (Young Readers) vk\nDream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring and Historic Presidency (Young Readers) pdf\nDream Big Dreams: 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has moved into journey planning with the purchase of privately-owned Hannover-based firm HaCon to complement its transportation business, which it has been talking about merging with Bombardier's.\n** CVC Capital Partners has agreed to take control of Swiss watchmaker Breitling in a deal that sees another iconic Swiss brand lose independence.\n** One of Britain's biggest pension scheme investors has called on Dutch paintmaker Akzo Nobel to engage with U.S. suitor PPG Industries over a revised bid and criticized the board's handling of the issue.\n** A consortium led by private equity firms Hillhouse Capital Group and CDH Investments offered to buy Belle International Holdings Ltd in a deal valuing the entire Hong Kong-listed shoe retailer at about $6.8 billion.\n** The Delhi High Court has approved a settlement of the $1.18 billion dispute between Tata Sons and NTT DoCoMo, allowing the Indian firm to buy out the Japanese firm's stake in the telecoms joint venture, TV news channels reported.\n** Anglo-South African financial services group Old Mutual is selling its 26 percent stake in an Indian insurance joint venture Kotak Mahindra Bank for 156 million pounds ($201.75 million), as part of the group's planned break-up into four parts.\n** Bayer's chief executive acknowledged that he will face an uphill battle to improve Monsanto's reputation once Bayer completes the takeover of the U.S. seeds and agrochemicals company.\n** A leading advisor to pension schemes and other investors called for a review of Germany's rules around takeovers, in light of a planned takeover of U.S. agrochemicals company Monsanto by Bayer.\n** Zodiac Aerospace's chief executive has offered his resignation after another profit warning from the French company, which is continuing talks with Safran to seal a merger and end a crisis in its aircraft seat factories.\n** Hedge fund TCI Fund Management renewed pressure on France's Safran to suspend its bid to buy Zodiac Aerospace after the aircraft seats maker issued a second profit warning in as many months.\n** The world's biggest container shipping company, Maersk Line, will pay 3.7 billion euros ($4.02 billion) for its acquisition of smaller German rival Hamburg Sud, it said.\n** A group backed by KKR & Co said it would not undertake further work on a takeover offer for Australia's Tatts Group Ltd after its A$6.15 billion ($4.60 billion) cash bid was rejected by the lottery operator's board.\n** Private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC is in advanced negotiations to acquire U.S. telephone conferencing services provider West Corp, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.\n** China Shengmu Organic Milk Ltd said that a deal to sell a controlling stake to Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co Ltd was scrapped after it failed to get regulatory approval from Chinese authorities before a deadline last week.\n** Mexican breadmaker Grupo Bimbo said on Thursday it has entered the African market with the purchase of Adghal, a Morocco-based producer of baked goods.\n** The Federal Trade Commission gave a private equity firm approval on Thursday to sell to Dollar General Corp 323 stores that Sycamore purchased as part of a divestiture package two years ago, the agency said on Thursday.\n** Suncor Energy Inc, Canada's largest energy producer, is still evaluating opportunities for oil sands acquisitions in northern Alberta as foreign oil majors exit the high-cost region, Chief Executive Steve Williams said on Thursday.\n** Italy's Atlantia has agreed to sell 10 percent of its domestic motorway unit to a series of investors including Allianz for 1.48 billion euros ($1.6 billion) as it presses ahead with plans to bid for Spanish rival Abertis.\n** German industrial gases group Linde's $65 billion merger negotiations with U.S. peer Praxair are \"on track\" although slightly delayed, Linde's finance chief said.\n** Once Sweden's SCA spins off its hygiene unit, that new company, to be called Essity, will be freer to bulk up in the growing market for consumer health and medical products, its chief executive said.\n** A U.S. appeals court blocked health insurer Anthem Inc's bid to merge with Cigna, upholding a lower court's decision that the $54 billion deal should not be allowed because it would lead to higher prices for healthcare.\n** Time Inc said it would not sell itself, but pursue a strategic plan to boost growth, sending its shares tumbling nearly 19 percent.\n** Oil tanker firm Frontline said the high court in the Marshall Islands has agreed to hear on May 17 its complaint against takeover target DHT Holdings, which is incorporated in the remote Pacific republic, over a rival deal with BW Offshore.\n** Fortress Investment Group LLC, the U.S. alternative asset manager to be acquired by Japan's SoftBank Group for $3.3 billion, is exploring divesting bond fund manager Logan Circle Partners, according to people familiar with the matter.\n** The U.S. Federal Trade Commission gave its blessing to Emerson Electric Co's acquisition of industrial valve manufacturer Pentair PLC on condition that it sells Pentair's switchbox business to Crane Co. (Compiled by Tamara Mathias and Divya Grover in Bengaluru)", "\"We are off to the strong start we expected in 2018. First-quarter revenue grew 29% over Q1 2017, driven by growth across all major regions. Robust replenishment, following strong Q4 2017 holiday sell-through, and shipments to support Q2 holidays in the United States, drove domestic revenue growth of 26% over last year. EMEA and Japan also saw significant year-over-year growth of 47% and 38%, respectively, in part driven by the revenue uplift from acquisitions, neither of which we had in Q1 2017,\" said Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot.\n\"Given our Q1 results and our outlook for the rest of the year, we are reaffirming our 2018 full-year revenue and operating income expectations, and increasing our full-year expectations for earnings per share. We anticipate full-year 2018 revenue of $1.05 to $1.08 billion, which is year-over-year growth of 19 – 22%, operating income of $86 to $96 million, and EPS of $2.15 to $2.40.\n\"We are off to a very strong start in 2018, and I am very excited about the year ahead. We expect our global business to deliver strong financial performance in 2018 that will fund our ability to reinforce our core product leadership in the RVC category, widen our competitive moat through technological differentiation protected by our IP portfolio, and extend our product portfolio.\n\"We believe that consistent execution of this strategy is the most effective way to drive sustainable growth and shareholder value.\"\nFinancial Results\nRevenue for the first quarter of 2018 was $217.1 million , compared with $168.5 million for the first quarter of 2017.\n, compared with for the first quarter of 2017. Operating income in the first quarter of 2018 was $25.4 million , compared with $21.6 million in the first quarter of 2017.\n, compared with in the first quarter of 2017. Quarterly earnings per share were $0.71 , compared with earnings per share of $0.58 in the first quarter of 2017. In Q1 2018, earnings per share included $0 .05 of tax benefit relating to stock compensation accounting compared with a $0.06 tax benefit in Q1 2017.\nBusiness Highlights\nWe delivered year-over-year double-digit Q1 quarterly revenue growth across all major regions.\nFirst-quarter revenue grew 26% in the U.S. and 32% internationally over Q1 2017.\nOur acquisitions have enabled more consistent global control of our brand and execution of our marketing programs.\nOur investments in R&D continue as planned, and our new product introductions are on schedule for launch in the second half.\nFinancial Expectations\nManagement provides the following expectations with respect to the fiscal year ending December 29, 2018.\nFiscal Year 2018: Current Previous Revenue $1.05 - $1.08 billion $1.05 - $1.08 billion Operating Income $86 - $96 million $86 - $96 million Earnings Per Share $2.15 - $2.40 $2.10 - $2.35\nFirst-Quarter Conference Call\niRobot will host a conference call tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its financial results for the first fiscal quarter 2018, business outlook, and outlook for fiscal year 2018 financial performance. Pertinent details include:\nDate: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 Time: 8:30 a.m. ET Call-In Number: 213-358-0894 Passcode: 7776299\nA live, audio broadcast of the conference call will also be available at http://investor.irobot.com/events/event-details/q1-2018-irobot-corp-earnings-conference-call. An archived version of the broadcast will be available on the same website shortly after the conclusion of the live event. A replay of the telephone conference call will be available through May 1, and can be accessed by dialing 404-537-3406, passcode 7776299.\nAbout iRobot Corp.\niRobot, the leading global consumer robot company, designs and builds robots that empower people to do more both inside and outside of the home. iRobot created the home robot cleaning category with the introduction of its Roomba® Vacuuming Robot in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 20 million robots worldwide. iRobot's product line, including the Roomba and the Braava® family of mopping robots, feature proprietary technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. iRobot's engineers are building an ecosystem of robots and technologies to enable the smart home. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.\nFor iRobot Investors\nCertain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, iRobot Corp.'s expectations regarding: future financial performance; future operating performance; revenue growth; demand for robotic vacuum cleaners; the impact of our investments in intellectual property, technology and innovation; the introduction of new products and the timing and impact thereof; the impact of our acquisitions on our brand and execution of marketing programs; and anticipated revenue, operating income and earnings per share for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things: our ability to operate in an emerging market; the financial strength of our customers and retailers; general economic conditions; market acceptance of and adoption of our products; and competition. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot Corp. undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot Corp., see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.\nThis press release includes Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by SEC Regulation G. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense, net merger, acquisition and divestiture (income) expense, gain on business acquisition, net intellectual property litigation expense, and restructuring expense. A reconciliation between net income and Adjusted EBITDA is provided in the financial tables at the end of this press release.\niRobot Corporation Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)\nFor the three months ended\nMarch 31, April 1,\n2018 2017\nRevenue $ 217,068 $ 168,467 Cost of revenue:\nCost of product revenue 96,501 80,260 Amortization of intangible assets 4,782 864 Total cost of revenue 101,283 81,124\nGross margin 115,785 87,343\nOperating expenses:\nResearch and development 32,945 25,508 Selling and marketing 31,329 22,575 General and administrative 25,833 17,622 Amortization of intangible assets 273 - Total operating expenses 90,380 65,705\nOperating income 25,405 21,638\nOther income, net 519 3\nIncome before income taxes 25,924 21,641 Income tax expense 5,523 5,282 Net income $ 20,401 $ 16,359\nNet income per share\nBasic $ 0.73 $ 0.60 Diluted $ 0.71 $ 0.58\nNumber of shares used in per share calculations\nBasic 27,988 27,304 Diluted 28,923 28,295\nStock-based compensation included in above figures:\nCost of revenue $ 341 $ 226 Research and development 1,689 1,099 Selling and marketing 738 570 General and administrative 3,178 2,436 Total $ 5,946 $ 4,331\niRobot Corporation Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited, in thousands)\nMarch 31,\nDecember 30,\n2018\n2017\nAssets\nCash and cash equivalents $ 144,501\n$ 128,635 Short term investments 39,960\n37,225 Accounts receivable, net 69,532\n142,829 Inventory 112,111\n106,932 Other current assets 24,584\n19,105 Total current assets 390,688\n434,726 Property and equipment, net 47,223\n44,579 Deferred tax assets 32,690\n31,531 Goodwill 123,218\n121,440 Intangible assets, net 40,613\n44,712 Other assets 15,005\n14,534 Total assets $ 649,437\n$ 691,522\nLiabilities and stockholders' equity\nAccounts payable $ 69,119\n$ 116,316 Accrued expenses 56,107\n73,647 Deferred revenue and customer advances 6,271\n7,761 Total current liabilities 131,497\n197,724 Deferred tax liabilities 8,349\n9,539 Other long term liabilities 12,963\n13,932 Total liabilities 152,809\n221,195 Stockholders' equity 496,628\n470,327 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 649,437\n$ 691,522\niRobot Corporation Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited, in thousands)\nFor the three months ended\nMarch 31, April 1,\n2018 2017 Cash flows from operating activities:\nNet income $ 20,401 $ 16,359 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating\nactivities:\nDepreciation and amortization 8,747 3,486 Stock-based compensation 5,946 4,331 Deferred income taxes, net (3,061) 17 Non-cash director deferred compensation 16 16 Deferred rent 1,077 - Other 390 166 Changes in operating assets and liabilities — (use) source\nAccounts receivable 73,642 25,155 Inventory (4,223) (6,546) Other assets (6,114) (1,745) Accounts payable (46,461) (5,026) Accrued expenses (19,693) (8,612) Deferred revenue and customer advances (517) (284) Long term liabilities (360) (558) Net cash provided by operating activities 29,790 26,759\nCash flows from investing activities:\nAdditions of property and equipment (8,717) (3,008) Change in other assets 379 (504) Purchases of investments (6,438) (3,498) Sales and maturities of investments 3,500 3,500 Net cash used in investing activities (11,276) (3,510)\nCash flows from financing activities:\nIncome tax withholding payment associated with restricted stock vesting (3,478) (2,778) Proceeds from stock option exercises 399 722 Net cash used in financing activities (3,079) (2,056)\nEffect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 431 12 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 15,866 21,205 Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period 128,635 214,523 Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period $ 144,501 $ 235,728\niRobot Corporation Supplemental Information (unaudited)\nFor the three months ended\nMarch 31, April 1,\n2018 2017\nRevenue: *\nConsumer $ 217,068 $ 168,248\nDomestic $ 106,862 $ 84,789\nInternational $ 110,206 $ 83,459\nOther revenue $ - $ -\nGross Margin Percent 53.3% 51.8%\nConsumer units shipped* 815 704\nVacuum 712 582\nMopping 103 121\nOther - 1\nConsumer revenue** $ 217 $ 168\nVacuum*** $ 201 $ 151\nMopping*** $ 16 $ 17\nOther - -\nAverage gross selling prices for robot units - Consumer $ 309 $ 258\nDays sales outstanding 29 26\nDays in inventory 101 64\nHeadcount 954 636\n* in thousands\n** in millions\n*** includes accessory revenue\niRobot Corporation Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation to GAAP (unaudited, in thousands)\nFor the three months ended\nMarch 31, April 1,\n2018 2017\nNet income $ 20,401 $ 16,359\nInterest income, net (330) (383) Income tax expense 5,523 5,282 Depreciation 3,661 2,580 Amortization 5,086 906\nEBITDA 34,341 24,744\nStock-based compensation expense 5,946 4,331 Net merger, acquisition and divestiture (income) expense (141) 840 Net intellectual property litigation expense 2,571 262\nAdjusted EBITDA $ 42,717 $ 30,177 Adjusted EBITDA as a % of revenue 19.7% 17.9%\nUse of Non-GAAP Financial Measures\nIn evaluating its business, iRobot considers and uses Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of its operating performance. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense, net merger, acquisition and divestiture (income) expense, gain on business acquisition, net intellectual property litigation expense, and restructuring expense. The Company also presents Adjusted EBITDA because it believes it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a measure of financial performance.\nThe term Adjusted EBITDA is not defined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, and is not a measure of operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing the Company's operating performance, investors should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Among other things, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company's actual cash expenditures. Other companies may calculate similar measures differently than iRobot, limiting their usefulness as comparative tools. iRobot compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally.\nView original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irobot-reports-first-quarter-financial-results-300635695.html\nSOURCE iRobot Corp.\nRelated Links\nhttp://www.irobot.com", "The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of Cristal by Tronox, both major suppliers of titanium dioxide pigment. The approval is conditional on full compliance with commitments offered by Tronox.\nCommissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: \"Titanium dioxide pigment is an essential ingredient in many consumer products, including paper laminate used in furniture and interiors. Tronox and Cristal are two of the four major players in this market but we can approve their merger because the companies offered a suitable remedy that fully addresses our competition concerns. This decision will ensure that these products can continue to be offered at competitive prices and without reducing the number of suppliers available for consumers.\"\nTronox and Cristal are both active in the production of titanium dioxide pigment. They also own titanium feedstock mines, which provide the input material for pigment production, and sell zircon as a by-product of the mining. Titanium dioxide pigment, which is manufactured through either a chloride or a sulphate based production process, is used to whiten and opacify a wide range of consumer products, including paints, plastics and paper. Zircon is used in the production of tiles, ceramics and fire bricks.\nThe Commission's investigation\nThe Commission carried out an in-depth review of the proposed acquisition and found that the takeover, as initially notified, would have significantly reduced competition on the European market for chloride-based titanium dioxide pigment for use in paper laminate. Tronox and Cristal are currently two of only four major suppliers of this product, the others being Chemours and Kronos. The acquisition would therefore have led to a reduction in choice and, potentially, to price increases.\nConversely, the Commission's investigation found no competition concerns regarding:\ntitanium dioxide pigment for use in other products , in particular paints and plastics. The Commission found that there are many suppliers active in Europe and that customers can and do use a wider variety of titanium dioxide pigment types, including those with a sulphate-based production process. Therefore, the takeover would not reduce choices of the European consumers purchasing these products.\n, in particular paints and plastics. The Commission found that there are many suppliers active in Europe and that customers can and do use a wider variety of titanium dioxide pigment types, including those with a sulphate-based production process. Therefore, the takeover would not reduce choices of the European consumers purchasing these products. titanium feedstocks , which are the main input in titanium dioxide pigment production. Neither Tronox nor Cristal is a major supplier of titanium feedstocks to third parties. As a result, the acquisition would not significantly reduce competition on this market, or make it more difficult for other pigment producers to enter the market.\n, which are the main input in titanium dioxide pigment production. Neither Tronox nor Cristal is a major supplier of titanium feedstocks to third parties. As a result, the acquisition would not significantly reduce competition on this market, or make it more difficult for other pigment producers to enter the market. the market for zircon, given the large number of other suppliers offering similar products.\nThe commitments\nTo address the Commission's competition concerns, Tronox offered to sell its global business in titanium dioxide pigment for paper laminate comprising the required technology and other intangibles to an experienced manufacturer with chloride-based production technology active in the European Economic Area (EEA).\nThe acquisition of Cristal is subject to the Commission approving the buyer that Tronox will propose. In its assessment the Commission will consider the proposed buyer's suitability and incentive to compete in a way that would replicate the current competitive dynamic on the market where the Commission found competition concerns.\nThese commitments fully address the Commission's concerns as they ensure that the same number of suppliers will remain active on the market of chloride-based titanium dioxide pigment for paper laminate, and that customers continue to enjoy the same level of choice.\nThe Commission therefore considers that the proposed transaction, as modified by the commitments, would no longer raise competition concerns. The Commission's decision is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments.\nThe Commission has cooperated closely with other competition authorities, including the US Federal Trade Commission the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Chinese Competition Authority.\"\nCompanies and products\nTronox, registered in Australia and headquartered in the US, is active in mining and in the production of minerals and chemicals, including titanium dioxide. It owns mines in Australia and South Africa, and operates production sites in Europe, the US and Australia.\nCristal (The National Titanium Dioxide Company Ltd.) is headquartered in Saudi Arabia and is part of the Tasnee industrial company. Cristal is active in mining and in the production of titanium dioxide and other titanium chemicals. It owns mines in Australia and Brazil, and operates production sites in Europe, the US, China, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.\nMerger control rules and procedures\nThe Commission has the duty to assess mergers and acquisitions involving companies with a turnover above certain thresholds (see Article 1 of the Merger Regulation) or that have been referred to it (see Article 4(5) of the Merger Regulation) and to prevent concentrations that would significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.\nThe vast majority of notified mergers do not pose competition problems and are cleared after a routine review. From the moment a transaction is notified, the Commission generally has a total of 25 working days to decide whether to grant approval (Phase I) or to start an in-depth investigation (Phase II).\nIn addition to the current transaction, there are three other on-going phase II merger investigations: the proposed acquisition of Tele2 NL by T-Mobile NL, the proposed acquisition of Shazam by Apple and the proposed merger of Praxair and Linde.\nMore information will be available on the Commission's competitionwebsite, in the public case register under the case number M.8451.", "Are you an ebook convert, or do you prefer to stick to printed books?\nI’ve never owned, contemplated owning nor as much as physically handled an e-reader.\nBeing an English Literature graduate and having been in publishing all my working life, I guess I’m not naturally drawn to reading a good book on a screen.\nSo when I read that sales of consumer ebooks fell 17% last year, to the lowest level since 2011, while printed book sales reached a five-year high, I did an imaginary high kick. Despite what the doom-mongers say, print is not dead after all!\nScreen fatigue\nThe analysts are putting the decline down to ‘screen fatigue’ – with people looking at so many throughout the day, be it laptop, smart phone, tablet or smart TV, a good old-fashioned print book provides a welcome reprieve.\nBut for me it runs deeper.\nNothing beats that feeling you get poring through the pages of a good book, putting it down and picking the story up from where you left it. For me, the same applies to magazines.\nIf it’s really good, I want to share it with my friends and family. Hopefully, I’ll get it back eventually, so I can put it on the shelf along with my other well-thumbed, dog-eared favourite reads.\nSome books I even get quite sentimental about – especially the ones I’ve scrawled in while studying.\nI just can’t see how you can get any of that joy from an e-reader.\nIt doesn’t seem that there’s even a cost benefit either. The e-reader device itself comes in at around £100 or more, plus the ebooks you download on it.\nNot to mention that there’s the risk that it can break – being an occasional bath-time reader, mine would definitely get water damaged.\nEasy read\nOf course, I do see the merit in e-readers, too. When a friend went back to uni to study zoology, she raved about how hers saved her from lugging heavy textbooks about.\nAnd if you’re a fast reader heading on holiday for a couple of weeks then you may not have enough luggage space to store a few good reads, whereas an e-reader is pretty compact.\nPlus, provided your wi-fi isn’t on the blink, you can buy an ebook and start reading it there and then. You don’t have to wait for it to be delivered or visit the bookshop. Although, in my opinion, you’d be missing out on that wonderful experience, too.\nSo, are you in the real book corner or a fan of ebooks? Are you surprised that sales of ebooks are declining?", "The European Commission has imposed a €124.5 million fine on Altice, the multinational cable and telecommunications company based in the Netherlands, for implementing its acquisition of the Portuguese telecommunications operator PT Portugal before notification or approval by the Commission.\nCommissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: \"Companies that jump the gun and implement mergers before notification or clearance undermine the effectiveness of our merger control system. This is the system that protects European consumers from any merger that would lead to higher prices or reduced choice. The fine imposed by the Commission on Altice today reflects the seriousness of the infringement and should deter other firms from breaking EU merger control rules\".\nTo be able to deliver accurate decisions within tight timelines, the EU merger control system is built on clear procedural rules that companies must fully respect to ensure fair competition.\nEU merger rules require that merging companies notify planned mergers of Union dimension for review by the Commission (\"the notification requirement\") and do not implement them until cleared by the Commission (\"the standstill obligation\"). The standstill obligation prevents the potentially irreparable negative impact of transactions on the market, pending the outcome of the Commission's investigation.\nIn February 2015, Altice notified the Commission of its plans to acquire PT Portugal. The transaction was conditionally cleared by the Commission on 20 April 2015, subject to the divestment of Altice's businesses in Portugal at the time, Oni and Cabovisão.\nIn May 2017, the Commission addressed a Statement of Objections to Altice detailing its concerns that Altice implemented its acquisition of PT Portugal before obtaining the Commission's clearance, and in some instances, even before its notification of the merger. In today's decision the Commission confirms its preliminary view that Altice breached the EU Merger Regulation and imposes a fine of €124.5 million on Altice.\nIn particular, the Commission has concluded that:\ncertain provisions of the purchase agreement resulted in Altice acquiring the legal right to exercise decisive influence over PT Portugal, for example by granting Altice veto rights over decisions concerning PT Portugal's ordinary business;\nin certain cases, Altice actually exercised decisive influence over aspects of PT Portugal's business, for example by giving PT Portugal instructions on how to carry out a marketing campaign and by seeking and receiving detailed commercially sensitive information about PT Portugal outside the framework of any confidentiality agreement.\nToday's decision has no impact on the Commission's April 2015 decision to authorise the transaction under the EU Merger Regulation. The assessment of the Commission at the time was independent of the facts reproached by the Commission to Altice in today's decision.\nThe fine\nAccording to the Merger Regulation, the Commission can impose fines of up to 10% of the aggregated turnover of companies, which intentionally or negligently breach the notification and/or the standstill obligations.\nIn setting the amount of a fine, the Commission takes into account the nature, the gravity and duration of the infringement, as well as any mitigating and aggravating circumstances.\nAltice breached both the notification and the standstill obligations. The Commission considers that these infringements are serious because they undermine the effective functioning of the EU merger control system.\nMoreover, the Commission considers that Altice was aware of its obligations under the Merger Regulation. Therefore, Altice's breach of procedural obligations was, at least, negligent.\nOn the basis of these factors, the Commission has concluded that an overall fine of €124 500 000 is both proportionate and deterrent.\nBackground\nThe Altice/PT Portugal merger case\nOn 9 December 2014, Altice entered into a transaction agreement with Oi, the Brazilian telecommunications operator which controlled PT Portugal, to acquire sole control of PT Portugal. The transaction was notified to the Commission in February 2015 and approved, subject to conditions, in April 2015.\nAt the time of the notification, Altice's Portuguese subsidiaries Cabovisão and ONI were competitors of PT Portugal for telecommunications services in Portugal. The Commission had concerns that the merged entity would have faced insufficient competitive constraint from the remaining players on the market for fixed telecommunications. This could have led to higher prices for clients. The decision was therefore conditional upon Altice's divestment of both ONI and Cabovisão.\nOther merger procedural cases\nIn May 2017, the Commission fined Facebook €110 million for providing incorrect or misleading information during the Commission's 2014 investigation under the EU Merger Regulation of Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp. This decision had no impact on the Commission's October 2014 approval of the transaction under the EU Merger Regulation since the clearance decision was based on a number of different elements going beyond those linked to the incorrect or missing information.\nIn July 2017, the Commission sent three separate Statements of Objections to Merck and Sigma-Aldrich, General Electric and Canon alleging they breached EU merger rules: one to General Electric, and one to Merck and Sigma-Aldrich for allegedly providing incorrect or misleading information; one to Canon for allegedly implementing a merger before notification and clearance. These investigations are ongoing.\nProcedural background\nThe obligation on companies to notify transactions to the Commission prior to their implementation is laid out in Article 4(1) of the EU Merger Regulation. This obligation safeguards the Commission's ability to detect and investigate concentrations.\nThe standstill obligation (Article 7(1)) whereby mergers falling within the remit of the Merger Regulation may not be implemented prior to notification to or clearance by the Commission prevents the potentially detrimental impact of transactions on the competitive structure of the market, pending the outcome of the Commission investigation. The ability of the Commission to impose fines in the event of a breach of Article 4(1) or 7(1) is laid out in Article 14(2)(a) and (b) of the EU Merger Regulation.\nMore information will be available on the competition website, in the Commission's public case register under the case number M.7993.", "Aug 14 (Reuters) - GoGold Resources Inc-\n* GoGold reports Q3 financial results\n* GoGold Resources Inc - ‍produced 2,557 gold ounces and 151,442 silver ounces for a total of 339,730 silver equivalent ounces in quarter ending june 30​\n* GoGold Resources Inc - qtrly ‍basic net income per share $0.00​\n* GoGold Resources Inc - ‍\"actively exploring\" alternatives to de-lever its balance sheet​\n* GoGold Resources - ‍alternatives to de-lever balance sheet may include seeking strategic investments, acquisitions, divestitures of or jv on some assets​ Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:", "When the economy is booming, companies tend to identify numerous growth opportunities and such opportunities can present themselves in the form of mergers and acquisitions (M&A).\nA merger can be set in a number of ways and is usually whereby two companies join forces and combine into a new entity, with a new management and corporate structure.\nSometimes a subsidiary or statutory merger can also be opted for.\nIn a subsidiary merger, one of the companies becomes the parent company and the other its subsidiary.\nIn a statutory merger, instead of a new entity being formed, one of the companies, usually the acquiring company, maintains its legal name while the other (usually the target) ceases to exist and the target company’s assets and operations then operate under the acquiring company’s name.\nAcquisitions similar to a statutory merger usually involve one company acquiring another, whereby the target company usually ceases to exist and all of its assets fall under the acquirer. Sometimes, where similarities present themselves between M&As, the difference relates to the manner in which a deal was met.\nM&As usually involve friendly or hostile offers, whereby the term mergers would usually relate to instances of friendly takeover offers. In friendly takeovers, both sets of management or board of directors are willing to reach a compromise and to see through the deal in the best interest of their shareholders.\nHostile takeovers usually relate to acquisitions and usually involves an offer opposed by the target’s management but whereby the acquirer nonetheless pursues a number of legal methods to push through a deal. Target management can then trigger a number of defense mechanisms in attempting to fend off the bidder/s.\nDefense mechanisms usually only relate to hostile takeovers and a number of companies usually have such mechanisms embedded in their articles of association. If they don’t, then it should be best practice for companies operating in highly cyclical industries with high risks of takeovers to implement defense methods against unwanted bidders.\nThere are numerous forms of defense mechanisms. To mention a few, poison pills and poison puts are popular pre-takeover methods of defense.\nA poison pill allows a target company to issue additional shares to its shareholders, once a percentage of ownership level is triggered, at a price significantly below the market price. This not only makes the bid price more expensive to a bidder but dilutes the percentage of shares it would already have acquired in the open market.\nPoison puts usually involve debt holders and gives them the right to ask for the immediate redemption of their bonds at or above par level at a pre-specified price in the debt covenants. This makes it more expensive for the bidder and riskier too as the potential acquirer would most likely have to borrow funds to redeem to bondholders. There are numerous other methods of defense companies can consider.\nM&As are constantly occurring. As a current example, US biopharmaceuticals group Tesaro faces unwanted interest by numerous drug makers, given the popularity of its cancer treatment drugs. Should potential offers be considered hostile then Tesaro’s management will most undoubtedly defend itself, with what should be its own Anti-Takeover mechanisms.\nShould instead a deal be pushed through, then management will most undoubtedly ensure for the best profitable deal for its shareholders.\nDisclaimer: This article was issued by Mathieu Ganado, Junior Investment Manager at Calamatta Cuschieri. For more information visit, www.cc.com.mt .The information, views and opinions provided in this article are being provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be construed as investment advice, advice concerning particular investments or investment decisions, or tax or legal advice. Calamatta Cuschieri Investment Services Ltd has not verified and consequently neither warrants the accuracy nor the veracity of any information, views or opinions appearing on this website.", "Ireland’s telecoms watchdog says the recent takeover of O2 Ireland by Three Ireland has resulted in higher mobile prices here.\nIreland’s telecoms watchdog says the recent takeover of O2 Ireland by Three Ireland has resulted in higher mobile prices here.\nThe telecoms watchdog said that the ‘virtual’ operators created have also had virtually no effect on improving competition in the Irish market.\nThe verdict is based on a review of the effects on the Irish market by the European telecoms authority, Berec.\n“For Ireland, the results indicate that the merger led to price increases for low, medium and high mobile users in the first half year after the merger with this effect persisting for the duration of the study, one and a half years, for the high basket,” said Comreg. “In particular, prices for medium and high mobile users are estimated to be over 20pc higher in the first half of 2015 than they would have been had the merger not occurred.”\nIn 2014, Comreg had opposed the €800m takeover, protesting that it would weaken competition in the Irish market as the number of primary mobile operators would go down from four to three.\nHowever, European competition authorities allowed the takeover after Three promised that it would offer two new ‘virtual’ licences on favourable terms to new entrants and guarantee to give Meteor (now rebranded as Eir) continued access to some of its network.\nComreg now says that one of the two virtual operators, iD Mobile, has left the market after failing to gain traction. It also says that the other virtual operator, Virgin Mobile, has only captured 0.9pc of the mobile market.\n“ComReg was concerned that the [Three] commitments appeared inadequate and ineffective as a means to address the serious competition concerns and consumer harm identified by the EC,” said the Irish telecoms authority.\n“In ComReg’s view, the concerns expressed to the EC regarding the Commitments remain valid.”\nBerec’s study looked at the price implications of mergers and acquisitions in three European countries -- Ireland, Germany and Austria. The study focused on three different types of mobile users based on their usage of domestic voice minutes, domestic SMS and domestic data.\n“Across the three countries, the study found evidence that these concentrations led to price increases in the short to medium term,” said Comreg.\nA spokeswoman for 3 Ireland rejected the conclusion of the study from Berec.\n“Three Ireland does not accept the findings of this report, which is simplistic and highly caveated,” she said. “The study only looks at an 18 month period after Q1 2014. During this period Three Ireland made one plan price change which had no effect on 99pc of its customer base.\n“Since acquiring O2, Three Ireland has invested close to half a billion euro in modernising and updating the network. The scale of this investment would not have been possible had the acquisition not been approved.\n“The acquisition of O2 by Three turned what was a dysfunctional four player market into a functional, highly competitive three player market.\n“Three’s acquisition of O2 has been good for competition in Ireland as it has allowed us to continue to offer competitive plans and maintain All You Can Eat Data for our customers, one of the few operators in Europe to do so.”\nOnline Editors", "Breakups are always emotional, more so when they’re expensive. Let’s calculate the financial carnage of Aetna’s breakup with Humana, a $34-billion merger deal that was shut down by a federal judge three weeks ago and ended by the two big insurance companies on Tuesday.\nWe figure that Aetna wasted roughly $1.8 billion, pre-tax, in pursuit of a merger that many experts said was so anti-competitive that it probably wouldn’t fly. This is a good portion of Aetna’s $2.3 billion in reported profit last year, on revenue of $63.2 billion. Of course, the costs are generally tax-deductible, so the U.S. taxpayer effectively is footing at least part of the bill — perhaps one-third, based on standard corporate tax rates.\nGiven that Aetna is a company that whined piteously about much smaller losses on its Affordable Care Act business — so much so that it cut loose more than 700,000 individual insurance customers to save money — it’s proper to ask what they were thinking.\nWe know what they say they were thinking: Aetna Chairman and Chief Executive Mark Bertolini mouthed the boilerplated platitudes in the announcement of the breakup. “We continue to believe that a combined company would create greater value for healthcare consumers through improved affordability and quality,” he said.\nAn expensive and risky bet on an uncertain outcome... with consequences that could limit competition and have a negative impact on consumer choice. — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, et al, on Aetna's $1-billion merger breakup fee\nThis is the usual unspecific pap employed to justify any big merger, especially in healthcare. If we’ve learned anything from experience, it’s that such mergers end up raising prices and reducing efficiencies and innovation. In other words, the opposite of what Bertolini claimed. That’s because lower prices and greater efficiencies and innovation stem from competition, which is exactly what mergers like the Aetna-Humana deal destroy.\nThe sophistry that surrounded the deal didn’t stop there. Last August, Aetna withdrew from 11 of the 15 states where it was offering individual insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. The company claimed this was a business decision based on mounting losses in the market. But U.S. Judge John D. Bates, in his decision blocking the merger, called that deceitful: Aetna dropped much of that business, he found, to improve its litigation position in the government lawsuit over the merger.\nBertolini also had asserted in public that Aetna’s discussions with the government about the merger and about its participation in the ACA exchanges were “separate conversations.” Internal company documents revealed that Aetna had explicitly tied them together, telling the Justice Department that if it tried to block the merger it would pull out of the exchanges. The department sued to block the merger, and Aetna made good on its threat.\nNow that the merger deal is dead, let’s turn to the cost of the funeral.\nThe biggest single chunk is a $1-billion termination fee that Aetna now owes to Humana. Traditionally, such breakup fees are owed by the selling company (Humana, in this case) to the buyer; the idea is to discourage the seller from shopping around for a higher bidder.\nTechnically speaking, the Aetna arrangement is a “reverse termination fee” owed by the buyer to the seller. These have become more common on deals that are vulnerable to regulatory challenge. The goal, according to Afra Afsharipour, a law professor at UC Davis whose specialties include mergers and acquisitions, is to compensate the target for the disruption that results from a blocked merger.\nAetna’s is at the low end of the range of such fees, coming to about 2.9% of the value of the transaction. Typically they’re closer to 4%. Anthem, for example, will have to pay Cigna a $1.85-billion fee, or 3.4%, for its failed $54-billion merger, which was also blocked by a judge and called off by Cigna on Tuesday.\nWhat’s problematic about the Aetna case, Afsharipour adds, is that Aetna cited the breakup fee as a reason for the Justice Department to approve the merger, placing it among the costs it would incur if the agency sued. “Their argument was, ‘If you don’t allow the deal, we’ll have to pay $1 billion,’” she observed. “But they’re the ones who agreed to the fee.”\nSen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and four Democratic colleagues made this very point in a September letter to Bertolini, in which they noted that the companies had ample warning that their merger would invite a stiff regulatory challenge. They called the breakup fee “an expensive and risky bet on a highly uncertain outcome… with consequences that could limit competition in the marketplace and have a negative impact on consumer choice.” They asked, “When Aetna agreed to pay this fee, was Aetna aware that it would endanger participation in the ACA exchanges?” It isn’t clear if they ever got an answer.\nThere’s more to the cost of the failed merger. In June, Aetna floated $13 billion in bonds to fund the merger. It was the third-largest bond deal of the year up to that point, at interest rates ranging from 1.9% to 4.375% a year. The bond issuance cost Aetna $82.5 million in commissions and fees, according to the bond prospectus. On Tuesday, the company said it would buy back all the bonds at 101% of their face value, at a cost of $13 million. The company also owes interest from June to mid-March, when the repurchase will be done, which we figure will come to about $304 million. Total bond expenses: about $400 million.\nFinally, there are the transaction costs — lawyers, accountants and other money crunchers. Aetna reported “transaction and integration-related costs” of $517 million last year and $258 million in 2015, which it attributed jointly to the Humana deal and its acquisitions of Coventry Health Care and Bswift, a retail technology company. But the $6.9-billion Coventry deal closed in 2013 and the $400-million bswift acquisition in 2014, so most of the $775 million in transaction costs in 2015 and 2016 was likely due to Humana. Let’s conservatively add another $400 million to the invoice.", "(The following statement was released by the rating agency) NEW YORK, April 06 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has affirmed Harris Corporation's (HRS) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and long-term issue ratings at 'BBB-', and has also affirmed the Short-Term IDR and commercial paper ratings at 'F3'. The Rating Outlook is Positive. Fitch's ratings cover approximately $4 billion of outstanding long-term and short-term debt after giving effect to the $248 million debt repayment completed in January of 2017. A full list of rating actions appears at the end of this release. KEY RATING DRIVERS The ratings are supported by the company's competitive position in the defense industry; technological capability; good product diversification; adequate liquidity; financial flexibility; and large backlog. The company has solid cash generation and strong operating margins, and it is expected to further improve its operations with the realized cost savings from the acquisition of Exelis Inc. (XLS) completed on May 29, 2015. The Rating Outlook is based on Fitch's expectations that HRS will continue repaying its debt and will reduce leverage over the next three years due to both voluntary and scheduled debt repayments. HRS' leverage metrics will remain adequate for the ratings during the majority of fiscal 2018 despite significant expected debt repayment. Fitch expects the company's leverage (debt/EBITDA) and adjusted leverage (rent adjusted debt/EBITDAR) will decline to approximately 2.2x and 2.5x by the end of fiscal 2018 (ended June 29) following a redemption of the $500 million senior unsecured bonds due in April of 2018. Fitch also expects HRS' FFO adjusted leverage will improve to 3.1x by the end of fiscal 2018, down from 5x at the end of fiscal 2016. As of the last 12 months ended Dec. 30, 2016, the company's leverage and adjusted leverage were 2.9x and 3.2x, down from 4.1x and 4.2x at the end of fiscal year ended July 1, 2015, respectively. HRS has de-leveraged slower than Fitch expected following the XLS acquisition driven by recent portfolio reshaping and share repurchases. The company is on target to meet its earlier commitment of paying down $2 billion of debt by the end of fiscal 2018, but a string of divestitures of several non-core businesses during fiscal 2017 reduced HRS' revenue and EBITDA, resulting in higher than initially expected leverage over the next three years. Fitch estimates the divestitures made during fiscal 2017 will reduce the company's revenue and EBITDA by approximately $1.4 billion and $150 million, respectively, at the end of fiscal 2017. Fitch believes HRS has completed its portfolio reshaping and does not anticipate the company will make additional divestitures or acquisitions in the near future. Even though the company retained higher margin businesses, the decreases in revenue and EBITDA from divestitures will negatively affect HRS' leverage metrics in the short term as the company plans to use a part of the proceeds to repurchase shares and make voluntary pension contributions instead of repaying debt. As a result of the divestitures, Fitch expects HRS' leverage will be approximately 2.7x and 2.2x at the end of fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2018, respectively, revised upwards from the previous projections of 2.4x and 1.9x. Despite slower than initially expected de-leveraging, Fitch views the company's portfolio actions as positive in the long run. Fitch believes the reshaping efforts will result in a stronger operating profile and will enable the company to focus on its more profitable defense businesses going forward. If the company continues to reduce debt, Fitch believes the company's credit metrics will likely be commensurate with a 'BBB' rating by the end of fiscal 2018, as relatively weak leverage metrics for the ratings will be mitigated by strong operating margins and solid cash generation. Fitch expects the company will generate above $800 million of free cash flow (FCF) annually over the next two years before giving effect to dividends of more than $250 million. Fitch expects strong cash generation will support HRS' sizable maturities, as approximately $1.24 billion of debt will mature over the next three years. The majority of the company's non-leverage metrics (profitability, diversity, backlog, etc.) are indicative of a strong investment grade company. HRS is a sole source provider for many of its products and generates solid operating cash driven by strong margins and effective cost management. Fitch expects the company will generate approximately 25% EBITDA margins in fiscal 2017, up from approximately 23% in fiscal 2016, which was negatively impacted by unfavorable product mix and a significant slowdown in commercial end markets. The increase in the estimated 2017 year end EBITDA margin is driven by better product mix due to divestitures of several low margin businesses and merger related synergy savings in the range of $130 million to $135 million. The completion of the XLS integration is expected to result in annual run-rate savings in the range of $140 million to $150 million by the end of fiscal 2018. Fitch is concerned with HRS' exposure to shocks and downturns in U.S. military spending or shifts in spending mix. Fitch still considers the defense outlook to be somewhat uncertain, partly due to the Pentagon's intense focus on lowering costs, which could impact the sector's profitability, as well as the continued risk of sequestration after fiscal 2017. Fitch considers HRS' portfolio to be of good quality, with highly diversified, strategically important, and growing programs. HRS' exposure to U.S. military spending has increased significantly as a result of the broad portfolio reshaping over the last two fiscal years. Since the XLS acquisition, HRS has divested almost all of its commercial businesses including Healthcare Solutions (July 15, 2015), the Composite Aerostructures business (April 8, 2016), and CapRock Communications (Jan. 3, 2017) as well as the Government IT business. Divestitures of commercial businesses decreased HRS' revenue diversification, but this is mitigated by the lower cyclicality and higher margins of the government businesses. Fitch estimates the combined EBITDA margin of the divested businesses was approximately 11% compared to the approximately 25% margin for the remaining portfolio. Fitch is also concerned by HRS' large pension deficit (including a relatively high percentage of Level III assets) and corresponding future pension funding requirements. However, this is mitigated by HRS' plan to make a $588 million contribution to its qualified pension plans during fiscal 2017, including a $400 million discretionary payment to be funded by the divestiture of the Government IT business. Fitch expects the underfunded status of the company's qualified pension plans will improve significantly at the end of fiscal 2017 driven by rising interest rates, expected strong returns of the plans' assets, and the $400 million discretionary contribution. HRS has been de-risking the portfolio of qualified pension plan assets over the past several years, and Fitch expects the trend will continue. In 2016, Level III Assets as a percentage of the pension plan's assets was 22%, down significantly from 30% at the end of fiscal 2015. At the end of fiscal 2016, HRS' pension plans were underfunded by approximately $2.2 billion (approximately 66% funded), a slight deterioration from a $2 billion deficit (69% funded) at the end of fiscal 2015. The pension benefit obligation (PBO) was $6.5 billion at the end of fiscal 2016, while the other postretirement benefit obligation was $311 million (approximately 69% funded). In fiscal 2016, HRS contributed $174 million to its qualified pension plans. The company expects it will not be required to make pension plan contributions in fiscal 2018, fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020 due to the aforementioned discretionary contribution, however, Fitch assumes HRS will resume contributions in fiscal 2020 at approximately $200 million per year. Fitch believes future funding requirements for the pension obligations are manageable because of the company's strong FCF generation. In addition, the large pension deficit is partially mitigated by the expected reimbursements from the U.S. government, which treats a part of pension costs as allowable and reimbursable costs under some contracts. The projected future cash contributions do not take into account reimbursement the company expects to receive from the U.S. government, and Fitch expects net pension related cash outflows will be lower than the projected contributions. HRS does not disclose the reimbursement amount. KEY ASSUMPTIONS Fitch's key assumptions within the rating case for HRS include: --Flat organic sales in fiscal 2017 and low single-digit revenue growth thereafter; --EBITDA margins at approximately 25% in fiscal 2017 and beyond; --Cash will be deployed towards debt reduction and dividends over the next two years. Fitch expects dividends will increase annually; --The company will not be required to make qualified pension plan contributions over the next two years; -- Fitch expects share repurchases will be limited to offset dilution in fiscal 2018, and additional repurchases will be made from excess cash (if any) remaining after the company retires $700 million of debt by the end of fiscal 2018; --Cash flow generation will be solid and the company will generate approximately $800 million FCF annually before giving effect to pension contributions and dividends; --HRS will not make material debt funded acquisitions over the rating horizon; --Capital expenditures will fluctuate in the range of 2.3% to 2.5% of revenues. RATING SENSITIVITIES Positive: Future actions that may, individually or collectively, cause Fitch to take a positive rating action include continued deleveraging, which would lead to sustained leverage of 2x-2.25x, adjusted leverage below 2.75x, and sustained FFO-adjusted leverage below 3x. Fitch may also consider a positive rating action if faster EBITDA margin improvements translate into better than expected operating results. Negative: Future actions that may, individually or collectively, cause Fitch to take a negative rating action include the company's leverage and adjusted leverage remaining above 2.75x and 3.25x, respectively, for a sustained period of time. Fitch may also consider a negative action if the company's FCF margin declines and remains below 4%. Additionally, a negative action may also be considered if the company engages in sizable share repurchases or acquisitions prior to reducing leverage. LIQUIDITY As of Dec. 30, 2016, HRS' liquidity position was $1.1 billion, composed of approximately $310 million of total available cash and cash equivalents and $825 million of availability under the $1 billion revolving credit facility after giving effect to outstanding LOCs. In its ratings case, Fitch assumes an average of $50 million cash to be restricted and held at foreign subsidiaries for operational purposes. The company's liquidity will likely remain in the range of $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion over the rating horizon as Fitch does not expect HRS' cash balances to fluctuate significantly due to rapid debt repayment. HRS' capital structure consists of senior unsecured credit facilities (comprised of a $1 billion revolving facility and three- and five-year term loans) and senior unsecured bonds. The company has sizable maturities over the next three years as approximately $335 million of outstanding borrowings under the term loans become due in fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2020, the $500 million senior unsecured bonds become due in fiscal 2018, and the $400 million senior unsecured bonds mature in fiscal 2020 (April 2020). Fitch anticipates that HRS will manage the upcoming maturities of senior unsecured bonds with internally generated cash, will repay in full the three-year term loans, and will pay down a significant portion of the five-year term loan by the end of fiscal 2018. FULL LIST OF RATING ACTIONS Fitch has affirmed the following ratings: Harris Corporation: --IDR at 'BBB-'; --Senior unsecured revolving credit facility at 'BBB-'; --Senior unsecured three- and five-year term loans at 'BBB-'; --Senior unsecured notes and debentures at 'BBB-'; --Short-term IDR at 'F3'; --Commercial paper at 'F3'. The Rating Outlook is Positive. Contact: Primary Analyst David Petu, CFA Director +1-212-908-0280 Fitch Ratings, Inc. 33 Whitehall Street New York, NY 10004 Secondary Analyst Nicholas Varone Associate Director +1-212-908-0349 Committee Chairperson Craig D. Fraser Managing Director +1-212-908-0310 Media Relations: Alyssa Castelli, New York, Tel: +1 (212) 908 0540, Email: alyssa.castelli@fitchratings.com. Summary of Financial Statement Adjustments - Fitch has made no material adjustments that are not disclosed within the company's public filings. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com Applicable Criteria Criteria for Rating Non-Financial Corporates (pub. 10 Mar 2017) here Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form here _id=1021774 Solicitation Status here Endorsement Policy here ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: here. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEB SITE AT WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM.. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA, AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE, AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CODE OF CONDUCT SECTION OF THIS SITE. DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS RELEVANT INTERESTS ARE AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://WWW. FITCHRATINGS.COM /SITE/REGULATORY. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. Copyright © 2017 by Fitch Ratings, Inc., Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries. 33 Whitehall Street, NY, NY 10004. Telephone: 1-800-753-4824, (212) 908-0500. 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As a result, despite any verification of current facts, ratings and forecasts can be affected by future events or conditions that were not anticipated at the time a rating or forecast was issued or affirmed. The information in this report is provided “as is” without any representation or warranty of any kind, and Fitch does not represent or warrant that the report or any of its contents will meet any of the requirements of a recipient of the report. A Fitch rating is an opinion as to the creditworthiness of a security. This opinion and reports made by Fitch are based on established criteria and methodologies that Fitch is continuously evaluating and updating. Therefore, ratings and reports are the collective work product of Fitch and no individual, or group of individuals, is solely responsible for a rating or a report. The rating does not address the risk of loss due to risks other than credit risk, unless such risk is specifically mentioned. 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Fitch receives fees from issuers, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, and underwriters for rating securities. Such fees generally vary from US$1,000 to US$750,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent) per issue. In certain cases, Fitch will rate all or a number of issues issued by a particular issuer, or insured or guaranteed by a particular insurer or guarantor, for a single annual fee. Such fees are expected to vary from US$10,000 to US$1,500,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent). The assignment, publication, or dissemination of a rating by Fitch shall not constitute a consent by Fitch to use its name as an expert in connection with any registration statement filed under the United States securities laws, the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000 of the United Kingdom, or the securities laws of any particular jurisdiction. Due to the relative efficiency of electronic publishing and distribution, Fitch research may be available to electronic subscribers up to three days earlier than to print subscribers. For Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and South Korea only: Fitch Australia Pty Ltd holds an Australian financial services license (AFS license no. 337123) which authorizes it to provide credit ratings to wholesale clients only. Credit ratings information published by Fitch is not intended to be used by persons who are retail clients within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001", "Cash Availability Performance Improvement Validates Canadian Divestiture\nEUGENE, OR--(Marketwired - Apr 18, 2017) - Quest Solution, Inc. ( OTCQB : QUES), is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2016.\nYear End and Subsequent Highlights\nNet revenues of $60.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of 2.5% compared to the prior year period;\nCompany secures trade extension agreement with a key supplier and converts $12.4 million of accounts payable into a promissory note and extends the maturity to September 30, 2017\nCompany completes divesture of its Canadian operations\nNet loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 of $7.5 million\nAdjusted EBITDA for the year and three months ended December 31, 2016 of $1.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively\nRedemption of 3,042,500 common shares for the year ended December 31, 2016\nAppointment of Shai Lustgarten as President and CEO\nFourth Quarter and Year-end 2016- Select Financial Results from Continuing Operations(1) Three Months Ended 12/31/2016 Three Months Ended 12/31/2015 Year Ended 12/31/2016 Year Ended 12/31/2015 Revenues 16,607,405 17,653,607 60,047,124 58,598,531 Gross profit 3,303,735 3,035,044 12,094,545 11,948,254 Gross profit margin 19.9 % 17.2 % 20.1 % 20.4 % Net loss from continuing operations (2,138,433 ) (1,704,964 ) (7,493,270 ) (1,475,524 ) Adjusted EBITDA 631,104 54,311 1,134,442 1,153,131 Adjusted EBITDA 3.8 % 0.3 % 1.9 % 2.0 % Loss per share from continuing operations - basic (0.06 ) (0.04 ) (0.21 ) (0.04 ) Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 34,742,996 37,725,736 35,947,523 36,195,065\nPlease refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the financial tables included below for the Company's GAAP financial statements and a reconciliation of GAAP results to Non-GAAP measures.\n(1) All the assets and liabilities attributable to the divestiture of Quest Solution Canada Inc. have been reclassified into the \"held for disposal\" asset and liability categories on the balance sheet. On the statement of operations, the financial results of Quest Solution Canada Inc. have been reclassified out of the activity from continuing operations, and disclosed separately in the category for discontinued operations.\nQ4-2016 Revenue Increased and Expenses Decreased Over Q3-2016\nIn the fourth quarter Company revenue increased by 22% from $13.56M in Q3 to $16.6M. There were significant wins of a million dollars or more in Retail, Transportation and Logistics and Pharmaceutical. For the quarter, there were shipments greater than $100,000 to over 30 accounts in multiple industries demonstrating the strength of the Company's sales organization. Some of these accounts have rollouts that will continue into 2017 positioning the Company for future growth.\nFor Q4-2016, G&A expenses, comprised of general and administrative, salary and employee benefits and professional fees, as a percentage of net revenues, was 17.1% compared to 18.9% in Q3-2016 as the Company began to realize benefits from cost reduction programs.\nResult is Adjusted EBITDA Increased to 3.8% in Q4-2016 from 1.4% in Q3-2016\n\"In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company concluded the carve out of Quest Solution Canada Inc., with an effective date of September 30, 2016, as such Q4-2016 was the first full quarter of operations post divestiture of the Canadian operations and the benefits have already started to be felt. The Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net revenues increased from 1.4% in Q-3 2016 to 3.8% in Q4-2016\". Q4-2016 represented 56% of the year's Adjusted EBITDA providing evidence that the Company's actions are beginning to show early results. Tom Miller, Chairman of the Board stated, \"We believe Q4 represents an important turning point for the Company and we will continue to show improvement throughout 2017. We will remain focused on continuing to drive sales, creating a more favorable product and services mix to improve margins and realizing additional cost efficiencies across the enterprise\".\nSignificant Progress on Note Reduction\nIn Q4-2016, the Company was able to reduce the Supplier Promissory Note by $2.2 million to $9.4 million as compared to $12.4M in July 2016. At the end of March 2017, the note was further reduced to $7.8 million representing a reduction of 37% since July 2016. This was possible because the Company did not have to fund the negative cash flow of the Canadian operations and is using those funds to accelerate the pay down of the Supplier Note.\n2017 Outlook\nManagement believes that the decisions taken in Q3 and Q4 2016 which included the divestiture of Canada, write off of non-performing assets, cost reductions and restructuring charges and a return of Quest to its core business with a simplified business model, provides the foundation for significantly improved Company performance in 2017. The Company is undertaking further steps in 2017 to consolidate operations and reduce G&A expenses. With the introduction of the new Route Edge mobile software in Q1-2017, an expansion of new business partner relationships and an increasing emphasis on providing professional and managed services the Company expects revenue growth in 2017. During 2017 as financial performance improves the Company intends to further reduce debt and associated interest expense. Tom Miller, Chairman of the Board stated, \"I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Shai Lustgarten as President and CEO beginning April 2017. He is an experienced executive with demonstrated success in developing technology businesses.\"\nYear End Financial Results\nRevenues\nFor the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized $60,047,124 and $58,598,531 in net revenues, respectively. This represents an increase of 2.5% attributable to organic growth. The growth rate is in line with that of the industry. We will continue to grow our revenues by providing additional value added services.\nGross Margin\nGross profit margin for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 20.1% of revenue compared to 20.4% for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company has been able to maintain stable gross margin in light of the very competitive market conditions which exemplifies its strong relationships with its customer base.\nNet loss from continuing operations\nIncluded in the net loss from continuing operations of $7.5 million for the 2016 fiscal year, were $3.5 million of non-recurring charges, most of which were non-cash. The one-time charges include a $0.3 million net loss on asset write-off and settlement of contingent liability, $0.6 million financing charges related to the early termination of the line of credit, $0.5 million in restructuring charges, $0.8 million in the increase of the valuation allowance for the deferred income tax assets and $1.3 million in interest expense from the acceleration of the accretion of the debt discount. In addition, the interest expense included $0.8 million of accretion of debt discount which will not continue in 2017 as the entire balance has been accredited at December 31, 2016 and will have a favorable impact on the profitability of the Company going forward. The net loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $1.5 million.\nNet loss from discontinued operations\nThe Company realized a net loss from discontinued operations of $6,851,875 for the year ended December 31, 2016, which represents nine months of operations, and a net loss from discontinued operations of $239,956 for the year ended December 31, 2015, which represents three months of operations.\nEBITDA\nThe Company's operating expenses during both the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 included non-cash expenses including depreciation, amortization of acquisition intangibles and stock-based compensation for employee and director stock options and one-time non-recurring costs.\nWithout the effect of these non-cash expenses, the Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes and Depreciation and Amortization (\"Adjusted EBITDA\") for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $1.1 million compared to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.\nPlease refer to the financial tables included below for a reconciliation of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (\"GAAP\") to non-GAAP financial results. Please refer to the financial tables included below for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results.\nBalance Sheet Summary\nNet deferred revenue consists of prepaid third party hardware service agreements, software maintenance service contracts and the related costs and expenses recorded net of the revenue charged. As stated in the footnotes to the financials, the Company had deferred revenue of $8.7 million and deferred costs of $7.3 million. This net deferred revenue of $1.4 million at December 31, 2016 will be recognized in income over the term of the contracts, normally one to five years, with three years being the average term.\nAbout Quest Solution, Inc.\nQuest Solution is a Specialty Systems Integrator focused on Field and Supply Chain Mobility. We are also a manufacturer and distributor of consumables (labels, tags, and ribbons), RFID solutions, and barcoding printers. Founded in 1994, Quest is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, with offices in the United States.\nRated in the Top 1% of global solution providers, Quest specializes in the design, deployment and management of enterprise mobility solutions including Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC), Mobile Cloud Analytics, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), and proprietary Mobility software. Our mobility products and services offering is designed to identify, track, trace, share and connect data to enterprise systems such as CRM or ERP solutions. Our customers are leading Fortune 500 companies from several sectors including manufacturing, retail, distribution, food / beverage, transportation and logistics, health care and chemicals / gas / oil.\nInformation about Forward-Looking Statements\n\"Safe Harbor\" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This release contains \"forward-looking statements\" that include information relating to future events and future financial and operating performance. The words \"may,\" \"would,\" \"will,\" \"expect,\" \"estimate,\" \"can,\" \"believe,\" \"potential\" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in demand for Quest Solution, Inc.'s products, the introduction of new products, the Company's ability to maintain customer and strategic business relationships, the impact of competitive products and pricing, growth in targeted markets, the adequacy of the Company's liquidity and financial strength to support its growth, the Company's ability to manage credit and debt structures from vendors, debt holders and secured lenders, the Company's ability to successfully integrate its acquisitions, risks related to the sale of Quest Solution Canada Inc. to Viascan Group Inc. and other information that may be detailed from time-to-time in Quest Solution Inc.'s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of such forward looking statements in this release include, among others, statements regarding revenue growth, driving sales, operational and financial initiatives, cost reduction and profitability, and simplification of operations. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Quest Solution, Inc. please refer to the Company's recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. Quest Solution, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.\nFinancial Tables Follow\nQUEST SOLUTION, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the three months For the years ending December 31, ending December 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Revenues Total Revenues 16,607,405 17,653,607 60,047,124 58,598,531 Cost of goods sold Cost of goods sold 13,303,670 14,618,563 47,952,579 46,650,277 Gross profit 3,303,735 3,035,044 12,094,545 11,948,254 Operating expenses General and administrative 518,241 760,116 2,327,889 2,813,984 Salary and employee benefits 2,176,206 2,394,415 8,409,223 8,220,135 Depreciation and amortization 445,249 2,528,907 1,792,326 2,598,823 Professional fees 151,221 122,339 754,411 411,261 Total operating expenses 3,290,917 5,805,777 13,283,849 14,044,203 Income (loss) from operations 12,818 (2,770,733 ) (1,189,304 ) (2,905,949 ) Other income (expenses): Restructuring expenses - - (544,941 ) - Gain on foreign currency - - 129,589 - Interest expense (1,728,283 ) (426,007 ) (4,531,263 ) (1,438,422 ) Write-off of other assets - - (450,000 ) - Gain on intangible license settlement - - - 374,500 Gain on extinguishment of other liabilities 150,000 - 150,000 - Other (expenses) income 4,130 (118,001 ) 11,001 (100,777 ) Total other expenses (1,574,153 ) (544,008 ) 5,235,614 (1,164,699 ) Net loss Before Income Taxes (1,561,335 ) (3,314,741 ) (6,424,918 ) (3,260,648 ) (Provision) benefit for Income Taxes Deferred (769,633 ) 1,797,977 (769,633 ) 1,797,977 Current 192,535 51,756 (298,719 ) (12,453 ) (577,098 ) 1,849,733 (1,068,352 ) 1,785,524 Net loss from continuing operations (2,138,433 ) (1,465,008 ) (7,493,270 ) (1,475,124 ) Net loss from discontinued operations - (239,956 ) (6,851,875 ) (239,956 ) Net Loss (2,138,433 ) (1,704,964 ) (14,345,145 ) (1,715,080 )\nQUEST SOLUTION, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As of December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 ASSETS Current assets Cash $ 289,480 $ 823,391 Restricted Cash 665,220 690,850 Accounts receivable, net 10,589,677 7,903,338 Inventory, net 531,593 471,479 Prepaid expenses 272,926 649,123 Deferred tax asset, current portion - 160,545 Other current assets 772,966 395,642 Assets held for disposal - 18,254,601 Total current assets 13,121,862 29,348,969 Fixed assets 136,835 201,897 Deferred tax asset - 433,997 Goodwill 10,114,164 10,114,164 Trade name 2,936,481 3,513,481 Intangibles, net - 8,250 Customer Relationships 6,435,652 7,560,352 Other assets 47,563 689,347 Total assets $ 32,792,557 51,870,457 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 10,566,066 14,360,980 Accrued interest and accrued liabilities, related party - 177,776 Line of credit 5,059,292 2,960,342 Advances, related party 100,000 400,000 Accrued payroll and sales tax 1,829,934 1,322,188 Deferred revenue, net 879,026 685,317 Current portion of note payable 9,782,925 - Notes payable, related parties, current portion - 6,790,148 Other current liabilities 227,932 369,609 Liabilities held for disposal - 10,795,906 Total current liabilities 28,445,175 37,862,266 Long term liabilities Note payable, related party, net of debt discount 17,515,345 13,546,840 Accrued interest and accrued liabilities, related party 629,238 - Long term portion of note payable 130,294 126,942 Deferred revenue, net 565,423 533,874 Other long term liabilities 332,270 271,902 Total liabilities 47,617,745 52,341,824 Stockholders' deficit Series A Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares designated, 0 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. - - Series B Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 1 share designated, 0 shares and 1 share issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. - 1 Series C Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares designated, 3,143,530 and 0 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, liquidation preference of $1 per share and a cumulative dividend of $0.06 per share 3,144 - Common stock; $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 35,095,763 and 36,871,478 shares issued and outstanding of December 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively.. 35,095 36,871 Common stock to be repurchased by the Company (230,490 ) - Additional paid-in capital 18,302,262 17,948,997 Accumulated deficit (32,935,199 ) (18,457,236 ) Total stockholders' deficit (14,825,188 ) (471,367 ) Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 32,792,557 51,870,457\nQUEST SOLUTION, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES For the three months For the years ending December 31, ending December 31, EBITDA Calculation: 2016 2015 2016 2015 Net loss income (2,138,433 ) (1,704,964 ) (14,345,145 ) (1,715,080 ) Net loss from discontinuing operations - 239,956 6,851,875 239,956 Income Taxes 577,098 (1,849,733 ) 1,068,352 (1,785,524 ) Depreciation & Amortization 445,249 2,528,907 1,792,326 2,598,823 Interest Expense 1,728,283 426,007 4,531,263 1,438,422 Non-admissible foreign exchange (gain) loss - - (129,589 ) - EBITDA 612,197 (359,827 ) (230,918 ) 776,597 Adjusted EBITDA Calculation: EBITDA 612,197 (359,827 ) (230,918 ) 776,597 Non Cash stock compensation 66,372 414,138 374,451 751,034 Write-off of other assets - - 450,000 - Gain on intangible license settlement - - - (374,500 ) Restructuring expenses - - 544,941 - Divestiture related costs 102,535 - 102,535 - Merger related costs - - 25,188 - Gain on extinguishment of other liabilities (150,000 ) - (150,000 ) - One time nonrecurring costs - - 18,245 - Adjusted EBITDA 631,104 54,311 1,134,442 1,153,131 Net Revenue 16,607,405 17,653,607 60,047,124 58,598,531 Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Net Revenue 3.8 % 0.3 % 1.9 % 2.0 %\nThe merger related costs are fees from an independent valuation firm and legal firm which are related to the business acquisitions. The divestiture related costs are fees from a legal firm which are related to the divestiture of Quest Solution Canada Inc." ]

[ "Moscow" ]

[ "mutually harmful", "Washington Mutual", "Where's the beef?", "Where Is the Love?", "Where's Waldo?", "Where Are the Children", "donut sign", "Prehn's sign", "a repeat sign", "Collier's sign", "dollar sign", "gateway sign", "on a traffic sign", "A stop sign", "Sign painting", "roadside sign", "Lawn signs", "a sign of holiness", "Call signs", "Vital Signs", "neon signs", "Crowe's sign" ]

[ "The stands of these 2008 presidential candidates on a selection of issues: New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, Democrats; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Republicans." ]

[ "A Feb. 5 vote brings candidates to the state, as intended. But fundraising still trumps issues.", "· Leadership candidate talks of taking risks· Party 'must tackle fear and security issues'", "Compare issues, appeal ratings and donors, then use our screener to find which candidate is perfect for you.", "Food and toy scares among grating issues raised in 'candid and friendly' discussion on Apec sidelines.", "Defeated Democrat John Kerry vowed to continue to fight for the issues he campaigned on as his party's failed presidential candidate.", "Both presidential candidates would like the Vietnam issue to go away, but the war in Iraq is a constant reminder of its Southeast Asian predecessor.", "Police have issued a description of the suspect in a weekend burglary at Democratic presidential candidate Christopher Dodd's Senate office in Hartford.", "In what could be a major defeat for Ralph Nader, a judge has issued a temporary order that keeps the independent presidential candidate off the Florida ballot.", "If matching presidential candidates to their positions on basic issues were like a \"Jeopardy!\" category, most Americans wouldn't earn a single dollar.", "A Florida judge ordered county elections officials on Wednesday to issue absentee ballots without the name of independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader", "xcept for occasional detours into issues such as health care costs and the running story over the military service of the two candidates, the war in Iraq continues to dominate the presidential", "Traveling with the candidate's \"Poverty Tour,\" Eric Pooley marvels that the rich lawyer is tackling a risky issue but isn't sure if it isn't some elaborate photo op.", "The Iraq war was the dominant issue confronting Democratic presidential candidates Sunday night at their second televised debate of the campaign, this one in the leadoff primary state.", "The 2008 White House race is bringing American global warming politics in from the cold, as candidates churn out complex plans on an increasingly key campaign issue.", "Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is touring eight U.S. states this week to highlight poverty in America, and put the issue at the heart of his campaign.", "Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, on an eight-state swing to highlight poverty issues, on Tuesday called for a national law to crackdown on predatory lending.", "Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards celebrated snagging two coveted labor union endorsements during a stop Monday in central Iowa on Labor Day, while continuing to tout himself as the candidate who cares most about labor issues.", "US President George W. Bush and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry will meet on Friday night in their second of three debates, on foreign and domestic issues, following", "House Democrats have defied the White House in a battle between civil liberties and national security. And GOP candidates are looking forward to making it an election issue", "Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani tiptoed around the thorny issue of abortion on Tuesday in a speech to conservative Christians who are key to his quest for the White House.", "For all the policy blueprints churned out by presidential campaigns, there is this indisputable fact: People care less about issues than they do about a candidate's character.", "In what has become the year of the flip-flop, U.S. presidential candidates have been accusing each other of switching positions on policy issues as often as they change their clothes.", "John Edwards says voters should know that religion is important to him and to presidential candidate John Kerry but the issue shouldn't be used to divide people in the election.", "A slick and well-timed YouTube attack ad against Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee again raises issues of transparency and accountability in the 2008 campaign for president.", "The lesser-known Republican presidential candidates condemned their top rivals on Thursday for skipping a debate on minority issues and said their absence hurt the party's image and amplified racial divisions.", "Four years ago, candidate George Bush issued a steady stream of promises to win votes. The promises were big and small, widely embraced and bitterly opposed.", "EDMONTON (CP) - Senate reform will not be taken seriously by Ottawa unless Premier Ralph Klein gets more strongly behind the issue, say candidates in Alberta's Senate selection race.", "Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards on Thursday accused top Bush officials of neglecting their duties by making political trips instead of dealing with pressing issues at home.", "The anti-poverty campaign of U2 frontman Bono is promoting a $30 million effort to pressure Republican and Democratic presidential candidates to make the oft-forgotten issue a priority.", "The Detroit man believed to be the leading candidate to purchase the Milwaukee Brewers issued a statement Monday indicating he was out of the running and that the club had been sold to another buyer.", "Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards told Mississippi poultry plant employees on Monday that their plight demonstrated the government's shortcomings in addressing workers' wage and health issues.", "WASHINGTON -- Google raised its profile as a political player Monday, launching a public policy blog (googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com) that tackles several controversial issues, features presidential candidates and seeks user input." ]

