Datasets:

yyu

/

news_corpus

like 1

Figma’s Table Museum series is adding another iconic artistic masterpiece to its collection. Following up on action figure versions of the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s David, there’s now a bizarre multi-limbed version of Leondardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man to add to your toy box. With eight limbs at his disposal, Vitruvian Man would have no problem besting Michelangelo’s David in a wrestling match. But you’ll be paying a premium for all of those extra arms and legs. The figure is now available for just shy of $60, with an included display stand and da Vinci sketch backdrop.

CINCINNATI -- As FC Cincinnati fans chanted and cheered for taxpayers to help fund a Major League Soccer stadium, Hamilton County leaders laid out a bleak reality: The county has too many projects and no way to pay for them all. From an outdated convention center to the obsolete Western Hills Viaduct, Hamilton County Commissioners are trying to figure out how to pay for more than $1.5 billion worth of infrastructure, development, transportation and county building needs in the coming years. "We have more projects than we have money," Hamilton County Commission President Todd Portune told a crowd of at least 150 people Tuesday night. And a battle over one of the few sources of money left -- a small slice of sales tax that becomes available in 2020, currently being used to pay for a renovation of Union Terminal -- is already brewing. Portune called the meeting Tuesday to gather public comments to help decide which projects the county should fund. FC Cincinnati's General Manager Jeff Berding led roughly 100 of the team's fans into the packed meeting, yelling "Build it here." It's no surprise that Berding, a former Cincinnati city councilman, was able to organize the loudest and largest display of political pressure in the room. More than 30 people weighed in on a range of projects, but most begged commissioners to help post the $100 million FC Cincinnati is requesting from taxpayers to build a $200 million MLS stadium in Cincinnati. The team is currently contending for a spot in the MLS, and Berding said he needs a stadium deal hammered out before the end of the year. "We're not here to ask that you only support FC Cincinnati because we have many needs in this community," Berding told the three-member commission. "But we're probably asking to be among the first, given the timeline of the decision." FC Cincinnati's ask to be first in line is still a big deal. The county is grappling with an overcrowded jail, a dated courthouse and an aging Jobs and Family Services building -- all of which serve hundreds of county families. In 10 years, the county will be grappling with a $266 million maintenance backlog, Hamilton County Administrator Jeff Aluotto said. The city's two current major league sports teams -- the Reds and the Bengals -- will eventually come knocking on the county's door for a new deal. The Bengals stadium lease with the county expires in 2026, and the Reds' lease expires a few years after. Combined, the two stadiums could need more than $200 million in upgrades within the next decade. "While no one is talking about demoing these stadiums, we know there will be substantial maintenance (needs)," Alutto said. County taxpayers will need to help pay for some of the $330 million overhaul of the Western Hills Viaduct. Hamilton County Engineer Ted Hubbard has proposed paying for some of that project with an additional $5 driver's license fee. "It needs to be addressed and now," Portune said Tuesday. A $230 million upgrade of the Duke Energy Convention center is necessary to keep visitors -- and their money -- flowing into the city, experts say. Another $10 million renovation of Sharonville Convention Center is also needed, Sharonville's mayor said Tuesday. U.S. Bank Arena owners have asked the Port Authority to buy the deteriorating facility and for taxpayers to finance a $342 million demolition and rebuild it. The building's small and old conditions have caused the city to miss out on huge conventions, most notably the Republican National Convention last year, that would have pumped millions of dollars into the city's economy. "It allows Cincinnati and the county to compete," said Nederlander Entertainment COO Ray Harris. "We're willing to work with anybody to try and make Cincinnati better. The Banks, which taxpayers have already invested $135 million to carve out on Ohio's river , remains unfinished. Meanwhile, any money that would be used to pay for these projects is nearly tapped out. County is painting a bleak picture here for available $. Hotel tax - tapped. Sales tax - a quarter left. None = new stadium or arena. The county can't collect any more hotel tax. Parking revenues generated from garages at The Banks are being used to pay down the debt on those garages. And the county can only legally collect a quarter percent more in sales tax, which would mean buyers pay 7.25 percent on every purchase, bringing in roughly $38 million every year. Hamilton County currently charges a 7 percent sales tax. That little room to fund even one or two of the projects discussed Tuesday. "There is not now, and never will be, enough money to ever fund every major capital project that is before you for consideration," said Tim Mara, a Cincinnati attorney and government watchdog who led the charge against a tax increase to pay for Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park more than 20 years ago. Mara was one of a few speakers who urged commissioners to oppose any taxpayer funding for a new FC Cincinnati stadium. "It makes no sense to divert scarce money to building a soccer stadium when these vital needs remain unfunded," he said. Commissioners are bracing for a fight over the quarter percent sales tax increase, currently used to pay for a restoration of Union Terminal, that expires in 2020. That sales tax generates roughly $38 million every year. It's been floated as a way to pay for the Western Hills Viaduct, the FC Cincinnati Stadium and, now, U.S. Bank Arena. In a statement released just moments after Tuesday's meeting ended, U.S. Bank Arena leaders called for the county to use that sales tax money for a $342 million overhaul of the 42-year-old facility. That plan would require a seven-year extension of the sales tax. But the clock is ticking for the county to strike a deal that would keep FC Cincinnati on the Ohio side of the river, dozens of soccer fans draped in orange and blue reminded the commissioners Tuesday night. "We have time to do the other projects later, this one needs to take precedent," FC Cincinnati Max Ellerbe said.

my daughter had sudden fever at night (102 F) and we took her to pediatrician two days back. Doctor had diagonised her with pharyngitis and prescribed amoxicillin for 5 days and paracetamol to reduce the fever. Day 1 - she was getting fever 101-102 F temperature and we used to give paracetemol dose each 3-4 hours to control the temperature. Day 2 onwards she is having fever of 100-101 and giving paracetamol dose each 8-9 hours time. fever occurrence gap has increased. Day 3 we went back to doctor and expressed the concern. Dr said baby is improving and continue with antibiotic and no need to worry about fever, just give paracetamol and it will settle down after 2-3 days. Paracetamol is an antipyretic that can reduce fever by affecting the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus that regulates the temperature of the body. Any fever that does not go away within seven days, especially while taking paracetamol. Should definitely be seen by a doctor. If your doctor won’t do anything about it, then you should seek an advice from a different pediatrician.

Five of the Menlo Park City Council candidates met up at the Oak City Bar and Grill in Menlo Park on Wednesday night to share campaign stories. The drinks were on Peter Ohtaki, since he received the greatest number of votes. The sixth candidate, Russ Peterson, was unable to attend. Photo by John Woodell. ● Ohtaki, Keith, Cline elected to Menlo Park council. Whoa, wait! There are three pending council members having a conversation- but where is Peter Carpenter with a Brown Act accusation? What if the new council has to act on something like an Oak City noise complaint case? Will all three have to recuse themselves because they acted like normal human beings and socialized? My goodness!

I met several customers in the past few weeks who are evaluating Application Performance Management (APM) solution. They are facing a lot of challenges with their existing investments in old generation of APM solution. In this blog, I will outline some of the shortcomings with APM 1.0 tools that make them unfit for today’s applications. Customers have been managing application performance since early days of mainframe evolution. However, Application Performance Management as a discipline has gained popularity in the past decade. Let me first introduce what I mean by APM 1.0. The enterprise applications and technologies such as Java have evolved in past two decades. The APM 1.0 tools were invented more than a decade back and they provided great benefits to resolve application issues that were prevalent with the early versions of Java and .NET technologies. However Java/.NET application servers have become mature and do not have those challenges any more. Also enterprise application architecture and technologies have changed drastically and the APM 1.0 tools have not kept up. The following figure shows the evolution of enterprise Java in the past 15 years and when APM 1.0 and APM 2.0 tools have started emerging. Following are few challenges with the APM 1.0 tools that you will run into when trying to manage your enterprise applications. The application owner and the application support team primarily cares about the user experience and service level delivered by their applications. APM 1.0 tools were primarily built to monitor applications from an application infrastructure perspective. These tools lack the capabilities to monitor applications from real user perspective and help you isolate application issues whether it is caused by the network, load balancers, ADNs such as Akamai, or the application, database, etc. Some of these solutions were quick to add some basic end-user monitoring capabilities such as synthetic monitoring. However an application support personnel has to switch between multiple consoles and depend on manual correlation between end-user monitoring and application deep dive monitoring tools. These tools do not allow you to track a real user request to the line of the code. That means you are blind-sighted when users are impacted and struggle to find what is causing the application failure. APM 1.0 deep-dive monitoring tools were primarily built to diagnose issues during the application development lifecycle. These tools morphed into production deep-dive monitoring tools when the need arose for APM in production environments. So, These tools were not optimized for production monitoring and hence require a lot of effort to tune for production. First off, the complexities of agent installation and configuration hinder deployment in production environment. Second, these tools usually require configuration changes every time new application code is rolled out. Most damagingly, they have high overhead on application performance and do not scale beyond 100-150 application servers. This means that most customers use these in a test environment or enable deep-dive monitoring retroactively after an application failure - assuming the problem will recur. Finally, these tools do not provide operation friendly UIs and because they were originally built for developers. As I alluded earlier, the old generation APM tools are very complex to configure because these require application knowledge, manual instrumentation and complex agent deployment. Hence expensive consultants are required to deploy and configure and maintain these tools. These tools also have multiple consoles - adding to total cost of ownership. Some customers told me that they spend a lot of time managing these APM tools rather than being able to manage their applications. These tools were built more than a decade back, and have not evolved much although the application architecture, technologies and methodologies have gone though drastic changes. APM 1.0 tools certainly cannot satisfy these needs. In the next blog, I will discuss how an APM 2.0 solution like BMC Application Management addresses the challenges with APM 1.0 products and help you manage applications better thus improving customer satisfaction and resulting in better bottomline.

President Barack Obama was in Latin America this weekend to assure leaders they can expect continued stability in U.S. relations with the region. We look at what the future holds for relations with Latin America. Following our Thanksgiving tradition, we hear about Meal Sharing's efforts to connect with people with a meal and new friends for the holidays.

One-time Yankees killer Dallas Keuchel is entertaining the idea of donning pinstripes. So much so the free agent pitcher is willing to shave his signature beard in order to abide with team protocol. "I think everybody is in play right now," Keuchel said in a recent interview with Fox Business. "The lure of the city would be really cool. I like pitching in Yankee Stadium. "For the right opportunity, I would happily shave this beard off," Keuchel said, channeling his inner-Johhny Damon who did so in 2005. "It's all about winning. I've made that very clear from Day 1 of my career starting to this position right now." But don’t stock up on shaving cream just yet, Yankees fans. While Keuchel, 31, has a history of tormenting the Yankees stretching back to the 2015 wild card game, he struggled a ton this past season. The Yanks, who have made pitching a priority this winter, had their way with the southpaw, tallying seven runs in two wins against Keuchel. It was an overall down year for the 2015 Cy Young winner, who posted career highs in hits allowed, walks and WHIP. The Daily News’ Wally Matthews suggested Brian Cashman stay away in his Yankees free agency primer.

Former U. S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales talks with U. S. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, left, before speaking at the Brainerd Kiwanis Club meeting at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on April 21, 2015, in Chattanooga. Anyone seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann next year will need deep pockets. Tennessee's 3rd District Republican got a big jump-start on fundraising Friday during a private event at the Mountain City Club in Chattanooga. The room was packed with monied supporters from across the 11-county district, and Fleischmann was joined by U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and 8th District U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn. When Fleischmann arrived, federal reports show his campaign had nearly $147,000 on hand. By the time he left, he had more than $500,000. The Ooltewah lawyer raised more than $370,000 Friday afternoon alone. For perspective, in 2013 and 2014 combined, Fleischmann raised a total of $1.6 million. The purse was the biggest Fleischmann has ever collected at one time. "This time, I am making sure we have the financial wherewithal early, so we can defend any primary challenge," Fleischmann said after the event. "I'd prefer to have no primary challenger, but I'll be ready." Fleischmann has never had an easy primary run in three elections to date. Last year, he eked out a win against then-27-year-old Republican challenger Weston Wamp, son of former Rep. Zach Wamp. Fleischmann won the race with 51 percent of the vote to Wamp's 49 percent. And in 2012, he battled the younger Wamp and Athens, Tenn., dairy icon Scotty Mayfield in the primary. Fleischmann got 39 percent of the vote, Mayfield got 31 percent and Wamp pulled 29 percent. His first run in 2010 was a six-candidate scrum. McCarthy said Friday the Tennessee Republican has been "very effective" for the 3rd District by getting funding for Oak Ridge National Laboratory and helping to move things along at the Chickamauga lock from his coveted spot on the House Appropriations Committee. "I don't know if I've ever seen someone get on that [committee] faster than our own Chuck Fleischmann," he told the crowd. No one has officially announced a campaign to challenge Fleischmann in the 2016 primary, but politicos have nodded toward state Sen. Bo Watson. And Watson hasn't denied the rumors. In March, Watson said he was focusing on his job in session, not a campaign. But he didn't say whether he would run. "I have people encourage me all the time," Watson said. "I don't rule that out. ... I think every election cycle you look at what opportunities might come up." Watson did not return a telephone message left Friday afternoon for comment. Weston Wamp has said he would not seek to run in 2016, but he didn't rule out future bids. Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon [email protected], @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.

An exploration of the fundamental drivers behind long term shifts in the demand for, and supply of, land for agriculture, forestry and environmental uses over the next four decades. Topics include trends in food and bioenergy demand, crop productivity on existing and potential croplands, water and climate constraints, non-extractive uses such as carbon sequestration, and the role of global trade and public policies. Students will lead discussions of weekly readings and perform simple numerical experiments to explore the role of individual drivers of long run global land use.

Gloria Williams Sander is hoping that her home in Glendale’s North Cumberland Heights neighborhood soon will become a historical district. With her neighbor Susan Dasso and others, Williams Sander canvassed the neighborhood a few years ago to learn if anyone had any interest in making the neighborhood a historical district. “The feedback was really positive,” she said. The area’s homes were built between the 1920s and early 1950s in the styles of Mediterranean Revival, Monterey Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Ranch Style and Minimal Traditional. For her, the neighborhood’s openness and uniformity of scale represents “the best of a certain moment in history.” The neighborhood’s beauty lured Williams Sander and her husband there in 1998 from Silver Lake. Williams Sander is familiar with beauty. She’s a curator at Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum, where she has worked since 1987 shortly after earning her master’s in art history at USC. “The best thing about Gloria is she knows so much about art, yet she is so happy to share it in a way that does not make you feel you don’t know anything, even though, really, I know nothing about it,” she said. “She makes art enjoyable and she’s so open to accepting all different kinds of art,” said Betty Astor, a friend. While Williams Sander does not consider herself an artist, her husband is a painter. And for her family of three, including their son Ian, Glendale is a blessing. And though she’s put considerable effort into lobbying for North Cumberland Heights to become a historical district, it’s been worth it, she said. According to Jay Platt of the Historic Preservation Commission, for North Cumberland Heights to become a historical district, the city needs to see support from more than 50% of the area’s property owners. Royal Boulevard, Cottage Grove and Ard Eevin Highlands encompass Glendale’s three historical districts. They achieved that designation in 2008 or later.

What he did: The UC San Diego commit scored 17 goals to lead the Red-tailed Hawks to a 6-0 week. After beating San Rafael and Marin Academy by a combined score of 29-12, Tam cruised past Pinole Valley (20-1), Irvington (13-9), Piedmont (12-2) and Bishop O’Dowd (12-5) to capture the Pinole Valley Tournament championship over the weekend. King, who has scored 54 goals this season, has 194 in his career, third on Tam’s all-time leaderboard behind Jackson Hettler (330) and Max Sieck (222). What’s next: The Hawks (15-6, 5-0 MCAL), riding a nine-game win streak, face San Marin, Drake and Novato before the MCAL playoffs. Thursday’s showdown against the Pirates will likely decide the No. 1 seed. Bob Kustel: Tam coach on what King brings to the Red-tailed Hawks.

Your reputation defines how people see you and what they will do for you. It determines whether your bank will lend you money to buy a house or car; whether your landlord will accept you as a tenant; which employers will hire you and how much they will pay you. It can even affect your marriage prospects. And in the present Reputation Economy, it’s getting more powerful than ever. Because today, thanks to rapid advances in digital technology, anyone access huge troves of information about you your buying habits, your finances, your professional and personal networks, and even your physical whereabouts at any time. In a world where technology allows companies and individuals alike to not only gather all this data but also aggregate it and analyze it with frightening speed, accuracy, and sophistication, our digital reputations are fast becoming our most valuable currency. Today everything depends on the social score, and everyone is desperate to move up in the rankings. But the omnipresent rating game has one big catch: ranking up is incredibly hard, while ranking down is rapid and easy, like a free-fall.Welcome to the reputation economy, where the individual social graph the social data set about each person determines one’s value in society, access to services, and employability. In this economy, reputation becomes currency. On the web or via mobile, we can now share almost anything. The reputation economy is based on the simplistic, but effective star ratings system. Anyone who’s ever rated their Uber driver or Airbnb host has actively participated. But what happens when algorithms, rather than humans, determine an individual’s reputation score based on multiple data sources and mathematical formulas, promising more accuracy and more flexibility via machine learning to effective star ratings system. promising more accuracy and more flexibility via machine learning? Over 60% of companies in Malta currently use social media to screen employees. And many AI-enabled startups are competing in the HR assessment market, using AI to crawl potential candidates’ social media accounts to filter out bad fits. What unifies all current platforms is a reliance on our ability to get enough information about the person we are exchanging with to feel comfortable setting the terms on an individual basis. In other words, they are economies of reputation. Much of the growing interest in these platforms springs from the conflicts we’re seeing in traditional markets. Lack of access to capital, slow market growth, poor employment rates all of these are driving people to find ways to leverage value from other areas of their lives. Back In 2012, Facebook applied for a patent that would use an algorithm to assess the credit ratings of friends, as a factor in one’s eligibility to get a mortgage. And China is aiming to implement a national social score for every citizen by 2020, based on crime records, their social media, what they buy, and even the scores of their friends. Being able to accurately or even reasonably accurately measure reputation has immense value. It makes it far easier to find suppliers or business partners and this lowering of transaction cost can create a far more fluid and efficient economy. If you are investing in or supporting small businesses especially in developing countries . It means your resources can go far further. We will increasingly have reputation scores attached to content, to publishers and to journalists, making it easier to find trustworthy information and it might even make dating a little easier. The reputation economy will increasingly drive business and society. Your reputation will precede you wherever you go.