[ "Okay. I admit it. I was a little leary when I discovered Aspen had an egg nog mix. I love their cider, but egg nog is another thing entirely. Guess what? It was great! I mixed it with Lactaid and it tasted wonderful. I can also vouch for combining the egg nog mix, milk, vanilla ice cream, and ice in a blender to make a smoothie/shake." ]

[ "So I am partly at fault for my poor raring. I had entered in the search for egg nog coffee and this popped up. I figured 48 Egg nog k-cups for 49.999 (which is what I paid here...of course today it is on sale) was kind of high however I was thinking it was just the egg nog, which is my favorite. It arrived (damamged I might add) and it is a combination of 3 flavors...2 of which no one in my house likes. What really is awful is I paid 50 bucks...this exact same box is at my local walmart for 25.99. The price is WAY too high...totally not worth it.", "At my Christmas dinner, one option is Egg Nog latte.<br />Use one pod of espresso, press the button on the Senseo machine for a 'small' cup.<br />Add 1/2 cup of egg nog, add 1/4 cup 2% milk, add 2-3 tsp of sugar.<br />Heat to desired temp and stir to dissolve sugar. A dash of Nutmeg on top.<br />It's close enough to Starbucks for me. :-)", "\"Due to availability some flavors may be substituted without prior notice\".<br />The flavor that I really wanted, were the flavors that were not available :/. Spicy Egg Nog, Gingerbread, Pumpkin Spice.", "This product has been a lifesaver when it comes to mixes that call for eggs. I'm not sure how the mixes would turn out with real eggs, but I have no complaints on how they turn out using the egg replacer. I have used this extensively with the Namaste Foods mixes and even though the mixes call for multiple eggs, they turn out great using the egg replacer. Now only if they could develop a way to make scrambled eggs..", "This mix was purchased for use with my New Waring Double Waffle maker. It is an excellent mix, very light and tasty. Some reviewers say that it requires milk, eggs, and butter. It does require eggs and melted butter, but it calls for 1-1/2 cups of WATER not milk, and water works fine. I would have liked it better if the eggs, etc. were included in the mix, but this is O.K. I just know that when I'm going to make waffles, I must have eggs and butter in the house. I LOVE the malted smell while the waffles are cooking. Will definitely purchase this product again.", "I have an Indian (American) friend, that gets free whole powdered eggs from the gov commodity program. She has often made me \"yummy/flavorfull\" egg sandwiches (i.e. scrambled eggs...)!<br /><br />I decided to buy some Honeyville & try it? What a disappointment for scrambled eggs (don't know about baking...?)!<br />1. Their is NO flavor, whatsoever!!!<br />2. Sticks \"hard\" to oiled stainless frying pan (fried like a pancake. pre-heated to med/low)- Worked better when I mixed in 1tsp of Canola oil, per egg... (like waffles...).<br /><br />For 1 egg sandwich- I mix 1/4 cup water, to 1/4 cup mix (they say 2-1), which was a runny mess (maybe for baking?).<br /><br />Limited shelf life...- I store unused mix in the freezer!", "WARNING!! DO NOT PURCHASE!! This is a mixture of any flavors that cannot be sold. It comes in a flimsy, torn paper bag that is stapled at the top. Mine were mostly eggnog, a flavor I hate, and that was never even mentioned in the list of possible flavors. There were no coffee house K-cups and no Van Houten, two brands that I wanted to try. There's no way this was random either. I got six hazelnut which I buy in bulk every month, six blueberry, eight egg nog and then an assortment, one each, of four \"random\" flavors. The K-cups are flat and ragged looking, which means they are probably old or damaged. This is simply a way to get rid of damaged merchandise--open boxes or undesirable flavors. I expect better of Amazon!", "I have recently become a vegan and one of the things I missed was scrambled eggs. Well, not anymore. I actually prefer this mix to scrambled eggs and it is better that the \"do it yourself\" tofu scrambles that I have made on my own. To make it even better, add in some tomatoes and onions and serve it with oven fries and you won't miss eggs again.", "And, if u do, use a fork! It's that easy! Biggest problem with ANY mix usually involves over-beating, especially when recipe calls for adding eggs. Cooks tend to beat and blend to the point that eggs become tooooooo frothy. That can make a big difference in outcome. Beat eggs and other wet ingredients first, then lightly add mix a half cup at a time. Then stir or beat until all nix is wet! U'll see a HUGE difference in outcome!", "Good for you and hard to find in local grocery stores. We mix with egg yolk and buttermilk then fold in a beaten-to-a-foam egg white for fluffy waffles or pancakes.", "I know flavored coffee is not intended to be blow your socks off dark roast, but all of the flavors in this variety pack are very weak, consider that if you like a full bodied cup, or taste.<br />The best of the bunch is probably the Egg Nog, which has a nice almost rum flavor, the Gingerbread is fairly bland, the French Toast is more like French Vanilla with a touch of cinnamon and the Holiday Blend is just plain and weak.<br />I got these locally for $25.99, and thought that was pricey for only 48 cups, I don't mind having to pay for the different flavors for a change, but these are seriously overpriced here.", "This mix tastes good and is completely customizable. It has no eggs, milk or butter included and you can make whatever substitutions are necessary for your situation.", "Have not even used this so called mix yet and it may taste very good, most of the Kinnikinnick products do. The reason for my dissatisfaction is the fact you must add 12 egg whites to what is suppose to be a mix. Before my need to use gluten free products, I was able to buy angel food mixes that did not require adding eggs and of course expected this to be the same. If you are going to use fresh egg whites, you may as well use your own rice flour as well. I was looking for the more simple way baking a gluten free angel food cake. Also not sure why the box says to (spray or grease) the pan, never have heard of doing this with an angel food. Doubt this is going to end well!", "This is really good in coffee. I bought several flavors from the Capella company, and this is my favorite so far. For a 12 oz cup of coffee, I put in 9 drops, which worked out very well. I also added about a teaspoon of Wholesome Zero sweetner (awesome stuff). It probably doesn't need any sweetner at all.<br /><br />FYI - this tastes NASTY if you try it straight. It's kind of like cough syrup, but worse. The same thing happens if you try Vanilla straight, though, so I wasn't too worried after I first opened it. Once it's been dissolved in enough coffee, it tastes like it smells, which is wonderful. And there's no sugar or calories.<br /><br />I haven't tried this disolved in water. There are instructions for it, but I think Egg Nog flavored water would be weird since plain Egg Nog should have a creamy texture to it. A fruity flavor might be better.<br /><br />This would be awesome in milk shakes.<br /><br />I usually buy flavored coffee (whole bean), but I think I'm going to keep investing in this and just buy regular plain coffee. That way I can have any flavor I want without having to store several pounds of expensive coffee.", "After weeks on the limited choices in Atkins, trying this mix was nice alternative to eggs every morning! The consistency was a little chewy and the taste quite egg-y, but with sugar-free maple syrup I was still in heaven with every bite. I also sprinkled on some cinnamon for flavor. However, next time I'll try reducing to one egg instead of two, and see if this helps cut down the egg-iness. Not bad overall!", "Good product.Good taste not graney or grtty at all. Just like fresh eggs. You do have to make sure you mix them well before cooking", "I use this on steaks and mix it into scrambled eggs just for a tiny bit of extra flavor and a bit of a kick.", "We've got the double whammy of being gluten-free *and* egg-free, which means that a lot of mixes crumble, or have that squodgy, too dense result. This mix? Wonderful. We've had it dairy-free, and loved it, have mixed in some fresh black pepper (yum), sprinkled coarse salt and rosemary on top, mixed in grated cheese....and watched the biscuits vanish. My two sons love these, gluten eating friends and family are appreciative. The company is very responsive, also, to questions. Lovely company, lovely product.", "My husband's deathly allergic to eggs. After using a baking cookbook that excludes eggs, I decided I wanted to give this a try. Overall, it is pretty good. Basically you mix some in a separate bowl with the recommended amount of hot water. And be sure to thoroughly mix so no lumps remain. I left lumps once and it ended up in the muffin and the lumpy spot tasted odd. Other than that, follow the instructions exactly and you get a powdery-smelling egg substitute. I used it in Betty Crocker muffin mixes and it turns out just fine! (Blueberry, choc. chip, etc) I tried it in a Betty Crocker brownie mix and I had to throw the entire thing out, it never thickened and was a gloppy mess. So for that recipe the eggs needed to be actual eggs!<br /><br />So if you want to do a quick boxed treat and can't use eggs for allergy/cholesterol reasons, I'd say try it. On the back of the box there's recipes for many different foods. I haven't tried them though. It's not perfect but it's good in this world of egg-laden foods.", "We just started a plant-based diet and although the mix asks for egg and oil, I replaced those with egg-replace-r and applesauce and the muffins were DELICIOUS. I love the texture.", "My family and friends love this mix. I make cupcakes with it for my kids so they can have a treat at their friends' birthday parties. I've also made these for my kid's birthdays to take to class, and all the children were saying they were better then their Mom's cupcakes...teeheehee! They are so moist and rich. I make a few alterations though. Instead of the whole eggs, I use 1 whole egg and 3 egg whites. My gluten eating husband and friends ask for them all the time!", "This is a very delicious gravey mix. I add a pound or so of browned, drained breakfast sausage after it is heated and serve over bisquits. It is super fast and easy. I serve with cut up fresh fruit and there you have a simple, quick breakfast or brunch meal! I would highly recommend.", "Aspen Mulling eggnog mix does not taste exactly like real eggnog, but pretty darn close. It is a bit sweeter and not as rich as real eggnog, unless you mix with cream and milk (the manufacturer recommends mixing with milk). I add a touch of vanilla and nutmeg to the mix, and use it to make eggnog lattes. Delicious, and now I enjoy eggnog lattes year-round. I find that I can make an eggnog latte using this product that tastes more like eggnog than using real eggnog. When mixed with fat free half and half, you can enjoy the taste of eggnog with no cholesterol, no fat, and low carbohydrates. If you mix with regular half-and-half, even creamier. When mixing, let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes before using. No need to mix and let stand overnight, tends to separate out if left sitting overnight.", "These cake mixes are to die for! Both my husband and son have severe allergies to gluten and these mixes are a life-saver. The texture is wonderful (no yucky mouth-feel) and the flavor is perfect. Both my guys are allergic to eggs, so I use one-half cup of applesauce instead of eggs and have had no problem with the cake baking properly.<br /><br />I heartily recommend this cake mix to anyone who has gluten allergies - you won't be disappointed!", "I LOVE this syrup. I add a teaspoon of this and a teaspoon of cream to my green tea and it's heavenly. I also use this in coffee, cola, and recipes. If you want to make homemade whipped cream this replaces the sweetener and adds a nice vanilla flavor. I even used this in a homemade egg nog recipe and it was amazing. If you love vanilla and watch your sugar, this will become a staple in your pantry.", "I know some may think this product tastes like Hollandaise sauce, but it has none of the ingredients of the true sauce recipe. No eggs, no butter... it's a completely fake sauce made to have the texture and color of Hollandaise sauce. You would be better off trying one of the other sauce mixes that actually includes butter and eggs.", "This is good product, but 4 times the cost of getting locally at someplace like a Cash & Carry.<a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UI8K72\">Da Vinci SUGAR FREE Egg Nog Syrup with Splenda, 750 ml</a>", "This is a good gluten and soy free mix. I've found most GFSF mixes that people rave about not to be any good without eggs. This one holds together OK when made with egg replacer or flax seed meal as suggested on the package, but recently I've found it to be even better when I added 1/4 tsp xanthan gum (to the dry mix) on top of that. To make thin crust, I put the dough on a greased pan (without holes), brush the top with a little oil and cover with a sheet of parchment paper (or plastic wrap), then roll out with a rolling pin. Carefully and slowly lift the cover sheet and pre-bake the crust according to the instruction, then you can make a pretty good pizza. I do make my own mix from time to time, but this is the mix I use when my stash runs out and I am short on time.", "I use this for breading fish or chicken. Add some spices to the mix, coat the meat with milk or a beaten egg, roll in corn muffin mix and then fry - awesome! Great option for those looking for low carb- not easy to find these days!", "Naturally Noras Fantastic Fudgy Brownie mix is pretty good for a boxed mix. All you add is two eggs, a bit of oil and some water, much like any brownie mix. The texture and consistency were perfect - chewy and moist yet firm enough that they cut perfectly from the pan without falling apart.<br /><br />The flavor is good, but not as good as I'd hoped. I would have liked a deeper, richer chocolate flavor. Still - a good brownie mix that I will most likely purchase again!", "One of the very few, if not the only, mix that has no sugar in it. Simple ingredients unlike the packages sold in supermarkets which have sugar, stabilizers and other things that just are not healthy and do nothing to enhance the flavor.", "This works great if you need fewer than 2-3 eggs. The real secret to getting it to work really well seems to be beating it with a whisk until it's almost stiff like egg whites. That helps it to fluff and work. Do not try to just dump it in with a mix. I fold in the egg replacer much like I would egg whites near the end of whatever I'm mixing. It works great then--great for pancakes, cakes, and other similar baking things. I've also used it in casseroles that call for eggs." ]

[ "I must say I was skeptical to order caviar of fish that I don't know, I did a little bit of research and decided to give it a try.<br />Caviar came in good condition to TX, we ordered by mistake chocolate candies once and they came melted. Ha!<br />Ok, I sliced a bread, put some butter on it and this caviar, first I was surprised by some dark(navy-black) liquid on the butter that came with a caviar, \"that's artificial caviar\" first what I thought.<br />But, the taste was pretty nice, it's not a salmon caviar, of course...but for that nice price it was very good and tasty!<br />I had read the nutrition label on the box carefully, it has some color added, but nothing dangerous!<br />I think this product is good for those who love to have caviar around all the time, but don't want to spend every time $20 and up!" ]

[ "Good Mayo and Good price through 'Subscribe and Save'. My wife makes many sauces and dressings 'homemade' that require a lot of mayo. She likes the oversize jars and the fact that she almost never runs out due to the regular delivery on the 'S&S' program.", "This is a good reminder of the old school M-Dew drinks from the 1960's,1970's & the 1980's. It's made with real sugar so don't drink too much of this stuff. I give this drink a 10 out of 10.", "Purchased this jerky with S&S discount after reading some good reviews and was very disapointed with the quality of meat. About 80% of the pieces were very dry and hard - note that some of the package was good (primarily in the middle of the package) and some of it was too dry.", "Low in Sodium and Cholesterol with 10g of Fat in a big jar and no Sugar.It s good real mayonnaise.This real mayonnaise is one of my favorite mayonnaise.", "I was buying my white pepper from a gourmet store (W&S) and 6 ounces cost $12. This pepper is just as good at a fraction of the price.", "The flax seed I try to use everyday, and this was a great price and it is a great thing to add to cereal, or yogurt or muffins. It is a good source of fiber and omega 3's", "I was ready to order a bunch more of this but then they jacked the price, from 36 cents s&s to 45 a cup. I can get coffee for this price at Costco. So I'm cancelling my s&s. Too bad, because it is really great coffee.", "\"Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts\" - when I first ordered they were good and crunchy and it disappeared from my house fast and so I ordered the second package and I really feel for ordering. The peanuts were old stock and did'nt taste good or cruncy. Disappointed with amazon, did not expect this from amazon.<br /><br />Since all these S&S come in three packs, it is a waste of money. Better to get one from local stores atleast if it is not good, I will not waste lot of money like I do with amazon.", "Minor`s has the best beef base i`ve ever tryed. It is not very salty as most beef stocks are. The price is a bit high , but i think it`s worth it. Don`t wast your money on other brands. TRY MONOR`S !!!!", "I was very disappointed with the quality of the chocolate.<br />If you want the BEST, I've found that Ethel M.'s chocolate liquor barrels are incredibly good - but you WILL pay the price!", "I have these on S&S now. They get delivered every month for $15+. That works out to less than $1 a bone. The dog loves them and they are the perfect size.", "But now that I can get the same amount in one bag @ Costco for $9, I'll pass on these, even S&S.", "I purchased this product and the seasoning is very good. I am, however, very dissapointed with their shipping charges. I had sent the seller an email stating that their shipping charge was excessive ($7.50) for such a small item. I received no response. The spice jar (3.5oz) arrived in a small box sent via USPS, and the USPS label on the front showed the cost of $2.38 for shipping. So faerie's finest makes an extra $5.12 on S&H. I suggest they notice that part of Amazon.com's success is due to the fact that they charge straight shipping costs, not inflated S%H. I won't buy from faeire's again.", "This cereal is similar to raisan bran without the raisans. It has added flax seeds which are good for you in Omega-3's and fiber. I mix it with other cereals every morning as I like the taste it adds. Buy it here at a good price.", "The same item is $18 + $10 s&h from the Hodgson mill itself, regular price. Will be one of the first links when you search online for rye flour.<br />To charge $30 + $45 s&h is obscene.", "Very good product. 5 star.<br /><br />But the high cost from moonlittree is absurd and unjustified.<br /><br />A bag of a dozen should not cost $26($31+ with s/h). Not ever.<br /><br />Look elsewhere for this great product.", "LOVE the S & B Curry pastes. The Hot is the best flavor of all, but they are all good. This is the easiest way to make a really good curry at home. Little fuss and little mess and this stuff served with lamb, potatoes, carrots over rice the next day is even better!", "I thought that this was 5's react gum. I had previously chewed that gum, and wanted to get it in bulk. I received 5's react2. It has a different taste, which I don't like as much. So, just beware that thus us not React gum.", "They missed the mark on this one. Zours is NOT an 80's candy. It wasn't introduced until the late, late 90's. They didn't include sour patch kids?<br /><br />Missed Bonkers, Fun Dips, and other now defunct candies. Lame!", "I ordered this brand recently and found it has 25 percent less Omega3's per tablespoon than competing brands. beware. Look for 3600 units of Omega 3's per tablespoon min.", "I got the 70's box for may dad, who was born in the 60's but grew up in the 70's. I wasn't there when he got the box, but he called me right after. He was shocked that I even found something like this and was really happy with it. After later talking to my mom, she said he wouldn't stop talking about it and almost every piece was a trip down memory lane for him. She also mentioned that a lot of the items included in the box were very hard to find now a days, such as the candy cigarettes. But there were a few items you still see on shelves. I asked if any was stale, after reading the reviews on here...but they both said everything they ate was all in good, fresh condition. This is obviously only really good for a one time gift. The shipping price did bump this up to over $40 and almost made me not get it, but at the end of the day it was worth it.", "No stars!!!<br />Other similar drinks of this size have been helpful doing what they promised. This brand failed to provide any uplift at all and did not taste good. The bottle(s) appeared to have stain around the lid(s)once peeled open and actually made me ill. Bad batch???<br /><br />I will never buy this again or recommend it to anyone else. I had to discard the entire case (minus the one I drank) away. Not pleased at all. Preferred to return/exchange, but no available address for liquids.<br />Bad business!!!", "I am pretty upset about the recent pricing change on this product. I have been buying this for years and have had this on S&S for sometime. My S&S was recently cancelled by Amazon at the same time it was suppose to ship (hence i ran out of Olive Oil). I went on to re-order the product and thought at the time it was cancelled due to Amazon Frustration Free Packaging (yes I should have paid closer attention to the ounces when re-bought)however to my dismay when opening the package today the tins were HALF the size than the old ones. So basically I am thinking ok - I wont be buying this brand again, I'll have to find a new one. Now I am even more upset as I just came on here to write a review and when I search Zoe Olive Oil - the 1 Liter tins came up - but are no longer on S&S <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0060JNAE8\">Zoe Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 Liter Tins (Pack of 2)</a> and they are 50 cents more than the 25.5 ounce 2 Pack on S&S. These are basically a rip off now. I hate to leave a negative product review about something that I like, but this one bothered me so much I felt completed to inform other consumers about the recent changes.", "This product was okay. The Moon-Pie was pretty bashed up and some of the taffy-like candy was VERY hard, maybe stale. I bought it as a gift for the nostalgia, and that is pretty much all it was.<br />Buy it for someone from the 50's, but don't expect really good, fresh, candy.", "I grew up on S&B Togarashi and have tried many other togarashi products in an attempt to find an easier source of this wonderful spice. None of the other brands and sources measured up. I now purchase S&B Togarashi in case lots here on Amazon!", "I used to buy this product in the grocery store until they stopped carrying it. We have tried so many different brands of Oriental hot mustard and never found one that we liked, but they were available in the grocery store. Their quality never came close to the S&B brand. I decided to look online for the S&B brand and found it here. I will continue to purchase the S&B brand and no longer experiment with other brands. We both think there is no comparison for the taste and consistency.", "Bought this on subscribe and save, so it was ~$14 for the jar, which I thought was a steal. However, I was not that impressed by the quality of the ghee; taste was also inferior to others I've tried. It was separated and kind of granular, whereas other ghee is solidified and homogeneous. We will be canceling our S&S to try another type.", "I purchashed Crown Prince fancy pink canned crab meat before i tried Crown Prince fancy white canned crab meat . It s the best canned crab meat. I love to eat Crown Prince canned crab meat. It s on my favorite list .", "I've previously had this on Subscribe & Save (last year) but the next time I went to order it had been dropped from S&S. Recently noticed that it was back on S&S again and decided to order it. I received the order fairly quickly and as usual some cans were damaged. To the point that at least one of them I will not be able to open. Amazon MUST do something about the way they package this stuff. I discovered another disconcerting thing. What I received in the can I would not call Chili, but maybe Chili Soup. Unlike all of the Wolf Brand Chili I have ever had in the past this product poured out of the can. In the past I would have to spoon out the chili and beans to get it out of the can. Wolf Brand has reduced the meat and beans and is using more water. WB's quality has diminished.<br /><br />UPDATED:<br /><br />Since unloading the case I have discovered that every single can is dented, some worse than others, a couple likely beyond opening. I also wonder if the contents would be safe to eat. The drop in quality of the product is bad enough but the state of the delivery is unacceptable. I'll be contacting Amazon about this. They shouldn't sell canned goods if they can't deliver them properly. Buyer beware!", "I'm a gluten intolerant cook with a family of carb addicts; normally, I cook up a spaghetti squash for myself while they enjoy their whole wheat pasta. However, spaghetti squash takes up to an hour to cook, and I don't always have it on hand. I read about these noodles and decided to give it a shot. After all, you can cancel subscribe & save at any time, right?<br /><br />No way am I canceling S&S on this product; in fact, I upped my S&S schedule so I could make sure I always have some on hand. I don't use them for pasta dishes alone anymore - they're a staple in my Thai chicken soup, dry-roasted with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese; dry-roasted with garlic and parmesan for a quick lunch, etc.<br /><br />I have two ways of cooking it, depending on the meal: rinse thoroughly in colander, then cook for 1 minute in microwave with about 1/4 c. (homemade) chicken stock (good for spaghetti type meals) or dry-roasting (basically, rinse thoroughly and drain; heat a small skillet on med-high, then add drained noodles and cook, flipping noodles around, for about 3 minutes.", "However, S & W canned veggies are EXCELLENT quality, just don't buy these! Try Sams Club, Costco, or a restaurant supply like Smart and Final if you particularly want a case of beets. Absolutely NOTHING sold by Nutricity is a good price, but Amazon has lots of good canned veggie prices online and on their Subscribe and Save with FREE shipping.", "One of the best Instant Noodles around the World but not the healthiest instand noodles.<br />Lots of fat and sodium+sugar.But Why the Japanese guys are slim , mostly?<br />I wish the amazon.com selling this delicious instant noodle with pack of 24 or 40 instead of 6 so the price is down and it s really good for the customers like us." ]

[ "I borrowed a teammate's copy of this book and was disappointed. I would agree Ms. Hall has certain gifts as a writer and I'm sure journaling this was therapeutic for her, but I think I'd like to read her husband's account as well - like the old saying goes, it takes two to tango. Fortunately most gen x women finally understand that economic self-sufficiency & having one's own career is the way to go from the beginning (i.e., to avoid dependence on another)." ]

[ "I loved it! Well written, great characters and plausible plot. With genetic engineering and reverse engineering of viruses and other biological processes, who knows. It could happen.", "The Xbox streams Hulu, Netflix and Prime in the living room and the prime is in the bedroom, it runs circles around the Xbox. It buffers faster and the voice control for Amazon is amazingly accurate (they need to hire the engineers to work on the Kinect voice commands, seriously). Even at a whisper it normally gets your request right.\n\nThe only additional is would be able to plug into the remote for volume less TV if you wasn't wanting to disturb someone else, or just wanted stereo quality.", "Well engineered story with more social significance than the original Holmes stories. Worth the read.", "Inbound marketing is about being found online through the use of search engines and social media tools. This book is easy to read and is a quick reference to social media, website Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and the tracking of online marketing efforts. I recommend this book to busy executives who want to know more about the subject and want to confirm the reports or proposals that they are receiving.", "It does not work as a projector for a SMARTPHONE. We had a mechanical engineer check it out... It did not work. We are returning it right now." ]

[ "Technology The term \"technology\" rose to prominence in the 20th century in connection with the Second Industrial Revolution. The term's meanings changed in the early 20th century when American social scientists, beginning with Thorstein Veblen, translated ideas from the German concept of Technik into \"technology.\" In German and other European languages, a distinction exists between technik and technologie that is absent in English, which usually translates both terms as \"technology.\" By the 1930s, \"technology\" referred not only to the study of the industrial arts but to the industrial arts themselves.[5]" ]

[ "Robotics According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word robotics was first used in print by Isaac Asimov, in his science fiction short story \"Liar!\", published in May 1941 in Astounding Science Fiction. Asimov was unaware that he was coining the term; since the science and technology of electrical devices is electronics, he assumed robotics already referred to the science and technology of robots. In some of Asimov's other works, he states that the first use of the word robotics was in his short story Runaround (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1942).[3][4] However, the original publication of \"Liar!\" predates that of \"Runaround\" by ten months, so the former is generally cited as the word's origin.", "Electricity Electricity would remain little more than an intellectual curiosity for millennia until 1600, when the English scientist William Gilbert made a careful study of electricity and magnetism, distinguishing the lodestone effect from static electricity produced by rubbing amber.[6] He coined the New Latin word electricus (\"of amber\" or \"like amber\", from ἤλεκτρον, elektron, the Greek word for \"amber\") to refer to the property of attracting small objects after being rubbed.[11] This association gave rise to the English words \"electric\" and \"electricity\", which made their first appearance in print in Thomas Browne's Pseudodoxia Epidemica of 1646.[12]", "American (word) The name America was coined by Martin Waldseemüller from Americus Vespucius, the Latinized version of the name of Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512), the Italian explorer who mapped South America's east coast and the Caribbean Sea in the early 16th century. Later, Vespucci's published letters were the basis of Waldseemüller's 1507 map, which is the first usage of America. The adjective American subsequently denoted the New World.", "Wi-Fi The name Wi-Fi, commercially used at least as early as August 1999,[18] was coined by the brand-consulting firm Interbrand. The Wi-Fi Alliance had hired Interbrand to create a name that was \"a little catchier than 'IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence'.\"[19][20] Phil Belanger, a founding member of the Wi-Fi Alliance who presided over the selection of the name \"Wi-Fi\", has stated that Interbrand invented Wi-Fi as a pun upon the word hi-fi.[21]", "Sixpence (British coin) Beginning with Lord Wrottesley's proposals in the 1820s, there were various attempts to decimalise the pound sterling over the next century and a half.[9][10] These attempts came to nothing significant until the 1960s when the need for a currency more suited to simple monetary calculations became pressing[citation needed]. The decision to decimalise was announced in 1966, with the pound to be divided into 100, rather than 240, pence.[11] Decimal Day was set for 15 February 1971, and a whole range of new coins were introduced. Sixpences continued to be legal tender with a value of ​2 1⁄2 new pence until 30 June 1980.[12]", "Ancient Greek coinage The first known coins were issued in either Lydia or Ionia in Asia Minor at some time before 600 BC, either by the non-Greek Lydians for their own use or perhaps because Greek mercenaries wanted to be paid in precious metal at the conclusion of their time of service, and wanted to have their payments marked in a way that would authenticate them. These coins were made of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver that was highly prized and abundant in that area. By the middle of the 6th century BC, technology had advanced, making the production of pure gold and silver coins simpler. Accordingly, King Croesus introduced a double metal standard that allowed for coins of pure gold and pure silver to be struck and traded in the marketplace.", "DXC Technology DXC Technology (stylized as DXC.technology) is an end-to-end services company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia. DXC provides information technology and consulting services to businesses and governments. The company operates in more than 70 countries and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DXC” and is a component of the S&P 500 index.", "Robot 'Robot' was first applied as a term for artificial automata in the 1920 play R.U.R. by the Czech writer, Karel Čapek. However, Josef Čapek was named by his brother Karel as the true inventor of the term robot.[8][9] The word 'robot' itself was not new, having been in the Slavic language as robota (forced laborer), a term which classified those peasants obligated to compulsory service under the feudal system widespread in 19th century Europe (see: Robot Patent).[42][43] Čapek's fictional story postulated the technological creation of artificial human bodies without souls, and the old theme of the feudal robota class eloquently fit the imagination of a new class of manufactured, artificial workers.", "Shilling (British coin) The shilling (1/-) was a coin worth one twentieth of a pound sterling, or twelve pence. It was first minted in the reign of Henry VII as the testoon, and became known as the shilling from the Old English scilling,[1] sometime in the mid-sixteenth century, circulating until 1990. The word bob was sometimes used for a monetary value of several shillings, e.g. \"ten bob note\". Following decimalisation on 15th February 1971 the coin had a value of five new pence. It was made from silver from its introduction in or around 1503 until 1947, and thereafter in cupronickel.", "Singapore dollar The Singapore dollar (sign: S$; code: SGD) is the official currency of Singapore. It is divided into 100 cents. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. The Monetary Authority of Singapore issues the banknotes and coins of the Singapore dollar.", "Necessity is the mother of invention The author of this proverb is unknown. This phrase was familiar in England, but in Latin, not in English. In 1519, the headmaster of Winchester and Eton, William Horman, used the Latin phrase Mater artium necessitas in his book Vulgaria. In 1545 Roger Ascham used a close English version, Necessitie, the inuentour of all goodnesse, in his book Toxophilus. In 1608, George Chapman, in his two-part play The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron, used a very similar phrase: The great Mother, Of all productions (graue Necessity). But, the earliest actual usage of the proverb Necessity is the mother of invention is sometimes ascribed to Richard Franck, who used it in his book Northern Memoirs, calculated for the meridian of Scotland (1658).[1] Plato in book 2 of The Republic wrote \"Then, I said, let us begin and create in idea a State; and yet the true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention.\"", "Robot The term comes from a Czech word, robota, meaning \"forced labor\"[6]; the word 'robot' was first used to denote a fictional humanoid in a 1920 play R.U.R. by the Czech writer, Karel Čapek but it was Karel's brother Josef Čapek who was the word's true inventor.[7][8][9] Electronics evolved into the driving force of development with the advent of the first electronic autonomous robots created by William Grey Walter in Bristol, England in 1948, as well as Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tools in the late 1940s by John T. Parsons and Frank L. Stulen. The first commercial, digital and programmable robot was built by George Devol in 1954 and was named the Unimate. It was sold to General Motors in 1961 where it was used to lift pieces of hot metal from die casting machines at the Inland Fisher Guide Plant in the West Trenton section of Ewing Township, New Jersey.[10]", "Technological and industrial history of the United States In the mid-1780s, Oliver Evans invented an automated flour mill that included a grain elevator and hopper boy. Evans' design eventually displaced the traditional gristmills. By the turn of the century, Evans also developed one of the first high-pressure steam engines and began establishing a network of machine workshops to manufacture and repair these popular inventions. In 1789, the widow of Nathanael Greene recruited Eli Whitney to develop a machine to separate the seeds of short fibered cotton from the fibers. The resulting cotton gin could be made with basic carpentry skills but reduced the necessary labor by a factor of 50 and generated huge profits for cotton growers in the South.[21] While Whitney did not realize financial success from his invention, he moved on to manufacturing rifles and other armaments under government contract that could be made with \"expedition, uniformity, and exactness\"—the foundational ideas for interchangeable parts.[22] However, Whitney's vision of interchangeable parts would not be achieved for over two decades with firearms and even longer for other devices.", "1820 Settlers They are commemorated in Grahamstown by the 1820 Settlers National Monument, which opened in 1974. A living monument, it hosts plays, musical performances and cultural events, and is supported by the 1820 Settlers Association which was founded in 1920 by Sir Walter Stanford and other descendants.", "Foreign language influences in English The French contributed legal, military, technological, and political terminology. Their language also contributed common words, such as the names of meats: veal, mutton, beef, pork, and how food was prepared: boil, broil, fry, roast, and stew; as well as words related to the nobility: prince, duke, marquess, viscount, baron, and their feminine equivalents.[6]:254-258 Nearly 40 percent of English words (in an 80,000 word dictionary) may be of French origin.", "America's Team Bob Ryan, now Vice President and editor-in-chief of NFL Films, coined this for the Cowboys while preparing and editing the team’s 1978 season highlight film.[6] He was quoted as saying:", "BYJU’s BYJU’S - The Learning App is the popular brand name for Think and Learn Private Ltd., a Alipur-based Educational technology (edtech) and online tutoring firm. It was founded in 2011 by Byju Raveendran at", "Software bug The term \"bug\" to describe defects has been a part of engineering jargon since the 1870s and predates electronic computers and computer software; it may have originally been used in hardware engineering to describe mechanical malfunctions. For instance, Thomas Edison wrote the following words in a letter to an associate in 1878:", "Internet of things The term \"Internet of things\" was likely coined by Kevin Ashton of Procter & Gamble, later MIT's Auto-ID Center, in 1999,[14] though he prefers the phrase \"Internet for things\".[15] At that point, he viewed Radio-frequency identification (RFID) as essential to the Internet of things,[16] which would allow computers to manage all individual things.[17][18][19]", "Hip hop Keith \"Cowboy\" Wiggins, a member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, has been credited with coining the term[18] in 1978 while teasing a friend who had just joined the US Army by scat singing the made-up words \"hip/hop/hip/hop\" in a way that mimicked the rhythmic cadence of marching soldiers. Cowboy later worked the \"hip hop\" cadence into his stage performance.[19][20] The group frequently performed with disco artists who would refer to this new type of music by calling them \"hip hoppers\". The name was originally meant as a sign of disrespect, but soon came to identify this new music and culture.[21]", "Transistor From November 17, 1947, to December 23, 1947, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain at AT&T's Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey of the United States performed experiments and observed that when two gold point contacts were applied to a crystal of germanium, a signal was produced with the output power greater than the input.[12] Solid State Physics Group leader William Shockley saw the potential in this, and over the next few months worked to greatly expand the knowledge of semiconductors. The term transistor was coined by John R. Pierce as a contraction of the term transresistance.[13][14][15] According to Lillian Hoddeson and Vicki Daitch, authors of a biography of John Bardeen, Shockley had proposed that Bell Labs' first patent for a transistor should be based on the field-effect and that he be named as the inventor. Having unearthed Lilienfeld’s patents that went into obscurity years earlier, lawyers at Bell Labs advised against Shockley's proposal because the idea of a field-effect transistor that used an electric field as a \"grid\" was not new. Instead, what Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley invented in 1947 was the first point-contact transistor.[10] In acknowledgement of this accomplishment, Shockley, Bardeen, and Brattain were jointly awarded the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics \"for their researches on semiconductors and their discovery of the transistor effect\".[16][17]", "Delilah Delilah was a woman of Sorek.[1] She is the only woman in Samson's story who is named.[4] The Bible says that Samson loved her (Judges 16:4) but not that she loved him.[4] The two were not married[4] and the idea that they had a sexual relationship is, in the words of Josey Bridges Snyder, \"at most implicit in the biblical text\".[5] The lords of the Philistines bribed her to discover the source of Samson's great strength, each offering to give her 1,100 silver coins.[1][6] Three times she failed.[1]", "Typographer (typewriter) The typographer was patented on July 23, 1829, as U.S. patent No. 5581X.[3] United States Patent Office documents describe Burt's American machine as \"the actual construction of a type writing machine for the first time in any country\".[4] It was the first practical typewriting machine ever made in America,[5] although Pellegrino Turri had made one in Italy in 1808.[6] The patent gave Burt the full exclusive rights to his new typewriter machine for 14 years, including vending or selling to others any or all of these rights as he saw fit, signed by President Andrew Jackson.[1]", "Alliteration Alliteration is a figure of speech and a stylistic literary device which is identified by the repeated sound of the first or second letter in a series of words, or the repetition of the same letter sounds in stressed syllables of a phrase.[1][better source needed] \"Alliteration\" is from the Latin word littera, meaning \"letter of the alphabet\"; it was first coined in a Latin dialogue by the Italian humanist Giovanni Pontano in the 15th century.[2]", "Robot In ancient Greece, the Greek engineer Ctesibius (c. 270 BC) \"applied a knowledge of pneumatics and hydraulics to produce the first organ and water clocks with moving figures.\"[20][21] In the 4th century BC, the Greek mathematician Archytas of Tarentum postulated a mechanical steam-operated bird he called \"The Pigeon\". Hero of Alexandria (10–70 AD), a Greek mathematician and inventor, created numerous user-configurable automated devices, and described machines powered by air pressure, steam and water.[22]", "Scrabble A blank tile may represent any letter, and scores zero points, regardless of its placement or what letter it represents. Its placement on a double-word or triple-word square causes the corresponding premium to be applied to the word(s) in which it is used. Once a blank tile is placed, it remains that particular letter for the remainder of the game.", "Jean Armour Polly Polly was key in popularizing, but is often credited with coining the phrase \"surfing the Internet\", being the author of an article called \"Surfing the INTERNET\", published in the University of Minnesota Wilson Library Bulletin in June, 1992. Coining the phrase has since been attributed to internet pioneer Mark McCahill, who used the same phrase months earlier in February 1992.[2][3][4]", "United States Mint coin sets All releases from 1936 to 1972 included the cent, nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar from that year. The first proof sets through 1964 were minted at the Philadelphia Mint. There were two official releases in 1942: one regular five coin set and a set including a silver wartime nickel. United States currency was debased beginning in 1965, but the sets continued under the name United States Mint Proof Set.Production was moved to the San Francisco branch in 1968, and all subsequent issues bear coins with an \"S\" mint mark. In 1973, the Eisenhower dollar was added to the collection. Sets from 1975 will have a dual-date 1776-1976 quarter, half-dollar, and dollar as none of those coins were ever produced with a 1975 date. The Susan B. Anthony dollar replaced the Eisenhower in 1979. The 1981 mint sets were the only method of obtaining a Susan B. from that year, though many have slipped into circulation. With the cease in minting of dollar coins, the regular issue Proof Set for 1982 included a brass token. From 1983 until 1998, the annual United States Proof set resumed to only issuing the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar.", "History of statistics The term statistics is ultimately derived from the New Latin statisticum collegium (\"council of state\") and the Italian word statista (\"statesman\" or \"politician\"). The German Statistik, first introduced by Gottfried Achenwall (1749), originally designated the analysis of data about the state, signifying the \"science of state\" (then called political arithmetic in English). It acquired the meaning of the collection and classification of data generally in the early 19th century. It was introduced into English in 1791 by Sir John Sinclair when he published the first of 21 volumes titled Statistical Account of Scotland.[1]", "Brick (electronics) The word \"brick\", when used in reference to consumer electronics, describes an electronic device such as a smartphone, game console, router, or tablet computer that, due to a serious misconfiguration, corrupted firmware, or a hardware problem, can no longer function, hence, is as technologically useful as a brick.[1]", "Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman, who has been described as America's greatest inventor.[1] He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed \"The Wizard of Menlo Park\",[2] he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of invention, and because of that, he is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.[3]", "Power symbol The well-known on/off power symbol was the result of the logical evolution in user interface design. Originally, most early power controls consisted of switches that were toggled between two states demarcated by the words On and Off. As technology became more ubiquitous, these English words were replaced with the universal symbols line \"|\" and circle \"o\" (typically without serifs) to bypass language barriers. This standard is still used on toggle power switches." ]

[ "Just before summer 2009's switch from analog to digital cable, TV viewers were inundated with commercials from cable companies. They urged viewers to subscribe to cable in order to get a clear picture and plenty of channels. But it turns out that — for the price of an antenna — over-the-air television offers plenty of different programs. The Secret In The Attic Thanks to the digital signals, Elizabeth and Philip Humphrey's three children can watch Elmo, Arthur and other favorites on one of three digital channels broadcast by North Carolina's PBS station. Trapped inside on a cold, gray morning, the Humphreys' three children stand perfectly still in front of the TV, all eyes glued on Elmo. The family also gets the additional digital channels offered by their commercial network affiliates too — which gives them about 12 channels to choose from, depending on where they point their antenna. Phillip Humphrey climbs up into the attic, pushing past boxes of Christmas junk to where he mounted his new antenna. \"Basically it looks like a 2 1/2-by-2 1/2 square piece of welded wire fabric,\" Humphrey says. The antenna is attached to the rafters and connected to the Humphreys' brand new high-definition television set downstairs. For the one-time cost of the set and the $75 antenna, the Humphreys have found an alternative to monthly cable bills. Viewers with old-fashioned TVs can also receive the same plethora of channels, as long as they have a digital converter box. After Transition, Many Stick To Basic Stations \"And what happened on the way to the [TV] graveyard is people started realizing they're extremely surprised at the picture quality you can get over the air,\" says Richard Schneider, who owns Antennas Direct in St. Louis. \"And in many cases the resolution is in fact significantly higher than you can get off of satellite or cable.\" Digital television also boosted the number of over-the-air choices. \"I think the broadcast-only environment is much richer than it was two years ago,\" says Pat McDonough, senior vice president of planning policy and analysis at Nielsen Media Research. Some critics say local affiliates are squandering the extra channels they got as they began to adapt to HDTV. But McDonough says the ways they're repeating shows is, in some cases, kind of creative. \"We are seeing some of them time-shifting their programming,\" she says, \"So that I air my news at 6 o'clock and I can put it on again at 8 o'clock on my second digital channel while I'm airing my network prime programs.\" McDonough says that without cable or satellite, the average national viewer can pick up around 30 channels. In Los Angeles, they can get a whopping 70 channels. McDonough says the number of homes getting only over-the-air television didn't change much between 2008 and 2009. It's roughly 11 million households. And she says it's not just viewers who can't afford cable. \"Five percent of the broadcast-only homes have income of over $100,000,\" McDonough says. \"So clearly they have the means to afford cable and satellite but they've elected not to purchase it.\" 'You Can Watch It On The Internet' The Humphreys, for example, use their computers and television to catch their favorite shows. Elizabeth Humphrey admits that while they might miss some of the hot new cable shows, they're getting most of what they want. \"There are times that you may miss out on some cultural conversations about a particular show,\" she says. \"But we've found if it's something that continues to pique our interest, that now you can watch it on the Internet, you can rent it on Netflix. You can find other ways to get into the conversation.\" This sounds like it could be a problem for cable providers. \"We don't really view it as a threat,\" says Maureen Huff, senior director of public relations for Time Warner Cable. Huff says subscription numbers for cable television, Internet and phone services have stayed strong in the face of more over-the-air channels and the crummy economy. \"Traditionally cable tends to be sort of recession-resistant,\" Huff says. \"People spend more time at home with their families in a recession; they're spending less money going out. And so cable companies such as ours tend to do okay.\" Huff acknowledges that families who've made the choice to go without cable, such as the Humphreys, are out there. But young Veronica and Mac have seen what they're missing at their friends' houses. \"I wish I had SpongeBob,\" Mac says. Even their father has some cable cravings. \"Well, okay, The Daily Show would be nice to see,\" he says. But that, too, is available online." ]

[ "Last year, American Idol winner Phillip Phillips released the song \"Gone, Gone, Gone\" from his debut album The World from the Side of the Moon. The song went to #1 on the Adult Alternative and Adult Contemporary charts and peaked at #24 on Billboard's pop song chart, the Hot 100. For Gregg Wattenberg, one of three credited co-writers of \"Gone, Gone, Gone,\" the song's chart performance was of particular interest because it translated indirectly into cash. \"U.S.-only hit songs — when I say 'hit' I mean like top five, not like No. 20 — can generate anywhere from one to two million dollars in ASCAP monies,\" Wattenberg says. Today marks the 100th anniversary of The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, an organization that keeps track of \"performances\" of songs by its members and then tries to make certain those members get paid. Alongside its younger competitor, BMI, ASCAP works on behalf of hundreds of thousands of songwriters and music publishers by going into clubs, restaurants and sports arenas and tracking radio playlists, TV broadcasts and even hold music on telephone calls — any public venue that plays live or recorded music — and charging a fee for each song played. The rate changes depending on variables like the size of the venue, the time of day the song is played and the popularity of the song. \"ASCAP tracks all those plays, gives a credit to your name and says, 'OK, you had X amount of credits,\" Wattenberg explains. \"'A credit with the stadium people is worth X per play. A credit with CBS is a different credit.' And it sums it all up and you get a statement, and you get a check.\" When a song goes to the top of the charts, those play counts can skyrocket, and the checks follow. Wattenberg had one of those money-making top five hits in 2007 with another American Idol alum, Chris Daughtry. He co-wrote \"It's Not Over,\" the lead single from Daughtry's debut album. The song went to No. 4 on the Hot 100. As Jeff Lunden reported today on Morning Edition, ASCAP's original purpose when it was created in 1914 was to ensure restaurants and dance halls that played music paid the songwriters for the privilege. But ASCAP's 100 years have included litigation to make sure every new outlet where songs are played pays songwriters and publishers. Most recently, it's been in court fighting with the streaming service Pandora, which has been trying to lower its royalty rates. In 2008, ASCAP published a position paper called \"Music Copyright In The Digital Age,\" advocating for artists rights on the Internet, and warning, \"While the growing ease of copying, storing and sharing music in digital formats offers tremendous opportunity to music creators, it also imperils their livelihood.\" Songwriter Paul Williams was elected as ASCAP's president in 2009. Williams wrote the songs \"Rainbow Connection\" and \"We've Only Just Begun\" in the 1970s, and appeared on Daft Punk's 2013 album Random Access Memories (that was him accepting the Grammy for Album of the Year last month on behalf of the French duo, who spent the ceremony mute behind their customary robot helmets). Williams says that even though the Internet has already been reshaping the music industry for over a decade, this moment is kind of like the early days of cable television. \"Where we first began to collect from composers for their films that were shown on cable and television shows on cable, there was very, very small royalty involved,\" Williams says. \"At this point, it's a very fair royalty. It's perhaps our largest single source of income to our writers, is cable. It's the last thing we would have thought of at the time.\" Last year, ASCAP documented more than 250 billion song performances and paid out over $850 million to its members, a $24 million increase from 2012, which is even more remarkable when you consider that record sales have almost continually declined over the last decade. But for songwriters whose music hasn't hit the top of the charts, ASCAP's system can seem less effective. Guitarist and composer Harvey Reid says he makes a full time living from his music, though mostly from performances and album sales, not royalties. He gets radio play on smaller stations, but says the way ASCAP tracks performances on radio is biased. \"They're more likely to sample radio stations that have higher listenership, so it's statistically rigged,\" Reid says. He was so fed up with ASCAP that he actually switched over to BMI, but he says they both seem to distribute the money the same way. \"I've made 30-some recordings that have been played on the radio in this country for over 30 years and I've probably made a couple thousand dollars from the performing rights organizations, which is probably not accurate. And there's lots of people like me who are on the fringes of the whole industry. We don't get a voice much. But I guess that's life.\" Both Reid and Wattenberg say they've seen the newest category of royalties — the money that comes from online streaming ", "Critics tend to judge Olympics coverage by a few key metrics: How many mistakes did the commentators make, and how many people are actually watching the games in prime time? When it comes to NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics, the first category has a couple of doozies, such as the network declaring a winner of the women's super-G Alpine skiing event before all the competitors had skied, including the actual winner. On the question of who is watching, NBC has some challenges, too. There are more ways than ever to watch the games, yet NBC's total audience in prime time is down compared with what it was during the last Winter Olympics, in Sochi, Russia. NBC's prime-time viewership through Monday is averaging about 8 percent lower than the comparable point in coverage of the 2014 Games. NBC says it's averaging about 21 million viewers across the broadcast network, cable channels and streaming — a figure the network calls \"Total Audience Delivery.\" (In Sochi, there was no simultaneous streaming or cable to compete with the prime-time broadcasts). Coverage of the games is still beating NBC's competition: On Monday, NBC's prime-time audience of 16.3 million was more than twice the size of the No. 2 show, ABC's The Bachelor. On Sunday, the network's prime-time audience was almost twice the size of the audience for CBS, ABC and Fox combined. NBC might prefer to focus on their digital figures, which cover viewership online at all times. In a press release Monday, the network noted that online platforms have delivered more than 1.3 billion livestreaming minutes through Sunday on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app. That adds up to 11.6 million unique users, a 174 percent increase over the 2014 streaming audience. But what surprises me is how little the viewership on cable and streaming adds to NBC's total audience delivery number. According to the network's figures, viewership in prime time Monday only went up by 14 percent when adding cable and streaming to network viewers, for a total of 18.6 million. Overall in prime time, from the start of the games to Monday, the boost from total audience delivery was just 12 percent. This data suggests that traditional network TV viewing is still the way most viewers watch the games. And like much broadcast TV, there is an erosion in prime-time viewership. The Winter Games are expected to draw 5 billion viewers globally, with 30 percent of the world's population projected to see some part of Winter Olympics coverage, according to Timo Lumme, the managing director of the International Olympic Committee's television and marketing services. Part of NBC's viewership challenge may come from muted performances by American stars. High-profile Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn won a bronze medal Tuesday but failed to medal in the super-G. U.S. snowboarder Shaun White, who made history with a gold medal win last week, saw his victory overshadowed by a fumbled reaction to sexual harassment allegations. Popular U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon wound up turning down NBC's offer to serve as a Olympics commentator after his hiring was announced, forcing an embarrassing backtrack by the network. Seems like NBC can't catch much of a break when it comes to drumming up viewers of American athletes." ]

[ "The size runs extremely small. Ordered a US XL. Item fits like a Medium US size." ]

[ "Good thing I read a few reviews about its size and ordered a medium instead of small. Fit me very well. Beware this item came from China so shipping is very slow.", "This item is way too small. I followed the size chart and actually ordered a size up, just to be safe (L to XL). The XL fits like a medium. I've also been trying to return the item and it's a LOT of hassle because the suits are shipped from China.", "So soft, fits perfect! I usually wear medium, that's what I ordered, runs true to size! You will not be dissappointed with this item!!", "Ordered a medium and is still a little too big. Might go down one size if you like a nice sporty fit. If you like baggy then go with standard sizing. Over all like the product though, seems well made, time will tell.", "I normally wear a US small but ordered a medium just to be safe (after reading prior reviews). It fit me great! Left good breathing room. However, If you like your dresses super tight I would recommend ordering your regular size! :)", "Fit's smaller than the size. I ordered an extra large and it fits more like a medium, but it's still really cute. I like it a lot and it look's like it does in the picture, except it is a lot brighter, more of a neon orange, but I can work with it.", "I would recommend these gloves for heavy duty use. They have protection in all the right places, but are still flexible enough to not feel bulky. They are not for use if you are using small items, but for shooting or mechanics, they are highly recommended. It seems that they are small for the size - I usually wear a medium glove, but ordered these in large and they \"fit like a glove\".", "These produce bags are really useful. I purchased the mixed sizes so I could decide which size would be most useful They were all useful. 6 peaches fit in the small ones. Most green veggies fit in the medium and the large were good for multiple items or large bunches of veggies like broccoli. I also put the bags, with the veggies still inside , into my refrigerator bin and they are still really fresh. Will be ordering more today.", "This item came after 30 days. The medium fits a very small dog. An the large did not fit my shitsu. The seller told me to give them away as gifts. Really! Correct your size Charts.", "Fit OK, but be careful ordering the sizes. Probably need to order minimum one size larger than you normally wear. A \"Medium\" size is more like a Youth Large size.\n\nProduct quality seems to be pretty decent in that stiching appears well done, no lose threads, material seem good.", "Purchased for a man 5'10\" with an athletic build and a 32-inch waist. US medium would not fit as well for someone with a broader waist.", "Very large box for the amount of k'nex items inside. Inside there was a medium size bag that held all the parts. This advertised box makes it look like 1705 pieces. All the pieces and the instruction booklet all fit into a gallon size zip lock baggie. My Grandson loved it! He dumped everything out of it and we were pushing him around the house in it.", "I had to use some safety pins to hold some parts better like the neck area but the outfit was great and served its purpose. I got a medium size based on the sizing chart and it fit perfect.", "Seems to run small I ordered the medium size and was too tight. I reordered the largest size and it fits very well.", "I got the wrong size. It should of been my actual size, I went up a size (Medium instead of small) and the skirt fit big but the top works fine. Wear it now with shorts, the skirt is a cover up item now.", "Despite the item being captioned \"PRIME & Free Returns\" I still received a shipping label that required postage. I get that some third parties don't provide return labels, fine, but don't list an item as \"Free Returns\" if this is not the case. There are tons of prime items that do not state free returns or specifically say \"free returns on some sizes\" so don't mislead buyers into thinking they have that option when gambling a purchase with a sub par sweater.\n\nEgh... material is kind of cheap, but in the end, I like the look.\n\nOkay, lesson learned. Some of these fit spot on, some dont, this didn't. I got a US medium, and the buttons were struggling to stay together. Got one size up which fits okay so I'm in the process of returning this one.", "I ordered this item thinking that the sizes would be close to little girl sizes - when i received what was touted as a Medium - I was surprised to find it would barely fit a 1 year old.\nSent it back and did not reorder.", "The dress is cute but unfortunately the\nX-Large size fits more like a medium or size 10/12.", "The sizing is European, so what is sold as a large is closer to a medium than a true American large.", "Nice feeling material but the medium isn't true to size. I own medium in other brands but this was too fitted.", "If you are normally a small in American clothes, buy the medium in a Chinese size. Easy Peasy. Great dress that fits well and is a normal jersey material.", "This shirt is comfortable and the blue color is very pretty. The V-neck is just right on the Medium, but if it were any deeper, I wouldn't like it. The fit is a little smaller than many medium shirts that I'm used to, so unless you want a shirt that 'clings' a bit to the sides to show your very excellent shape, you may want a looser fit and one size larger.", "Nice jacket. Runs small. I order a large and probably should have ordered an xlarge. Most of my jackets are Medium(US size)", "The shirt is a very nice shirt, however I ordered an XXL cause it said a US medium. However its still big, I would say its an US large. Nice shirt feels very nice, just not as nice of a fit as I wanted.", "Much too large. Ordered a medium, received what looked like a nightgown! Or minimally, an extra large. Modern fit is far off the radar for any size medium.", "I think the small medium would have been too small so we order a large extra large but it was too large so what does one do? It is a nice hat though.", "I am 6'2\" and 190 lbs. My Wrangler jean size is 33X34. The medium size fits me great, and I use the pants when walking for exercise on a chilly day. I like them very much.", "This item fits true to size-using the size chart provided will result in the perfect fit for your dog. This item is durable, and looks great on my dog.", "I ordered a 2XL US size thinking it would run small. A US XL would have been a great fit. Still a nice sweater.", "BUYER BEWARE...You had better like the quality and fit of this product because this seller DOES NOT accept returns. The product we received was not a women's size at all...more like a child's size. The \"medium\" (women's?) size we received would best fit an average 8-9 year old girl.", "my wife is medium but I bouth a large for her and the one we got was very small it fit my nine year old sorry not good", "Ahhh! American sizing. The shorts fit well, they seem to be well made. The trim on the side picks some, but the rest of the material is nice and heavy." ]

[ "The Fox and the Grapes The fable of The Fox and the Grapes is one of the few which feature only a single animal protagonist. There are several Greek versions as well as one in Latin by Phaedrus (IV.3) which is terse and to the point:" ]

[ "The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath is an American realist novel written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939.[2] The book won the National Book Award[3] and Pulitzer Prize[4] for fiction, and it was cited prominently when Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962.[5]", "Goldilocks and the Three Bears The story was first recorded in narrative form by British writer and poet Robert Southey, and first published anonymously as \"The Story of the Three Bears\" in 1837 in a volume of his writings called The Doctor.[2] The same year Southey's tale was published, the story was versified by George Nicol who acknowledged the anonymous author of The Doctor as \"the great, original concocter\" of the tale.[3][4] Southey was delighted with Nicol's effort to bring more exposure to the tale, concerned children might overlook it in The Doctor.[5] Nicol's version was illustrated with engravings by B. Hart (after \"C.J.\"), and was reissued in 1848 with Southey identified as the story's author.[6]", "What's Eating Gilbert Grape What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Darlene Cates and Leonardo DiCaprio. The film follows 24-year-old Gilbert (Depp), a grocery store clerk caring for his morbidly obese mother and mentally impaired younger brother in a sleepy Midwestern town. Peter Hedges wrote the screenplay, adapted from his 1991 novel of the same name. The film was well-received; DiCaprio received his first Academy Award nomination for his role.", "The Fox and the Hound The Fox and the Hound is a 1981 American animated drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and loosely based on the novel of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix. The film tells the story of two unlikely friends, a red fox named Tod and a hound dog named Copper, who struggle to preserve their friendship despite their emerging instincts and the surrounding social pressures demanding them to be adversaries. Directed by Ted Berman, Richard Rich and Art Stevens, the film included the voices of Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Keith Mitchell and Corey Feldman.", "The Little Prince Though ostensibly styled as a children's book, The Little Prince makes several observations about life and human nature.[12] For example, Saint-Exupéry tells of a fox meeting the young prince during his travels on Earth. The story's essence is contained in the fox saying that \"One sees clearly only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eye.\"[13] Other key morals articulated by the fox are: \"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed,\" and \"It is the time you have lost for your rose that makes your rose so important.\" The fox's messages are arguably the book's most famous quotations because they deal with human relationships.", "Grape-Nuts Despite the name, the cereal contains neither grapes nor nuts; it is made with wheat and barley. Post believed that glucose (which he called \"grape sugar\") formed in the baking process. This, combined with the nutty flavor of the cereal, is said to have inspired its name. Another explanation originates from employees at Post, who claim that the cereal got its name due to a resemblance to grape seeds, or grape \"nuts\".", "Jack and the Beanstalk \"Jack and the Beanstalk\" is an English fairy tale. It appeared as \"The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean\" in 1734[1] and as Benjamin Tabart's moralised \"The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk\" in 1807.[2] Henry Cole, publishing under pen name Felix Summerly popularised the tale in The Home Treasury (1845),[3] and Joseph Jacobs rewrote it in English Fairy Tales (1890).[4] Jacobs' version is most commonly reprinted today and it is believed to be closer to the oral versions than Tabart's because it lacks the moralising.[5]", "The Tales of Beedle the Bard The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a book of children's stories by British author J. K. Rowling. There is a storybook of the same name mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last book of the Harry Potter series.[2]", "The Fox and the Child The film was shot on the Plateau de Retord in Ain, which the film director knows well because he spent his youth there, in the summer,[2] as well as in the Abruzzo in Italy. The foxes in the film were played by six animals: Titus, Sally, Ziza, Scott, Tango and Pitchou. Titus was the fox who had been tamed by Marie-Noëlle Baroni. It died on March 17, 2008 at the advanced age of 12 years.[3]", "Sauvignon blanc Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words sauvage (\"wild\") and blanc (\"white\") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France.[1] It is possibly a descendant of Savagnin. Sauvignon blanc is planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. The grape is also a component of the famous dessert wines from Sauternes and Barsac. Sauvignon blanc is widely cultivated in France, Chile, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the states of Washington and California in United States. Some New World Sauvignon blancs, particularly from California, may also be called \"Fume Blanc\".", "The Farmer and his Sons The fable is rare in dealing directly with the human situation, rather than through the intermediary of animals. Although it has long been accepted as one of Aesop's, and appeared as his in early European collections, the story has also been ascribed to the philosopher Socrates.[2] The Neo-Latin poets Gabriele Faerno and Hieronymus Osius both wrote poetic versions, as did Jean de la Fontaine in French.[3]", "Curious George When the first story, Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys was published in France in 1939, George was named Fifi.[1] In the United Kingdom, George was originally called \"Zozo\" in 1941, apparently to avoid using the name of the then King George VI for a monkey.[1] Books featuring the adventures of Curious George have been translated from the original French into many other languages in addition to English. The books have been adapted into several television series and films.", "Grape seed oil Grape seed oil (also called grapeseed oil or grape oil) is pressed from the seeds of grapes, and is thus an abundant by-product of winemaking.[1]", "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge \"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge\", a short story by American author Ambrose Bierce, is \"one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature\".[1] Originally published by The San Francisco Examiner on July 13, 1890, it was first collected in Bierce's 1891 book Tales of Soldiers and Civilians. The story is set during the American Civil War, in which Bierce himself was a soldier.", "Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story Fox eventually aired the special as three separate episodes for the Family Guy season 4 finale in May 2006. Fox had several scenes cut out, new scenes put in, and other scenes altered to make it only 66 minutes long. The shortened and separated versions of the three segments – \"Stewie B. Goode\", \"Bango Was His Name, Oh!\", and \"Stu and Stewie's Excellent Adventure\" – were aired on May 21, 2006.", "The Fox and the Hound (novel) The Fox and the Hound is a 1967 novel written by American novelist Daniel P. Mannix and illustrated by John Schoenherr. It follows the lives of Tod, a red fox raised by a human for the first year of his life, and Copper, a half-bloodhound dog owned by a local hunter, referred to as the Master. After Tod causes the death of the man's favorite hound, man and dog relentlessly hunt the fox, against the dual backdrops of a changing human world and Tod's normal life in hunting for food, seeking a mate, and defending his territory. As preparation for writing the novel, Mannix studied foxes, both tame and wild, a wide variety of hunting techniques, and the ways hounds appear to track foxes, seeking to ensure his characters acted realistically.", "Merlot The earliest recorded mention of Merlot (under the synonym of Merlau) was in the notes of a local Bordeaux official who in 1784 labeled wine made from the grape in the Libournais region as one of the area's best. In 1824, the word Merlot itself appeared in an article on Médoc wine where it was described that the grape was named after the local black bird (called merlau in the local variant of Occitan language, mèrle in standard) who liked eating the ripe grapes on the vine. Other descriptions of the grape from the 19th century called the variety lou seme doù flube (meaning \"the seedling from the river\") with the grape thought to have originated on one of the islands found along the Garonne river.[1]", "Concord grape Concord grapes are often used to make grape jelly and are only occasionally available as table grapes,[4] especially in New England. They are the usual grapes used in the jelly for the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and Concord grape jelly is a staple product in U.S. supermarkets. Concord grapes are used for grape juice, and their distinctive purple color has led to grape-flavored soft drinks and candy being artificially colored purple while methyl anthranilate, a chemical present in Concord grapes, is used to give \"grape\" flavor. The dark colored Concord juice is used in some churches as a non-alcoholic alternative to wine in the service of communion.[5] Concord grapes have been used to make Kosher wine[6] and sacramental wine. The oldest sacramental winery in America, O-Neh-Da Vineyard, still produces a Concord wine for the altar.[7] Non-toxic sprays that contain methyl anthranilate can be sprayed on the bushes as a cost-effective bird control management. The spray repellent renders the fruit and foliage unpalatable to the birds.[8]", "Muscat (grape) The Muscat family of grapes include over 200 grape varieties belonging to the Vitis vinifera species that have been used in wine production and as raisin and table grapes around the globe for many centuries. Their colors range from white (such as Muscat Ottonel), to yellow (Moscato Giallo), to pink (Moscato rosa del Trentino) to near black (Muscat Hamburg). Muscat grapes and wines almost always have a pronounced sweet floral aroma. The breadth and number of varieties of Muscat suggest that it is perhaps the oldest domesticated grape variety, and there are theories that most families within the Vitis vinifera grape variety are descended from the Muscat variety.[1]", "James and the Giant Peach James and the Giant Peach is a popular children's novel written in 1961 by British author Roald Dahl. The original first edition published by Alfred Knopf featured illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. There have been reillustrated versions of it over the years, done by Michael Simeon for the first British edition, Emma Chichester Clark, Lane Smith and Quentin Blake. It was adapted into a film of the same name in 1996.", "King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table is a novel for children written by Roger Lancelyn Green. It was first published by Puffin Books in 1953 and has since been reprinted.[1] In 2008 it was reissued in the Puffin Classics series with an introduction by David Almond (the award-winning author of Clay, Skellig, Kit's Wilderness and The Fire-Eaters),[2] and the original illustrations by Lotte Reiniger.", "The Secret Seven The names Secret Seven and Famous Five had already been used by author Charles Hamilton, under the pen-name Frank Richards, in his long-running series of stories featuring Billy Bunter and Greyfriars School. The Secret Seven was the name of a secret society that featured in a series of eleven stories published in The Magnet magazine in 1934;[citation needed] the term \"Famous Five\" dates from 1910 and is applied to a group of the leading characters.[citation needed]", "The Frog and the Ox The Frog and the Ox appears among Aesop's Fables and is numbered 376 in the Perry Index.[1] The story concerns a frog that tries to inflate itself to the size of an ox, but bursts in the attempt. It has usually been applied to socio-economic relations.", "The Lion & the Mouse The Lion & the Mouse is a children's picture book illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Published in 2009, the book retells without words Aesop's fable of The Lion and the Mouse. Pinkney won the 2010 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in the book.[1]", "Cold feet The origin of the term itself has been largely attributed to American author Stephen Crane, who added the phrase, in 1896, to the second edition of his short novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets.[7][8] Crane writes, \"I knew this was the way it would be. They got cold feet.\" The term is present in \"Seed Time and Harvest\" by Fritz Reuter published in 1862.[8][9][10] Kenneth McKenzie, a former professor of Italian at Princeton University attributed the first use of the phrase to the play Volpone produced by Ben Jonson in 1605.[8][9] The true origin and first usage of the phrase remains debated and unconfirmed as exemplified above.", "The Grapes of Wrath (film) The film tells the story of the Joads, an Oklahoma family, who, after losing their farm during the Great Depression in the 1930s, become migrant workers and end up in California. The motion picture details their arduous journey across the United States as they travel to California in search of work and opportunities for the family members.", "History of American wine In California, the first vineyard and winery was established by Spanish Catholic missionaries in 1769. California has two native grape varieties, but they make very poor quality wine. Therefore, the missionaries used the Mission grape, which is called Criolla or \"colonialized European\" in South America. Although a Vitis vinifera, it is a grape of \"very modest\" quality. The first secular vineyard was established in Los Angeles by an immigrant from Bordeaux, Jean-Louis Vignes. Dissatisfied with the Mission grape, he imported vines from France. By 1851 he had 40,000 vines under cultivation and was producing 1,000 US barrels (120,000 L) of wine per year.", "Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men is a novella[1][2] written by author John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, it tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United States.", "Goldilocks and the Three Bears \"Goldilocks and the Three Bears\" (originally titled \"The Story of the Three Bears\") is a 19th-century fairy tale of which three versions exist. The original version of the tale tells of a badly-behaved old woman who enters the forest home of three bachelor bears whilst they are away. She sits in their chairs, eats some of their porridge, and sleeps in one of their beds. When the bears return and discover her, she wakes up, jumps out of the window, and is never seen again. The second version replaced the old woman with a little girl named Goldilocks, and the third and by far most well-known version replaced the original bear trio with Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear.", "The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in July 1908. Potter composed the book at Hill Top, a working farm in the Lake District she bought in 1905. Following the purchase, her works began to focus on country and village life, incorporating large casts of animal characters and sinister villains. Jemima Puddle-Duck was the first of her books set wholly at the farm with background illustrations based on the farm buildings and yard, and nearby locales.", "Todd (given name) Todd is a given name. The name originates in Middle English where it means \"fox\" (possibly referring to a fox hunter).", "Frankenstein Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley (1797–1851) that tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a grotesque, sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition of the novel was published anonymously in London on 1 January 1818, when she was 20.[2] Her name first appeared on the second edition, published in France in 1823." ]

[ "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova advanced to the Japan Open final Friday with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Thailand&#39;s Tamarine Tanasugarn." ]