President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team held an hour and 15 minute meeting on Tuesday with just over a dozen social justice groups that presented what they see as the concerns of Catholics. In response, some Catholic bishops and commentators have told CNA that they don’t believe these groups’ concerns resonate with those of the Church. The discussion between the Obama transition team and the different representatives touched on international development and trade, health care reform, reducing abortions, immigration, domestic policy and poverty reduction, and the environment. The meeting of the 14 different organizations was organized by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and the lobbying group “Network,” which describes itself as "a progressive voice within the Catholic community" that lobbies Congress on justice and peace issues. Sr. Simone Campbell, director of Network, told the National Catholic Reporter that the meeting was called to "acknowledge the work that some of the Catholic groups had done in the Catholic community during the election and to begin to develop relationships for ‘post-Jan. 20,’ when the new administration takes over after Obama’s inauguration." James Salt, Organizing Director of Catholics United, explained to CNA that Catholics United participated in the meeting by highlighting "key policies that are important to Catholics. "Specifically we want the new administration to take seriously its commitment to reduce abortions in America. People of goodwill from both sides of the conversation can agree that 1 million abortions a year are 1 million abortions too many. We wanted to make sure that the Obama administration knew this was one of our highest priorities." Yet, when Salt was asked if Catholics United planned to hold Obama accountable for his pledge to work to reduce abortions, he was cautious. "We're hopeful that the Obama administration is with us on abortion reduction. We were not there to make asks, but rather to build consensus around real solutions." Salt also added that no one raised the issue of Obama overturning the Mexico City Policy, which prevents American aid from going to those who counsel women on the availability of abortion. Alexia Kelley, Executive Director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, informed CNA that there are "many efforts underway and planned" to show support for the incoming administration as well as to challenge it to keep its abortion reducing commitment. Additionally, Kelley mentioned that the topics of how to help the poor, homeless, children and the sick during these times of economic hardship were also raised. Both Salt and Kelley confirmed to CNA that there was no one officially representing the Catholic Church present at the meeting, although they thought that an Obama team representative had met with key bishops at the USCCB. Bishop Thomas Wenski, a member of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, reacted to the meeting by saying, "while the Obama transition team is free to meet with anyone they wish…the fact is that the only ones who speak for the Catholic Church are the bishops. "If the transition team wished to telegraph a message that their intention is to marginalize the bishops then there is reason for some serious concern regarding the relationship between the future Obama administration and this nation's 60 million Catholics," Wenski said. Catholic scholar and author George Weigel expressed his doubts about the meeting’s make up. "If the Obama transition team thinks that meeting with the refugees from the Catholic revolution that never was is a way to open a dialogue with the Catholic Church in the United States, they're far less clever than I think they are. This strikes me as simply a pay-off to people who, from the Obama campaign's point of view, helped with the ground game in 2008." The proof of the social justice groups’ commitment to promoting Catholic concerns will be in "how these ‘Platform for the Common Good’ folks help the rest of the Catholic Church defeat the Freedom of Choice Act and maintain the Bush administration's AIDS and malaria-reduction initiatives in Africa, which has helped millions more poor people than any of these groups has ever managed to do," Weigel explained to CNA. Bishop of Madison Robert Morlino also added that the transition team must do more to dialogue with the Catholic Church. "Recognizing the stark contrast between the positions on abortion of the President-elect and the teachings of the Catholic Church, it would be a mistake for the President-elect's transition team to pretend that this meeting satisfied his promise of dialoguing with the Catholic community," he said. The bishop of Phoenix, Thomas Olmsted, also weighed-in on the meeting by addressing what a Catholic organization should be emphasizing. He told CNA that “Being 'right' on any number of other issues will never outweigh the taking of human life through abortion. It would be my hope that any group calling themselves 'Catholic' would make this message abundantly clear, and express grave concern over the possibilities that the new administration may increase funding for abortions with public money or even erode conscience protections for Catholic hospitals and healthcare workers." Finally, Brian Burch, who heads a group of four lay Catholic organizations in the political, legal, research and educational fields, also expressed misgivings about the ability of the social justice consortium to rein in Obama’s policies. "We are pleased to hear that the Obama transition team is interested in talking with Catholics, but caution that such conversations must be weighed against his reported plans on abortion policy, including his Cabinet selections thus far. Specifically, we remain concerned that the new Administration is composed of leading abortion advocates who are preparing to overturn a large number of existing pro-life laws, while proving hundreds of millions of new taxpayer dollars for abortion. "The fact that transition officials are consulting a select group of Catholic organizations who supported Obama's candidacy is not surprising. Whether these groups, some of whom claim to adhere to Catholic teaching, are able to hold him accountable on the issue of life, remains doubtful."

The Ventura County Star has won six California News Publisher Association awards, including for coverage of the Thomas Fire. Coverage of the Thomas Fire and an in-depth look at law enforcement in Ventura County were among Ventura County Star stories to receive California News Publishers Association awards. The Star received six awards in its class, including first and second place for enterprise news story or series and second place for public service journalism. An additional four entries were finalists in their categories. "Night on patrol in Ventura County: From heroin to headlights," an in-the-moment look at law enforcement agencies in Ventura County, captured first place in the enterprise news story or series category. For the story, nine Star journalists spent an evening with police and deputies across the county to document one night on patrol. The Star's coverage of the Thomas Fire, the largest wildfire in modern California history, received a second-place award for public service journalism. In addition to breaking news of the fire, Star coverage included emergency communication challenges, the fire's impact on mental health services and farmworkers, and stories of people who lost everything. Reporter Tom Kisken and photographer Anthony Plascencia received a second-place award in the enterprise news category for their piece on opioid use, "Ventura County's opioid fix: 'I crave it all the time." Kisken and Plascencia spent a week documenting the impact of opioids on Ventura County. Third place award winners in their division were photographer Chuck Kirman for a photograph of a firefighter during the Thomas Fire; reporter Arlene Martinez in the business news category for a piece on retiree health costs at public agencies; and reporter Cheri Carlson, photographer Anthony Plascencia, digital producer Yazmin Cruz and former reporter Amanda Covarrubias in the youth and education category for their piece on students and truancy. The CNPA awards were announced Saturday in Sonoma. See all the winners at https://cnpa.com.

BE AWARE: Motorists in the Newcastle CBD must now observe a 40kph speed limit on Hunter Street (pictured) and Scott Street between Worth Place and Telford Street. Picture: Darren Pateman. MOTORISTS from Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast - who aren't familiar with the changes to driving conditions in Newcastle caused by the light rail system - would do well to take extra care around the city's CBD. Officers from Police Transport Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and Newcastle Police District have been regularly patrolling around the Hunter Street transport system since it went live on February 18. Northern Region Traffic Tactician Chief Inspector Amanda Calder said officers have observed a number of dangerous incidents putting the lives of not only drivers at risk, but also bystanders and light rail commuters. "The light rail has been up and running for more than a month and the vast majority of people are aware of the changed road network and have adapted to the changes," Chief Inspector Calder said. "There are some drivers who are not paying attention and are making serious mistakes with their actions endangering themselves and others along Hunter Street and Stewart Avenue. "Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol have observed several near-misses during this first month of operation, with the most common offences being vehicles driving on the tram tracks; running red lights at light rail crossings; and pedestrians - who are often distracted and looking at their phones - jaywalking across the tracks." She gave the example of one motorist who got it all wrong. "One driver was seen by police to drive onto the rail track on Hunter Street, cross to the wrong side of the road, and drive into the path of an oncoming tram before proceeding through a red light before police could stop the car," Chief Inspector Calder said. The Newcastle Transport website advises there are new signs, traffic lights and road markings across the city centre which show how drivers, cyclists and pedestrians should behave around light rail vehicles and tracks. Motorists are being urged to pay attention and follow the signage that spells out how to behave when sharing the roads with light rail vehicles. Picture: Marina Neil. "A 40kph speed limit is in place for all vehicles, including light rail, on Hunter and Scott streets between Worth Place and Telford Street," the website said. For most of Hunter and Scott streets, light rail runs in its own dedicated lane known as a tramway. Drivers are not allowed to drive on a tramway unless avoiding an obstruction. There is also a mixed running section on Scott Street, between Newcomen and Pacific streets. In this section, light rail vehicles and other road users share a lane. Road users are generally required to treat light rail as any other large vehicle in this section. Police are encouraging motorists to use their common sense and take their time on the roads to adapt to the new road conditions. "We're asking the community to not let these issues become long-term habits, be safe and alert at all times when near the light rail network," Chief Inspector Calder said. For more information on the Newcastle Light Rail visit newcastletransport.info/light-rail. Discuss "Police spot risky driving habits around light rail vehicles"

Gartner identifies three types of BI buyers - which one are you? Sticky tape not only binds, but gives off useful radiation! Large Hadron Collider to Resume at half potential power – just to be on the safe side.. The evil machines: Is a Skynet machine revolution close? Does social media stifle creativity? Hyper-V vs. VMware: Which costs more? Can SharePoint step up into project and portfolio management roles? Twitter: Should businesses stay away until support improves? COMMENTARY: What came first, the NBN or the egg?

The acting commissioner of Inland Revenue in Papua New Guinea says there is nothing she can do to help an Australian couple who have to pay 8,000 US dollars on a car they donated to charity. Sydneysiders Edward and Alvina Renyard sent a 1993 Mitsubishi Pajero to Caritas in Madang to help the work of aiding Manam Islanders displaced by volcano eruptions. Mrs Renyard's relatives are among the displaced people. But acting inland revenue head, Betty Palaso, says all imported vehicles, even those bound for charities are subject to duty. "I think it's just unfortunate that Internal Revenue Commissioner was not consulted before these things were brought in. Otherwise we would have advised them that duty would be applicable on this vehicle." Betty Palaso says she feels for the Renyards but she cannot work outside the law.

Jake Smith has worked for a variety of technology-focused publications over the years, covering Apple's smartphone rise as an editor at 9to5mac and the explosion of the consumer tech obsession for Pocket-lint as US News Editor. Jake currently attends the University of Kentucky, studying finance, and thinks drones will be the next big thing. Apple is planning a new corporate campus for the United States, and a new report says it's set for North Carolina. It's a limited initial rollout, but a start. Google says Android Auto wireless support should come to more phones and car displays soon. All gold everything: Did Apple ditch this color before the iPhone X's September release?

Brown vetoed Assembly Bill 267, which would compel courts to inform defendants about the consequences of pleading guilty to a felony. They can include being barred from owning a firearm, joining the military, serving on a jury and receiving some types of government aid. “I believe ensuring adequate consideration of the various consequences of a criminal conviction prior to a guilty plea is the responsibility of the defendant’s counsel,” Brown wrote in his veto message.

(Conakry) – The fifth anniversary on September 28, 2014, of the Conakry stadium massacre should be the last before justice is done, seven Guinean and international organizations, in unity with the victims, said today. More than 150 people were killed, some 100 women were raped and several hundred people were injured on September 28, 2009, as government troops attacked peaceful demonstrators. Since legal proceedings began in February 2010, close to 400 victims have been interviewed by the judges leading the case. But only eight people have been charged, though offenses were committed by scores of members of the armed forces, particularly the Red Berets. The military junta in power at the time of the massacre was headed by Moussa Dadis Camara. There has been real progress in justice in recent months, the groups said. The establishment of a High Judicial Council in July, the ongoing improvement in the status of judges and the start of justice reform are all likely to help the judges complete their work. There has been some progress in the legal case in recent weeks, including questioning of the director of Conakry stadium, the former Minister for Youth and Sport and, through an international rogatory commission, Dadis Camara, who has taken refuge in Burkina Faso. These new developments are in contrast to the slow pace that long characterized the proceedings. Administering justice for the victims is all the more urgent because scores of victims have died in the past five years from their injuries or disease without being vindicated, the groups said. Despite the government’s stated commitments, a lack of financial and political support has been a major obstacle to the progress of the investigation. The government needs to guarantee that all of the people summoned for questioning, including members of the security forces, regardless of their rank, answer the summonses issued by the judges. On several occasions, despite repeated summonses, the judges have not been able to interview people summoned for questioning about the events of September 28, 2009. The International Criminal Court (ICC), which opened a preliminary examination on October 14, 2009, and which is continuing to monitor this case closely, has already alerted the national authorities to the need to conduct these proceedings within a reasonable time frame.

What made you a music director? As a Bengali with an MBBS degree, did you never feel the pressure to pursue a medical career? There is always pressure on you while taking risks. Opposition from family and society is natural. I guess that���s how the society reacts. But some of us are just not made to follow the societal norms. My immense love for music coupled with my adamant nature didn���t let me settle for anything apart from music. For me, music is like medicine. Despite hailing from Kolkata, you never thought of composing for Bengali films. Of course I do. I���d love to work with Srijit Mukherji and Kaushik Ganguly. How much are you clued in to Bengali film music? I left Kolkata around eight years back and Bengali film music has come a long way since then. I love Anupamda���s (Roy) songwriting and compositions. He is brilliant. The song Ek baar bol tor keu nei is one of my favourites. Heard you used to fight with your mother as a kid because you were forced to learn Rabindrasangeet? Oh yes! Protidin ma er sanghe jhogra hotoh gaan sekha niye! But now Rabindrasangeet is my fave. There are times when I just sit quietly and listen to the songs. During my college days, I used to love rock. Fossils was at its peak then. I grew up listening to Kabir Suman, Anjan Dutt and so on. Do you catch up with your old friends whenever you come down to Kolkata? I do meet my school friends when I come here. Right now, Kolkata seems to be brimming with joy as Durga Puja is just weeks away. But sadly, I���m going to miss it this time as I would be out of the country for work. What I will miss the most are pandal-hopping and eating out in the wee hours. Are you in touch with other Bengali music directors based in Mumbai? Of course. I have known Pritamda very well since I was nominated for my debut in Jism2 and for my second film, Yaariyan. I was lucky to score the soundtrack along with him, Mithoon and YoYo Honey Singh. We won the best music award for it too. Pritamda is very warm and often invites us over to his house. Jeetda (Gannguli) is like family to me. His wife is my mom���s student and they are the sweetest people on earth. We often hang out in a group for adda where we don���t talk work. I don���t know Shantanu Moitra personally, but whenever we meet he is extremely encouraging and supportive. How is the competition in Mumbai music industry? Quite tough, but fair at the same time. What matters there is your song���s merit and nothing else. Most of your songs, which are also penned by you, are hits. Does that create a pressure on you when you compose your next song? There are certain expectations when you work with big stars and banners. But I take it more as a compliment than a burden. Well the list is endless -- my childhood, daily experiences, the people around, my lovers, travelling and imagination. While promoting Rustom in Kolkata, Akshay Kumar crooned Tere sang yaara, which is composed by you. How does it feel? Feels great. He told me that after a long time he has a favourite song. Akshay sir has always been very kind to me. This is the third song I made for him after Meherbaani from The Shaukeens and the title track for a TV show hosted by him called Dare 2 Dance. Who are your favourite male and female singers? Among male artistes, it���s Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, Bruce Springsteen, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Hemant Mukherjee and Mohammed Rafi to name a few. Among female singers, Lauryn Hill, Adele, Alanis Morissette, Abida Parveen and Shreya Ghoshal are my favourites. Which music director do you like the most? My all-time favourite music director is Hemanta Mukherjee. I am also very fond of Vishal Bhardwaj. One singer you wish to lend voice to your music? My dream is to have Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or Jagjit Singh lend their voice to music composed by me some day. Which is your favourite composition till date? Dariya, from an upcoming film starring Katrina Kaif and Sidharth Malhotra. The song conveys the simplest and purest emotion and that���s how music should be. Akshay Kumar, Sidharth Malhotra, Irrfan, Randeep Hooda all have lip-synced on your tracks. Any actor you would want to playback for? I would like to playback for Ranbir Kapoor. He is one of my favourite actors.

Holland, others condemn bigotry; Monson's chair vacant in afternoon, but he addresses priesthood session. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Conferencegoers before the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Conferencegoers before the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Brook P. Hales, Secretary to the First Presidency, speaks during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Members affirm a vote during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Members affirm a vote during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Members affirm a vote during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Kevin Jergensen, Managing Director Church Auditing Department, speaks during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, arrive during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Elder Gary B. Sabin, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Elder Valeri V. Cordón, of the Seventy, speaks during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune A couple cuddles during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune President Thomas S. Monson's empty seat during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the afternoon session of the 187th Annual General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City Saturday, April 1, 2017. During a time of jarring political polarity and town hall meetings marred by shouts and boos, several top Mormon officials Saturday strongly condemned hostility and hatred as anathema to Christian discipleship. "Someday I hope a great global chorus will harmonize across all racial and ethnic lines," apostle Jeffrey R. Holland said, "declaring that guns, slurs and vitriol are not the way to deal with human conflict." Holland was among more than a dozen speakers who addressed tens of thousands of Mormons in downtown Salt Lake City and millions more around the world, tuned into the LDS Church's 187th Annual General Conference. One voice the faithful didn't hear during the morning and afternoon sessions was that of LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson. The increasingly frail 89-year-old leader presided over the morning gathering after being helped to his seat. In the afternoon, that chair — between Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf, his two counselors in the governing First Presidency — sat noticeably vacant. A spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Monson, viewed by Mormons as a "prophet, seer and revelator," was "conserving his energy" for the remainder of the weekend's sessions. Monson has led the 15.8 million-member church for more than nine years; Mormon presidents serve for life. Two years ago, the Utah-based religion announced Monson was "feeling the effects of advancing age." Since then, the longtime LDS leader, who also didn't attend last Saturday's women's meeting, has been scaling back his conference sermons. Other speakers had no trouble preaching with passion about current ills. "Economic deprivation is a curse that keeps on cursing, year after year and generation after generation. It damages bodies, maims spirits, harms families, and destroys dreams," Holland said, decrying poverty and lamenting that "so many around us suffer from mental and emotional illness or other debilitating health limitations." The former president of LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University pleaded with members to stay in the faith's expanding fold. "There is room for those who speak different languages, celebrate diverse cultures, and live in a host of locations. There is room for the single, the married, for large families and for the childless," he said. "There is room for those who once had questions regarding their faith and room for those who still do. There is room for those with differing sexual attractions." In short, Holland proclaimed, "there is a place for everyone who loves God." Fellow apostle Robert D. Hales said as Latter-day Saints follow Christ, "there will be no disparity between the kindness we show our enemies and the kindness we bestow on our friends. We will be as honest when no one is looking at us as when others are watching. We will be as devoted to God in the public square as we are in our private closet." Like the parable of the good Samaritan, true believers "cross the road to minister to whomever is in need, even if they are not within the circle of our friends," Hales said. "We bless them that curse us. We do good to those who despitefully use us. Is any attribute more godly or Christlike?" In the morning, apostle Dale G. Renlund cautioned Mormons against railing on opponents. "We must guard against bigotry that raises its ugly voice toward those who hold different opinions. Bigotry manifests itself, in part, in unwillingness to grant equal freedom of expression," he said. "Everyone, including people of religion, has the right to express his or her opinions in the public square." Renlund, a physician by training, spent his teen years in Europe in the 1960s, where he felt "picked on and bullied" as an American, he said, "as though I were personally responsible for unpopular foreign policies." During that time, he also witnessed the "ugliness of prejudice and discrimination suffered by those who are targeted because of their race or ethnicity." In LDS history, Mormons were persecuted for their faith, Renlund noted. "How ironically sad it would be if we were to treat others as we have been treated. ... Let us fully mirror [Jesus'] love and love one another so openly and completely that no one feels abandoned, alone or hopeless." Eyring, who spoke first Saturday, addressed Mormons' theological drive to seek out their ancestors — a practice they believe opens the door of the LDS gospel to long dead kin — and the growing fascination with genealogy among millions of others. "Interest in exploring one's family history has grown exponentially. At ever-increasing rates, people seem drawn to their ancestry with more than just casual curiosity," he said. "Genealogical libraries, associations and technologies have emerged around the world to support this interest." He said the "hearts of the children — you and me — have turned to our fathers, our ancestors. The affection you feel for your ancestors is ... deeply seated in your sense of who you are. But it has to do with more than just inherited DNA." The morning's concluding speaker was Russell M. Nelson, senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and next in the line for the church presidency. Nelson touted the power of faith to change lives. "True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from people of the world," the 92-year-old leader said. Faith "propels us to do things we otherwise would not do. Faith that motivates us to action gives us more access to his power." When believers "reach up for the Lord's power ... with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air," Nelson promised, "power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the savior knows you truly want to reach up to him — when he can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw his power into your life — you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you need to do." In the afternoon, apostle Neil L. Andersen emphasized the importance of "overcoming the world," rising above earthly concerns and focusing on God. "Overcoming the world is not a global invasion, but a private, personal battle, requiring hand-to-hand combat with our own internal foes," Andersen said. "The world, on the other hand, is more interested in indulging the natural man than in subduing him." One of those indulgences is social media. "A disciple of Christ is not alarmed if a post about her faith does not receive 1,000 likes or even a few friendly emojis," Andersen said. "Overcoming the world is less concerned with our online connections and more concerned with our heavenly connection to God." Fellow apostle M. Russell Ballard advised the faithful to set goals for their lives and make plans to achieve them, "within the framework of our Heavenly Father's eternal plan." The most important aims, he said, are "to return to [God's] presence and to receive the eternal blessings that come from making and keeping covenants." Ballard warned about "loud voices" used by Satan — including the mass media, the internet and social media — "that seek to drown out the small and still voice of the Holy Spirit that can show us 'all things' we should do to return and receive." "We must keep the doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ at the center of our goals and plans," Ballard said. "Without him, no eternal goal is possible, and our plans to achieve our eternal goals will surely fail." No women spoke Saturday, but three new female leaders were named to lead the women's Relief Society. Editor David Noyce and reporter Sean P. Means contributed to this story.

A plan to build fifty giant wind turbines in the province of Drenthe may interfere with the operation of a radio telescope and do ‘disastrous’ damage to scientific research, according to the Dutch Institute for Radio Astronomy (Astron). Astronomers claim that the placement of the 200 metre high windmills will interfere with the low-frequency array (Lofar) which uses thousands of low-frequency antennae to survey the universe. Because of their height, the windmills reflect other radio and television signals towards the Lofar station. Minister for economic affairs Henk Kamp has a year to decide whether to continue with the project. The plan has already been criticized by local residents and municipalities. The Dutch telecom agency is currently looking into whether windmills interfere with radio telescope operation in Drenthe. Minister Kamp gave the project the go-ahead based on a study by a British company, which found that the operation of the telescope would not suffer if windmills were placed nearby. However, Astron argues that the British researchers didn’t have sufficient knowledge to make that claim. Astronomers at the Lofar site would prefer if the windmills were at least 15km away from the telescope. The current plan would see seven of the fifty turbines placed within a 15km radius of the Lofar site. ‘It might not sound like too much of a difference, but going from a few kilometres to fifteen really makes a big difference when it comes to the strength of the reflected signals,’ said Garrett.

This full stratified home has a 2 level main home and fully contained suite on the walkout lower level! Great investment or revenue opportunity; or choose your unit and sell the other! Excellent quiet location on the Knoll at Silver Star Mountain Resort with the ski-way out your back door. Beautiful Monashee Mountain views! Well layed-out floor plan with a common entry and shared double garage. Both units enjoy in-floor hot water heat, private hot tubs with shower rooms, private laundry and a full ensuite with every bedroom! The main house features a large private entry/ski storage with access to the hot tub, sauna and shower room. Great room concept living area with a grand river rock gas fireplace, 2 story windows and soaring ceilings in the living room to the upper level. The kitchen has stainless appliances and casual eating bar while the dining area will accommodate your large gatherings. 3 Bedrooms and 3 baths on the upper level including the master which has mountain views and ensuite featuring a soaker tub and separate shower. Lockable owner storage off the laundry room. The lower suite presents 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and generous open concept living with gas fireplace in the living room, a large island in the kitchen with eating bar and level walkout to the hot tub.

Upbeat on plans: Girija Pande of TCS says the company’s revenues from its Chinese operations will grow by around 45% in the next two years. Hyderabad: With business from the US and Europe expected to decrease due to the ongoing financial turmoil, Indian information technology services (IT) firms are increasing their focus on the Asia Pacific region, particularly China, in an effort to tap the latter’s IT market and use it as a strategic base to enter the at least $100 billion (Rs4.76 trillion)-a-year Japanese IT market. Business from the US and Europe together account for between 80% and 95% of revenues of the top five Indian IT services firms, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd or TCS, Infosys Technologies Ltd, Wipro Ltd, Satyam Computer Services Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltd. Market research firm IDC estimates the Chinese IT services market to reach at least $55 billion by 2010. TCS entered China in 2002 with a software development and delivery center. While its initial objective was to serve its global clients having Chinese operations, the company has now started addressing the regional and local market. Currently, it has 1,300 employees working in China. In its latest annual report, TCS said its China operations had managed to break even. According to Girija Pande, executive vice-president and head of Asia Pacific division at TCS, the Chinese IT market is growing by at least 20% annually and revenue from the company’s Chinese operations will grow by around 45% in the next two years. “In the short term, we will be expanding our presence and increasing the headcount to at least 5,000 by 2011," said Pande. Similarly, Infosys has a 1,000-strong workforce in China and said it is in expansion mode. “We have expanded our operations in two cities Shanghai and Hangzhou," a company spokesperson said in an email response. The company’s Chinese subsidiaries, however, were still loss-making as on 30 September, according to the company’s second quarter results. Satyam admitted it is yet to make significant headway with its China operations but said it is in expansion mode with an eye on the long-term. The company currently employs around 1,000 people in its two subsidiaries in China and plans to scale up headcount to nearly 2,000 by 2010. It is also investing in a training centre in China, which will have a capacity of at least 2,500 by 2010. “It is still a mystery why Indian companies have not been able to get any significant share of outsourced work from China and Japan," said Virender Aggarwal, head of rest of the world operations for Satyam. Analysts acknowledge that China has been a rather difficult market for a variety of reasons. “So far, the Chinese domestic market has been one that is difficult to engage, primarily because of state and public sector dominance," said Milan Sheth, partner and head of IT outsourcing advisory at audit and consulting firm Ernst and Young. “It is critical to have a well connected and established Chinese local partner who can help penetrate that market," he said. TCS said it views China as a better base to address the Japanese market. “A significant share of outsourced work from the Japanese market is cornered by Chinese companies, as they have a relative cultural and linguistic advantage over their Indian counterparts. We see being present in China as the first step in building the right relationships," said Pande. Both TCS and Satyam are betting on local talent to succeed in their Chinese operations and help the company better address the local market as well as help build bridges with Japanese companies. At least 90% of TCS’ workforce in China comprises local hires. Nasscom’s Som Mittal said that the size of the Japanese IT market and the potential for outsourcing presents a huge opportunity for Indian IT firms, but, he added that the market has been relatively insulated due to language and cultural barriers. “However, we see an increasing desire among Japanese companies for sourcing competitively priced IT services from foreign companies. More importantly, the factors limiting market penetration by Indian companies are being recognized and addressed by the Japanese themselves." Nasscom has set up a Japan desk to explore ways for Indian IT companies to adapt themselves to compete more effectively in the Japanese market. Both China and Japan are long-term plays, said experts. “It is very important for Indian IT companies to understand that investments in the Chinese market should be done with a long term view. Given the nature of that market, it is unrealistic to expect quick turnarounds," Sheth said. Wipro and HCL did not respond to queries on their China and Japan strategy.

JOHN REED, recognized as one of the best ''patter'' men performing in Gilbert and Sullivan operas, has been singing such quintessentially comedic roles as the Lord Chancellor in ''Iolanthe'' and Ko-Ko in ''The Mikado'' for more than 30 years. On Saturday, he and the other members of the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players will perform ''Iolanthe,'' a satire set in a fairyland, at the Palace Theater in Stamford. As a ''patter'' man, Mr. Reed must speak lines that are exercises in rapid-fire phonetics. ''It's just fast and furious,'' said Mr. Reed, a native of northern England who now splits his career between Britain and the United States. One of the most famous patter songs in the Gilbert and Sullivan repertory is ''The Nightmare Song'' from ''Iolanthe,'' which he performs. ''It goes on forever,'' Mr. Reed said. ''Iolanthe'' will treat lovers of breathless buffoonery to not one but three such exercises in elocution, all performed by Mr. Reed. Mr. Reed has to have impeccable diction to get the lyrics across to the audience. And every single note has to be right. But in 1951, when he joined the famous D'Oyly Carte Company in London, which was founded in 1878 by Richard D'Oyly Carte, the producer of the first operas by William S. Gilbert and Arthur S. Sullivan, things were different. But by 1959, Mr. Reed had taken over all the company's comedic roles. There were eight performances every week, then seven or eight tours in England and abroad. ''I wonder how we did it,'' he said. His efforts were deemed worthy by Queen Elizabeth II, who bestowed him with the Order of the British Empire in 1976. Mr. Reed left the D'Oyly Carte two years before its demise in 1981. Three years ago, Mr. Reed performed in the Washington Opera production of ''Trial by Jury'' at the Kennedy Center. That is where he met Mr. Bergeret, and they have performed together several times since. Now Mr. Reed spends half his time performing and the other half directing. For the past several summers he has directed Gilbert and Sullivan shows for the Colorado Music Theater Festival in Boulder. The curtain goes up at 8 P.M. Call the Palace Theater box office at 359-0009 for tickets and information.

Health authorities have issued another measles warning after a person travelled on public transport and visited two universities and a grocery shop while infected. The alert is the fourth of its kind in recent weeks. The most recent infected person visited a number of public spaces between Sunday January 27 and Wednesday January 30. 30 January: on train from Aubin Grove to Perth between 10:25 - 11:15am, and from Canning Bridge to Mandurah between 2:20-3:15pm. On bus 100 between Canning Bridge and Cannington between 10:50-11:40am, and bus 101 from Curtin University to Canning Bridge between 2-2:50pm. People who have been inadvertently exposed should remain vigilant for the onset of measles symptoms for the next three weeks. Senior medical advisor in communicable diseases, Professor Paul Effler said the measles virus survives in the air or on objects and surfaces for less than two hours and is inactivated rapidly in the presence of sunlight or heat. “It is generally considered safe for non-immune individuals to enter a room 30 minutes after a measles case has left the area," he said. According the health department figures, the number of incidents of people in WA presenting with measles has increased from a rate of 0.3 per 100,000 people in 2015 to a rate of 1.4 per 100,000 people in 2018. In 2018, 38 cases were recorded. In recent weeks, people infected with measles have visited Perth Zoo, IKEA, Albany, Mandurah and used public transport and air travel. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash three or four days later which usually starts on the face. “Anyone who has had a potential exposure to measles, and who develops a fever with these other symptoms should see a doctor. It is important to call ahead of travelling to a clinic or Emergency Department so that they can be isolated from infecting other patients and staff when they arrive,” Professor Effler said. "Complications following measles can be serious and include ear infections and pneumonia in about 10 per cent of cases. "Around 30 per cent of cases require a hospital admission and about one person in every 1,000 will develop encephalitis, inflammation of the brain."

Perhaps The View is looking for yet another new co-host…? The syndicated daytime talker The Meredith Vieira Show will come to an end early next year after two low-rated seasons, according to a report by Page Six. Despite efforts to bolster the program’s viewership by tinkering with its format, reps for celebrity guests have been informed that the show will be cancelled in March, a source tells the site. Season 2 of the former View co-host’s solo effort opened this past September to a 0.8 household rating, down 50 percent from its very first installment.

The Moto Z2 Play and Z2 Force give you maximum customization at a minimal price. WiredYou won't find mods as useful or well-designed on other phones. Motorola's gestures are handy. Fantastic battery life, especially on the Moto Z2 Play. Storage is expandable via MicroSD. TiredWhere's the waterproofing? The Z2 Force has no headphone jack. The best Moto Mods are pricey, as are these phones. The cameras are acceptable, but still need work. A lot of Android phones claim to be different, but Motorola’s Z series backs up that claim. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Moto Z phones have something that other phones just don’t. The new Moto Z2 Force and Moto Z2 Play have magnetic Mods that snap onto the back of them, adding new features. What you think about those Mods will determine whether either of the two Moto Z2 phones are right for you. Whatever you’re doing, Moto wants to have a Mod for that. Snap on a battery pack if you’re going off grid, or maybe a 360-degree camera so you can capture everything on that nature hike. Pop on a speaker and you can pump up the jams, or attach Motorola’s brand new Polaroid printer Mod that lets you instantly print out any photo you take. You can even buy a Mod that turns your phone into an Amazon Echo speaker, complete with a glowing blue ring. There are more than a dozen of these Mods, and they all magnetically cling to the back of the rather svelte Z2, which feels almost too thin and flat without one. Moto Mods are the defining reason to buy a Moto Z2 Play and its more expensive sibling, the Z2 Force. But they don’t come cheap. Many of these doodads cost upward of a hundred bucks. My Moto Z2s have worn a lot of Mods in the last few weeks. I found most of them fun, but I didn’t want to keep any of them snapped on forever. Many of them make the phone a little too fat. My favorite was a battery pack, which I kept in my back and snapped on whenever I had a long day ahead of me. Oddly, I rarely needed it. Both the Z2 Force and Play get excellent battery life without augmentation. I was able to use the Z2 Play for two days straight after forgetting to charge it, though it was gasping for a charge by the second evening. That kind of battery life is hard to come by these days. Both Moto Z2 phones are nearly identical from the outside. They have large glass 5.5-inch screens above a nice fingerprint sensor. The sides and back are smooth, brushed aluminum with a large circular bump for the rear camera. Ridges on the power button make it easy to distinguish from the volume keys, all of which sit on the right side of the phone. Charging via the USB C slot on the bottom is also pretty standard. Initially, I was bothered by how flat the back of the phone feels. It doesn’t contour to your palm like some phones. After a few days, I got used to it and now appreciate how thin these phones feel, though I still recommend a bumper case, like this one from Lenovo. Setting aside the lack of waterproofing on either phone, the only problem with the design is that it’s large for one-handed use. This is an extra-large phone, and if that bothers you, consider the smaller and cheaper Moto X4. Both phones also run Motorola’s slight twist on Android 7 Nougat (the new Android 8 Oreo is promised, but not out yet). Most of what’s here is identical to other Android phones, but there are a few Moto Action gestures that I like to use. You can twist the phone to open the camera and swipe it down and up like you’re swinging an ax to turn on and off the flashlight. Even better are the home button gestures, which let you dump the onscreen back, home, and multitasking buttons in favor of swiping left, right, and pressing on the home button. It takes a good day to get used to it, but swiping is very intuitive, and a great reason to stick with a phone with a home button fingerprint sensor, like this one. The 12-megapixel rear cameras perform similarly, as well. I snapped some lovely night photos on a trip to New York City, and the camera did a decent job balancing dark areas and bright Christmas light displays at Saks Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center. The Moto Z2 Play has been my go-to camera for three weeks now. Despite what feels like a second of lag when pressing the shutter button, it hasn’t hampered my ability to take timely shots. The 5-megapixel front camera on each is decent, but has had some trouble in low-light situations. The rear camera’s 4K (30fps) video support is also nice. If you’re picky about your photos though, neither of these can match the shooters on the new iPhone X or Pixel 2. Both Z2 models will work on most wireless carriers, have 64GB storage (with MicroSD slots), and 4GB of RAM. Still, there are a few vital differences between these phones that I’m going to sum up quickly. The Z2 Force is the fancier $720 version. It has an extra rear camera (that, to be honest, does not add a whole lot to the experience), a cutting-edge Snapdragon 835 processor (this does speed the phone up substantially if you use intense apps or games), and a higher-resolution Quad HD screen that will supposedly withstand falls better. It also comes with a "Shattershield" screen cover stuck on it that’s sharp around the edges. What you lose is a headphone jack and a few hours of battery life. It’s also imperceptibly thicker. The Moto Z2 Play has a weaker Snapdragon 626 processor, larger battery, FM radio, and standard HD screen. I was legitimately shocked when I found out both screens had a different resolution, which shows just how adequate a 1080p screen still is. Both Super AMOLED displays look excellent. I still like having a headphone jack and the slightly slower performance of the Moto Z2 Play is an easy tradeoff for the savings. The $500 64GB Unlocked version of the Moto Z2 Play is my favorite model (linked in the Buy buttons on this review), though there is a Verizon-only edition for $408. There are a few truly high-end phones you can buy for $500 or less, like the OnePlus 5T or Essential Phone, but neither of them have Moto Mods. That’s the reason to choose a Moto Z phone. The 64GB Unlocked Moto Z2 Play is a fantastic phone, if Moto Mods interest you. If they don’t, I can’t help but direct you to the other Moto in the room, the Moto X4.

Authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying and locating the man pictured in this photo. Police are investigating an alleged robbery at a South Lake Tahoe credit union Thursday evening. The incident occurred at the Sierra Central Credit Union, 3668 Lake Tahoe Blvd., at 5:30 p.m., according to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. A security camera captured a white male adult wearing a fake beard and black pinstripe suit holding what appears to be a piece of paper in front of a teller. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the South Lake Tahoe Police Department at 530-542-6100.

If you tuned out the fourth quarter of the biggest blowout win by the Giants in four years, then you might have missed the entire body of work for rookie Kyle Lauletta. The Giants demoted and deactivated their rookie quarterback to No. 3 on the depth chart and activated veteran Alex Tanney against his former team Sunday as the Titans visited rainy MetLife Stadium. Eli Manning and Tanney had been the Giants' top two quarterbacks for the first 11 games before the Giants flip-flopped Lauletta and Tanney two games ago. Lauletta did not play against the Bears but made his NFL debut with a 40-0 fourth-quarter lead against the Redskins. Lauletta went 0-for-5 with an interception as the Giants won 40-16. Rookie quarterback Kyle Lauletta debuted for Giants in the 40-16 blowout win against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, December 9, 2018 (12/9/18) at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. His teammates and Richmond coaches say there is much more coming than the box score showed. The Giants did not hide their disappointment with Lauletta after the game. "I don't think we had enough there to evaluate how he did," coach Pat Shurmur said after the game. "I would've liked a couple more completions and to not throw that interception, certainly. "We felt like, 'OK, let's take a look at him and see.' I fielded enough questions regarding Kyle Lauletta that we were interested in seeing him. Hopefully, you got a chance to see what you were looking for." If the true reason the Giants were interested in seeing him was because of the amount of media questions about him in the weeks when the team started 1-7, that is troubling. After all, they used a fourth-round pick on Lauletta when an offensive tackle, pass-rusher or cornerback could've helped immediately. If the Giants feel Lauletta is far off being able to play in a game, that is more of a question of the pick than of the people asking if he should be inserted into a game during a lost season, especially considering Giants owner John Mara saying it was a mistake not to play a rookie quarterback (Davis Webb) last season. Shurmur said Wednesday that Lauletta was the No. 2 quarterback but subject to change. He also declined to commit to a backup quarterback when asked Friday. Asked if he saw anything encouraging from Lauletta beyond the box score, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Shula succinctly said, "Yeah, he got experience." The Giants still are alive in the NFC playoff race and can't be eliminated this weekend if they beat the Titans. A loss spells elimination. Will the Giants re-open the door for Lauletta under those circumstances? Shurmur admitted more evaluation is needed, but Lauletta is going the wrong way on the depth chart, rather than nipping at Manning's heels to be the starter in 2019. Manning has stepped up his play of late, with the Giants offense averaging more than 28 points per game during a 4-1 stretch over the last five games. The purpose of the switch back to Tanney is unclear, though Shurmur does like having a veteran quarterback as a backup on gamedays. Once he made the move to Lauletta, however, he is risking shaken confidence for a rookie handling a setback with seemingly little to gain because the Giants will not bench Manning and he is as injury-proof as any NFL quarterback ever.