[ "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova will play in October's Japan Open tennis tournament, organizers said Thursday.", "Top seed Lleyton Hewitt of Australia needed three sets to advance at the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships on Wednesday. Hewitt, who had received a first-round bye, defeated Japanese wild card Gouichi Motomura", "Defending Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia has advanced to the semifinals of the China Open women&#39;s tennis tournament in Beijing.", "Top seed Serena Williams of the United States and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia have advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing.", "Maria Sharapova is pushed to three sets by Samantha Stosur in her first match at the Japan Open.", "BEIJING -- Serena Williams and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova both advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Open on Wednesday.", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova will play in October&#39;s Japan Open tennis tournament, organizers said Thursday. The 17-year-old Russian, who beat two-time defending champion Serena Williams to win Wimbledon", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova advanced to the final of the Korea Open on Saturday, beating Anne Kremer 6-0, 6-2.", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova overpowered American Mashona Washington on Saturday to claim back-to-back Japan Open titles. Top seeded Sharapova cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Washington", "Maria Sharapova, ranked No. 2 on the WTA Tour, will return to Japan next month to play in the Pan Pacific Open.", "Seventh-seed Taylor Dent of the United States advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 over Tomas Zib of the Czech Republic in second-round action at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo.", "Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the finals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Robby Ginepri on Saturday.", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Open on Wednesday, routing fellow Russian Tatiana Panova 6-1, 6-1.", "Amélie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin-Hardenne advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Monday.", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova disposed of Japan's Miho Saeki 6-3, 6-1, on Thursday to sweep into the quarter-finals of the Hansol Korea Open.", "U.S. Open tennis continues today, a day after Andre Agassi played his last match. Amelie Mauresmo takes on Serena Williams today. Also in action are Justine Henin-Hardenne, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, Lleyton Hewitt and Lindsay Davenport.", "Reigning Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has thrashed Anne Kremer of Luxembourg to advance to the final of the Korea Open in Seoul.", "Maria Sharapova advanced to the French Open quarterfinals for the third time in her career. She has advanced further in the tournament.", "Former champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia advanced to the third round in the US Open Friday with a victory over Hicham Arazi. Hewitt, the fourth seed who won the title", "World number three Lleyton Hewitt has booked his place in the semi-final of the Japan Open with a straight sets win over Frenchman Cyril Saulnier.", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova overcame the heat and U.S. Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 Tuesday to advance to the semifinals at the Australian Open.", "Two former world-number-one tennis stars, American Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, have advanced to the semifinals of the Legg Mason Classic in Washington.", "Tennis stars Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova rode elephants before playing an exhibition match in Thailand as part of preparations for the Australian Open.", "Seoul, Korea (Sports Network) - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was an easy quarterfinal winner Friday at the $140,000 Korea Open Tennis Championships.", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova advanced to the semifinals of the China Open on Friday when Jelena Jankovic retired in the first set because of an ankle injury.", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova had little trouble overcoming France&#39;s Youlia Fedossova 6-3 6-4 to claim her place in the women&#39;s semifinals at the Japan Open.", "World number one Maria Sharapova battled her way into the semi-finals of the Pan Pacific Open with a 4-6 6-0 6-1 victory over Japan's Ai Sugiyama on Friday.", "Australian tennis star and world number three Lleyton Hewitt has called on the Australian Open organisers to speed up the courts for the tournament.", "Wimbledon tennis champion Maria Sharapova outclassed Poland&#39;s Marta Domachowska 6-1, 6-1 to win the inaugural Korea Open yesterday.", "After a grand entrance, Maria Sharapova efficiently dispatched the Michaella Krajicek to advance to the second round of the U.S. Open.", "Tokyo, Japan (Sports Network) - Fifth-seeded Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic upset top-seeded Aussie Lleyton Hewitt, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, in Saturday&#39;s semifinal action at the $775,000 Japan Open.", "Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and world number one Lindsay Davenport both powered into the Pan Pacific Open semifinals in resounding fashion Friday." ]

[ "Coordinate outfits and gently hold your hair up with made-from-scratch scrunchies. Say bye-bye to hair breakage with a 90's throwback accessory that's easy to make in about 30 minutes." ]

[ "Ever had the problem of having either glossy on its own or scrunched on its own but really want them both at the same time? well you have come to the right place!", " Have you ever wanted to make an action game and make it multiplayer? You want to make levels, and here's how. ", " Making popcorn ? Make it easy on yourself with this very simple little trick that makes it easier for the corn kernels to pop. ", " \nThese make for a healthy treat that is easy to make at home. ", " Want to make a spinning top? Not only can you do that - you can decorate it to make it cute, too! ", " Do you ever have trouble making your make up look perfect? This article will make sure your make-up looks picture perfect! ", "Thin hair may be some of the hardest hair to work with. It can be a pain to style because most styles look flat and worn out. Scrunching hair is a popular hairstyle that is great for the beach, a party, school, or a casual social event.", "If you have straight, thin hair that doesn't really do much, this article tells you the most effective way to scrunch your hair (it's an overnight thing).", " If you did not know how to make a nice garden now you will. Make sure there is enough room to make one. ", "Honey, peanut butter, breakfast cereal and are mixed together to make this breakfast cookie that's inexpensive to make. It's also nutritious. This recipe makes 12 servings.", " These reindeer are fun and easy to make, and they make great holiday decorations! ", "If you knit, crochet, or do other crafts that use multiple skeins of yarn, you can easily keep them tidy and untangled with nothing more than a couple of soda bottles.", " \nMake your own cleaning duster from scraps of knitting cotton! This is an easy project to make from spooled knitting. ", " Do you always make a mess with flour? No worries! These easy to make flourless and gluten free cookies are a breeze to make! ", "If you like to make dolls or you have dolls that have lost their hair, you can easily make hair for them. It doesn't matter whether it's a Barbie doll or a Raggedy Andy doll.", "Scrunching hair can create volume, waves, and help you get a \"tussled\" beach look. Achieving this without gel is easier than it sounds. While you don't need any products at all, people with uncooperative hair may want to try some lighter alternatives to mousse or keep the scrunch in place with hairspray.", "When making a nice scene, it isn't always very easy to make foliage or shrubbery. Paint. Net with the ability to use fractals makes it possible! Read on.", " This article will help you to make a boat racing game and that will be great to make and will show you how to make it more realistic. ", "Get the messy and sexy look of wavy, tossed hair by scrunching your hair overnight. Instead of damaging your hair with hot curling irons or spending hours putting your hair in curlers, try this method for an easy, gorgeous look.", "Yarn falls are a great way to add temporary excitement to your hair. You can buy them but they usually cost a lot and they are easy to make yourself.", "Dragon Age: Origins implements a crafting system, which includes herbalism, poison-making, and trap-making. Making traps thus starts with investing skill points into trap-making for any given character.", "A tulip wreath is an easy decoration to make. You can make one for yourself or make one for a friend. To make a wreath, select and cut your tulips. Then, you can arrange them around a Styrofoam or wicker base.", " Here's how to make some flour in Runescape. It can be used to make bread . ", "There are a few ways to help make your Facebook account secure, before you read this make sure you have a secure Password, don't make your password too personal but make it something that you'll remember.", "You've admired fleece tie blankets and throws because they are soft, warm, and comforting. Instead of going out and buying one, why not make your own?", " Learn how to make this fun and easy craft. Great for rainy days! ", " Do you have a new fashion idea? Make your own pattern! ", " This is a method to use to make yarn dread falls. It might not be elegant but it works well and doesn't take very much yarn. ", " Orange and yoghurt makes a lovely and unusual dessert. Here's how to make it! ", "Here is an article that is great because these animals are easy, cute, and really fun to make. These animals are hand sewn, which makes them good for kids and adults.", "Making a whistle at home is a fun and rewarding experience. If you've already tried making wooden or grass whistles, try making a clay whistle for a change.", "Tissue paper flowers make great gifts, decorations, and party décor. They are also easy to make. This wikiHow will show you several ways of making tissue paper flowers." ]

[ "‘Supergirl’ Casting Superman for Season 2. Superman is officially coming to “Supergirl” in Season 2, with casting currently underway for the role of Clark Kent/Kal-El, the cousin of titular heroine Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist)." ]

[ "1 A passing of the Torch is made by Helen Slater (who had previous played the role of Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in the 1984 Supergirl movie,) to Laura Vandervoort's Kara by playing aunt Lara.", "Who Is Lyra On 'Supergirl'? While you were living for Alex and Maggie's first Valentine's Day or swooning over Kara and Mon-El finally giving in to their feelings, another romance was brewing on Supergirl. I'm not talking about Mr. Mxyzptlk, though the trickster was about as charming as he was annoying and dangerous. Who is Lyra on Supergirl?", "This is the second time Chyler Leigh has played a character with a name that derives from Alexander.. On Grey's Anatomy (2005) she played Alexandra Lexie. Caroline Grey and on Supergirl (2015) she plays Alex Danvers.", "Men of Steel: 11 Actors Who Have Played Superman. Our look at the all the Superman actors who have worn the cape on the big and small screen now includes Supergirl's Tyler Hoechlin! This article originally ran in 2013, but we dust it off for another flight every now and then. Today, it's in honor of George Reeves' birthday!", "Both are very mighty super heroines with identical powers and abilities. Wonder Woman is an Amazon princess granted with superpowers by the Greek gods. Supergirl is a super powered Kryptonian who is the cousin of Superman. Diana has certain advantages over Supergirl but Kara has her own leverage too.", "Reign's interest in Supergirl was due to her watching Supergirl from afar and gaining the mistaken impression that Supergirl was stronger than Superman because she fought him and appeared to be winning the conflicts.", "After positive fan reaction to Supergirl, the first recurring and most familiar version of Supergirl, Kara Zor-El, debuted in 1959. Kara Zor-El first appeared in Action Comics #252 (May 1959) written by Otto Binder, who had also created Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel's sister and female spin-off.", "In Wonder Woman Vol 3 #41, the title character defeated Powergirl, who is an alternate version of Supergirl from Earth 2. Diana is much stronger than many super strong female heroines in the DC Universe such as Donna Troy, Starfire, Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark), Supergirl, Mary Marvel, Isis, Big Barda, among others.", "CW Superheroes. See Darren Criss as Music Meister in The Flash-Supergirl musical crossover first look. Meet your Music Meister! During the upcoming Flash–Supergirl musical crossover, Darren Criss makes his debut as the DC Comics villain who causes his victims to break out into song — and EW has the first look.", "[WARNING: The following contains spoilers from Supergirl's latest episode. Supergirl really can't trust anybody these days. On Monday night's episode of Supergirl, viewers saw a glimpse of something rather strange at the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO), and we don't mean an alien or artifact from Fort Rozz.", "[Warning: This story contains spoilers from the season one finale of CBS' Supergirl.] Supergirl's future isn't invincible. CBS wrapped up the freshman DC Comics drama on Monday with a cliffhanger as the cast, creators and crew of Supergirl anxiously await word of the show's future.", "Check it all out below in the Supergirl Origins and Evolutions slideshow! The real world Supergirl origins lie in 1959. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, Supergirl debuted in 1958’s Superman #123. She quickly proved to be popular with the comic book fans. Supergirl wasn’t the first teenage girl version of a popular established male hero, but she’s proven that she has staying power.", "DC Editorial wanted Superman to be the only surviving Kryptonian following DC's post-Crisis reboot of the Superman continuity. As a result, when DC reintroduced Supergirl, she needed a non-Kryptonian origin. Afterward, DC Comics tried to revamp the Supergirl concept, introducing several more non-Kryptonian Supergirls.", "Supergirl isn't stronger or more powerful than Superman. It only appears that way. This mistaken impression leads to the confrontation between Supergirl and Reign/Worldkillers in Supergirl #6 & #7. Reign, the leader of the Worldkillers is a genetically-engineered metapowered lifeform created by Kryptonian super-science.", "Filed Under: Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Renewed / Cancelled, Supergirl, The Flash Tagged With: Arrow, arrow renewed cancelled, dc's legends of tomorrow, dc's legends of tomorrow cancelled or renewed, supergirl, supergirl renewed cancelled, the flash, the flash renewed/cancelled. November 16, 2016 by RenewCancelTV Leave a Comment.", "Post-Crisis. 1 1994: Supergirl (Vol. 2 1996 to 2003: Supergirl (Vol. 4) #1 to 80, incl. 3 2004 to 2005: Superman/Batman #8 to #13 and #19. 4 2005 to 2011: Supergirl (Vol. 5) #0 to #67. 5 2006 to 2008: Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes (Legion of Super-Heroes, Vol. 5) #16 to #37. 6 2007: Action Comics #850. 7 2008: Final Crisis.", "The official description of the character reads: “Saturn Girl, aka Imra Ardeen, is a kind, smart, and strong-willed hero who uses her telekinetic ability to help those in need. She was born on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, and arrives on Earth to help Supergirl battle one of her biggest threats.” In the Supergirl comics, Saturn Girl is a member of The Legion of Super-Heroes…in the 31st Century. Supergirl travels through time, meets the Legion, becomes a member, and falls in love with Braniac 5, the descendant of one of Superman’s greatest enemies.", "Dean Cain will be playing Dr. Curtis Knox from the Smallville series. Helen Slater will play Superman birth mother also from the Smallville series. I don’t understand the need to used Superman birth mother in the pilot since the pilot is suppose to be about Supergirl on how she escape from krypton and land on earth.", "Championships and accomplishments. 1 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 4 of the top 50 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2016. 2 Queens of Chaos World Queens of Chaos Championship (1 time) 3 SuperGirls Wrestling SuperGirls Championship (1 time, inaugural) SuperGirls Championship tournament (2005)", "1 There will be a four-way crossover between Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow and DC's Legends of Tomorrow in December 2016, and for The Flash, this will take place in episode eight. There will be a two-part musical crossover with Supergirl.", "The Supergirl writers had already begun to plan for season two—after a screening of the big Supergirl-Flash crossover, they mentioned that they were saving a storyline about the comics' Project Cadmus for the next year. You're not going to see Cadmus this season.", "The Supergirl Season 1 finale aired on April 18, and in the weeks since, fans waited to learn whether the show would be renewed or not. Yesterday, it was officially announced that Supergirl would return for a second season, but it won’t stay on CBS.", "Ultimately, this is a show about Supergirl and we really want to see it through her lens. On November 30, 2015, CBS ordered an additional seven episodes of Supergirl, for a full season of 20 episodes.", "Supernova (Supergirl) is HERE! I just saw the Supernova rushes. Man, is this one going to knock your socks off! If you like Supergirl, you'll love Supernova, the Bluestone version.", "The release of season 2 of Supergirl on the CW has already been announced. Season two of Supergirl will premier on October 10th, 2016. Fans of the show are super excited to have a show back that they can watch once a week.", "In the Supergirl comics, Saturn Girl is a member of The Legion of Super-Heroes…in the 31st Century. Supergirl travels through time, meets the Legion, becomes a member, and falls in love with Braniac 5, the descendant of one of Superman’s greatest enemies.", "Has the Supergirl TV show been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season on The CW? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Supergirl season four.", "Supergirl Has Powers that Wonder Woman Doesn't Have. Although Wonder Woman and Supergirl have similar powers such as superhuman strength, stamina, super speed, and flight, Kara still has many powers that Wonder Woman doesn't have.", "Star-Crossed is the sixteenth episode of the second season of Supergirl, and the thirty-sixth episode overall. It aired on March 20, 2017. The end of the episode served as the beginning of a musical crossover between The Flash and Supergirl, which continuing with the seventeenth episode of the third season of The Flash.", "To be honest, I have absolutely no idea how to review “Crisis On Earth-X, Part 1” as an episode of Supergirl. Because it isn’t an episode of Supergirl, not even in the sense of being a crossover filtered through Supergirl’s perspective.", "Dewan – who will first appear in Supergirl episode three – recently starred on the short-lived Lifetime series Witches of East End, as well as the (also short-lived) NBC crime/drama The Playboy Club.", "A ‘Glee’ Reunion for Darren Criss, Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist in ‘Flash,’ ‘SuperGirl’ Musical Crossover. Darren Criss! Darren Criss will reunite with his Glee co-stars Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist for the upcoming musical episodes of Supergirl and The Flash reports TVLine. Criss will play the musical menace, Music Meister, who made his debut in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold where he was voiced by Neil Patrick Harris." ]

[ "Predestination" ]

[ "What You Want Is What You Get", "What You Cache Is What You Get", "Be What You Are", "You Get What You Give", "The Naming of Names", "Believe What You Say", "Be All That You Can Be", "Life's What You Make It", "Our Name Says It All", "You Know My Name", "The Bones of What You Believe", "names", "What Do You Got?", "Practice what you preach ''", "What Makes You Country", "name ''", "What Would You Do?", "What You Don't Know", "All You Need is Love", "naming", "Forget All You Know", "What You Need from Me ''", "bases", "What I Can Do for You", "the base", "You Got What I Need", "I Know What You Need", "baptismal name", "You read the news, the stories never change", "Saving All My Love for You ''", "regnal name", "base" ]

[ "Abstract The absorption edge of a SiC 6H crystal has been studied at 9°K by a wavelength modulation device. The structure is briefly discussed." ]

[ "Abstract The results of a lengthy computational study into the origin of SiC polytypes are summarized. The 6H structure is found to be the stable phase at high temperature in agreement with experiment. The 4H is almost certainly the equilibrium phase at lower temperature, with 15R being stable over a surprisingly wide range in between. Other higher order polytypes are likely to be equilibrium phases around the phase boundaries of 15R with 6H and 4H respectively. The cubic structure is not stable at any temperature but its formation can be easily understood as a result of a local constrained equilibrium during crystal growth. The effects of donor and acceptor impurities are mentioned and two experiments are suggested to clarify the subject further.", "Abstract The X-ray K-absorption edge of yttrium in some pyrochlores of the type YLnFeSbO7 have been investigated using a 400 mm bent crystal spectrograph. The position of the principal absorption edge was found to have shifted towards the low energy side when Ln was changed from lanthanum through erbium. On the basis of the extended absorption fine structure estimates about the bond lengths have been made using the Lytle's and Levy's techniques.", "A comparative study of the temperature dependence of the absorption edge has been performed with thin single-crystal wafers of bulk GaAs and multilayer quantum-size GaAs/Ga0.3Al0.7As structures with the well and barrier thicknesses La=Lb approximately=135 A in the temperature range T=4-300 K. The total number of periods was N>20. The authors consider the quantity K*, which is proportional to the integral absorption coefficient calculated as a product of the line halfwidth and the optical density at the exciton band maximum. In bulk samples K* shows a sharp increase by nearly an order of magnitude, up to T* approximately= 110 K, and then remains roughly constant. The temperature T* may be considered as critical for the excitonic polariton-mechanical exciton transition. A similar behaviour of K* was observed for superlattices with a slightly increasing integral absorption up to a temperature of T* approximately=20 K. This fact is considered as evidence for the polariton nature of light absorption at T", "A buried layer of crystalline SiC in silicon wafer is synthesized by 1.5 MeV C+ implantation at a dose of 1.5×1018 ions/cm2 at a high temperature of 880°C. The infrared absorption spectrum and the X-ray diffraction pattern of this sample show formation of 3C-type SiC crystal. The pole figures of X-ray diffraction show that crystallographic orientation of the SiC buried layer is aligned along the lattice of the Si substrate, that is, topotaxial internal growth of crystalline SiC occurs in a single crystal of Si during the high-temperature ion implantation.", "First-principles calculations are carried out to study the relaxation of 6H-SiC (0001) surface and chemisorption models of Si adatoms on four high-symmetry adsorption sites. The surface results show that Si-termination is the preferred termination of the 6H-SiC(0001) polar surface and is more stable than the C-terminated 6H-SiC(0001) polar surface over a wide range of allowed chemical potentials. Four stable atomic configurations (top, bridge, hcp and fcc) are considered, and the adsorption energies and geometries, Mulliken charge population, and partial density of state (PDOS) properties are analyzed. Adsorption energy results show that the top site is the most stable site. The structural properties of Si adsorption on the SiC (0001) surface shows that increasing stability means decreasing bond lengths. Charge populations analysis and PDOS results imply that there is strong interaction between Si adatoms and 6H-SiC (0001) surface.", "We report a new type of electrically pumped THz source that emits at 9 THz with a maximum operating temperature of 150 K. The mechanism is based on dopant transitions in the 4H-SiC. The two nonequivalent donor sites of nitrogen in SiC were used to give the device a relatively high operating temperature and emission power. At a pumping current of 4.7 A at 4 K, the integrated spectral output power was 0.18 mWatt from the top surface with an area of 4mm2. These results suggest that high-temperature operating THz devices can be fabricated from doped SiC.", "The long-wavelength edge of fundamental absorption and absorption by free carriers of Pb1−xSnxSe (x = 0.06) single crystals with free electron concentration 1.0 × 1017 ≦ N ≦ 5.0 × 1018 cm−3 is investigated. The absorption coefficient within 10 to 1500 cm−1 is shown to be exponentially dependent on photon energy. In samples with N > 5.0 × 1017 cm−3 the absorption edge is described by the Urbach rule only at high temperatures. At T < TU the Burstein-Moss effect dominates the shape of the absorption edge. A correlation between the calculated electron-phonon coupling parameters γ and the experimental (2/3) σ values is found. The temperature dependence of light absorption at λ = 14 μ by free carriers is investigated. Manifestation of the conduction band non-parabolicity in the considered phenomena as well as the scattering mechanism of free electrons are discussed. ::: ::: ::: ::: [Russian Text Ignored].", "Crystals of L‐alanine, CH3CHNH3+CO2−, and also CH3CHND3+CO2−, CH3CDNH3+CO2−, and CH3CDND3+CO2− were irradiated at 80°K, and their ESR absorptions were observed at the same temperature. Most of the observations were made at 9 GHz, although some observations were made at 24 and 35 GHz. In addition to the known absorption from the trapped electron (or anion), an absorption with many peaks was detected and was attributed to the trapped hole (or cation) of L‐alanine. From the hfs tensor for one of the methyl protons and other evidence, the electron hole was found to be trapped predominately at the C–C bond connecting the methyl group to the α‐carbon atom. In the four crystals examined, the concentration of the cation was comparable to that of the anion.", "Abstract The shapes and the fine structure of the X-ray L III absorption discontinuity of rhenium have been studied in seven octahedral and three tetrahedral compounds using a Cauchois type 40 bent crystal spectograph. The main absorption discontinuity is found to be split into two compounds for all the compounds. This splitting and the near edge structure have been interpreted with the help of qualitative molecular diagrams.", "The equilibrium shape of 6H-SiC nanostructures and their surfaces were studied by analyzing nano-void (∼10 nm) shapes, which were introduced in monocrystalline 6H-SiC by high-temperature neutron irradiation, using transmission electron microscopy. The nano-voids were determined to be irregular icosahedrons truncated with six { 1 ¯ 100}, twelve { 1 ¯ 103}, one smaller top-basal, and one larger bottom-basal planes, which suggests that { 1 ¯ 100} and { 1 ¯ 103} are the next stable surface class after the basal planes. The relatively frequent absence of the { 1 ¯ 100} surface in the nano-voids indicated that the ( 1 ¯ 10 3 ¯ ) surface type is energetically rather stable. These non-basal surfaces were found not to be atomically flat due to the creation of nanofacets with half unit-cell height in the c-axis. The { 1 ¯ 100} and { 1 ¯ 103} surfaces were classified as two and four face types according to their possible nanofacets and surface termination, respectively. We also discuss the surface energy difference ...", "Abstract The etch rate of 6H-SiC crystal substrates in a flow of purified hydrogen has been studied as a function of the temperature and hydrogen flow rate. Graphite and refractory metals (tungsten and molybdenum) heater elements have been used. The experimental curves in the case of graphite heaters are complicated. This is related to the interaction between carbon and hydrogen. SiC epitaxial growth has been performed by thermal decomposition of CH 3 SiCI 3 in H 2 in a wide range of temperatures (1400–1800° C), gas flow rates (0.1–1.0 cm/s) and CH 3 SiCI 3 concentrations in H 2 (0.02–1.5 mol%). The conditions under which α- and β -SiC layers are formed have been determined.", "The formation of poly-SiC ring along the edge of single-crystal ingots during 6H-SiC crystal growth has a great impact on single crystal quality.The developed scheme which limits the thickness of the poly-SiC ring is to mainly improve the crucible system structure and to supplementally adjust the relative position of the coil and the crucible.The crystal growth experiments were conducted with homemade equipment of SiC crystal growth to demonstrate the scheme.The results of experiment show that the peripheral area and surface of 6H-SiC single crystal grown are smooth without poly-SiC and significant enlargement of SiC single crystal is achieved.", "This paper shows a simple analysis method for the contents of polytypes in the polycrystalline SiC. Theoretical diffraction intensities of single crystals of 2H, 3C, 4H, 6H and 15R were calculated by the crystallographic data. It was assumed that the polycrystalline SiC is a mixture of these polytype grains, and X-ray diffraction intensities of polycrystalline SiC were obtained by the sum of the theoretical intensities from these polytypes. The most probable contents of polytypes could be determined by fitting the observed X-ray diffraction intensities to the theoretical ones by the multiple regression method.", "Abstract The band structure and optical properties of 3C–SiC are studied by using a full potential linearized augmented plane waves (FPLAPW) method. The imaginary and real parts of the dielectric function have been obtained from the band structure calculation. The critical point structure of the dielectric function is analyzed to identify the optical transition. The refractive index, extinction coefficient and reflectivity have been calculated from obtained dielectric function. The calculated results are in agreement with the experiments.", "The electronic structural evolution of LLM-105 crystal under high pressure and low temperature is investigated by photoluminescence, absorption, Raman spectra and the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The result shows that LLM-105 crystal possesses a large tunable indirect band gap from 2.45 eV at ambient condition to 1.33 eV at 34.0 GPa. With increasing pressure at room temperature, the luminescence of LLM-105 crystal first increases its intensity owing to the raised absorption at excited wavelength and the enhanced hydrogen bond network, then over 9.0 GPa, the increase of non-radiative transition probability causes the decrease of emission intensity due to the increase of phonon energy. In the cooling process under high pressure, the emission enhanced due to the lower phonon energy and the pressure value at maximum emission can be adjusted up to 10.2 GPa at 200K from 9 GPa at room temperature. The absorption evolution reveals that the band gap of LLM-105 crystal decreases as pressure rising ...", "We report the results of ab-initio calculations of structural properties of hexagonal 6H–SiC(0001) surfaces. The calculations have been carried out self-consistently within local density approximation employing supercell geometries, smooth norm-conserving pseudopotentials in separable form and Gaussian orbital basis sets. We have investigated several structural models for adatom-induced reconstructions with adsorbed Si or C adatoms or trimers residing in threefold-symmetric T4 or H3 positions above Si- or C-terminated substrate surfaces, respectively. In the case of the Si-terminated substrate surface our results favor Si adatoms in T4 sites as optimal configuration in very good agreement with experimental data. For the C-terminated substrate surface our results indicate that none of the investigated adatom or trimer configurations is the optimal surface structure.", "The electrical response characteristics of Pd∕AlN∕6H−SiC and Pd∕AlN∕3C−SiC devices to hydrogen gas have been investigated. An AlN film, with a thickness of 100 nm, was deposited simultaneously on 6H−SiC(0001) and 3C−SiC(001) substrates. The structural, morphological, and microstructural characterizations of these devices were carried out using x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. In both the cases, the AlN film showed a highly textured c axis growth with a wurtzite crystal structure. However, the surface roughness of the AlN film on 3C–SiC was larger by a factor of three compared to that deposited on 6H–SiC, with an associated increase in the value of dielectric constant of AlN. Theoretical analysis of the electrical characteristics suggests that, in addition to the physical properties of the semiconducting layer, the dielectric constant of AlN layer directly influences the electrical response of the device to hydrogen. The Pd∕AlN∕3C−SiC device showe...", "The spectrometric studies of optical absorption edge in     x 1 3 2 x 3 3 S As AsS Ag  superionic glasses were carried out within the temperature range 77 to 400 K. The influence of temperature and composition on the optical absorption edge, parameters of the Urbach absorption edge, parameters of electron-phonon interaction as well as ordering-disordering processes in     x 1 3 2 x 3 3 S As AsS Ag  superionic glasses are studied.", "In this paper the criteria for reasonable choice of alternative to (0001) seed orientation are discussed. Growth conditions necessary to produce bulk 6H- and 4H-SiC crystals on necessary to produce bulk 6H- and 4H-SiC are presented. bohedral (011n) plane seeds in PVT process are presented. Specific defect structures in such crystals are described in relation to growth conditions. In the second part of the paper, liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) growth using high-temperature silicon based flux and rhombohedral plane seeds is compared to the LPE on basal plance seeds. In both bulk and epitaxial growth processes the employment of rhombohedral plane seed offers important advantages.", "We examine a defect in heat treated, oxidized 6H-SiC with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Samples are examined before treatment, after oxidation, after dry (<10 ppm H2O) N2 heat treatment, and after standard (approximately 50 ppm H2O) Ar annealing. A center is observed following dry heat treatment at temperatures greater than 800 °C. This center is passivated by standard Ar annealing at temperatures greater than 700 °C and regenerated after subsequent dry heat treatment. We suggest that this defect is related to an unpaired electron on a carbon atom created by the release of a hydrogen-related species.", "The optical constants below the fundamental absorption edge (up to 5 μm) of silicon single crystals and sputtered amorphous silicon films at high temperatures (up to 800°C) have been determined and the photothermal efficiencies of silicon–metal selective absorbers for thermal solar energy conversion calculated.", "Optical absorption spectra in the temperature range of 85-300 K and IR absorption spectra at room temperature of four diamond samples were studied. All samples demonstrated the GR1 vibronic system of a neutral vacancy. The absorption coefficient at the zero-phonon line at 1.673 eV decreased by the power law in the temperature range of 120-230 K. Outside this temperature range, the absorption on the neutral vacancy did not practically changed. The value of the absorption coefficient at the neutral vacancy correlated well with the densities of nitrogen impurity-defective NV-, N 2 Vand N 4 V-complexes.", "We have investigated a point defect, common to all SiC substrates, that is thought to be a broken carbon bond. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy performed in combination with three different etching methods using p -type, n -type, and semi-insulating substrates demonstrate that the center lies near the surface of a wafer. The results suggest that on the order of 10 13 cm -2 defects are removed within the first micron of the surface of a wafer.", "The effect of growth rate on the strain in AlN films grown on sapphire and 6H-SiC c-planes at 1150 °C by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition was investigated. The strain was measured by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the strain in the films was expressed by the biaxial stress and that it depended on the growth rate of the films and on the surface pre-treatments. When the growth rate was lower than 2.4 nm/min, the strain was constant, and it was compressive for the films grown on sapphire, and tensile for those on 6H-SiC. These stresses were produced by the differences of the thermal expansion coefficients between the films and substrates. The low temperature AlN-buffer layer, which was useful for the high temperature growth of AlN on sapphire, was revealed not to be applicable for 6H-SiC. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)", "We introduce a method to grow 4H-SiC single polytype stably by controlling the surface morphology. The polytype transition on on-axis 4H-SiC C-face was investigated from a viewpoint of surface morphology of grown layers. At the area where several hillock-like structures grew adjacently, the polytype transition from 4H-SiC to 6H-SiC or 15R-SiC often occurred. Therefore, we tried a modified seeded method to suppress the formation of hillock-like structures. As a result, the hillock-like structure on the grown layer was dramatically reduced. Moreover, the ratio of 4H-SiC polytype to the whole grown surface was increased to be almost 100%.", "We have adapted a scanning photoluminescence (SPL) apparatus, previously developed for III-V compounds analysis, for the characterization of SiC. The PL mapping is obtained by scanning the sample, fixed to an x - y stage with 1 μ m minimal step, under a doubled Ar + laser beam (244 nm) focused by a microscope objective (×52). For this excitation the spot diameter is about 4 μ m. The PL signal can be either directly detected, giving integrated PL intensity, either dispersed using a monochromator, giving spectrally resolved PL (1 nm resolution). The measurements can be realized at room temperature for near band edge studies, or at low temperature (80 K) for deep defects investigation. The gettering effect of non radiative centres by the screw dislocations in 6H-SiC is evidenced using this apparatus.", "Although silicon carbide has been used for more than half a century, its potential as a high-temperature, corrosion-resistant semiconductor has only recently begun to be exploited. Both crystalline and amorphous forms of SiC offer several advantages over Si, GaAs, and InP for high-frequency, high-power, and high-speed circuits. This volume contains reports on high-temperature SiC MOSFETs and MESFETs, secondary harmonic generation in SiC, a-SiC emitter heterojunction bipolar transistors, and bulk crystal growth of 6H-SiC. For newcomers to the field it provides an up-to-date review of technological developments in SiC and related materials, while specialists will find here recent references and new insights into materials for high-temperature, high-power, and high-speed circuit applications.", "Abstract KLN and Er:KLN crystal was grown by Czochraslki method. The growth technology was discussed. The growth of Er:KLN was easier than that of KLN. Pure KLN and Er:KLN crystal exhibited the TB structure by X-ray analysis. Compared with pure KLN, there was no new peaks in X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra results for Er:KLN, which showed that Er entered the lattice of crystal. But, dopant resulted in the change of peak intensity for both spectra. The absorption edge of Er:KLN shifted to ultraviolet band because the capacity of attracting electron of Er3+ was larger than that of K+, Li+ and Nb5+.", "Abstract Absorption spectra of a mixed fullerite crystal C 60 /C 70 have been studied in the energy range 1.5–2.5 eV at pressures up to 20 GPa. It has been found that with growing pressure one can observe an overall enhancement and a strong red shift of the fundamental absorption edge. The magnitude of a mean shift rate has been determined to be 0.08 eV/GPa, that makes it possible to estimate the minimal pressure at which the band gap width could become zero.", "A new infrared absorption feature in the low-temperature spectrum of solid D/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/ containing small amounts of tritium has been observed. The absorption can be interpreted as being due to electrons in bubblelike structures with diameters of approximately 9 A.", "ABSTRACTSulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy and chemical sequential extraction was respectively used to study the speciation of sulfur in two sulfur-rich soils samples. Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy analysis obtained a variety of spectra. Spectral fitting of the X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra utilizing a large set of model compounds showed great differences between these two sulfur-rich soil samples. It was found that both of the soil samples had high sulfur content (8.40 and 11.57 g kg−1, respectively). Chemical extraction results suggested that sulfur mainly existed as organic in the ancient paddy soil (7.37 g kg−1) and more reduced sulfur was identified in it. X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy also got similar results. These organic forms of sulfur existed in organic matter across a range of oxidation states. There was high proportion of oxidized sulfur in the sulfuric acid plant that mainly existed as sulfate.", "Abstract We report in situ growth experiments of GaN on 6H–SiC(0 0 0 1) substrates conducted in the low-energy electron microscope (LEEM). The Ga flux species were supplied by an evaporative source while the nitrogen was supplied by either a N-atom RF plasma source or a supersonic seeded-beam jet (SSJ) source. The surfaces of the 6H–SiC(0 0 0 1) substrates were prepared by high-temperature hydrogen etching prior to installation in the LEEM for deposition. On regions of the substrate surface where well-defined steps and terraces were observed, the LEEM video images showed initial nucleation at the steps and subsequent growth across the terraces. The LEED patterns indicated three-dimensional crystal growth with pronounced formation of facets. Such growth behavior occurred irrespective of the method of deposition" ]

[ "Pakora is a popular snack in the Indian sub-continent, usually served with Tea. Its usually consumed when it is hot &amp; crispy during a raining day." ]

[ "Green Chutney tastes yum with any kind of Chaat, Dhoklas or Pakoras. It can be used as a dip for most of the dry Indian snacks. A must have in the kitchen.", "Shingaras, the Bengali take on samosas, take some time to make and perfect, but the effort is well worth it. You start off by making the pastry dough and prepping ingredients for their filling.", " Have you ever wanted to make an action game and make it multiplayer? You want to make levels, and here's how. ", " Making popcorn ? Make it easy on yourself with this very simple little trick that makes it easier for the corn kernels to pop. ", " \nThese make for a healthy treat that is easy to make at home. ", " Do you ever have trouble making your make up look perfect? This article will make sure your make-up looks picture perfect! ", "If you'd like to serve a delicious and beautiful flatbread, make lachha paratha. This Northern Indian flatbread is made with whole wheat flour, salt, and ghee.", "Parathas are made with different vegetable stuffings. One typical stuffing is potato and it's especially popular in North India. The stuffed paratha is a breakfast item and it's enjoyed by individuals of every age.", "Cashew pakoda is the ideal evening snack. It's crispy on the inside and crunchy on the outside and tastes delicious. It's a savory snack, for those who like a little heat too.", "Veth Chaman and Paneer in Tomato Gravy are popular dishes of Jammu and Kashmir. This article will teach you how to make Paneer Masala powder, which is used to make paneer dishes.", " Mughlai (mughal) paratha is an easy-to-make bread with a filling of red kidney beans, meat, or paneer. It is healthy and extremely delicious. ", " If you did not know how to make a nice garden now you will. Make sure there is enough room to make one. ", "Honey, peanut butter, breakfast cereal and are mixed together to make this breakfast cookie that's inexpensive to make. It's also nutritious. This recipe makes 12 servings.", " These reindeer are fun and easy to make, and they make great holiday decorations! ", " This is a traditional south Indian recipe prepared mostly in Tanjore and surrounding areas. ", "Beef biryani is a popular Indian and Pakistani dish that is fairly easy to make. This recipe will serve 4-6 people, so try it for dinner tonight, or serve it to guests at a party!", "Want to have the best spicy chicken roll? Well, you're in the right place. Treat your taste buds by tasting Lahori parathas. Bring Lahore's culture to your home and taste its colours and life.", " Paratha is a very famous dish in India. and it is really easy to make at home. Have a look at this recipe. ", " Do you always make a mess with flour? No worries! These easy to make flourless and gluten free cookies are a breeze to make! ", " This is an Goan vegetarian dish. Made with masoor and spiced as you'd like, it is delicious served with rice or rotis! ", " This article will help you to make a boat racing game and that will be great to make and will show you how to make it more realistic. ", "When making a nice scene, it isn't always very easy to make foliage or shrubbery. Paint. Net with the ability to use fractals makes it possible! Read on.", "Dragon Age: Origins implements a crafting system, which includes herbalism, poison-making, and trap-making. Making traps thus starts with investing skill points into trap-making for any given character.", "Papads are thin and crisp wafers that are served in India and are usually prepared for Holi. These wafers can be made with a variety of different flours, including rice.", "Smores don't have to be created on an open fire and enjoyed between graham crackers. This unique and delicious recipe will create yummy smore cupcakes.", "A tulip wreath is an easy decoration to make. You can make one for yourself or make one for a friend. To make a wreath, select and cut your tulips. Then, you can arrange them around a Styrofoam or wicker base.", "Pulaos are a very famous dish in India. There are many varieties of pulao––the one here is made from green peas. This recipe is very easy to prepare, as it doesn't have too many ingredients and can be cooked quickly, making it ideal for the busy person who loves Indian food.", "Paneer is a dish that improves and finishes many Indian dishes, making it very versatile. It can be served in many ways but here you'll learn how to make paneer in tomato gravy, exclusively a Kashmiri style of preparing it.", " Here's how to make some flour in Runescape. It can be used to make bread . ", "Pulihora or tamarind rice is a popular south Indian recipe which is made during the celebration of festivals in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and served as prasadam in temples too.", "There are a few ways to help make your Facebook account secure, before you read this make sure you have a secure Password, don't make your password too personal but make it something that you'll remember.", " Orange and yoghurt makes a lovely and unusual dessert. Here's how to make it! " ]

[ "friendship and we understand and support each other" ]

[ "what if you are the reddit kid", "This is reddit. What did you expect?", "Therapy, not Reddit, is probably what you need.", "Did you just broke first couple of rules or what?", "What do you do when you're not on reddit?", "What question would you ask reddit?", "Reddit do what the Reddit says.", "*Congrats, You made a reddit account! Here is as an example of what not to post:*", "Just chillin, what are *you* doing on Reddit?", "What do you think is the most asked question on Reddit?", "What app you using?\n\nReddit is fun app still has it", "What's reddit?", "\"People of Reddit, what is that one question you wish people would stop asking you?\"", "Scrolling through reddit , \n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat do you mean i am a loser ?", "It’s only gay if you push back.", "Ask reddit what to do.", "I would think 'yes, you. you. I know what you're doing' every couple minutes or so", "I you push him, it's no longer suicide.", "What old reddit account?", "Depends on what you use reddit for. News? Memes? Sharing content in a specific community?", "What DOES reddit want to be asked?", "Reddit ask should what", "\"What's a bad thing to ask Reddit?\"", "What do you think are the odds a SWAT member is on reddit and will admit a mistake in public?", "Obviously that doesn't matter, considering you know what OP meant and you're on Reddit.", "\"Redditors of reddit, how often do you reddit on reddit?\"", "\"What are your last words in Reddit?\"", "What you want to make YouTube like Reddit and only allow one point of view?", "It’s pushing down on me, pressing down on you", "And why do you only address the people? What about us non-people of reddit?", "I feel like Reddit is definitely not what you should be consoling on this. Consult a pediatrician", "I'd ask them, \"If you were going to ask Reddit something what would it be?\"" ]

[ "The first world leader to be prosecuted in the wake of the global financial crisis went on trial Monday. Iceland's former Prime Minister Geir Haarde is charged with gross negligence related to the 2008 economic collapse in that country. Melissa Block talks with Ingo Sigfussen, the deputy head of news at RUV, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service." ]

[ "Iceland is one of the more dramatic casualties of the global financial crisis. Government officials seized control of the country's biggest bank Thursday, trying to shore up its banking system. It's the third time this week it has had to nationalize a troubled major bank. Iceland's banks were especially aggressive during the global credit boom and took on enormous amounts of debt. When that credit boom went bust, the banks were hammered. Earlier this week, the prime minister warned that the entire country could go bankrupt. STEVE INSKEEP, host: NPR's business news starts with the latest from tiny Iceland's big crisis. (Soundbite of music) INSKEEP: The island nation is one of the more dramatic casualties of the global financial crisis. Today's news from the capital Reykjavik is that Iceland's government has taken over the country's biggest bank. It's the third time this week that Iceland's government has had to nationalize a major bank in trouble. Iceland's banks were especially aggressive during the global credit boom and took an enormous amount of debt. And when that credit boom went bust, Iceland banks were hammered. Earlier this week, the prime minister warned his entire country could go bankrupt.", "Former Prime Minister Geir Haarde was the first leader to be put on trial for his role in the global financial crisis. Renee Montagne talks to Michael Stothard, a correspondent for the <em>Financial Times</em>, about Haarde being found guilty of negligence for his handling of the financial crisis. He was cleared of three other charges.", "In the spring of 2011, voters an Iceland had to decide whether to pick up the tab for mistakes bankers made before the financial crisis. We visited Iceland just before the vote and met Heiða Dóra Jónsdóttir, a 29-year-old new mom. Heiða was trying to figure out how to vote so we set up interviews for her with a bunch of experts on the subject, including Iceland's president. Heiða and the majority of Icelanders eventually voted \"no\" on the referendum, but the fight didn't end there. The British and Dutch governments took Iceland to court to try to recover money their citizens lost when an Icelandic bank failed. On today's show: we revisit that story from 2011 and give an update on how the years-long, international, multi-billion-dollar battle turned out. For more: Read our post about the court case. Read our Icelandic intern Baldur Hedinson's post, \"Should I Pay For Bankers' Mistakes?\" NOTE: In the show we neglected to identify the lead council arguing the case for Iceland, he is Tim Ward with Monckton Chambers. Download the podcast, or subscribe. Music: Tappi Tíkarrass's \"Beri-Beri\" and Egó's \"Fjöllin Hafa Vakað.\" Find us: Twitter/ Facebook.", "The global financial meltdown has hit Iceland hard. Its major banks have been nationalized, its currency is in free fall and its stock market has plummeted. \"Every single person has a personal tale about how the financial crisis has impacted them,\" says Chad Thomas, Bloomberg News' bureau chief in Helsinki, Finland.", "Libya's Col. Moammar Gadhafi says Libyans will 'take up arms' if western nations block Libyan fighter planes from taking off. ABC examines Gadhafi's warning, in which he claims a no-fly zone would be used to invade Libya for its oil. The Washington Post reports the U.S. and European allies are thinking about using naval power to send humanitarian supplies to Libya and block arms shipments. Reuters quotes rebel Libyan fighters who are urgently calling for the no-fly zone: \"They had a no-fly zone in Iraq. Why is Gaddafi their darling and Saddam Hussein was not?\" volunteer Naji Saleh told Reuters near the oil town of Ras Lanuf, referring to the air exclusion zone imposed on Iraq for more than a decade. ICELAND BANK ARRESTS The AP reports nine people were arrested in London, suspected of involvement with the collapse of a large Icelandic bank. When Kaupthing bank teetered in 2008, Iceland's government bailed it out, along with two other financial institutions. According to Financial Times, the cost was so heavy that Iceland was pushed into financial crisis, and the country's currency lost 80 percent of its value against the euro. BLAGO: CANCEL MY TRIAL, PLEASE The AP reports former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is asking an Illinois judge to cancel his upcoming re-trial on several counts of political corruption. Instead, he's offered to accept sentencing for his conviction on one count of lying to the FBI about his political fundraising work. It could mean a five year prison term. This may be a savvy move: the Chicago Tribune notes prosecutors are preparing to try Blagojevich on 23 remaining counts that a prior jury deadlocked upon. Conviction on those alleged felonies could carry 20 year prison terms.", "The global financial crisis has wreaked havoc far away from Wall Street. In Ireland, banks were seriously overexposed to mortgage debt, and in Iceland, which teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, polls showed a third of the population was considering emigration. Writers Andri Snaer Magnason of Iceland and Anne Marie Hourihane of Ireland talk about the economic roller coasters in their countries.", "Iceland has felt the full impact of the global financial crisis.The country is in such a mess that the prime minster has announced it could go bankrupt. The government has taken over three major banks. And now Icelandic officials are in Moscow asking the Russians for a loan. To top it all off, Reuters reports the country went up for sale on eBay, at least momentarily. The listing boasted a habitable environment, Icelandic horses and a somewhat sketchy financial situation. Bidding started at a bargain $1.75, but bidders had many questions, including, \"Will my payment be frozen?\"", "Iceland was handed a huge win today by the court of the European Free Trade Association. The court said that Iceland did not break the law when it decided not to cover the losses of foreigners who had deposited money in Landsbanki, the Icelandic bank that failed in 2008. The AP explains: \"A tiny North Atlantic nation with a population of just 320,000, Iceland went from economic wunderkind to financial basket case almost overnight when the credit crunch took hold. \"Some 340,000 British and Dutch savers lost deposits when Icesave, an online subsidiary of Iceland's Landsbanki, collapsed along with the country's other banks in 2008. \"The savers were repaid — to the tune of $5 billion — by the British and Dutch governments, who have been trying ever since to get their money back. Icelandic voters have twice rejected deals brokered by their government to reimburse the two countries.\" Iceland had tried before to settle this case, but its voters decided via referendum that Iceland would not refund foreigners invested in the failed banks. The New York Times reports that this case has provoked intense animosity between Iceland and Britain. \"In a recent interview with British television, Iceland's president, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, denounced Britain's 'eternal shame' for invoking the terrorism laws,\" the Times reports. \"'We were there together with Al Qaeda and the Taliban on that list,' he said. 'We have not forgotten that in Iceland.'\" The Times also points out that Iceland's economy is improving. Fitch even raised its credit rating saying the country's \"\"unorthodox crisis policy response has succeeded in preserving sovereign creditworthiness.\"", "On today's show: The Planet Money team heads for Iceland with the help of Baldur Hedinsson, our Icelandic intern. We get there just before the big election, when the people will vote to decide whether to pick up the tab for mistakes bankers made before the financial crisis. Heiða Dóra Jónsdóttir — 29 years old, new mom — is trying to figure out how to vote in Iceland's big election. To make her decision easier, we set up interviews for her with everybody we can think of. Including the president. For more: Read our post from earlier today about Heiða's choice. Listen to David Kestenbaum's Morning Edition interview from Reykjavik. Read Baldur's post, \"Should I Pay For Bankers' Mistakes?\" Download the podcast, or subscribe. Music: Tappi Tíkarrass's \"Beri-Beri\" and Egó's \"Fjöllin Hafa Vakað.\" Find us: Twitter/ Facebook.", "Today on Planet Money: -- Iceland's government became the second to fall as a direct result of the economic crisis. Icelandic National Broadcasting's Bjorn Malmquist reports on what some are calling a revolution. -- Russians have gotten almost accustomed to an economy that grew rapidly, until this year, that is. Now, as David Kestenbaum reports, people there are struggling with what to call the new economic climate. Andrei Illarianov, former adviser to President Vladimir Putin and now of the Cato Institute, says neither media nor the government wants to call it a crisis. Download the podcast; or subscribe. Intro music: The Streets' \"Everything Is Borrowed.\" Find us: Twitter/ Facebook/ Flickr.", "During the boom, an Icelandic bank called Landsbanki grew into a giant, largely by paying high interest rates to people from the Netherlands and the UK who opened online savings accounts at the bank. When the crisis hit, the bank failed. The Icelandic government bailed out the bank's Icelandic customers, but not customers from other countries. Iceland actually held a national referendum to decide whether to bail out the foreign depositors. The people of Iceland voted no. The British and Dutch governments — which had bailed out their citizens who lost money on Landsbanki — took Iceland to court. Today, an international court found in favor of Iceland. This is a big deal for Iceland. \"congratulations to the icelandic nation on winning the ... case !!\" Bjork tweeted today. \"justice occasionally happens . warmth, bjork\" The referendum took place a couple years ago. Our intern at the time, Baldur Hedinson, happened to be Icelandic. So we went to Iceland with him, and did a show about it. Baldur voted yes. His friend Heida, who we also followed in that story, voted no. I emailed Baldur to ask how he felt, now that the court had ruled. Here's his response. Hey mate Great for Iceland. I totally did not expect this decision and find it a little incredible that we won. Shows that Heida voted right, I voted wrong. B For all the details on today's ruling, see this story from Reuters.", "Back in October, while Americans were terrified that their economy was on the brink of collapse, Iceland's actually did. The country's three main commercial banks all failed within one week. Now, Iceland's new government has revealed a deal that will rebuild banks, to the tune of $270 billion Icelandic kroner, or about $2.1 billion. Under the deal, the government will issue bonds to new banks, Islandsbanki, New Kaupthing and New Landsbanki, which are being built from the good assets of their failed predecessors. There is, however, just one tiny roadblock in the way of Iceland's journey to economy recovery -- $60 billion owed to foreign creditors. Iceland is depending on $5.1 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to facilitate its financial recovery, but the government can't receive the full amount until the creditor claims are settled. Read More >> Some of those creditors have been offered stakes in the new banks, but they, as well as ordinary foreigners who had money in Icelandic savings accounts, are still owed additional billions. This week, the Icelandic parliament is set to debate a hotly-contested deal that would require Iceland to repay depositors up to $28,000 per account in exchange for $5.4 billion in loans from Netherlands and Britain. The move to stabilize Iceland's banks is also being advanced by Iceland's recent bid to join the European Union. The New York Times reports that the country's new prime minister pledged to seek E.U. membership \"as a means of securing the country's economic future.", "Iceland's banking crises spun out even more overnight as the government took control of the country's largest bank, hoping to prevent an all out collapse over its banking system. In recent days, the government seized its second and third biggest banks -- which are both now in receivership -- after the Prime Minister warned that the country was at risk of \"national bankruptcy.\" Why would a country with a population smaller than that of Pittsburgh mean much to the global economy? A full-blown collapse of Iceland's financial system could be a blow to the rest of Europe, where Icelandic banks and companies have invested heavily in businesses. If they're scared enough, investors could continue to push down dominoes around the world. Here's a piece from Tina Brown's new Daily Beast news site.", "Iceland radio reporter Haukur Holm tells Renee Montagne that thousands are demanding the prime minister resign because he hid his ownership in an offshore bank account.", "Updated at 8:10 p.m. ET Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson said Tuesday that he will step aside and another party official will take over for a while. The move comes days after a massive data leak known as the Panama Papers linked him to secret offshore bank accounts. Following news that Gunnlaugsson had resigned, a spokesperson released a statement clarifying the leader's decision: \"Today the Prime Minister of Iceland Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson has suggested to the Progressive Party Parliamentary group that the Progressive Party Vice-Chairman take over the office of Prime Minister for an unspecified amount of time. The Prime Minister has not resigned and will continue to serve as Chairman of the Progressive Party.\" Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson will lead the country, according to Godjon Helgason, a reporter at Icelandic National Broadcasting Service who spoke to NPR's Newscast unit. Johannsson, who is currently the fisheries and agriculture minister, \"would take over as prime minister until elections [are held] next year — possibly sooner,\" Helgason tells NPR. He adds that for now at least, there's uncertainty over whether Iceland's president has formally accepted Gunnlaugsson's arrangements. As we reported yesterday, the data breach — a massive trove of leaked emails and other documents from a Panamanian law firm — has sparked dozens of reports from international news agencies. In Iceland, the leaked records portray Gunnlaugsson and his wife as owning a stake in Wintris, an offshore company seeking millions of dollars from failed Icelandic banks. The revelation sparked a public outcry, with thousands of people demanding the prime minister's resignation, Icelandic radio reporter Haukur Holm told NPR's Renee Montagne on Morning Edition today. From a Gunnlaugsson statement: \"In recent weeks, the Prime Minister and his wife have provided detailed answers to questions about the assets of the PM's wife. They have never sought to hide these assets from Icelandic tax authorities and these holdings in Wintris have been reported as an asset on the Prime Minister's wife's income tax returns since 2008 and taxes have been paid accordingly in Iceland. No Parliamentary rules on disclosure have been broken.\" The statement concluded by saying Iceland's government \"continues to use every option available to prevent tax avoidance.\" Earlier today, the Associated Press reported of Gunnlaugsson, \"He also said his financial holdings didn't affect his negotiations with Iceland's creditors during the country's acute financial crisis. Those assertions did little to quell the controversy.\" Gunnlaugsson asked Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson to call early elections and dissolve the current Parliament, the BBC reports, adding that Grimsson refused. On Sunday, the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, along with other international news outlets that collaborated on the Panama Papers story, published a wave of reports about the murky underworld of shell companies and offshore bank accounts that are sometimes used to avoid taxes and hide assets.", "Iceland has been hit by the global financial crisis in a big way. With unemployment surging and the currency collapsing, less expensive traditional staples are coming back into fashion. Frugal Icelanders are avoiding imported beers. They are also buying horse meat, which is half the price of beef. As the country searches for simpler pleasures as the holidays approach, a DVD seller in the capital of Reykjavik reports brisk sales of an uplifting family favorite, <em>The Sound of Music.</em>", "Earlier this year, the independent Icelandic airline WOW Air went bust, leaving thousands of passengers stranded on both sides of the Atlantic. For the people of Iceland though it signalled something potentially much more catastrophic. WOW Air had become a pillar of Iceland's tourism industry, which had helped save the country from ruin following the 2008 financial crisis. When the airline collapsed, it revealed just how unstable that tourism bubble had been. In the first of our two-part series on Iceland, The Indicator examines how the fall of a budget airline brought an entire country's economy to the brink of disaster. Music: \"Í Gær\", \"Hjartað Hamast (Bamm Bamm Bamm)\", \"Ný Batterí\" Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.", "Iceland's former Prime Minister Geir Haarde has been referred to a special court in a move that could make him the first world leader to be charged in connection with the global financial crisis. After a heated debate Tuesday, lawmakers voted 33-30 to refer to the court charges against Haarde for allegedly failing to prevent Iceland's 2008 financial crash a crisis that sparked protests, toppled the government and brought the economy to a standstill by collapsing its currency. Haarde faces up to two years in jail if found guilty. The court, which could dismiss the charges, has never before convened in Iceland's history. A hearing date has not yet been set. Haarde, ex-leader of the Independence Party, is no longer in parliament and stepped down from office last year following widespread protests and treatment for esophageal cancer. \"I will answer all charges before the court and I will be vindicated.'' Haarde, 59, told the Icelandic Broadcaster RUV. \"I have a clean slate. This charge borders on political persecution.'' Iceland, a volcanic island with a population of just 320,000, went from economic wunderkind to fiscal basket case almost overnight when the credit crunch took hold. After dizzying economic growth that saw banks and companies in this tiny Nordic nation snap up assets around the world for a decade, the global financial crisis wreaked political and economic havoc in Iceland. Its banks collapsed in October 2008. Unemployment has soared since then and the country has lurched from crisis to crisis. In April, an eruption at Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano triggered a giant ash cloud that disrupted global air travel for weeks and later restricted travel to and from the island nation. In the same month, a report into the banking collapse accused Haarde and the central bank chief of acting with \"gross negligence'' in allowing the financial sector to overheat without adequate oversight. The 2,300-page government-commissioned report detailed a litany of mistakes made in the lead-up to the bank meltdown. Pall Hreinsson, the supreme court judge appointed to head the Special Investigation Commission that issued the report, singled out seven former officials including Haarde and central bank chief David Oddsson for particular criticism. No other officials besides Haarde were referred for prosecution to the court on Tuesday. Lawmakers decided Tuesday not to charge three other former ministers, which angered some who felt the blame extended beyond Haarde. \"You could say that all of the four former ministers should have been charged or none at all,'' says Thorkell Sigvaldason, 35, a university student. \"But on the other hand, Geir Haarde was the leader and sometimes they have to pay for the mistakes of their men.'' Teacher Bragi Johannnsson, 41, agreed that all four should face charges. He said the laws are too lenient and must be toughened. \"I think there is a need for reform on the laws on politicians,'' he said. Haarde has blamed the banks in the past, and said he felt government officials and regulatory authorities tried their best to prevent the crisis. The report found that the country's three leading banks Glitnir, Kaupthing and Landsbanki got too big and overwhelmed the financial system when they ran into trouble with excessive risk-taking. By the time the banks dropped in a domino-like sequence within a week of one another in October 2008, the banking sector had grown to dwarf the rest of the economy by around nine times. In one major blunder detailed in the report, staff at the Icelandic central bank forgot to extend a $500 million loan agreement, reached in March 2008, with the Bank of International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland. A belated attempt to receive an extension was not granted by the international bank. The report said that it was a key error at a time when few things were more important than building up Iceland's foreign currency reserves. The central bank then turned to the Bank of England in April 2008, seeking a currency swap agreement. Mervyn King, the British central bank's governor, refused, but offered to help Iceland to reduce the size and burden of its banking sector. Iceland rejected the offer at the time. Before Haarde was prime minister, he also held the posts of finance minister and foreign minister. The special court will consist of 15 members five supreme court justices, a district court president, a constitutional law professor and eight people chosen by parliament every six years.", "Today on the podcast we'll be talking to economist Satyajit Das about Iceland's credit crisis. Das has a lot of interesting things to say about Iceland's economy, but one thing you won't hear in the podcast, is the terrible joke he told us about how Iceland got into this mess. Das admits that only a derivates trader would find this joke funny, and we agree. Everybody is asking,'Well how did the Icelandic banks get involved in CDOs?' and the joke goes, 'Well Iceland has a long tradition of cod fishing, c-o-d, and they might have confused their expertise in cod with CDOs, collateralized debt obligations.'", "Even if you don't understand more than a word here or there, it's kind of mesmerizing: In Iceland, members of the Reykjavik City Theatre are reading -- live on the Internet -- all 2,000 pages of a government report on their nation's bank crisis. According to The Financial Times, \"organizers say the actors will not try to interpret the text -- reasoning that the raw detail of how one of the world's wealthy nations was transformed almost overnight into an economic disaster zone hardly needs any embellishment.\" And, indeed, a click on the LiveStream link shows them taking turns at a starkly lighted podium, from which they read. The \"drama\" began yesterday and will continue another three or so days. As All Things Considered host Robert Siegel says, the word \"saga\" is Icelandic in origin. So, there's something very appropriate about all this. ATC's planning more on the troupe and its reading for today's show. Click here to find an NPR station that broadcasts or streams the show. Later, the show's story will be posted here. The report, by the way, concludes that \"the main cause of the failure of the banks was the rapid growth of the banks and their size at the time of the collapse.\" And, Icelandic government regulators were \"understaffed and lacked experience.\" Update at 5:15 p.m. ET. Robert spoke with Magnus Geir Thordarson, the theater's artistic director, who says the reading has been attracting an audience. Here's their conversation, as it was broadcast on ATC: (H/T to NPR's Joel Riddle for his help.)", "Iceland's latest volcanic eruption and the cloud of ash drifting over Europe are proving to be hugely costly and disruptive but, so far, the effects are mild compared with the havoc caused by the country's economic eruption just a year and a half ago. As if on cue, Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted in the same week as the release of a long-awaited report from the investigation into the country's financial collapse. The collapse of Iceland's major banks in late 2008 helped herald the start of the worldwide financial crisis. It brought the country's government to the brink of bankruptcy and wiped out billions of dollars worth of savings for bank customers in other countries. What is it with Iceland? How can a remote island in the North Atlantic, with only about 320,000 people, be the source of so much damage? An Increasingly Interconnected World If the drifting ash from Iceland's volcano shows the interconnected nature of weather and ecological systems around the world, the fallout from Iceland's bank failures shows the interconnectedness of global financial systems. This week's report accuses Iceland's former prime minister and other top officials of \"gross negligence\" for failing to intervene as the country's three biggest banks took on the excessive debt that eventually sucked them under. The investigation was carried out by a commission appointed by Iceland's Althing, or Parliament. The lawmakers must now decide whether to take legal action against former Prime Minister Geir Haarde and other top officials. Meanwhile, Iceland's economy remains mired in recession and experts say it could be years before the country recovers. \"The country is still in crisis,\" says Fridrik Mar Baldursson, a professor of economics at Reykjavik University. He says foreign investment in Iceland has dried up, largely because of uncertainty over whether Iceland will get the next installment of a crucial loan from the International Monetary Fund. Iceland's bank meltdown began in late 2008, not long after the collapse of Lehman Brothers in the United States. The country's three biggest banks collapsed and were taken over by the government, which found itself with a combined debt that was many times the size of its entire economy. The problem might not have been so serious if it were confined to Iceland. But the crisis was compounded by the fact that Iceland's banks had been snapping up assets around the world. The country's biggest bank, Landsbanki, had also been offering online savings accounts, through a subsidiary known as Icesave, to hundreds of thousands of customers in the U.K. and the Netherlands. When the bank went belly up, those customers saw their savings wiped out. The British and Dutch governments eventually stepped in to compensate their citizens who lost money in Icesave, but now they want the Icelandic government to pay them back a total of $5.3 billion. They argue that the government of Iceland was obligated to guarantee at least part of those savings accounts, much as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. guarantees bank accounts in the U.S. Icelanders Reject Repayment The Icelandic public resents what it sees as a punitive demand for repayment by the British and Dutch. In a national referendum in March, Icelanders rejected a payment plan negotiated by the government. Last year, the IMF and the Nordic countries of Finland, Norway and Denmark agreed to help bail Iceland out with a loan package worth about $4.5 billion. The IMF's contribution is being delayed, in part because of Iceland's dispute with the U.K. and the Netherlands. The IMF's board is expected to meet Friday to review the issue and decide whether to pay out more of the loan. That would free up more of the money from the Nordic countries as well. In the meantime, says Baldursson, much of Iceland's economy is at a standstill. \"Iceland in many ways is very fortunate,\" he says. \"We have a lot of natural resources — geothermal and hydroelectric energy — and there's a lot of foreign interest in investing in energy projects, but the markets don't want to lend money until the disputes are resolved.\" Earlier this month, Moody's Investor Service downgraded Iceland's debt ratings from \"stable\" to \"negative,\" making it still more difficult for the country to raise money overseas. Oddly, Baldursson says that to look at Reykjavik today, a foreigner wouldn't necessarily know that there's a problem. \"If you didn't know there was an economic crisis,\" he says, \"you might think, 'What a thriving country!' \" He says the tourism sector is still strong, though that could be affected if volcanic ash continues to shut down travel across the North Atlantic. At around 9 percent, unemployment is considered extremely high for Iceland, \"but most people are still employed, so they're getting by,\" Baldursson says. Baldursson says that so far, the latest volcanic eruption has caused relatively little economic damage in Iceland itself. \"The eruption is not in an area where the", "A report issued by a special investigative commission of Iceland's parliament found that the county's leading politicians, bankers and regulators acted with \"extreme negligence\" in the lead-up to the country's 2008 economic collapse. Host Robert Siegel talks to Magnus Geir Thordarson, artistic director of the Reykjavik City Theatre, about staging a reading of the commission's 2,300-page report.", "Iceland is a tiny nation in a big financial mess. It's still recovering from the aftermath of the 2008 global economic crisis, which caused a domestic banking collapse. Its currency, the krona, is also in really bad shape. That's led Icelanders to pose an existential currency question: Should they abandon the krona? One key problem is size. Iceland has about as many people as Staten Island, so there just aren't that many people on the planet who need to use the krona. \"There are more people using Disney dollars,\" says Arsaell Valfells, an Icelandic economist. Read More: The problem with a tiny currency Having a small currency subjects Iceland to high volatility. Before the global economic crisis, money flooded into Iceland's economy. The krona grew strong, and Iceland felt rich. When the economy crashed, the money rushed out, and the krona plummeted. It's not clear what Iceland will do. They've discussed adopting the Canadian dollar — a nice, stable currency. Canada has said its open to the idea. But the economies of Iceland and Canada don't have a lot in common with each other. They don't trade much. Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir favors a different currency. Her party wants to join the European Union. So she wants to go with the euro. Or maybe Iceland will stick with the krona — and try to do a better job of keeping it out of trouble. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Let's talk about a different kind of disaster - financial disaster. After the 2008 financial crisis, all three of the major banks in Iceland collapsed, followed by Iceland's economy and the country's currency, the krona. As the North Atlantic island nation works to recover, it is now seriously looking at getting rid of its currency altogether. David Kestenbaum, of our Planet Money team, had a talk with Baldur Hedinsson. He works in risk management for an Icelandic bank and in a previous time, was a Planet Money intern. DAVID KESTENBAUM, BYLINE: Baldur, you worked at Planet Money last year. Now, you're back home in Iceland. BALDUR HEDINSSON: I am. And our economy, it's still recovering from the whole financial mess. And our currency, the krona, it's in really bad shape. Some people say a part of the problem is size. We're just too small to have our own currency. KESTENBAUM: Baldur, I was looking at populations. It turns out Staten Island, here in New York, has more people than you do in Iceland. HEDINSSON: Yeah. My country's so tiny that when we wanted to talk to one of the leading advocates for abandoning the krona, Arsaell Valfells, he came over to my house to talk about it. He's an economist at the University of Iceland. KESTENBAUM: I joined in by phone. ARSAELL VALFELLS: There are more people using Disney dollars every day than the Icelandic krona. KESTENBAUM: Disney dollars? HEDINSSON: Yeah. You know, the Disney dollar that you get in Disneyland, which is - I think has the inscription: In Chocolate We Trust. There are more people using Disney dollars than the Icelandic krona. KESTENBAUM: And having a small currency, it does make you vulnerable. Before the economic crisis, during the boom, money flooded into Iceland's little economy. HEDINSSON: And the krona got stronger, and we all felt very rich. KESTENBAUM: But then the economy crashed and the money rushed out, causing the value of the krona to plummet. So, OK, if you want to replace the krona, you've got another problem - what do you replace it with? HEDINSSON: Arsaell, the economist, he has an idea. He thinks we should adopt the currency of Canada. KESTENBAUM: The Canadian dollar, sometimes called the loonie because Canada has a loon on its one-dollar coin. HEDINSSON: We'd go from money with our own, historic heroes on it - to a bird. Arsaell doesn't really mind. VALFELLS: The loom is one of the most beautiful birds here in Iceland as well. So we call them loom; the Canadians call them the loonie. And why not have the loom or the loonie? KESTENBAUM: The Canadian dollar is very stable. But Baldur, I should point out: No country has ever adopted the Canadian dollar. HEDINSSON: That's true. But these are strange times in Iceland. (SOUNDBITE OF PUBLIC RADIO BROADCAST) UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Foreign language spoken) HEDINSSON: This is the noon news hour on Iceland's public radio. And this guy coming up, he's Canada's ambassador to Iceland. KESTENBAUM: His name is Alan Bones. (SOUNDBITE OF PUBLIC RADIO BROADCAST) AMBASSADOR ALAN BONES: We're certainly open to discussing the issue, if Iceland makes that request. KESTENBAUM: If you're going to adopt another currency, you want to have something economically in common with that country. I was looking at your trade numbers. You don't actually trade a lot with Canada. HEDINSSON: That's why our prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, she favors a different currency. Her party wants to join the European Union and adopt the euro. KESTENBAUM: The euro has its own problems, and that's the hard thing here. We asked a bunch of economists, and they all gave diff", "It's no secret that Iceland was hit particularly hard by the global financial crisis. Three of its largest banks were nationalized and the government collapsed. Reykjavik, the nation's capital, saw unprecedented riots and the Icelandic currency-- the Krona-- plummeted along with the bank accounts of every Icelander. Forbes even went as far to declare it \"the land without an economy.\" But could the economic chaos in Iceland have a silver lining? Today members of the Icelandic Parliament will introduce a resolution that could begin Iceland's transformation into the globe's first \"journalism haven.\" The proposal tasks the parliament with cementing \"freedom of expression and information in Iceland, as well as providing strong protections for sources and whistleblowers.\" Read More >> Specifically, the Icelandic Modern Media Initiative (IMMI) calls for a new package of laws including: strong source and whistleblower protection, airtight communications protection, strict limits on prior restraint, process protection, libel tourism protection and a reinvention of that country's Freedom of Information Act. The legislation stands a good chance of passing because of the critical role outlets like Wikileaks, the online whistleblowing site, played in reporting Iceland's financial crisis. \"Iceland is at a crossroads,\" the IMMI states. \"Because of the economic meltdown in the banking sector, a deep sense is among the nation that a fundamental change is needed in order to prevent such events from taking place again.\" The laws themselves would not be new, but borrowed from countries where they have already proven effective. (One example is New York's legislation to block the enforcement of UK judgments restricting press freedom.) \"We are not inventing any laws but taking the cream of all laws that have proven to ensure the basic human rights of freedom of expression, freedom of speech and information,\" said Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir in an email to NPR. Although proponents say their motivation is rooted in a desire for a more transparent and democratic world, they've also trumpeted the potential economic benefits. The proposal claims that Iceland would attract Internet-based international media and publishers, start-ups, data centers and human rights organizations. Just as The British Virgin Islands use lenient tax laws to entice banks to their shores, advocates argue Iceland could also attract whistle blowers and journalists by altering its publication laws. \"It is hard to imagine a better resurrection for a country that has been devastated by financial corruption than to turn facilitating transparency and justice into a business model,\" the IMMI states. After the decimation of its banking sector, Icelanders were expected to return to their economic roots - fishing. But could there be a future in free speech? To seal the deal, the IMMI also touts the island's other benefits: fast undersea Internet cables and cool temperatures (great for cutting server cooler costs).", "The news out of Reykjavik is a whopper: Iceland's prime minister says the government has collapsed. Since the economy there tanked, Icelandic protesters have taken to the streets over spikes in unemployment and prices. Hey, the Belgians went first. Elsewhere, Britain talks recession, economists say things are getting worse, and Washington wonders about nationalizing the banks.", "Suspended president Dilma Rousseff testifies Monday before lawmakers in the trial over her alleged fiscal mismanagement and corruption. She's accused of making the economy look better than it was.", "During the financial crisis, only one Western country experienced a true collapse of its banking system: Iceland. Things got so bad that the country actually ran out of foreign currency. Even today, years later, foreign money is still scarce, and the government controls how much anyone can get. The strange story of how Iceland ran out of money begins in 2003. The country had just privatized its banks. These sleepy state run institutions suddenly grew, and started running ads in foreign countries. For example: Read More: Watch John Cleese's ad for an Icelandic bank Foreigners responded, pouring money into Icelandic banks. The banks' balance sheets became 10 times larger than the entire country's economy. But as the world slid into a financial crisis, investors turned on Iceland. One night in January 2008, Ásgeir Jónsson, chief economist at Iceland's largest bank, got a call telling him to go to a certain hotel bar, to meet with foreign investors. The investors were hedge fund guys who had come to the conclusion that Jónsson's bank was doomed. They told him they'd placed big financial bets that everything would crash. The problem the hedge fund guys had spotted was in fact, the joke that John Cleese commercial: Iceland is a very small country. It's the smallest in the world to have its own currency. And it had borrowed huge amounts of foreign currency. Normally that wasn't a problem. Icelandic banks could always change their domestic currency, the krona, for dollars or euros on the world market. But now the world was worried. And no one wanted krona. In a bigger country, banks might get some foreign currency from their own central bank. But Iceland's central bank also ran out of dollars and euros. \"The central bank used all it had in a desperate attempt to save one of the banks,\" the economist Gylfi Magnússon says. \"But that only kept the bank afloat for another couple of days.\" Even if you had gone around Iceland and collected every euro on the island, there wouldn't have been anywhere near enough money to pay off the debt. So Iceland, unlike other countries, couldn't bail out its banks. Jónsson remembers the day his bank collapsed in October of 2008: And the funny thing is, during the panic it was so crazy. All the phones were ringing at the same time. But after the bank went down, all was silent. ... We were basically completely cut off from the outside world. Eventually, the International Monetary Fund had to step in and lend Iceland a ton of foreign currency. In 2012 Iceland will have to start paying that foreign currency back. For More: Check out Planet Money's Iceland saga: \"A City On The Moon\" \"A New Mom, Bjork's Dad, And The President Of Iceland\" \"One Voter Tries To Decide Whether To Pay For Bankers' Mistakes\" \"Should I Pay For Bankers' Mistakes?\" RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: During the financial crisis, only one Western country experienced a true collapse of its banking system. That country, Iceland, still has emergency laws in place to keep its economy together. David Kestenbaum with our Planet Money team was in Iceland recently and has this report. DAVID KESTENBAUM: Things got so bad in Iceland that the country ran out of foreign currency. Even today, foreign currency can be scarce. The government controls how much anyone can get. BALDUR HEDINSON: Just went into one of the local banks here in Iceland, my bank. KESTENBAUM: This is Baldur Hedinson. Baldur was an intern at Planet Money, and happens to be from Iceland. He was driving around Reykjavik trying to change some of his Icelandic krona into dollars so he could pay rent back in New York. The teller said, sorry, no U.S. dollars. HEDINSON: So she called around. She called different branches of the bank. And the word on the street is that there are some dollars in the suburbs. So we are headed toward Arbai, which is - it's a nice suburb. KESTENBAUM: The strange story of how Iceland ran out of money - foreign money - begins in 2003. Iceland had just privatized its banks and those sleepy state- run institutions, they suddenly grew. They even advertised internationally, with international celebrities. (SOUNDBITE OF KAUPTHING BANK COMMERCIAL) JOHN CLEESE: Kaupthing is the biggest company in Iceland. KESTENBAUM: This is John Cleese doing an ad for Iceland's largest bank. (SOUNDBITE OF TV ADVERTISEMENT) CLEESE: Unidentified Man: Three hundred thousand. CLEESE: Unidentified Man: No, just 300,000. CLEESE: Ah, so Kaupthing is the biggest company in this tiny little country... KESTENBAUM: And foreigners put their foreign money in the Icelandic banks. The bank's balance sheets became 10 times larger than the country's entire economy. It's always hard to put a finger on the exact moment things turned. But this one is as good as any. ASGEIR JONSSON: This is Hotel 101. KESTENBAUM: We're at a bar called Hotel 101 with Asgeir Jonsson. Asgeir was the chief economist at Iceland's largest bank. And one night in January 20", "This week saw the end of a years-long, international, multi-billion-dollar battle over one of the most boring things in finance: savings accounts. At the center of the battle was Iceland, a tiny country where the banks grew into international behemoths during the credit bubble. The banks got so big partly by convincing foreigners to open up online savings accounts. In particular, lots of people in England and Netherlands opened up \"ICESAVE accounts\" with a bank called Landsbanki. During the financial crisis, the bank collapsed. The government of Iceland stepped in to make sure everyone in Iceland got their money out of their ICESAVE accounts. But the government didn't do the same thing for the British and Dutch people who had put their money in the bank. The British and Dutch governments stepped in and made whole their own citizens who had lost money in the accounts — but they also promised to try to get the government of Iceland to pay them back. Eventually, Iceland held a national referendum to decide whether to pay back the British and Dutch governments. The people voted that, no, Iceland should not repay the foreign governments. (Here's our story on the referendum.) After that, the British and the Dutch took Iceland to court, to try to make the government pay. The ruling came down this week — and, basically, Iceland won. (This Reuters story has more details.) I talked this week with Baldur Hedinson, a former Planet Money intern who grew up in Iceland and lives there now. In the referendum, he voted in the minority: He thought Iceland should immediately repay the British and Dutch governments. But, when I talked to Baldur this week, he told me his thinking had changed since then. At the time of the referendum, he worried that if Iceland refused to repay the British and Dutch, the country would be shut out of the world economy and would suffer as a result. But that hasn't happened. \"Our economy is doing OK,\" Baldur told me. Things there aren't perfect, but Iceland hasn't been shunned. And the court's verdict this week validates the country's decision not to repay the foreign governments. '\"When I look back,\" Baldur said, \"I think I voted the wrong way.\" STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: One of the stranger stories of the financial crisis may finally have come to an end. It was an international battle over bank accounts on a scenic island nation that touches the Arctic Circle. More precisely, it was a battle over who would pay when those bank accounts came up empty. Here's David Kestenbaum, with NPR's Planet Money team. DAVID KESTENBAUM, BYLINE: The first remarkable thing about this story is where the bank accounts were located. The bank was on a small, often-frozen island in the middle of the ocean. In fact, it's named for being frozen - Iceland. As it happens, at the time all this was unfolding, our Planet Money intern, he was from Iceland. Hey, Baldur. BALDUR HEDINSON, BYLINE: Hello, David. KESTENBAUM: I've got to say your last name right. Let me try: Hedinson? HEDINSON: Hedinson. KESTENBAUM: Hedinson. HEDINSON: Very good. KESTENBAUM: Nice to have you back. Get us started - how big were the banks? HEDINSON: The banks were huge. Before the financial crisis, they were 10 times the size of the economy. And they were even running TV ads abroad. KESTENBAUM: Here, let's play my favorite ad. It starts John Cleese, of \"Monty Python fame.\" It was for a bank called Kaupthing. (SOUNDBITE OF TV AD) JOHN CLEESE: Kaupthing is the biggest company is Iceland. It's a company where you get all the benefits of a huge, global, multimillion - I mean, how many millions live in Iceland? UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Three hundred thousand. CLEESE: Three hundred thousand million? UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: No, just 300,000. CLEESE: Huh. So Kaupthing is the biggest company in this tiny, little country. Tell me, how many companies do you have in Iceland? What, half a dozen? KESTENBAUM: Ads like this worked, in part because the savings accounts paid surprisingly high interest rates. And lots of people in England and the Netherlands opened up savings accounts with one bank in particular, Landsbanki. They were called ICESAVE accounts. During the financial crisis, the bank collapsed, and everybody tried to get their money out. But there was not enough money to go around. HEDINSON: My government stepped in, and made sure that everybody here in Iceland got their money back. But they didn't do the same for people abroad. KESTENBAUM: And the British and Dutch governments, they were pretty unhappy about that since a lot of their citizens had money in ICESAVE accounts. So what did they do? They stepped in and bailed out their own citizens. Here's British Finance Minister Alistair Darling, on the BBC that day in 2008. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED BBC BROADCAST) ALISTAIR DARLING: I'm going to make it clear in the House of Commons later today, that we will stand behind the depositors, the savers in ICESAVE to make sure that they get their money back. I wouldn't normally d", "The global financial crisis is moving from Europe's boardrooms and stock exchanges to the main streets of Reykjavik and Paris, as violent protests and labor unrest offer a stark warning to leaders gathered at the annual World Economic Summit in Switzerland. Hundreds of thousands of French workers, angered by Prime Minister Nicholas Sarkozy's handling of the country's economic downturn, failed to show up at their jobs on Thursday. The strike disrupted nearly every aspect of everyday life, from train and air service to schools, banks and the mail. Events in France only added urgency to the summit in Davos, Switzerland, where leaders met to discuss ways out of the crisis. In the French capital, Metro service was shut down, forcing many workers to walk or bicycle to work in freezing temperatures. A recent law mandating minimal subway service kept some trains running, and they carried capacity loads of commuters. Some workers at factories hit by layoffs also joined the strike. Hospital staff also stayed off the job. The strike involved eight major unions. More have threatened work stoppages in coming weeks if the Sarkozy government fails to take more action to protect jobs and wages. So far, Sarkozy has said nothing about the strike, which has been dubbed \"Black Thursday\" by the French press. His government recently announced a $33 billion stimulus plan, but the unions say it's not enough. Sarkozy's government is concerned that a growing strike could be transformed into a wider social protest movement, such as one that inflamed French suburbs in 2007. Signs of civil unrest have been evident in recent weeks in Latvia, Lithuania, Greece and Iceland. In the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, street protests have forced out Prime Minister Geir Haarde, who tendered his resignation Monday amid the country's growing financial and credit crisis. Haarde will step down Saturday. But even that did not satisfy protesters, who on Wednesday picketed outside a NATO meeting in Reykjavik where Haarde was speaking. Police used pepper spray and arrested six protesters. The global financial crisis hit Iceland in October, ending a decade of rising prosperity and triggering a collapse in the currency and financial system. Earlier, the country's central bank said the jobless rate in the nation of 320,000 was likely to rise to 11 percent in the first quarter of 2010. At the Davos summit, meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton said if President Obama gets support from Congress, his economic stimulus package could show results in a year to 15 months. Clinton said asset deflation must be stopped. \"Right now the house is on fire and we need to put it out as quickly as we can,\" he said. \"The quickest way to do it is to stop the deflation in asset prices and do it in a way that allows the financial system — that did bring us a lot of growth the last 20 years — to kick back in.\"", "And you thought you were angry. How about \"A near-riot and parliament besieged: Iceland boiling mad at credit crunch\"? In which: Gudrun Jonsdottir, a 36-year-old office worker, said: \"I've just had enough of this whole thing. I don't trust the government, I don't trust the banks, I don't trust the political parties, and I don't trust the IMF. \"We had a good country and they ruined it.\"", "NPR''s Larry Abramson reports on the Senate impeachment trial of President Clinton which begins this week under rules adopted on Friday. The President and the House of Representatives have until 5:00 pm EST today to file motions. House prosecutors begin presenting their case on Thursday. Although all one hundred Senators agreed to the rules for the first phase of the trial, the real test of partisanship will occur in two weeks. That''s when the Senate votes on whether to conclude the trial and whether to call witnesses.", "Navinder Sarao is making an initial court appearance in the U.K., after he was arrested yesterday by British authorities on U.S. charges that he helped cause what&#8217;s known as the &#8220;flash crash,&#8221; when the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1,000 points on May 6, 2010. CNN&#8217;s Maggie Lake joins Here & Now host Jeremy Hobson to take a look at this case, as well as the trial over the 2008 government bailout of American International Group, or AIG. Closing arguments are being delivered today. Guest\n\nMaggie Lake, business reporter for CNN. She tweets @maggielake." ]