We’ve known about Disjointed, Netflix’s upcoming stoner comedy starring Katy Bates and co-created by Chuck Lorre (Mom, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men), for nearly a year now, but it wasn’t until Thursday that we were given a first look. In the 19-second teaser cheekily released on 4/20, we see Kathy Bates emerge from a smoke-filled weed dispensary while puffing on a joint. She says nothing, because what else is there to say? This is a show about Kathy Bates working in a dispensary, and that’s more than enough to get people interested. [Disjointed] follows Ruth (Bates), a lifelong advocate for legalization, as she finally lives her dream as the owner of an Los Angeles cannabis dispensary. Joining her at Ruth’s Alternative Caring are three charismatic “budtenders” (Dougie Baldwin, Elizabeth Ho and Elizabeth Alderfer), her entrepreneurial twentysomething son (Aaron Moten) and a very troubled security guard who served in Afghanistan (Tone Bell). All 20 episodes of Disjointed will be released on Netflix August 25.

The replies were sought after a PIL was filed by NGO Removal of Corruption and Welfare Society. Even though Parliament has extended protection to unauthorised colonies of Delhi by amending the National Capital of Delhi (special provision) Act, the South municipal corporation on Wednesday told the High Court that “illegal” properties will not be allowed to be sold or rented. The counsel for South corporation told the High Court that the properties that had already been booked as “unauthorised” before the Act was passed, will be held in status quo. “Even though no sealing or demolition can be done, if we have booked the property, lists are sent to the sub-registrar in the Revenue department to make sure that the properties are blocked from sale,” advocate Ajay Arora said. The submission was made after the court of Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked the South corporation and the Delhi government whether there were any rules or guidelines to ensure that unauthorised buildings are not sold off to “unsuspecting” buyers. The replies were sought after a PIL was filed by NGO Removal of Corruption and Welfare Society to protect the “public at large” from being “deceived into buying unauthorised development”. During the brief hearing, counsel for the NGO Ambareesh Singh Bhadauria said that there should be “preventive action” by the government to protect the public from buying or renting “illegal” premises. Citing the example of the Coca Cola building in Mumbai, the PIL alleges that buyers are usually unaware of the legal status of the properties and may be put under the impression that the property is “authorised”. “By the time the buyer realises that the property is an unauthorised development and that the developer has cheated and defrauded, it is too late,” the plea states. Arora said under the present rules, any unauthorised construction is “booked” and the information is sent to the sub-registrar in the Delhi government’s Revenue department, so that the sale or rent deeds of the property cannot be registered. The High Court asked the government and the South corporation to give a status report on the number of properties that have been booked and the details of the guidelines to prohibit the “transfer of properties that are unauthorisedly constructed or booked”.

The Solar Decathlon is a wonderful idea, where teams from all over the world compete to design the most energy-efficient buildings which are, of course, solar powered. Most have tended to be the size of mobile homes, so that they can be built at the universities and shipped to the decathlon, and then shipped home. Most entries act like mobile homes, being detached buildings that will stand alone. The DPD is a uniquely syncretic product of our study of two proven traditional housing typologies born of different cultures. The row house typology, typical of Montreal’s urban fabric, accommodates single-family scenarios in a long and narrow low-rise form. The Siheyuan courtyard house demonstrates an environmentally and culturally specific approach to city dwelling of great historic, social, and functional value. The DPD is also designed to the Passive House standard, which can be a challenge in a city like Montreal; there is a reason that an unofficial anthem for Quebec is Gilles Vigneault’s “Mon pays, ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver” (My country is not a country, it's winter). So it has a lot of insulation, an energy recovery ventilation system, and is designed for serious air-tightness. I looked in vain to see who the Passive House consultants were but see that they are “using passive design and construction principles” to design “a net-zero energy capable dwelling”. A press release says that it is a “Passive House-inspired design”. Another feature of the house is that it is prefabricated. A key innovation of the DPD is the utilization of off-site (factory) prefabrication methods of construction. It is designed for both modular & panelized options. Prefabrication addresses issues of affordability, reduction of waste, health and safety of workers, greater export capacity, and quality control to achieve high-performance building standards. Quebec’s prefabrication industry is one of the most robust in North America and its expansion into the high-performance building industry is a key to its development. But they are not doing Passive House quality prefabs in Quebec yet, so the team turned to Ecocor in Maine, which builds houses from Passive House quality panels. Chris Corson, founder and President of Ecocor tells TreeHugger that there was nobody in the Province who could deliver this and having seen Ecocor’s work at the North American Passive House Network conference last year I can believe it, these are closer to cabinetry than wall panels. They had to be modified so that they could be easily taken apart in Montreal and reassembled in China, and the insulation was changed from Corson’s preferred, cellulose, to what everyone in Canada loves (it’s made there), Roxul rock wool. It has all the smart home stuff, including “Sensor networks and Internet of Things technologies installed throughout the home for performance and durability monitoring, consumption, and automation.” But with that much insulation, and being a townhouse with neighbours on either side, it is also what I like to call a dumb home- it is resilient in the face of power outages, and could keep people warm and safe for weeks. TeamMTL’s goal is to employ socially, culturally and technologically advanced architecture that embodies energy efficiency, comfort, wellbeing, affordability, environmental sustainability and ecological awareness. Sustainable building starts with quality construction and design, and Ecocor’s 21st Century, prefab approach to building the most energy efficient homes on the market today helped us reach our objectives. It really does press all the buttons; small, urban design built with the most sophisticated prefab technologies to the highest standards of energy efficiency and comfort. Most solar decathlon designs are one-offs but I hope this one gets multiple printings.

For more than a decade, Daveyton's Mayor, Tom Boya, was Pretoria's evidence of the legitimacy of the municipal councils running its segregated black townships. As president of the United Municipalities of South Africa, an organization of black municipal officials, Mr. Boya put aside his mayoral duties and traveled as far afield as the United States and Brazil to discourse on the concerns of local government. But he recently stunned a crowd of 80,000 residents of Daveyton by announcing that he was quitting his posts. He said the system with which he had become identified had no future. Whether motivated by conscience or survival, his unexpected resignation elicited wild cheers and seemed to signal the beginning of the end for black township governments. Mr. Boya, who is 39 years old, said the handwriting appeared on the wall after the African National Congress was made legal and Nelson Mandela released in February. "I realized there was no room any more for a person to serve in a structure created by the Government," he said. His decision to quit, he said, was prompted by his inability to stop the state-owned power company from switching off Daveyton's electricity for four days recently because of unpaid bills. He said it illustrated the frustrations he had faced in Daveyton since joining its town council in 1978. "The weakness of the black local authorities was simply lack of funds, lack of local sources of revenue," Mr. Boya said. But, he quickly added, "the structures were illegitimate" because the white minority Government had imposed them on blacks. Their resources are not shared with the satellite black townships, which began as stark dormitories for blacks working at menial jobs in white areas and which suffer chronic poverty and unemployment. Anti-apartheid civic associations have organized boycotts of rent and utility payments to protest inferior living conditions, which deprive municipal governments of the modest revenue upon which they depend. The associations have accused municipal officials like Mr. Boya of being puppets of apartheid. Satisfied that the crisis had been resolved, Mr. Boya flew to Rio de Janeiro for a conference. In his absence, the deal collapsed when the Transvaal Provincial Administration insisted that most of the money paid go to pay municipal wages and only a little to the utility company. He returned home to find the electricity turned off and his constituents irate. "I felt so lonely," Mr. Boya said. "I felt rejected. I felt betrayed." The electricity was turned back on after residents took the utility company to court. Mr. Boya's foreboding about the future of black local government was heightened when he went to a United Municipalities conference recently and found only 8 of its 60 municipal councils represented. Mr. Boya said he went to the other rally and decided to quit. "You could have heard a pin when I went over to the podium," he said. "I then offered my resignation." James Ngubo, chairman of the Daveyton Interim Committee said that "Mr. Boya coming out really symbolizes that the system is bankrupt." He said the white minority Government had set up Mr. Boya as a "good black man" to make black local authorities palatable. His group had pressed Mr. Boya to resign, Mr. Ngubo said, and the power cuts "must have been the last straw for him." Four other Daveyton councillors have followed Mr. Boya's example. Mr. Boya predicted the inevitable collapse of all township government structures. "I think it will be very healthy when it happens," he said. "From those ruins, we can build." He said municipalites must encompass white and black communities together and pool their revenue. And municipalities, he said, should be defined by region instead of race. "The Government should abolish black local authorities and white local authorities and call for an election of local authorities under one umbrella," he said.

ZTE, Huawei: Can China ever become a true innovation powerhouse? A Future Tense event. Will China’s Scientists and Technologists Ever Be Truly Innovative? From left: Adam Segal, Denis Simon, Yifei Sun, and Steve LeVine. Just this week, a House of Representatives committee issued a report warning the United States against doing business with two major Chinese tech firms, ZTE and Huawei. The companies were closely tied to the Chinese government, the report said, and could be stealing information from the U.S. government and American businesses. In opening remarks, Steve LeVine, Washington correspondent for Quartz magazine and a Bernard L. Schwartz fellow, established the questions for the day: Can China ever become an “innovation juggernaut,” just as it is a world leader in manufacturing? Does “innovation” have to mean breakthroughs, or is incremental innovation—small tweaks on Western-made technology to make it cheaper and sometimes better—enough? And should the rest of the world be worried? -Creativity isn’t encouraged: Segal argued that while we focus on the “hardware”—the more tangible results of innovation, like patents filed—China needs to focus on the “software” problems of culture. In China, researchers aren’t urged to think creatively, nor do they feel free to fail. “No risk, no reward” may be a cliché, but it is also a truism. -Quantity is valued over quality: According to Huang, the number of journal articles published by Chinese researchers has exploded in recent years. But outside of the life sciences and biology, the level of impact from this research has remained fairly flat—indicating that the research is not high-quality. In part, this may be because researchers are paid per publication, so repetitive research and short-term work is incentivized. -Intellectual property rights are not respected: Since patents and copyrights are frequently violated, there is less incentive to create. China’s leadership understands all of these things, said Segal. In fact, they have probably visited Silicon Valley “more than anyone,” he joked. Accordingly, China’s 2006 mid- to long-term plan for science and technology development emphasized the need for better intellectual property protection, for startup culture. But politically, introducing these elements will be very difficult—especially, as Simon noted, because the politicians have other significant worries on their minds, like domestic protests. Still, they understand that the “transition to a knowledge economy” is critical, and accordingly they want to be the No. 1 or No. 2 country in the world for innovation by 2049—China’s centennial. That’s one reason why they are expanding investment into R&D, going from 1 percent of GDP for a long time to 2 percent of GDP in 2011. But China isn’t doing this only for financial reasons, according to Segal—the country also wants not to have to depend on the West for its technological and scientific needs. There are some positive signs here for China. For instance, Simon said that more and more research funding is coming in at the local level, not from the national government—a “systemic change,” he termed it. And while many Western companies opened their research labs in China initially because the government effectively made it a condition for selling goods in the country, said Sun, they are increasingly producing interesting work. No breakthroughs yet, he acknowledged, but they may come soon. China’s most successful fields—nanotechnology, life sciences, biology—are those that have been open to international collaboration. Watch the entire event on the New America Foundation website.

"Animal Rights & Pro Life" Hi everyone- I am temporarily without a p.c. the one I am borrowing has no Java script so I am not able to send any messages or get many of the ones you send me. PLEASE go to cbs Houston's blog- http://houston.cbslocal.com and read about the hundreds of abandoned donkeys. i FEAR THE WORST. If you are able to make a petition/write articles/ask for donations, anything you can to help them I ask that you do so.Thank you so much. Your friend, Lesley. Wild Fact About Me I find myself smiling when looking at things like pictures of beautiful kittens on the" I can has Cheezeburger ? site, and the picture of the two little kitties to the right, and I wonder "Does anything else ever make me Smile?" and then I wonder "Why Not?" My Philosophy I wish people were as humane as animals are. If I were Mayor, I'd make the world a better place by I don't want to be President-but I would like to be rich so I could start a sanctuary for throwaways. Retired circus elephants, bears, cats of all sizes, dogs , Horses & all orphaned wildlife, .......and the elderly. What/who changed my life and why EWTN - and Mother Angelica, Father John Corapi, Fr. Benedict Groechel, Fr.Wm.Casey, because they opened my eyes to the truth of the Catholic Church. Quotation They told us we were "civilized" then They took our picture and put it in the paper, under it they wrote Civilized Indians continue to endeavor to persevere. We thought about it for while, and after we had thought long enough, we declared war on the blue coats. (Chief Dan George in The Outlaw Josie Wales). Happy Birthday Lesley! Enjoy your birthday! Enjoy your special day Lesley! lesley t. (85) Thank you all so much for your Christmas and Holiday Greetings and Well Wishes. I hope that all of my Care 2 friends will have a most joyous season whether it is a much needed holiday or just a get together at home with family and friends and furkids. Looking forward to working together with you all in the coming year to make the world a better place for us all to live. God Bless you all. Lesley a.k.a. lgcatwoman19. Hugs! Suzan F. (137) Hi, Lesley...TY for the FR. Glad to be your newest friend. Yeah, the wreck was bad. I have Titanium in my ankle, thigh, & wrist now. Hope your friend is doing OK. ~ ~ Glad to be here with you, & you have a good one...Suzan.

The Rolling Stones' US tour is likely to take place in July, following news that Mick Jagger had to postpone 17 dates due to ill health. The band are working with promoters to reschedule the shows, amid reports that Jagger will have heart surgery later this week. "I really hate letting you down like this," tweeted the star after the tour was postponed at the weekend. "I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can." US gossip website Drudge Report was the first to report that Jagger would need surgery to replace a heart valve. The story was subsequently confirmed by US music magazine Rolling Stone. The 75-year-old is expected to make a full recovery and return to touring this summer. "We're beginning to look at the rescheduling options and we're going to try and do this as quickly as we can," said John Meglen, of the Stones' promoters Concerts West. "Everyone's health and happiness comes first," he told Billboard, adding that new dates could be announced "in the next couple of weeks." The US leg of the band's No Filter tour was expected to kick off in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on 20 April; wrapping up two months later in Ontario, Canada. Fellow Stone Keith Richards tweeted following the postponement, "A big disappointment for everyone but things need to be taken care of and we will see you soon. Mick, we are always there for you!" Band-mate Ronnie Wood added, "We'll miss you over the next few weeks, but we're looking forward to seeing you all again very soon. Here's to Mick - thanks for your supportive messages. It means so much to us." Although the main shows will all be rescheduled, the band's headline performance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival has been cancelled, with organisers currently seeking a replacement.

This past month in Google webmaster and SEO news was pretty busy. We had a Halloween search algorithm update that still seems to be creeping around. We also had another few updates including Google saying they are going to make tweaks to the news algorithm. Google+ is shutting down, Google launched their Home Hub and discover feed and so much more. A month ago we reported Google was testing showing a stats box in the search results from your Google Search Console data. It included showing clicks, impression and average position with some tips. It seems like as of this morning, it is now rolling out to everyone - if they are logged into their Google account and have verified profiles that match queries for the site. Google's John Mueller said there is no ranking benefit in using different Google Search Console and Google Analytics accounts for each individual web site you manage. The topic came up before, as long as you are not spamming Google - there also is no down side to using the same accounts across multiple web sites. Last week we reported Google was dropped addresses for some local service businesses. Well, Google posted over the weekend in the Google My Business help forums that they went ahead and separated out the addresses and service areas for these local service businesses. A couple months ago we reported Google was testing future open dates within Google Maps listings and Google My Business. Well, this weekend, Google officially announced it in the Google My Business Help forums. Allyson Wright, Community Manager, Google My Business, said "We're excited to announce that Google My Business now supports businesses that haven't yet opened to the public!" As you know, Google renamed the Google Top Contributors to Google Product Experts and this year they held their Product Experts Submit on November 1st. Here are some photos from the day.

VIDEO Kris Jenner Dumps Longtime Boyfriend Corey Gamble! Kris Jenner Dumps Longtime Boyfriend Corey Gamble! The couple has not been since together since Valentine’s Day. Starmagazine.com has learned that Kris Jenner has called it quits with longtime boyfriend Corey Gamble! The couple have not been seen together since Valentines day and an insider said momager asked for a break with him not long after.

China hacked Google, according to secret US government documents leaked by whistleblower website WikiLeaks. China hacked Google, according to secret US government documents leaked by whistleblower website WikiLeaks. The US Embassy in China believes the People's Republic of China orchestrated a "coordinated campaign of computer sabotage carried out by government operatives, private security experts and internet outlaws recruited by the Chinese government", according to the New York Times. The US faces a massive diplomatic crisis over Wikileaks' release of 251,287 classified cables sent from American embassies. The cable from the US embassy in Beijing cites a local source claiming government involvement in the hacking of Google's servers to identify the Gmail accounts of human rights activists in China in January this year. The attack, combined with government censorship of Google and the web in general, led to Google pulling out of China in March. Dating from 1966 to the end of February 2010, the cables contain reports on various countries' political situations, from fears of security around Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia urging the US to strike against Iran. Russia is described as a "virtual mafia state", with close ties between Russian and Italian prime ministers Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi. Cables related to the UK include US criticism of David Cameron and British military operations in Afghanistan, and requests for intelligence on specific MPs. They also reveal inappropriate remarks made by a member of the royal family, although for once it wasn't His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh making the embarrassing gaffe: it was Prince Andrew, the Duke of York with his regal foot in his chinless mouth. Wikileaks claims it was attacked in a mass distributed denial of service attack yesterday ahead of the release of documents. The site, founded by Julian Assange, is hosted by the Swedish Pirate Party. Leak your thoughts in the comments. Was WikiLeaks right to blow the whistle on the arcane machinations that underpin international relations, or is it putting people in danger?

WASHINGTON - WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators voted Wednesday to require companies to reveal more information about how they pay their executives amid a public outcry over compensation. The Securities and Exchange Commission voted 4-to-1 to expand the disclosure requirements for public companies. Company policies that encouraged excessive risk-taking and rewarded executives for delivering short-term profits were blamed for fueling the financial crisis. The SEC also changed a formula that critics say allowed companies to understate how much their senior executives are paid. At issue is how public companies report stock options and stock awards in regulatory filings. Such awards often make up most of top executives' pay. The new requirements include information on how a company's pay policies might encourage too much risk-taking. Separately, the agency voted unanimously to require thousands of investment advisers who have custody of clients' money to submit to annual surprise exams by outside auditors. The surprise audits would allow independent accountants to review the books and verify that the money is there. The snap audits would apply to about 1,600 investment advisers that don't use third-party custodians, out of roughly 11,000 advisers registered with the SEC. This move is aimed at plugging gaps that allowed disgraced money manager Bernard Madoff to deceive investors. The expanded executive pay disclosure rules will take effect next spring, when companies send annual proxy disclosures to shareholders. The changes will help investors make better-informed voting decisions for the companies in which they hold stock, SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro said. "By adopting these rules, we will improve the disclosure around risk, compensation and corporate governance, thereby increasing accountability and directly benefiting investors," Schapiro said before the vote. But Commissioner Kathleen Casey said she opposed some of the new requirements, such as added information on qualifications of directors and candidates for the board, that she said could be "unduly burdensome." As a result, Casey said she was voting against the rule as a whole. It was the first final rule adopted by the SEC this year under Schapiro's tenure. Numerous proposals have been made by the commissioners. —Legal actions involving the company's executive officers, directors and nominees for the board. —The role played by diversity as a factor in choosing candidates for the board. —Potential conflicts of interest on the part of compensation consultants retained by the company. The Obama administration imposed pay curbs on banks that received federal bailout money. Since then, eight of the largest such banks have either repaid or said they will repay their federal money, largely to escape caps on executive pay. The Federal Reserve has set a February deadline for the 28 biggest U.S. banks — including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. — for submitting 2010 compensation plans. The Fed also will be encouraging, though not requiring, banks to revise this year's pay plans if they are out of step with principles the Fed has proposed to limit risk. Anger over lavish Wall Street pay has led some U.S. banks to take pre-emptive action. Goldman Sachs, for example, has said it won't give cash bonuses to 30 top executives. Instead, the bonuses will be paid in stock that can't be cashed in for five years. Companies will have to disclose how pay is determined in departments involved in the riskiest activities — or departments that produce a big chunk of company profits. The new requirements were proposed by the SEC and opened to public comment in July. They build on rules the agency adopted in 2006. Under current rules, companies don't have to reveal the full value of stock options they give an executive. Instead, they must disclose in their annual proxy statements only the portion of an options award that vests that year. The new rule will require companies to show in a summary table the estimated value of all stock-based awards on the day they are granted. The SEC's 2006 rules had relegated those totals to a separate table that investors often overlook or find hard to decipher. An example is the case of a company that decides its CEO deserves $10 million worth of stock options, to vest in equal installments over four years. Under current rules, the company would have to include only $2.5 million — one-fourth of the total of the $10 million total — in the summary table.