[ "Trapped half a world away by the place she promised to never \"go, go, go,\" a vibrant, exuberant Amy Winehouse dominated the Grammys on Sunday night, winning five awards and delivering a defiant performance of her autobiographical hit \"Rehab\" via satellite from London." ]

[ "Amy Winehouse will not attend this year's Grammy Awards because her request for a visa was denied, but she will perform by satellite at Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles. Winehouse and her acclaimed \"Back to Black\" album are nominated for Grammys in six categories.", "Amy Winehouse's successful performance at the Grammys shows the troubled young singer is on the road to recovery, her mother said in an interview to be broadcast Tuesday.", "British singer Amy Winehouse will not perform in person at the Grammy Awards, but she will be singing via satellite at Sunday's ceremony, a source told The Associated Press.", "Troubled British singer Amy Winehouse is planning on a comeback by performing at the Grammy Awards.", "Amy Winehouse is prevented from singing at the Grammy awards after her US visa application is turned down.", "The 50th Grammy Awards are to take place, with Kanye West and Amy Winehouse leading the nominations.", "Amy Winehouse will perform live via satellite at the Grammy Awards after having her US visa application refused.", "Amy Winehouse will not attend this year's Grammy Awards because her request for a visa was denied, but she will perform by satellite at Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles.", "Amy Winehouse has been denied a visa to enter the United States, preventing the troubled British singer from appearing at this weekend's Grammy awards ceremony, her publicists said Thursday.", "Troubled British pop singer Amy Winehouse will perform at Sunday's Grammy Awards live via satellite from London, after the U.S. government rejected her visa application to attend the music industry's biggest night of the year in Los Angeles, organizers said on Friday.", "Rapper Kanye West, the leading nominee at the Grammy Awards, won three prizes during early proceedings on Sunday, while another top contender, Amy Winehouse, won a pair of statuettes.", "Amy Winehouse, the British soul singer whose messy personal life has ravaged her promising career, will emerge from a London rehab clinic later on Sunday to perform live via satellite at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.", "The 50th Grammy Awards opened with a dead guy and gave a 67-year-old the big prize, but Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner ruled, while the Beatles and Pavarotti got painful tributes", "Troubled singer Amy Winehouse who is battling drug addiction might miss the Grammy awards if she doesn't clean up her act.", "The Grammys got underway with a classic feel, and Kanye West and Amy Winehouse — two of the night’s most compelling storylines — were among the early leaders at Sunday night’s ceremony.", "Soul singer Amy Winehouse won the Record of the Year trophy at the 50th annual Grammy awards for her single \"Rehab,\" picking up her fifth major award of the night.", "Amy Winehouse's visa came through, but not in time for the rehabbing singer to make the trip to Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards, her representatives said Friday.", "Amy Winehouse's visa to the United States has been granted, but the troubled singer won't be traveling to the Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles to perform in person, her representatives said Friday.", "Amy Winehouse will not be performing at this year's Grammy Awards because her request for a visa has been turned down by the U.S. Embassy, her publicist said Thursday.", "A day after saying \"no, no, no\" to troubled British pop singer Amy Winehouse, U.S. officials on Friday granted a work visa that would allow her to perform at this weekend's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.", "Amy Winehouse has been denied a visa to enter the United States, but Grammy producers plan to have her appear via satellite during the program.", "A video of Amy Winehouse shows the Grammy-nominated singer smoking ... something.", "Soul singer Natalie Cole spoke out against Amy Winehouse's haul of Grammy awards on Monday, saying the British star's multiple wins sent a \"bad message,\" a report said.", "Grammy award wining singer Amy Winehouse has a new man in her life and he too is called Blake.", "Amy Winehouse, who entered a rehab clinic last month for drug addiction, will not perform as planned at this year's Grammy awards ceremony after the U.S. embassy in London rejected her visa application.", "A video of Amy Winehouse shows the Grammy-nominated singer smoking ... something. In grainy footage obtained by British tabloid The Sun, Winehouse, 24, is seen inhaling fumes from some sort of pipe reportedly hours before showing up for husband Blake Fielder-Civil's court appearance in London on Friday.", "British soul singer Amy Winehouse's personal issues again derailed her career on Thursday as U.S. officials rejected her application for a visa, causing her to cancel plans to attend the Grammy awards.", "SPANISH singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz dominated the fifth Latin Grammy awards at the Shrine Auditorium on Wednesday in a musically diverse telecast sprinkled with edgy political commentary.", "Alla fine, il documento d'ingresso negli Usa è stato concessoL'artista inglese, in clinica per riabilitarsi dalla droga, si esibirà via satellite Grammy awards, arriva il visto ma Winehouse canterà da Londra", "Amy Winehouse, right, the British soul singer, will perform via satellite for the 50th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday despite an unexpected reversal of the State Department’s rejection of her visa, her spokesman said Friday. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security issued a waiver that in effect overturned a decision by the United States Embassy in London to deny her visa request, according to an administration official. But the shift came too late for Ms. Winehouse, who recently entered a rehabilitation clinic after a video purporting to show her using drugs surfaced online, to prepare for a live performance in Los Angeles. Her spokesman, Chris Goodman, said, “Unfortunately, due to the logistics involved and timing complications, Amy will not be traveling to the U.S. to perform at the Grammys in person.” Ms. Winehouse, who is nominated in six categories, including album of the year for “Back to Black,” will join a long list of performers on the broadcast, which grew longer on Friday with the announcement that Kanye West, whose eight nominations are the most for anyone, will take the stage at the ceremony. John Mayer and Bebe Winans will also perform on the live CBS broadcast. Organizers previously announced a lineup including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kid Rock and the Foo Fighters.", "Herbie Hancock shocked Kanye West, best-album presenters Usher and Quincy Jones, and just about anyone who was watching the Grammys when the jazz veteran won the night's big prize for \"River: The Joni Letters.\"", "Other winners at the songwriting celebration include Elton John, Madonna and newlywed Amy Winehouse." ]

[ "Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue will be alerted by the council's 24-hour Telecare service in a pilot scheme to support residents in the Cotswolds.\nJohn Beard, from the fire service, said it was \"great\" to help \"plug a gap in social care\" in rural areas.\nGloucestershire County Council said it would help to \"deliver savings\".\nThe pilot scheme, involving retained firefighters, is aimed at elderly and vulnerable people who do not have support from local friends or family.\nSensors which can detect fire, flooding, carbon monoxide and gas leaks have been placed around the person's home. A \"falls detector\" can also be worn around the neck or on the wrist and generates an emergency call if the wearer has fallen.\nAll of the equipment is linked to a 24-hour monitoring centre, which operates all year round.\nJohn Beard said: \"It's really great for the fire service to plug a gap in the social care of the people who need it most, particularly in our rural community.\n\"It's wonderful to be able to offer our existing infrastructure and well-trained professional firefighters to be able to deliver a service that otherwise we'd struggle to be able to do.\"\nCommissioning manager Donna Miles, who works across Gloucestershire Commissioning Group and the county council, said: \"It's about having the longer term ambition to keep people at home as long as we possibly can, which in itself will help prevent hospital admissions.\n\"It will deliver savings in delaying when somebody goes into a care home, from a county council perspective.\"\nThe pilot scheme will run initially in the in the Northleach, Chipping Campden and Fairford areas." ]

[ "Telecare devices, which alert responders to home emergencies, stopped operating between 14:00 GMT on Monday and 13:00 GMT on Tuesday.\nBut Gloucestershire County Council said Bristol City Council and BT failed to inform care teams until Tuesday.\nBristol City Council said it had notified its \"points of contact\" at the county council on Monday afternoon.\nA BT spokeswoman apologised but said the \"priority\" had been to restore the service as quickly as possible.\nThe failure meant users in Gloucestershire who activated their system over the 23-hour period would have not received help.\nAccording to the county council, about 2,700 vulnerable adults use the system across the county.\nBristol City Council is contracted to provide the 24/7 responder service, in which trained people can pick up calls when a sensor is triggered in a vulnerable person's home.\nMargaret Willcox, director of adult social services at the council, said it would be carrying out a review.\n\"BT were doing some work [on Monday] because the [monitoring] centre has moved its base and the line went down. They weren't able to fix it... they had a back-up system but that failed later that afternoon,\" she said.\n\"But we weren't told until [Tuesday] morning in social services.\"\nBT said it was \"still investigating the circumstances surrounding the service issue\" but it believes it was an \"isolated incident\".\n\"We're very sorry for any inconvenience or concern caused. Our priority was to restore the service as quickly as possible, which is what we did,\" the spokeswoman said.\nBut Pete Anderson, from Bristol City Council, said the county council was notified of the failure on Monday afternoon.\n\"We did provide relevant updates on the situation of the line fault failure - we contacted the commissioners of the telecare services within Gloucestershire,\" he said.", "About 70 police officers were involved in the operation on Thursday, which saw four addresses searched in Cheltenham.\nNobody was arrested and all of the children, of various ages, are now back with their families.\nA \"significant\" inquiry into current and historical sexual abuse had been opened, Gloucestershire Police said.\nDet Ch Insp Chris Hanson said several warrants were executed at a number of addresses simultaneously, and a \"large amount\" of \"computers, phones, data devices and tablets\" were recovered.\n\"They will be examined by specialist officers.... to establish if there are any indecent images or any other evidence relating to the sexual abuse of children,\" he said.\nHe added that specially trained police officers, along with colleagues from social services, spoke to the 16 children and arrangements were in place to monitor them at home.\nPolice said the operation was in response to \"information received around non-recent and current sexual abuse against children\".\nA Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson said: \"We can confirm that we supported a police operation yesterday and we continue to offer support and advice.\n\"Our primary concern is to look after vulnerable people who need our protection.\"", "They have built an imaging system that uses an infra-red laser to penetrate areas of thick smoke and flames.\nThe beam reflects off any objects, including people, within the area.\nThat data is then decoded by an imager to create a 3D model of everything inside the room.\nInfra-red (IR) camera monitors currently used by firefighters require lenses that can be blinded by intense fire, said researcher Pietro Ferraro, of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Istituto Nazionale di Ottica in Italy.\n\"IR cameras cannot 'see' objects or humans behind flames because of the need for a zoom lens that concentrates the rays on the sensor to form the image,\" he said.\n\"It became clear to us that we had in our hands a technology that could be exploited by emergency responders and firefighters at a fire scene to see through smoke without being blinded by flames, a limitation of existing technology.\"\nMr Ferraro added that fire victims who were moving could also be picked up by the system.\n\"Perhaps most importantly, we demonstrated for the first time that a holographic recording of a live person can be achieved even while the body is moving.\"\nOther potential applications include monitoring breathing and cardiac activity, said Mr Ferraro - but the next step for the researchers was to make the technology more portable.\nThe research has been published in journal Optics Express.", "Firefighters responded to a call at Halley Stevensons on Annfield Road at 10:42 after neighbours reported a strong smell.\nA cordon was put up and the surrounding premises were evacuated.\nThree people were given precautionary checks by the ambulance service, but no-one was injured.\nThe Scottish Fire and Rescue service said firefighters were in attendance until the incident was \"isolated.\" A specialist removal company is now dealing with the spillage.\nPolice officers were also in attendance.\nThe company manufactures waxed cotton.", "It wants family and friends of people who are elderly, live alone or have mental health or addiction issues to \"put them in touch\" with firefighters.\nThey can then make a home fire safety visit to those \"at greatest risk\".\nThere were 33 deaths from fires in Scotland in 2013-14 - the lowest for more than 20 years.\nThis was down 28% on the previous year's figure of 46.\nWith 28 recorded deaths, so far, this year, the fire service wants to get in touch with vulnerable people who are most at risk from house fires.\nAssistant chief officer Lewis Ramsay said: \"The sad reality is many fatal fires could be prevented. We know very simple steps are often the difference between life and death.\n\"Every one of us can make that difference just by talking to people we know who might be vulnerable and putting them in touch with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.\"\nMr Ramsay said that even a small house fire could threaten life.\nHe added: \"We would much rather take the time to do a free home fire safety visit and help someone prevent a fire than respond to a blaze where they may have already suffered life-changing, or even life-ending, injuries.\n\"Protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities isn't something we can do alone. Reaching people who need some help to stay safe is always a challenge and we need the public's help to meet it.\"", "South Central Ambulance Service said it called in the service from 21 December to ensure it met critical calls.\nFire appliances, with trained trauma technicians and defibrillators onboard, were sent if it was quickest.\nIn a two-and-a-half week period over Christmas the fire service attended 240 critical calls.\nFirefighters responded to a medical call every 30 minutes at peak times and performed CPR on numerous occasions.\nOxfordshire Fire and Rescue's chief fire officer Dave Etheridge said: \"Our staff have made this transition successfully, from the call handling to arriving at scene and assessing the patient up to the final handover to ambulance crews.\"\nThe fire service, which is continuing to answer ambulance calls, said sharing responsibilities had not affected its ability to tackle its own emergencies.", "Emergency services were called to the semi-detached house in Anniesland's Fifth Avenue at about 03:30 on Monday.\nFire crews were met with a \"well-developed\" blaze in one of the bedrooms from where the man was recovered.\nHe was treated at the scene for severe burns and smoke inhalation and later pronounced dead in hospital. The fire is believed to have been caused by a cigarette setting bedding alight.\nSpecialist officers from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Investigation Unit are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the blaze.\nAsst Ch Officer Lewis Ramsay said: \"In the wake of this tragedy everyone's thoughts will of course be with the man's family and friends.\n\"The loss of life through fire in the home will certainly be felt across the community and it will profoundly touch many people.\n\"We must all be asking ourselves if we know someone who could be at risk and thinking about those who are older, who have health conditions or who live alone and might be a bit isolated.\"\nHe urged anyone who knew an elderly or vulnerable person who needed help to reduce fire risk to contact the fire service.", "The couple, believed to be in their 60s, were woken up by a smoke detector after the fire started on the ground floor of their St Pauls Avenue home.\nThe pair, who were trapped upstairs, were given \"life-saving\" advice over the phone by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service before firefighters arrived.\nSouth Central Ambulance Service took the couple to hospital for checks.\nWatch manager Paul Watts, of the fire service, said after the couple rang 999 \"the control room were in contact with the occupants, giving them life-saving guidance on how to block smoke into the room they were in.\"\nFirefighters rescued them from the first floor 11 minutes later with a ladder from the window.\nStation Manager Jess James said the fire is believed to be electrical in origin and there was \"no doubt\" the couple's lives had been saved because of the smoke detectors.", "The Labour leader has also said he is \"very angry\" that so many lives were lost in a deadly tower block fire.\nPM Theresa May said the residents were \"in our thoughts and prayers\" and has ordered a public inquiry into the fire.\nBut she was criticised by a senior Labour MP for failing to meet residents when she visited the scene on Thursday.\nAt least 17 people died in the disaster at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, west London in the early hours of Wednesday.\nMr Corbyn, who earlier released a statement saying he was \"very angry that it was possible for the fire to spread in the way it did,\" said people living in high-rise flats would be frightened following the Grenfell Tower disaster and needed answers to give them \"peace of mind\".\nAnd he told MPs on Thursday: \"The south part of Kensington is incredibly wealthy, it's the wealthiest part of the country.\n\"The ward where this fire took place is, I think the poorest ward in the whole country.\n\"And properties must be found, requisitioned if necessary, in order to make sure those residents do get re-housed locally.\n\"It cannot be acceptable that in London you have luxury buildings and luxury flats kept as land banking for the future while the homeless and the poor look for somewhere to live.\"\nMrs May met police and firefighters at a private visit to the site but was not seen speaking to residents who survived the attack. Mr Corbyn was pictured speaking to local people.\nLabour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was heckled by some angry residents at the scene when he visited.\nMr Khan praised the local community spirit but added: \"People are angry and I share that anger.\"\nDowning Street said that Mrs May's visit was made to get a briefing from the emergency services to ensure that they had the resources they needed.\nBut Labour's former deputy leader Harriet Harman wrote on Twitter: \"Theresa May should have met Grenfell fire residents. She should have been prepared to listen to them Not OK to speak at them via TV.\"\nThe prime minister has praised the way the local community had supported the residents and praised the \"professionalism and bravery\" of the emergency services.\nShe pledged that the government \"stands ready to provide every assistance\" to the council and emergency services.\n\"I want to reassure the residents of Grenfell Tower - all of whom are in our thoughts and prayers - that the government will make every effort to make sure that they are re-housed in London and as close as possible to home.\"\nShe has ordered a judge-led public inquiry into the disaster. Ministers have also made emergency funding available to local authorities to support people affected.\nBut MPs demanded answers in a specially-arranged session in Westminster Hall on Thursday, while Parliament is still suspended.\nAt the start of the special meeting in Westminster's Grand Committee Room, Fire Minister Nick Hurd said: \"What we are dealing with here is a national tragedy.\"\nHe said the \"exceptionally complex\" investigation would take several months, and there would be no room for \"plodding bureaucracy\" in the official response.\n\"It is the intention of the government to leave absolutely no stone unturned,\" he said.\nAnswers were needed about fire walls, sprinkler systems, the alarm system and how the fire spread, he said.\n\"Every single person living in a high-rise building today will be frightened, will be traumatised and will be very, very worried.\"\nShadow housing minister John Healey urged ministers to begin installing sprinkler systems immediately and not to wait for the result of the public inquiry.\nThe new housing minister, Alok Sharma, said he too had heard accounts of residents who said they had warned about fire safety.\nThe government was talking to councils and housing associations about getting checks on other buildings done quickly, he said.\nAt the end of the meeting, he promised \"every single family\" would be re-housed in the local area.\nEarlier Theresa May ordered a full public inquiry, \"to ensure that this terrible tragedy is properly investigated\".\nLabour is calling for measures recommended after another fatal fire in 2009 to be implemented immediately.\nRecommendations made after a fire in a tower block in Lakanal House in Camberwell in which six people died included installing sprinkler systems in high-risk buildings and reviewing building regulations.\nIn October the former Housing Minister, Gavin Barwell, said the government had \"publicly committed\" to reviewing building regulations in relation to fire safety after the Lakanal House fire.\nMr Healey said this review had \"not been started\".\n\"The residents and others have some really serious questions to put to ministers and the people who run the building,\" he said.\nResponding to reports, the Department for Communities and Local Government said it was \"simply not true\" that a report about building regulations had been \"sat on\".\nThe BBC understands the Lord Chief Justice will make a recommendation to the prime minister of a judge to chair the inquiry.\nHe or she will be independent from the government and able to call who they want as a witness.\nThe Liberal Democrats have called for an urgent review into fire safety and building regulations.", "The section between Teewell Hill and west of Staple Hill tunnel was closed for bridge-widening work and for new foundations to be put in place.\nNew pedestrian footways and improved cycle facilities were also installed.\nMark King from South Gloucestershire Council apologised for any inconvenience to local people but stressed the work was \"essential\".\n\"Additional work to complete the bridge widening improvements will continue over the next three months which will require short-term closures from time to time,\" he added.\n\"Any such closures will be clearly signposted in advance and we will keep residents notified via our website and social media.\"\nDuring the path closure, South Gloucestershire Council also carried out \"essential maintenance work\" to the Staple Hill tunnel, which included re-pointing the arch and airshafts.", "Although it's already been used by industry, the military and some emergency services, it was expensive and therefore had a limited market.\nBut in the same way that GPS location tech has now found its way into cars, smartphones, cameras and many other devices, thermography, as it's more properly known, is on the brink of becoming a universal technology, too.\nThe cost of chips and thermal detectors that enable us to see and measure infrared heat signatures from surfaces has plunged in recent years.\nSo in the future, that means more sensors in more places. Doing what exactly?\nIn a supermarket a manager could be alerted when the checkout queue gets too long without looking at a video feed. The cumulative heat signature would be enough to trigger an alert.\nAt big venues, audio could be redirected on the fly amongst dozens of loud speakers to give the area with the most people at any given moment the best possible aural experience.\nSensors placed along the side of a cruise ship could instantly detect falling passengers even before they touched the water's surface.\nAnd smartphones equipped with such sensors could be used to carry out thermal efficiency inspections in homes, spot leaks, or simply look for wildlife on night camping adventures with the kids.\nThere are hundreds of other likely scenarios, says Tim LeBeau of Seek Thermal, which already makes a thermal camera accessory for iOS and Android smartphones, as well as a handheld device called \"Reveal\".\n\"Let's take a baggage carousel at a big airport,\" he tells the BBC. \"There are several thousand electrical motors that move the bags around. If one seizes up, a tonne of bags could miss their connection.\n\"With thermal imaging, taking a snapshot every 30 seconds would allow for an alert if [a motor] was about to go bad.\"\nSeek Thermal has also produced prototype sensors that it says will bring the cost down from around $3,000 (£1,977) to about $300 per chip.\nThese cheaper sensors are mostly uncooled, which makes them slightly less sensitive than cooled sensors because they pick up some heat from their immediate surroundings.\nBut they are still good enough for most non-specialist purposes, says Dr Gabe Fulop, a 25-year industry veteran who writes a newsletter called Infrared Imaging News.\nAnd it is these cheaper uncooled sensors that are likely to drive the market, he believes.\n\"The worldwide uncooled market is currently worth more than $2bn (£1.3bn) but is expected to double in the next five years,\" says Mr Fulop.\nThe number of gadgets equipped with thermal sensors is forecast to grow from about 500,000 to three million units, he says, \"most of it driven by these new applications\".\nMaking this kind of technology more affordable for local authorities could even save lives, he believes.\nFirefighters are already experimenting with drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras - using them to spot wildfires, for example.\nAnd police and paramedics could also find them valuable tools in emergency situations.\nMany car crash victims manage to stumble 20-30ft (6-9m) before collapsing in long grass or behind hedges and trees. They can easily be missed by the emergency services, especially at night.\nIf the first responders had mobile thermographic devices, such potential tragedies could be avoided, he argues.\n\"Each person as he sits in the car warms up the seat. So for a very short time you can detect a heat signature on the seat,\" says Mr Fulop.\nThis means emergency services would know if someone had been occupying a vehicle even if the person were now absent from the scene.\n\"If another car has just left [the accident], the tyre marks will still be visible because of a little extra heat, but those, too, will dissipate quickly.\"\nInfrared thermography (IRT) has been used on animals for many years, mostly as a way of diagnosing physical illness, especially in agricultural settings.\nBut at Detroit zoo in the US, Dr Stephanie Allard is investigating methods of testing animals for psychological ups and downs using thermal cameras.\nThe aim is to measure the welfare of animals and how they react to different situations.\n\"Looking at the surface temperature of an eyeball has turned out to be a really valuable tool with horses and cows, for example,\" she says. \"Stress leads to an increase in temperature.\n\"However, that has not been validated for most other species, which, of course, is a wide range in a zoo. We have to determine where those differences in temperature may happen in order to know if IRT will be a useful tool to tell when an animal is having an amazing time…or not.\"\nBut thermal technology has its limitations.\nOne of its biggest drawbacks is that heat signatures are very hard - if not impossible - to read behind walls, doors and glass.\nBut a new twist on another established technology could solve this problem.\nA team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology has come up with a system called RF-Capture that can track people through walls using certain radio frequency (RF) signals.\nA device that resembles a wi-fi router sends out a stream of RF signals which in turn are bounced back from different parts of a body as it moves, producing images that resemble a thermal pattern, but are not.\nThe MIT researchers devised an algorithm to turn these individual snapshots into an animation. The kit can detect the movement of a heartbeat and lungs even when someone is standing still, and differentiate between body shapes.\nThe MIT team, led by Professor Dina Katabi, has started a company called Emerald to promote the device, and the tech has attracted the attention of the White House.\nOne potential application is monitoring elderly relatives without the need for panic button necklaces or wristbands. It could also be integrated into home and office security systems.\nBut what will the public think about tech that can see through walls?\nFollow Technology of Business editor @matthew_wall on Twitter", "The equipment, which is used to administer electric shocks to cardiac arrest patients, has been set up in the remote village of Wield.\nThe red phone boxes, costing £1 each, have been sited in Upper and Lower Wield, where the combined population is about 250.\nEach defibrillator can be accessed by dialling 999 for a key code.\nThe phone boxes were reconditioned by villager Terry Frost.\nThe installation and equipment was paid for with a £2,500 grant from rural charity Fieldfare and £2,000 raised by young people in the village.\nTom Geddes, a fourth-year medical student at Bristol University, and his brothers organised the fundraising.\nHe said: \"Having lived all our lives in the village, it was nice to do something for the village.\"\nParish council chairman Brian Collins said: \"The Community Heartbeat Trust gave us advice and guidance on how to install the apparatus and we bought them through the trust.\n\"Howard Farley from the Hampshire paramedic service gave us a demonstration of how to use them - and it's really easy and safe, you don't need any medical expertise.\n\"If someone has what looks like a heart attack, you get them to the box, lift up the phone and follow instructions.\"", "The Home Safe Hospital Stay pilot aims to install alarms for people worried about their homes being targeted by criminals while they are in hospital.\nIf an intruder enters their house, an auto dialler system will call numbers of their choice.\nLight timers are also available to deter potential burglars by giving the impression the property is occupied.\nIf successful, the scheme could be rolled out elsewhere.\nThe scheme will be launched on Friday at the Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan Hospital.\nIt will be run by the Ebbw Vale and Tredegar Crime Prevention Panel and funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent.", "It follows concerns last year over staffing levels in the region, which meant some appliances in the north east of Scotland could not be used.\nThe thirteen men and three women have spent the past 14 weeks training at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service College in Portlethen.\nThey will now be deployed to stations throughout Aberdeen.", "The callers ask to take over a home computer and demand money to fix it. Some then install viruses as well.\nThe software company said it had received more than 65,000 complaints about tech support scams since May.\nIt is taking legal action against several firms it accuses of misusing its name in such cases.\nThe scam has been around for decades with callers peddling useless security software and tricking people into spending hundreds of pounds (or dollars) to solve non-existent computer problems.\nIncreasingly, the bogus technicians are gaining access to people's computers remotely.\nFrom there they can also steal personal and financial information and install malware.\nIn some cases people are tricked into signing up for support via fake web ads. Others receive a direct telephone call from a technician claiming to represent Microsoft.\nMicrosoft has warned that scammers are likely to be active over the Christmas period.\n\"The holiday season is a popular time for scammers as more people engage in online activities, including shopping, donating to charity and searching for travel deals,\" it said.\nOlder people needed to be particularly vigilant, it said.\n\"Tech support scammers don't discriminate; they will go after anyone, but not surprisingly senior citizens have been among the most vulnerable.\"\nThe US Federal Trade Commission filed a legal case in Florida last month against a company that used adverts to scare people into believing their computer had a virus and then sell them allegedly worthless services.\nIn the UK, National Trading Standards has recently taken legal action against a man from Luton who hired people at an Indian call centre to falsely tell people their computers had a serious problem.\nMohammed Khalid Jamil was given a four-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay £5,665 compensation and £13,929 in prosecution costs.\nMicrosoft has issued tips to help users avoid falling for such scams.\nIt says:", "The bug is in a software library used in servers, operating systems and email and instant messaging systems.\nCalled OpenSSL the software is supposed to protect sensitive data as it travels back and forth.\nIt is not clear how widespread exploitation of the bug has been because attacks leave no trace.\n\"If you need strong anonymity or privacy on the internet, you might want to stay away from the internet entirely for the next few days while things settle,\" said a blog entry about the bug published by the Tor Project which produces software that helps people avoid scrutiny of their browsing habits.\nA huge swathe of the web could be vulnerable because OpenSSL is used in the widely used Apache and Nginx server software. Statistics from net monitoring firm Netcraft suggest that about 500,000 of the web's secure servers are running versions of the vulnerable software.\n\"It's the biggest thing I've seen in security since the discovery of SQL injection,\" said Ken Munro, a security expert at Pen Test Partners. SQL injection is a way to extract information from the databases behind web sites and services using specially crafted queries.\nMany firms were scrambling to apply patches to vulnerable programs and others had shut down services while fixes were being worked on, he said. Many were worried that with proof of concept code already being shared it would only be a matter of time before cyber thieves started exploiting the vulnerability.\nMojang, maker of the hugely popular Minecraft game, took all its services offline while Amazon, which it uses to host games, patched its systems.\nThe bug in OpenSSL was discovered by researchers working for Google and security firm Codenomicon.\nIn a blog entry about their findings the researchers said the \"serious vulnerability\" allowed anyone to read chunks of memory in servers supposedly protected with the flawed version of OpenSSL. Via this route, attackers could get at the secret keys used to scramble data as it passes between a server and its users.\n\"This allows attackers to eavesdrop [on] communications, steal data directly from the services and users and to impersonate services and users,\" wrote the team that discovered the vulnerability. They called it the \"heartbleed\" bug because it occurs in the heartbeat extension for OpenSSL.\nThe bug has been present in versions of OpenSSL that have been available for over two years. The latest version of OpenSSL released on 7 April is no longer vulnerable to the bug.\n\"Considering the long exposure, ease of exploitation and attacks leaving no trace this exposure should be taken seriously,\" wrote the researchers.\nInstalling an updated version of OpenSSL did not necessarily mean people were safe from attack, said the team. If attackers have already exploited it they could have stolen encryption keys, passwords or other credentials required to access a server, they said.\nFull protection might require updating to the safer version of OpenSSL as well as getting new security certificates and generating new encryption keys. To help people check their systems some security researchers have produced tools that help people work out if they are running vulnerable versions of OpenSSL.", "It has recently attended nine properties in areas including Poole.\nThe service said neighbours were not warned before the devices were set off.\nIt is asking people who wish to use them to contact residents in advance to avoid \"false alarms\". British Pest Control Association (BPCA) described them as \"aggressive\" products.\nFirefighters have also been called to homes in Bournemouth, Weymouth, Wool, and Woolland, near Hazelbury Bryan.\nRichard Moseley, technical manager for BPCA, said such devices were used by the association in confined areas such as loft spaces and greenhouses to control pests, including cluster flies.\n\"Imagine a firework with insecticides going off - that's what you're dealing with,\" he said.\n\"Sometimes smoke can be seen externally and in cases such as these we would inform the local fire service, but it's not something an amateur would always think of.\"\nThey are not advised for use in living areas, such as kitchens or sitting rooms, where there is a greater risk of contamination, he said.\nHe added there was a \"lack of knowledge\" with over-the-counter products.", "MEPs this week backed moves to make the eCall system, which uses sensors to call the nearest emergency centre when a car crashes, mandatory from 2015.\nThe European Commission has dismissed privacy fears, saying it could save up to 2,500 lives a year.\nThe UK government has yet to sign up to the initiative due to cost concerns.\nThe EU already has a cross-European emergency services number, 112, which can be accessed from any member state.\nThe European Commission wants to extend this service by connecting it to a device in people's cars.\nThe eCall system is triggered by sensors in the vehicle like those which cause protective airbags to explode in a crash.\nOnce triggered, the device automatically contacts the nearest emergency service centre, via the 112 service.\nIt transmits the exact location of the vehicle and other data, such as the make of the car, and establishes a voice connection with the emergency services operator.\nConservative MEP Daniel Hannan opposed the proposal when it was debated in the European Parliament.\nHe told the parliament: \"My constituents have never said, in the 13 years I've being doing this job, that what they want is a common European number to call in emergencies.\"\nKeith Taylor, a Green MEP and member of the Transport and Tourism Committee, supports the system, saying: \"From a road a safety point of view it has got to be a good idea. We must stop thinking people have a right to drive a car. It is a responsibility to drive safely.\"\nThe EU has been trying to introduce eCall for nearly a decade, but attempts to bring it in voluntarily have failed.\nThe technology is already being used by some car manufacturers but only a small proportion of cars in the EU (0.4%) are currently fitted with the system.\nThe Commission now wants it to be compulsory for all cars made in the EU, at a cost of around £80 (100 euros) for each device, when fitted in the factory.\nMaking the system mandatory could, the Commission says, cut emergency response times by up to 50%, saving thousands of lives each year and reducing the severity of injuries of those involved in accidents.\nA \n European Parliamentary committee report\n says it should go further and consider extending eCall to other vehicles like buses, coaches, lorries and motorcycles.\nAlthough the eCall service will be provided free of charge, the Commission expects the technology to be used for commercial purposes in future, such as tracking stolen vehicles or charging road tolls electronically.\nHowever, Mr Taylor said that while it was technically possible for the technology to be used for road pricing, \"there is no current plan to introduce it\" and \"any introduction would have to be thought about very carefully\".\nConcerns have been raised over data protection, but the Commission argues that because the eCall normally \"sleeps\" and does not allow vehicle tracking outside emergencies this was not a problem.\nDuring a debate in the European Parliament a number of MEPs urged the Commission to move forward with the proposal, with MEPs later backing it in a vote.\nDieter-Lebrecht Koch, a German MEP and vice-chair of the Transport and Tourism Committee, said the system had the support of 80% of European drivers and claimed thousands of people would be alive today if emergency services had reached them sooner.\n\"We shouldn't be dragging our feet,\" he said.\nOther functions, like real-time traffic information and data on the availability of parking spaces, \"could be incorporated in due course\", he added.\nFellow committee member, Olga Sehnalová said the system would be a \"major contribution to improving passenger safety at the EU level\".\n\"The eCall system must operate throughout the whole of Europe and it can't depend on procurement prices in each individual country,\" she said.\nThe European Parliament needed to \"send a clear signal to the Commission that it is not acceptable to delay this any further\", she added.\nMost EU member states have now signed up to the initiative but the UK and France have not yet backed it.\nThe UK government is concerned about the cost of a mandatory eCall system suggesting it may outweigh any benefits as the UK already has a good road safety record.\nTransport minister Mike Penning said \"Britain has some of the safest roads in the world and technology has an important role to play in this, but it is important that each initiative is carefully considered on its merits.\n\"After considering the results of independent research we are concerned that the benefits of making eCall mandatory in all new cars will not justify the cost of implementing it in the UK. We have decided, therefore, that it would not be appropriate for the UK to support mandatory installation of eCall at this stage.\n\"However, calls from vehicles equipped with a private eCall system are already supported by UK emergency call centres.\"\nResponding to the debate, Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas welcomed the \"firm support\" of the Parliament and said the Commission hoped the system would be fully operational by 2015.\nHe said a regulation was being drafted and would be available in the \"coming months\".\n\"We believe mandatory implementation will make the cost affordable to all parties thanks to economies of scale,\" he told MEPs.\nHe said the Commission would support awareness and education campaigns to ensure eCall was properly used.", "Anthony McSweeney, 68, abused the 15-year-old while working at Grafton Close Children's Home in Hounslow.\nHe assaulted the boy with his friend John Stingemore, the manager of the care home, who died before the trial.\nAs part of his defence, he had said he was too fat to fit a teenager on him.\nMcSweeney, who has been described as morbidly obese, used the defence when he denied molesting boys between 1979 and 1981.\nAs well indecent assault, he was also found guilty of three counts of making indecent images of children.\nThe priest was investigated as part of a police probe into allegations of a paedophile ring at Grafton Close.\nAt his sentencing at Southwark Crown Court, Judge Alistair McCreath said: \"He has a voyeuristic interest in children, either in seeing them unclothed, or in seeing them sexually abused by others.\"\nMcSweeney showed no reaction.\nThe judge said the priest had abused his position of trust and there was no doubt the children observed by the priest had suffered sexual harm of a psychological nature.\nJudge McCreath added that McSweeney posed a \"high risk of serious harm\" to children, via sexual assault and exploitation through sexual images.\nEarlier in the trial, the priest confessed to jurors he had watched children in the shower and collected indecent videos of children.\nThe priest said he watched footage featuring boys as young as 10 on a home cinema with his friend John Stingemore, who died before the trial.\nProsecutor Sarah Plaschkes QC said: \"This was a joint enterprise by both men, to use the victim for their own sexual gratification.\n\"There was grooming behaviour used against the victim - both men used the washing routine at the home as an excuse to confuse the child.\"\nShe said McSweeney had specifically targeted a \"particularly vulnerable child\".\nMs Placshkes said: \"Not all children at the home were abused. He (the victim) was targeted because he was a vulnerable boy isolated from his family.\"\nPolice said the priest worked at Grafton on an ad hoc basis as a \"helper\" and the council never formally employed him.\nDuring the trial, it emerged the Catholic Church nearly dropped him when his cleaner found sex toys, truncheons and indecent videos of teenage boys at St Peter's Catholic Church in Essex in 1998.\nBut after six months he was moved to a new parish, St George's, in Norwich - after he was threatened with being \"banished\" from the priesthood, the court heard.\nTV cook Delia Smith once asked McSweeney to hold a special football service at Norwich City and he also officiated at Frank Bruno and his now ex-wife Laura's wedding.", "Last year a total of 36 people died from fires in the capital compared with 47 fatalities five years ago.\nThe fire brigade said the improvement was largely down to better fire education among the public.\nThere were 20,770 fires in London last year down 25% on 2011/12, but eight more deaths from deliberate fires.\nDeaths from deliberate fires stand at 11 so far this year compared with three in 2014/15.\nLondon Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: \"The downward trend in fires and fire deaths is a testament to the incredible hard work of our fire fighters in carrying out almost 87,000 home fire safety visits last year.\"\nMr Dobson cautioned against complacency and said: \"Far too many old and vulnerable people are dying unnecessarily in avoidable fires either because they have mobility issues and may struggle to raise the alarm or their home lacks appropriate fire detection.\"\nIn nearly half of fire deaths in the capital there was a delay in calling 999. He said this made fire safety systems such as automatic sprinklers, a monitoring alarm system called Telecare and flame retardant bedding extremely important.\n50%\nof victims were aged over 70\n66%\nof those who died lived alone\n33% of victims had mental health issues or were in receipt of care\n13 of fatal fires were caused by smoking\nAs part of the additional savings from last year's budget the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority approved a one-off £1m investment to install those fire safety systems in the homes of London's most vulnerable, to help reduce the number of fires and fire deaths.\nFive year trend figures show that accidental fire deaths in the home are down 36% and accidental house fires are down 15% compared to 2011/12 figures.\nDeaths from deliberate fires including suicide attempts have increased and although the brigade works with partner agencies to help prevent these, deaths from deliberate fires are much harder for the fire brigade to influence.", "The \"living lab\", built by Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), mimics a single-storey flat and contains a network of Wi-Fi cameras and sensors.\nScientists believe it is the first time helper robots have been developed in a \"real-life\" environment.\nDr Praminda Caleb-Solly, from BRL, said the robots could step in \"if someone forgets to eat or take medicines\".\nThey will be tested to see how they overcome realistic scenarios, like navigating household clutter or picking things up for mobility-impaired residents.\nWi-fi cameras and sensors have also been installed on furniture, doors, medicine bottles, fridges, plugs and kettles inside the flat, dubbed the Personalised Assisted Living facility.\nThe sensors will gather data to create a picture of a person's individual habits and needs.\nOne of the features is a telepresence robot, which allows nurses, social workers or doctors to monitor patients remotely.\nDr Caleb-Solly said: \"If an alert is sent because there is no activity in the house when a person would normally be up and about, an alert might be sent to the carer remotely.\n\"If there is no response from the person then the carer could activate the telepresence robot and see if there is a problem.\"\nThe studio will also enable elderly people, carers and clinicians to give their views on what they think is important.\n\"It's important for us to work in a participatory way for the people whose homes its going to be in,\" said Dr Caleb-Solly.\nBBC Points West business correspondent, Dave Harvey:\nThere have been other caring robots, all over the world. Several were developed at the Bristol Robotics Lab, the largest academic research centre of its kind in the UK. But they have all been born in labs, and lived in lab conditions. The new centre is the first in the world to build a real life apartment, with its own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and lounge as a reality check for the robot scientists.\nAnd they have another unique ingredient, just as important as the high tech sensors, computers, and voice synthesisers. Older people, have been recruited to help the lab scientists assess their work. How do older people respond to an automated machine asking them if they want to play a game? What happens when Molly, the robot carer, talks to someone who has dementia?\nThese are vital questions, and the new lab hopes that asking them in a real-life situation will improve their work. How long before robots can live with us, keep a watchful eye over us in old age? \"It's still a way off,\" smiles Dr Caleb-Solly, who leads the research. \"But our new lab will make it sooner than it was.\"\nThe facility has been sponsored by The Anchor Society which supports elderly, frail and isolated people in Bristol.\nIt is hoped the apartment will speed up the development process.", "Firefighters had to a rescue one of the occupants from the top floor of the flats in Nevill Avenue on Monday.\nResidents have been unable to return home while the police investigation continues and the British Red Cross is providing emergency housing.\nThe communal entrance to the property was damage, but no one was injured.\nPolice said it was believed the fire was an isolated incident.", "BBC reporter, Tulip Mazumdar, has just come back from Guinea where the outbreak has killed hundreds. She has visited hospitals where doctors have been treating patients.\nShe answered your questions about the situation there in a live Twitter Q&A.\nThis is an edited version of the session:\nQuestion from Gabriel Eliandro Iboro on Facebook: Should we be optimistic about a cure for this Ebola outbreak or give up already?\nTulip answers: There are vaccines and treatments being developed but they're not ready yet. No to giving up - emergency teams are focused on controlling the outbreak.\nQuestion from Bello Ahmed Timileyin on Facebook: Is Ebola a man-made disease?\nTulip answers: Ebola is passed to humans from animals, including fruit bats. Some argue deforestation could be contributing to the problem - not conclusive.\nQuestion from @Xander_TS: How long does one have to live after being infected with the Ebola virus?\nTulip answers: No set time but, the incubation period is 21 days. By the time people are diagnosed, they tend to die quickly.\nQuestion from Karen via email: Is the spread continuing to be worsened by religious customs?\nTulip answers: Not religious, more cultural. Funeral practices - where people wash the body - is helping spread the virus.\nQuestion from @mighty_knighty: Do you get the sense the community are more trusting and engaged in medical pro's in affected area?\nTulip answers: They're becoming more trusting in some areas, but still lots of fear around virus which is hindering medics efforts to help\nQuestion from @LekanWaheed: If one touches an infected person will you get infected? Even if they don't put his hand in his mouth?\nTulip answers: Not necessarily. Ebola is spread through body fluids eg. if you touch an infected person and they are sweating, your risk increases.\nQuestion from Ashley Stubbs on Facebook: Do they hold aid workers being evacuated for a period of time making sure they're not infected?\nTulip answers: Each agency has own rules, but won't isolate aid workers unless they show symptoms or they know of skin on skin contact\nQuestion from Ini Obong via email: Can Ebola be transmitted via mosquito bite?\nTulip answers: Science journals report that there is no evidence of this happening\nFor more tweets from Tulip Mazumdar you can follow her Twitter account.", "The lifesaving equipment is believed to have been taken from outside of Frenchay Village Hall, near Bristol, in the early hours of Friday.\nLast December it was one of eight taken from sites including Pucklechurch, Frenchay, Fishponds and Easton.\nDefibrillators are used to deliver a shock to restart a patient's heart when they are in cardiac arrest.\nCallers to the ambulance service are given the code to unlock the cabinet and users are given automatic spoken instructions on how to use the equipment.", "Last year Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 37 incidents, compared with 16 in 2014 /2015.\nThe service is now carrying out special training sessions using a 28 stone (179kg) dummy.\nFigures obtained by the BBC show a rise in \"bariatric rescues\" from four assistance requests in 2011/12.\nMore on this and other Lincolnshire stories.\nThe type of rescues logged by the fire service included removing bedroom doors and banisters, to using lifting equipment to help patients from their homes into ambulances.\nSpencer Creek, technical response manger for the service said that more than 60 firefighters had taken the specialist training course.\n\"What we are looking at now is how the guys practically deal with the weight of the casualty,\" he said.\n\"And how do we deal with it in a number of different scenarios.\"\nAs well as the training, the service has invested in specialist equipment including, inflatable chairs and strengthened stretchers at the cost of £3,000 per fire engine.\nEast Midlands Ambulance Service has equipped all its ambulances with stretchers capable of holding patients weighing up to 30 stones (190kg).", "Four fire crews tackled the blaze in the early hours of this morning at a property in Cottesmore, Rutland.\nLeicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the person was rescued, but later died in hospital.\n\"At this time, we have not been able to establish if the premises contained working smoke detectors,\" the fire service said.\n\"We are fortunate that this type of tragedy happens very infrequently.\"\nThe cause of the fire is being investigated by the service and Leicestershire Police.", "It broke out in signalling cables underneath one of the platforms at about 03:00 BST.\nThe power has been isolated to the area and as a result South West Trains into Waterloo are severely delayed.\nServices on the Hounslow loop and via Richmond and Kingston are not running and the bus station at Vauxhall has also been closed.\nLondon Fire Brigade station manager John Ryan said: \"Once the power was isolated firefighters quickly got to work to tackle the fire.\n\"We're currently assessing how much electrical cabling has been affected and damping down pockets of fire.\"", "A bomb squad was called to Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, after the bottles - thought to contain \"old military flares\" - were unearthed.\nPeople living near the building site - opposite an entrance to John of Gaunt School - have been told to leave their homes or stay indoors.\nThe fire service said it was unsure exactly what chemicals were involved.\nMore on this and other top stories from across the West\n\"We're dealing with an unknown hazard and have called the military who have more experience\", a spokesman said.\nThe Army team is expected to detonate the devices before 20:30 GMT.\nDorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said a large amount of smoke would be generated and people living in the immediate area should keep their windows and doors shut.", "An appeal was issued by the carers of Muriel, who is partially-sighted, to enable her to pay her respects at the service in Cheltenham.\nThree firefighters answered the plea and offered their time to discreetly carry her into the church.\n\"They were absolutely marvellous and I do thank them very much,\" she said.\n\"It was a lovely service and really important because I've known the lady for over 50 years.\"\nBoth Muriel and her friend were regular members of the congregation, according to the vicar of The Church of the Ascension in Southam.\n\"Sadly, Muriel is not very mobile and the access to the church is difficult with many high steps and therefore thought she might not be able to attend the funeral of her dear friend,\" said Rev Richard Reakes.\n\"I am always greatly touched when people go beyond the call of duty and do fantastic acts of kindness and this is a case in point.\n\"I know Muriel greatly appreciated what was done for her and that she was able to give her respects in person to her great friend.\"\nTina Savage, manager of the retirement complex in Cheltenham where Muriel lives, said the crew were very kind and discreet around the Thursday gathering.\n\"What I didn't want to do was detract from the importance of the day for the family of the lady whose funeral it was,\" she said.\n\"They whizzed her up the stairs and into the church and people didn't really notice.\"", "Four local fire services have been working with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) since January to respond to life-threatening emergencies.\nThe firefighters are equipped with a medical kit so they can treat people when they are first on the scene.\nThe pilot has now been widened to include Redcar on Teesside.\nFurther stations are set to follow the brigades in Cleveland, County Durham and Darlington, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland who have been working as part of the Emergency Medical Response scheme.\nNEAS director Caroline Thurlbeck said: \"Our ambition for this trial is to improve the survival rate for those people who suffer from a life-threatening illness or injury in the community.\"\nFirefighter responders have attended more than 1,200 incidents since the trial began. It will run until 30 June.\nSimilar projects are being trialled elsewhere in England.", "The Ocean Medallion can be worn as a necklace, clip or keychain - or carried in a passenger's pocket.\nIt will connect to onboard facilities, tracking meal orders or automatically unlocking guests' cabins as they approach the door, for example.\nOne analyst said it would have to be easy to use to entice holidaymakers.\nDetails of the project are being outlined at two events at the CES tech show in Las Vegas.\nThe Ocean Medallion will connect with onboard systems on the first specially modified cruise ship later this year via internet of things technology.\nOther ships in the Princess Cruises fleet will then adopt the system.\nIt was a \"great example of novel uses for smart devices\", said Martin Garner, a tech analyst at CCS Insight.\n\"But, because people go on cruises as a relaxing holiday, the system will have to work flawlessly and be super-easy to use,\" he told the BBC.\nHe also noted that, just like upgrading a big hotel, the venture would likely be a costly one - which adds \"a degree of risk\" for Carnival.\nThe first ship to feature the system is the Regal Princess. 75 miles (121km) of cables, more than 7,000 sensors and 4,000 digital screens were installed in 10 days in Italy.\n\"It's going to almost be invisible to guests,\" the company said.\n\"They're not going to realise how much [technology] is in here.\"\nHoliday resorts and cruise ship brands, including Carnival's rival Royal Caribbean Cruises, increasingly offer visitors access to various services via smart bands or wearable gadgets.\nThe undertaking could perhaps foreshadow what life in a future smart city or internet of things-powered shopping complex might be like.\nBut Mr Garner noted not everyone had the capabilities of a cruise line.\n\"City officials don't typically have the budget to do grand-vision schemes like the Carnival re-fit,\" he said.\n\"In fact, most cities are chronically short of budget.\"\nConnection technologies built in to the Ocean Medallion include Bluetooth and near field communications (NFC), according to the travel firm.\nThis will allow passengers to:\nThe service will be offered first to passengers on the Regal Princess ship from November. It will then be expanded to the Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess ships in 2018.\nFollow all our CES coverage at bbc.co.uk/ces2017", "Emergency services were called to a house in the Llanrumney area of the city just after 01:30 BST on Wednesday.\nPeople in the house were able to put out the fire themselves, but two needed treatment by paramedics, fire officers said.\nFire investigation officers and police will examine the scene later." ]

[ "St. Thomas Aquinas High School" ]

[ "DID", "Did Not Finish", "Go ''", "Where It's At", "Going to School in India", "Did It for the Party", "going", "Go", "to be going to", "Dunbar High School", "Northumberland High School", "Salem High School" ]

[ "<*>The site you mentioned is from the Church of God.. They have had something of an unusual history.\\nI've had little affiliation but you might want to check out this website before getting too involved.\\nhttp://www.apologeticsindex.org/w01.html" ]

[ "Watch Exercising tv commercials and do what they do continually. for the bowflex, all you need to do is about a 100 of each feature a day.", "I would give up TV. I mean, you can listen to music, watch tv, chat with friends, and just have fun on the Internet! With TV, all we can do is watch what other people chose. The Internet gives us freedom!", "www.growerssolution.com or www..advancegreenhouses.com \\n\\nmaybe you can find what you are looking for on these two websites.", "If what you meant was antivirus scanning.. for free, you can go to http://www.housecall.trendmicro.com. If you want to check the bandwith speed of your internet connection (bandwith meter) there's one at http://www.2wire.com", "you've gotta have a website of your own for start. if you dont do check out http://www.50webs.com\\nafter you get a website and finish designing it, submit your website to google and its adword program. upon approval, you can copy and paste google's adword banner into your website and start earning. its that easy.", "Well I'm not sure about it being at the Soccer World Cup, but there is a number of 3D TVs that are in the labs that doesn't need glasses in order for you to see it.\\n\\nCheck out: https://www.3dtv-research.org for more information", "What do you think by watching the male dominated sports on TV?", "The best things you can do to better your English are actually to read or to watch TV. It's all about exposure.", "i think internal tv turner is better than external tv turner. This is becouse you can do more with internal card like capture image, recording movie, recording music, etc. With external card, you can watch tv only becouse it is run without pc os support so you can't do something internal tv card doing. But the price of internal tv card is more expensive than external tv card!", "Do you have a website? If not, get one. Also advertise your business on several locations on the net. Here are a few to start with:\\nHomeowners Insurance - http://www.insuremyhouse.com \\nLife Insurance - http://www.insuremylife.org\\nCollege Planning - http://www.529s.com\\nAuto Insurance - http://www.insuremyvehicle.com", "Two main layers. This website for pics --> http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/wradbelt.html", "real vnc is a great tool, and will do just what u need watching whats happerning on another computer, and you can control the computer as well http://www.realvnc.com/\\n\\nallthough it depends on you reasons for why you want to watch whats happerning, if it is to spy on what people are doing on the lan, it is unethical", "You will need to register your domain name and choose a web hosting plan for your website. I recommend http://www.1and1.com for both.", "http://www.support.dell.com/ \\nis their main website or call 1-800-WWW-DELL", "http://www.autozone.com/\\nhttp://autoparts.411web.com/\\nhttp://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/S-CHQL8v6H71J/\\nhttp://www.info.com/\\nhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/\\nhttp://www.thefreedictionary.com/\\nhttp://www.2carpros.com/index.htm\\nhttp://www.streetracing.org/paris/dictionary/index.htm\\n\\nTry the Forums, try the dealer's website, look in your\\nowner's manual, get a Hayne's manual for your car,\\ntry the state government website where you live, look\\nin the phonebook in the Government section, ask a friend,\\ncheck out magazine websites, think about what you want,\\nuse the search engines, try different words, use quotation marks(\" \") to search for an entire phrase, look, explore, examine.\\nThe answer is out there, these websites will help. YOU CAN DO IT!\\nGood night and good luck!", "Go to www.250free.com. It has free website hosting. Or you can try yahoo geocites.", "it is humanly impossible to lick their own elbows... i was watching a show on tv the other day and they do a segment on what the human body can and can't do... and that was on there...", "Yes, get really really tired first. Then get out a pen, and visualize what you want to dream about. Draw it out on the page, maybe even narrate it, write a story about it. Just pretend you are there. Do not watch TV, or Listen to radio or anything. Just go right to sleep. This is what works for me.", "What exactly do you mean about house? About buying a house? About the tv show House? If you can clarify I might be able to help you.", "The best form of affiliate marketing is one that matches your website and one that your audience wants. Success in affiliate marketing is not about joining just any program you can find; you have to choose the one that your audience really wants. For example, a travel website would do really if it becomes an affiliate of sites such as Hotels.com because their visitors are natural users of those companies. \\n\\nI suggest you first evaluate your audience - what do they want, what are they looking for that you cannot provide but another company offering an affiliate program might. Then look for them and experiment. \\n\\nYou can find affiliate programs by joining these websites:\\n\\nCommission Junction http://www.cj.com\\nLinkshare http://www.linkshare.com\\nClickbank http://www.clickbank.com", "you can't get a live view of the game. The best you can do is pay for it. But the superbowl is way over so I hope you watched it on tv instead.", "The truth is, the only way to stop procrastinating is to have someone push you to do your homework until you get into a good rhythm. For instance, have your parents make you do your homework before you can watch TV. After about a month of this, you will begin to do homework on your own without being forced.", "Most medical professionals will tell you that douching is not recommended or considered safe, as it can upset the balance of the vagina's natural bacteria and increase your chances of infection. You can read more about why it is not recommended at http://www.4woman.gov/faq/douching.htm", "Not in the immediate future. You must closely supervise their use of the WWW. There are programs available that can be customized by you to block objectionable websites.", "Many psychologists will tell you it's not what the dream is, but how you feel in the dream. It sounds like you are feeling anxious and yet concerned about others. Maybe there is someone in your life that you feel you are doing harm to in order to better your life?\\n\\nOr you could just be watching too many reality tv shows.", "Well you better fnd someting you like to do at the gym and start doing it every day, EVERY day.\\nI like the exersize bike and I can read or watch TV while I do it.", "You can watch TV,log on the computer,read books,talk to your friends or tidy your house.Atleast that's what I am doing.You can also listen to music.", "Television is a social media, where folks could sit around, watch and talk about what they saw. Or they could watch TV alone. Or a show could be water cooler talk. For example, someone could talk to a worker at the same job about last night's TV sitcom.", "Try this website http://www.24hourtaxservices.com/prior_year.html\\n\\nYou will probably have penalties for filing late. You will also need to file state returns for any years you didn't file before. \\n\\nBest yet, you should check with a tax professional. An CPA will be able to help you the most. If you can afford to spend a little more meet with someone in person.", "Unfortunately the World Championships are over (Scotland took the gold) but you could have watched the round robin matches for Canada on Curl TV's website (www.curltv.com). You can see highlights of the entire event on ESPN2 April 16 from 3:00 - 5:00", "You can try some of the on-line \"People Finders\":\\n\\n http://people.yahoo.com/\\n http://search.bigfoot.com/index.jsp\\n http://www.411locate.com/email.htm", "Buy a TV Tuner Card and have it installed, then you can run your cable line to your computer, and viola you can watch TV, whatever channel you want." ]

[ "Ever played yugioh or magic?" ]

[ "Free will means that your actions are determined solely by who you are and what you want, as opposed to by who some other person is and what they want. Whether who you are or what you want is fully deterministic/governed by physics is irrelevant.", "Stay in your MF lane when you turn. Then use your turning signal to get in the other lane.", "If you use Twitter, you deserve what you get.", "Among Us\nIt turns out everybody in the world has no problem lying to get what they want", "Not exactly what you requested, but there is a Korean zombie show called Kingdom. I really enjoyed it and think everyone who likes zombie films would.", "The worst are the people who turn on their signal AFTER getting into the turn lane. \n\nI know you’re gonna turn because you’re in the turn lane. Wish I knew you were getting into the turn lane in the first place.", "Just assholes. Either you get the mom on the phone who never uses her signal and changes lanes last minute, or you get the aggressive dad who is late to the kid's soccer game cutting everyone off and not letting you merge.", "If you have water in a cup and turn slowly and consistently the water will stay still. If you suddenly accelerate the water will spill.", "Umm depends on what’s your definition of what a weeb is? If you see everyone who ever watch anime as weeb then there’s no anime for you. \n\n\nBut I would suggest you to try Perfect Blue. It’s a good one to start with.", "Your response sounds pretty dogmatic.\n\n\nThe \"free market\" would distribute care by how much wealth one has, not by those who need it. Is that what you want? The producers would focus on what the wealthy want, ignore everyone else. The wealthy would get treated first. You OK with that?\n\n\nHow does the government ruin anything? Do you know?", "Everyone would get straight A's in school", "Killing innocent bad people makes you bad. So it would kill everyone who voted for it.", "Chocolate would suddenly become very cheap.", "A better question would be why does everyone care so much about what the US cares about lol. Seems like whenever something happens in the US the entire world wants to get involved", "the quran permits men to use physical measures to correct the behaviour of their wives. what is the advice for women who have husbands whose behaviour needs to be similarly corrected?", "Not at all, because diamonds would suddenly be worthless.", "Easy! You must use the turning signal or the car wont make the turn.", "Employees would con the system by everyone taking a turn calling in once per shift", "What everyone gets wrong about the 737 Max", "A million isn't what it used to be. \n\nIf they made another 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' a modern day equivalent would be billionaire." ]

[ "The Earth's axis of rotation is at a constant tilt with respect to its orbit around the Sun, resulting in the change of seasons. The physical characteristics of the Earth include its size and composition. The Earth also has gravity and magnetic force fields." ]

[ "Rotation of the Earth is its turning on its axis. Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun. ... The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted by 23.5 degrees.", "Earth's rotation is the rotation of planet Earth around its own axis. Earth rotates eastward, in prograde motion. As viewed from the north pole star Polaris, Earth turns counterclockwise.", "Rotation of the Earth is its turning on its axis. Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun. The Earth takes 24 hours to complete a rotation with respect to the sun.", "The earth rotates about an imaginary line that passes through the North and South Poles of the planet. This line is called the axis of rotation. Earth rotates about this axis once each day (approximately 24 hours).", "ROTATION=the spin of the Earth on its axis. It takes one day for the Earth to complete one rotation. REVOLUTION=the movement of the Earth in orbit around the sun. ... PRECESSION=the slow conical (top-like) motion of the Earth's axis of rotation.", "Earth's Rotation. The rotation of Earth on its axis causes winds to shift direction, creating what are called the prevailing winds. This wind shift, known as the Coriolis effect, causes winds in the Northern Hemisphere to shift to the right and winds in the Southern Hemisphere to shift to the left.", "[\"The Earth's rotation is gradually slowing. ... \", 'The Earth was once believed to be the centre of the universe. ... ', 'Earth has a powerful magnetic field. ... ', 'There is only one natural satellite of the planet Earth. ... ', 'Earth is the only planet not named after a god. ... ', 'The Earth is the densest planet in the Solar System.']", "The physical characteristics of the Earth include its size and composition. The Earth also has gravity and magnetic force fields. Physical characteristics include shape, size and composition. Just as the Sun and Moon appear as spheres, so too is the Earth spherical in shape.", "Rotation of the Earth is its turning on its axis. Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun. ... The path of the Earth moving around the Sun is called an orbit. The Earth's orbit is elliptical.", "Today, we know that the earth has two primary motions, rotation and revolution, which are responsible for life cycles of all living things on Earth.", "Rotation of the Earth is its turning on its axis. Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun.", "(a) What is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of an object on Earth's equator due to the rotation of Earth? (b) What would Earth's rotation period have to be for objects on the equator to have a centripetal acceleration of magnitude 9.8 m/s²?", "The rotation of the Earth is the movement of the Earth in its place. The way I like to differentiate between the two is that revolving requires two objects (one object revolves around the other) while rotation only requires one object (its moving about in its own place).", "Yes, all satellites go in the same direction, they just do so at different speeds. What everyone else seems to forget, is that the earth is rotating on its axis. A satellite in a geostationary orbit is going around the earth, matching it's rotation speed.", "['Plate Tectonics Keep the Planet Comfortable: ... ', 'Earth is Almost a Sphere: ... ', 'Earth is Mostly Iron, Oxygen and Silicon: ... ', \"70% of the Earth's Surface is Covered in Water: ... \", \"The Earth's Atmosphere Extends to a Distance of 10,000 km: ... \", \"The Earth's Molten Iron Core Creates a Magnetic Field:\"]", "Answer: The Earth rotates 365 ¼ times as it revolves around the Sun. This is also the number of days in one Earth year.", "Axis of rotation. Earth's axis of rotationEarth's axis of rotation itself rotates, or precesses, completing one circle every 26,000 years. Consequently, Earth's North Pole points toward different stars (and sometimes toward empty space) as it travels in this circle.", "[\"Location: Position on the Earth's Surface (Absolute/Relative). ... \", 'Place: Physical and Human Characteristics. ... ', 'Human/Environment Interactions: Shaping the Landscape. ... ', 'Movement: Humans Interacting on the Earth. ... ', 'Regions: How They Form and Change.']", "The Earth has an equatorial bulge of 42.77 km caused by the rotation on it's axis; we are aware that the gravitational pull reduces as the distance increases. The acceleration due to gravity (of the Earth) is, to a high degree of accuracy, unaffected by the rotation of the Earth.", "['It is the layer that surrounds the earth.', 'The water within it circulates continuously changing its physical state.', 'It needs the sun to be able to make changes in water status.', 'The salinity of the seas is 35 gr/l.']", "All satelites \"orbit\" the Earth. ... As correctly stated in anothe ranswer, the geostationary satellites are in one spot above the Earth but only because their orbit's rotation speed around the Earth is the same speed as the Earth rotates on its axis.", "['Distance from Sun: Earth is at the right distance from the Sun, the star it orbits. ... ', 'Atmosphere: The presence of an atmosphere makes Earth livable. ... ', 'Water: Presence of water is another key factor. ... ', 'Time for evolution: Earth is lucky to have a star as long-living as Sun.']", "Rotation and Revolution \"Rotation\" refers to an object's spinning motion about its own axis. \"Revolution\" refers the object's orbital motion around another object. For example, Earth rotates on its own axis, producing the 24-hour day. Earth revolves about the Sun, producing the 365-day year.", "['distance from the sea.', 'ocean currents.', 'direction of prevailing winds.', \"shape of the land (known as 'relief' or 'topography')\", 'distance from the equator.', 'the El Niño phenomenon.']", "A: Satellites and other spacecraft can orbit with the rotation of the Earth, in the opposite direction of Earth's rotation, or in any other direction! Usually satellites orbit in the direction of Earth's rotation, but there are some satellites that travel in the opposite direction.", "Second UTC is NOT more closely in line with \"true\" time based off of earth's rotation, is exactly the opposite. UTC is more precise in terms of 'time' measure. ... GMT instead tracks earth rotation, since this is not always the same (the earth rotation is slowing down) each second differs.", "[\"Variations in the sun's energy reaching Earth.\", \"Changes in the reflectivity of Earth's atmosphere and surface.\", \"Changes in the greenhouse effect, which affects the amount of heat retained by Earth's atmosphere.\"]", "The Earth revolves (orbits) around the Sun in one year. The Earth's rotation axis is tilted relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. This tilt of the Earth is responsible for the seasons as the Earth orbits the Sun. The Sun provides energy that sustains all life on Earth.", "['Covers 20% of the Earth Surface. ... ', 'Several Continents by its sides/ Unique Location. ... ', 'The Highest Point is at the Sea Level Itself. ... ', 'Limited Marine Life. ... ', 'Has Unique Chemical and Physical Properties. ... ', 'Has Several Tectonic Plate Boundaries. ... ', 'Has Lowest Oxygen Content. ... ', '6000km of River Run.']", "Rotation of the Earth The Coriolis effect describes how Earth's rotation steers winds and surface ocean currents. The Coriolis effect causes freely moving objects to appear to move to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.", "The axis is slightly tilted, making an angle of 23.5° with the perpendicular. At present, Earth's axis points toward Polaris, the North Star. ... At the equator, one rotation equals the Earth's circumference, or 40,074 kilometers. Therefore, points on the equator rotate at a speed of about 1690 kilometers per hour.", "Upwelling is a result of winds and the rotation of the Earth. The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east. Because of this rotation, winds tend to veer right in the northern hemisphere and left in the southern hemisphere." ]

[ "Radiometric observations obtained during the September 1995 Coastal Oceans Probing Experiment are presented. The radiometric goals of the experiment included the determination of the accuracy of polarimeters in measuring ocean wind speed and direction, the study of the frequency and angular response of microwave radiometers to wind and internal waves, and the comparison of radiometric, polarimetric, and scatterometric response to the ocean surface. Observations include those from a scanning 5-mm-wavelength radiometer deployed on the R/V FLIP, a blimp-borne dual-channel radiometer at 23.87 and 31.65 GHz, and a blimp-borne 37-GHz polarimeter. Ground truth, to which these observations can be compared, was obtained from FLIP data and includes wind speed and direction and atmospheric stability." ]

[ "A measurement program is in progress to develop more precise relationships between the microwave (Ku-band) radar cross section and the ocean surface variables that affect the roughness and reflectivity. An extensive data set was obtained during the Frontal Air-Sea Interaction Experiment during the winter of 1986 in the Atlantic south of Bermuda. The author focuses on the airborne scatterometer measurements that were coincident with surface wind speed and stress measurements from aircraft and ships, and the directional surface-wave spectrum. >", "Experimental data on emissivity and backscattering properties of sea ice are presented. Measurements were conducted in East and West Soviet regions of the Arctic Ocean during recent years with the IL-18 airborne laboratory and the AN-2 aircraft. The equipment installed on board the aircraft provided simultaneous X -band side looking airborne radar (SLAR) images and radiometric data at wavelengths from 0.8 to 30 cm along the flight paths. Use of these measurements for sea ice studies is discussed.", "Sensor reaching radiance in coastal ocean-water environments contains contributions from the air-water interface, in-water objects, and the participating volume itself. If rendered by a forward-modeling synthetic image generation program, the imagery must account for several interesting phenomenon, including, but not limited to; volumetric scattering, shadows, skyfraction, background reflections, and capillary and gravity wave glints and caustics. DIRSIG models the radiative transfer process in this complex environment using a combination of sophisticated raytracing and photon mapping techniques. This research illustrates a subset of our validation efforts associated with the forward radiometric modeling process used by DIRSIG when rendering coastal environments with significant contributions from in-water objects. The results exemplify DIRSIG's ability to render spectrally independent (elastic) and radiometrically accurate hyperspectral imagery of participating media.", "In a recent experiment the microwave emissivity of foam on calm water was measured to be 0.75 to 0.95 and dependent on polarization. Microwave radiometric measurements of breaking waves on the open ocean showed that the emission due to wave breaking varies with the time dynamics of the wave, as well as with radiometer polarization and viewing angle. However, the inherent intermittency and sparseness of breaking waves makes it very difficult to perform repeatable measurements on the open ocean. Therefore, the authors conducted a wave basin experiment in which reproducible breaking waves were generated every 1-2 seconds. This paper reports preliminary results of the combined observations of polarimetric brightness temperatures and physical characteristics of these waves and foam. These and future results will provide input parameters to bound numerical electromagnetic models for prediction of foam emissivities.", "Radar interferometry is known to be a useful technique for mapping terrain heights and surface currents. Several studies on along track or cross track interferometry provided highly accurate results. In the case of coastal applications a simultaneous measurement of topography and surface currents is beneficial. Therefore an approach for airborne interferometric measurements with a baseline consisting of an along and cross track component is presented. Analysis of experimental airborne interferometric data shows good results. The final accuracy is highly dependent on the accuracy of the navigation data of the aircraft.", "Sea surface images that are obtained by a thermal infrared camera, are synchronized with visible images of whitecaps to investigate the skin sea surface effect on the radiometrically measured sea surface temperature. It is observed that the temperature differences between the skin sea surface and sub-surface bulk water are found to depend on relative humidity and wind velocity, i.e. a lower humidity expands the temperature difference and a decrease of wind velocity reduces it. An empirical relationships between the temperature difference and those environmental parameters are determined.", "Remote sensing of water colour and its application to the mapping of pigments, suspended matter and other substances by means of airborne and spaceborne sensors is discussed. After an introduction to the physical process involved, the methods for a quantitative interpretation especially of CZCS data are indicated. Applications towards the monitoring of coastal pollution, of algae blooms and of dynamic processes are shown by means of selected examples. Multispectral scanner and imaging spectrometer technologies are discussed with special reference to NASA's Earth Observation System and ESA's Earth Observation Programme.", "The development of high frequency surface wave radar (HFSWR) as a surveillance and remote sensing tool in the ocean environment continues to expand in the Newfoundland and Labrador context. A local company, Northern Radar Limited, is now bringing the product to market and in conjunction with researchers from Memorial University continues to address fundamental issues aimed at broadening the applicability of these systems. Typically, HFSWR has been used to view vast areas of the coastal ocean from shore-based facilities, but lately interest has been generated in mounting the transmitting (TX) or receiving antennas (RX), or both, on ocean platforms. This provides new challenges as the motion of such a structure influences the phasing of the transmitted and received electric fields. Here, a model which accounts for the effects of antenna motion on the received signal is presented, and subsequently the high frequency (HF) cross section of the ocean surface to first order is presented.", "The Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MIRSL) at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) has developed the Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (IWRAP) to improve the ability to nowcast and forecast extreme weather-events. This novel instrument is devoted to improve our knowledge in both the atmospheric boundary layer perturbances as well as the ocean surface winds, by providing both reflectivity and Doppler profiles simultaneously at C and Ku-band and at four incidence angles.", "The present report deals not only with the activities in 1945–46, but opportunity is also taken to review briefly the oceanographic studies at the Scripps Institution during the years of war. These studies fall mainly within four subjects: Examination of the surface layers of the ocean in connection with the submarine warfare; studies of the boundary layer atmosphere-ocean; studies of sea, swell, and surf; and studies of beaches in relation to wave action.", "The development and validation of ocean colour products require the availability of in situ atmospheric and marine data. Since 1995, the Coastal Atmosphere and Sea Time Series (CoASTS) Program ensures the collection of an in situ comprehensive set of measurements taken from an oceanographic tower in the northern Adriatic Sea. An example of a validation exercise is presented through the comparison of in situ and satellite-derived aerosol optical thickness at various wavelengths in the 443–865 nm spectral interval.", "A shipboard latitude survey of middle atmospheric water vapor was made from 40/spl deg/ North to 60/spl deg/ South by microwave radiometry. Baseline effects are removed by a new channel-referencing technique. Retrieval differences between model and measured temperature profiles are shown to be negligible. Both a hemispheric distribution and time-height cross section plots are included. >", "We have been performingin situ measurement of downward short wave radiation (solar radiation) in the western Pacific Ocean in cooperation with voluntary ships since autumn 1990 in order to obtain much more precise knowledge of downward short wave radiation at the sea's surface than before. Preliminary result of the observation from autumn 1990 through spring 1992 is shown in this paper. The comparison of observed daily mean downward short wave radiation with that estimated from observed cloudiness by using Reed (1977) formula is also presented to show the necessity ofin situ measurement in the study of the downward short wave radiation at the sea's surface.", "Profiles of light transmission, temperature and salinity and analyses of suspended matter samples acquired along the Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment Central line in June 1981 and April-May 1982 suggest that the development of subsurface turbid plumes and temperature inversions may be associated with the relaxation of winds favorable for upwelling. Wind relaxations and reversals appear to trigger flow field adjustments characterized by sinking of previously upwelled water over the inner and middle shelf and the rapid growth of a barotropic poleward current over the inner shelf. Complexities in the cross-shelf current structure during relaxation may be associated with the formation of the subsurface layers of plankton-rich water and the small temperature anomalies. Renewed upwelling produces a relatively simple, three-layer distribution of suspended particles and the elimination of temperature inversions.", "Ice saturation at or just above the tropopause was frequently observed during the ER-2 vertical profiles over Stavanger (59°N) during the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (AASE). On occasion, ice saturation extended as much as 500 m above the tropopause. Saturation was not observed over Punta Arenas (53°S) during the Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment (AAOE). Saturation extending just above the tropopause was observed at Moffett Field (38°N) in winter but not in summer. The top of a thick cirrus layer at the tropopause will be very strongly cooled, and a thin cloud layer at the tropopause will either be strongly heated or cooled depending on the presence of lower level clouds. Some ER-2 data suggest removal of water and nitrogen species from the tropopause.", "Radio frequency interference observations during the SMAP Validation Experiment 2012 (SMAPVEX12) airborne campaign are reported in this study. The campaign was conducted in Summer 2012 near Winnipeg, Canada with additional flights over Denver, CO. The Passive Active L-Band Sensor (PALS) radiometer of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) was used with a full bandwidth direct sampling receiver (called IBOB) to measure and store data fully resolved in time and frequency. In this paper, an overview of the campaign, hardware details, signal processing, and RFI detection are explained. Finally, properties of the observed RFI and future work are discussed.", "Abstract This paper outlines the processing stream for aerosol retrievals over oceans from the visible and infrared scanner [VIRS; a five-channel radiometer similar to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)] aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, launched in November 1997. Emphasis is on 1) the applying the previously developed AVHRR second-generation aerosol retrieval algorithm to VIRS data to derive an aerosol parameter, indicative of particle size; 2) removing the unwanted “thermal leak” signal in the 1.61-μm channel; 3) giving examples of the first aerosol retrievals from space at this wavelength; and 4) assessing the accuracy of the retrievals with theoretical error analyses and empirical self- and interconsistency checks. Aerosol optical depths τA1 and τA2 are retrieved from reflected solar radiances in VIRS channels 1 and 2 centered at wavelengths λ1 = 0.63 and λ2 = 1.61 μm, using two independent lookup tables...", "Abstract The development and application of the Airborne Radiometer Scanner (ARS), a helicopter-borne multiwavelength radiometer scanner to obtain directional reflectance data over natural Earth targets, is reported. The rationale for the methodology used in the design and a detailed description of the instrument are described. Techniques used to maintain a desired heading in crosswinds without introducing unwanted pitch or roll moments into the platform are included. The system overcomes some of the limitations of previous methods used to characterize surface directional reflectance. Samples of results from a pilot experiment conducted over the alkali flats region of the white Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, are briefly reviewed.", "The microphysical processes in both the melting layer and the warm-rain region of an oceanic mesoscale convective system observed during the Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment (TAMEX) are studied using airborne observations. Two flight cases are used, one flown in the transitional region and the other in the stratiform region. In the melting layer the particle number density decreases by an order of magnitude from the top to the bottom of the layer. This is caused by the sharp increase of particle fall speed as snowflakes melt into rain. The ice water content is higher in the transitional region, thus cooling the environment more efficiently during melting. In the warm-rain region the microphysical process is dominated by coalescence process. Large raindrops are generated and the corresponding median diameter of all raindrops increases by a factor of 2 to 3 from the bottom of the melting layer to the ground level. The breakup process is more efficient in the transitional region.", "During the Subsonic Contrail and Cloud Effect Special Study (SUCCESS) a Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer was deployed at the surface in a zenith observing position. The instrument measured the solar spectral downwelling irradiance between 350 and 2500 nm with 10 nm resolution. From April 12 through April 29 approximately 18000 spectra were acquired, under a variety of meteorological conditions including cloud free, cirrus, Stearns, and cumulonimbus clouds. This study focuses on the effect of cirrus and cirrus contrails on the spectral distribution of solar irradiance at the surface and on inferring cirrus properties from their spectral transmittance. The observations have also proven to be useful for comparing the solar spectral irradiance measurements with model predictions, and in particular, for inferring the amount of solar radiation absorbed in the clear and cloudy atmosphere.", "Abstract A 2-yr (June 1999–June 2001) observation of ocean surface wind speed (SWS) and sea surface temperature (SST) derived from microwave radiometer measurements made by a multifrequency scanning microwave radiometer (MSMR) and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) is compared with direct measurements by Indian Ocean buoys. Also, for the first time SWS and SST values of the same period obtained from 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) have been evaluated with these buoy observations. The SWS and SST are shown to have standard deviations of 1.77 m s−1 and 0.60 K for TMI, 2.30 m s−1 and 2.0 K for MSMR, and 2.59 m s−1 and 0.68 K for ERA-40, respectively. Despite the fact that MSMR has a lower-frequency channel, larger values of bias and standard deviation (STD) are found compared to those of TMI. The performance of SST retrieval during the daytime is found to be better than that at nighttime. The analysis carried out for different seasons has raised an important question as to...", "Knowledge of the underwater light field is fundamental to determining the health of the world's oceans and coastal regions. For decades, traditional remote sensing retrieval methods that rely solely on the spectral intensity of the water-leaving light have provided indicators of marine ecosystem health. As the demand for retrieval accuracy rises, use of the polarized nature of light as an additional remote sensing tool is becoming necessary. For two weeks in December 2015, the NOAA NPP-VIIRS Calibration/Validation cruise continuously observed the polarized radiance of the ocean and the sky using a HyperSAS-POL system. Additionally, a full Stokes imaging polarimetric camera was used to acquire images and videos of the sea surface and sky during stations at coincident angles with HyperSAS-POL. Polarized remote sensing reflectance is computed for all viewing elevations present in the polarization images, and the results are compared to vector radiative transfer calculations.", "We have developed a new concept of empirical calibration scheme for airborne laser scanner (ALS) intensity by means of portable brightness calibration targets, which can be laid out in the flight target area. The accurate radiometric calibration of these targets is based on laboratory measurements with CCD-based laser backscatter instrument and terrestrial laser scanner reference measurements in laboratory and field conditions. We also discuss the extension of this method into the usage of commercially available industrial gravels or other (natural-type) targets available ad hoc. We demonstrate that airborne laser intensity calibration is feasible using this type of targets, but one must take carefully into account the physical parameters related to the experiment and the targets.", "When fresh river water first flows into the salty coastal ocean, the two types of water remain highly stratified. However, the difference in velocity between the river and ocean waters can cause turbulence—chaotic motion that breaks through density barriers and promotes mixing. Understanding the role of turbulence in driving coastal water properties—from temperature to salinity to nutrient load distributions—requires a more complete understanding of the physics of coastal turbulence.", "Experiments have shown that the radioelement content of bedrock is generally reflected by that of overlying till and that areas showing broad regional enrichment of radioelement concentrations are favourable for uranium exploration. Airborne γ-ray spectrometry with equipment having typical sodium iodide detector volumes of 50 L is used to record the natural radiation intensity due to potassium, uranium and thorium by flying grids at ground clearances of about 120 m. γ-Ray spectra are recorded continuously in flight with navigational data all of which is processed off-line to produce maps of radioelement distribution with concentration contours.", "Abstract Observations were made during the Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment in 1969 to evaluate the possibility of determining total precipitation from the change in salinity or temperature at the ocean surface. Salinity-temperature-depth soundings were taken at 3-hr intervals during periods of no rain, and at 5- to 6-min intervals during periods of rain. Analysis of salinity data shows that during periods of no rain, salinity regularly fluctuated by ±0.15‰. Fluctuations of this magnitude are likely to obscure possible salinity depressions due to rainfall. No rainfall-related, long-term depressions of salinity depressions were evident. However, many sharp, short-term depressions of salinity, with duration on the order of 10 to 45 min, were observed during periods of rainfall.", "PRISM is a pushbroom imaging spectrometer currently under development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, intended to address the needs of airborne coastal ocean science research. We describe here the instrument design and the technologies that enable it to achieve its distinguishing characteristics. PRISM covers the 350-1050 nm range with a 3.1 nm sampling and a 33 field of view. The design provides for high signal to noise ratio, high uniformity of response, and low polarization sensitivity. The complete instrument also incorporates two additional wavelength bands at 1240 and 1610 nm in a spot radiometer configuration to aid with atmospheric correction.", "The local monitoring of marine water area contaminations by ground allocation radar will be an actual problem for some considerable time due to the growth in the incidence of such contaminations. Besides this area, the research can be relevant to satellite remote sensing of a marine surface and for studying the hydrodynamic processes in the upper layers of ocean. In this context, the authors present experimental research of the spectral, polarizing and azimuthal features of the S-, Ka- and V-band backscattering by water and petroleum surfaces. The instrumentation and experimental techniques are discussed, while the results of processing experimental data are given.", "Observations from the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) radar altimeter, along with other observations and meteorological products, were used to examine the relationship between ocean dynamics and thermodynamics in the Pacific Ocean.", "The policy regime of ocean is changed from ocean liberty paradigm to ocean management paradigm. Ocean resources have the characteristics of weak excludability and strong rivalry. Therefore, they need rational ocean management so as to curb the tragedy of commons. The important ocean issues and policy regimes today is ocean pollution, coastal management, sea-level rise, fishery, whaling, ocean jurisdictions, deep seabed resources, military security, piracy, ecological environmental security and so on. This paper aims at reviewing these major international ocean issues, the policy regimes for them, and the desirable tasks of ocean policy regimes in the future from the macro perspective of international ocean politics or policy-making.", "By analyzing the optical properties of several important ocean medium,a new method for monitoring oceanic suspended particles is proposed.The method makes use of an airborne lidar and is based on a bio-optical algorithm.The detection model on the concentration of alga Chlorophyll-a and the concentration of suspended sands based on the bio-optical algorithm were proposed.By simulation and computation,it is proved that these two detection models can monitor the concentration of alga Chlorophyll-a and the concentration of suspended sands effectively and could predict the occurrence of red tide.Baed on these two models,oceanic suspended particles monitoring can be realized.", "The micronutrient iron is thought to limit primary production in large regions of the global ocean. Meltwater measurements suggest that the Greenland ice sheet serves as a significant source of potentially bioavailable iron to the surrounding coastal ocean" ]

[ "Lane Limited" ]

[ "Who's Making Love", "Dig Your Own Hole", "Make Me Yours", "Who's Your Daddy?", "Making Your Mind Up", "Make Up Your Mind", "Mind Your Own Business", "bring your own personal computer", "Pick on someone your own caliber", "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes", "their own blood", "On My Own" ]

[ "Is Invader Zim on Hulu? That's a big yes. All 27 episodes of the original series are currently on Hulu, including “The Most Horrible X-Mas Ever.” If Enter the Florpus! has left you craving even more Bloaty's Pizza Hog and Mysterious Mysteries of Strange Mystery, you're covered." ]

[ "Invader Zim movie is invading Netflix in August. Earthlings, prepare to meet your moosey fate. Invader Zim is heading back to Earth, via Netflix. The streaming network announced Tuesday that Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus, an animated movie continuing the Nickelodeon TV show, will premiere on Aug.", "Invader Zim, one of Nickelodeon's most bizarre and beloved animated series from the early 2000s, is back with a new Netflix special: Enter the Florpus. ... Nickelodeon brought back series creator Jhonen Vasquez for Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus nearly 20 years after the original cartoon aired on Nickelodeon.", "Netflix To Take On Disney Plus with Nickelodeon Deal... The partnership has already produced specials like \"Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling\" and \"Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus.\" Up next are specials based on \"The Loud House\" and \"Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,\" Netflix said.", "Nickelodeon previously brought \"Rocko's Modern Life,\" and \"Invader Zim\" to Netflix. The company is currently in the works of bringing specials based on \"The Loud House and \"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles\" to Netflix. The announcement comes just days after Disney launched its own streaming service, Disney Plus.", "Hulu has an amazing collection of films and television shows and the platform just keeps making smart additions all the time, in order to stay ahead of the competitors. Though 'Hacksaw Ridge' is not on Hulu, you can check out 'Grave of the Fireflies'. Admittedly, it is a very different kind of war movie.", "Watch Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) on Hulu either streaming online or on your favorite device. It's easy to watch Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) streaming online if you have either the Hulu basic or the Hulu Premium. ... HBO Max now has Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) streaming with a subscription.", "[\"Dr. Seuss' the Grinch (2018) ... \", 'Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) PG | 112 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy. ... ', 'Mary Poppins Returns (2018) PG | 130 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy. ... ', 'Dumbo (2019) ... ', 'Toy Story 4 (2019) ... ', 'The Lion King (2019) ... ', 'Frozen II (2019) ... ', 'Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus (2019 TV Movie)']", "Start watching Enemy of the State Add HBO Max™ to any Hulu plan for an additional $14.99/month.", "Hoarseness and/or a chronic cough (caused by the cancer invading the laryngeal nerves) Back pain (caused by the cancer invading the pericardium or mediastinum) Hypercalcemia and bone pain (caused by the cancer invading the bones) Respiratory fistulas, which can, in turn, cause a chronic cough and/or fever.", "['\"Harlots\" — 97% Liam Daniel / Hulu. Critics score: 97.', '\"Ramy\" — 97% Hulu. Critics score: 97. ... ', '\"Difficult People\" — 96% Hulu. ... ', '\"Mrs. America\" — 95% ... ', '\"The Wrong Mans\" — 95% Hulu. ... ', '\"Pen15\" — 93% Hulu\\'s \"Pen15\" Hulu. ... ', '\"Looking for Alaska\" — 92% Hulu. ... ', '\"Casual\" — 92% Hulu. ... ']", "Dib and Zim's Relationship. Dib and Zim are usually portrayed as mortal enemies, sometimes as rivals, and occasionally reluctant allies. As the series progresses, they both develop a grudging respect for the other.", "Under their existing agreement, Hulu and Funimation continue to be the only platforms in the U.S. to stream all subbed and dubbed episodes of top anime shows including “Attack on Titan” (pictured above), “My Hero Academia” and “Tokyo Ghoul.”", "' season 1 premiered on ITV2 on October 8, 2019 and wrapped up with its sixth and final episode on November 12, 2019. The series released on Hulu on October 25, 2019. This is the second time that ITV and Hulu have collaborated on the drama series. ... If renewed, 'Zomboat' season 2 can release sometime in October 2020.", "Watch Menace II Society on Hulu either streaming online or on your favorite device. ... HBO Max now has Menace II Society streaming with a subscription.", "['1 A Very Brady Christmas. Hulu. hulu.com. ... ', '2 A Dog for Christmas. Hulu. hulu.com. ... ', '3 The Spirit of Christmas. Hulu. hulu.com. ... ', \"4 Daddy's Home 2. Hulu. hulu.com. ... \", '5 Prancer. Hulu. ... ', '6 Naughty & Nice. Hulu. ... ', '7 Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas. Hulu. ... ', '8 Home for the Holidays. Hulu.']", "In a post on its official blog, the company confirmed that full seasons of Cartoon Network's Adventure Time, Dexter's Laboratory, Ben 10 and Regular Show, as well as Adult Swim hits Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken and The Venture Bros. will be available only on Hulu, starting May 1.", "'Mr. Robot' Season 4 Will Be Available to Stream on Hulu Live. ... Robot Season 4 on Hulu. But it's only available if you have Hulu Live, which has a monthly price on top of your Hulu subscription.", "[\"The Handmaid's Tale. Hulu. 3 seasons, 36 episodes | IMDb: 8.5/10. ... \", 'Castle Rock. Hulu. 2 seasons, 20 episodes | IMDb: 7.7/10. ... ', 'Casual. Hulu. 4 seasons, 44 episodes | IMDb: 7.5/10. ... ', 'The Act. Hulu. 1 season, 8 episodes | IMDb: 8/10. ... ', 'PEN15. Hulu. ... ', 'Ramy. Hulu. ... ', 'Letterkenny. Hulu. ... ', 'Catch 22. HULU.']", "Hulu is the exclusive provider of the second season of One-Punch Man . The streaming service is offering a free-trial for the first month and has many different options for monthly rates.", "Hulu has also acquired exclusive streaming rights to Bob's Burgers, Family Guy, Futurama, American Dad and The Cleveland Show.", "Yes, this is part of the Hulu service and anyone who subscribes to a Hulu streaming plan will be able to access FX on Hulu within their usual Hulu interface. There is no additional charge for the FX on Hulu content.", "No, not yet. However, Season 1 and Season 2 are both available to stream on Hulu. Historically, the spy thriller has debuted on Hulu at the end of every year. Season 1 premiered in April 2018 on AMC and BBC America and was then available to stream on Hulu in December that year.", "Hulu offers 39 episodes of Mork & Mindy to anyone who wants to watch the 1970s sitcom about an alien from the Planet Ork whose manic energy and rapid patter made him sound a lot like, well, Robin Williams.", "Britain has invaded all but 22 countries. Of the current 200 nations in the world, the British have invaded all but 22 of them. The lucky 22 include Sweden, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Bolivia, and Belarus. The full analysis is available in Laycock's book, All the Countries We've Ever Invaded.", "What it means by invasion kills, is actually that it wants us to kill invaders! When playing Gambit, members of the other team can invade your game, trying to kill you and interfere with your progress. To progress with this quest, we need to kill five of these invaders.", "Notorious director Uwe Boll's adaptation of House of the Dead and its sequel, House of the Dead 2, will depart Hulu on Sept. 30. On the same day, Silent Hill will leave Hulu as well and Resident Evil will be unavailable to stream on HBO.", "Hulu and Hulu + Live TV subscribers will see some ads while streaming shows and movies in the Hulu streaming library, while Hulu (No Ads) and Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV subscribers can watch those same videos without any interruptions.", "'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is not on Hulu, but you can check out 'Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness. ' The series takes us to a fantastic world accentuated by vibrant visuals.", "DCIS means the cancer is still contained in the milk duct and has not invaded any other area. IDC is cancer that began growing in the duct and is invading the surrounding tissue.", "India is sometimes pointed out as the world's most invaded country. Although the exact answer is up for debate, there are compelling reasons to believe that India may just be the most invaded country of all time. Foreigners have invaded the state over 200 times.", "Hulu alone is not publicly traded. But Disney is the controlling owner of Hulu, and profits made by Hulu go straight into their balance sheets. If you like to buy Hulu stocks, then you can do this by buying Disney stocks.", "You can watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas via Hulu with an active subscription to Hulu + Live TV, which offers NBC in its package. Hulu + Live TV offers a seven-day free trial to new subscribers." ]

[ "No touching butts till you graduate from school" ]

[ "That was the most american thing you could have said", "What have people asked you?", "Don't you think it'd depress people more to think about what they could have accomplished if they weren't depressed?", "Most of what people say politicians have said", "Do you still have her number? s/" ]

[ "Sa pamamagitan ng Facebook account ng Citizen Jake, agad-agad na sinagot ng beteranong direktor na si Mike de Leon ang mga pahayag ni Atom Araullo sa kanyang FB. Sa takbo ng usapin, lalo ngang tumindi ang sigalot, giyera sa pagitan ng dalawa, na nagsimula dahil sa pelikulang Citizen Jake.\nHeto ang sagot ni Direk Mike:\n“Thank you for breaking your silence, Atom. Many of the things you said are true – that I am a deeply troubled person, I accept that. I come from a c­razy rich family anyway.\n“But let me just add that you forgot to mention a few important events. I will mention just one. When we were shooting the last sequence with Teroy, you unexpectedly­ ignored my direction and did something that was not rehearsed nor agreed upon.\n“Many people were witness to this. The following day, I told you that never in my career as a director has any actor disrespected me as much as you did. Then I told you that if you wanted to direct yourself, then by all means do it. You can overact all you want.\n“I will just shoot whatever you wish to do and direct the other actors in the scene. Then you went into a meandering explanation about why you did it without really saying anything, not even apologizing.\n“Then I said “Bakit ganyan ka, bakit ba ang yabang mo? Bakit ba ang tingin mo sa sa­rili mo you’re better than everyone else.” And you said: “No one has ever told me that before.” So I concluded­ by saying “Well, it’s about time somebody did. As an actor, you’re ok pero marami ka pang kakaining bigas.” I also told you in one my earlier “tirades­” that I find that you have no empathy, so how can you be a journalist if you lack this basic ability to understand people’s problems (not mine). Isn’t journalism about the story, not the journalist? But in your case, nobody is more important to Atom Araullo than Atom Araullo. And you say you cringe at bein­g called a celebrity, a star. How hypocritical. Don’t bother to cringe anymore because you reve­l in it. You make commercials now and you exploited the Marawi bakwit by making that offensive commercial featuring yourself, monologuing like Citizen Jake, all under the sponsorship of McDo.\n“You consented to a ma­gazine article whose title was “AA (abbreviation) promises to be the greatest storyteller of this generation” e wala ka pa namang real accomplishments except being the famous boy in the rain who braved the wrath of Yolanda, an unrelatable documentary on climate change shot in Scandinavia, and of course, Umagang Kay Ganda.\n“I may have my demons to deal with but you have yours too, my friend. So accept that you are a celebrity and don’t use the noble profession of journalism to hide your inadequacies as a human being. You know how your performance in Citizen Jake was enhanced and ‘fixed’ in the editing. That I had to use 2 cameras all the time in anticipation of this. That it was how the film was put together that made you look good. You won’t want me to upload your most horribly acted scenes, and the one that had my team rolling in laughter everytime they saw it. I tried to keep that scene by modifying the editing flow but I was overruled by my team who told me in no uncertain terms that that scene had to go.” – Mike De Leon." ]