InspiredPosters.com now offers larger-sized posters featuring all of their currently available designs, it has announced. The 24x36 format is now available in addition to the 8x10 and 18x24 sizes, all of which are ideal for standard frame sizes. LAS VEGAS, Dec. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Inspired Posters has announced that it is now offering larger-sized posters, expanding the available sizes to include the 24x36 size in addition to the already-available 8x10 and 18x24 sizes. The larger format is aligned with the commonly available standard frame sizes, as are the smaller formats. This makes it exceptionally easy for the prints to be immediately framed and hung upon arrival. The larger format is ideal for displaying the expertly designed posters, all of which feature vibrant colors and vivid imagery produced by the company's in-house team of designers. Using a unique UV printing process, color accuracy is assured. "We are very pleased to expand the available sizes that we offer to include the 24x36 size," said a representative with the company. "There has been a great deal of recent demand for a larger format, and we are excited to be able to meet that demand while also adhering to our high standards for quality." The company has made the larger format available for all of its current designs. The variety of categories offered by the company includes state-themed posters, animal posters, awareness posters, humorous posters, religion-themed posters and many others as well. The posters are all carefully rolled and shipped in a cardboard enclosure that ensures its arrival in pristine condition. The posters are immediately suitable for framing upon delivery. Among the more popular posters currently available are the state-themed posters, which feature a depiction of each of the 50 states against a chevron pattern background and includes a star over the state's capital. Also popular are the awareness-themed posters, which help to raise awareness of a number of conditions that are deserving of attention and can benefit from additional funds for research. "The larger format is perfect for showcasing the outstanding work of our designers," said the representative. "We feel that our customers are going to be thrilled to see these larger-sized posters that are now available."

Affordable .28 Ac lot with low yearly taxes of $61.00. No time limit to build. Privacy and tranquility to enjoy. Close to rivers, lakes, Ocala National Forrest, fishing, boating, kayaking, hunting and camping. Hwys 441/301/27. Not far from shopping, schools, businesses, the Villages, and the City of Ocala. Build your dream home or invest now. Schedule a viewing of the property on paved road. Nice affordable lot! Great size for building your dream home!

Apr. 16 5:48 PM PT6:48 PM MT7:48 PM CT8:48 PM ET0:48 GMT8:48 5:48 PM MST6:48 PM CST7:48 PM EST4:48 UAE (+1)20:48 ET21:48 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 33 shots in the Blue Jackets' 7-3 win over the Lightning on Tuesday. The victory pushed him to 4-0-0 on the season with a 2.01 GAA and .932 save percentage. Apr. 14 5:53 PM PT6:53 PM MT7:53 PM CT8:53 PM ET0:53 GMT8:53 5:53 PM MST6:53 PM CST7:53 PM EST4:53 UAE (+1)20:53 ET21:53 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 31 shots in the Blue Jackets' 3-1 win over the Lightning on Sunday. The victory pushed him to 3-0-0 on the season with a 1.67 GAA and .940 save percentage. Apr. 12 6:02 PM PT7:02 PM MT8:02 PM CT9:02 PM ET1:02 GMT9:02 6:02 PM MST7:02 PM CST8:02 PM EST5:02 UAE (+1)21:02 ET22:02 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 of 24 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-1 win over the Lightning on Friday. The victory pushed him to 2-0-0 on the season with a 2.00 GAA and .925 save percentage. Apr. 10 6:02 PM PT7:02 PM MT8:02 PM CT9:02 PM ET1:02 GMT9:02 6:02 PM MST7:02 PM CST8:02 PM EST5:02 UAE (+1)21:02 ET22:02 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 of 29 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 win over the Lightning on Wednesday. The victory pushed him to 1-0-0 on the season with a 3.00 GAA and .897 save percentage. Apr. 5 6:20 PM PT7:20 PM MT8:20 PM CT9:20 PM ET1:20 GMT9:20 6:20 PM MST7:20 PM CST8:20 PM EST5:20 UAE (+1)21:20 ET22:20 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 of 27 shots in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 shootout win over the Rangers on Friday. The victory pushed him to 37-24-1 on the season with a 2.58 GAA and .913 save percentage. Apr. 2 5:52 PM PT6:52 PM MT7:52 PM CT8:52 PM ET0:52 GMT8:52 5:52 PM MST6:52 PM CST7:52 PM EST4:52 UAE (+1)20:52 ET21:52 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of 23 shots in the Blue Jackets' 6-2 loss to the Bruins on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 36-24-1 on the season with a 2.59 GAA and .913 save percentage. Mar. 31 4:34 PM PT5:34 PM MT6:34 PM CT7:34 PM ET23:34 GMT7:34 4:34 PM MST5:34 PM CST6:34 PM EST3:34 UAE (+1)19:34 ET20:34 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 38 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 4-0 win over the Sabres on Sunday for his ninth shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 36-23-1 on the season with a 2.55 GAA and .914 save percentage. Mar. 30 6:45 PM PT7:45 PM MT8:45 PM CT9:45 PM ET1:45 GMT9:45 6:45 PM MST7:45 PM CST8:45 PM EST5:45 UAE (+1)21:45 ET22:45 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 of 25 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-2 win over the Predators on Saturday. The victory pushed him to 35-23-1 on the season with a 2.60 GAA and .912 save percentage. Mar. 28 5:43 PM PT6:43 PM MT7:43 PM CT8:43 PM ET0:43 GMT8:43 5:43 PM MST6:43 PM CST7:43 PM EST4:43 UAE (+1)20:43 ET21:43 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 of 28 shots in the Blue Jackets' 6-2 win over the Canadiens on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 34-23-1 on the season with a 2.61 GAA and .912 save percentage. Mar. 26 5:40 PM PT6:40 PM MT7:40 PM CT8:40 PM ET0:40 GMT8:40 5:40 PM MST6:40 PM CST7:40 PM EST4:40 UAE (+1)20:40 ET21:40 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 26 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 4-0 win over the Islanders on Tuesday for his eighth shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 33-23-1 on the season with a 2.62 GAA and .911 save percentage. Mar. 24 8:36 PM PT9:36 PM MT10:36 PM CT11:36 PM ET3:36 GMT11:36 8:36 PM MST9:36 PM CST10:36 PM EST7:36 UAE (+1)23:36 ET0:36 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 21 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 5-0 win over the Canucks on Sunday for his seventh shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 32-23-1 on the season with a 2.67 GAA and .910 save percentage. Mar. 21 11:40 AM PT12:40 PM MT1:40 PM CT2:40 PM ET18:40 GMT2:40 11:40 AM MST12:40 PM CST1:40 PM EST22:40 UAE14:40 ET15:40 BRT - Bobrovsky (undisclosed) will play Sunday in Vancouver after he did not dress for Thursday's game at Edmonton. Analysis: The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is 4-2-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .946 save percentage in his last six starts. Mar. 19 7:49 PM PT8:49 PM MT9:49 PM CT10:49 PM ET2:49 GMT10:49 7:49 PM MST8:49 PM CST9:49 PM EST6:49 UAE (+1)22:49 ET23:49 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 of 30 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 loss to the Flames on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 31-23-1 on the season with a 2.72 GAA and .909 save percentage. Mar. 15 5:53 PM PT6:53 PM MT7:53 PM CT8:53 PM ET0:53 GMT8:53 5:53 PM MST6:53 PM CST7:53 PM EST4:53 UAE (+1)20:53 ET21:53 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 46 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 3-0 win over the Hurricanes on Friday for his sixth shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 31-22-1 on the season with a 2.71 GAA and .909 save percentage. Mar. 12 5:51 PM PT6:51 PM MT7:51 PM CT8:51 PM ET0:51 GMT8:51 5:51 PM MST6:51 PM CST7:51 PM EST4:51 UAE (+1)20:51 ET21:51 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 of 31 shots in the Blue Jackets' 7-4 win over the Bruins on Tuesday. The victory pushed him to 30-22-1 on the season with a 2.76 GAA and .906 save percentage. Mar. 11 5:28 PM PT6:28 PM MT7:28 PM CT8:28 PM ET0:28 GMT8:28 5:28 PM MST6:28 PM CST7:28 PM EST4:28 UAE (+1)20:28 ET21:28 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 of 19 shots in the Blue Jackets' 2-0 loss to the Islanders on Monday. The defeat dropped him to 29-22-1 on the season with a 2.74 GAA and .907 save percentage. Mar. 9 5:41 PM PT6:41 PM MT7:41 PM CT8:41 PM ET1:41 GMT9:41 6:41 PM MST7:41 PM CST8:41 PM EST5:41 UAE (+1)20:41 ET22:41 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 of 29 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 win over the Penguins on Saturday. The victory pushed him to 29-21-1 on the season with a 2.77 GAA and .906 save percentage. Mar. 5 5:48 PM PT6:48 PM MT7:48 PM CT8:48 PM ET1:48 GMT9:48 6:48 PM MST7:48 PM CST8:48 PM EST5:48 UAE (+1)20:48 ET22:48 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 shootout win over the Devils on Tuesday. The victory pushed him to 28-21-1 on the season with a 2.81 GAA and .905 save percentage. Mar. 3 5:39 PM PT6:39 PM MT7:39 PM CT8:39 PM ET1:39 GMT9:39 6:39 PM MST7:39 PM CST8:39 PM EST5:39 UAE (+1)20:39 ET22:39 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 25 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-2 loss to the Jets on Sunday. The defeat dropped him to 27-21-1 on the season with a 2.85 GAA and .904 save percentage. Mar. 2 11:40 AM PT12:40 PM MT1:40 PM CT2:40 PM ET19:40 GMT3:40 12:40 PM MST1:40 PM CST2:40 PM EST23:40 UAE14:40 ET16:40 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 15 of 19 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-0 loss to the Oilers on Saturday. The defeat dropped him to 27-20-1 on the season with a 2.83 GAA and .905 save percentage. Feb. 28 6:00 PM PT7:00 PM MT8:00 PM CT9:00 PM ET2:00 GMT10:00 7:00 PM MST8:00 PM CST9:00 PM EST6:00 UAE (+1)21:00 ET23:00 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 of 31 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 overtime win over the Flyers on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 27-19-1 on the season with a 2.78 GAA and .907 save percentage. Feb. 26 5:37 PM PT6:37 PM MT7:37 PM CT8:37 PM ET1:37 GMT9:37 6:37 PM MST7:37 PM CST8:37 PM EST5:37 UAE (+1)20:37 ET22:37 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 26 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-2 loss to the Penguins on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 26-19-1 on the season with a 2.78 GAA and .907 save percentage. Feb. 23 3:36 PM PT4:36 PM MT5:36 PM CT6:36 PM ET23:36 GMT7:36 4:36 PM MST5:36 PM CST6:36 PM EST3:36 UAE (+1)18:36 ET20:36 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 26 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 4-0 win over the Sharks on Saturday for his fifth shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 26-18-1 on the season with a 2.75 GAA and .908 save percentage. Feb. 22 5:38 PM PT6:38 PM MT7:38 PM CT8:38 PM ET1:38 GMT9:38 6:38 PM MST7:38 PM CST8:38 PM EST5:38 UAE (+1)20:38 ET22:38 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 22 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 3-0 win over the Senators on Friday for his fourth shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 25-18-1 on the season with a 2.82 GAA and .906 save percentage. Feb. 19 6:10 PM PT7:10 PM MT8:10 PM CT9:10 PM ET2:10 GMT10:10 7:10 PM MST8:10 PM CST9:10 PM EST6:10 UAE (+1)21:10 ET23:10 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 32 shots in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 loss to the Canadiens on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 24-18-1 on the season with a 2.89 GAA and .904 save percentage. Feb. 16 7:10 PM PT8:10 PM MT9:10 PM CT10:10 PM ET3:10 GMT11:10 8:10 PM MST9:10 PM CST10:10 PM EST7:10 UAE (+1)22:10 ET1:10 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 39 of 41 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-2 win over the Blackhawks on Saturday. The victory pushed him to 24-17-1 on the season with a 2.88 GAA and .904 save percentage. Feb. 14 5:35 PM PT6:35 PM MT7:35 PM CT8:35 PM ET1:35 GMT9:35 6:35 PM MST7:35 PM CST8:35 PM EST5:35 UAE (+1)20:35 ET23:35 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 of 27 shots in the Blue Jackets' 3-0 loss to the Islanders on Thursday. The defeat dropped him to 23-17-1 on the season with a 2.90 GAA and .903 save percentage. Feb. 12 5:40 PM PT6:40 PM MT7:40 PM CT8:40 PM ET1:40 GMT9:40 6:40 PM MST7:40 PM CST8:40 PM EST5:40 UAE (+1)20:40 ET23:40 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 20 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 3-0 win over the Capitals on Tuesday for his third shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 23-16-1 on the season with a 2.90 GAA and .903 save percentage. Feb. 9 8:42 PM PT9:42 PM MT10:42 PM CT11:42 PM ET4:42 GMT12:42 9:42 PM MST10:42 PM CST11:42 PM EST8:42 UAE23:42 ET2:42 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 20 of 23 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 win over the Golden Knights on Saturday. The victory pushed him to 22-16-1 on the season with a 2.98 GAA and .901 save percentage. Feb. 7 7:45 PM PT8:45 PM MT9:45 PM CT10:45 PM ET3:45 GMT11:45 8:45 PM MST9:45 PM CST10:45 PM EST7:45 UAE (+1)22:45 ET1:45 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 31 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 win over the Coyotes on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 21-16-1 on the season with a 2.98 GAA and .902 save percentage. Feb. 5 7:52 PM PT8:52 PM MT9:52 PM CT10:52 PM ET3:52 GMT11:52 8:52 PM MST9:52 PM CST10:52 PM EST7:52 UAE (+1)22:52 ET1:52 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 of 30 shots in the Blue Jackets' 6-3 win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. The victory pushed him to 20-16-1 on the season with a 3.01 GAA and .901 save percentage. Jan. 31 6:41 PM PT7:41 PM MT8:41 PM CT9:41 PM ET2:41 GMT10:41 7:41 PM MST8:41 PM CST9:41 PM EST6:41 UAE (+1)21:41 ET0:41 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 26 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 loss to the Jets on Thursday. The defeat dropped him to 19-16-1 on the season with a 3.01 GAA and .901 save percentage. Jan. 29 5:42 PM PT6:42 PM MT7:42 PM CT8:42 PM ET1:42 GMT9:42 6:42 PM MST7:42 PM CST8:42 PM EST5:42 UAE (+1)20:42 ET23:42 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 34 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-4 loss to the Sabres on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 19-15-1 on the season with a 2.97 GAA and .902 save percentage. Jan. 19 7:39 PM PT8:39 PM MT9:39 PM CT10:39 PM ET3:39 GMT11:39 8:39 PM MST9:39 PM CST10:39 PM EST7:39 UAE (+1)22:39 ET1:39 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 31 shots in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 loss to the Wild on Saturday. The defeat dropped him to 19-14-1 on the season with a 2.91 GAA and .904 save percentage. Jan. 13 4:51 PM PT5:51 PM MT6:51 PM CT7:51 PM ET0:51 GMT8:51 5:51 PM MST6:51 PM CST7:51 PM EST4:51 UAE (+1)19:51 ET22:51 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 27 shots in the Blue Jackets' 7-5 win over the Rangers on Sunday. The victory pushed him to 19-13-1 on the season with a 2.93 GAA and .903 save percentage. Jan. 11 11:30 AM PT12:30 PM MT1:30 PM CT2:30 PM ET19:30 GMT3:30 12:30 PM MST1:30 PM CST2:30 PM EST23:30 UAE14:30 ET17:30 BRT - Bobrovsky was suspended one game by the Blue Jackets organization for conduct detrimental to the team after an emotional outburst in Tuesday's 4-0 loss to Tampa Bay. Analysis: The former Vezina winner served his time Thursday and will reportedly travel with the team Saturday when Columbus plays the Capitals, although a starter has yet to be announced. Both sides are saying the right things regarding the incident and sound ready to put it in the rear-view mirror. Analysis: The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is 18-13-1 with a 2.87 GAA in the final year of his contract and so far has declined to sign a long-term extension. Backup Joonas Korpisalo (6-2-2, 3.29 GAA) is in line to start Thursday. Jan. 8 6:07 PM PT7:07 PM MT8:07 PM CT9:07 PM ET2:07 GMT10:07 7:07 PM MST8:07 PM CST9:07 PM EST6:07 UAE (+1)21:07 ET0:07 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 15 of 19 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-0 loss to the Lightning on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 18-13-1 on the season with a 2.87 GAA and .906 save percentage. Jan. 5 5:45 PM PT6:45 PM MT7:45 PM CT8:45 PM ET1:45 GMT9:45 6:45 PM MST7:45 PM CST8:45 PM EST5:45 UAE (+1)20:45 ET23:45 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 of 30 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 overtime win over the Panthers on Saturday. The victory pushed him to 18-12-1 on the season with a 2.81 GAA and .908 save percentage. Jan. 4 6:13 PM PT7:13 PM MT8:13 PM CT9:13 PM ET2:13 GMT10:13 7:13 PM MST8:13 PM CST9:13 PM EST6:13 UAE (+1)21:13 ET0:13 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 13 of 16 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes on Friday. The defeat dropped him to 17-12-1 on the season with a 2.80 GAA and .908 save percentage. Dec. 31 5:54 PM PT6:54 PM MT7:54 PM CT8:54 PM ET1:54 GMT9:54 6:54 PM MST7:54 PM CST8:54 PM EST5:54 UAE (+1)20:54 ET23:54 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 25 shots in the Blue Jackets' 6-3 win over the Senators on Monday. The victory pushed him to 17-11-1 on the season with a 2.74 GAA and .910 save percentage. Dec. 28 5:41 PM PT6:41 PM MT7:41 PM CT8:41 PM ET1:41 GMT9:41 6:41 PM MST7:41 PM CST8:41 PM EST5:41 UAE (+1)20:41 ET23:41 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 of 29 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Friday. The defeat dropped him to 16-11-1 on the season with a 2.73 GAA and .911 save percentage. Dec. 23 11:08 AM PT12:08 PM MT1:08 PM CT2:08 PM ET19:08 GMT3:08 12:08 PM MST1:08 PM CST2:08 PM EST23:08 UAE14:08 ET17:08 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 39 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 3-0 win over the Devils on Sunday for his second shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 16-10-1 on the season with a 2.68 GAA and .913 save percentage. Dec. 22 11:43 AM PT12:43 PM MT1:43 PM CT2:43 PM ET19:43 GMT3:43 12:43 PM MST1:43 PM CST2:43 PM EST23:43 UAE14:43 ET17:43 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 34 of 37 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 win over the Flyers on Saturday. The victory pushed him to 15-10-1 on the season with a 2.79 GAA and .908 save percentage. Dec. 20 5:53 PM PT6:53 PM MT7:53 PM CT8:53 PM ET1:53 GMT9:53 6:53 PM MST7:53 PM CST8:53 PM EST5:53 UAE (+1)20:53 ET23:53 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 win over the Devils on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 14-10-1 on the season with a 2.78 GAA and .908 save percentage. Dec. 17 5:33 PM PT6:33 PM MT7:33 PM CT8:33 PM ET1:33 GMT9:33 6:33 PM MST7:33 PM CST8:33 PM EST5:33 UAE (+1)20:33 ET23:33 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 28 shots he faced in the Blue Jackets' 1-0 win over the Golden Knights on Monday for his first shutout of the year. The victory pushed him to 13-10-1 on the season with a 2.86 GAA and .905 save percentage. Dec. 15 5:50 PM PT6:50 PM MT7:50 PM CT8:50 PM ET1:50 GMT9:50 6:50 PM MST7:50 PM CST8:50 PM EST5:50 UAE (+1)20:50 ET23:50 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 20 of 22 shots in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 overtime loss to the Ducks on Saturday. The defeat dropped him to 12-10-1 on the season with a 2.99 GAA and .901 save percentage. Dec. 13 5:43 PM PT6:43 PM MT7:43 PM CT8:43 PM ET1:43 GMT9:43 6:43 PM MST7:43 PM CST8:43 PM EST5:43 UAE (+1)20:43 ET23:43 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 win over the Kings on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 12-10-0 on the season with a 3.04 GAA and .901 save percentage. Dec. 8 5:47 PM PT6:47 PM MT7:47 PM CT8:47 PM ET1:47 GMT9:47 6:47 PM MST7:47 PM CST8:47 PM EST5:47 UAE (+1)20:47 ET23:47 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 10 of 13 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-0 loss to the Capitals on Saturday. The defeat dropped him to 11-10-0 on the season with a 3.14 GAA and .898 save percentage. Dec. 6 5:44 PM PT6:44 PM MT7:44 PM CT8:44 PM ET1:44 GMT9:44 6:44 PM MST7:44 PM CST8:44 PM EST5:44 UAE (+1)20:44 ET23:44 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 of 26 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 overtime win over the Flyers on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 11-9-0 on the season with a 3.04 GAA and .901 save percentage. Dec. 4 5:45 PM PT6:45 PM MT7:45 PM CT8:45 PM ET1:45 GMT9:45 6:45 PM MST7:45 PM CST8:45 PM EST5:45 UAE (+1)20:45 ET23:45 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 of 26 shots in the Blue Jackets' 9-6 loss to the Flames on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 10-9-0 on the season with a 3.04 GAA and .901 save percentage. Dec. 1 5:47 PM PT6:47 PM MT7:47 PM CT8:47 PM ET1:47 GMT9:47 6:47 PM MST7:47 PM CST8:47 PM EST5:47 UAE (+1)20:47 ET23:47 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 of 29 shots in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 loss to the Islanders on Saturday. The defeat dropped him to 10-8-0 on the season with a 2.72 GAA and .911 save percentage. Nov. 29 5:41 PM PT6:41 PM MT7:41 PM CT8:41 PM ET1:41 GMT9:41 6:41 PM MST7:41 PM CST8:41 PM EST5:41 UAE (+1)20:41 ET23:41 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 of 25 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 win over the Wild on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 10-7-0 on the season with a 2.70 GAA and .912 save percentage. Nov. 26 6:17 PM PT7:17 PM MT8:17 PM CT9:17 PM ET2:17 GMT10:17 7:17 PM MST8:17 PM CST9:17 PM EST6:17 UAE (+1)21:17 ET0:17 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 of 32 shots in the Blue Jackets' 7-5 win over the Red Wings on Monday. The victory pushed him to 9-7-0 on the season with a 2.75 GAA and .912 save percentage. Nov. 23 5:37 PM PT6:37 PM MT7:37 PM CT8:37 PM ET1:37 GMT9:37 6:37 PM MST7:37 PM CST8:37 PM EST5:37 UAE (+1)20:37 ET23:37 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 of 34 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Friday. The victory pushed him to 8-7-0 on the season with a 2.59 GAA and .917 save percentage. Nov. 19 5:45 PM PT6:45 PM MT7:45 PM CT8:45 PM ET1:45 GMT9:45 6:45 PM MST7:45 PM CST8:45 PM EST5:45 UAE (+1)20:45 ET23:45 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 25 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Monday. The defeat dropped him to 7-7-0 on the season with a 2.64 GAA and .915 save percentage. Nov. 17 5:40 PM PT6:40 PM MT7:40 PM CT8:40 PM ET1:40 GMT9:40 6:40 PM MST7:40 PM CST8:40 PM EST5:40 UAE (+1)20:40 ET23:40 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 31 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday. The victory pushed him to 7-6-0 on the season with a 2.60 GAA and .917 save percentage. Nov. 15 9:39 AM PT10:39 AM MT11:39 AM CT12:39 PM ET17:39 GMT1:39 10:39 AM MST11:39 AM CST12:39 PM EST21:39 UAE12:39 ET15:39 BRT - Bobrovsky (illness) will play Saturday at Carolina. Analysis: Bobrovsky got off to a slow start, but the two-time Vezina Trophy winner has won three straight outings while stopping 86 of 89 shots. Nov. 12 7:26 PM PT8:26 PM MT9:26 PM CT10:26 PM ET3:26 GMT11:26 8:26 PM MST9:26 PM CST10:26 PM EST7:26 UAE (+1)22:26 ET1:26 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 win over the Stars on Monday. The victory pushed him to 6-6-0 on the season with a 2.74 GAA and .913 save percentage. Nov. 9 5:57 PM PT6:57 PM MT7:57 PM CT8:57 PM ET1:57 GMT9:57 6:57 PM MST7:57 PM CST8:57 PM EST5:57 UAE (+1)20:57 ET23:57 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 33 of 34 shots in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 win over the Capitals on Friday. The victory pushed him to 5-6-0 on the season with a 2.90 GAA and .909 save percentage. Nov. 6 5:39 PM PT6:39 PM MT7:39 PM CT8:39 PM ET1:39 GMT9:39 6:39 PM MST7:39 PM CST8:39 PM EST5:39 UAE (+1)20:39 ET23:39 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 win over the Stars on Tuesday. The victory pushed him to 4-6-0 on the season with a 3.09 GAA and .902 save percentage. Nov. 4 9:21 PM PT10:21 PM MT11:21 PM CT12:21 AM ET5:21 GMT13:21 10:21 PM MST11:21 PM CST12:21 AM EST9:21 UAE0:21 ET2:21 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 of 29 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 loss to the Kings on Saturday. The defeat dropped him to 3-6-0 on the season with a 3.33 GAA and .895 save percentage. Nov. 2 9:26 PM PT10:26 PM MT11:26 PM CT12:26 AM ET4:26 GMT12:26 9:26 PM MST10:26 PM CST11:26 PM EST8:26 UAE0:26 ET1:26 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 44 of 45 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 win over the Sharks on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 3-5-0 on the season with a 3.24 GAA and .899 save percentage. Oct. 30 5:45 PM PT6:45 PM MT7:45 PM CT8:45 PM ET0:45 GMT8:45 5:45 PM MST6:45 PM CST7:45 PM EST4:45 UAE (+1)20:45 ET21:45 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 of 24 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-3 loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 2-5-0 on the season with a 3.58 GAA and .882 save percentage. Oct. 23 5:41 PM PT6:41 PM MT7:41 PM CT8:41 PM ET0:41 GMT8:41 5:41 PM MST6:41 PM CST7:41 PM EST4:41 UAE (+1)20:41 ET21:41 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 26 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 loss to the Coyotes on Tuesday. The defeat dropped him to 2-4-0 on the season with a 3.87 GAA and .872 save percentage. Oct. 20 5:42 PM PT6:42 PM MT7:42 PM CT8:42 PM ET0:42 GMT8:42 5:42 PM MST6:42 PM CST7:42 PM EST4:42 UAE (+1)20:42 ET21:42 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 of 25 shots in the Blue Jackets' 4-1 loss to the Blackhawks on Saturday. The defeat dropped him to 2-3-0 on the season with a 3.84 GAA and .876 save percentage. Oct. 18 5:32 PM PT6:32 PM MT7:32 PM CT8:32 PM ET0:32 GMT8:32 5:32 PM MST6:32 PM CST7:32 PM EST4:32 UAE (+1)20:32 ET21:32 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 of 35 shots in the Blue Jackets' 6-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday. The victory pushed him to 2-2-0 on the season with a 4.04 GAA and .875 save percentage. Oct. 13 5:50 PM PT6:50 PM MT7:50 PM CT8:50 PM ET0:50 GMT8:50 5:50 PM MST6:50 PM CST7:50 PM EST4:50 UAE (+1)20:50 ET21:50 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 of 31 shots in the Blue Jackets' 8-2 loss to the Lightning on Saturday. The defeat dropped him to 1-2-0 on the season with a 4.39 GAA and .860 save percentage. Oct. 9 5:42 PM PT6:42 PM MT7:42 PM CT8:42 PM ET0:42 GMT8:42 5:42 PM MST6:42 PM CST7:42 PM EST4:42 UAE (+1)20:42 ET21:42 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 of 27 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-2 win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. The victory pushed him to 1-1-0 on the season with a 2.53 GAA and .919 save percentage. Oct. 5 5:55 PM PT6:55 PM MT7:55 PM CT8:55 PM ET0:55 GMT8:55 5:55 PM MST6:55 PM CST7:55 PM EST4:55 UAE (+1)20:55 ET21:55 BRT - Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 of 35 shots in the Blue Jackets' 3-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Friday. The defeat dropped him to 0-1-0 on the season with a 3.07 GAA and .914 save percentage.