[ "The council names filmmakers and actors who won in various international festivals in 2017\nPublished 11:54 AM, February 03, 2018\nMANILA, Philippines – The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has announced their list of Film Ambassadors, recognizing Filipino filmmakers and actors who have won various international festivals in 2017.\nThe Film Ambassadors will be celebrated at the FDCP Film Ambassadors’ Night on February 9 at Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City.\nThe FDCP will also name the A-Lister winners from the top international film festivals, along with the recipients of the Camera Obscura Artistic Excellence Award, the highest recognition given by the FDCP for outstanding members of the film industry.\nPrevious Camera Obscura awardees include Directors Brillante Mendoza and Lav Diaz, and actors Jaclyn Jose, Allen Dizon, and Teri Malvar.\nHere is a list of the FDCP Film Ambassadors:\nFilm Documentary\nSunday Beauty Queen by Baby Ruth Villarama\nTwo Way Jesus by Jet Leyco\nTV Documentary\nWarmer by Atom Araullo\nFront Row: Bata sa Bintana produced by JC Rubio of GMA Network\nReel Time: Maling Akala produced by Jayson Bernard Santos of GMA Network\nReporter’s Notebook: Pasan-Pasang Pangarap produced by Ian Simbulan of GMA Network\nFilm Shorts\nImago by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez\nFatima Marie Torres and the Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25 by Carlo Francisco Manatad\nJodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month by Carlo Francisco Manatad\nDo I Have Boobs Now? by Joella Cabalu and Milena Salazar\nContestant #4 directed by Jared Joven and Kaj Palanca\nDiliman by TJ Collanto\nSupot by Phil Giordano\nMaria by JP Habac\nDirectors\nLav Diaz\nLouie Ignacio\nMikhail Red\nRaymund Ribay Gutierrez\nSheron Dayoc\nSari Dalena and Kiri Dalena\nFritz Silorio\nBrillante Mendoza\nFull length Film\nAng Araw Sa Likod Mo by Dominic Carlo P. Nuesa\nArea by Louie Ignacio\nLaut by Louie Ignacio\nSinging in Graveyards by Bradley Liew\nBaboy Halas by Bagane Fiola\nIgnacio de Loyola by Paolo Dy\nTale of the Lost Boys by Joselito Altarejos\nWomen of the Weeping River by Sheron R. Dayoc\nPatay Na Si Hesus by Victor Kaiba Villanueva\n2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten by Petersen Vargas\n1st Sem by Allan Michael Ibañez and Dexter Paglinawan Hemedez\nAng Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left) by Lav Diaz\nBirdshot by Mikhail Red\nDagsin (Gravity) by Atom Magadia\nImbisibol by Lawrence Fajardo\nPaglipay by Zig Dulay\nHuramentado (Oath to Die) by Noriel Jarito\nPitong Kabang Palay by Maricel Cabrera-Cariaga\nPamilya Ordinaryo by Eduardo Roy Jr.\nPipo by Richard Legaspi\nBaka Bukas by Samantha Lee\nAcross the Crescent Moon by Baby Nebrida\nSikreto sa Dilim by Mike Magat and Ramon Roxas\nActors\nGabby Concepcion (TV), Ika-6 Na Utos\nMary Joy Apostol, Birdshot\nLotlot de Leon, 1st Sem\nAngel Locsin, Everything About Her\nAi Ai Delas Alas, Area\nAna Capri, Laut\nHasmin Killip, Pamilya Ordinaryo\nRonwaldo Martin, Pamilya Ordinaryo\nIza Calzado, Bliss\nCharo Santos-Concio, Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left)\nAnna Luna, Maestra\nLaila Ulao, Women of the Weeping River\nArnold Reyes, Birdshot\nTommy Abuel, Dagsin\nRicky Davao, Dayang Asu\nMatteo Guidicello, Dina Bonnevie, Sandy Andolong, Joem Bascon, Across The Crescent Moon\nCarlos Morales, Rolyo\nLeon Miguel, Galit Na Aso\nChristopher de Leon\n– Rappler.com", "Brokerage abbreviations: CBCBV = Coldwell Banker Commercial Brokers of the Valley; K&C = Keegan & Coppin Co. Inc./Oncor International; PC = Premier Commercial\nSend commercial real estate transactions to transactions@busjrnl.com . A compilation for the last 12 months is available for $45 by calling 707-521-5270.\nHere are the latest business leads from commercial real estate transactions in Sonoma, Solano, Marin and Napa counties.\nLEASES: square footage at address, city; property type; tenant; procuring agent; owner; listing agent; deal date (occupancy/effective date)\nNAPA COUNTY\n2,000sf at 2022 Redwood Road, Napa; retail; STEM Academy; Cathy D’Angelo Holmes & Michael Moffett of CBCBV; Evelyn Pocekay Survivor’s Trust; Cathy D’Angelo Holmes & Michael Moffett of CBCBV; April 1\n680sf at 975 Washington St., Napa; office; Napa Wine Cellar, Inc.; Michael Moffett & Cathy D’Angelo Holmes of CBCBV; Joseph Keebler & David Meyers; Michael Moffett & Cathy D’Angelo Holmes of CBCBV; April 1\n25,000sf at 1264 Apollo Way, Santa Rosa; industrial; DS Services of America, Inc.; na; Santa Rosa Corporate Partners, LLC; Mike Flitner of K&C; Jan. 1\nSONOMA COUNTY\n4,212sf at 706 Portal St., #C, Cotati; industrial; Quality Conservation Services; Jim Sartain & Mike Flitner of K&C; BCGS Investments, LLC; Jim Sartain of K&C; March 12\n3,472sf at 5420 State Farm Drive, #A, Rohnert Park; office; Amani Day Services; Joel Jaman of K&C; 289 Woodland LLC; na; Feb. 23\n2,050sf at 3775 Brickway Blvd., #200, Santa Rosa; office; The Bradley Company; Shaw Johnson of K&C; Stephen & Alyssa Flynn; Shawn Johnson & Peter Briceño of K&C; Jan. 29\n1,271sf at 3633 Regional Parkway, #120, Santa Rosa; industrial, extension; Schram Construction; Mike Flitner & Shawn Johnson of K&C; Jerry & Barbara Smyth; Mike Flitner & Rhonda Deringer of K&C; Feb. 27\n268sf at 6761 Sebastopol Ave., #500, Sebastopol; retail; Beijaflor Botanicals; Gina Motto-Ros of K&C; Valhaus, LP; na; Feb. 20\n220sf at 6575 Oakmont Drive, #3, Santa Rosa; office; Michael Halem; Doug Braik of K&C; Oakmont Properties SR, LLC; na; March 21\nSALES: square footage at address, city; property type; buyer; procuring agent; seller; listing agent; close of escrow; value\nMARIN COUNTY\n62,928sf at 899 Northgate Drive, San Rafael; office; Professional Investors 38, LLC; na; Line Leader III, LLC & Line Leader IV, LLC & Seagate Northgate Investors, LLC; na; Feb. 28; $18,900,000\n19,684sf at 3773 Redwood Highway, San Rafael; industrial; Oakmont of San Rafael, LLC; na; The Ziedrich Family Revocable Living Trust; na; Feb. 15; $4,350,000\n7,082sf at 496 B St. & 424 Woodland Ave., San Rafael; office (5,282sf) & commercial (1,800sf); Garbarino Investments, LP; na; Young Marin Commercial, LLC; Jerry Suyderhoud of NKF; Feb. 21; $2,250,000\n5,097sf at 526-536 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo; retail; The Kahn Family Trust; Vesa Becam & Matt Storms of K&C; The Louise W. Loeber Trust; na; April 4; $1,811,500\n5,000sf at 200 Caledonia St., Sausalito; Miracle Market, LLC; na; Merrill-Switzer Trust & Molly Merrill Sterling Trust; na; Feb. 15; $2,225,000\nSOLANO COUNTY\n332,571sf at 5028 Ellsworth Road, Vacaville; multifamily (313 units, North Pointe Apartments); MG North Point Apartments, LLC & MGF North Pointe Apartments ABC CDP, LLC & MG North Pointe Apartments HRP, LLC; na; 6801 Leisure Town Road Apartments Investors, LLC; na; March 9; $85,500,000\n30,950sf at 473 Edison Court (5005 Fulton Drive), Fairfield; industrial, warehouse; Fernando S. Reyes & Fernando S. Aguilar; na; Peter I.A. Bosco Trust, Patricia M. Bosco Trust & Testamentary Trust Exemption Trust; na; March 8; $3,600,000\n11,381sf at 106 Plaza Drive, Vallejo; retail; Naomi B. Sobocinski 2013 Revocable Trust; na; Morgan Holdings, LLC; na; Feb. 1; $6,675,000", "Article Tools Font size – + Share This\nHoly Redeemer’s Corinne Smith competes in the 200 IM event at Tuesday’s swimming meet against Wyoming Area, Feb. 14, 2017.Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer\nAt Holy Redeemer, Emily Easton (200 free, 100 fly) and Emily Blaum (50 free, 100 free) won a pair of individual events and helped contribute to a sweep of the relays as the Holy Redeemer girls cruised by Wyoming Area on Tuesday in WVC swimming and diving. McKenna Zeller added a win and second-place finish for the Royals, who improved to 8-2.\nIn boys competition, Colton Smith, Nick Dubinski and Adam Mahler all had a pair of individual wins as Redeemer rolled to a win. Mahler set a school record in the 500 free.\nGirls: Holy Redeemer 131, Wyoming Area 45\n200 medley relay: 1. Holy Redeemer (Zeller, Walting, Smith, Blaum) 1:55.69; 2. Holy Redeemer; 3. Wyoming Area. 200 free: 1. Emily Easton (HR) 2:08.91; 2. Margaret Walting (HR): 3. Becca Dymond (WA). 200 IM: 1. Corinne Smith (HR) 2:33.25; 2. Emily Duris (HR); 3. Abby Shorts (HR). 50 free: 1. Emily Blaum (HR) 26.15; 2. Mackenzie Pegg (WA); 3. Breanna Cannell (WA). Diving: 1. Bailey Flannery (HR) 188.50 points; 2. Hailey Yakimowicz (HR); 3. Mary Strunk (HR). 100 fly: 1. Emily Easton (HR) 1:09.69; 2. McKenna Zeller (HR); 3. Leah Moore (WA). 100 free: 1. Emily Blaum (HR) 57.18; 2. Corinne Smith (HR); 3. Mackenzie Pegg (WA). 500 free: 1. Kayla Kruk (HR) 5:45.75; 2. Becca Dymond (WA); 3. Marianna McHugh (WA). 200 free relay: 1. Holy Redeemer (Shorts, Zeller, Easton, Barnak) 2:04.19; 2. Holy Redeemer; 3. Wyoming Area. 100 back: 1. McKenna Zeller (HR) 1:05.31; 2. Emily Duris (HR); 3. Bella Greer (HR). 100 breast: 1. Margaret Walting (HR) 1:09.85; 2. Kayla Kruk (HR); 3. Sydni Johnson (WA). 400 free relay: 1. Holy Redeemer (Blaum, Kruk, Duris, Walting).\nBoys: Holy Redeemer 123, Wyoming Area 35\n200 medley relay: 1. Holy Redeemer (Barnak, Dubinski, Jones, Engle) 1:55.56; 2. Holy Redeemer; 3. Wyoming Area. 200 free: 1. Nick Dubinski (HR) 2:04.05; 2. Jared Barnak (HR); 3. Steven Dymond (WA). 200 IM: 1. Colton Smith (HR) 2:20.12; 2. Mike Sankey (HR) 3. Ryan Sankey (HR). 50 free: 1. Austin Alder 24.35 (WA); 2. Tom Engle (HR); 3. Alex Chronowski (WA). 100 fly: 1. Mike Williams (HR) 1:09.03; 2. Dan Jones (HR) 1:15.08; 3. Seth White (WA). 100 free: 1. Colton Smith (HR) 54.82; 2. Austin Alder (WA) 3. Tom Engle (HR). 500 free: 1. Adam Mahler (HR) 4:55.41 (school record); 2. Mike Williams (HR); 3. Mike Sankey (HR). 200 free relay: 1. Holy Redeemer (Dubinski, Larralde, Jones, Engle) 1:46.34; 2. Wyoming Area; 3. Holy Redeemer. 100 back: 1. Nick Dubinski (HR) 1:04.30; 2. Jared Barnak (HR); 3. Seth White (WA). 100 breast: 1. Adam Mahler (HR) 1:07.87; 2. Alex Larralde (HR); 3. Brandyn Rivas (HR). 400 free relay: 1 Holy Redeemer (Smith, Barnak, Larralde, Sankey) 4:20.48; 2. Holy Redeemer.\nBean, Kupsky lead Sem\nAt Wyoming Seminary, Matt Bean and Tara Kupsky broke pool records, leading the Blue Knights to a sweep over Nanticoke Area\nKupsky set the top mark in the 500 free at 5:12.06.\nBean broke the pool and school record in the 100 back at 54.09. Tim Adams, of Bishop Hoban, had held the previous mark since 1986.\nGirls: Wyoming Seminary 76, Nanticoke Area 17\n200 medley relay: 1. Wyoming Seminary (Kishbaugh, T. Kupsky, Thier, Pyke) 2:05.30; 2. Wyoming Seminary; 3. Nanticoke Area. 200 free: 1. Ava Baur (Sem) 2:10.47; 2. Jess Kishbaugh (Sem); 3. Tessa Stegura (NA). 200 IM: 1. Madi Federici (Sem) 2:24.84; 2. Nicole Rose Lukesh (Sem); 3. Caitlin Lehman (NA). 50 free: 1. Kaylee Sminkey (Sem) 29.54; 2. Ashleigh Pyke (Sem); 3. Leandra Ramos (NA). 100 fly: 1. Nicole Rose Lukesh (Sem) 1:04.60; 2. Deanna Wadzin (NA); 3. Kaylee Sminkey (Sem). 100 free: 1. Kylee Kolbicka (Sem) 56.63; 2. Leandra Ramos (NA); 3. Ashleigh Pyke (Sem). 500 free: 1. Tara Kupsky (Sem) 5:12.06; 2. Haley Thier (Sem); 3. Tessa Stegura (NA). 200 free relay: 1. Wyoming Seminary (Kolbicka, Baur, A. Kupsky, T. Kupsky) 1:42.43; 2. Wyoming Seminary; 3. Hanover Area. 100 back: 1. April Kupsky (Sem) 1:03.89; 2. Deanna Wadzin (NA). 100 breast: 1. Haley Thier (Sem) 1:10.31; 2. April Kupsky (Sem); 3. Caitlin Lehman (NA). 400 free relay: 1. Wyoming Seminary (Snow, T. Kupsky, Lukesh, Sminkey) 4:30.94; 2. Wyoming Seminary; 3. Nanticoke Area.\nBoys: Wyoming Seminary 71, Nanticoke Area 20\n200 medley relay: 1. Wyoming Seminary (Bean, Rico, Pall, Zaneski) 1:39.75; 2. Wyoming Seminary; 3. Nanticoke Area. 200 free: 1. Julian Homa (NA) 2:18.77; 2. Ameen Bader (Sem). 200 IM: 1. Yonah Wasik (Sem) 2:10.51; 2. Chris Cabonilas (NA); 3. Hector Panecatl (NA). 50 free: 1. Stan Zaneski (Sem) 22.09; 2. Connor DiLeo (Sem); 3. Will Kaufman (NA). 100 fly: 1. Marcos Rico (Sem) 53.18; 2. Bill Chen (Sem). 100 free: 1. Stan Zaneski (Sem) 49.96; 2. Connor DiLeo (Sem); Will Kaufman (NA). 500 free: 1. Garrett Pall (Sem) 5:09.60; 2. Rodriko Salas-Warner (Sem); 3. Hector Panecatl (NA). 200 free relay: 1. Wyoming Seminary (Zaneski, DiLeo, de Luna, Rico) 1:34.74; 2. Hanover Area; 3. Wyoming Seminary. 100 back: 1. Matt Bean (Sem) 54.09; 2. Nathan Tindell (Sem); 3. Julian Homa (NA). 100 breast: 1. Chris Cabonilas (NA) 1:05.47; 2. Todd Zhong (Sem); 3. Charlie Wright (Sem). 400 free relay: 1. Wyoming Seminary (DiLeo, Pall, Wasik, Bean) 3:37.55; 2. Wyoming Seminary.\nBulldogs cruise\nAt Berwick, Becca Decker (200 free, 100 free), Kylie Levan (50 free, 100 back) and Sydney Lloyd (100 fly, 100 breast) picked up two individual victories and teamed up with Mia Doll for two relay wins in the Bulldogs’ girls victory.\nIn a boys exhibition, Berwick’s Dyllan Weaver won the 100 fly and 100 back.\nGirls: Berwick 119, Meyers 42\n200 medley relay: 1. Berwick (Turowski, Clark, Force, Canouse), 2:44.49; 2. Meyers. 200 free: 1. Becca Decker (Ber), 2:28.92; 2. Olivia Mowery (Ber); 3. Guadalupe Guererro (Mey). 200 IM: 1. Mia Doll (Ber), 2:52.50; 2. Makayla Force (Ber); 3. Felicia Canouse (Ber). 50 free: 1. Kylie Levan (Ber), 29.96; 2. Abigail Clark (Ber); 3. Chloe Delp (Mey). 100 fly: 1. Sydney Lloyd (Ber), 1:12.02; 2. Makayla Force (Ber); 3. Felicia Canouse (Ber). 100 free: 1. Becca Decker (Ber), 1:07.22; 2. Mia Doll (Ber); 3. Victoria Collum (Mey). 500 free: 1. Courtney Turowski (Ber), 5:48.41; 2. Lindsey McManus (Mey); 3. Guadalupe Guererro (Mey). 200 free relay: 1. Berwick (Levan, Lloyd, Doll, Decker), 2:04.75; 2. Berwick; 3. Meyers. 100 back: 1. Kylie Levan (Ber), 1:19.50; 2. Courtney Turowski (Ber); 3. Chloe Delp (Mey). 100 breast: 1. Sydney Lloyd (Ber), 1:26.88; 2. Abigail Clark (Ber); 3. Victoria Collum (Mey). 400 free relay: 1. Berwick (Doll, Levan, Lloyd, Decker), 4:49.22; 2. Berwick; 3. Meyers.\nBoys: No scoring (exhibition)\n200 free: 1. James Langan (Mey), 2:32.17; 2. Jacob Yacuboski (Ber); 3. Colin Hill (Ber). 200 IM: 1. Jake Demler (Ber), 2:41.97; 2. Alex Hess (Ber). 50 free: 1. Chris Michael (Ber), 25.35; 2. Forest Nguyen (Mey); 3. Gabe Makar (Ber). 100 fly: 1. Dyllan Weaver (Ber), 1:12.76; 2. James Langan (Mey); 3. Brandon O’Kane (Ber). 100 free: 1. Gabe Makar (Ber), 1:15.00; 2. Matt Gilbert (Ber); 3. Wilson Corcino (Mey). 500 free: 1. Forest Nguyen (Mey), 5:27.80; 2. Jacob Yacuboski (Ber); 3. Ezio Valeri (Ber). 100 back: 1. Dyllan Weaver (Ber), 1:16.14; 2. Jake Demler (Ber); 3. Matt Gilbert (Ber). 100 breast: 1. Chris Michael (Ber), 1:13.33; 2. Jacob Schultz (Mey); 3. Alex Hess (Ber).", "PLUS: Stage mom irks production staff\nDirector Neal “Buboy” Tan admits he did a “guerilla style” of filmmaking when he shot the movie “Balatkayo” in Singapore and Dubai.\nAdvertisements\nThey had no permit to shoot so there was always the danger of getting accosted by the police. Happily no such incident happened.\n“We just pretended to be tourists who are just sight-seeing but in truth we were shooting a film,” Direk Buboy said in a recent interview. “We did what we can, given the situation. Buti na lang hindi kami nasita ng pulis kahit we were filming in public places.”\nBut the movie, with a script written by box-office director/writer Jason Paul Laxamana, is not a travelogue.\n“We have a very good script about the plight of OFWs whose lives are affected because they are away from their families. In the movie, Aiko Melendez and Polo Ravales play a couple whose lives were disturbed after their son [played by James Robert]gets involved in a sex video scandal which goes viral,” he expounded.\nDirek Buboy praised his stars, especially Aiko whom he is working with for the first time. “It is a different Aiko that you will see in the movie. Ang husay-husay niya,” he said.\n“Balatkayo” also stars Nathalie Hart and Rico Barrera. It opens in theaters on October 11.\n* * *\nGUESS WHO? The mother of a young actress reportedly loves throwing her weight around making things a little difficult to the consternation of the production staff.\nIn the shoot of a new movie that her daughter is doing, the mother complained why her daughter was asked to report early when the big scene was to be shot later in the afternoon.\nThe staff explained to the mother that her daughter had to rehearse for the big scene which was a dance number. While her daughter dances very well, she had to do the number with se­veral other dan­cers. Naturally, the rehearsal was required to perfect the routines so there won’t be any problem when the cameras started to grind.\nUpon hearing this, the mother shut her mouth. The daughter expressed the same complaint when she arrived – why ask her to come early for a scene to be shot later in the day. The staff had to explain all over again that she needed to rehearse to perfect the steps together with the rest of the dancers. Or else, the scene would turn out as comedic if and when the cameras catch that the scene was done on the spot without rehearsals.\nThe young actress had no choice but to rehearse, or get scolded by the director if the dance number does not come out well.\n* * *\nAi-Ai delas Alas has worked for the first time with award-winning director Joel Lamangan in CineKo Productions’ comedy movie “Bes and the Beshies” which will hit cinemas on October 18.\nThe comedy queen said she had a hard time working with Direk Joel who is known to demand only the best from his actors, but it was an experience that Ai-Ai would forever cherish.\n“Direk Joel is a perfectionist. There were some scenes that we needed to rehearse several times to get it right. He’d ask for a retake until we get the comic timing that he wants. Alam ko ang timing ko sa comedy pero dahil marami kaming eksena, minsan ang tingin ni Direk Joel, kulang sa timing kaya di masyadong effective ang comedy so we had to do it again” said Ai-Ai at the movie’s recent mediacon.\nPlaying the other leads in the movie are Zsa Zsa Padilla, Carmi Martin and Beauty Gonzales.\nAccording to Ai-Ai, she was able to play her role as a mother who would do everything for her family. Like her character, Ai-Ai went through a lot of challenges and hardships in showbiz before hitting the big time. That’s why she said her role in Bes and the Beshies is very true-to-life, dealing with relationship issues.", "Navy: Jets will be modified as it determines oxygen problem\nA fleet of U.S. Navy training jets will fly again after oxygen problems grounded the planes for more than a week.\nVice Adm. Mike Shoemaker said in a statement April 15 that T-45C aircraft will resume flights as early as Monday.\nInstructors and students in the two-seat trainers will wear modified masks. They will also fly below 10,000 feet to avoid use of on-board oxygen generating systems.\nThe changes allow training to continue while the Navy determines what’s causing a lack of oxygen in some cockpits. Shoemaker said the challenge is complex but remains “our top safety priority.” “\nThe Navy operates nearly 200 of the training planes at three naval air stations in the Southern U.S. They are NAS Meridian in Mississippi, NAS Kingsville in Texas and NAS Pensacola in Florida. AP\nU.S. launches qualification tests for upgraded nuclear bomb\nScientists at Sandia National Laboratories are claiming success with the first in a new series of test flights that are part of an effort to upgrade one of the nuclear weapons that has been in the U.S. arsenal for decades.\nAn F-16 from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., dropped an inert B61-12 bomb over the Nevada desert last month to test the weapon’s non-nuclear functions as well as the plane’s ability to carry the weapon.\nWith a puff of dust, the mock bomb landed in a dry lake bed at the Tonopah Test Range.\nScientists are planning to spend months analyzing the data gathered from the test.\nOfficials say the first production unit of the B61-12, developed under what is called the Life Extension Program, is scheduled to be completed in 2020. AP\nNext-generation aircraft carrier: builder’s sea trials done\nA shipbuilder says the USS Gerald R. Ford, the first of the Navy’s next generation of aircraft carriers, has completed the builder’s sea trials.\nRolf Bartschi is Newport News Shipbuilding’s vice president for the Ford’s construction. He told The Virginian-Pilot that the carrier spent a week at sea undergoing tests of its systems with Navy representatives aboard. Those trials concluded April 14, he added in a statement.\nConstruction on the $12.9 billion carrier began in 2009, meeting with cost overruns and delays. The carrier was supposed to have been completed by September 2015 for $10.5 billion. But issues arose with the Ford’s advanced systems and technology, including aircraft landing equipment and power generration.\nThe shipbuilder says the Ford next must undergo acceptance trials by the Navy prior to delivery. AP\nAirplane manufacturer ATR signs 20-aircraft deal with Iran\nEuropean airplane manufacturer ATR says it has signed a deal with Iran Air for 20 aircraft with an option for 20 more.\nATR spokesman David Vargas confirmed the deal for the 20 ATR-600s, a twin-propeller aircraft, were signed April 13. He declined to offer a value for the deal.\nThe deal comes on the back of the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers, which saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.\nThat deal allowed airplane manufacturers to rush into the Iranian market. Already, Chicago-based Boeing Co. and its European rival Airbus have signed multi-billion-dollar deals with Iran.\nU.S. politicians have expressed concern about the airplane sales to Iran and President Donald Trump remains skeptical of the atomic accord overall. AP", "NA Piarsaigh bid for a sixth successive Limerick Premier U-21 Hurling title this Tuesday evening.\nThe all-conquering Caherdavin men play Doon in the final of the Mint Catering sponsored championship. Throw-in is 7.30.\nThis evening’s final will be the third successive decider for this pairing.\nDoon are bidding to end the monopoly of Na Piarsaigh and Kilmallock in the premier U-21 grade. The duo won the last 11 title between them.\nDoon, back in 2005, were the last club to win this title, outside of Na Piarsaigh and Kilmallock.\nThis Tuesday evening, Na Piarsaigh will be appearing in their eighth successive final – losing in 2011 in Kilmallock but winning all others.\nIn total, the city club have 11 titles at this grade, while Doon have four.\nNa Piarsaigh will be hoping that Peter Casey will line-out. The inter-county man missed Limerick’s Allianz Hurling League semi final defeat to Galway on Sunday with a foot injury.\nOthers key to Na Piarsaigh are Ronan Lynch, Thomas Grimes, Conor Boylan, Mike Andrews and Kieran Daly.\nDoon will look to Barry Murphy, Eoghan McNamara, Thomas Hayes and Shane O’Connell.\nThree years ago at minor level, Na Piarsaigh were beaten in the county final, after a replay, by Ahane.\nElsewhere in the U-21 grade, on Bank Holiday Monday, Killeedy-Tournafulla were crowned county U-21 ‘A’ hurling champions with a 1-18 to 0-16 win over Grange.\nPaudie Aherne led the way with 0-13 (nine from play) for the west Limerick amalgamation in their five point win over Grange - a team back-boned with Bruff players, with two Fedamore men in their panel.", "Share:\nISLAMABAD - As many as five bigwigs of Pakistani politics including two former prime ministers and two veterans of last eight general elections since 1985 are contesting the 2018 general election in the twin districts of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.\nThese five bigwigs include former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-PM Raja Pervez Ashraf, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan. These five bigwigs have remained influential on the horizon of the country’s politics in one way or the other.\nOn the top of the list is the disgruntled PML0N leader and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who is a veteran of the last eight general elections since 1985 and has won all. Nisar, this time around, is contesting the July 25 election as an independent candidate from Rawalpindi’s two National Assembly constituencies (NA-59 and NA-63) and two Punjab Assembly’s constituencies. He is not only facing two candidates of his former party, Raja Qamarul Islam in NA-59 and Sardar Mumtaz in NA-63 but also PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar Khan in both these constituencies. He is contesting one of the toughest elections of his political career and many political observers see that this election will decide the fate of his career in politics.\nNisar contested the first general election of Lower House of the Parliament in 1985, which was held on a non-party basis, from Rawalpindi’s old NA-40 and won by securing 49,071 votes against his opponent Safdar Ali Shah who got 32,392 votes. He contested next two general elections of 1988 and 1990, on the ticket of Islami Jamhoori Ittihad (IJI) and defeated his opponents and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s candidate Habib Khan in 1988 and Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDA)’s candidate Ghulam Sarwar Khan in 1990 consecutively. Nisar contested the election of 1993 on a ticket of the PML-N and defeated PPP’s candidate Ghulam Sarwar Khan with a margin of around 11,000 votes. In the general election of 1997, he on a PML-N ticket defeated PPP’s Sardar Shoaib Mumtaz by a margin of around 38,000 votes.\nWith the new delimitation of constituencies before the 2002 general election, Rawalpindi’s old NA-40 was divided into two constituencies, NA-52 and NA-53. Nisar contested from NA-52 and NA 53 simultaneously and defeated PML-Q’s Raja Nasir by a margin of 17,000 votes from NA-52 but faced defeat in NA-53 from Ghulam Sarwar Khan, an independent candidate, by a margin of around 10,000 votes. In 2008 general election, Nisar won the election on both constituencies of NA-52 and NA-53 and defeated both the same candidates who were on PML-Q tickets that time. In the election of 2013, Nisar won the election of NA-52 from PTI’s Ajmal Sabir Raja with a wide margin of 63,000 votes, however, he faced defeat from PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar Khan in NA-53 with a margin of around 8,000 votes. With the new delimitations before the 2018 general election, NA-52 has been changed into NA-59 and NA-53 with NA-63.\nFrom Rawalpindi, AML chief Sheikh Rasheed also a share with Nisar, being a veteran of the last eight general elections. He is now contesting from NA-60 (old NA-56) against PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi and from NA-62 (old NA-55) against PML-N’s Danyal Chaudhry. The PTI as part of the seat adjustment has not fielded candidates in these two constituencies.\nHe first contested the non-party basis general election of 1985 from Rawalpindi’s old NA-38 and defeated his opponent Ghulam Hussain by a margin of around 21,000 votes. He contested the general elections of 1988 and 1990 from the same constituency on a ticket of the IJI and defeated PPP’s Tikka Khan and PDA’s Chaudhry Mushtaq consecutively. He contested 1993 general election on a PML-N ticket and defeated PPP’s Agha Riazul Islam. He again won 1997 elections and defeated PPP leader Ms Naheed Khan with a huge margin of 47,000 votes.\nWith the new delimitation before 2002 general election, old NA-38 was split into NA-55 and NA-56 and like Nisar, Sheikh Rasheed contested the election on both the constituencies as an independent candidate. He won both seats by defeating PPP’s Agha Riazul Islam as well as PML-N’s Sardar Tariq from NA-55 and PPP’s Sardar Shaukat Hayat as well as PML-N’s Zafar Ali Shah from NA-56.\nSheikh Rasheed faced first defeat in the 2008 general election on a Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) ticket from PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi in NA-56 and from PML-N’s Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in NA-55. In the 2013 general election, he defeated PML-N’s Shakeel Awan with a margin of 13,000 votes from NA-55 (now NA-62) while PTI’s Imran Khan defeated PL-N’s Hanif Abbasi from NA-56 (Now NA-60).\nPML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also started his political career in 1988 and he was junior to Nisar and Sheikh Rasheed. He is now contesting election from Rawalpindi’s NA-57 (old NA-50) against PTI’s Sadaqat Abbasi as well as PPP’s Mehreen Anwar Raja and from Islamabad’s NA-53 against PTI chief Imran Khan. He first contested election from NA-38 (a constituency that also includes Murree) in 1988 as an independent candidate and defeated IJI’s Raja Zafarul Haq. He contested 1990s elections on a ticket of the IJI and defeated PPP’s candidate Raja Anwar. He contested elections of 1993 and 1997 on a PML-N ticket and defeated PPP’s Col (retd) Habib Khan and PML-Junejo’s candidate Babar Awan consecutively.\nWith the new delimitations before 2002 election, this constituency was declared as NA-50 and Abbasi on a PML-N ticket lost election against PPP candidate Murtaza Satti in 2002. In the 2008 general election, he defeated his rival Satti of the PPP.\nIn 2013 election, he again on a PML-N ticket defeated PTI’s Sadaqat Abbasi and PPP’s Ms Mehreen Anwer Raja.\nFormer prime minister and senior PPP leader, Raja Pervez Ashraf is junior to all these bigwigs as he started his political career in 1997. He first contested the election on a PPP ticket from NA-37 (now NA-58), the constituency which includes Rawalpindi’s Tehsil Gujar Khan. He lost that election from PML-N’s Khursheed Zaman. This constituency was declared as NA-51 before 2002 elections and Ashraf got the victory on a PPP ticket by defeating PML-Q’s Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti and PML-N’s candidate Chaudhry Khursheed Zaman. In 2008 elections, he again on a PPP ticket defeated PML-Q’s Raja Qasim Javed (who got 69,690 votes) and PML-N’s Chaudhry Riaz (who got 56,381 votes) by securing 80, 247 votes. In the 2013 general election, PML-N candidate Raja Javed Ikhlas defeated Ashraf.\nWith the new delimitations, NA-52 was declared as NA-58 where Ashraf is contesting against PML-N’s Raja Javed Ikhlas and PTI’s Chaudhry Azeem.\nImran Khan who is the founder of his own party—PTI, is contesting election from Islamabad’s National Assembly constituency (NA-53) against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Khan is also contesting elections from four other NA constituencies including NA-95 (Mianwali), NA-131 (Lahore), NA-243 (Karachi) and NA-35 (Bannu).\nKhan founded his own party in 1996 and began his political career by contesting the election in 1997. In 1997 elections, he contested from two each National Assembly’s constituencies of Lahore and Karachi and contested from each NA constituencies of Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Mianwali and Islamabad. He faced defeat from all these nine constituencies.\nIn the 2002 general election, he contested election from four National Assembly’s constituencies including Karak, Swat, Mianwali and Lahore. He only got the victory from Mianwali’s NA-71. PTI boycotted the 2008 general elections.\nIn 2013 elections, Khan contested NA elections from Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Mianwali and Lahore and got the victory from all three constituencies except for Lahore where PML-N candidate Sardar Ayaz Sadiq defeated him.", "Synology forays into India market with the rollout of its cutting-edge series of NAS solutions in the country.\nWith a proven history of transforming the way users manage data, perform surveillance, and manage the network in the cloud age, Synology has set new benchmarks in the enterprise IT space, leveraging latest technologies and unprecedented innovation coupled with an exceptional customer service.\nThe company has announced strategic partnerships with both online as well as offline channels to make its solutions available in the country.\nSynology’s offline distributors in India include- Supertron, EBM, while Amazon will serve as the company’s online retailer.\nFour complete product lines of industry-leading NAS that are designed to meet different requirements and needs from personal users, small offices, SMBs, and enterprises (including XS/XS+ series; Plus series; Value series and J series) provided by the company are now available in India. The company will also be unveiling the latest DiskStation Manager 6.2 (DSM6.2) OS update along with new applications and services in the country soon.\n“India is aggressively marking its presence as a growth engine in the global economy, owing to an unparalleled growth in the SMB segment as well as ambitious government initiatives like Smart City Programme. We at Synology are committed to aiding this growth in the country with our industry-leading NAS solutions which help organizations gain more agility and streamline their work processes”, said Mike Chen, Marketing Director, Synology.\nThe company has registered a historic 30 percent CAGR growth in India since the year 2015 with SMBs contributing to a major chunk of this growth.\nSynology will also ink new partnerships in the country in the year 2018 along with organizing reseller events and trade shows as well as studying consumer behavior to ensure last mile market presence in the ongoing year.", "ISLAMABAD, July 4 (APP):Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari are contesting upcoming general election from more than two constituencies.\nPTI chief Imran Khan will contest from five constituencies including NA-35 (Bannu), NA-53 (Islamabad), NA-95 (Mianwali), NA-131 (Lahore) and NA-243 (Karachi).\nPML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is contesting from four constituencies including NA-132 (Lahore), NA-192 (Dera Gazi Khan), NA-3 (Swat) and NA-249 (Karachi).\nPPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will contest from three constituencies NA-5 (Malakand), NA-200 (Larkana) and NA-246 (Karachi).\nHowever, former president Asif Ali Zardari will contest election from one constituency NA-213 (Shaheed Benazirabad).\nChaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is up for two National Assembly seats from NA-56 and NA-63 Rawalpindi and four provincial assembly seats from PP-10, PP-12, PP-19 and PP-20 constituencies.\nAwami Muslim League Head Sheikh Rashid Ahmed will contest from NA-60 and NA-62 Rawalpindi constituencies.\nFormer premier and PML-N candidate Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is contesting from NA-53 (Islamabad) and NA-57 Rawalpindi constituencies.\nMaryam Nawaz is contesting election from NA-125 (Lahore).\nAccording to the Election Commission of Pakistan, a total of 3,459 candidates are contesting for 272 general seats of the national assembly while 8,396 candidates are up for 577 general seats of the four provincial assemblies.\nAccording to details, as many as 1, 623 candidates will be flexing their muscles from Punjab, 824 from Sindh, 725 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 287 from Balochistan for the national assembly seats.\nA total of 4,036 candidates are in the run for 297 general seats of the Punjab Assembly, 2, 252 candidates for 130 general seats of the Sindh Assembly, 1,165 for 99 KP Assembly seats and 943 for 51 seats of Balochistan Assembly.", "Jaia Samant, Macy Pepper and Rayna McClintock, left to right, all on the London Devilettes atom squad, watch the preceding game before hitting the ice Friday for their game at the Western Fair Sports Centre in London during the London Devilettes hockey tournament. The tournament, at arenas across the city, has attracted 83 teams and 2,900 players, plus their families and coaches, from across Ontario, with some U.S. teams as well. The finals in the 28th annual tournament run Sunday at Western Fair District. (MIKE HENSEN, The London Free Press)", "Sceith foinsí sinsireacha i Roinn Comhshaoil an Tuaiscirt meamraim rúnda faoi mholtaí i leith cur chun cinn na Gaeilge chuig nuachtán aontachtach 30 bliain ó shin le ‘conspóid mhór’ a tharraingt agus dochar a dhéanamh don Chomhaontú Angla-Éireannach.\nB’in é an tuairim a nochtaigh Comhrúnaí na Comhdhála Idir-Rialtasach i gcáipéisí rúnda stáit atá ar fáil anois sa Chartlann Náisiúnta.\nChuir aontachtóirí an Tuaisicirt go mór in éadan Chomhaontú Angla-Éireannach a síníodh i 1985 siocair gur bronnadh ról comhairleach ar Rialtas na hÉireann i leith ghnóthaí an Tuaiscirt.\nBhí cúrsaí teanga go mór chun cinn i gclár oibre na Comhdhála Idir-Rialtasach agus bliain tar éis síniú an Chomhaontaithe léiríonn na cáipéisí go raibh dul chun cinn á dhéanamh i dtaobh cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sa chóras oideachais agus sna príosúin, i dtaobh ceist faoin Ghaeilge a bheith sa daonáireamh ó thuaidh agus i dtaobh cúnamh airgid a thabhairt do ghníomhaíochta cultúrtha is teanga.\nAnuas air sin, thug rialtas na Breataine le fios go príobháideach don Rúnaíocht go raibh siad réidh leis an chosc reachtúil ar chomharthaí dátheangacha a bheith ar bhóithre agus ar shráideanna a aisghairm.\nAch ar 25ú Meán Fómhair, 1986 d’fhoilsigh an nuachtán The News Letter trí mheamram rúnda faoi na beartais i leith na Gaeilge a bhí i gceist ag Stormont a thionscnamh.\nSceitheadh na cáipéisí chuig ceannaire na nAontachach Oifigiúil, Jim Molyneaux, agus thug seisean ar lámh iad chuig an News Letter.\nI gceann amháin de na meamraim chuig Státrúnaí an Tuaiscirt, Tom King, léirigh an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Comhshaoil, Sir Richard Needham, a mhíshástacht phearsanta faoi chuid de na nithe a bhí beartaithe ag rialtas na Breataine a ghéilleadh i dtaobh na Gaeilge: “My approach to this matter is based on the strong conviction that any movement towards bilingualism in Northern Ireland should be strongly resisted. To do more than this would have serious administrative as well as political repercussions.”\nADVERTISEMENT\nMheas an Ridire Needham go raibh rialtas na hÉireann ag cur an-bhéim ar chomhraíocht dhátheangach ar shráideanna mar go raibh siad buartha faoin phoiblíocht agus an tacaíocht a bhí á fháil ag Sinn Féin de bharr comharthaí sráide i nGaeilge a bheith á gcur in airde acu.\nAch in ainneoin doichill an Aire Comhshaoil bhí go leor moltaí sna cáipéisí maidir le stádas dlíthiúil a thabhairt do logainmneacha Gaeilge.\nBhí sé molta, mar shampla, go gcuirfí deireadh leis an chosc ar chomharthaí dátheangacha trí fhoráil san Acht um Rialtas Áitiúil (1949) a aisghairm agus go ndéanfaí maoiniú ar mhórstaidéar ar logainmneacha Gaeilge an Tuaiscirt.\nChrochfaí comhtharthaí dátheangacha ar shráideanna ina mbeadh 85 faoin gcéad de na daoine a bhí ina gcónaí iontu á lorg.\nAch chuir sceitheadh na gcáipéisí an lasóg sa bharrach. Dúirt an Feisire Aontachtach, Harold McCusker, gur bua de Shinn Féin a bhí sa mhéid a bhí beartaithe agus d’impigh sé ar an phobal cur go tréan ina éadan.\nDúirt Sinn Féin, áfach, go raibh an pobal náisiúnach ag crochadh comharthaí Gaeilge in airde le fada agus nach raibh aon suim acu cead a fháil ó dhaoine eile chun é seo a dhéanamh.\nAch bhí Comhrúnaithe na Comhdhála Idir-Rialtasach fíor-bhuartha faoin sceitheadh agus faoin éigeandáil a cruthaíodh dá bharr.\nDúirt Comhrúnaí ó Rialtas na hÉireann, M J Lillis, go raibh amhras ann anois faoi rúndacht imeachtaí na Comhdhála: “There is no doubt that the impact of these papers on the Unionist Community and political leadership will be, to quote my opposite number, ‘devastating.’ The papers show that the worst fears of Unionists about the working of the agreement and specifically the role of the Irish Government are fulfilled in detail.”\nNí raibh aon amhras air, áfach, faoi fhoinse ná cúis na scéite: “Officials here believe that those responsible are in the higher ranks of the Department of the Environment and that the leak was deliberately arranged to create major controversy.”\nBhíothas buartha fosta faoi shábháilteacht na státsheirbhíseach ón Tuaisceart a bhí ag plé leis an cheist agus a bhí ainmnithe ins an tuairisc a bhí ag The News Letter.\nMar thoradh ar sceitheadh na gcáipéisí mhol Comhrúnaí na Breataine ar an Chomhdháil gur cheart do Rialtas na hÉireann “a carefully drafted non paper” seachas cáipéis fhoirmiúil a eisiúint chun a léiriú a ghoilliúnaí is a bhí an cheist don dá rialtas.\nChuaigh rudaí in olcas mar thoradh ar an sceitheadh, áfach. I mí Dheireadh Fómhair, 1986 thug Comhrúnaí na Rúnaíochta Angla-Éireannach, Mark Elliott, ó Oifig Thuaisceart Éireann le fios dá chomhrúnaí ó dheas go raibh “a certain loss of nerve” ann anois ó thaobh ceisteanna a bhain leis an teanga.\nThabharfaí le fios don Chomhdháil Idir-Rialtasach go raibh deacrachtaí maorlathais ag baint le leasuithe ar logainmneacha ach b’é fírinne an scéil ná go raibh eagla ar rialtas na Breataine roimh “an open revolt in Departments here, notably in the Department of Environment”.\nCuireadh na leasuithe ar an mhéar fhada agus níor tháinig deireadh leis an chosc ar chomharthaí dátheangacha ó thuaidh go dtí Feabhra na bliana 1995. Is Clár-Eagarthóir le Nuacht RTÉ/TG4 é Breandán Delap", "LIMERICK U-21 hurling manager Pat Donnelly and selectors Brian Foley, Maurice O’Brien and Mikey Kiely have released a 26-man for Saturday’s All Ireland U-21 hurling semi final.\nThe starting 15 will be confirmed on Thursday evening.\nSeamus Flanagan and Josh Adams are additions to the 24 players that were togged out for the Munster final win over Cork. Flanagan is yet to get game-time this season but is one of 14 members of the Limerick panel that hold an All Ireland U-21 medal from 2015.\nLimerick, who are 4/5 favourites for the All Ireland title, have used 23 different players in their three games to-date.\nThe star-studded Limerick panel are Thurles bound for the All Ireland semi final meeting with Galway. The game in Semple Stadium has a 6.00 start, while Kilkenny play Derry in the other semi final at 4.00 – both live on TG4.\nWhile Limerick have beaten Tipperary, Clare and Cork enroute to winning the Munster title, Saturday will be Galway’s first U-21 game of the season.\nBut Galway hurling is riding a crest of a wave at present with their senior and minor teams already into September 3 All Ireland finals.\nThe Tribesmen U-21s are managed by Tony Ward. Star forward Conor Whelan is the only member of their senior team eligible for the U-21 grade but others like Sean Loftus, Thomas Monaghan and Jack Grealish are senior substitutes. Limerick can call upon seven players that played senior inter-county championship this Summer.\nThree years ago at minor level, Limerick were 1-27 to 2-9 winners over Galway in the All Ireland MHC semi final and the bookies make the Shannonsiders the 1/6 favourites to repeat that victory and reach the September 9 final in Thurles. Galway did however win the All Ireland minor title in 2015.\nSaturday will be the eighth meeting of Limerick and Galway at U-21 level – Limerick have five victories, including the last meeting in 2015. Six of that Limerick team will most likely once again start – Sean Finn, Ronan Lynch, Cian Lynch, Colin Ryan, Barry Nash and captain Tom Morrissey.\nPANEL: Josh Adams (Ballybrown), Paudie Ahern (Killeedy), Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen), Daragh Fanning (Pallasgreen), Sean Finn (Bruff), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh), Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Thomas Grimes (Na Piarsaigh), Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Cian Hedderman (Ballybrown), Dan Joy (Kilmallock), Lorcan Lyons (Monaleen), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh), Mike Mackey (Adare), Eoghan McNamara (Doon), Conor McSweeney (South Liberties), Tom Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Murphy (Doon), Barry Nash (South Liberties), Jack O’Grady (Knockainey), Oisin O’Reilly (Kilmallock), Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen).", "Twelve local teams captured the Allen J. MacDonald Memorial Trophy as Bell Capital Cup champions over the holidays.\nThe 18th Bell Capital Cup featured more than 600 games in 18 divisions played on 23 ice surfaces across the city.\nWinners were the Boston Advantage (major peewee AAA), Gloucester Rangers (major peewee AA), Ottawa Sting (peewee A), Gloucester Rangers (minor peewee AAA), Ottawa Valley Silver Seven (minor peewee AA), Leitrim Hawks (minor peewee A), New Jersey Jr. Titans (major atom AAA), Voisins de Papineau (major atom AA), Mississippi Thunder Kings (major atom A), St. Clair Shores Stars (minor atom AAA), Rideau St. Lawrence Kings (minor atom AA), Stittsville Rams (minor atom A), Orleans Rush (peewee House A), Richmond Royals (atom House A), Akwesasne Wolves (atom house B), Les Aigles de St. Isidore (atom House C), Barrie Sharks (girls peewee AA) and Whitby Wolves (girls atom AA).\nAll championship games were played at the Canadian Tire Centre.\nThe Bill Patterson Trophy for fair play and sportsmanship went to the Ottawa Sting (minor atom A) and Leitrim Hawks (atom House C).", "ST Senans were crowned Limerick IFC winners this Friday evening with a 4-9 to 2-8 win over Galbally under the floodlights of Mick Neville Park.\nRelegated from the senior ranks in 2012, the Foynes-Shanagolden club had since lost two intermediate finals.\nGalbally made the best possible start with a Gary McCarthy goals inside 90-seconds but goals from Ger Hanlon, Conor Mullane and Darren Kavanagh had St Senans in control 3-6 to 1-1 by the 21st minute.\nBy half time it was 3-7 to 1-4 with the south Limerick men losing both James Ryan and Mike Donovan to injury in that first half.\nBut St Senans were not to score for the opening 25-minutes of the second half and saw an 11-point lead down to just a two points – 3-7 to 2-8 with Kieran Hickey getting a Galbally goal six minutes into the second half.\nBut St Senans regained composure in the final minutes with two Richard Hayes points from play and deep into injury time Dale Fitzgerald sealed the title with their fourth goal.\nCongrats St Senans - Limerick IFC winners. Celebration time in Foynes & Shanagolden #GAA #LLSport pic.twitter.com/XaYJiMcW47 — Jerome O'Connell (@JeromeSport) October 6, 2017\nSt Senans will now represent Limerick in the Munster IFC – on October 29 they will travel to Tipperary for a quarter final against Moycarkey-Borris, Kiladangan, Clonoulty-Rossmore or Clonmel Óg.\nSt Senans champions.... Back in senior football after 5-years. Result in Limerick IFC Final St Senans 4-9 Galbally 2-8 #GAA #LLSport — Jerome O'Connell (@JeromeSport) October 6, 2017\nIn the curtain-raiser St Kierans were crowned Limerick minor A football champions with a 1-11 to 0-13 win over Na Piarsaigh.\nThe city men led 0-10 to 0-4 at half time with Stephen O’Halloran and Ruben McCarthy leading the scoring. But they had a player went off in the 27th minute.\nSt Kierans had a fourth minute goal in the second half from captain Noel Callanan to kick-start their fight back.\nNa Piarsaigh were still ahead; 0-13 to 1-6 entering the final quarter.\nThen five successive points snatched the title for the west Limerick side – Stephen Lyons with the winner in injury time.\n*See the print editions of the Limerick Leader newspaper for full match reports, reaction and photographs.", "Nas and Nicki Minaj seem to going strong!\nFor her 35th birthday on December 8, the “Illmatic” rapper showed his girl some serious love by crowing her the “Queen of New York.”\nOn Instagram, he posted a pic of Nicki looking like straight up royalty–crown and all.\n“Queens Get The MFkN Money! Happy Birthday To The QUEEN OF NY / HIP HOP @nickiminaj,” Nas wrote in the caption.\nQueens Get The MFkN Money! Happy Birthday To The QUEEN OF NY / HIP HOP @nickiminaj A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas) on Dec 8, 2017 at 4:36pm PST\nBow down!\nAccording to XXL, in a second post, he uploaded a snippet of Lil Uzi Vert and Nicki’s new video for “The Way Life Goes (Remix),” along with the caption, “BDAY Vibes.”\nBDAY VIBES A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas) on Dec 8, 2017 at 7:16pm PST\nAs we previously reported, it appears that the two have been dating since May. (Remember when she spilled her dating tea on an episode of The Ellen Show?)\nWhen asked about her budding romance with Nas, the “Anaconda” rapper replied, “He’s the king of Queens….and I’d like to think I’m the queen of Queens.”\nShe adds: “He’s a rap legend, and so I have a lot of respect for him, but he’s kinda cute, too.”\nSince then, the two have been spotted all over town, including them celebrating his 44th birthday a few months ago looking pretty cozy\nVirgo Season With my Real One From Queens! @nickiminaj #hennessylife A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas) on Sep 14, 2017 at 9:09am PDT\n#nas #nickiminaj A post shared by HipHopBulletin (@hiphopbulletin) on Sep 14, 2017 at 9:37am PDT\nHappy Birthday Nicki!!!\nBEAUTIES: Do you like Nicki and Nas as a couple? Sound off?\nRELATED NEWS:\nNas Celebrates 44th Birthday With Nicki Minaj On His Arm\nDid Nicki Minaj’s Raunchy Paper Magazine Cover Break The Internet?\nNicki Minaj Is Giving Us A High End ‘Around The Way Girl’ Look", "NAS Insurance, a full-service specialty insurance underwriting manager, has expanded to New York City with the addition of Peter Hedberg as the assistant vice president of its Tech and Cyber Underwriting division.\nHedberg’s arrival marks the growth of NAS Insurance into its fifth major metropolitan area, including its headquarters in Los Angeles and its underwriting offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and now New York.\nIn this new role, Hedberg will oversee the production of NAS’ Tech E&O and Cyber Liability business for the New York market. He will focus his efforts on managing NAS’ relationships with area producers and growing NAS’ presence in New York.\nNAS Insurance provides product development, underwriting, marketing, risk management and claims handling services for a range of specialty products that are distributed as both insurance and reinsurance solutions.\nSource: NAS Insurance", "Zubair Qureshi\nIslamabad\nFormer Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is all set to challenge Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan from NA-53, Islamabad in the general elections taking place on July 25, 2018. For this purpose the former premiere has already launched his campaign. Imran Khan, too set off his election campaign from the Convention Center Islamabad with an electrifying address to his workers and supporters on Saturday, June 30. Khan is hopeful to make a clean sweep from this constituency, however, as the candidates are changed in this constituency so have the circumstances and this time voters are not going to blindly vote for either of the two. Pakistan Observer in an interaction with a large number of voters from this constituency, came to know about the grievances of voters against the two major political parties—PML-N and PTI—and their candidates. PTI’s candidate Asad Umar from NA-54 and Imran Khan from NA-53 are largely seen as ‘outsiders’. They don’t even know the names of the streets and sectors of the constituency they are vying to win, complain the ordinary voters. According to many, Asad Umar during the last parliamentary stint betrayed and ditched his voters and PTI’s workers and supporters had to face tough questions from the residents of the city regarding availability of their MNA to address their complaints.\nEx-Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi too is seen as an ‘outsider’ since his original constituency is NA-57 and ordinary voters in NA-53 are in a fix whom to vote of these two. Most probably both of them will quit their seats from this constituency after winning their seats from their original/native constituencies, say the voters. “We are taken for granted here in NA-53,” said Muhammad Yaqoob, a local trader of the NA-53 and in the fight of the bigwigs aspirations of common people will be bulldozed. Ayesha, a teacher in a FG model school was also wary of the PML-N and PTI candidates as being high profile ‘they will least pay attention to the voters of their constituencies,” said she.\nIn NA-54, PTI’s Asad Umar unlike the previous candidate of the PML-N is going to face Anjum Aqeel Khan, a local and a well-connected political worker of the PML-N. Asad Umar’s image of being an outsider can make things a bit problematic for him as Anjum Aqeel is well aware of the problems of his constituency and is always available to his voters in case of some issue/problem that arises for them.\nIn NA-52, PML-N’s former Minister for CADD, Dr Tariq Fazal is seen as having an edge over his opponent PTI’s Raja Khurram Nawaz who is given preference over the former candidate for the PTI Ilyas Mehrban. In NA-52, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has awarded ticket to Afzal Khokar, uncle of Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, who was the Naib Nazim of the Rawalpindi district in the local government system introduced by Gen Pervez Musharraf.\nAlthough PPP’s candidates are also in the run but their presence is more or less invisible and they go unnoticed in public gatherings and parties. From NA-53, as many as 36 candidates are contesting elections, the highest number of candidates in this election for a National Assembly constituency. Besides Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Imran Khan of PTI, All Pakistan Muslim League’s Dr Muhammad Amjad is also a candidate from this constituency with election symbol Eagle. A little known PPP’s Syed Sibtul Haider, the brother of former Senate chairman Syed Nayyar Bukhari is also a candidate from this constituency. PTI-Gulalai’s Chief Ayesha Gulalai, PML-N’s disgruntled leader Syed Zafar Ali Shah and MMA’s Mian Muhammad Aslam are also vying NA seat from this constituency.\nFrom NA-54, twenty-eight candidates are contesting polls. Prominent among them are Anjum Aqeel Khan, Asad Umar, former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s younger brother Raja Imran Ashraf (PPP) and a PML-N disgruntled candidate Hafeezur Rehman Tipu.\nWith a population of 2.2 million, Islamabad has 765,348 registered voters in its three constituencies, including both rural and urban areas. NA-52, a predominantly rural constituency has a total number of 231,256 registered voters and will have 245 polling stations and 835 polling booths. NA-53 with 311,529 registered voters has the largest number of voters in Islamabad and will have 325 polling stations and 1104 polling booths. NA-54, the most urban constituency of the three is also the smallest constituency and has 218,697 registered voters. This constituency will have 216 polling stations and 754 polling.\nShare on: WhatsApp", "Share:\nOKARA-A total of 48 candidates including a woman and a transgender have been allotted election symbols to contest for four National Assembly [NA] seats in Okara district. Similarly, as many as 118 candidates including three women have been allotted election symbols for eight seats of Provincial Assembly.\nIn NA-141, nine candidates are contesting election including former MNA Ch Nadeem Abbas Rubera of PML-N. His panel includes his younger brother Ch Ghulam Raza Rubera and former MPA Ch Javed Allauddin who are contesting election from PP-190 Okara-VIII and PP-183 Okara-I respectively. The PTI panel, for NA, comprises former state minister for information Samsam Ali Bukhari having panel of Rai Hammad Aslam Kharal at PP-190 and Mehr Javed Iqbal Bhonana at PP-183. Former PTI MPA Ch Masoon Shafqat Rubera, son of former MNA Ch Shafqat Abbas Rubera, from whom the PTI ticket was withdrawn, is also contesting election for National Assembly from this constituency along with former MPA Malik Akram Bhatti at PP-183 and his wife Noorul Ain at PP-190. The PPP panel comprises Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal for NA; Rai Faisal Mian Khan Kharal for PP-190 and Rana Abdul Rehman for PP-183. MMA candidate Dr Liaqat Ali Kausar is also in election race for National Assembly. The panel of independent candidates includes Ch Khalilur Rehman for NA; Rai Ali Noor Kharal for PP-190 and Arif Khan Lashari for PP-183.\nIn NA-142 Okara-II, 12 candidates have been allotted election symbols including a woman and a transgender. Prominent amongst these are: PML-N panel comprises former MNA Ch Riazul Haq for NA; former provincial minister Mian Yawar Zaman for PP-188 and Ch Muneebul Haq for PP-189. The PTI panel includes Rao Hassan Sikander, son of former defence minister Rao Sikander Iqbal (late) for NA; Ch Saleem Sadiq for PP-189 and Abdullah Tahir for PP-188. Besides, Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) candidate Shumaila Shaukat is also contesting election for the NA seat with TLP candidate Rao Maqsood Ahmed for PP-189. A transgender namely Arsalan Nayyab Ali is also contesting for the NA seat. PPP panel comprises Nawab Tariq Pathan for NA; Rao Rafique Sajid for PP-189 and Mehr Javed Naurang for PP-188. Former Okara Municipal Committee vice chairman Mian Abdur Rasheed Booti with election symbol 'Bottle' is contesting election for the NA seat as an independent candidate.\nIn NA-143, 14 candidates have been allotted election symbols. PML-N candidates include Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan for NA, former MPA Malik Ali Abbas Khokhar for PP-187. Raza Ali Gillani, candidate from PP-184, refused to accept the PML-N ticket and is now contesting election as an independent candidate with election symbol Scooter. PML-N candidate Rao Ajmal Khan has joined hands with another independent candidate Syeda Mamnat Mohsin popularly known as Jugnu Mohsin. The PTI panel in this NA comprises Syed Gulzar Sibtain for National Assembly seat and PTI district president Ch Tariq Irshad Khan for PP-187.\nIn NA-144, PML-N panel includes former MNA Mian Moeen Khan Wattoo for NA seat and former MPA Ch Iftikhar Hussain Chachar for PP-186. In PP-185, Raza Ali Gillani is an independent candidate. In this NA constituency, independent candidate Mian Manzoor Ahmed Khan Wattoo is contesting for NA; his son Mian Khurram Jahangir Khan Wattoo is contesting for Provincial Assembly seat from PP-186 and former MNA Daughter Rubina Shaheen Wattoo from PP-185.", "Share:\nRawalpindi - A total of 208 National Assembly and 277 Provincial Assembly candidates are contesting general elections 2018 in Rawalpindi Division including Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum and Islamabad.\nAccording to details, 75 candidates are contesting general elections from Rawalpindi, 21 from Chakwal, 15 from Attock, 24 from Jhelum and 73 from Islamabad for 16 constituencies of National Assembly and 27 for provincial assembly constituencies of the division.\nNA-52 to NA-54, three constituencies are in Islamabad, while NA-55 to NA-56, two constituencies are in Attock, seven in Rawalpindi, NA-57 to NA-63, two of Chakwal, NA-66 and NA-67 and two constituencies in Jhelum. Similarly, 166 Provincial Assembly candidates are in the field from Rawalpindi, 35 from Chakwal, 37 from Attock and 39 from Jhelum districts of the division. Five provincial assembly constituencies from PP-1 to PP-5 are in Attock district, 15 constituencies, PP-6 to PP-20 are in Rawalpindi district, four constituencies, PP-21 to PP-24 are in Chakwal district while three Jhelum constituencies are from PP-25 to PP-27.\nRegional Election Commissioner Majid Sharif Dogar informed that the Election Commission is finalizing all the arrangements for upcoming elections. The training is also being imparted to election officers, he added.\nAccording to district Election Commissioner, Rawalpindi-I, Saleem Akhtar Khan, 75 National Assembly (NA) and 166 Provincial Assembly (PA) candidates are contesting general elections 2018 in Rawalpindi district including former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former PM, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Hanif Abbasi.\nAccording to the final lists issued by Returning Officers here, total 143 nomination papers for seven National Assembly seats, NA-57 to NA-63 of the district were filed and 402 for 15 provincial assembly seats, PP-6 to PP-20.", "Journal reference:\nFor millennia, people have used molten sand and other ingredients to create glass and fashion beads, vessels, lenses and windows.These days, metallic glasses - made entirely of metal atoms - are being developed for biomedical applications such as extra-sharp surgical needles, stents, and artificial joints or implants because the alloys can be ultra-hard, extra strong, very smooth and resistant to corrosion.While a combination of trial and error and scientific research helped refine glassmaking processes over time, controlling the creation of metallic glasses at the atomic level remains an inexact endeavor informed largely by long experience and intuition.\"Our job,\" says Paul Voyles, \"is to build fundamental understanding by adding more data.\"The Beckwith-Bascom Professor in materials science and engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Voyles and collaborators in Madison and at Yale University have made significant experimental strides in understanding how, when and where the constantly moving atoms in molten metal \"lock\" into place as the material transitions from liquid to solid glass.They described what they observed about how those atoms rearrange at different temperatures over time today (March 19, 2018) in the journal Nature Communications. It's knowledge that can add much-needed experimental clarity to several competing theories about how that process, called the glass transition, occurs. It also could help reduce time and costs associated with developing new metallic glass materials, and provide manufacturers greater insight into process design.One processing challenge is that as metals transitions from molten liquid to solid, they tend to form orderly, regularly repeating atomic structures called crystals. In contrast, glass materials have a highly disordered atomic structure. And while making a high-performance metallic glass sounds as simple as preventing metal atoms from forming crystals as the material cools, in reality, it relies somewhat on the luck of the draw.\"The process that makes a glass and the process that makes a crystal compete with each other, and the one that wins - the one that happens at a faster rate - determines the final product,\" says Voyles, whose work is supported by the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy.In a liquid, all of the atoms are moving past each other at all times. As a molten metal cools, and begins its transition to a solid, its atoms slow down and eventually stop moving.It's a complicated atomic-level dance that scientists are still unraveling. Drawing on their expertise in electron microscopy and data analysis, Voyles and his collaborators have measured how long it takes, on average, for an atom to gain or lose adjacent atoms as its environment fluctuates in the molten liquid.\"An atom is surrounded by a bunch of other atoms,\" Voyles says. \"At really high temperatures, they bounce around and every picosecond (one trillionth of a second), they have a new set of neighbors. As the temperature decreases, they stick with their neighbors longer and longer until they stick permanently.\"At high temperatures, the atoms all move fast. Then, as the liquid cools, they move more slowly; a simple description might be that all of the atoms slow down together, at the same rate, until they stop moving and the material becomes a solid glass.\"We have now demonstrated experimentally that is not what happens,\" says Voyles.Rather, he says, his team's experiments confirmed that the time it takes for atoms to lock into place varies widely - by at least an order of magnitude - from place to place inside the same liquid.\"Some nanometer-sized regions get 'sticky' first and hold on to their neighbors for a very long time, whereas between the sticky bits are bits that are moving much more quickly,\" he says. \"They continue to fluctuate 10 times faster than in the slow parts and then everything gets slower, but the sticky parts also get bigger until the sticky parts 'win' and the material becomes a solid.\"Now, he and his collaborators are working to understand how the atomic arrangements differ between the slow and fast parts.\"That's the next big missing piece of the puzzle,\" he says.The advance provides valuable information about the fundamental process through which every glass material - from window glass to plastic bottles to pharmaceutical preparations and many others - transitions from liquid to solid, says Voyles.\"This is really basic science,\" he says. \"But the ultimate potential impact for applications is if we really understand how this works at the atomic level, that gives us the opportunity to build in control that lets us make glasses out of what we want instead of only getting glasses when we get lucky.\" A metal-organic framework with ultrahigh glass-forming ability \" Science Advances (2018).", "New Delhi: Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami, who faced severe criticism for a picture posted on Facebook along with wife Hasin Jahan, has come back to show bigots that he remains unaffected with the criticism by posting another beautiful picture.\nHere's Shami's latest picture with his wife:-\nNa Sathi Hai Na Hamara Hai Koi Na Kisi Ke Hum Na Hamara Hai KoiPar Apko Dekh Kar Keh Sakte Hain Ek Pyarasa humsafar hai Koi Happy new Year pic.twitter.com/YzBJmkiqha — Mohammed Shami (@MdShami11) December 31, 2016\nDoning the avatar of a poet, Shami blew trolls apart in poetic fashion.\n(READ: Mohammad Kaif faces Twitter wrath for doing Surya Namaskar; responds to shut up trolls)\n\"Na Sathi Hai Na Hamara Hai Koi Na Kisi Ke Hum Na Hamara Hai KoiPar Apko Dekh Kar Keh Sakte Hain Ek Pyarasa humsafar hai Koi Happy new Year,\" tweeted the Indian seamer.\nFew dogmatic people, having not learnt their lesson, criticized Shami yet again.\n1. \"@MdShami11 Even the Rajput woman have \"Haya\" and \"Parda\" !! But u showing off your wives beauty to get some money !! Shame on u\"\n2. @MdShami11 Wife and money are supposed to be hidden and not to be shown off. Think about the world above.\n3. @MdShami11 ...thora v to sharm kro yar....public m is trh....jo v krna h parde m kro.....​\n(READ: Mohammed Shami hits back on social media dogmatism, asks trollers do self introspection)\nAnd there were those who supported Shami for being bold against social media dogmatism.\n1. @MdShami11 More burnol to haters! Keep rocking Shami! Happy New Year!\n2. @MdShami11 she's a stunner. All the best to both of you!\n3. @MdShami11 allah aap ki jodi salamat rakhe....ameen\n4. @MdShami11 you are a real Stud. Don't bother about Donkeys... God bless you and a happy new year,bro.", "Last month, we saw Nas and Jack White team up to cover a 1920s blues song for PBS’ American Epic, and today a video has been released of them performing Nas’ Stillmatic track “One Mic,” with White playing piano while Nas stands behind the mic. Check it out below.", "Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email\nAfter it’s opening episode had viewers hooked we head to Ackley Bridge for the latest classroom installment.\nHere’s how each some of the key characters are involved in tonight’s Channel 4 drama:\nJordan\nThe second episode focuses on Jordan whose ‘hijab wearing’ antics last week saw him receive a backlash and even death threats from Asian boys before the opening credits had even rolled.\nBut Jordan is forced to grow up and wise up as viewers learn he’s left holding HIS baby and not even his own dad is aware of his predicament.\nWhen a call from the school to his dad sparks concern he makes the somewhat foolish move to try and conceal the baby in class.\nChloe\nMiss Keane’s daughter Chloe has her first day at school as she adjusts to life in Ackley in stark contrast to her London life.\nShe struggles to make new friends but helps out classmate Jordan who rushes by kicking off to create a diversion and ends up in isolation because of it.\nHer attempts to impress her new friends fails when they set her up at a ‘teacher’s pub’ but her revelation to students that her mum’s ex-boyfriend is a fellow teacher sees her invited into the fold.\nMr Bell\nThe popular PE teacher discovers Jordan’s baby secret but is blackmailed to help him or he’ll ‘fess up’ over how he really got a ‘shiner’.\nBut more punches fly when Mr Bell takes Jordan to be reunited with his baby’s mother on the estate and he is forced to defend him.\nThey instead head to Mr Bell’s house and Jordan questions him on his own son and affair.\nMissy\nHer plan to get back at Nas for dis-respecting her ‘junky mum’ backfires.\nMissy had agreed that if Cory slept with Nas she’d sleep with Cory. However she soon discovers Cory has a loose tongue and that the whole school thinks this is an open opportunity.\nIn a last ditch attempt to patch things up Missy agrees to go for tea at Nas’ to sort out the feud but before they get chance to talk, they are thrown into the red light district to track down Missy’s mum who has ‘done a runner’ with her ‘Nanna’s bingo money’.\nMissy’s mum’s boyfriend Adam threatens Missy as she tries to get back what’s owed and makes racist remarks to Nas.\nJust as Missy and Nas appear to resolve things a troubled Nas reveals what’s really been bothering her, after she kissed Cory earlier to see what it was like.\nMiss Carter\nThe headmistress intervenes in Nas and Missy’s friendship to a wall of silence leaving it up to Nas’s mum to intervene.\nLater she returns home to find Jordan and his young family at odds in her living room.\nAfter works drinks with the governors Miss Carter and Sidque getting carried away.\nNas\nThe drama continues to explore the ‘integration’ of Asian and white pupils as Nas wears a hijab to ‘fit in’ with her other muslim friends.\nShe later patches things up with Missy and reveals she’s struggling with her sexuality.\nShe tells Missy: “I don’t want a boyfriend. Ever?”\nA bit of humour to the subject diffuses the situation and Nas later reveals she has her eyes on a teacher which leads to Missy’s quip: “If you’re gonna let down the whole of Pakistan being a lezzer you may as well go the whole way and sleep with a teacher too.”", "Almost 550,000 people turned out nationwide on Easter Monday for the first Cruinniú na Cásca, the large-scale free public festival.\nThe aim of the festivities was to celebrate culture and creativity in contemporary Irish society through a variety of live music and dance, readings and screenings, special events and more.\nRTE 's Joe Duffy during a 1917 themed Liveline in the Customs House as part of Cruinniú na Cásca.\nIn addition to the events taking place across Dublin City, 31 local authorities hosted free, family-friendly Cruinniú na Cásca events in their individual counties as part of the national Creative Ireland programme.\nJohn Cox of Deise Medieval pictured at the Cruinniú na Cásca- Medieval Village event at the Medieval Mile Museum at St Marys Lane, Kilkenny.\nKarbunkulis Latvian Dancers bringing colour and movement to Stephen's Green for #Cruinniu pic.twitter.com/CKtMR5nfhT — DAHRRGA / REOGRTG (@DeptAHG) April 17, 2017\nLots to do and see at Custom House Quay!! events running all afternoon, come on down! #Cruinniu pic.twitter.com/MPbO4q78yS — Events DCC (@events_DCC) April 17, 2017\nWell done to all involved in #Cruinniu, it's just fantastic! pic.twitter.com/EyHe2wEA95 — Mimi (@mimi_tabes) April 17, 2017\nMinister for Arts Heather Humphreys said, “I want to thank everyone who came out today to take part in our first Cruinniú na Casca, Ireland’s new culture day.\n“This was truly a day when we came together to celebrate our creativity and the energy and diversity of Ireland today.”\nTaoiseach Enda Kenny taking part in the festivities.\nRTÉ broadcast live from Cruinniú na Cásca zones throughout the day.\nRTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes said, \"We are delighted that the public has responded so positively to the first Cruinniú na Cásca.\n“It has certainly turned out to be the special and unique day we hoped it would be, in Dublin and right across the country .\"", "Kevin Na is known for being deliberate in his play on the PGA Tour.\nActually, I’m being too kind here. He’s slow. A Sports Illustrated/Golf.com anonymous poll had Na second with 17 percent of Tour players naming him the slowest player.\nThat reputation followed him to the Safeway Open Pro-Am this week, where he teed off to the sounds of freestyling singer Kelley James.\nJames immediately slowed the music down and roasted Na as he teed off, and luckily the golfer had a great sense of humor about the whole thing.\n.@YourBoyKJ was at Safeway today freestyling while players teed off. He slowed it way down for Kevin Na. pic.twitter.com/ctpA6RVbO0 — Skratch (@Skratch) October 4, 2017", "The atomic motion in a 2-D material, tungsten disulfide, is shown in this animation. In this phonon mode (known as longitudinal optical mode or LO), the selenium atoms (yellow) rotate clockwise while the tungsten atoms (blue) are still. Credit: Hanyu Zhu, et al A research team from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has found the first evidence that a shaking motion in the structure of an atomically thin (2-D) material possesses a naturally occurring circular rotation.\nThis rotation could become the building block for a new form of information technology, and for the design of molecular-scale rotors to drive microscopic motors and machines.\nThe monolayer material, tungsten diselenide (WSe 2 ), is already well-known for its unusual ability to sustain special electronic properties that are far more fleeting in other materials.\nIt is considered a promising candidate for a sought-after form of data storage known as valleytronics, for example, in which the momentum and wavelike motion of electrons in a material can be sorted into opposite \"valleys\" in a material's electronic structure, with each of these valleys representing the ones and zeroes in conventional binary data.\nModern electronics typically rely on manipulations of the charge of electrons to carry and store information, though as electronics are increasingly miniaturized they are more subject to problems associated with heat buildup and electric leaks.\nThe latest study, published online this week in the journal Science, provides a possible path to overcome these issues. It reports that some of the material's phonons, a term describing collective vibrations in atomic crystals, are naturally rotating in a certain direction.\nThis property is known as chirality – similar to a person's handedness where the left and right hand are a mirror image of each other but not identical. Controlling the direction of this rotation would provide a stable mechanism to carry and store information.\n\"Phonons in solids are usually regarded as the collective linear motion of atoms,\" said Xiang Zhang, the corresponding author of the study and senior scientist of the Materials Science Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and professor at UC Berkeley. \"Our experiment discovered a new type of so-called chiral phonons where atoms move in circles in an atomic monolayer crystal of tungsten diselenide.\"\nThis diagram maps out atomic motion in separate phonon modes. At left (“LO” represents a longitudinal optical mode), selenium atoms exhibit a clockwise rotation while tungsten atoms stand still. At right (“LA” represents a longitudinal acoustic mode), tungsten atoms exhibit a clockwise rotation while selenium atoms rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Credit: Hanyu Zhu, et al\nHanyu Zhu, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at Zhang's group, said, \"One of the biggest advantage of chiral phonon is that the rotation is locked with the particle's momentum and not easily disturbed.\"\nIn the phonon mode studied, the selenium atoms appear to collectively rotate in a clockwise direction, while the tungsten atoms showed no motion. Researchers prepared a \"sandwich\" with four sheets of centimeter-sized monolayer WSe2 samples placed between thin sapphire crystals. They synced ultrafast lasers to record the time-dependent motions.\nThe two laser sources converged on a spot on the samples measuring just 70 millionths of a meter in diameter. One of the lasers was precisely switched between two different tuning modes to sense the difference of left and right chiral phonon activity.\nA so-called pump laser produced visible, red-light pulses that excited the samples, and a probe laser produced mid-infrared pulses that followed the first pump pulse within one trillionth of a second. About one mid-infrared photon in every 100 million is absorbed by WSe2 and converted to a chiral phonon.\nThe researchers then captured the high-energy luminescence from the sample, a signature of this rare absorption event. Through this technique, known as transient infrared spectroscopy, researchers not only confirmed the existence of a chiral phonon but also accurately obtained its rotational frequency.\nSo far, the process only produces a small number of chiral phonons. A next step in the research will be to generate larger numbers of rotating phonons, and to learn whether vigorous agitations in the crystal can be used to flip the spin of electrons or to significantly alter the valley properties of the material. Spin is an inherent property of an electron that can be thought of as its compass needle – if it could be flipped to point either north or south it could be used to convey information in a new form of electronics called spintronics.\n\"The potential phonon-based control of electrons and spins for device applications is very exciting and within reach,\" Zhu said. \"We already proved that phonons are capable of switching the electronic valley. In addition, this work allows the possibility of using the rotating atoms as little magnets to guide the spin orientation.\"\nThe chiral properties found in the study likely exist across a wide range of 2-D materials based on a similar patterning in their atomic structure, Zhu also noted, adding that the study could guide theoretical investigations of electron-phonon interactions and the design of materials to enhance phonon-based effects.\n\"The same principle works in all 2-D periodic structures with three-fold symmetry and inversion asymmetry\" Zhu said. \"The same principle covers a huge family of natural materials, and there are almost infinite possibilities for creating rotors at the molecular scale.\"\nExplore further: Research team determines how electron spins interact with crystal lattice in nickel oxide\nMore information: Hanyu Zhu et al. Observation of chiral phonons, Science (2018). DOI: 10.1126/science.aar2711", "The release of J.Cole’s KOD has everyone thrilled about the rapper’s approach to tackling enlightenment and addiction. So much so, that he’s received a social media-esque pat on the back from one of his biggest heroes.\nIn between praises from Logic and Jaden Smith, Nas took to social media to co-sign the rapper’s fifth project. The two share a unique history, which has been told on and off wax. An avid fan of the Queensbridge native, Cole’s Born Sinner LP featured the track “Let Nas Down,” a introspective look into his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story and the criticism that came with the radio-friendly single, “Work Out.” Nas responded warmly with “Made Nas Proud” which featured plenty of gems for Cole and rest of us to soak in.\nThe same year the two appeared on VIBE’s Summer 2013 issue, where they talked about progression of rap and comparisons to one another. “He’s his own man, and I listened to it from that point of view,” Nas said. “I wasn’t looking for me in him. I been inspired by tons of people; he’s been inspired by tons of people. When we do what we do, we sound like us. To me, Cole sounds like Cole. There can be some things I listen to and I wonder if I inspired that or if it’s something I would’ve thought of or would’ve tried to rhyme or whatever, but that’s him. That’s a great compliment that there’s someone who likes what I do—because this dude is nice, so you’re biggin’ me up.”\nKOD ✊🏾 A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas) on Apr 20, 2018 at 1:33pm PDT\nCole’s album is also a hit with his very dedicated fan base. On the day of it’s release (April 20), the album broke the Spotify streaming record, surpassing over 4.1 million streams in it’s opening day. The record was previously held by Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do,” which brought in 3.8 million streams. The album also debuted at #1 on the iTunes chart in the U.S. and 35 other territories. It’s great news for Cole, but also a funny bummer since he was unable to find a physical copy of his album in stores.\nHow I can't find a physical copy to my own shit — J. Cole (@JColeNC) April 22, 2018\nBefore giving KOD another spin, check out Cole’s sweet speech to Nas from VIBE’s 2014 Impact Awards below.\nREAD: J. Cole And Nas, Lyrics To Go (VIBE 2013 Summer Cover)", "Kanye West’s Twitter timeline has become ground zero for all of G.O.O.D Music’s juicy updates, but rap enthusiasts’ jaws dropped to the floor after reading his latest bombshell tweet. After announcing release dates for his next solo LP, his joint project with Kid Cudi, Pusha T and Teyana Taylor’s albums, Ye took to Twitter last night (Apr. 22) to confirm that he’s “hand producing” all of the albums he mentioned, including Nas’ eleventh studio album.\n“I’m hand producing all the albums I tweeted about,” Ye tweeted. “Been chopping samples from the Sunken Place. Pusha May 25. My album June 1st. Me and Cudi June 8th and Teyana June 22nd and oh yeah…. Nas June 15th.”\nI’m hand producing all the albums I tweeted about. Been chopping samples from the sunken place 😂Pusha May 25th My album June 1st me and Cudi June 8th and Teyana June 22nd and oh yeah… — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 22, 2018\nNas June 15th — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 22, 2018\nIt’s been six years since Nasir dropped his tenth studio LP Life Is Good, and the industry has been impatiently waiting for his follow-up ever since. Back in March of 2016, Kanye West tweeted that he promised Barack Obama that he would “do beats on Nas’ next album.” Then, a few months later in July, the Mass Appeal rapper got us hype for his eleventh solo LP when he confirmed it was done on DJ Khaled’s Major Key single “Nas Album Done.” Now, two years later, Nas’ album is ready to heat up the summer upon its release in June.\nAlthough this is glorious news to hip-hop fans everywhere, Nas has yet to confirm the major revelation on his own social media. We’ll be sure to update you when he does. For now, let’s hope and pray that Kanye isn’t plucking at our heart strings by pulling another SWISH stunt.", "Many photographers and videographers often rely on using local storage within their computers to store media files. Once their computer drives fill up, they often end up purchasing external hard drives to offload some or all of the data, segregating the data and making it difficult for quick access and backup. Others choose dedicated storage arrays that handle all the data in a single location, albeit at a higher cost and sometimes questionable results. For a person who is not technology-savvy, choosing a proper storage solution can be a difficult task. With so many different DAS (direct-attached storage) and NAS (network-attached storage) solutions on the market, one can get quickly confused, ending up with many storage issues. Since mismanaging storage can potentially lead to data loss and other problems, it is always a good idea to revisit your storage needs and choose the best solution that will not only address the storage requirements you have today, but also help with growing your data in the future. In this article, we will go over different storage solutions in detail, identify pros and cons of each and hopefully help you in selecting the best storage solution for your needs.\n1) Handling Data Growth\nYear after year, the resolution of both recording and output devices is increasing at a significant rate. While a few years back we used to deal with cameras that had at most 8-12 megapixels (MP) of resolution and typical monitors / TVs did not exceed 1080p, things have certainly changed since then. Common camera resolution has been bumped up to 20-24 MP now (with high resolution full-frame cameras pushing 50 MP), whereas most electronics stores don’t even stock 1080p screens anymore, with both TVs and monitors getting pushed to 4K and higher resolution. As a result of these changes, media size has also seen a significant increase. In just a matter of a couple of years RAW files quadrupled in size from 8-12 megabytes (MB) to 40-50 MB on average when shooting with 36 MP+ digital cameras, and 4K video presents a new level of storage challenges, not just in terms of storage space, but also in terms of storage speed to keep up with the large amount of flowing data. While you can do your best to reduce your backup needs, the larger files and the additional data you have to deal with on a daily basis do not make it easy to keep your storage needs minimal.\nAll this data growth makes it difficult to keep media stored on a single laptop or a computer, so most photographers and videographers end up purchasing large capacity external drives where they offload data. Once those drives fill up or a new year rolls in, they typically buy more drives to accommodate their new data, ending up with a collection of external drives that become a nightmare to manage. Since the data is segregated across many different drives, accessing older data becomes a hassle, performing routine backups gets difficult and the sheer number of different devices with different capacities and connectivity options make it difficult to manage data as a whole. And let’s not forget about the typically miserable speed of accessing data from external devices. Sounds familiar? It sure does to me, as I used to do it myself in the past. And I know a number of professional photographers who still rely on such workflow practices.\nWhat if there was a way to streamline the process by putting all the data into a single location? Wouldn’t it make it easier to quickly access and manage the data? That’s where storage arrays come into play.\n2) What is a Storage Array?\nIn simple terms, a storage array (also known as a disk array) is a dedicated box that can accommodate multiple storage drives (typically hard drives or SSD drives) to store and access data. The simplest and the least expensive storage arrays typically accommodate two to four drives, whereas higher-end storage arrays can accommodate five or more drives and offer fast speeds, more connectivity options and might even run their own operating system to handle different native and third party applications. Unlike typical local and external storage, higher-end storage arrays often have built-in error-detection and redundancy features to reduce the potential for data loss, making them more reliable and scalable in the long run.\nBelow are the major storage architectures you might come across today:\nDirect-Attached Storage (DAS) : any storage that requires a direct connection to a computer can be considered a DAS. For example, your hard drive or SSD drive on your computer is a DAS. An external drive or storage array connected with a Thunderbolt or a USB cable to a computer is also a DAS. DAS is typically only beneficial for a single computer setup and it is usually not designed to run autonomously. DAS provides “RAW” or block-level storage to a computer, so its storage volumes are typically managed through the computer it is connected to.\n: any storage that requires a direct connection to a computer can be considered a DAS. For example, your hard drive or SSD drive on your computer is a DAS. An external drive or storage array connected with a Thunderbolt or a USB cable to a computer is also a DAS. DAS is typically only beneficial for a single computer setup and it is usually not designed to run autonomously. DAS provides “RAW” or block-level storage to a computer, so its storage volumes are typically managed through the computer it is connected to. Network-Attached Storage (NAS) : as the name implies, network-attached storage connects to one or more computers via wired or wireless network (although wireless network connectivity options are typically not available due to wireless reliability issues). Since NAS is not directly connected to a computer, it requires its own CPU and memory in order to manage its storage and hence it is designed to run autonomously. NAS is ideal for a multi-user setup and as the next section reveals, has many advantages over DAS, especially when it comes to data access. Unlike DAS, NAS provides file-level storage that can be accessed from multiple computers at the same time.\n: as the name implies, network-attached storage connects to one or more computers via wired or wireless network (although wireless network connectivity options are typically not available due to wireless reliability issues). Since NAS is not directly connected to a computer, it requires its own CPU and memory in order to manage its storage and hence it is designed to run autonomously. NAS is ideal for a multi-user setup and as the next section reveals, has many advantages over DAS, especially when it comes to data access. Unlike DAS, NAS provides file-level storage that can be accessed from multiple computers at the same time. Storage Area Networks (SAN): storage area networks are more complex than DAS and NAS, and they are typically utilized in larger environments that need high-level performance, reliability, scalability and redundancy in datacenter environments, where a single large storage array can be used to provide block-level storage to multiple servers. Since SAN is overkill for most photographers, we will keep it out of scope of this article.\nDepending on the architecture, storage arrays can be simple and can also be very complex. Simple, user-friendly storage arrays are typically going to be the most affordable, giving very few configuration options to quickly get started, whereas storage arrays designed for small to medium-size businesses can have many configuration and connectivity options, making them more difficult to implement and manage.\n3) DAS vs NAS\nLet’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both DAS and NAS:\nDAS Advantages:\nSimple to Set Up: DAS is simple and everyone gets it. It acts as a drive on your computer. You can easily format it, resize it and partition it with standard operating system tools. It does not require a network or any other extra configuration.\nExcellent Speed: When connected via Thunderbolt or USB 3.1, DAS can provide incredible speeds, taking advantage of everything the storage has to offer.\nBetter Latency: A direct connection is always going to have less latency than a network connection.\nLow Cost: While there are some expensive DAS storage arrays out there, most DAS solutions start out really cheap. A simple hard drive in an enclosure is a DAS and you can even get a cheap DAS setup with two drives that can provide redundancy in RAID 1 (mirror) configuration.\nIdeal for Travel: For those who often travel, a simple DAS enclosure with one or two drives is ideal, since it takes up very little space.\nDAS Disadvantages:\nSingle Computer Only: DAS must be connected to one computer and its storage cannot be shared with multiple computers with multiple cables. Once connected, the storage can be shared with multiple computers over network through the computer’s operating system, but it requires the computer DAS is connected to be always on, which increases power usage.\nLimited Options: Due to DAS always requiring a computer connection, it can be rather limited when it comes to things like external access. Instead of providing access to the storage array exclusively, one has to provide access to the computer DAS is connected to and set up a web or file server, which is a rather technical task. The DAS cannot be managed over the network, so if anything goes wrong, one must be able to access the computer to manage the DAS.\nPotential Connectivity Issues: In order to be able to get the best performance, a DAS must have a fast controller + connection port on its side and the controller and port speed must match it on the computer, or the speed will be limited to the slowest connection. For example, if a USB 3.1 DAS is connected to a USB 3.0 port, it will slow down to half its speed. And if it is connected to the old USB 2.0 port, it will slow down to a crawl, leading to many frustrations. In addition, due to the frequent use of DAS devices, the process of connecting and disconnecting interface cables can lead to damage of cables and interface ports.\nRisk of Data Loss on Simple DAS: When using a simple DAS with a single drive (one local drive or one external drive), there is a high chance of data loss in case the drive fails. Ideally, if one uses a DAS, it should be set up with at least two drives in RAID 1 / mirror configuration.\nNAS Advantages:\nIdeal for Multi-User Environment: One of the biggest benefits of network-attached storage, is that you can set it up for a multi-user setup. So if you have multiple computers on your network and you want to be able to reliably access the same storage from them without requiring one computer to always share a connection, you need a NAS.\nPower Efficient: Since a dedicated NAS device has its own CPU and memory, manufacturers often use very power efficient processors and memory in order to reduce energy usage of the NAS device. While with a DAS you will be burning through a lot of power (computer power + DAS power), you will be saving quite a bit of money by going with a power-efficient NAS.\nBetter Redundancy: Most NAS arrays have built-in RAID controllers that provide excellent error-checking and redundancy options.\nDedicated for Storage: A NAS is a dedicated storage device that does nothing except providing storage for computers and other devices on the network. Because of this, it can be optimized to provide fast, reliable and scalable solution that can meet many storage demands.\nIsolated Users and Permissions: Since NAS works autonomously, it can be set up with a different user and permission structure than your computer(s), keeping separate security and making it easy to grant access to particular folders.\nBuilt-in Apps: Another great benefit of a NAS is that it comes with a set of native built-in apps that extends the functionality of the device and depending on its popularity, there might even be third party apps available for you to deploy. For example, you could easily turn a NAS into an entertainment device that streams audio and video content to TVs and other devices on your network. You could set up a NAS to automatically perform backups on your computers. You could set up a file server, a web server or even a telephone system.\nNAS Disadvantages:\nMore Complex to Set Up: Compared to DAS, NAS is more complex to set up and configure. One needs to have a properly set up network, understand networking basics (such as assigning an IP address to a device) and have matching interface speeds on all devices and cables. For example, if a NAS device has 1 Gbit network connection, all cables, network cards and switches on the network that require 1 Gbit access must match that speed.\nNetwork Throughput / Speed Issues: While modern DAS interfaces are optimized for speed to deliver 10 Gbit+ throughputs, modern networks have not been keeping up with the same pace. Even the latest generation laptops and computers are shipped with Ethernet ports limited to 1 Gbit throughput and most consumer-grade NAS devices are also limited to 1 Gbit ports. While manufacturers like QNAP and Synology ship their NAS devices with at least two ports to be able to allow for more network throughput via link-aggregation protocols, such setups require specific network switches and can be difficult to configure.\nSlower Latency: Since all the data flows over the network, there might be issues with latency, especially if the network connection is already in heavy use.\nAs you can see, one is not necessarily better than the other – both DAS and NAS devices and storage arrays have their uses and their pros and cons. So before you make your purchase decision, you should understand them fully and be ready to deal with the potential issues you might encounter.\n4) DAS and NAS Speed Considerations\nWhile direct-attached storage arrays are capable of delivering exceptional speeds (provided that one uses a fast interface such as USB 3.1 or Thunderbolt, as stated above), the biggest speed bottleneck of network-attached storage is the network. With most homes and offices wired with older CAT-5e cabling that limits network throughput to 1 Gbit, running anything faster not only requires expensive switches and network cards, but also new cabling, which can be very cost-prohibitive to replace.\nOne could argue that a DAS array would be a better solution, since it can handle a lot more throughput. However, NAS arrays have a lot of advantages over DAS arrays, especially in a multi-user environment. With a NAS device, your media can be accessed from any computer on your local area network (LAN) and if you need access to your files when traveling, you can download your data over the Internet as well, without having to keep one computer running all the time. NAS consumes a lot less power than a DAS connected to a computer and one can use all kinds of native and third party apps to get more functionality from a NAS, such as automated computer backups, automatic replication to other NAS devices and ability to stream media to home entertainment devices. Lastly, most NAS arrays are built to work 24/7 and are self-managed, whereas consumer-grade DAS arrays are usually not.\nFor these reasons, I highly prefer NAS to DAS as my storage solution to store photographs and video. While I have been quite happy with my Synology DS1815+ for the past few years, unfortunately, I cannot copy media faster than 100-120 MB/sec from a single computer due to the 1 GbE network interface limitation, even with link-aggregation enabled (link-aggregation can only handle more data when data is transferred over multiple computers). And since I often work with large RAW / TIFF files and video, plus my storage needs are only increasing overtime, the network bottleneck has definitely been a limiting factor. For this reason, despite the high cost of implementation, I have already moved up my network to 10 Gbit Ethernet and started migrating my data to the latest NAS models from QNAP and Synology with 10 GbE network interfaces.\nSo if you have been trying to decide on a NAS solution, do keep the above-mentioned network bottleneck issues in mind and make sure to plan for the future. If you work with 4K+ video content or have specific speed requirements and you do not need more than one machine accessing your storage, a high-performance DAS might be a better solution. And if you have any interest in pursuing a 10 Gbit Ethernet NAS setup, I will be working on a separate article with all the details next.\n5) The Need for Larger and Faster Storage\nThankfully, with the growth of photography and videography material, storage manufacturers have also been working on increasing storage capacity. If a few years ago we were limited to 4 TB drives, there are now 10 TB consumer-grade hard drives available. Although the cost per GB still remains high, M.2 NVMe and SSD drives are also seeing increases in capacity, with 4 TB+ options already available on the market. As a result, we now have storage arrays that can deliver extremely large capacity volumes capable of handling a lot of data. And with the added benefit of creating large caches based on M.2 and SSD drives, one can push incredible speeds on such arrays as well. Lastly, thanks to the mix of different form factors and types of storage devices, we are now beginning to see tiered storage coming to consumer market, which is very exciting!\nLet’s now take a look at some of the best storage solutions available on the market that we recommend to our readers.\n6) DAS Recommendations\nLet’s get started with the DAS storage arrays that we recommend to our readers. If you are just starting out and you do not want to spend a lot of money on an external drive, I would recommend to get a two-bay DAS / external drive. You can buy those pre-configured with capacities up to 20 TB (in RAID 0 / stripe mode). Personally, unless you know what you are doing and you have your backup fully figured out and in place, I would not recommend to run any storage in RAID 0 configuration. So as soon as you receive yours, I would change it to RAID 1 (mirror) mode, so that if one of the drives were to fail, you would still not lose the data. However, it is important to point out that RAID can never be considered to be a backup, so don’t just assume that your data is safe if you run a simple two disk array in mirror mode. Always make sure that you have a solid photography backup workflow in place. You could still lose all of your data if two disks were to fail at the same time, if the DAS was stolen or some other disaster took place.\nSo which specific DAS units would we recommend? Here is our list of favorites:\nG-Technology G-RAID 2-Bay DAS Array – Wonderful DAS arrays for those who are starting out. These units have 2x Thunderbolt 2 and 1x USB 3.0 Ports and are both PC and Mac Compatible. They come with a hardware RAID controller and they also look great! Another option is LaCie’s 2big 2-Bay DAS Array, which provides very similar features at competitive prices.\nOWC ThunderBay 4-Bay DAS Array – If you are a Mac user or you have a Thunderbolt adapter on your PC, the 4-bay storage array from OWC delivers excellent performance.\nLaCie 6big 6-Bay DAS Array – if you want to step up big time in performance and total storage space, the LaCie 6big DAS is hard to beat.\n7) NAS Recommendations\nFor the past few years, I have been relying heavily on Synology NAS arrays, which deliver superb performance, sleek and easy to use graphical user interface and excellent app ecosystem. QNAP storage arrays are new to my home as of this year and they also seem to be very solid, reliable and in some cases even offer more features than Synology. Although I have used a number of different NAS solutions in the past from a number of different manufacturers such as Drobo, Netgear and Promise Technology, I have had either bad or very mixed experience with them, bringing Synology and QNAP to the top of my list of favorites:\nioSafe 214 2-bay NAS – Based on Synology DSM, this 2-bay enclosure is what I have in my basement as my secondary backup. This little guy is fireproof and waterproof, so if you put two large capacity drives in it (I have 2x 10 TB drives in RAID 0 configuration), it can keep a backup of your data. I have it configured so that it automatically replicates changes from my Synology drive, which works great.\nSynology DS1517+ 5-Bay NAS – This 5-Bay NAS unit is ideal for most photographers out there. It can accommodate up to 5x 10 TB drives. If you were to run it in RAID 5 configuration, you would end up with a total of 40 TB of available space, whereas RAID 6 would result in a 30 TB volume.\nSynology DS1817+ 8-Bay NAS – If you have a lot of data, the Synology DS1817+ can accommodate up to 8x 10 TB drives, giving you 60 TB of total storage in RAID 6 configuration. This is what I currently have with a 2x 10 Gbit network card to take a full advantage of its insane speed. See our Synology DS1817+ announcement article for more details.\nQNAP NAS – Similar to Synology, QNAP also offers a number of different products to suit every need. I have to say though, that their QNAP TVS-882T is an absolute monster. I have it running in a production environment with 5x 8 TB 7200 RPM hard drives, 2x 2 TB SSD drives in a tiered configuration and it screams on my 10 GbE network. It is not as energy efficient as the Synology DS1817+, but if you need the best performance with amazing flexibility, the QNAP TVS-882T is currently my favorite of the bunch. Lastly, unlike Synology storage arrays, QNAP can serve as DAS, NAS and SAN at the same time, on top of being able to output content to your monitor or TV.\nI will be publishing the review of the QNAP TVS-882T later this week, with the Synology DS1817+ to follow.\nHope you found this article useful. If you have any questions regarding storage, please let me know in the comments section below!", "ERIN, Wis. – Kevin Na isn’t the reason the USGA dispatched a swarm of mowers and trimmers to eliminate some of the fescue lining the fairways at Erin Hills, but he’s sure glad they did.\nNa gained traction with an Instagram video Sunday that shed light on the thickness of the rough that is often only steps away from the fairway edges this week at the U.S. Open. After the course received heavy rains early in the week, officials decided to cut back the fescue in large swaths on Nos. 4, 12, 14 and 18 Tuesday afternoon.\nThe USGA insisted that the edits were part of a premeditated plan to respond to the wet conditions and not a reaction to any response from players. Na was caught in the center of the social media firestorm, but he doesn’t believe the changes were a direct consequence of his video.\n“Them mowing the fescue has nothing to do with me,” Na said Wednesday. “I think what they were afraid of was guys losing too many balls, and them having to go back (to the tee). Then there’s a pile-up, and with 156 players, it might have gotten out of hand. So they were preventing it, and I think they were being smart.”\nU.S. Open: Tee times | Full coverage\nNa didn’t realize that the grass had been cut back until he was on the course Tuesday for a nine-hole practice round and some volunteers brought it to his attention. While it may not have been in response to his post, he was still surprised by the response he received from it.\n“I think people overreacted with the video. It was meant to be funny,” Na said. “I was just trying to show the fans the rough, and what we have inside the ropes, because people don’t get to see that close up. And I think it just blew up. … I think if I had laughed about it during the video instead of making it more like the news, I think people would have got a better kick out of it, maybe.”\nRory McIlroy questioned the fescue cuts given the wide fairways in play this week, and Na agreed that the targets at Erin Hills are “generous.” But he also views the fescue as an equalizer, one that could still affect the longer hitters more than those who, like him, average less than 285 yards off the tee.\nNa is making his eighth straight U.S. Open start, highlighted by a seventh-place showing last year at Oakmont. He reiterated that he likes the test Erin Hills presents, and said he regrets that his video was interpreted by some as a knock on the tournament as a whole.\n“The thing that I didn’t like was people made it sound like I don’t enjoy the U.S. Open,” he said. “I love the U.S. Open. I’m honored to be here, happy to be here. I love it, and I think we’re going to have a great week.”", "Illustration of a squeezed spin state used to demonstrate Bell correlations. Credit: Engelsen et al. ©2017 American Physical Society (Phys.org)—Physicists have demonstrated Bell correlations in the largest physical system to date—an ensemble of half a million atoms at an ultracold temperature of 25 µK. The presence of Bell correlations indicates that all of the atoms share nonlocal quantum correlations with each other. These correlations could one day be used in quantum information systems and to design new tests of quantum mechanics.\nThe researchers, led by Mark Kasevich at Stanford University, have published a paper on the large system exhibiting Bell-type quantum correlations in a recent issue of Physical Review Letters.\n\"Our results illustrate the richness of quantum many-body states involving many entangled systems,\" Kasevich told Phys.org. \"Little is known at this frontier.\"\nIn order to use quantum correlations for practical purposes, the correlations must be measured. Until recently, the only way to measure Bell correlations in a system of atoms (or other components) was to measure the correlations between all of the individual atoms. But a few years ago, physicists developed a new method of measuring Bell correlations that does not require measuring individual components, but can be done by measuring the collective properties of the system as a whole. Last year, scientists used this method to demonstrate Bell correlations in a Bose-Einstein condensate of around 500 atoms.\nIn the new study, the researchers have increased this number to a record 500,000 atoms. To do this, they used a method called spin squeezing, in which they started by preparing all of the atoms' spins in a superposition of up and down states. The researchers then reduced (or \"squeezed\") the uncertainty of one spin component below the value allowed for uncorrelated atoms, which simultaneously increases the uncertainty of the conjugate spin component to satisfy the uncertainty principle. By making collective measurements on the spin properties of the entire system, the researchers demonstrated that the spin states exhibit correlations beyond what is expected by classical physics.\nCurrently, it's unclear exactly how nonlocal Bell correlations may be used in such large systems. In smaller systems, Bell correlations have been used to generate random numbers, which have applications in cryptography. The physicists also expect that the experimental methods used here could be used to test the predictions of quantum theory.\n\"We hope to test quantum mechanics in news ways with spatially extended versions of the states used in this work,\" Kasevich said. \"Imagine a quantum many-body state extending over one meter involving thousands of correlated particles. The squeezed states used for this work also have practical application in sensors, as they can be exploited to reduce sensor noise.\"\nExplore further: Natural systems show nonlocal correlations\nMore information: Nils J. Engelsen, Rajiv Krishnakumar, Onur Hosten, and Mark A. Kasevich. \"Bell Correlations in Spin-Squeezed States of 500 000 Atoms.\" Physical Review Letters. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.140401", "A new technique enables scientists to break down the collective atomic motion in a molecule into elementary components. Credit: KTH Royal Institute of Technology Every molecule holds a complex landscape of moving atoms – and the ability to single out and examine individual nuclear vibrations may unlock to the secret to predicting and controlling chemical reactions. Now a new method, developed by researchers in Sweden, enables biotech researchers to do just that.\nThe new method offers unprecedented detail in measuring molecular motion and energy – enabling better control and understanding of chemical reactions in the field of biotechnology research.\nThe technique, which was recently published in Nature Communications, uses X-ray scattering to measure the specific movements of atoms in a molecule with extreme energy resolution.\n\"The idea is based on exciting a molecule to a high-energy, localized state,\" says Victor Kimberg, a researcher in the department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The X-ray radiation that it emits then scans the energy landscape of the molecule with a level of precision that Kimberg compares to observing the movements of individual insects from on top of a mountain.\nEvery molecule has its own energy \"landscape\", or the full multidimensional spectrum of motion that atoms undergo when the molecule is energized. These motions include bending and stretching of bonds. Expressed in geometric terms, the relationships of atoms to one another in a single molecule are among the key things scientists need to know in order to determine a molecule's potential energy surface (PES) – an important value in the study of molecular structures, properties and reactivity.\n\"The PES is useful for processes such as catalysis and photochemistry,\" Kimberg says.\nFor the first time, the technique enables scientists to break down the collective atomic motion in a molecule into elementary components, he says.\n\"We can now go further than examining the collective multidimensional atomic motion in a molecule, and look at specific vibrations along selected reaction coordinates,\" he says. \"We are not aware of any other way to do this, so it looks like our idea is new.\"\nTypically when a molecule is excited, the only measurements available show all atomic motion simultaneously. The full PES landscape is complex with all types of vibrations. Kimberg says that with the method they propose, x-ray photon energy can be tuned to excite vibrations of a singled-out type of nuclear motion – which he says can serve as a basis for developing methods of reaction control.\n\"We show clearly that tuning the x-ray photon energy in resonance with one core-excited state induces only symmetric stretching motion; while tuning to another core-excited state excites exclusively the bending motion,\" he says.\nThe measurements were conducted at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) synchrotron laboratory in Zurich, in collaboration with the KTH group, comprised of Kimberg, Faris Gel'mukhanov and Hans Ågren, who were responsible for the underlying theory and simulations.\nExplore further: High-energy electrons synced to ultrafast laser pulse to probe how vibrational states of atoms change in time\nMore information: Rafael C. Couto et al. Selective gating to vibrational modes through resonant X-ray scattering, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14165" ]