The black, glossy background in the Nike store took attention away from the brand's shoes. In February, I visited Nike and Adidas' flagship stores in New York City. Nike's displays were confusing, and the store didn't do enough to highlight the striking visuals that have always been one of the company's strengths. Adidas' design instincts were much better, and the store found a number of smart ways to allow customers to interact with products. The rivalry between Nike and Adidas has been one of the top stories in athletic apparel for decades. While Nike has often landed bigger athletes for sponsorships, Adidas has surged in recent years by anticipating and responding to customer demand with stylish, versatile products that make sense for exercise or everyday use. Now, Nike is rethinking its retail approach in an attempt to keep Adidas from overtaking it as the top-selling athletic apparel company in the United States. I started at Niketown on 5th Avenue. Niketown was previously Nike's flagship store in New York City, but it closed in the spring and was replaced by a new store in November. The first floor played to Nike's strengths. Nike's acclaimed print and television ads have long played up its eye for striking visuals. Niketown's first floor reflected that skill set by highlighting images rather than products, creating excitement before customers even saw any merchandise. It also promoted an inclusive, culturally relevant message. Nike's "Equality" ad campaign promoted diversity and tolerance. Most of the products shown on the first floor were inspired by that message. The items associated with the "Equality" campaign were some of the best I saw in the store. Unfortunately, the product displays (and many of the products themselves) on the other floors didn't quite live up to the hype. The store didn't have a consistent aesthetic, and many of the displays failed to highlight — and sometimes even detracted from — Nike's products. The glossy black background on this display drew attention to its reflective qualities rather than the shoes. Basketball shoes have long been one of Nike's signature products, but Nike made some confusing decisions with its basketball shoe displays. Placing a shoe off-center in the middle of a net-less basketball rim made the shoe line designed for LeBron James — perhaps Nike's most recognizable American athlete who isn't retired — look cheap rather than aspirational. It didn't help that many of the shoes themselves were unattractive. It would be difficult to make the raised, scale-like texture on Nike's "Lebron 15" shoe line look desirable in any environment. Considering the clout that Air Jordans still have with sneaker enthusiasts, it's surprising how badly Nike missed the mark with products associated with an athlete who will likely become one of the brand's most legendary icons. One of Niketown's biggest problems was that it didn't consistently take advantage of Nike's best assets. Throughout its history, Nike has been able to land elite athletes for sponsorships more consistently than its competitors. But Niketown didn't do enough to highlight those athletes. This Lebron James display was a step in the right direction, but it wasn't reflected in the store's overall strategy. Some displays hinted at a strategy the store should have adopted. This display for soccer shoes did a great job of creating an environment where the products could stand out, while complementing the products with eye-catching visuals of elite athletes. If Nike had applied this formula throughout the store, it may have been more compelling. But more often than not, Nike wasted opportunities to show off the qualities that make it stand out from its competitors. I was drawn to the framed, black-and-white photos on each floor, but they were placed near the elevators and away from the merchandise. I went to Adidas' Fifth Avenue store next. Adidas opened the 45,000-square-foot store in December 2016. Adidas' flagship store also had a notable entrance. The Adidas store was designed with sports stadiums in mind, and the entrance was meant to look like the tunnel some athletes walk through before games. Like Niketown, the Adidas' store's entrance emphasized design over product. The Adidas store had a more subtle and effective strategy for showing off its products, often placing shoes against walls with muted colors and using small, rectangular posters to separate the shoes into smaller groups that were easy to visually process. The products were better, too. Adidas has gained an edge on competitors with its "lifestyle running" shoes, which are more stylish than the typical running shoe and are often worn as fashion accessories. No matter their purpose, Adidas' shoes looked way better than anything Nike had to offer, often using sleeker designs, more sensible color schemes, and versatile textures that made sense for exercise and everyday use. The store also highlighted the customer's ability to customize its products. The second floor had a section that appealed to more creative types. Situated in the middle of the floor, the custom-design display wasn't intrusive, but it was obvious enough to draw the attention of a customer who might be interested in designing a custom shoe. Customers could then make and order their own designs in the store. The computers weren't quite as intuitive as they could be — they didn't indicate that users were supposed to scroll down at the beginning instead of clicking on the buttons at the bottom of the screen — but they were a smart way to engage customers who liked the brand's designs but weren't entirely satisfied with the color combinations available in the store. The store also emphasized interactivity in creative ways. Rather than only using a treadmill for customers who wanted to try out shoes (there was a treadmill available on the bottom floor), the second floor had a test track where customers could use clip-on sensors that would analyze their strides and allow salespeople to give them customized recommendations. The track was a smart way to encourage customers to reach out to salespeople, rather than the other way around. The store allowed customers test out products in non-running contexts as well. On the bottom floor, a testing area with soccer balls and other sports equipment let customers get a sense of how products might work in sport-specific contexts. Between the first and second floors, there were two sets of bleachers where people could watch sports while their friends, family members, or significant others shopped. By integrating the bleachers into the staircase, they gave non-shoppers a place to hang out without getting in the way of customers. Overall, Adidas was the clear winner. I've preferred Nike to Adidas products for most of my life, so I was surprised by how impressed I was by the Adidas store. While it wasn't quite as flashy as its entrance indicated, it excelled where it mattered: in smart, carefully designed product displays and creative spaces where customers could test products in a wide variety of contexts. Add in the fact that Adidas has a significant edge on Nike in product design, and the result wasn't close. Nike may still be the top-selling apparel brand in the US, but if it doesn't step up, Adidas could overtake it in the coming decades.

Gaza is an open air prison where one and a half million people are deprived of adequate water, electricity, opportunities to farm, and the right to move about their own land or the world freely. Palestinian children are detained without charge for months and when charged, they are tried in military courts. Gazan schools are insufficient and the funds often cut. An Israeli museum is built over a centuries old Muslim graveyard. Ancient olive trees, the livelihood of Palestinian farmers are burned. Homes are bulldozed. A blockade prevents goods from coming into and out of Palestine, inhibiting commerce and the means for a livelihood. Water is diverted from its source directly to Israel where it is abundantly available, including for swimming pools, while Palestinians have to buy water from tanker trucks. (A Durham Presbyterian church funded water purifiers for Gaza schools after the bombing of U.N. schools.) The wall closing off Israel from Palestinians makes everyday life difficult. Israeli settlements take more land from Palestinians every year. Drones fly 24 hours a day spying on and frightening the residents of Gaza. The asymmetry of the two sides is extreme. A few rockets a week fall into north Israel and if they hit an Israeli citizen, Israel attacks with an over-the-top force, killing hundreds of Palestinians. Palestinians have only stones, and now knives, to express their frustration and anger. Those who support Israel based on religious beliefs do not realize that Palestine Christians also suffer under the burden of the Israeli occupation. The Presbyterian Church of America, and The Episcopal Peace Fellowship have spoken out about the repression in their book and DVD called, “Steadfast Hope” for their parishioners. It is painful to watch and read. Palestinian student campus organizations face bureaucratic harassment, severe restrictions on and censorship of their columns, even cancellations of their speakers. If they do win the battle to publish their viewpoint, Jewish organizations immediately spring into action to overwhelmingly deny and refute their message. Movies, media and games perpetuate stereotypes with Palestinians depicted as terrorists and villains, vicious gunmen, wide-eyed maniacs killing anyone, anywhere, any time for any reason. Movies and television programs such as “Tyrant,” “Dig” and “Homeland” depict Arabs as the lowest of human beings. This in contrast to positive portrayals of Israelis, such as Ziva David as a Mossad agent in “NCIS.” Europeans are speaking out about the Gaza tragedy, but American voices are silenced out of fear of being accused as anti-Semitic. A major conference, “The Israel Lobby: Is It Good for the US, Is It Good for Israel?” received no main stream media coverage. How to get the message out? Jewish organizations inside Israel and the U.S. are working for peace and to let the world know of the suffering of the Palestinians. That is the message the protesters want to bring to the council and the public. Eleanor Kinnaird is a former state senator and mayor of Carrboro.

MURFREESBORO — I guess my older son’s mother and I always knew it would happen: college move-in day. I’d been noticing on Facebook where co-workers, friends and others had incoming freshmen moving into their dorm, and this past weekend, actually just a really long Saturday, it was our turn. My son Jonathan is officially a Middle Tennessee State University freshman. He went down Saturday in one car and his parents in another. — Even with a GPS, things don’t always work out as planned. His mother and I headed down Interstate 81 and then I-40 toward Nashville. He ended up taking I-75 toward Chattanooga at the I-81 and I-40 split east of Knoxville. However, his phone GPS directed him a different way after his southern turn and he beat us there by at least 20 minutes. — If you travel with a gumball machine, don’t put the gumballs in until you get to your destination without a top on the machine. My ex’s rear floorboard was full of gumballs before we left Kingsport. — If you ever make a trip to Murfreesboro, when you make the exit off I-40 to I-840, be forewarned there are no gas stations until you reach Murfreesboro, about 22 miles. We realized this as the gas gauge was about on empty. On much of I-40 there are gas stations galore, often at every exit. — Once we got to Mufreesboro and then campus, we relied more heavily on GPS to guide us since we weren’t familiar with the campus or the city. After the third time of being directed to turn left onto Mount Sue Boulevard, I realized the GPS meant MTSU Boulevard. Hmm, Big Blue of Mount Sue? At least it rhymes. — Always check to be sure the dorm refrigerator works and have a checklist of items. After his refrigerator didn’t cool, he told me it had been about two years since the fridge had been used. As of last word, it was still not working. I guess a new fridge might be in his future unless he snags his sister Erica’s refrigerator from her old room at home. He also forgot his backpack and extra car key and remote but plans to get those, and maybe another fridge, when he visits here in September. He also didn’t take his 50-plus-inch television, at least yet. — Listen to the keynote convocation speech. This one was by attorney Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption,” the freshmen summer reading selection. A black man who grew up on the proverbial wrong side of the tracks, he went to Harvard Law School and became a defender and champion of the downtrodden. He has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and is to do so again later this year. He has spent his career fighting against racism, against other discrimination and for justice and for equality. His message was for the class of 2022 to become involved and try to make things better, to get up close and personal with people so they could make a difference just like an attorney needs to get to know about his clients before helping them. Funny, he didn’t say a thing about GPS pronunciations, spilled gumballs and not-so-cool refrigerators. Maybe there’s a book there? Future convocation keynote speech, here I come.