[ "Before he became conductor of the Detroit Symphony, Ossip Gabrilowitsch was known as one of the great Russian-born piano soloists. His technique was legendary, earning him acclaim as the \"poet of the piano\" by no less a personage than Bruno Walter, Even after taking up the Detroit post (indeed, Orchestra Hall was built as a condition of his accepting the position) he continued to concertize as a soloist.\nThis disc offers 15 of his piano recordings made during the 1920's, before his illness and untimely death in 1936 at the age of 58. (His wife, Clara Clemens, daughter of Mark Twain, survived into the 1960's). Of historical interest are two of his own short compositions, Melody in E Minor, Op. 8, and Caprice, Op. 3.\nHowever, the real gems in this collection are his justifiably famous duet with Harold Bauer of the Arensky Waltz, and the equally famous performance with the Flonzaley Quartet of the Schumann Quintet for Piano and Strings in E-Flat, Op. 44. The latter is in a slightly abridged version - no doubt to meet the limitations of 78 rpm acoustic rercording technology - but the music is superb. Very highly recommended." ]

[ "Great book containing wonderful poems from a variety of Indiana poets.", "This is a first-class anthology of pianists who recorded for Atlantic Records the first 35 years of its history. It also serves as tribute to two legendary producers, Nesuhi Ertegun (brother of label founder Ahmet) and Joel Dorn, who respectively produced most of the tracks.\nHighlights include Ray Charles' gospel/R&B \"Sweet Sixteen Bars,\" Thelonius Monk (w/Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers) on the swinging \"In Walked Bud,\" Junior Mance's jaunty, slowed down \"Sweet Georgia Brown\" from 1966, McCoy Tyner and some John Coltrane sidemen on Coltrane's \"Lady Bird,\" and Erroll Garner's elegant rendition of Jerome Kern's \"The Way You Look Tonight,\" from 1950. The best compliment to pay this collection is, unlike most piano compilations and even single performer piano albums, it is piano for contemplation, not totally relaxation.", "This book is full of nice and easy piano solos which are great to just pull out and play if you need a break from your more demanding piano pieces. I like all but two of the songs- Behind the Waterfall by Lanz and the one called Ocala- they're too repetative and are boring to play. These aren't the exact music that the artists themselves play. -They're slightly simplified versions that are almost completely as pretty as the originals.", "McFarren is the greatest gift that any piano teacher can give to any beginning piano student, and the greatest treasure that any beginning piano student can ever acquire, because every student needs to know what scale playing skills are expected for piano virtuosity. And to me, MacFarren is where piano playing begins. Piano virtuosity is all about about scales and arpeggios. Scales and arpeggios in all 24 keys are the foundation of all piano virtuosity. If you cannot correctly play scales and arpeggios in every key, you cannot play piano. And until you have mastered scales and arpeggios in every key, you have not mastered piano. Mastery of the MacFarren Scale and Arpeggio Manual will enable any student to wiz through any undergraduate or graduate piano audition when it comes to the performance requirements of all types of rapid ascending and descending scales in parallel and contrary motion from the middle or the far ends of the piano. I still don't have the words with which to declare how invaluable this manual has been to me as an adult beginner. And so I will just conclude by saying that the knowledge that I am acquiring in the MacFarren Scale and Arpeggio Manual is making me very confident that four semesters from now, after never having had the skills to ever be accepted as an undergraduate piano major, I will have caught up with every piano virtuoso and will have much success in my graduate audition as a piano major. As the first reviewer LoGo states, this manual is indeed \"The most complete scale book out there\" and has been ever since 1915, the year that it was first published by G. Schirmer.", "Walt Whitman is a genius of a poet. He takes what seems like existential ramblings, and turns them into beautiful and self-reflective pieces of art. This is not just poetry, it's literally a thesis on life, a philosophical treasure, a song that celebrates being alive, a picture depicting the cycles of life, an ode to the SOUL - simple thoughts, taken to extraordinary levels by an extraordinary man.\n\nAlthough to some, the poems may be too open-ended, long, tedious or verbose to appear enjoyable - but, when you lay bare the meaning behind Whitman's words, you cannot help but feel empowered, aware, introspective, a believer in life, the lover of a human body, and a worshiper of the human soul. What more can you ask from a poet, and his poetry? Read it, live it, and love it!", "Tom Miller's book reminded me of all the reasons I'll never be able to move back to Chicago, much as I love Sweet Home. He knows the border towns and back roads better than most, and tells stories of those places and the people who live in those towns and on those roads like both a journalist and a poet. I thought I knew the history of some of the places he writes about, but now, I realize how much I still have to learn. Learning from Tom Miller is a pleasure. And this book is a treasure.", "A brave venture into woke Jewish (and all kinds of other) territory, \"Treyf Pesach\" begins by Obenzinger sitting the reader down to explain in his typically disarming way how he has employed multiple forms and literary traditions to sell you his wares. In a time when we are reeling from a grotesque showman at the head of the worlds most disgraced settler nation, Obenzinger uses talent, humor, frank honesty, and deep searching to wring the best out of a pitch. The deceptively plain language will hook you and keep you reading. From the poet who proclaimed years ago the day of the exquisite poet is kaput comes a new tool and treasure to help us get through what weve all been going through.", "Piano solo in its classic sense: dense intelligent improvisition.\nAnd this Chuck Marohnic swings and flies too and fro. Switching from a comic reading of Monk (\"Melodious Thunk\") to serious cerebral Chick Corea (\"Windows\") without loosing you, thats what I call pianism. And for all, Marohnic swings and lets his piano sing. Yes, M is for Mozart, and uhh Mehldau or Moran, but listen up to Marohnic at his piano. It gets to you, and you will love it.\nVery strong playing, technique, and great music.", "\"Poetry is a necessary part of our planet.\" Edward Hirsch\n\nPoet and critic, Edward Hirsch offers the reader an opportunity to experience poetry and the world in a new way in his book, Poet's Choice.\n\nHirsch examines and reflects on the works of more than 130 poets from all over the world and throughout history. He believes poetry is a meaningful way to look at the world and life. The challenge is to experience and appreciate life through the beauty of poetry written by both well-known and obscure poets.\n\nFor those who love poetry or have a strong desire to experience the ideas and concepts of life and death and all things in between, Hirsch's comprehensive volume is a treasure. It is worth the journey just to read his perspectives.\n\nArmchair Interviews says: Hirsch's Poet's Choice is not for the beginner unless they have a deep desire to learn to love the written word, what it communicates and how it touches us all.", "This excellent journal of tanka edited by Claire Everett contains the highest quality work of tanka poets from around the globe. I highly recommend it.", "Since Alan and Marilyn Bergman are both loving and gifted poets who can translate ordinary words into fun,sensuous, or beautiful images, I'm thrilled to find this most Complete combination of their lyrics with its musical sources simply because Amazon offers so many options. There is NO single best lyricists, but the Bergman's amazing concepts are enhanced because some of our finest composers of songs seek them out,as well as performers who are gratified to have the double gift of music amplified by often astonishing imagery. A treasure!", "The piano to own. Absolutely love this thing. The P-255 sounds nearly identical to a true grand piano, and the ability to completely customize the piano voice from sustain pedal resonance to string resonance to reverb settings to even being able to tune the instrument like pianos were tuned during the Baroch period, really make this instrument versatile and excellent. The synthetic ivory keys are incredible as well. I set this up with an inuke 3000 amp and connected it to two peavey 12M stage monitors... and it is indistinguishable to my untrained ear, from an actual Yamaha cf3s concert grande. Buy this thing yesterday.", "Lots of action -- lots of interesting locations for the story from Africa to Central America- The ending was so so-- it was unclear what happened to the \"treasure of good and silver items\"-- the discovery f the \"other treasure\" seemed familiar from another recent novel.", "I received this book as a gift from my piano teacher. I have approximately one and a half years of lessons and this is at a perfect level for me. It's challenging but not impossible. The first piece I worked on is Days of Wine and Roses which has taken me about 5 weeks to perfect and get comfortably under my fingers. It is a beautiful arrangement and sounds much richer and more complex than a typical \"easy arrangement\" might sound. The other arrangements appear to be similar and so I highly recommend this book for piano learners that love Henry Mancini songs.", "These recordings by one of the well known Polish pianists, can be found on other labels, sometimes with better quality sound.", "I bought this CD a month ago, and the three other CDs in the series, in an upscale thrift in Easton MD (indeed, a very upscale town), in a previous 4-disc edition issued 30 years ago by Musical Heritage Society and Chandos. Having long loved the choral, solo and to some degree orchestral works of Sir Arnold Bax, I was immediately intrigued. Once home, I was blown over. First, the performances - Eric Parkin was well known among UK pianists for most of the 20th Century because he knew the repertoire of his fellows every which way - he was a consummate artist, for whom many UK composers composed what then were called \"occasional works\". A first listen is a virtual lesson in phrasing and nuance, sensing the poetry of the places and friends so honored in the titles. As I am a music lover and historian, I am loathe to evaluate the compositions - though to my mind the works are at the top of the novelty of their time, historically extremely significant - and inspiring. ... I am disappointed that the CDs are now so rare as to push up the apparent out-of-print price. HELLO, CHANDOS RECORDS LLC, your late English composer and performer's works cry out for your attention - surely you can find a way to reissue and to market these fine recordings. They are part and parcel of UK artistry in the 20th Century. ... However, for those seeking a reference here on Amazon - go buy it while you can.", "The book is well made. It stays open well on the piano. I haven't gotten to it yet, but if it's as good as the first volume it's going to be excellent!", "I have to think this is the one CD I would save. Great music plus old piano rolls, and I love Piano rolls, make this CD spectacular. Just decided to buy a back-up.", "I've been playing the piano for over 70 years and much of my music became very brittle and unusable. It was great to find so many of my favorite pieces all in one book!", "This book is very well thought out comments from a well traveled English Teacher - Poet\nThe man in kindly and insightful and I enjoyed the book immensely", "Not the seller's fault, but mine. This model GW-US54Mini2W does not work with the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-307 digital piano it was intended for. So, I haven't even used it. It does not work with the piano. I hope I can exchange it for the right model GW-US54GXS, since the purchase was from the manufacturer distributor.", "I bought this to light up a dark corner where my piano sits, and my grandson is now thrilled to play the piano in this bright corner! Just pull it out and plug it in. GREAT value. I would buy another one in a second! Also, great service from this seller. Packaged very smartly so all parts arrive in fabulous shape.", "COULD NOT BE BETTER\n\nTwo of my favorite, and distinctive, Mozart Piano Concertos, performed with zest, deep feeling, style, grace, wit, elegance and a just a touch of jazz around the edges.\nGreat sound from the orchestra, the dialogue between them and the piano is human. Mozart meets the modern age with his customary good form.\n\nI have probably far too many recordings Mozart's inexhaustible piano concertos, but this one is at the very top of the list.", "This 3 CD set includes all of the Prokofiev piano sonatas (including both versions of No. 5 and the tiny, interesting fragment of No. 10) along with the complete Visions Fugitives, Sarcasms, the Four Pieces (Op. 4), and Toccata. All are extremely well performed, and the recording is excellent (a surprise, since this is a re-issue of an '80s Sony digital recording, and many of those were unbearably harsh-sounding).\nMs. Nissman demonstrates a very high degree of musicianship on these recordings. Literally every one of these performances is a candidate for best-ever recording of the particular piece. Considering the biggies with whom she is competing (e.g., Pogorelich in Sonata No. 6, Horowitz in No. 7, Richter in No. 8), that's saying a lot. Throw in the good modern recording, and buying this set becomes a no-brainer for people who like Prokofiev's piano music.\nI can hardly wait for Nissman's forthcoming Prokofiev Piano Concertos series, especially No 2, which has never had a totally satisfactory recording (if only someone could combine the good points of Browning's and Feltsman's versions of that one).", "This is a very beautiful and melodious piano piece that is a touch haunting, melancholy and sweet, and perfectly showcases the mother and child scene for which it was originally composed. Excellent! It brings a tear to my eye....", "Victor P. Gendrano's second book, Haiku and Tanka Harvest, is a\njourney into the heart and soul of the poet.\nHis poetic works are honest, sincere and, above all, will\nleave permanent footprints in the reader's heart.\nFrom loneliness, heartache, joy, and happiness, this\nbook weaves a tapestry of his life's winding road.\nHaiku and Tanka Harvest is a must addition\nto any poet's library.\n\nPamela A. Babusci, Editor of Moonbathing: a journal of women's tanka", "Another treasure from the desk of Tim Keller. Small book packed with insight gleaned from years of pondering God and His ways.", "A poet of a dying sentiment, embracing its death, wondering where life will come from--this book is wonderful. In The Last Great Glass Meat Million, Menesini plays with the words and the scenes of his childhood in ways that bring this lawnchair and gravel lifestyle to our minds in burning ways, whether it was like our own childhood, or whether this is your first encounter with that charcoal-town entity. And then, there are later poems, too, bringing the idea to maturity in a linoleum-never-dies sense.\n\nMenesini is one of my favorite poets, and this book is one of the reasons.", "A great collection of recordings from a great jazz pianist. Don Ewell has few equals, and maybe non living at this point.", "I love this poet's book, Life Through Celestial Lenses and I love this book just as much. I don't normally pick a favorite poem from books of poetry I've reviewed, but like the reviewer before me, my very favorite from this collection is entitled \"The Hem of His Garment.\" The reason being, this is not a boastful poet, full of pride. This is what he said:\n\n\"Now, being spiritually cleansed\nThat doesn't make me better than other men.\"\nRebecca Scarberry\n@Scarberryfields on Twitter\n\nI highly recommend you purchase this great collection of poetry!", "Whoever transcribed these songs for the piano didn't do a great job. I was a little disappointed that they all included the vocal line (with another vocal line above it put an octave higher than sung), and not the actual music you hear backing her up.", "Perfect size that can carry many piano books at one time. Bought one for my daughter and one for her piano teacher and had them both embossed locally with their monograms in red. Both were tickled." ]

[ "What's the Largest Waterfall in the World? What's the Largest Waterfall in the World? By Molika Ashford, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor | June 13, 2016 04:19pm ET MORE Angel Falls is the loftiest falls on land. Buckle up! Credit: Alice Nerr / Shutterstock.com The tallest waterfall in the world is Venezuela's Angel Falls, which plunges 3,212 feet (979 meters), according to the National Geographic Society. The falls descend over the edge of Auyán-Tepuí, which means Devil's Mountain, a flat-topped elevated area of land with sheer cliff sides located in Canaima National Park in the Bolivar State of Venezuela. Angel Falls is named after an American explorer and bush pilot, Jimmy Angel, who crashed his plane on Auyán-Tepuí in 1937. The waterfall is fed by the Churún River, which spills over the edge of the mountain, barely touching the cliff face. The height of the fall is so great that the stream of water atomizes into a cloud of mist , then trickles back together at the bottom of the plunge and continues on through a cascading run of rapids. Angel Falls' total height, which is more than a half-mile (almost 1 kilometer), includes both the free-falling plunge and a stretch of steep rapids at its base. But even discounting these rapids, the falls' long uninterrupted drop of 2,648 feet (807 m) is still a record breaker and is around 15 times the height of North America's Niagara Falls, according to the World Waterfall Database, a website maintained by waterfall enthusiasts. [ See Stunning 360-Degree Views of Spectacular Victoria Falls (Video) ] However, Angel Falls is only the tallest waterfall on land. Technically, the largest known waterfall lies underwater, between Greenland and Iceland. The Denmark Strait cataract is more than three times the height of Angel Falls, dropping water a whopping 11,500 feet (3,505 m). Niagara Falls span the border between the United States and Canada. Though remarkably wide, Niagara is not the tallest or highest-volume waterfall in the world. Credit: Sayran Dreamstime The underwater waterfall is formed by the temperature difference between the water on each side of the Denmark Strait. When the colder, denser water from the east meets the warmer, lighter water from the west, the cold water flows down and underneath the warm water. The Denmark Strait cataract is also the the top waterfall in terms of volume, carrying 175 million cubic feet (5.0 million cubic meters) of water. Back on land, pinpointing the largest waterfall is a little trickier because there is no universal standard for designating what counts as a waterfall, according to the World Waterfalls Database . Some waterfalls consist of a single, sheer drop; others include a gentler cascade over rapids; and still others involve a combination of the two (like Angel Falls). The World Waterfalls Database lists Inga Falls, an area of rapids on the Congo River, as the waterfall with the largest volume. More than 11 million gallons (46 million liters) of water flow through Inga Falls each second. However, without a significant vertical drop, Inga Falls may not count as a waterfall under other classifications. Of waterfalls that do include a vertical drop, the waterfall with the greatest volume is the 45-foot-tall (14 meters) Khone Falls, on the border between Laos and Cambodia. Spilling 2.5 million gallons (9.5 million liters) of the Mekong River every second, Khone Falls' flow is nearly double the volume of Niagara Falls. This article was first published on Aug. 10, 2010. Live Science writer Kacey Deamer contributed to an update of this article." ]