Providing healthy food for a growing population starts with healthy animals. Many factors contribute to the overall health of an animal and the quality and safety of animal-derived food products such as meat, milk and eggs. The Department of Animal Science actively engages in cutting edge research on the roles nutrition, genetics, reproduction, physiology, welfare and the environmental footprint of farming play on supporting the healthy growth of livestock to ensure both a plentiful and safe food supply for the future. Our research and teaching efforts here in California and around the globe are contributing to the sustainability of livestock production and the training of the next generation of animal scientists to carry forward the production of healthy food from healthy animals.

Take a look around the National Trust's Tyntesfield house and grounds with our exclusive interactive tour. Take an exclusive look inside the Gothic splendour of the National Trust property at Tyntesfield in North Somerset. Panoramic shots of the newly opened Bath Spa in the centre of the city. Panoramic views from the ss Great Britain in dry dock at Bristol Harbourside. See 360-degree pictures of Pulteney Bridge in Bath. Find out all about the city's massive port where the Avon and Severn rivers meet. See behind-the-scenes at Bristol Zoo, and check out the seal enclosure and water tunnel. See some of the stuffed animals in the Bristol Zoo collection including this scary tiger. See a panoramic image of Bristol's famous Suspension Bridge.

When Thanksgiving preparations are concerned, I favor recipes that can be cooked ahead. The only thing I make on Thanksgiving day is the turkey. This avoids the situation where I'm so exhausted from cooking by the time my guests arrive that I can't enjoy their company. So bit-by-bit, during the past several weeks, I've been cooking and refrigerating or freezing all the other items on my menu. Being an avid iDevice user, and a huge fan of recipes found on epicurious.com, I decided to focus my efforts to go paper-less, if not totally paper-free, on this combination of software and hardware. The Epicurious app, available for both Apple and Android devices, is free and has many useful features, including the ability to set up your own recipe box and create shopping lists that come in handy during trips to the grocery store – for example when I am trying to remember how many apples go into the Apple and Butternut Squash Soup. If you're looking to expand your repertoire, the app also gives you access to the full library of Epicurious recipes. I sprung for the upgrade ($1.99) that would keep these treasures in a culinary cloud and enable me to sync my recipe box across platforms – my iPhone, iPad and desktop computer. The question was how well the app would import the “keepers,” which I have gleaned from a variety of sources. Not surprisingly, it worked best with recipes that originally came from Epicurious. The only keeper that actually falls into this category is a recipe I use for Thanksgiving leftovers – Moroccan Chicken Pot Pie, which for obvious reasons I make with turkey instead of chicken. Importing The New York Times recipe for Apple And Butternut Squash Soup was more cumbersome. It first required that I download the “Epi Clipper,” tool and drag it to the toolbar of my browser. This was easily enough accomplished on my desktop computer, though since the tool is powered by ZipList, I first had to enter a bunch of personal information and sign up for ZipList, which I would have preferred not to do. Nor, after a handful of attempts, was I able to install Epi Clipper on the browser of my iPad – this despite the fact that I am a reasonably tech-savvy person. The next thing I discovered was that although it is now possible for me to access the Apple and Butternut Squash Soup recipe on my iDevices, what I get is just the recipe title and list of ingredients. For the full instructions I must click on a link that takes me to The New York Times website where the original recipe appeared. This is fine provided that you have Wi-Fi or a cellular data plan that works in your kitchen. All this said, I did make the Apple and Butternut Squash Soup several weeks ago using the recipe on my iPad rather than on the very yellowed, water-stained original that I clipped from The New York Times in 1989 and have been referring to ever since. The soup can be made far an advance of Thanksgiving and frozen. When doing that, I don't add the half-and-half until I am ready to serve it. With one exception, I have found this recipe is a crowd pleaser. My son eats it for breakfast, dunking toasted French bread in it. And I once delivered a quart of it to a neighbor after a sudden death in his family, and he told me it was great comfort food. But I will never forget the pain of watching a guest who obviously did not like this soup. He swirled it around in the bowl with his spoon, taking tiny mouthfuls, and washing them down with big gulps of water, until I swooped down and took the bowl right out from under his lifted spoon. Another thing you need to know about this recipe is that although it is one of my keepers, it takes many hours to prepare. One guest who asked for the recipe later told me that she decided it was easier just to eat it at my house than to make it herself. In my march (actually it was more of a crawl) towards a paper-less kitchen, I had less success with another New York Times recipe that is one of my Thanksgiving keepers: Cranberry-Pineapple Chutney, which by the way, can be made several weeks ahead and kept in a jar in your refrigerator. This recipe was part of a 1988 story, “Where Do Cranberries Come From, Anyway? The Answers.” When I used Epi Clipper, the only ingredient that appeared was a pinch of salt. I took this snafu with a grain of salt, entered the rest of the ingredients manually on my desktop, and then synced the Epicurious account on my iDevices. The app was of no help with the various sources of instructions for cooking the perfect turkey. Trussing is critical to this effort, and I continue to rely on the diagram (it’s actually for trussing a chicken, but a turkey has the same basic anatomy) on pages 237-239 of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1, by Julia Child et al. (My copy of the book falls open to this page.) Other tips, from Bobby Flay, were originally published in the Nov. 22, 2002 issue of Newsweek, and are summarized here. Another recipe that will not migrate to my iDevices is my grandmother’s famous noodle pudding. As a child, I used to help her make it. First she let me crush the Sugar Frosted Flakes that she used for topping. When I got older, I was promoted to the job of running the KitchenAid mixer as she added the eggs, sugar and other ingredients. I still have a yellow index card, written in an insecure adolescent’s script, with the recipe that she dictated to me. But a more cherished memento is a copy of the recipe in her own handwriting. She gave it to my sister-in-law, Lisa, welcoming her into our family. After Nanny (a name that stuck from the days when I couldn’t pronounce “Granny”) died, Lisa duplicated it and gave each family member a laminated copy. The Epicurious app has a feature that would allow me to type the noodle pudding recipe into my electronic recipe box. But doing that would expel Nanny from my kitchen. And I wouldn’t dream of it.

In a world dominated by natural science, the church finds itself driven into a corner having to defend the existence of the spiritual. Fortunately I am a non-theist. That means I disbelieve in the whole ten thousand or so gods who have been held by some to be of utmost importance since hominids first stared at the stars and asked,"Why?" Peter Sellick only disbelieves in 9,999 or one less that I do. Christianity has only been around for 0.1% or less of the time which has elapsed since the first hominid started hunting for a living. We managed to survive without Christianity and domineering popes and other clerics for much of that time. If they had their way we would go back to giving them the power over life and death as they had during the Inquisition and the Thirty Year War. As Terry Lane said in a radio interview after writing "God; The Interview" all theologians make it up as they go along. Peter, I think you've explained the situation clearly. Unfortunately, apart from those who attack Christian faith from a scientistic (not merely scientific) viewpoint, there are also some within the church who don't understand that God is not supernatural. The article is not about the institution but about some concepts central to Christian understanding. And I would suggest that the Christian path is about being fully human: far more than survival. I may be wrong, but you seem to be suggesting that God is simply constructed to explain the material world and the position of humans in it. I think that for many people the starting point of faith in God is not an intellectual effort to find a God to fill the gaps in knowledge. Rather it is an awareness, however faint, of the presence of God in their lives. The intellectual efforts to describe and understand this awareness become what we often call theology. Sell, I think your whole argument falls down because the Christian church believes that God becaome flesh in the form of Jesus. This is an oxymoron if you wish to continue to believe in God as a spiritual being. He may be one or the other, but not both. "there are also some within the church who don't understand that God is not supernatural." is an understatement. In a room of intellectually leaning church men and women I had the distinct feeling that I was the only one in the room that thought that God was not supernatural and who did not exist in the world as supernatural being. It seems that most of them wanted God to act somehow in the material world apart from the power of the Word in the Spirit. The providential God is alive and well! Thank you Peter, for an interesting article. I have recently completed a course on the Trinity and would like to read your paper - would you be willing to post it on your website? You may find it at: http://petersellick.nationalforum.com.au/admin/upload.php? It is called "At the origins of antitrinitarianism 2"

But those numbers are actually troubling. In contrast to our dominance in sports, African-American men make up less than 5 percent of all males enrolled in medical school. A recent report from the Association of American Medical Colleges highlights that there actually was a slight decline in the number of black men applying to and enrolling in medical school from 1978 to 2014, a finding unique among all demographic groups. The numbers of black men in law, business, academia and engineering are also disproportionately low. The AAMC report describes some of the persistent barriers: underperforming K-12 education, lack of positive role models, negative or limiting public perceptions of African-American men. For decades, any listing of prominent African-American men would almost exclusively contain athletes and other entertainers. These perceptions all too often become reality. I grew up in the 1980s in a working-class black neighborhood near Washington where sports and entertainment framed our dreams. I can’t remember anyone aspiring to become an astronaut or engineer or a senator or governor. Many of us did play competitive sports in high school, and a handful made it to the college level (me included). But only one went to the pros; the rest had to face the reality of finding regular jobs. Some had serious struggles with this transition. While we encouraged one another to practice our jump shots and perfect the art of throwing and catching a football, spending more time on the education road would have surely been a better strategy. Let’s be honest, though. Becoming Barack Obama or Ben Carson is just as unlikely as becoming Michael Jordan or LeBron James. The difference is the process and where you’ll land if you fall short of their status. While going to law school (like Obama) or medical school (like Carson) isn’t likely to land you anywhere near the White House, it can lead to a very comfortable life. The average annual salary for a physician, which can be earned for 30 or 40 years, is over $200,000. Putting all of one’s efforts into sports has enabled the exceptional few to become rich while leaving the majority with resumés ill-suited to economic success. The best sports-related options for those who don’t become professional athletes (sports agent, front office executive, sportswriter or coach) usually require a college degree. Unlike our dominance on the field or court, African-American men – unless they are well-known former players – are far less likely to wind up in these ancillary positions. It’s unfortunate that Obama and Carson are so polarizing – politics has a way of glamorizing and denigrating people all at once. The shortcomings in how they are perceived underscore the need for more black men to reach the highest levels of achievement in other fields – whether it is in science, communications or business/technology. In the meantime, let’s take a step back to acknowledge the important example that Obama and Carson offer to young black men. And while recent racial tensions at Duke, UNC and other colleges across America illuminate some of the challenges that black students can face in academic settings, education remains our best path toward long-term success. That’s a message that my sons, and every other young black male, can’t hear too much.

Pop star Rihanna has made a plea for an end to gun violence following the death of a man she named as her cousin. Rihanna posted an image of the two of them on Instagram, alongside the hashtag "#endgunviolence", saying: "RIP cousin ... can't believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms! "Never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! Love you always man!" The image has been viewed more than two million times. Rihanna did not name the man, but tagged the image to an account under the username @merka_95. The man is believed to be 21-year-old Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne, who was fatally shot in the singer's native Barbados on Boxing Day. Alleyne was shot multiple times and died later in hospital, according to local media. Are celebrities breaching consumer rights on Instagram?

The Department of Education’s Values, Education and Democracy report looks at new ways of dealing with diversity at school level. THE release of the Values, Education and Democracy report by the Department of Education last month should trigger some interesting and long-overdue debate on the nation’s value system—or on what the nation’s priorities should be when it comes to the education of our children. The report, compiled by a working group consisting of Wilmot James (chair), Franz Auerbach, Zubeida Desai, Hermann Giliomee, Pallo Jordan, Antjie Krog, Tembile Kulati, Khetsi Lehoko, Brenda Leibowitz and Pansy Tlakula, identifies several key values that it recommends be promoted in schools, including equity, tolerance, multilingualism, openness, accountability and social honour. - adult learning opportunities be promoted. Framing the report’s recommendations is the panel’s identification of underlying responsibilities of schools: to develop learners’ abilities to think critically and independently, to embrace all children regardless of race, gender or culture and to give children problem-solving tools that extend beyond academia into the realm of life challenges. Equity: teachers need to be taught about the educational inequalities of the past and about how equal opportunities are essential for a flourishing country in future. Tolerance: understanding each other and appreciating our differences, which can only come about by “deepening our understanding of the origins, evolution and achievements of humanity”, by celebrating people’s diversity with dance, theatre, music and sports, and by disallowing any form of discrimination in schools. Multilingualism: learners should be able to learn in their home language and should also learn a second language. All learners should speak English or Afrikaans and an African language. Openness: to stimulate children to think for themselves, to be open to new ideas and hungry for knowledge; a richer reading and debating culture needs to be nurtured. Accountability: in a climate where public perceptions about both schools and teachers are negative, teachers need to dedicate themselves to their profession and view it as a vocation. A fellowship between all those involved in education should ensure that “quality learning and teaching take(s) place”. I promise to be loyal to my country, South Africa, and to do my best to promote its welfare and the well-being of all of its citizens. I promise to respect all of my fellow citizens and all of our various traditions. Let us work for peace, friendship and reconciliation and heal the scars left by past conflicts, and let us build a common destiny together. What do you think of the values, ideas and recommendations identified by this report? Please write or e-mail us ([email protected]) with your opinions. The Teacher is keen to stimulate debate around these values and reflect further on ways in which we can meet the challenges of diversity. See editorial for comment. —The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, June 7, 2000.

Pop-rock band Ariy Shibuya have released their first single, “Thonglor” (“Wanna Ask”) on Sanamluang Music, a subsidiary of GMM Grammy. The band’s name is a hybrid of Bangkok’s laid-back Ari neighbourhood and Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, home to all five members – singer Taishu “Taoz” Sumiyoshi, guitarist Bhumipat “Mine” Armano, bassist Tetsuya “Tetsu” Ueda, drummer Asawin “Win” Burapongbandhit and keyboard maestro Lertmaytee “Lert” Sanguankaew. “We’re fascinated by the Japanese rock band X Japan, but our music isn’t meant to sound like theirs,” says Taoz, the head songwriter. “There’s only a Japanese scent to it. Basically, we put Thai lyrics to Japanese melodies." View the “Thonglor” video at https://youtu.be/33HMOxWYwdo and check out the “AriyShibuya” page on Facebook. Opera Siam and the Bangkok Opera Foundation are presenting “Madama Butterfly” at the Thailand Cultural Centre on July 11 and 12. Madama Butterfly is Nancy Yuen’s signature role, having performed it at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The protégée of Placido Domingo will reprise the role in Bangkok alongside Covent Garden baritone Phillip Joll, in a production conducted by Somtow Sucharitkul. Seats cost Bt500 to Bt5,000 for VIP treatment at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456. A-Time Media radio stations EFM and Chill are hosting the Perd Warp music festival at the Makkasan Airport Rail Link Station on July 14. On the roster are Atom Chanagun, Somkiat, the Mousses, the Yers, Twopee Southside, WonderFrame, Gliss, Mean, and Moving and Cut. Great gear, food and drinks will be on sale. To get there, register at www.EFM.fm or www.ChillFM.fm and get a code for admission to the festival. Seven underground metal bands are wrecking the country on the Banana Tour 77, which kicked off last Saturday at the G Village Bangkok Circus Studio on Lat Phrao Soi 18. Kluaythai, Annalynn, Roses Fall, Sudden Face Down, Ugoslabier, Break the Kids and In Vein will launch upcountry next, starting at Khon Kaen’s Tom Studio on July 29 and hitting the Boog Bar Pub & Restaurant in Nakhon Si Thammarat on August 25. Saturday’s kickoff also featured all-girl outfit Adabel and Overdose. Upcountry there’ll be local talent at every gig, such as Skinny in Khon Kaen and Perpetual Demise in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Get the details at (089) 768 6204 and the “Banana Mahachon” Facebook page.

It soon became apparent that Gov. Jerry Brown had insisted on having the reserve limit in the bill, which was a little surprising. It not only defied common sense by potentially forcing local districts to spend down financial reserves against their will, but clearly violated Brown’s own oft-voiced principles of “subsidiarity” – leaving decisions in local hands – and building reserves as prudent hedges. It was clearly a sop to the powerful California Teachers Association and other unions which might have otherwise opposed Proposition 2, which was to be the focal point of Brown’s re-election campaign. Forcing districts to spend down reserves could potentially free money for salary negotiations. Thus, placing the reserve limit in SB 858 would, it appeared, persuade union leaders to not oppose Proposition 2’s passage and give them cover vis-à-vis their own members – even though it’s unlikely that conditions for invoking the limit will be met in the foreseeable future, and school officials could probably sidestep it with creative budget-writing. As the Legislature reconvened this week, the California School Boards Association demanded repeal of the limit, citing a study saying it could force districts to spend as much as $17 billion, including emergency reserves, against their better judgment. “This is bad law and needs to be repealed,” the group’s president, Josephine Lucey, declared. It may have been an acceptable tradeoff to Brown, ever the pragmatist willing to set aside even his principles when political exigencies intrude. But it’s still bad public policy and he has dropped hints that with Proposition 2 now passed, he might entertain repealing or modifying it. However, a Brown flip-flop, if it happens, would make the whole episode look even more cynically manipulative and would also present a political dilemma for the unions.

The Health Research Board today showcased some of the research projects and clinical trials which have been made possible thanks to this funding. Trials to help prevent second strokes and heart attack after a first stroke episode. Trials to establish whether giving ‘fresher’ blood versus ‘older blood’ in transfusions make a difference to patients who are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The first national drug trial in pregnancy, assessing the use of aspirin in low risk women to prevent pregnancy complications. Trials in blood cancer to see if new treatments can be combined with existing medication for better outcomes. Quality of Life trials exploring ways to improve comfort and the quality of life for individuals with a chronic illness. Some Principal investigators are available to talk about these studies in more detail. Speaking at the showcase event, Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, said: “Every treatment we receive, every tablet we take and every piece of medical advice we get should be based on solid research. This event is all about acknowledging the important work underway in Ireland thanks to the support of the HRB. There’s a fascinating mix of research projects on display here which really brings home the difference that good research can make to individual patients. The impact of the facilities and networks are evident already. For example, Ireland was at the forefront in testing Oncotype DX, a genetic diagnostic that helps women and their doctors determine the best course of individualised treatment in breast cancer and which helps patients avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. Ireland also led a trial which examined 1,100 babies experiencing growth restriction in the womb. The study changed international guidelines when it found that intervention to prevent serious health complications for a small baby in the womb is only required for those in the bottom 3% from a weight perspective, not the bottom 10% as previously thought. This is improving survival rates and outcomes for small babies, reducing stress among mothers-to-be and ensuring effective use of health service time and resources. * What does the HRB Clinical Research Infrastructure entail? Three HRB Clinical Research Facilities on hospitals grounds in Dublin, Galway and Cork where, to date, more than 10,000 people are participating in clinical trials. These facilities provide the physical space, facilities, expertise and culture needed to support patient-focused research studies and clinical studies aimed at understanding a range of diseases and translating the knowledge obtained through this research work into regulatory approved advances in patient care as fast as possible. The Wellcome-HRB CRF in Dublin also houses the HRB Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging (CAMI). This is the only 3 Tesla MRI scanner dedicated to research in Ireland and plays a crucial role in a wide range of studies from breast cancer to dementia. Five HRB Clinical Trial Networks in the specialties of Primary Care, Stroke, Cancer** Perinatal Care and Critical Care which will show whether specific interventions work, or indeed don’t work. **This is the cancer clinical trial network funded with the Irish Cancer Society for many years now – the All-Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group (ICORG). HRB Trials Methodology Research Network which will strengthen the approach taken to trials and the way they are reported in health and social care so they are relevant, accessible and influential for patients, other service users, practitioners, policy makers and the public. HRB Clinical Research Coordination Ireland a ‘hub’ which will coordinate Ireland’s involvement in clinical trials, promote our network internationally and increase our capacity to successfully deliver multicentre trials led by Irish or international investigators.