[ "Top 10 Highest Waterfalls in The World Top 10 Highest Waterfalls in The World by Ejaz Khan A true spectacle, proof of nature’s forces and wonders of mother nature. A waterfall is one of the most amazing creations that nature has to offer. There are so many beautiful, greatest, biggest and most amazing extraordinary waterfalls around the world. The following is a list of top 10 Highest Waterfalls in The World. 10. Browne Falls Browne Falls is a waterfall above Doubtful Sound, Located in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, with Height of 2,744 feet (836 m) is the world’s 10th highest waterfall. Their source is a tarn called Lake Browne which when full, overflows down the side of the mountain face 9. James Bruce Falls The highest measured waterfall in the continent of North America and ninth tallest in the world. Located in Princess Louisa Marine Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada, it stems from a small snowfield and cascades 2,755 feet (840 m) down to Princess Louisa Inlet. 8. Pu’uka’oku Falls Pu’uka’oku Falls is a waterfall in Hawaii, the highest in the United States and eighth in the world. It consists of several jumps. In total, the waterfall measuring 2,756 feet (840 m) high. 7. Balåifossen Located in Hordaland, Norway, Balåifossen has a total drop of 2,788 feet (850 m) and is in accordance with the World Waterfall Database therefore the second highest waterfall in Norway and Europe, and the seventh highest waterfall in the world. 6. Vinnufossen Located in east of the village of Sunndalsøra in the municipality of Sunndal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway, Vinnufossen is the tallest waterfall in Europe and the sixth tallest in the world with height 2,822 feet (860 m). The falls are part of the river Vinnu which flows down from the Vinnufjellet mountain and it is fed from the Vinnufonna glacier. 5. Catarata Yumbilla Situated in Peru, Amazonas Region the Yumbilla Falls is the world’s fifth tallest waterfall. Although the waterfall is magnificent due to its height, the volume of water is not large. The height of falls is 2,938 feet (896 m). 4. Olo’upena Falls Located in the north-eastern part of Hawaiian Island of Molokai Oloupena Falls, is considered to be the fourth highest waterfalls in the world with height of 2,953 feet (900 m). The falls have formed on a short, seasonal stream and are falling over the edge of one of the tallest sea-side cliffs of the world, located between the Pelekunu and Wailau valleys. They have gnawed a groove in the cliff-face and can be observed only from the ocean or air. 3. Cataratas las Tres Hermanas Location: Ayacucho, Peru: This waterfall doesn’t have a particularly large drainage, but there’s no denying the falls are tall. Google Earth elevation profiles support the estimate of height as being 3000′ (914m). At number 3 in list of Highest Waterfalls in The World 2. Tugela Falls Tugela Falls is the world’s second highest waterfalls. The total drop in five free-leaping falls is 948 m (3,110 ft). They are located in the Drakensberg (Dragon’s Mountains) in the Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Republic of South Africa. They are easily viewed after a heavy rain from the main travel road into the park, glistening from the reflection of the late afternoon sun. 1. Angel Falls Angel Falls (waterfall of the deepest place) is a waterfall in Venezuela. It is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall, with a height of 979 m (3,212 ft) and a plunge of 807 m (2,648 ft). The waterfall drops over the edge of the Auyantepui mountain in the Canaima National Park in the Gran Sabana region of Bolívar State.", "The British Isles' Extreme Bodies of Water - Major Rivers Of The British Isles Major Rivers Of The British Isles The British Isles' Extreme Bodies of Water The British Isles consist of six thousand, two hundred and eighty nine islands, one hundred and forty of which are inhabited, which have a combined coastline of twelve thousand, eight hundred and ten miles. The islands consist of two sovereign states, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and two self governing crown dependencies, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, which between them are home to around four thousand miles of rivers and canals. Listed below are the extreme bodies of water found within the British Isles. The lists include the longest rivers, the largest freshwater lakes, the largest (man made) reservoirs, the largest (sea) bays, the longest (man made) canals and the highest (tallest drop) waterfalls. Longest River - River Shannon, Republic of Ireland - 240 miles. Largest Lake - Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland - Surface area of 147.87 square miles. Largest Reservoir - Silent Valley Reservoir, Northern Ireland - (pictured above) Surface area of 13.9 square miles. Largest Bay - Moray Firth, Scotland - Surface area of 12,000 square miles. Largest Natural Harbour - Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland - 120 square miles. Longest Canal - Leeds / Liverpool Canal, England - 142.6 miles. Highest Waterfall - Eas a Chual Alluinn, Scotland - 200 meter drop. Longest River - River Thames - 215 miles. Largest Lake - Lake Windermere - Surface area of 5.69 square miles Largest Reservoir - Kielder Water - Surface area of 10.86 square miles. Largest Bay - The Wash - Surface area of 100 square miles. Largest Natural Harbour - Poole Harbour, Dorset - 14 square miles. Longest Canal - Leeds / Liverpool Canal - 142.6 miles. Highest Waterfall - Cautley Spout - 175 meter drop. Longest River - River Severn, England / Wales – 220 miles. Largest Lake - Loch Lomond, Scotland - Surface area of 27.45 square miles. Largest Reservoir - Kielder Water, England - Surface area of 10.86 square miles. Largest Bay - Moray Firth, Scotland - Surface area of 12,000 square miles. Largest Natural Harbour - Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands - 120 square miles. Longest Canal - Leeds / Liverpool Canal, England - 142.6 miles. Highest Waterfall - Eas a Chuall Alluinn, Scotland - 200 meter drop. Longest River - River Sulby - 11 miles. Largest Lake - Mooragh Park Lake - Surface area of 40 square acres. Largest Reservoir - Sulby Reservoir - Surface area of 128 square acres. Largest Bay - Ramsey Bay - Surface area of 216 square miles. Largest Natural Harbour - Douglas Harbour - 3 square miles. Highest Waterfall - Ineen Vooar - 40 meter drop. Longest River - River Bann - 42 miles. Largest Lake - Lough Neagh - Surface area of 147.87 square miles. Largest Reservoir - Silent Valley Reservoir - Surface area of 13.9 square miles. Largest Bay - Lough Foyle - Surface area of 2,204 hectares. Longest Canal - Ulster Canal - 46 miles. Highest Waterfall - Ness Wood Falls - 9 meter drop. Longest River - River Shannon - 240 miles. Largest Lake - Lake Corrib - Surface area of 110 square miles Largest Reservoir - Poulaphouca Reservoir - Surface area of 7 square miles. Largest Bay - Donegal Bay - Surface area of 616 square miles. Largest Natural Harbour - Cork Harbour - 27 square miles. Longest Canal - Grand Canal - 82 miles. Highest Waterfall - Power's Court Waterfall - 121 meter drop. Longest River - River Tay - 120 miles. Largest Lake - Loch Lomond - Surface area of 27.45 square miles. Largest Reservoir - Carron Valley Reservoir - Surface area of 1.51 square miles. Largest Bay - Moray Firth - Surface area of 12,000 square miles. Largest Natural Harbour - Scapa Flow - 120 square miles. Longest Canal - Caledonian Canal - 62 miles. Highest Waterfall - Eas a Chuall Alluinn - 200 meter drop.", "Thornton Tomasetti - Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Thornton Tomasetti See all Featured Tall Buildings Globally About Thornton Tomasetti Thornton Tomasetti provides engineering design, investigation and analysis services to clients worldwide on projects of every size and level of complexity. They fulfill the needs of their clients at every stage in the building life cycle through seven integrated practices in Structural Engineering, Façade Engineering, Forensics, Renewal, Construction Engineering, Property Loss Consulting and Sustainability. Founded in 1956, Thornton Tomasetti is an 850-person organization of engineering, architecture, sustainability and support professionals collaborating from offices across the United States and in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Dueling Construction Timelines Create Competition for World’s Tallest Structure 20 Dec 2016 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates The race to the top has just gotten tighter, with two rising structures in the Middle East battling for the world's tallest title. In a recent interview, CTBUH… World’s Tallest Religious Skyscraper Under Construction in Vrindavan, Mathura 9 Nov 2016 – Mathura, India A 213-meter structure which, upon completion, could be the world’s tallest religious tower, is currently under construction in Vrindavan, Mathura. Work is already… CTBUH Names Shanghai Tower “Best Tall Building Worldwide” for 2016 4 Nov 2016 – Shanghai, China The CTBUH Awards Jury has named Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China the title of “Best Tall Building Worldwide” at the 15th Annual CTBUH Awards Ceremony and Dinner,… Developer Unveils Downtown Los Angeles Tower with Cantilevered Swimming Pools 10 Oct 2016 – Los Angeles, United States With the Downtown LA building boom reaching new heights, a developer is proposing the most futuristic plan yet: a nearly 60-story condo tower where home buyers will swim… Los Angeles Skyscraper Tops Out as Tallest Building in Western US 6 Sep 2016 – Los Angeles, United States Construction workers on September 3 placed a 10-ton spire atop the Wilshire Grand Tower, which is now architecturally topped out and poised to become the tallest building… Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Nears Completion in Chicago 12 Jul 2016 – Chicago, United States Work is wrapping up on the new home for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, soon to be Streeterville’s newest medical building. With construction progressing on time… Shanghai Tower Installs Signboard Commemorating Megatall Status 17 May 2016 – Shanghai, China The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) joined officials of Shanghai Tower in unveiling the commemorative signboard designating Shanghai Tower the tallest… World’s Fastest Elevator to be Installed in China’s Tallest Building 12 May 2016 – Shanghai, China A vertical transportation company has developed what it claims is the world's fastest elevator, featuring a speed of 20.6 meters per second. The company will apply the… Shanghai Tower Pays Tribute to Workers with Wall of Honor 29 Apr 2016 – Shanghai, China The names of over 4,000 workers, designers, and engineers who played a part in the design and construction of Shanghai Tower have been put on a new 60-meter-long Wall of… Future World’s Tallest is 20 Percent Complete 16 Mar 2016 – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which is set to be the world’s tallest building, is over 20 percent complete, according to developers. The planned one-kilometer tower has… Future Tallest West Coast Skyscraper Structurally Tops Out in LA 9 Mar 2016 – Los Angeles, United States The future tallest West Coast skyscraper, the Wilshire Grand Center in downtown Los Angeles, hit a milestone on March 8 when crews hoisted the final beam to the roof of… New York’s Via 57 West set to Open in March 25 Feb 2016 – New York City, United States Via 57 West, the tetrahedron-shaped Manhattan apartment tower designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and developed by the Durst Organization, is preparing to welcome its… New Jersey’s Future Tallest Tower Downsizes by 1", "Most Misheard Song Lyrics Include 'Blinded By the Light,' 'Purple Haze,' 'Rock The Casbah' And, Yes, 'Tiny Dancer' | The Huffington Post Most Misheard Song Lyrics Include 'Blinded By the Light,' 'Purple Haze,' 'Rock The Casbah' And, Yes, 'Tiny Dancer' 07/11/2013 10:46 am ET | Updated Jul 13, 2013 4.8k Misheard song lyrics are the stuff of legend, with Elton John's \"Tiny Dancer\" being a canonical example of what happens when inflection doesn't go as planned (no, it's not \"hold me closer, Tony Danza\"). Spotify tried to lend a touch of science to our collective inability to hear certain lines as musicians intended them, and conducted a poll to identify the most misquoted song lyrics of all time. Coming in at No. 1 on the list is Manfred Mann's Earth Band, whose \"Blinded By the Light\" is often mistaken as including the line \"wrapped up like a douche when you're rollin' in the night.\" The actual line? \"Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.\" Take a look at the Spotify's Top 10 Misquoted Song Lyrics below and stream a playlist of the mistakenly catchy tracks. What lyrics do you struggle with the most? 1. Blinded by the light...wrapped up like a douche when you're rollin’ in the night / Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Blinded By the Light) – 52% 2. ’Scuse me, while I kiss this guy / ‘Scuse me, while I kiss the sky (Jimi Hendrix, Purple Haze) – 19% 3. Rock the cat box / Rock the Casbah (The Clash, Rock The Casbah) – 14% 4. Hold me closer Tony Danza / Hold me closer tiny dancer (Elton John, Tiny Dancer) – 13% 5. There’s a bathroom on the right / There’s a bad moon on the rise (Credence Clearwater Revival, Bad Moon Rising) – 12% 6. Take me down to a very nice city / Take me down to paradise city (Guns N’ Roses, Paradise City) – 10% 7. Animal! / Panama! (Van Halen, Panama) – 9% 8. Like a cheese stick / Like a G6 (Far East Movement, Like a G6) – 8% 9. Don't go Jason waterfalls / Don’t go chasing waterfalls (TLC, Waterfalls) – 7% 10. I blow bubbles when you are not here / My world crumbles when you are not near (Macy Gray, I Try) – 4% Grammy Awards 2013", "Lincoln Cathedral, the world's tallest building, circa 1300-1549 Lincoln Cathedral, the world's tallest building, circa 1300-1549 Lincoln Cathedral, the world's tallest building, circa 1300-1549 Blackleaf #1Sep 20th, 2007 An article on Lincoln Cathedral, in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, in eastern England, which has the fantastic record of being the world's tallest building way back between around 1300 to 1549, when its extremely tall spire blew down in a storm. It was the first building on the planet to exceed the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was the tallest building in the world for 4000 years before Lincoln Cathedral's tall central tower and spire were built between 1307 and 1311. The world's tallest building nowadays is currently Taipei 101 in Taiwan which is 1670 feet in height. When Lincoln Cathedral was the world's tallest building it was a mere 525 feet in height, tiny in comparison with modern buildings but extremely tall to the people of the time. Lincoln Cathedral stands on the sight of two other cathedrals. The first was destroyed by fire in the 1140s and was rebuilt. That was then destroyed by an earthquake in 1185. To this day, Lincoln Cathedral still has the tallest medieval tower in Europe. Lincoln Cathedral, in Lincolnshire, eastern England, was the tallest building in the world, from just after 1300 to 1549. The spire that made it the world's tallest building is no longer there having been blown down in a storm in 1549. It was the first building on the planet to exceed the height of the Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt, which was the world's tallest building for 4000 years. Lincoln Cathedral (in full The Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln, or sometimes St. Mary's Cathedral) is a historic cathedral in Lincoln (external - login to view) in England (external - login to view) and seat of the Diocese of Lincoln (external - login to view) in the Church of England (external - login to view). It was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years, but the central tower collapsed in the sixteenth century and was not rebuilt. It is highly regarded by architectural scholars; the eminent Victorian (external - login to view) writer John Ruskin (external - login to view) declared, \"I have always held... that the cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have.\" History William the Conqueror (external - login to view) ordered the first cathedral to be built in Lincoln, in 1072 (external - login to view). Before that, St. Mary's Church in Lincoln was a mother church (external - login to view) but not a cathedral (external - login to view), and the seat of the diocese was at Dorchester Abbey in Dorchester-on-Thames (external - login to view), Oxfordshire. Lincoln was more central to a diocese that stretched from the Thames to the Humber. Bishop Remigius (external - login to view) built the first Lincoln Cathedral on the present site, finishing it in 1092 (external - login to view) and then dying two days before it was to be consecrated (external - login to view) on May 9 (external - login to view) of that year. About fifty years later, most of that building was destroyed in a fire. Bishop Alexander (external - login to view) rebuilt and expanded the cathedral, but it was destroyed by an earthquake (external - login to view) about forty years later, in 1185 (external - login to view). Norman West front After the earthquake, a new bishop was appointed. The new bishop was St Hugh of Lincoln (external - login to view), originally from Avalon (external - login to view), France (external - login to view); he began a massive rebuilding and expansion programme. Rebuilding began at the east end of the cathedral, with an apse and five small radiating chapels. The central nave was then built in the Early English Gothic (external - login to view) style. Lincoln Cathedral soon followed other architectural advances of the time - pointed arches, flying buttresses (external - login to view) and ribb", "Tallest Mountains in the World South America Tallest Mountains in the World The world’s tallest mountains are some of the most majestic and beautiful things that one can be blessed enough to witness in their lifetime. They are all located in Asia and each reach an altitude of over eight thousand meters in height. There are only fourteen mountains in the world that can boast such a height. Below are the ten highest of these fourteen mountains. Mount Everest. Standing at about 29,029 feet (8,848 meters), Everest boasts the top spot for the tallest mountain in the world. It is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China and is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range. Although it is the tallest mountain and attracts many climbers of both advanced and limited climbing skill, it is one of the easier mountains to climb. Don’t be mistaken by what we mean by easier, there is still the danger posed by weather changes, winds, temperature and altitude sickness that can make such a long climb difficult, but the terrain is a lot more simple to take than some of the other tallest mountains like K2 or Nanga Parbat. K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) is located on the border between Pakistan and China and is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range. It is the second highest mountain in the world and is a far more treacherous climb than Everest. In fact, one of every four people that attempts to reach the summit at about 28,251 feet (8,611 meters), dos not live to see the bottom again. Of all of the highest mountains, above eight thousand meters, K2 has the third highest mortality rate. Kangchenjunga, once thought to be the tallest mountain in the world, was stated as the third highest mountain at 28,169 feet (8,586 meters) in 1848. Its name translates to “The Five Treasures of the Snow” and each of these peaks is said to represent the five repositories of God: gold, silver, gems, grain and holy books. This mountain is sacred to Kirant religion and because of this when the first expedition to the summit occurred in 1955; the British exploration team stopped a few feet away from the actual summit out of respect. A tradition which most teams that have successfully reached the summit have honorably followed. Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain on Earth and is connected to Everest at the South Col. It is located on the boarder between Nepal and China and at it highest peak is about 27,940 feet (8,516 meters) high. This mountain is best known for its close proximity to Everest but is special in own right because it is the home of the steepest face of a mountain that is approximately 1.98×1.4 miles in size. This southern face has been the setting for any failed attempts, some notable fatalities and very few successful summit reaches. Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world and is located about 14 miles east of Everest. It is located on the boarder of Nepal and China. It is an isolated peak that has the unique shape of a four-sided pyramid. There is another subsidiary peak that doesn’t quite meet up to the “eight-thousander” reputation called Kangchungtse, or Makalu II. It lies northeast of the main summit and is connected to it by a arrow saddle called Chomo Lonzo. Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world and stands at about 26,906 feet (8,201meters) high. Like most of the other Himalayan Mountains, it lies between Nepal and China (Tibet). Its name in Tibetan means “Turquoise Goddess”. It was used as a warm up for climbing Mount Everest when people were first exploring the Himalayan Mountains and today it is considered the easiest of al of the “eight-thousander” mountains to climb. Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world and is about 26,795 feet (8,167 meters) tall. It is located just north of central Nepal. Its name means “White Mountain”. The South and West faces of Dhaulagiri both feature massive drops; each rises over 4000 meters from its base, and each has been the site of epic climbs. This mountain, along with Annapurna, is home to a more dramatic scene than most of the other mountains, f", "The 10 Tallest New Buildings From Around The World | The Huffington Post The 10 Tallest New Buildings From Around The World 01/05/2015 11:10 am ET | Updated Jan 05, 2015 150 This story originally appeared on ArchDaily . by Michael Aynsley The following list, originally published on BuzzBuzzHome , is based on data from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat , the recognized authority on skyscraper height. With the number of officially “tall” buildings -- at least 656 feet (200 meters) -- doubling over the next ten years, and the number of “megatall” buildings -- at least 1,969 feet (600 meters) -- expected to jump from two to 10 by 2020, building construction around the world is literally reaching new heights. Indeed, this year alone 10 new skyscrapers of at least 1,110 feet (338 meters) will be completed. They are 2015′s tallest buildings… 10. ADNOC Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -- 1,122 feet (342 meters) © Mohd. Akhter Hasan/Flickr Floors: 76 Global ranking upon completion: 62nd tallest Interesting fact: The new headquarters for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is, somewhat ironically, being built to LEED Gold green building certification. 9. Forum 66 Tower 2 in Shenyang, China -- 1,150 feet (351 meters) © z0rg/SkyscraperCity Floors: 68 Global ranking upon completion: 56th tallest Interesting fact: When fully complete, the 9.3 million-square-foot, multi-building complex will include a mall, hotel, office space, residential units and a subway. Tower 2, the office portion of the project, will be the tallest building in Shenyang. 8. OKO Tower in Moscow, Russia -- 1,155 feet (352 meters) © SOM Height: 85 Global ranking upon completion: 55th tallest Interesting fact: The tower is part of Moscow’s thriving International Business Center, a mixed-use district centrally located within the Russian metropolis and loosely based on London’s Canary Wharf and Paris’s La Défense. It was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the same architecture firm behind One World Trade Center in New York City and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. 7. Vostok Tower in Moscow, Russia -- 1,224 feet (373 meters) via wikipedia Floors: 95 Global ranking upon completion: 43rd tallest Interesting fact: Like OKO, the Vostok Tower is also part of Moscow’s fast-growing business district. Once the building is topped off, it will be the tallest in Europe. 6. Eton Place Dalian Tower 1 in Dalian, China -- 1,257 feet (383 meters) © NBBJ Floors: 80 Global ranking upon completion: 37th tallest Interesting fact: Eton Place Dalian Tower 1 is one of five skyscrapers in the Eton Place Dalian development, which also includes a 62-story building and four 42-story towers. 5. Capital Market Authority Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- 1,263 feet (385 meters) © hok Floors: 79 Global ranking upon completion: 34th tallest Interesting fact: The tower’s external layer of fins, gantries and perforated panels are there to shade the building from the unrelenting desert sun. 4. 432 Park Avenue in New York City -- 1,397 feet (426 meters) © dbox for CIM Group and Macklowe Properties Floors: 85 Global ranking upon completion: 22nd tallest Interesting fact: As it has already been topped off, 432 Park Avenue is the tallest building in the the Western Hemisphere. The building’s most expensive unit on the market, Penthouse 94, is a full-floor, 8,255-square-foot six-bedroom with a $82.5 million price tag. That’s $9,994 per square foot. 3. Marina 101 in Dubai -- 1,399 feet (426 meters) © Sheffield Holdings Limited Floors: 101 Global ranking upon completion: 21st tallest Interesting fact: Construction on Marina 101, Dubai’s second tallest tower, originally began in 2006 but was stalled due to the global financial crisis. The project will finally be completed in the early part of 2015. 2. Wuhan Center in Wuhan, China -- 1,437 feet (438 meters) © ECADI Floors: 88 Global ranking upon completion: 19th tallest Interesting fact: The tower’s aerodynamic shape was designed to reduce wind resistance and the vortex action that builds up around super-tall towers. 1. Shanghai Tower in", "History of the World's Tallest Buildings | Statistics | EMPORIS Add Building History of the World's Tallest Buildings Tall structures have always fascinated mankind. There were buildings stretching well over 100 meters into the sky even before industrialization. But how has the history of the tallest buildings in the world developed? Which structures have played a role in this history? The essential details can be found here. There are a few very early examples of architecture reaching far up into the sky. The Pyramid of Khufu for instance, from the 4th Dynasty (2620 to 2500 B.C.), at 139 meters the world's tallest pyramid, or the Pharos of Alexandria, which according to its legend was, at around 140 meters' height, the tallest lighthouse ever built up until the 20th century. And not to forget the Tower of Babel, which according to the Old Testament reached all the way up to Heaven. Since the 19th century, however, it has not just been sacred buildings that have been touching the clouds. Increasing numbers of high-rises with apartments, offices and hotel rooms have been built. Skyscraper construction received its first significant impulse with the invention of the elevator by Elisha Grave Otis in 1852. While it would, from a technical point of view, already have been possible to build tall structures with more than six stories, one would have been unable to find many tenants for them. The invention of steel frame construction was the next important step on the road toward skyscraper architecture. The first building constructed in this way was the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, built in 1885. At a height of 55 meters and ten floors it was the world's first high-rise – and revolutionary for the development of skyscraper construction. 1901 - 1908 Philadelphia City Hall From 1901 onward, Philadelphia City Hall in the American city of Philadelphia, already substantially taller at 167 meters, reached for the skies. In fact, the architecture of this skyscraper with a bell tower was not based on the recently-invented steel frame construction: to this day it is considered the tallest masonry structure in the world. 1908 - 1909 Singer Building For seven years, Philadelphia City Hall was the world's tallest building until it was superseded in 1908 by the Singer Building in New York City, which was 20 meters taller. This particular skyscraper was only able to stay in pole position a short time, however. 1913, only four years later, saw the opening of the 213-meter-tall Metropolitan Life Tower, also located in New York City. 1909 - 1913 Metropolitan Life Tower The skyscrapers that followed the Met Life Tower were also located in New York City. After just four years, the Woolworth Building, built in the borough of Manhattan and 241 meters tall, forced the Met Life Tower from the top spot. 1913 - 1930 Woolworth Building Construction of the Woolworth Building was only possible thanks to the development of reinforced foundations, technology intended to prevent the skyscraper from leaning too heavily and toppling over in the case of earth movements. Until 1930, the Woolworth Building was the world's tallest skyscraper. 1930 - 1930 The Trump Building The history of the skyscraper was increasingly concentrated in the decades that followed in the one city – New York City. 1930 saw the completion there, after less than a year's construction, of The Trump Building. At a height of 283 meters, it was briefly the world's tallest building. 1930 - 1931 Chrysler Building The Trump Building unfortunately had to cede its title after just a few weeks to the Chrysler Building, which, at 319 meters, exceeded it by far. The man who had it built, Walter Chrysler, was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris – at that time the world's tallest structure – to want to build the world's tallest skyscraper in the Chrysler Building in New York City. To win the race, Chrysler and his architect William van Alen came up with a sophisticated trick: Van Alen had an additional 56-meter-long spire built, which was then delivered secretly in pieces, put together in the", "Buildings and bridges A-Z - Q-files Encyclopedia Buildings and bridges A-Z Technology > Buildings and bridges A-Z Arch bridge A bridge with an arched structure beneath its deck. Arched bridges are one of the oldest types of bridge. The arch shape gives great strength to the structure. Bank of China Tower A 307-metre-tall (1007-feet) skyscraper in Hong Kong, housing the headquarters of the Bank of China . It was the tallest building in Asia from 1989 to 1992. Bascule A bridge with a section that can be raised or lowered like a drawbridge, enabling tall ships to pass beneath it. Beam bridge A simple bridge formed of horizontal beams supported at each end by vertical posts. Burj Khalifa A 828-metre-tall (2716-feet) skyscraper in Dubai , United Arab Emirates. The Burj Khalifa , opened in 2010, is currently the tallest structure ever built. Cable-stayed bridge A bridge held up by steel cables. The cables are fixed to the tops of towers standing on the ground. The weight of the deck is supported by the towers. Cantilever bridge A bridge constructed from beams supported at just one end. A cantilever bridge can have just one beam, supported at one end; many have two beams reaching out from each end to meet in the centre; some have beams reaching out in opposite directions from central supports. Chrysler Building A 319-metre-tall (1047-feet) Art Deco-style skyscraper in New York City. Completed in 1930, it was the tallest building in the world for 11 months, before the Empire State Building was completed. CN Tower A 553-metre-tall (1814-feet) structure in Toronto, Canada . It is a TV transmission station and a tourist attraction, with two observation decks. Completed in 1976, the CN Tower was the world’s tallest structure until the completion of Burj Khalifa in 2010. Dam A barrier built across a river to hold water back for drinking or watering crops , to generate electricity by hydroelectric power , or to control flooding . Eiffel Tower A 300-metre-tall (984-feet) iron structure, built in Paris in 1889. At the time of its construction, the Eiffel Tower was the world’s tallest structure. Empire State Building A 381-metre-tall (1250-feet) skyscraper in New York. Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building was the world’s tallest building until 1973. Its spire was intended to be a mooring post for airships , but was only used for this once. Ericsson Globe The national indoor arena of Sweden , in its capital city, Stockholm. At 100 m wide and 85 m tall (328 x 279 feet), it is the largest hemispherical building in the world. Gateway Arch The tallest monument in the world, rising 192 metres (630 feet) above the Mississippi River in the USA . It was built in 1965 to mark St. Louis’s historic role as “Gateway to the West”. The steel arch is hollow, with lifts going up inside it. Petronas Towers Twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia . The 452-metre-tall (1483-feet) Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004. Each tower has 88 floors and a sky bridge connects the 41st and 42nd floors. Skyscraper A very tall building, usually more than 20 storeys high. Skyscrapers provide lots of space while using little land. They are a feature of many large cities, where land is limited and expensive. Suspension bridge A bridge hung from steel cables strung between towers. Suspension bridges are ideal for long, high spans as they do not require a row of supporting columns that may interfere with river transport. Sydney Opera House One of the most famous modern buildings in the world, on the edge of Sydney Harbour in Australia . Built during the 1960s, Sydney Opera House 's roof is designed to imitate the sails of the ships in the harbour.", "World's tallest building opens in Dubai with a new name - CSMonitor.com World's tallest building opens in Dubai with a new name The Burj Dubai (“Dubai Tower”) is now the Burj Khalifa, named after the president of Abu Dhabi. The 2,716-foot tower boasts the world's highest mosque and world's highest nightclub. By Carol Huang, Staff writer January 4, 2010 The skyline of Dubai shows the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, Monday. Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters View Caption of Dubai, United Arab Emirates — The world’s tallest skyscraper – boasting 1,000-plus luxury apartments and a hotel designed by Giorgio Armani – opened Monday evening at an awkward time for Dubai , which is suffering a massive real estate crash. Three weeks ago, the Arab city-state had to be bailed out again by wealthier neighboring emirate and rival, Abu Dhabi . The irony was highlighted by the unexpected last-minute name change from Burj Dubai (“Dubai Tower”) to Burj Khalifa. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan is the head of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates , which includes Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and five other emirates (or city-states). The renaming of Dubai’s iconic tower after its rival’s ruler was announced Monday night at the tower’s inauguration, which otherwise offered no sign of Dubai’s ongoing economic troubles . Photos of the Day Photos of the day 02/08 The opening had been timed to the fourth anniversary of the rule of Sheikh Mohammed, who has championed the iconic project and the breakneck development for which Dubai became famous. Certainly the Burj Khalifa is meant to outshine Dubai’s many superlative projects so far, including a self-proclaimed seven-star hotel. The Dubai Tower’s 160-stories reach 828 meters high (2,716 feet) – a height kept secret until the opening Monday night. The towering statistics, by contrast, have spilled across the media. It’s so tall that it’s visible from 60 miles away, reports say, and the temperature drops 6 degrees from base to peak. Winds at the top can reach 90 miles an hour. The highest floor offers views of Iran . Its elevators will travel the world’s longest distance. Its nightclub on the 143rd floor is the world’s highest; above it, on floor 158, the world’s highest mosque. Throughout the day, government-owned channel Dubai One interviewed a parade of people praising the Burj Khalifa and showed montages of Sheikh Mohammed illustrating his vision and generosity – as well as an apparent penchant for constructing new buildings. In one clip he urged 10,000 new housing units. In another, he sat down on a road to chat with a resident whose neighborhood had been damaged by rains and ask him what he needed. “My house needs repairs,” the man told him. “We won’t repair it,” Sheikh Mohammed told him. “We will build a new one.” Next up", "1776-Foot ‘Freedom Tower’ Is the Tallest, Most American Building in the U.S. | PRNewser © 2017 Adweek All Rights Reserved 1776-Foot ‘Freedom Tower’ Is the Tallest, Most American Building in the U.S. Advertisement Comment Here’s an awkward press conference: today the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat announced that its own hometown’s Willis Tower (which we will continue to call The Sears Tower) will no longer be considered the tallest building in the United States. That honor will go to the new One World Trade Center (aka “Freedom Tower”) with an official height of 1776 feet. It’s a more complicated development than you might think: The announcement culminated weeks of speculation about the ruling, which drew widespread attention because it would finally settle the issue of whether Chicago or New York could claim bragging rights to having the nation’s and the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building, as well as whether One World Trade Center would achieve the symbolic height of 1,776 feet. The issue at hand was whether to consider the WTC tower’s spire as part of the building itself rather than an antenna, which wouldn’t count as part of its overall height. And yes, there’s PR all over this story. The council organized a committee to consider the issue, and a team of international architects and engineers listened to testimony from spokespeople like The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the firm that built the tower before reaching their conclusion. Then it was spin time. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel strongly disagreed with the council’s decision, telling journalists: “I would just say to all the experts gathered in one room, if it looks like an antenna, acts like an antenna, then guess what? It is an antenna.” David Childs, the architect behind the Freedom Tower, damaged his own case by calling the spire “an exposed antenna”, but the Port Authority fought back, making sure that they lit the “spire” right before the council began considerations in order to demonstrate that it’s more than an antenna. And this came after the council issued a stinging report in September about firms around the world adding such spires to their buildings in order to reach “vanity height[s]” like, say, 1776 feet. Yes, the decision revolved around architectural details, but we see this as a case study in media relations and lobbying. The lesson? Choose your words very carefully. ( Photo via Antonio Perez, E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)", "Rivers of Southern Africa Rivers of Southern Africa Written by Sarah Scott Southern Africa is famous for its cultures, wildlife and spectacularly varied landscapes; all of these converge on, and are fed by, its magnificent rivers. Here is only the briefest look at a few of the greats. Tugela River Drawing its name from the Zulu \"thukela\", meaning \"startling\" or \"fearsome\", the Tugela river has borne witness to many battles in the Anglo-Zulu and Boer Wars. It is the largest river in Kwa Zulu Natal, and spills nearly a kilometer down the world's second tallest waterfall, the Tugela Falls. Hiking trails lead to the height of the falls at the top of the Drakensberg escarpment, offering magnificent views of the river's five-tier drop into the Tugela Gorge. From there the river offers everything from rapids with names like \"Rocky Horror\" and \"Washing Machine\" for kayacking and rafting enthusiasts, to tranquil swimming and bird watching. On the banks of the Tugela, the Harold and Johnson Nature Reserve offers over 200 bird species, and a \"Muthi\" trail, which details the traditional medicinal plants of the Zulus. Summer rainfall makes November through April the best time for rafting but KwaZulu Natal's sub-tropical climate means great weather all year round. Orange River Originally the Gariep River (Nama, meaning \"Great River), renamed by settlers after William of Orange, the Orange River is the largest and longest river in South Africa. Rising as the Senqu River in the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho, it flows Westwards across South Africa, forming part of the border between South Africa and Namibia, and is responsible for the rich diamond deposits along the Namibian coast. The Orange River covers some 2 200km, passing through the Richtersveld semi-desert, the Kalahari and the Namib. In the Northern Cape it drops 56m down the Augrabies falls, and then runs 18km through the stark ravines of the Orange River Gorge. From the Khoi \"Aukoerebis\" which means \"place of great noise\", the Augrabies falls descend into an almost inaccessible pool, where legends have it a giant monster lives, guarding a wealth of alluvial diamonds. The Orange River is a favourite for rafting and kayaking, with numerous companies offering organised trips. In the lower reaches the landscape varies from spectacular mountain ranges to wind swept dunes. Luxury accommodation is available, although camping is free almost anywhere along the river. Limpopo or Crocodile River Rudyard Kipling described it as \"the great, grey-green greasy Limpopo ... all set about with fever trees\". Rising as the Crocodile in Witwatersrand, the Limpopo skirts the borders of Botswana and Zimbabwe to empty itself from the coast of Mozambique. It moves from arid landscapes to densely forested regions – and it forms the northern border of the Kruger National Park, the world-famous home of the big five, as well as a staggering array of other wildlife. At the meeting point of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa lie the ruins of the great Kingdom of Mapungubwe. The ruins chronicle the existence of a prosperous Iron Age society in the Limpopo River Valley some 1000 years ago. Where it passes through the Khalahari the surrounds are dry, and the river unreliable. It gains much of its flow from its main tributary, the Olifants River, and below this the Limpopo is permanently navigable to the sea. In the lush lower reaches it provides water for nearby villages and irrigation for farming. The Zambezi In Zambia, the Tonga people believe a spirit called Nyami Nyami (literally \"Meat Meat\") inhabits the Zambezi River, providing them with fish to eat and water for crops. According to legend, Nyami Nyami was separated from his wife by the construction midway along the river of the Kariba Dam, and no longer shows his face to man. The Kariba and Cabora Bassa Dams provide electricity to Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively. The Zambezi River is the fourth longest river in Africa. Springing from the earth between the roots of a tree in a corner of North West Zambia, it flows thr", "South America Facts South America Facts Natives of South America South America is the fourth largest continent in the world. There are a total of seven recognized continents (large land mass): Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Map of South America Note: Some geologists group North and South America into one continent – America – making the list six in total. Other scientists combine Europe and Asia into one continent – Eurasia. Flags of South America Fun Quiz For Kids How Many Countries in South America? There are 12 independent countries in South America: Argentina , Bolivia , Brazil , Chile , Colombia , Ecuador , Guyana, Paraguay, Peru , Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. In addition, there are 3 dependencies i.e. claimed by an independent country: Falkland Islands – also called the Malvinas (British territory but Argentina still trying to claim it), French Guiana (territory of France), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (British territory). For a list of capital cities in South America with an online travel guide to each click here: Capital Cities in South America Population of South America Depending on the source, the population of South America is between 371,000,000 and 382,000,000 inhabitants. How Large is South America? South America encompasses an area of 17,840,000 square kilometers (6,890,000 square miles). What Borders the Continent of South America? South America is bordered by the Pacific ocean to the West and Atlantic ocean to the North and East. The Caribbean sea is in the Northwest. North and South America are connected by the isthmus of Panama. What Languages are Spoken in South America? Primarily Spanish and Portuguese – official language of Brazil, the largest country in South America. Indigenous languages include Aymara (2.2 million speakers in Bolivia and Peru) Guarani (in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay) and Quechua (10-13 million speakers in Argentina, Northern Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru). Others as well such as French (in French Guiana) but in much smaller numbers. English is spoken by many as a second language, and is the primary language in Guyana. Dutch is the offical language of Suriname. What is the Primary Religion in South America? The primary religion is Roman Catholicism (over 90% of the population). Also practised is Protestantism, Judaism (Argentina has the largest Jewish community), Islam, Animism (belief that all animals, plants and inanimate objects possess a soul) and shamanism. What is the largest country in South America? Brazil is the largest country and also has the most people – 203,429,773. What is the smallest country in South America? Suriname is the smallest country with a population of 490,000. It was formerly a Dutch and British and colony and named ‘Dutch Guiana’ until it achieved independence in 1975. Where is the highest waterfall in South America? The highest waterfall is Angel Falls (Santo del Angel in Spanish) located in Venezuela. It is 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) high! More Articles You May Like:", "Madeira islands - Funchal Portugal guide - Heart of a Vagabond Where are the Madeira Islands? Funchal, is located on the Atlantic Ocean, just north of the Spanish Canary Islands. Madeira is an autonomous Portuguese region and part of the European Union. MADEIRA ISLANDS AND FUNCHAL – THINGS TO DO The people of Madeira The famous hospitality of the Portuguese, is not restricted to the continent alone. The Madeirenses (people from Madeira islands) are incredibly friendly, welcoming and love making the tourists feel at home. Because of its geographical location, Madeira developed a strong cultural identity. You’ll notice the typical costumes of the females are very colorful and radiant, resembling the colors of the flowers and nature of the island. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN PORTUGAL Some people think they need to go to far away places to find exotic forests, waterfalls, flowers and animals… Little do they know there are a few spots in Europe where they can find all that! The word “MADEIRA” literally means “WOOD” in Portuguese. It’s an island famous for its beauty and incredible nature. This island’s landscape is absolutely breathtaking, with its dramatic cliffs and rocks.. The macaronesian region is famous for the variety of flowers and flora, similar to the ones found in southern Europe and Africa a million years ago. The breath taking Laurissilva forest is one of the largest and oldest laurel forests in the world! The geographic isolation and relatively mild climate, are propicious for a year round variety of flowers, some of which unique to this region. If you’re a nature lover, take you time to explore the island, take long walks and discover the variety of wild flowers and small animals around. Madeira is also the home of some extremely rare small animals, such as the Madeiran large white butterfly, some vertebrates, lizards, bats and tropical birds. For a deeper interaction with nature and to experience sustainable tourism, book a couple of nights at a “turismo rural” hotel or farm, where you can actually spend time, outside the city of Funchal and feel what the country side looks like. yes, here you’ll find some of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe! Madeira islands are wet on the northwest and dry on the southeast, but the waterfalls are very easy to spot if you take a trip around the island. The waterfalls were actually one of my favorite attractions when visiting the Island with my parents. I was impressed by the size and power of these water falls. Nature lovers can’t miss the chance to go for walks and hiking while visiting the Madeira islands. There are many trails and levels you can choose from and trust me: they’re well worth it! Diving in Madeira is now a increasing popular sport. Thanks to the clear waters and geographic isolation, you won’t find the sort of marine life like in the Andaman Islands for example, but you will actually be surprised by the all the fish you’ll come across. There are several nature and marine reserves and Sao Lourenco is the best spot for this sport. MARKETS AND EXOTIC FRUITS OF FUNCHAL Thanks to its warm climate all year round, Madeira has some of the most delicious tropical fruits in Europe! You can find all sort of tropical fruits in Madeira. They’re fresh and delicious. Vegans and vegetarians will have no problem finding fruits and vegetables for a great price. If you can, avoid the supermarkets and head on to the local vegetable and fruit markets. Did you know that Madeira has the biggest production of bananas in Europe, together with Spain? The typical bananas from Madeira are smaller than the ones you’re familiar with. They’re called “dwarf bananas” but they’re also famous for being much more tasty than the regular sisters around the world. ENJOY THE WINE IN FUNCHAL Although Oporto is internationally famous for its Port wine , Madeira will surprise you too. Take a tour to the wine cellars in the region and enjoy some wine tasting. The wine here is of high quality and above all, its local. Nothi", "Indian Ocean Islands - Tours to Madagascar, Comoros, Mayotte, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Reunion & Seychelles | Bestway Tours & Safaris INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS Cultural tour of Madagascar, Comoros, Mayotte, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Reunion & Seychelles The Indian Ocean is home to a large variety of fascinating islands featuring Creole, African, Indian, Chinese and French heritage. On this journey we visit five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, starting in Madagascar, often referred to as the Eighth Continent, due to the island’s legendary unique flora & fauna. We explore Mauritius and Rodrigues, islands containing white beaches, quiet fishing villages, fabulous botanical gardens and a fascinating colonial past. We continue to the island of Reunion, which features one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, emerald forests, tumbling waterfalls and awesome mountainous landscapes. Our journey concludes in the Seychelles, an archipelago offering stunning beaches, marine parks and natural reserves filled with endemic species that are easy to approach. UNESCO World Heritage Sites covered in this tour 1. Rainforests of the Atsinanana, Madagascar 2. Le Morne Cultural Landscape, Mauritius 4. Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island, Reunion 5. Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, Seychelles Overview Day 01: Arrive Antananarivo (Madagascar) Day 02: Antananarivo/Andasibe/Mantadia National Park (B, D) Day 03: Andasibe/Matadia National Park (B, D) Day 04: Antananarivo-Nosy Be (Madagascar)(Flight) (B, D) Day 06: Nosy Be/Plaisance (Mauritius) (B, D) Day 08: Mauritius/Rodrigues Island (Flight) (B, D) Day 10: Rodrigues/Victoria, Mahe’ Island, Seychelles (B) Day 11: Mahe Island/Praslin (Flight) (B) Day 13: Praslin/Mahe Island/Reunion Island (B, D) B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner Day 01: Arrive Antananarivo (Madagascar) Antananarivo, the capital of the large island of Madagascar, is ideally connected with many cities including Nairobi, Johannesburg, Paris, Seychelles, Mauritius, etc. Upon arrival at Antananarivo, we are met and transferred to our hotel. Overnight: Palissandre Hotel, Antananarivo (1 night) Day 02: Antananarivo/Andasibe/Mantadia National Park We tour Antananarivo, the capital, driving to the upper town to see the Queen's palace. In the Malagasy \"Rova\" is the symbol of the Merina Kingdom. Sitting on the top of the tallest hill of Antananarivo, it offers a spectacular view of the administrative quarter and its surroundings. We then drive down to the Independence Avenue and the Anosy Lake. Here we get a good picture of the diverse ethnic communities, before we take a scenic drive to Marozevo. We visit the famous exotic farming centre of Mr.Pereyras where we see almost all the chameleon species of Madagascar including butterflies, lizards, snakes, bats and other interesting animals. Then we proceed to Mantadia National Park, part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana* - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight: Hotel Vakôna forest Lodge (1nights) (B, D) Day 03: Andasibe/Matadia National Park Today we visit the two areas of the National Park. These relict forests are critically important for maintaining ongoing ecological processes necessary for the survival of Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, which reflects the island’s geological history. Having completed its separation from all other land masses more than 60 million years ago, Madagascar’s plant and animal life evolved in isolation. We look out for the Indri, the biggest lemur species in the world, which communicates though calls that can be heard as far away as 4 kms. Later we drive back to Antananarivo. Overnight: Palissandre Hotel, Antananarivo (1 night) (B, D) Day 04: Antananarivo-Nosy Be (Madagascar) (Flight) Another short flight from Antananarivo and we arrive in a completely different world, Nosy Be in the northern tip of Madagascar. Upon arrival at this small airport we are met and transferred to our hotel. Balance of the day is free to loiter around the town or enjoy beach – Madagascar’s most popular beach. Overnight: Nosy Be Hotel, Nosy Be (2 nights) (B, D) Day 05: Nosy Be", "Rebuilt World Trade Center Becomes New York's Tallest Skyscraper | Amusing Planet Rebuilt World Trade Center Becomes New York's Tallest Skyscraper Kaushik Wednesday, May 02, 2012 2 comments Advertisement Eleven years after the shocking terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) building in New York, the U.S., reconstruction at the World Trade Center site is now well underway but not after years of delay and controversy. The new complex will include One World Trade Center formerly known as the Freedom Tower, 7 World Trade Center, three other high-rise office buildings, a museum and memorial, and a transportation hub similar in size to Grand Central Terminal. As construction continues, the rebuilt One World Trade Center has quickly become a prominent fixture in the New York City skyline, overtaking the Empire State Building to become New York's tallest skyscraper this week at 1,271 feet. The milestone is a preliminary one. Workers are still adding floors to the Freedom Tower, and it isn’t expected to reach its full height for at least another year, at which point will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the third-tallest building in the world by pinnacle height, with its spire reaching a symbolic 1,776 feet. However, its overall roof height, at 1,368 feet will still be 82 feet shorter than the roof of Chicago's 108-story Willis Tower. The building's structure is expected to top out sometime in late spring or early summer of 2012, whereupon its 408-foot radio antenna will be installed. At an estimated cost of $3.8 billion, the tower is also the most expensive single building in the world at the moment. The 104-story tall skyscraper is being constructed in the northwest corner of the 16-acre World Trade Center site, occupying the location where the original 8-story 6 World Trade Center once stood. Steel workers Adam Cross (R) and Steven Cross maneuver a steel column into place on the 100th story at the top of One World Trade Center to make it New York City's tallest building on April 30, 2012 in New York City. Two construction workers on the 71st floor of One World Trade Center look at a view of the New York skyline, including the Empire State Building. Work continues on the core of One World Trade Center (Bottom R) on February 11, 2009 A view of the construction at former site of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan in New York, New York, USA, on 16 December 2009. Queen Elizabeth II of England walks after laying a wreath to pay tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks during a visit to Ground Zero in New York on July 6, 2010 Construction of the One World Trade Center on March 11, 2011 The Freedom Tower in New York on 09 September 2011 The Freedom Tower rises above the World Trade Center site as a worker prepares the site memorial ceremonies, in New York, on 09 September 2011 A view of the bronze panels bearing the names of the victims around the perimeter of the 9/11 Memorial North Pool before the tenth anniversary ceremonies at the site of the World Trade Center September 11, 2011 One World Trade Center, the central skyscraper at Ground Zero, stands under construction on January 30, 2012", "Top List of Tallest Buildings or Structures In London - VLondonCity.co.uk Top List of Tallest Buildings or Structures In London SHARE ON: Sofia Rhodes — January 21, 2016 When a person thinks of tall buildings and skyscrapers, London doesn’t necessarily comes to mind immediately. However, the city does have some tall buildings with some interesting history behind them. We’ll be looking at the top tallest buildings and structures in London. The first tall structure in London was built a long time ago, which was taller than 100 meters. Of course we’re talking about the Old St Paul’s Cathedral which burned down in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Centuries later, the city kept much of its old architecture and charm, but it was inevitable that the city starts modernizing. In the 1960s London begins regularly constructing tall buildings. Centre Point was probably one of the first important tall buildings in London, which was finished in 1966. As the country’s economy kept expanding and growing, so did the city’s buildings. London’s skyline would never be the same. Today these buildings are some of London’s most crucial landmarks. Some old cities have made the mistake of building such structures in areas which were ruined forever afterwards. London has proved, however, that with a bit more planning, these large buildings don’t necessarily have to be bad and ugly. Here is our list of the tallest and most important buildings in London. The Shard Named the shard, because of its resemblance to a shard of glass, this London building is 309.6 meters tall. Construction began in the spring of 2009, and the building was finally finished and topped off in 2012, and opened on the 6th of June. It has a total of 95 floors, and at the moment it’s the 87th tallest building of its kind in the world. The building is situated on the site where the Southwark Towers once stood. They were demolished in 2008 to make room for the more modern Shard. Visiting address: 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG One Canada Square The One Canada Square is one of the most iconic office buildings in London. Since its construction was complete in 1991, it remained the tallest building in the UK until 2010. It’s 235 meters tall, and construction costs amounted to 624 million pounds. The building was designed by a prolific Argentinian architect Cesar Pelli. One of the structure’s most interesting feature is its pyramid like pinnacle. Major companies and banks have offices in the building such as HSBC, and JP Morgan. Visiting address: Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB Heron Tower Standing 230 meters tall, with 46 floors is the Heron Tower, one of London’s nicest office buildings. Among its neatest features is a massive aquarium in the lobby that holds 70,000 liters of waters and numerous species of fish. Work on the building began in 2007, and it was finished in 2011. Because of the global financial crisis, in the beginning the building struggled to get enough tenants, but today 90% of the space is successfully rented out. Visiting address: 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY 122 Leadenhall Street Also often referred to as the “cheesegrater” because of its distinct shape, the Leadenhall building stands 225 meters tall. The building was finished in 2013, but the official opening of the building only happened in 2014. Estimated cost of construction was 286 million pounds. Unlike the Heron Tower, Leadenhall managed to attract tenants almost immediately, with Aon occupying the first ten floors of the building. The building was completely designed by the prolific Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners firm. Visiting address: 122 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 8 Canada Square This is the first building on the list which is completely occupied by single company, the HSBC bank. Not only that, but it’s the main headquarters for this major bank. The building itself is 200 meters tall. Construction began in 1999 and it was finished fairly fast seeing as it was done by 2002. The building has over 100,000 square meters of office space, and it’s made out of a staggering 180,000", "Top 10 Tallest Buildings in Seattle Top 10 Tallest Buildings in Seattle Top 10 Tallest Buildings in Seattle Skyscrapers That Make up the Seattle Skyline By Kristin Kendle Updated February 12, 2016. Seattle’s skyline is marked by several distinctive buildings that rise above the downtown core. Of these, the Space Needle and Smith Tower are some of the most recognizable and historic, but while these are among the tallest buildings in Seattle, they are not the tallest. The highest skyscrapers in the city are newer, dating to the 1980s and 1990s with a few built in the 2000s. Some are event among the tallest buildings in the world. Columbia Center Seattle. joeszilagyi 1. Columbia Center Seattle’s tallest building is the tall, dark Columbia Center. As of 2013, the Columbia Center is the 20th tallest building in the U.S. and the tallest building in all of Washington state. Even better, the public is allowed into this skyscraper and can enjoy the view from the Sky View Observatory on the 73rd floor. There’s a moderate admission fee that’s under $10 (cheaper for kids, students, military and seniors), but cheaper and higher up than the Space Needle! Location: 701 5th Avenue, Seattle Built: 1985 continue reading below our video America's Best Foodie Cities 2. 1201 3rd Avenue Formerly Washington Mutual Tower, 1201 3rd Avenue was the home of WaMu until the bank’s headquarters moved. The tower is one of Seattle’s most distinct buildings and is vaguely reminiscent of the Empire State Building. It was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and The McKinley Architects. Location: 1201 3rd Avenue, Seattle Built: 1988 4. Seattle Municipal Tower The Seattle Municipal Tower is home to Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities and a other government offices, hence its name. In the past, this 62-story skyscraper went by more commercial names—AT&T Gateway Tower and Key Bank Tower, and served as base to those companies as well as many other companies. The tower has restaurants located on its upper floors, too. Location: 700 5th Avenue, Seattle Built: 1990 Safeco Plaza Seattle. Joe Mabel 5. Safeco Plaza Since 2006, Safeco Plaza has been the headquarters for Safeco Insurance Company of America. Like other skyscrapers in Seattle, Safeco Plaza has gone by other names in its past, including Seattle-First National Bank Building. Other major tenants include Bank of America, Riddell Williams and Helsell Fetterman. Location: 1001 4th Avenue, Seattle Built: 1969 7. Russell Investments Center The Russell Investments Center was originally built to be the WaMu Center and be the headquarters for Washington Mutual, but around the time it was completed, WaMu failed. Since its completion in 2006, the building has been the Chase Center (Chase acquired WaMu), but in 2009 Russell Investments purchased the building and moved to Seattle from its former headquarters in Tacoma. The building includes Seattle Art Museum on the bottom four floors of part of the building, and also has a very innovative feature—a private, 20,000 square foot deck on the 17th floor for workers in the building to use for strolls or a bit of outdoor time. Location: 1301 2nd Avenue, Seattle Built: 2006 Designed by Callison Architecture, the US Bank Center is an office building. Location: 1420 5th Avenue, Seattle Built: 2006 Wells Fargo Center Seattle. evocateur 9. Wells Fargo Center Formerly named the First Interstate Center, the Wells Fargo Center was designed by The McKinley Architects and has 47 stories. The building is distinct as it is six-sided and features tinted glazed glass and granite panels. Location: 2800 3rd Avenue, Seattle Built: 1983 Seattle Municipal Tower and Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza. SounderBruce 10. Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza Designed by 3D/International, this 42-story building has retail space in a complex at its base. The office space is filled by a number of tenants, which include Bank of America and Princess Tours. Location: 800 5th Avenue, Seattle Built: 1981", "Chrysler Building - Building in Turtle Bay Chrysler Building 455 ratings \"... and was designed by William Van Alen. Built in 1930, it was the headquarters for\"(4 Tips) \"One of our favorite NY buildings.\"(3 Tips) \"A view from 69th floor..\"(2 Tips) \"Art Deco skyscraper; distinctive feature of Manhattan skyline;...\"(2 Tips) 86 Tips and reviews Log in to leave a tip here. Post Alan Morton September 20, 2016 Favourite building in New York Heli Roinisto July 26, 2016 Lovely My HUSBAND Josh Taroli April 20, 2016 View from below. Sara Y April 15, 2016 Secret amazing cobbler in the basement! Nikos Fotou January 31, 2016 Famous landmark. Lots of fotos Hector December 19, 2015 Olexy Sadovy December 2, 2015 The most beautiful tower Norman Ellis June 10, 2015 Been here 100+ times Since CAA moved into the building there's a very good chance of spotting celebrities in the lobby. Celia Navarrete Bravo April 26, 2015 Art Deco representation. You can see the hall for free. Mike Hopkins April 14, 2015 The best building in New York City Tanner Welsh March 17, 2015 Go in the lobby. Look up. Admire. Onur Avcı December 19, 2014 Don't forget to look up when entering the building...it's best. Alexandre Curiel September 24, 2014 Art Deco's temple Kaya Gofrey March 27, 2014 great one infact Mitchell Luo February 28, 2014 Easy to walk and pass by. The neon at night changes its color for different occasions. Rob Mehta February 28, 2014 There is no observation room here. Unless you are going to see the dentist. Filippa Edberg-Manuel September 23, 2013 Don't forget to look up when entering the building... The Capital Grille September 17, 2013 Completed in 1930, this Art Deco landmark is still the tallest brick building in the world. Jacob Shemkovitz August 27, 2013 Art Deco skyscraper; distinctive feature of Manhattan skyline; at one point world's tallest building Rebecca Brown July 14, 2013 Built in 1930 and designed by Architect, William Van Alen. Height is 1,046 ft (319 m). Fact; Built from 29961 tons of steel and 3,826,000 bricks. Daniel Trezub May 12, 2013 The details inside the lobby are fantastic. Make sure you get inside to see them. Don't mind the people that work here, they don't get the beauty or the importance of the building. The Tiny TieRant May 2, 2013 There are stores and shops in the lower arcade open to the public. Cristina April 26, 2013 Judy Briskman Arnold April 19, 2013 One of the most recognizable buildings in N.Y.C. skyline and one of the most interesting, architecturally speaking, IMHO Wanda Barrett April 14, 2013 Great scenery, on way to IBS SHOW Eddie R. March 20, 2013 Prettier than the Empire State, IMO Lauren Murphy-Gerling March 6, 2013 A unique building that you cannot miss. A must see for first timers to the city. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle February 19, 2013 New York’s tallest for only one year, the 1930 skyscraper’s spire of radiant stainless steel arches won it icon status nonetheless. - Green Guide Editor Elton Julian December 4, 2012 Chrysler Building good to visit Small Demons October 24, 2012 \"Look at it, like a giant, steel Christmas tree.\"—Christopher Krovatin, \"Venomous\" Read more Cooper Smith August 16, 2012 For a sans-tourist view of the NYC skyline, tell security you're going to Zen Dentistry on the 69th floor. Once there, ask if they take your insurance. While they research, enjoy the view & take pics Read more Untapped Cities July 20, 2012 From 1930 to 1931 the Chrysler Building was the tallest building in the world. Did you know parts of the building were modeled on 1920s Chryslers? Read more Bloomberg TV July 16, 2012 How much would you pay for the tallest brick building in the world? In 2008, a 90% stake in this classic Art Deco-style structure was purchased by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council for $800m Mike Beauchamp July 6, 2012 Check out the lobby. No observation deck, though. Paul Pascual June 20, 2012 A view from 69th floor.. Renaissance Hotels May 22, 2012 The lobby at the Chrysler Building, clad in marble, onyx and amber, is one of the most beautiful, iconic rooms in NYC. For more local tips, f", "Fiordland National Park | Fiordland, New Zealand Fiordland National Park National Parks › Fiordland National Park One of the most dramatic and beautiful parts of New Zealand; the power of Fiordland's scenery never fails to enthral travellers. Take a scenic flight across one of the most dramatic and beautiful regions of the South Island. The views of Fiordland from the air are just breathtaking. There are spectacular mountains and waterfalls absolutely everywhere. James Cameron Hall Arm, Doubtful Sound, Fiordland By Destination Fiordland New Zealand Fur Seals, New Zealand By MoaTrek This remarkable natural environment features stunning fiords, spectacular waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. Ancient rainforest clings impossibly to the mountains; waterfalls tumble hundreds of meters into massive fiords; shimmering lakes and granite peaks look the same today as they did a thousand years ago. Key Highlights A fiord is defined as a u-shaped glacier-carved valley which has been flooded by the sea. The fourteen fiords that fringe this south-west corner of the South Island were 100,000 years in the making, with the final details added during the most recent ice age just 10,000 years ago. The Maori attributed the creation of the fiords to a giant stonemason called Tute Rakiwhanoa, who hued out the steep sided valleys with his adzes. On all sides of the fiords, spectacular waterfalls tumble incessantly as the region's plentiful rainfall finds its way to the sea. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, Milford Sound is always spectacular - daily scenic flights and cruises reveal its beauty to visitors. At 421 metres, Doubtful Sound is the deepest of New Zealand’s fiords. It’s a haven for nature, with resident bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and penguins. The remaining two-thirds of Fiordland National Park are covered by virgin beech and pod carp forest. A 500 kilometre network of walking tracks allows visitors to explore the primeval world of mountain peaks, alpine lakes and moss-carpeted valleys. In 1990 Fiordland was listed as a United Nations World Heritage site and given the name Te Wahipounamu - 'the place of greenstone', after the area's most treasured mineral resource. Accommodation The Department of Conservation provides more than 50 hikers' huts in the park . 'Great Walks' huts are found on the Milford, Kepler and Routeburn tracks, and these provide a higher-than-usual level of comfort. More basic huts are available on the other tracks - in most you will find sleeping platforms with mattresses, toilet facilities and a water supply. A wide range of accommodation can be found in and around the lakeside townships of Te Anau and Manapouri . At Milford Sound , the only fiord accessible by road, there is a backpackers' lodge . Key Activities The great walks and beyond Three of New Zealand's ' Great Walks ' can be found in Fiordland National Park. The most famous (and consequently most popular) is the Milford Track , which takes five days to complete. The Kepler Track is a circular route that can be walked in four days and the Routeburn , which crosses into Mount Aspiring National Park , generally takes three days. There are many other less famous - but just as spectacular - tracks to explore. Sea kayaking and diving Several of the fiords can be explored by sea kayak , as can lakes in Te Anau and Manapouri. Diving in Fiordland provides a rare chance to see deep-water sea plants growing near the surface. Local residents include dolphins, fur seals and penguins. Fiord cruises Every day scenic flights and coach services deliver visitors to Milford Sound for scenic cruises . Eco-cruises of the less accessible fiords can be arranged in Te Anau or Manapouri . Key Tips From late October until the end of April, bookings are essential to guarantee hut accommodation on the Great Walks . Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year. Be prepared. Insect repellent is an essential item in Fiordland National Park - the sandflies are legendary. If you're not an experienced outdoors", "Elephant Village Tours Two Day Mahout (M2D) 1 Day Mahout Experience with Bathing (M1D) Our MOST popular tour! And for good reason. This tour includes all of our most wanted activities packed into a single day trip. Learn how to be a Mahout and then get ready to get wet as you plunge into the Nam Khan river and give your personal elephant a refreshing bath! 8:30 am – 9:00 am: Pick up by our English speaking guide from your hotel lobby Arrival at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome and greeting by our camp manager and participate in short briefing about elephants Ride the Elephant: Enjoy the impressive experience of a 1 km bareback elephant ride! 1 person per elephant Mahout Training: Receive your basic mahout training on how to control an elephant just like a mahout! Lunch: Dine at our Elephant Camp restaurant. Buffet lunch served with coffee / tea and drinking water (vegetarian options available) Bathe Your Elephant: Take your own elephant down to the Nam Khan river for an exhilarating and once in a lifetime bathing experience! Boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall: Take a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sae Waterfall and relax, dip your feet or take a swim in the clear, cool water Depart: Transfer back to your Hotel in Luang Prabang between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm Your Tour Includes: Round trip transfer, English speaking guide, elephant ride, boat ride to the Tad Sae waterfall, waterfall entrance fee, basic mahout training, bathing your elephant, buffet lunch notes: schedules and itineraries are approximate and subject to change due to seasonal conditions in the jungle and at the camp. Elephant Village reserves the right to break larger groups into smaller groups and/or operate tour activities in a different order than published above. Half Day Elephant Experience (HDE) Short but not short on fun! Enjoy the essentials on this, exciting tour. Elephant riding, Lao long boat rides, the Tad Sae Waterfall and a delicious lunch buffet. We’ll have you back to your hotel with plenty of time to enjoy your afternoon plans in Luang Prabang. **Please note** This tour does NOT include elephant bathing 8:00 am – 8:30 am: Pick up by our English speaking guide from your hotel lobby Arrival at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by our camp manager and participate in a short briefing about elephants Ride the Elephant: Enjoy the impressive experience of a 1 km bareback elephant ride! 1 person per elephant Boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall: Ride in a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sae Waterfall and relax or swim in the clear water (swim suit recommended!) Lunch: Dine at our Elephant Camp restaurant. Buffet lunch served with coffee / tea and drinking water (vegetarian options are available) Depart: Transfer back to your Hotel in Luang Prabang around 1:00pm Your Tour Includes: Hotel pickup and drop off in our air conditioned van, English speaking guide, elephant ride, boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall, waterfall entrance fee, buffet lunch, drinking water notes: schedules and itineraries are approximate and subject to change due to seasonal conditions in the jungle and at the camp. Elephant Village reserves the right to break larger groups into smaller groups and/or operate tour activities in a different order than published above. Get Prices Full Day Elephant Experience with Trekking (FDE) The true nature lovers tour! Get it all with this diverse and action packed tour which takes you riding on elephants, jungle trekking on foot, traditional Lao long boat rides and to amazing waterfalls. Even your lunch will be an adventure as you picnic at our remote Jungle Camp. You are sure to be delighted (and exhausted) after this adventure! **Please note** This tour does NOT include elephant bathing 8:00 am – 8:30 am: Pick up by our English speaking guide from your hotel lobby Arrive at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by our camp manager and participate in short briefing about elephants Ride the Elephant: From the Elephant Camp, enjoy the impressive experience of a 1 km bareback elephant ride! 1 person", "Top 12 Highest Statues around the World Top 12 Highest Statues around the World Share Share A statue is a sculpture in the round representing one or more people or animals (including abstract concepts allegorically represented as people or animals), normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger. Its primary concern is representational. Many statues are built on commission to commemorate a historical event, or the life of an influential person. Many statues are intended as public art, exhibited outdoors or in public buildings. Some statues gain fame in their own right, separate to the person or concept they represent, as with the Statue of Liberty. Statues are amongst the wonders of the world. Now let’s take a look at 12 Highest Statue in the World. 1. Statue of Peter the Great Statue of Peter the Great The Peter the Great Statue in Moscow was designed by the Georgian designer Zurab Tsereteli to commemorate 300 years of the Russian Navy, which was started by Peter I of Russia. At 94 metres, it is the eighth tallest statue in the world. The designer Zurab Tsereteli is known as a friend and favorite of Moscow’s former Mayor, Yury Luzhkov, and the artist has received many municipal art commissions in recent years, such as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Manege Square ensemble and the War Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Gora. In November 2008, it was voted the tenth ugliest building in the world by Virtual Tourist. In 2010, it was included in a list of the world’s ugliest statues by Foreign Policy magazine. In October 2010, Moscow authorities offered to relocate the statue to Saint Petersburg, but this offer was refused. Authorities in Arkhangelsk and Petrozavodsk have offered to accept the monument. 2. Sendai Daikanon Sendai Daikanon Sendai Daikannon, located in Japan, is the sixth tallest statue in the world at 100 meters (328 feet). An elevator takes tourists to the top of the statue, which depicts the Japanese Buddhist Bodhisattva Kannon. 3. Statue of Huang Di and Yan Di Statue of Huang Di and Yan Di The sculptures of the Emperors Yan and Huang are the fifth tallest statues in the world at 106 meters. They depict two of the earliest Chinese emperors, Yan Di and Huang Di. The construction lasted 20 years and was completed in 2007. They are located in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, People’s Republic of China. According to experts, the statues commemorate politics and the economy. 4. Guanyin Statue of Hainan Guanyin Statue of Hainan The Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya is a 108-metre (354 ft) statue of the bodhisattva Guan Yin, sited on the south coast of China’s island province Hainan near the Nanshan Temple of Sanya. The statue has three aspects; one side faces inland and the other two face the South China Sea, to represent blessing and protection by Guan Yin of China and the whole world. One aspect depicts Guan Yin cradling a sutra in the left hand and gesturing the Vitarka Mudra with the right, the second with her palms crossed, holding a string of prayer beads, and the third holding a lotus. This is currently the fourth tallest statue in the world (many of which are Buddhist statues) and the tallest statue of Guan Yin in the world. The statue took six years to build and was enshrined on April 24, 2005, with the participation of 108 eminent monks from various Buddhist groups in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China, and tens of thousands of pilgrims. The delegation also included monks from the Theravada and Vajrayana traditions. 5. Ushiku Daibatsu Ushiku Daibatsu The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amitābha Buddha located at the Kōtoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The bronze statue probably dates from 1252, in the Kamakura period, according to temple records. It was preceded by a giant wooden Buddha, which was completed in 1243 after ten years of continuous labor, the funds having been raised by Lady Inadano-Tsubone and the Buddhist priest Jōkō of Tōtōmi. That wooden statue was damaged by a storm in", "The 10 Tallest Buildings In Europe The 10 Tallest Buildings In Europe Ahmad Raza Updated: 25 October 2016 One of the central attractions for tourists who want to experience the marvel of human engineering and ingenuity are skyscrapers. Towering thousands of feet into the air, they dominate the skyline of the city, their peaks often hidden in clouds. The heights of these superstructures will often leave you feeling more dizzy than amazed, and with designers and engineers looking to outdo each other every year, it seems that even the sky is not the limit! Check out the list of the top 10 mega-structures that pierce through the European skies. Mercury City Tower | Igor508 / Wikimedia Mercury City Tower, Moscow The Mercury City Tower is a multipurpose, bronze tinted, mirrored edifice that is comprised of residential and commercial zones. It took almost 4 years (2009-2013) to develop this building, and it is now located on plot 14 of the MIBC (Moscow International Business Centre). An estimated $1 billion was used to fund this 338.8 meter tall tower which has 80 floors, with a total provision of 31 elevators. The high-rise was designed by Frank William and Partners and structurally engineered by MOsproject 2. The amazingly distinct shape and colored tower exhibits a constant glow that makes it stand out amongst the busy Moscow skyline and consistently fascinates the public. Every year a huge number of tourists visit this incredible structure. Eiffel Tower | Xtof / Wikimedia Eiffel Tower, Paris Named after its engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tow er is a globally recognized symbol of France and one of the most visited monuments around the world. It is 324 meters tall and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over four decades until 1930 when the Chrysler Building was built. Later in 1957, the tower beat the Chrysler Building’s height with the addition of a 5.2 meter aerial. Altogether, there are 300 steps to reach the top floor, but mainly nine elevators are employed. The triple floor tower was built within two years (1887-1889) in Paris’ seventh arrondissement. The first two floors mainly house restaurants for the visitors. Almost 25,000 tickets are sold every day for visitors to climb to the top; although the original plan was to dismantle it after 20 years, the tower proved incredibly beneficial for France’s tourism industry. The Shard | © Arch_Sam / Flickr The Shard, London This 309.6 meter-high, 95 storied skyscraper in Southwark is referred to as the Shard or Shard of Glass, and was built in 2012. However, its deck, known as The View from the Shard, was publicly opened on 1 February 2013. The pyramidal tower, designed by Italian Renzo Piano and owned by the state of Qatar, mainly consists of 72 residential floors, a viewing balcony and, last but not least, an open air platform for sightseeing. The highest viewpoints are at the top floors (68, 69 and 72), where tourists can enjoy the astonishing 360 degree vista for up to 40 miles. These can be accessed by the 44 elevators in the high rise. The total contracted cost of just the construction project was £435 million. This iconic London structure is the tallest building in London and one of the tallest in Europe. COMMERZBANK TOWER | Norbert Nagel / Wikimedia Commerzbank Tower, Frankfurt The Commerzbank is the tallest building in Germany. It is a 259 meter-high skyscraper which, when you add on the antenna and light, extends to 300.1 meters. The construction of the tower commenced in the year 1994 and was finished in 1997. Commerzbank Tower was designed by Foster & Partners and is located in Kaiserplatz, Frankfurt. It consists of 56 floors. Thomas Ende, who won the contest for lighting this incredible monument, lit it with a golden scheme that can be viewed at night. This glowing effect, coupled with the conspicuous architecture and conception, enchants many art professionals and tourists. This landmark of the Frankfurt skyline is a unique example of contexture-friendly and energy-saving infrastructure, for which it was also awarded the ‘Green Building Fra", "The Tallest Mountains in the Solar System | Science | Smithsonian The Tallest Mountains in the Solar System Mount Everest is a just a peewee when compared with such giants as Olympus Mons on Mars smithsonian.com January 9, 2012 Mauna Loa (as seen from nearby Mauna Kea) is tall enough to have snow, at least when the volcano isn't erupting (courtesy of flickr user superfluity) If asked to name the tallest mountain on Earth, most people would answer Mount Everest. They’d be wrong–Everest is the highest peak on the planet, but mountains are measured from their base to their peak, and Everest’s base sits far above sea level on the Tibetan Plateau. And when you start looking at the tallest (known) mountains in the solar system, Mount Everest, at only 2.3 to 2.9 miles tall (depending on where you decide the mountain’s base is located), doesn’t even make the list: (1) Olympus Mons - 15.5 miles The largest volcano on Mars is also the solar system’s tallest mountain. Measuring 374 miles in diameter, it covers about the same amount of land as the state of Arizona. Olympus Mons is located near three other volcanoes known as the Tharsis Montes. The volcanoes in this area are all 10 to 100 times bigger than Earth’s largest volcanoes. They can get this big because, unlike on Earth, there are no plate tectonics on Mars that can drag a volcano away from its hotspot–they just sit in one volcanically active place and grow bigger and bigger. (2) Rheasilvea Mons – 13.2 miles Rheasilvea, on the asteroid Vesta, sits at the center of a 300-mile wide crater. The asteroid is currently the subject of a close study by the spacecraft Dawn , which will continue to circle it through the first half of 2012 before moving on for a rendezvous with the asteroid Ceres in 2015. Rheasilvea Mons sometimes gets named the tallest peak in the solar system, but even with satellites and spacecraft monitoring faraway planets, moons and asteroids, measuring these things is rather difficult (which should explain why the numbers for heights given here may differ from what you’ve seen elsewhere–sources often disagree). (3) Equatorial Ridge of Iapetus – 12.4 miles Saturn’s moon of Iapetus has a couple of weird features. The first is a huge crater that gives the moon the appearance of the Death Star from Star Wars. The second is an equatorial ridge, with some peaks reaching over 12 miles high, that makes Iapetus look like a walnut . Scientists aren’t quite sure how the ridge formed, but they have hypothesized that it was either the remnant of the moon’s earlier oblate shape, icy material pushed up from beneath the moon’s surface or even the remainder of a collapsed ring. (4) Ascreaus Mons – 11.3 miles This volcano on Mars is the tallest of the three volcanoes known as the Tharsis Montes, which appear in a straight line near Olympus Mons. Ascreaus Mons has a central caldera that is 2.1 miles deep. It was first spotted by the Mariner 9 spacecraft in 1971 and then named the North Spot , as it appeared as a spot in a dust storm photographed by the spacecraft. Later images revealed it was a volcano and the spot was remaned. (5) Boösaule Montes – 10.9 miles Boösaule Montes is a collection of three mountains on Io, a moon of Jupiter, all connected by a raised plain. The mountain termed “South” is the tallest of the three. One side of the mountain has such a steep slope, 40 degrees, that scientists think that it was the site of a huge landslide. (6) Arsia Mons – 9.9 miles This is second tallest volcano from the Tharsis Montes on Mars. Based on the discovery of certain geological features on the volcano, scientists think that Arsia Mons may be home to glaciers . (7) Pavonis Mons – 8.7 miles Pavonis Mons is the shortest of the three volcanoes that make up the Tharsis Montes, and it has also been suggested to be home to glaciers. (8) Elysium Mons - 7.8 miles This Martian volcano is a big fish in a little pond, metaphorically speaking. It is the tallest volcano in the Elysium Planitia , a region in Mars’ Eastern Hemisphere that is the second largest volcanic system on the pl", "What Musical Instrument Did King Dovid Play? | Mystical Paths What Musical Instrument Did King Dovid Play? by Reb Gutman Locks @ Mystical Paths King Dovid played a ten-stringed musical instrument. The Moshiach will play on an eight-stringed instrument, and in the World to Come, the music will again be played on ten strings. Twenty-five years ago, I first heard of the custom to listen to music on motzei Shabbos (Saturday night). Music, especially when combined with mysticism, can bring some of the holiness of Shabbos into the week. So, I decided to make a musical instrument just for this purpose. I found plans for an eight-stringed lyre, which I carved from various types of wood (pictured above). It is very beautiful, but its tone is not so sweet. Then, I designed and crafted a beautiful instrument that has a very pleasing tone. This lyre has ten-strings (also pictured above). I tuned it to sound like the waterfalls I heard in Hawaii. Many years later, I read in a book on the history of musical instruments that the exact tuning which I thought I had invented was used on a ten-stringed instrument shipped from China to Japan well over 1,000 years ago. When I play, I try to visualize what will happen when the Moshiach comes. What will we see when G-d’s Presence is revealed? The whole world will know peace. There will be no more wars, the sick will be healed, and the blind will see. The righteous among the dead will come back to life. We will actually see our Forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. All of the holy Prophets will live again. The Third and Final Temple will come. It will be made of a brilliant light, and it will stand right here In Jerusalem. What will all of this look like? It could happen at any minute. Sometimes I invite a few guests to sit with me when I play, and I encourage them to visualize these wonderful things. Now, I have a short video of me playing, so, if you like, you too can join me while I play. As to why the number of strings change with the times: King Dovid lived in a time when there was much joy, and severe hardships. His scale of tones was from the highest to the lowest. When the Moshiach comes, there will only be good. His scale will be just the upper notes, the highest tones. In the World to Come, we will see that even the lowest notes were good, so the music there will be played on all ten strings.", "Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory - Tourism Australia Kakadu National Park Australia.com does not support the internet browser you are using. Please upgrade to a more recent browser so that you can explore the destinations and experiences that await you as you plan your Australian holiday. Welcome to the official Australian tourism website. This site uses cookies. Find out more . Today's weather at Kakadu National Park Come and explore World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, around three hours east of Darwin. Immerse yourself in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, a natural and cultural wonder around three hours from Darwin. Discover detailed Aboriginal art galleries, hike to the top of rugged escarpments and cruise the wetlands past waterlilies, waterfalls, crocodiles and migratory birds. Drive the Nature's Way route from Darwin, or add Katherine and Arnhem Land for a longer Top End adventure. What you can see in Kakadu See rare flora and fauna, four wheel drive to stunning gorges and see Aboriginal rock art created by the Dreamtime ancestors of the traditional owners. Kakadu National Park Highlights Kakadu National Park Highlights It has been 30 years since Crocodile Dundee captivated the international film market, shining a spotlight on Australia’s Northern Territory. The spectacular scenery of the Northern Territory and rugged Kakadu landscapes have certainly not lost any of their appeal, and there are so many ways you can experience Kakadu. The Ancient Art of Kakadu The Ancient Art of Kakadu The Ancient Art of Kakadu In amongst the wetlands, wildlife and rugged gorges, World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park holds one of the highest concentrated areas of rock art in the world. As many as 5,000 Aboriginal sites have been found here, including rock art, shelters, stone tools, grindstones and ceremonial ochre. This detailed, dramatic record of life in Kakadu stretches back more than 50,000 years - from the first evidence of human occupation to the arrival of Europeans. Litchfield National Park Litchfield National Park, with its lush woodlands, spectacular waterfalls, sparkling plunge pools and tall termite mounds is an increasingly popular trip from Darwin. In Northern Territory terms it's just a short two-hour drive away. What's more all the main natural attractions - including Buley Rockhole and the dramatic Florence, Tolmer and Wangi falls - are easily accessible from Litchfield's main road. Check out the cleverly-constructed termite mounds, swim in pandanus-lined pools and take scenic walks on a day trip. Or stay, camp and hike or 4WD to the more remote reaches of the park. Guide to Arnhem Land Bordered by Kakadu National Park, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria, Arnhem Land is a vast, unspoiled wilderness area of more than 97,000 square kilometres (37,452 square miles). Rich in Aboriginal culture, Arnhem Land offers unique indigenous experiences, rock art and some of the best fishing in the world. Nature's Way Wind through the Adelaide and Mary River wetlands to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. Here you can bushwalk through rugged escarpments and lush rainforest and discover a treasure trove of Aboriginal rock ark. Learn about the Territory's pioneering history in Pine Creek and swim in crystal-clear waterholes in the tarzan landscape of Litchfield National Park. You can do this dream drive on a fully sealed road in a two-wheel-drive vehicle. Katherine The Northern Territory's Katherine region stretches from Dunmarra in the south to the Daly River region in the north. In total it covers an incredible 480,000 sq kilometres. From east to west it touches both the Queensland and West Australian borders. Katherine and its surrounds are the place to go for true outback adventure and indigenous experiences. Guide to Northern Territory Tropical Summer Guide to Northern Territory Tropical Summer Take a look at what’s happening in and around Kakadu Your first steps to Kakadu Just three hours drive from Darwin, there are many points of interest in Kakadu National Park. Nourlangie Ro", "12 highest Dams in the World - Wonders-World.com 12 highest Dams in the World Posted by admin 4/13/2013 0 A dam is a man-made structure built across a river. Most dams are built to control river flow, improve navigation, and regulate flooding. However, some dams are built to produce hydroelectric power. The sight of a dam one of the largest and most complex structures that humanity has ever created can be quite breath taking. Here is a top 12 highest dams list. 12.Mica Dam · 243 m (797 ft) · Canada · Columbia image by dar56 The Mica Dam (243 m height) is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Columbia River 135 kilometres north of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. 11.Alberto Lleras (Guavio) Dam · 243 m (797 ft) · Colombia · Guavio River image by philipp The Alberto Lleras Dam, also known as the Guavio Dam, is a rock-fill embankment dam on the Guavio River near Guavio, Colombia. 10.Deriner Dam · 249 m (817 ft) · Turkey · Çoruh River image by babsack Deriner Dam is a concrete double-curved arch dam under construction on the Çoruh River 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Artvin in Artvin Province, Turkey. Construction on the dam began in 1998, the reservoir began to fill in February 2012 and the power station is expected to be operational by the end of the year. It will have a 670 MW power house and is the tallest dam in Turkey. 9.Laxiwa Dam · 250 m (820 ft) · China · Huang He image by dam The Laxiwa Dam is an arch dam on the Yellow River in Qinghai Province, northwest China. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports the largest station in the Yellow River basin. The facility generates power by utilizing six turbines, each with a generating capacity of 700 MW, totaling to a capacity of 4,200 MW. 8.Mauvoisin Dam · 250 m (820 ft) · Switzerland · Bagnes image by 4000er Lac de Mauvoisin is a lake in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. The reservoir is formed by the Mauvoisin Dam, which is 250 m high. The dam is currently the 8th highest in the world, and the third highest arch dam. It was built in 1951–1957, and raised by 13.5 m in 1991. 7.Tehri Dam · 261 m (856 ft) · India · Bhagirathi image by arvind The Tehri Dam is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi River near Tehri in Uttarakhand, India. It is the primary dam of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd. and the Tehri hydroelectric complex. The dam is a 260 metres (850 ft) high rock and earth-fill embankment dam. Its length is 575 metres (1,886 ft), crest width 20 metres (66 ft), and base width 1,128 metres (3,701 ft). 6.Manuel Moreno Torres (Chicoasén) Dam · 261 m (856 ft) · Mexico · Grijalva image by mexico It is located about 40 km from Tuxtle, capital of the Mexican state of Chiapas. It is also known as Sumidero Canyon and canyon is regarded as an important tourist attraction in the state of Chiapas. The chicoasen is the home to a great variety of wildlife including corocodiles. It is the 6th largest dam in the world with a height of 261 meters. 5.Vajont Dam (disused) · 261.6 m (858 ft)· Italy · Vajont image by emanuele The Vajont Dam is a disused dam, completed in 1959 in the valley of the Vajont river under Monte Toc, 100 km north of Venice, Italy. One of the tallest dams in the world, it is 262 m (860 ft) high, 27 m (89 ft) thick at the base and 3.4 m (11 ft) at the top. 4.Inguri Dam · 271.5 m (891 ft) · Georgia · Inguri image by polgraf The Inguri Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Inguri River in Georgia. Currently it is the world's highest concrete arch dam with a height of 272 metres (892 ft). It is located north of the town Jvari. 3.Grande Dixence Dam · 285 m (935 ft) · Switzerland · Dixence image by roland The Grande Dixence Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Dixence River at the head of the Val d'Hérens in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. At 285 m (935 ft) high, it is the tallest gravity dam in the world and is part of the Cleuson-Dixence Complex. 2.Xiaowan Dam · 292 m (958 ft) · China · Lancang image by dam It is world’s 2th tallest Dam. Construction on th", "10 Largest Temples in the World – Touropia Travel Experts Last updated on November 10, 2016 in World Religions 9 Comments So, what is the biggest temple in the world? To answer this question we first have to establish what a temple is. Although roughly defined as a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities not all religions use the word temple. In the Western Christian tradition temple is rarely used for example so these churches and cathedrals will be excluded. In contrast, in the Eastern Christian tradition the word temple is used very frequently. Second what measure of size to use? According to the Guinness World Record the Akshardham Temple is the largest Hindu temple in the world but this is disputed by at least 3 other temples in India which are all claimed to be the largest temple. These temples are often part of a larger complex which makes it even less clear. In this list I’ll focus on the main temple (if any) to determine which is the largest temple in the word. 10Baalbek flickr/ upyernoz Baalbek, also called Heliopolis, is a spectacular archaeological site in northeastern Lebanon. From the 1st century BC and over a period of two centuries, the Romans built three temples here: Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus. Created to be the largest temple in the Roman empire, the temple of Jupiter was lined by 54 massive granite columns. Only 6 of these titanic columns remain standing but even they are incredibly impressive. The best preserved temple at the site is the Temple of Bacchus built in 150 AD. The temple is 69 meters long and 36 meters wide. Its walls are adorned by 42 Corinthian columns, 19 of which remain upright in position standing 19 meters (62 feet) high. 9Temple of Christ the Saviour flickr/ akk_rus One of the most imposing and controversial buildings in Moscow, the resurrected Temple of Christ the Saviour has had a short but turbulent history. It was originally commissioned after the defeat of Napoleon, but construction did not begin until 1839. In 1931 it was blown to pieces by orders of Stalin to make way for a proposed Palace of the Soviets, which was never built. In 1990, the Russian Orthodox Church received permission to rebuilt the cathedral. Completed in 2000, the new cathedral is loosely based on the original design, but constructed with modern building materials. At a height of 105 meters (344 feet) it is the tallest Orthodox church in the world. 8Temple of Saint Sava flickr/ Jorge-11 The Temple of Saint Sava in Belgrade is the largest Orthodox church building in the world. It is dedicated to the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The construction of the church began in 1985 and was mostly completed by 2004. The internal decorations are still not finished. In English, it is usually called a cathedral because of its size and importance but it is not the seat of a bishop and therefore technically not a cathedral. In Serbian it is called a hram (temple). The church is 91 meters (299 feet) long from and 81 meters (266 feet) wide. It is 70 meters (230 feet) tall, with the main gold-plated cross on top of the dome extends the church for 12 more meters (39 feet). It has a surface area of 3,500 m2 on the ground floor. 7Tikal (Temple IV) Tikal was the largest Mayan city between ca. 200 to 900 AD with an estimated population between 100,000 and 200,000 inhabitants. Tikal contains 6 very large step pyramids. The largest, Temple-pyramid IV, is some 72 meters (230 feet) high and was finished around 720 AD. Temple IV is the largest temple built anywhere in the Maya region, and as it currently stands is the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas although the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan may originally have been taller, as may have been one of the jungle covered pyramids at El Mirador. 6Jetavanaramaya wikipedia/ MOHS Kosgodage Located in the city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, the Jetavanaramaya is the largest stupa in the world if measured by volume. The temple was built by king Mahasena in the 3rd century AD and took 15 years to complete. Approximately 93.3 million baked bricks were", "10 Most Famous Bridges In The World - 10 Most Today 10 Most Famous Bridges In The World 10 Comments The world’s most famous bridges may not be the longest bridges , tallest bridges or highest bridges , but they are the most recognizable bridges in the world by far. Here are the top 10 most famous bridges: 1. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, United States – This world famous symbol of the West Coast of the United States and the most popular attraction of San Francisco has a main span of 1,280 meters (4,199 ft) which makes it around the 11th longest span in the world . The 11th place may not sound much, but taking into consideration that the bridge opened in 1937 makes it quite remarkable as the other top 10 were built during the last 10-20 years. The Golden Gate bridge is located in San Francisco and is perhaps the city’s most famous attraction. With the view of the bay around it, it is truly a sight to see Most Famous Bridges In The World: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco 2. Tower Bridge, London, England – Built from 1886 till 1894, this symbol of London is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name. Both the bridge and the castle next to it are one of the most visited monuments not only in London or England, but in Europe and even the entire world Most Famous Bridges In The World: Tower Bridge, London 3. Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia – A steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour. The bridge carries roads for vehicles and railroads as well as bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the North Shore and the central business district of the city. The beautiful view of the bridge with the harbour and the Sydney Opera House form the so familiar and wonderful skyline of the city. It is a symbol of Sydney and Australia. The bridge is nicknamed “The Coathanger” by the local residents because of its arch-based design Most Famous Bridges In The World: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney 4. Brooklyn Bridge, New York, United States – Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. It connects Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. It has a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m) which made it longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903. It has become one of the icons on New York from its opening day and it’s still one of the city’s major attractions . All day long you can spot tourists crossing the 5,989 feet (1825 m) bridge by foot while taking pictures of the beautiful bridge with the skyline of Manhattan Most Famous Bridges In The World: Brooklyn Bridge, New York 5. Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy – The “old bridge” is a medieval stone arch bridge , famous for still having shops built along it as was once common. It is the only bridge in Florence to survive the second world war. In the past, the shops were owned by butchers, but today the shops are mostly owned by souvenir sellers as well as art dealers and jewelers. The bridge is one of the most famous attractions in Florence Most Famous Bridges In The World: Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy 6. Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy – The oldest of four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. It was completed in 1591, replacing a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524. The beautiful old bridge is one of the icons of Venice and one of its best attractions and is always packed with excited tourists Most Famous Bridges In The World: Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy (source: Chene Beck) 7. Millau Viaduct, Millau, France – With a structure height of 343 meters (1,125 ft) the Millau Viaduct Bridge i s the tallest bridge in the world ! Opened in 2004, this four lanes bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France. The bridge has seven piers of different heights. The second one is the tallest with a height of 244.96 m (803 ft 8 in) – making it the tallest structure in France, taller than the Eiffel Tower! Most Famous Bridges In The World: Mil", "Trekking Tour of Ethiopia Trekking Tour of Ethiopia offered by supplier M17566 (read about supplier) Key Information: Tour Duration: 10 - 21 day(s) Group Size: 3 - 20 people Minimum Per Person Price: 2000 US Dollar (USD) Maximum Per Person Price: 4000 US Dollar (USD) Our trek consists of going to Ras Dashen (4543 m), the highest peak in Ethiopia and visits to Historic Routes of Ethiopia Mountains such as Ras Dashen, one of the tallest mountains in Africa. After visiting The Monasteries over Lake Tana, the Blue Nile Falls and the medieval castles at Gondar, we continue into the Simien Mountains for a quite a tough trek. The Simien Mountains of Ethiopia offer superb wilderness trekking with camera snapping scenery, dramatic cliffs and steep drops and escarpments. You can see and the chance to spot endemic wildlife such as a troop of Gelada Baboon, Walia Ibex and Simien fox and Ethiopia’s many endemic birds and plant life unique to the mountains. Finally we visit the obelisk city of Axum and the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Axum is said to house the Ark of the Covenant. Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis Ababa. On arrival in Addis Ababa our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to Classic hotel or guest house. An briefing of the program and itineraries will be given. The rest of the day visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will see the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains when discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 m and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis. Day 2: Drive from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar stopping off at Debre Libanos. Overnight at Debre Markos. Drive to Bahir Dar through the beautiful scenery at after 103 kms drive, visit the 13th C monastery of Debre Libanos and the 17th C Portuguese Bridge. Debre Libanos is an important monastic center for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. See Portugese Bridge with breathtaking views of Blue Nile Gorge. See Waterfalls. Day 3: Bahir Dar. After breakfast, we take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit ancient monasteries and churches. See the Blue Nile Falls. Overnight: Tana Hotel. Day 4: Drive Gondar Tour of Gondar. We experience typically in an Ethiopian African landscape as we drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar- 180 kms over wide grazing land, hilly mountains with numerous farmlands. The rest of the day visit attractions in Gondar. The attractions that we visit in Gondar includes: Castles of Gondar- are included in the World Heritage List, the royal Fasiledes Bath and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its unique murals. Overnight: Goha Hotel. Day 5: Gondar - Geech Camp Site. Morning 3 hours drive through countryside to Debark town (100 km from Gondar), where the head quarter of Semien Mountains National Park is found. Then we continue driving to Sankaber (31 km) the first campsite of the National Park. It is this day that we start to walk in the national park. We begin the trek along all the trekking staff: including mules and Muleteers for packing and transport of camping gears and all foodstuffs. We walk from Sankaber to Geech, which will take between 5-6 hours. After about 1 and half hours walk we see the Jinnbar River and falls, we will cross the river later in the day. After crossing the river, we ascend for about two hour to Geech, which is full of Giant Lobelias. Overnight Camping at Geech Campsite (3600 m). Day 6: Geech - Imetegogo – Geech. This day we will be waking to the best viewpoints in the National park. First we walk to Imetegogo, the view here enables one to look 3600 to all directions this one of the best view in the national park. After a short stay here continue walk to Seha, the other terrific viewpoint in the National park. We will have our picnic lunch and we continue to the last viewpoint, Quedadit. After some stay we walk back to Geech camp site. The walk this da", "The Highest Mountains in Western Europe | USA Today The Highest Mountains in Western Europe The Alps are home to Mont Blanc, Europe's tallest peak. (Photo: Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images ) Physical Characteristics of the Appalachian Mountains Sometime between 400 and 260 million years ago, the African tectonic plate ground against the Laurasian plate, slowly thrusting Europe's crust upward, creating the continent's hills and mountain ranges. While the Alps are home to Europe's tallest peaks, the continent's other ranges boast towering peaks that attract geologists and mountain climbers alike. From peaks towering over the counterparts in the Appenines and Pyrenees, to freestanding mountains and active volcanoes, almost every country in western Europe boasts at least one impressive mountain. Alps At 15,771 feet, Mont Blanc is Europe's tallest peak, straddling the borders of Italy and France. Visitors can travel via cable car from the French town of Chamonix to the mountain's Italian side, enjoying Alpine vistas as they soar to heights of over 15,000 feet. (Ref. 5) The Zugspitze is Germany's tallest mountain, standing almost 10,000 feet tall. Travelers can ascend the mountain by rail or cable car, and enjoy views at the summit overlooking four nations. Balkans Mount Musala is located within Bulgaria's Rila National Park and at 9,596 feet, stands as the tallest peak in the Balkans. The mountain receives more than 50,000 visitors annually, and travelers can ascend to the summit by riding the park's gondola to the base of the hiking trail and walking the remaining distance. Visitors can buy souvenirs and hot beverages at the summit's weather station. Mount Olympos is Greece's tallest mountain at 9,570 feet and the legendary home of the Greek gods. Visitors can explore the museum at the mountain's base, and explore the nearby ancient theater, where actors still perform classic dramas during the annual Olympus Festival. Greenland Gunnbjorn is Greenland's highest peak and at 12,136 feet, it's also the tallest in the Arctic. The mountain takes its name from Gunnbjorn, a ninth-century Norse explorer who, according to legend, discovered Greenland when he was blown off course during an expedition. Pyrenees Spain's Pico de Aneto is the tallest mountain in the Pyrenees, standing 11,167 feet tall. Pico de Aneto also holds the Pyrenees' largest glacier, which covers 403 acres. The glacier's current size fuels concerns over global warming, as it covered 1710 acres during the final years of the 19th century. Russian climber Platon de Tchihatcheff, Count Albert de Franqueville of France and four guides became the first men to reach the summit in July 1842. Sierra Nevada Spain's Mulhacen is Europe's tallest peak outside the Alps and Caucasus ranges, standing 11,410 feet tall. The mountain takes its name from Grenada's 15th-century Muslim ruler, King Abu l-Hassan Ali, who the Spanish called Muley Hacen. According to legend, the king lies at rest on Mulhacen's summit. The mountain attracts both beginning mountaineers, who can easily ascend the south and west ridges, and more experienced climbers attracted by the challenge of Mulhacen's north face. Sicily Sicily's Mount Etna is Europe's largest active volcano, looming 10,902 feet above the island, and continues to threaten nearby villages. As of May 2011, Mount Etna had erupted twice during the year. Depending on the volcano's activity, travelers may be able to travel to the summit, striding through the smoky fields of hardened lava that encircle the mountain's churning cauldron. References", "27 world famous buildings to inspire you | Creative Bloq 27 world famous buildings to inspire you 27 world famous buildings to inspire you By Kerrie Hughes From the Colosseum to the Kabba, get a dose of inspiration from 27 of the world's most famous buildings. Shares Whether you're a busy art director or an illustrator working from home , every creative needs some downtime. And there's no better way to both relax and be inspired than jetting off somewhere you've never been before. Whenever we travel to far-flung places, we're attracted to the famous buildings. Much like a photograph, architectural designs record details of specific moments in time. But unlike an photograph, physical structures go on to have a life of their own, becoming a central and functional part of countless people's lives for hundreds, if not thousands, of years after they were built. Here we have picked 27 of the most famous building designs from around the world to inspire you. 01. Lotus Temple The temple welcomes worshippers of all faiths The Lotus Temple is a Bahá'í House of Worship in New Delhi consisting of 27 structures resembling petals of the lotus flower that open onto a central hall around 40m high. It has nine sides, nine doors, and can accommodate 2,500 people. It's surface is made of white marble from Mount Pentelicus in Greece, the same marble used to build the Parthenon. Since its completion in 1986 it has become one of the most visited buildings in the world, attracting over 100 million people. 02. Cologne Cathedral Germany's most-visited landmark Cologne Cathedral is a High Gothic five-aisled basilica, the construction of which began in 1248 and stopped in 1473, before the building was complete. Work did not resume until the 1800s, and it was finally finished in 1880. Later work follows the original medieval plan faithfully. It is renowned as a Gothic masterpiece and houses many works of art as well as the tombs of 12 archbishops. 03. Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem The Dome of the Rock is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture A masterpiece of Islamic architecture, the Dome of the Rock is a 7th century building, located in Jerusalem. Built by Caliph Abd al-Malik between 687 and 691, the octagonal plan and the rotunda dome of wood are of Byzantine design. The Persian tiles on the exterior and the marble slabs that decorate the interior were added by Suleiman I in 1561. The oldest extant Islamic monument, the Dome of the Rock has served as a model for architecture and other artistic endeavors for over a millennium. 04. La Pedrera, Barcelona Gaudi's La Pedrera is one of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture Nested among the urban streets of Barcelona are some unusual and beautiful buildings by infamous architect Antoni Gaudi. His unique approach to the Art Nouveau movement generated some of the most creative buildings the world have ever seen. And La Pedrera is no exception. One of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture, this is more sculpture than building. The façade is a varied and harmonious mass of undulating stone that, along with its forged iron balconies, explores the irregularities of the natural world. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognised this building as World Heritage in 1984. 05. One World Trade Center, New York The One World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. Image © One World Trade Center The latest addition to New York's skyline, the One World Trade Center, is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. Construction began in April 2006 and the final component of the building's spire installed five years later in 2013, making it the fourth tallest skyscraper in the world. The One World Trade Center's design is no coincidence, standing at a symbolic height of 1,776 feet (541m) in a direct nod to the year of the US Declaration of Independence. Designed by David M Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill , the 104-story glass tower raises from a cube base before transforming from the 20th floor into" ]

[ "Lactose-free milk is made by adding lactase to regular milk, breaking down lactose into simple sugars that are easier to digest." ]

[ "LACTOSE: ... When yoghurt is made from sheep milk, the lactose is converted to lactic acid and during the production of hard cheeses, the lactose is set free in the whey. There is also proof that the lactose in sheep milk is more acceptable to people than that of other types of milk.", "Both lactose-free milk and soy milk can provide liquid substitutes for regular cow's milk, but their benefits, drawbacks and nutritional value vary considerably. Lactose-free milk is made from cow's milk with the lactose removed, while soy milk is made with liquid from the soy plant and isn't, technically, milk at all.", "Regular milk contains the milk sugar lactose, while lactose-free milk does not. Commercial milk producers add lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, to lactose-free milk so that you can drink it without experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms. ... And lactose-milk also has a different shelf life than regular milk.", "Summary Lactose-free milk is a milk product that contains lactase, an enzyme that helps breaks down lactose. You can use lactose-free milk in place of regular milk in any recipe, as it has nearly the same taste, texture and nutrient profile.", "The main difference is that lactose-free products are made from real dairy, while dairy-free products contain no dairy at all. ... Dairy-free products include soy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk.", "Lactose-Free Whole Milk, Ultra Pasteurized, Half Gallon. Our Lactose-Free Milk is identical to our regular milk—with Vitamin A, Vitamin D, riboflavin, calcium and pasture-raised organic protein—just without the lactose. We remove lactose by introducing lactase enzyme.", "LACTAID® lactose-free milk is made from 100% real dairy, just without the lactose – and includes all the natural vitamins and nutrients that come with it. Most almond milk contains only 2% real almonds – the rest is water, sugar, and additives.", "Dairy refers to milk and any part of milk that comes from cows and other mammals. Thus, to be dairy-free, a product must have no milk and no ingredients that are part of milk. Since lactose comes from milk, a product that is dairy-free will not have lactose in it.", "If you need a dairy-free or lactose-free option, you could use one of the lactose-free milks or vanilla almond milk in place of the evaporated milk, but again, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch.", "Feel Good Milk Arla Organic Lactose Free low fat milk is free from lactose and easier on digestion, so you can enjoy the benefits of milk without any discomfort. Our organic milk is produced in Europe and totally free from artificial hormones and preservatives. In other words, it's feel-good milk!", "Lactose-free cow's milk, offers strong health benefits. Nutrients: Lactose-free milk contain the same amount of calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D and protein as regular milk and dairy products. Health benefits: Drinking lactose-free milk can prevent the symptoms of lactose intolerance.", "Hope is not lost, however! Brands like Norway's Jarlsberg and Cabot Creamery from Vermont boast that their cheeses are “naturally lactose-free.” Milk is chock-full o' lactose, so how is that possible?", "Lactose-Free, Fat Free Skim Milk, Ultra Pasteurized, Half Gallon | Buy Organic Valley Near You. Our Lactose-Free Milk is identical to our regular milk—with Vitamin A, Vitamin D, riboflavin, calcium and pasture-raised organic protein—just without the lactose.", "Pauls Zymil milk, however, has this sugar already broken down by adding an enzyme called lactase. This enzyme helps to break down the lactose (milk sugar) into simple sugars – glucose and galactose, making Zymil milk lactose free. ... These include manufactures of almond, soy or rice milk.", "This results in milk that has higher levels of protein and calcium and is lower in sugar. Then the enzyme lactase is added to convert the remaining sugar left in the milk, making the ultra-filtered milk lactose-free.", "Is halloumi lactose free? No, BUT. If it is made with sheep and goat's milk, it will be very low in lactose as these are naturally lower in lactose. People with lactose intolerance can sometimes tolerate the levels of lactose in sheep and goat milk and therefore, halloumi.", "The main difference between regular milk and lactose-free milk tends to be the taste; generally, lactose-free milk tastes sweeter than regular milk because of the added lactase ingredient. For those who aren't keen on sweetness, then, it may be best to drink a non-dairy lactose-free milk, such as soy or almond milk.", "Skim milk comes from a cow and almond milk is made with almonds and water. Unlike cow's milk, almond milk is lactose free. This makes it easier to digest in lactose intolerant individuals. ... Skim milk, even though it has less calories then whole milk, has more calories then almond milk.", "The main difference is that lactose-free products are made from real dairy, while dairy-free products contain no dairy at all. Dairy-free products are made from plants, such as nuts or grains. Neither lactose-free products nor dairy-free products contain lactose.", "It is dairy-free Being dairy-free, almond milk contains no lactose at all, making it a suitable milk replacement for people with lactose intolerance.", "If you are lactose intolerant, consuming lactose gives you gas, diarrhea and bloating, usually within 30 minutes to two hours after drinking it. Lactose-free milk has lactase added so you can digest the milk. Soy milk contains no lactose since it's made from soybeans, which are naturally lactose-free.", "Almond milk and coconut milk are lactose-free, vegan alternatives to cow milk. Almond milk can be slightly grainy and is produced from finely ground almonds mixed with water. Coconut milk is made from the ground flesh of coconut soaked in water and has a much higher fat and calorie content than almond milk.", "For people with lactose intolerance there are a number of options: Liddells lactose-free UHT milk contains full cream cows' milk and the enzyme lactase; or for a fresh milk, Sun Latte is also well-tolerated as this ultra-filtered milk is very low-lactose, and Anchor have recently brought out a completely lactose-free ...", "How Blue Cheese Is Made. Raw milk is pasteurized and then acidification occurs when a starter culture is added to convert lactose to lactic acid, changing the milk from liquid to solid. Rennet is added to help coagulate the milk, and the curds are cut to release the whey. The curds are drained and formed into wheels.", "The traditional method of eliminating lactose in milk involves adding lactase or beta-galactosidase enzyme to the milk. These enzymes hydrolyse the lactose into its constituent sugars: galactose and glucose. These sugars are sweeter in taste than lactose and give the milk an unsatisfactory flavour.", "La Lechera Lactose Free Sweetened Condensed Milk 14 Oz Can CREAMY TEXTURE – The creamy texture and rich, delicious taste in the lactose free sweetened condensed milk is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.", "Lactose-Free Half & Half, Quart. Made with natural enzymes and organic cream and milk, our Lactose-Free Half & Half offers pasture-raised goodness for everyone. Add it to your coffee or your next dessert—it can even add some flavor to your next batch of mashed potatoes!", "Lactose-free foods are dairy products where the lactose has been removed, whereas dairy-free means there is no dairy at all; the food is made from plants or nuts instead. Understanding these labels is important for people with a milk allergy (also referred to as dairy allergy).", "Dairy foods that have lactase enzyme added to them, like our lactose-free yogurt, kefir, sour cream and cream cheese, are also completely lactose free. Butter is also very low in lactose, as it is primarily composed of fat rather than lactose-containing milk solids.", "Sweetened condensed milk is made from cow's milk and thus contains both milk proteins and lactose. If you have a milk protein allergy or are lactose intolerant, then this product is unsuitable for you. Some people with lactose intolerance can tolerate small amounts of lactose spread throughout the day ( 5 ).", "Marshmallows And surprisingly, they're completely dairy-free. Marshmallows are made up of basically just sugar, water and gelatin, which makes the recipe super easy to duplicate and fits into the lactose-free diet perfectly.", "Per the FDA definition of milk, Ensure Plant-Based Protein does not contain milk. It is dairy-free and lactose-free. Is Ensure Plant-Based Protein suitable for people with lactose intolerance? Yes, this product is lactose-free." ]

[ "The Vampire Diaries concluded its eight-season run on Friday with a whirlwind finale that should have you alternating between sobbing and grinning. Elena and Damon got to live happily ever after. Bonnie got to live. Stefan made the ultimate sacrifice, but finally found redemption (and Lexi)." ]

[ "Nina Dobrev is finally returning to 'Vampire Diaries' The Vampire Diaries' forthcoming season finale will feature its beloved former star. Nina Dobrev will return as Elena for The Vampire Diaries' final episode, following reports that the CW drama's forthcoming eighth season will be its last.", "The Vampire Diaries Season 8, The Final Season. The Vampire Diaries is a teen vampire drama. ... Fans have enjoyed 7 seasons on Netflix so far and now The Vampire Diaries season 8 will be coming to Netflix on March 18th.", "'The Vampire Diaries' Season 8 spoilers: Damon continues to remember Elena because of Sybil in episode 10. \"The Vampire Diaries\" Season 8, episode 10 will see Damon (Ian Somerhalder) continuing to remember Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev).", "Elena Returned In 'The Vampire Diaries' Season 7 Finale For A Surprise Cameo & It Will Give You All The Feels.", "McQueen will RETURN as Jeremy Gilbert in the season 8 finale episode of 'The Vampire Diaries' — talk about a family reunion! ... The Gilbert family is coming back together!", "'The Vampire Diaries' Season 3 Finale Recap: Elena Makes Her Choice. Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 3, Episode 22 (the season finale) of The CW's “The Vampire Diaries,” entitled, “The Departed.”", "Vampire Diaries Recap: Season 8 Episode 16 - I Was Feeling Epic - Variety.", "Elena Dies - 3x22 Vampire Diaries Season Finale - YouTube.", "Will Vampire Diaries Be Renewed For Season 9? Back in 2017 just after finishing season 8 of vampire diaries Julie Plec one of the developers of the show told that season 8 will be a finish of Vampire Diaries. The season has not been revived but there's a confirmation about the renewal of season 9 of diaries.", "The Vampire Diaries (season 7) The Vampire Diaries, a one-hour American supernatural drama, was renewed for a seventh season by The CW on January 11, 2015, and premiered on October 8, 2015. On March 11, 2016, The CW renewed The Vampire Diaries for an eighth season, which was confirmed to be the final one in July 2016.", "[' The Vampire Diaries - Season 3. Photo: The CW. The third season of The Vampire Diaries premiered on September 15, 2011, and contains 22 episodes. ... ', ' The Vampire Diaries - Season 2. Photo: The CW. ... ', ' The Vampire Diaries - Season 1. Photo: The CW. ... ', ' The Vampire Diaries - Season 6.']", "The CW Canceled The Vampire Diaries In 2017 Just a few months after The CW renewed the show for its eighth season, showrunner Julie Plec announced The Vampire Diaries would end with season 8, feeling the show had come to a natural end.", "'The Vampire Diaries' Season 8: The special meaning behind Steroline's \"June Wedding\" The penultimate episode of The Vampire Diaries is titled \"We're Planning a June Wedding\" and will find Stefan and Caroline (affectionately nicknamed Steroline) tying the knot in Mystic Falls.", "'The Vampire Diaries' Season 8 News & Updates: Klaus and Caroline Will Be Reuniting After Stefan Losses His Humanity.", "Yes, The Vampire Diaries: Season 8 is now available on South African Netflix.", "The Vampire Diaries Season 9 Production Detail Nina Dobrev came to film the finale of year 8 after exiting the series in season 6, so it is highly unlikely she movies season 9.", "Currently you are able to watch \"The Vampire Diaries - Season 8\" streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video.", "Damon Was Supposed To Propose To Elena In The 'Vampire Diaries' Finale. The Vampire Diaries series finale, 'I Was Feeling Epic', lived up to its name in a lot of ways.", "'The Vampire Diaries': Seline & Sybil Dead — Season 8 Episode 10 Recap – Hollywood Life.", "Well, this happened on The Vampire Diaries all because Candice King fell pregnant just before the start of Season 7. Julie Plec and her writers decided to have fun with King's character Caroline. ... It was lucky that The Vampire Diaries Season 6 included a pregnancy storyline.", "Sybil, initially known as the Armory's Monster, was first introduced in the season finale of the seventh season and was the main antagonist of the eighth season of The Vampire Diaries.", "Lizzie & Josie Saltzman (now played by Jenny Boyd and Kaylee Bryant) of The Vampire Diaries. Alaric's daughters are main characters of Legacies, but they were born on The Vampire Diaries and appeared in one episode of The Originals' final season.", "Is The Vampire Diaries Season 9 Renewed? No, The Vampire Diaries is not yet renewed for a ninth season. We will share the news as soon as we have it.", "Sorry, The Vampire Diaries: Season 8 is not available on Italian Netflix, but you can unlock it right now in Italy and start watching! With a few simple steps you can change your Netflix region to a country like New Zealand and start watching New Zealand Netflix, which includes The Vampire Diaries: Season 8.", "The Vampire Diaries Episode 22 season finale jeremy and damon talk about Anna being killed by john gilbert. Jeremy turns himself into a vampire by drinking annas blood and takes pills hinting that he is trying to overdose to kill himself.", "Sorry, The Vampire Diaries: Season 8 is not available on Canadian Netflix, but you can unlock it right now in Canada and start watching! With a few simple steps you can change your Netflix region to a country like New Zealand and start watching New Zealand Netflix, which includes The Vampire Diaries: Season 8.", "'The Vampire Diaries': Damon and Elena (Season 4, Episode 7) It was the moment Delena fans had been waiting for: Damon and Elena finally got it on.", "'The Vampire Diaries': Damon and Elena (Season 4, Episode 7) It was the moment Delena fans had been waiting for: Damon and Elena finally got it on. ... The Vampire Diaries duo – a real-life couple – have done a lot of flirting over the past four seasons, despite Elena dating Damon's brother Stefan.", "It's been an entire year since Nina Dobrev left The Vampire Diaries in last year's heartbreaking Season 6 finale, so you can imagine how amazing (not to mention downright shocking) it felt to see Elena return in The Vampire Diaries Season 7 finale, though not in the way you would expect. ... Elena returned! (Sorta.)", "Netflix Update Fans have enjoyed 7 seasons on Netflix so far and now The Vampire Diaries season 8 will be coming to Netflix on March 18th.", "Is 'The Vampire Diaries' on Hulu or Netflix? ... It's available to stream, all 8 wonderful seasons of it, on Netflix. It is not available to stream on Hulu, nor does it seem likely that it ever will be.", "Sorry, The Vampire Diaries: Season 8 is not available on French Netflix, but you can unlock it right now in France and start watching! With a few simple steps you can change your Netflix region to a country like New Zealand and start watching New Zealand Netflix, which includes The Vampire Diaries: Season 8." ]