A feast of family fun is on the cards when an annual village fundraiser gets underway this weekend. Wroot Feast, on Saturday July 9, is the finale of a week of activities which has included quizzes, open gardens, bingo, sports, art and crafts, a scarecrow festival and a film night. The weekend event takes place on the village playing field to commemorate St Pancras - the patron saint of children - and since 1890 it is always held on the Saturday nearest to July 11. The day kicks off at noon with a grand parade of floats from Southlands Farm. At 12.30pm the show and sports day will be officially opened by Paul Verrico, on behalf of Isle-based charity Team Verrico to which feast proceeds will be donated. There will then be the crowning of Miss Wroot and the judging of floats and fancy dress - this year’s event has a movie theme. Attractions throughout the afternoon include a hog roast, face painting, bouncy castle, ferret racing, dance diplays, miniature donkeys, Daisy the T-Rex, a doodle wall, Bumblebee from Transformers, produce and crafts, classic cars and bikes, Reptile Rendezvous, Morris dancing and much more. Organiser Neil Sanderson said: “One thing that we do really try hard with during Wroot Feast week is keeping costs down for families. So many events have had to put their prices up, where as we are only £2 per adult and kids are free, and plenty off free stuff for kids to do on the day. “It’s something we are all really proud of especially when we can bring people from all over the Isle, Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Hull and even Sheffield together for the day. “We love the fact that we have Team Verrico helping and supporting us this year. “This is an amazing charity with even more amazing people behind it, the work they do supporting and helping people who have been diagnoised with cancer is unbelivable. Paul Verrico said: “It is a huge honour to be asked to open this year’s Wroot Feast. It is an event which I have attended with increasing regularity since the birth of my daughter, Lucia, in 2010 and my son Alessandro, in 2012. “Team Verrico was set up by my late wife in 2013 with a stated aim of sponsoring research into hard to treat cancers. The day will end with a family night in the marquee from 7.30pm. There will be live music from Wrooted, a DJ and bar. Food will be available from the Woodfired Pizza Co, but everyone is welcome to take along their own food. Entry to this is by ticket only - £8 adults, £3 for the under 18’s - available from Neil Sanderson at 4 Sand Lane Terrace and Village Markets. All children must be accompanied by an adult, and only alcohol purchased at the bar may be consumed within the marquee.

Professional golfer Fred Funk, right, gave a clinic Monday at The Woodlands Country Club, the site for the 10th Annual Insperity Championship. THE WOODLANDS - Professional golfer Fred Funk made his triumphant return to The Woodlands Country Club on Monday, nearly one year after winning the PGA Champions Tour event held there. Funk was back in town to promote this year’s tournament, the 10th Annual Insperity Championship, which will be played April 29-May 5 on the country club’s Tournament Course. As of Monday, there were 81 competitors in the tournament field, including eight members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The purse is set at $1.8 million, with the winner taking home $270,000. Funk, a 56-year old Maryland native, won last year’s event by one shot over Tom Lehman, and is hoping to bring home the title again in 2013. The Woodlands Country Club holds special meaning to Funk, as it was the site of his first PGA Tour victory in 1992. Overall, he has laid claim to nine PGA Tour victories in his career, as well as eight wins on the Champions Tour. In addition to promoting the upcoming event, Funk also held a clinic for some local recreational golfers, handing out some pointers on swing technique. Tim Moore of The Woodlands, one of the golfers who gathered around Funk as he demonstrated various intricacies of his game, said participating in the clinic was an exciting experience.

Australian internet users were the big losers from today's NBN Co deal with Telstra, according to opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull, as it condemns them to pay high broadband prices. The $11 billion deal with Telstra paved the way for accelerated rollout of the national fibre network. But Turnbull said the deal served only Telstra and the Government's interests. "The deal will have damaging consequences for consumers – that is, every Australian that purchases broadband or telephony services during the next decade," Turnbull said. "The NBN Co corporate plan makes it clear that broadband prices will be high and stay high." In addition, the sell-off of Telstra and Optus' HFC networks would remove the only networks that could have competed with NBN Co's services to keep prices low, he said. Turnbull continued to push the Coalition's line that options should have been built into the Telstra deal to give NBN Co access to copper should a "future Government" decide to can FTTP in favour of an FTTN architecture. The suggestion didn't find favour with the Greens. "Today we heard the opposition communications spokesperson claimed that if elected, the Coalition will leave those parts of the NBN already existing intact, but that the remainder of the network would be a hodgepodge of Fibre to the Node (FTTN), wireless and Fibre to the Premises – a flawed model which was roundly rejected in the 2010 election campaign," Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said. "This suggestion has nothing to do with communications reform". Ludlam said the Opposition had been delaying the NBN for a year, "hysterically predicting doomsday scenarios for the sector." He said constructive input on telecommunications reform from the Opposition would be welcome but none had eventuated. Telecommunications analyst Paul Budde said the deal was structured in such a way that it would be difficult for a Coalition Government, if elected, to roll it back. "In our eyes the future of the NBN looks now secured," Budde said. "The Opposition Shadow Minister Malcolm Turnbull has already indicated that he is not going to turn the clock back, but he of course is still planning changes if they would win the next elections. "It will be difficult for any government to renege on the broadband services that are now staring to emerge in the first release sites around the country, once people started to get a better understanding what this will mean for them, few people in regional or rural areas will accept a second class solution for them, simply because that is cheaper." Ovum consulting director Nigel Pugh said that while there had "always been an overhang to the deal with regards to a change of government", the analyst firm's "initial reading of the cessation clauses don't position this deal as a poison pill if there is a change of government at the next election." The Australian Information Industry Association welcomed the deal, with the proviso that it renewed the "imperative [of business] to act quickly to seize the opportunities it presents."

fans who have been getting their fix via the PlayStation 3 version of The Orange Box are in for a shock: The updates coming to the PC and Xbox 360 versions of TF2 won't be landing on Sony's console, reports 1up. Additionally, the monolithic console is unlikely to ever see any updates from Valve. "We don't have PlayStation developers," said Valve marketing head Doug Lombardi. "They're not doing ongoing development on The Orange Box for the PS3." It doesn't seem to be a matter of disdain for the PlayStation 3, so much as a lack of resources that's preventing Valve from showing Sony's console the same affection they offer to Microsoft's. When asked about the Xbox 360 exclusive zombie shooter Left 4 Dead, Valve founder Gabe Newell told 1up that the decision to make the game an exclusive came down to a matter of not having the "bandwidth" to port the title. 360 and PC version ourselves," Newell said, adding that he would like to craft a PS3 version, but that will only be possible as their "bandwidth allows."

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego International Auto Show is scheduled to open a four-day run at the convention center Thursday, with 400 new-model vehicles, alternative fuel cars, exotics, crossovers and classics on display. Vehicles from 36 manufacturers will be shown, including, among others, a 2017 model year Porsche 911 Carrera coupe with new twin turbo engines, and a newly designed Lincoln Continental. "The cars continue to be the stars," said Kevin Leap, show director. "Today's vehicles shine more brightly than ever with a level of quality, design brilliance, and tech savvy that has never been seen before." Attendees will be able to test drive cars to experience various features first-hand, check out environmentally friendly vehicles and enjoy entertainment, according to the New Car Dealers Association of San Diego County, which organizes the event. The show floor opens daily at 10 a.m. Closing times are 6 p.m. today, 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission for attendees 13 over is $12. The cost is $9 for seniors 62 and over and military with identification, and $8 for youth 7-12 years old. Children 6 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Children 12 and under are free on Ford Family Day on Sunday, when accompanied by a paying adult. Parking is available for $15 at the San Diego Convention Center. Show organizers, however, encourage visitors to take the trolley to the Gaslamp stop. Information on discount coupons or VIP e-tickets is available at SDAutoShow.com .

FILE — Michael Larobina, Director of Legal Affairs. STAMFORD -- Director of Legal Affairs Michael Larobina defended his handling of legal issues related to the ongoing ethics proceedings and explained the city's settlement with former Board of Finance Chairman Joe Tarzia during a meeting with city representatives last week. Larobina appeared before the Board of Representatives Legislative and Rules Committee on April 25 to explain the February arrangement that resulted in Tarzia's abrupt resignation from public office. Tarzia, first elected to the Board of Finance in 1987, had been battling several ethics violation charges at the time of his departure. One charge, filed by Human Resources Generalist Tania Barnes in April 2010, alleged Tarzia asked two city employees, Director of Operations Ernie Orgera and Parks Superintendent Mickey Docimo, to intervene in the disciplining of a vehicle maintenance worker. Another complaint, filed by City Fleet Manager Michael Scacco, alleged Tarzia, along with City Rep. Sal Gabriele, R-16, and Republican finance board member Bob Kolenberg, "led a campaign of harassment and retaliation" against him after he attempted to discipline city equipment mechanic James Fasoli. The city's deal with Tarzia ended public ethics hearings on the complaints. The arrangement was a settlement of a federal lawsuit Tarzia had filed against the city in October 2010, Larobina said. An ethical dilemma: Who should pay? Tarzia was paid $45,000 in exchange for dropping the lawsuit, resigning from municipal office, and withdrawing all ethics complaints and Freedom of Information requests he had filed. "In my mind, it was simply a question of stemming the hemorrhaging of taxpayer dollars to defend and pay legal fees to outside counsel to defend this frivolous lawsuit, that, in our opinion had no merit," Larobina said. "The decision was that we would spend more money litigating and defending this suit than we would to settle it. And we do that every day. We settle lawsuits every day." Committee Chair Eileen Heaphy asked Larobina how much money he estimated the settlement saved taxpayers. "I'm sure that we would have expended at least twice or three times the amount of what we paid out in legal fees," Larobina said. "The case really hadn't gone very far at that point. We spent a significant amount of money." A breakdown of the more than $130,000 Stamford has spent on legal fees related to the past year's ethics proceedings shows the city paid the Law Office of Byelas & Neigher $42,390 for legal representation related to the federal lawsuit, in addition to the $45,000 settlement. It also spent an estimated $30,000 on legal fees incurred by the Board of Ethics in connection with the complaint filed against Tarzia and Kolenberg. Arthur Layton, the committee vice chair, asked Larobina if the settlement stipulated Tarzia could not run for municipal office again or speak adversely about the city following his resignation. Larobina said the agreement did not include these requirements. City Rep. Jay Fountain, D-7, asked about the status of the ethics complaints filed against Tarzia. Larobina said they had been withdrawn. "Contrary to what some people have suggested, if you look at the ordinance, the Board of Ethics only has what we call in the law jurisdiction over individuals if they are a city employee, officer or elected official," Larobina said. "Once you cease to become one of those things, the board has no jurisdiction over you." The Stamford Code of Ethics section on "continuing investigations," however, gives the Board of Ethics jurisdiction to pursue ethics inquiries even after the person in question has left a position with the city. "If an officer or employee under investigation leaves office or employment, the Board by a majority vote shall have the power to continue the investigation," the Code says. Heaphy said she was glad Larobina clarified the circumstances surrounding the settlement. "I think that the important thing was getting it on the record and in the open," she said. "I think they did a fair and honest job with it. They came to a conclusion that saved the city a lot more problems, so I have to say that was wise on their part." City Rep. Harry Day, R-13, said he was happy with Larobina's explanation. "I'm a lawyer also and if I had been in Mike's shoes, I would have done exactly what he did," Day said. "It was a deal that was premised on here we are, and let's just resolve where we are. It didn't look back, it didn't look forward. It just resolved what was in front of them." Larobina also answered questions from committee remembers regarding his department's stance on providing legal representation to city officials accused of ethics violations. Last spring, the city paid $3,000 for an attorney for Tarzia before deciding he would be responsible for his own legal fees unless he was cleared of the ethics charges against him. "Initially Mr. Tarzia made a demand for his legal representation to be paid by the city," Larobina said. "Our initial position was that we would do that. Upon my insistence, I gathered the senior attorneys in the law department and asked for further research on this matter." Larobina said he spent four or five hours researching the issue with three other attorneys in his office. They concluded the city was not legally obligated to provide upfront legal representation for city officials accused of ethics violations. "We made a decision to change course," he said. "Practicing attorneys do this all the time. You take a position, you do further research, you reflect and you decide that you're going to go in a different direction." City Rep. John Zelinsky, D-11, said he was concerned volunteer elected officials would be deterred from serving on Stamford boards and commissions if they felt they could be liable for large legal expenses. "What's to stop somebody from filing an ethics complaint against anybody ... and we have to go out and retain an attorney to defend us possibly in a suit that really has no merit?" Zelinsky said. Larobina said the issue would need to be taken up with the state Legislature. "As your legal representation, let me tell you what your options are," he said. "You need to address this with the Connecticut General Assembly. Those are your options." Board of Ethics Chair Dan Young said Wednesday he intends to address the subject at Thursday's meeting, which will be held in part to discuss possible recommendations for improvements to the ethics code. "I don't know what other board members will think, but I intend to raise the issue of whether we should recommend to the Board of (Representatives) that they make a rule about when/whether participants get their attorneys' fees paid for," Young said in an email. Thursday's Board of Ethics meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Board of Representatives, legislative chambers at the Government Center. It is open to the public. Staff Writer Kate King can be reached at [email protected] or at 203-964-2263.

The world of technology, particularly medical technology, tends to be consumed with making us superhuman. It wants to enhance our abilities and prolong our lives, if not enable us to live forever. But new innovations give rise to new and tough choices, and a small but growing group of startups sees it as their mission to use technology, not to extend life, but to help people make and document some of the most difficult decisions regarding the end of it. The story of a patient from her days as a student at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine particularly haunts Azalea Kim, co-founder of the startup TrueNorth. A 60-year-old woman, who had terminal cancer, came to the emergency room one weekend evening in dire condition. Because of a complicated family situation, Kim said, she arrived alone, without any family member to serve as an advocate and describe the kind of care she would want. Although her medical record was overflowing with documentation, the doctors were unable to locate a health care proxy form that could also have provided guidance on the kind of procedures the woman would – and wouldn’t – have wanted in her final days. So, Kim explained, the doctors slipped into default mode, administering intravenous therapy, sending her to a radiologist, considering a surgical intervention and providing all kinds of aggressive and potentially unwanted care. Partly motivated by that experience, Kim and two Harvard Business School classmates, Margaret Terry and Amy Flaster, launched TrueNorth. A recent graduate of the Healthbox startup accelerator in Boston, TrueNorth provides a free online service for patients to record their legal healthcare proxy (or power of attorney) and then share it with loved ones and healthcare providers. The goal, the founders said, is for TrueNorth to encourage patients to tackle difficult end-of-life decisions and ultimately integrate with electronic medical record systems to make these forms available in the health and emergency contexts in which they’re needed. A planning tool on MyDirectives prompts patients to indicate their preferences and values related to end-of-life care. And it’s one of a handful of relatively new startups trying to use technology to help patients think through and share their end of life decisions. For example, along with TrueNorth, the Dallas-based MyDirectives exclusively offers support around health-related decisions, while startups Everplans and AfterSteps focus on medical planning services, along with a wider range of financial and legacy planning options. According to Kim, just 25 percent of patients have documented a health care proxy or living will. And, other estimates indicate that even when a document exists, it can’t be located 35 percent of the time. These companies say their digital tools help ensure that patients’ voices are heard when they’re at their most vulnerable or can no longer speak for themselves. For example, they can walk patients through their end-of-life prioritizes, enabling them to indicate that they most value being free from pain or not being a burden to their families. They also let patients specify the circumstances in which they’d want life-sustaining treatment, like heart machines and dialysis. And their rise makes sense given the growth of the so-called “longevity economy” of services for the aging Baby Boomer demographic, increasing awareness among patients that they need to be more proactive about their health and the digitization of healthcare — not to mention major advances in medical technology. As a study from the Pew Internet & American Life pointed out earlier this month, nearly 40 percent of American adults are caring for another adult or child with a serious illness. And, a big chunk of those adults are part of the workforce. According to MyDirectives, caregiving-related expenses cost employers $17 to $33 billion a year in lost productivity (canceled meetings, delayed product launches, etc.) and an additional $11 billion in healthcare costs because caregivers suffer from stress, depression and other conditions. For end-of-life care companies, that means there’s an opportunity in targeting employers with a service that lets them improve care for their employees while hopefully contributing to productivity. For health plans, the pitch is that these services could help them attract and retain customers. And, in an era of rising healthcare costs, these services could also reduce the number of unwanted and often expensive procedures – an amount some experts peg at $6 billion a year. That this topic isn’t exactly uplifting is not lost on these companies – Jeff Zucker, co-founder and CEO of MyDirectives acknowledged that many people don’t realize the ramifications of not having end-of-life documentation or just don’t want to deal with it. But he said his hope is that his company, which started its work in 2007 and launched its service last year, can help people think of end-of-life planning as a way to take control of their circumstances, minimize suffering and honor a person’s life. Image by racorn via Shutterstock. Another great use of technology – I was not aware of these end of life apps/software but they seem like they would be incredibly useful (providing all health care providers would have easy access to them, of course!). I am the manager of HealthWorks Collective, the healthcare website in the Social Media Today network. I would love to repost this article for our readers. We have a series on Health Start-Ups and I think this would be a great addition. I would create a profile for you on our site and credit you as author, and would also link the post back to the original on gigacom. Please let me know if this is OK. I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t a gray area that medical staff would consider intrusive or extreme and a family member would have considered it to be an option that may have extended the life of a loved one. Does TrueNorth have an actual product available on the market right now? Plenty of nice problem statements on their site, but no screenshots or descriptions of the actual product. I’m unclear as to whether it’s something I could proactively use as a patient vs. something a doctor would advise me to use. Does TrueNorth have an actual product available on the market right now? Plenty of nice problem statements on their site, but no screenshots or descriptions of the actual product. I’m unclear as to whether it’s something I could proactively use as a patient vs. something a doctor would advise me to use. A very useful post on end of life decisions. Thank you.

October 6, 2011 (JUBA) - South Sudan said Wednesday that the ongoing food crisis in the newly independent country could develop into a famine if no immediate remedies are taken. Joseph Lual Acuil, South Sudan’s minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management told a weekly media briefing in Juba that “lower harvests due to unreliable rains coupled with the rising food prices world-wide, have created a severe food shortage leaving more than 1.3 million in need of food aid." As of September 26 the UN estimate that 342,000 South Sudanese have returned to the country since last autumn, many of whom require food aid. In July South Sudan seceded from the north following a referendum in January. The minister said that the greater Equatoria region had been the worst effected by the late rains this year. Insecurity, returnees from north Sudan and newly displaced people from the contested region Abyei and Jonglei state have all added to the food crisis. Acuil said his ministry has attempted to address the problem by sending aid to Agok in Northern Bahr el Ghazal where many of the 110,000 people displaced from Abyei and its surrounding areas are residing. “I just spoken to the chief administrator and he confirmed arrival of some of the trucks", the minister said. Flash floods in Agok in early September "compounded an already difficult situation for people displaced by conflict in Abyei in May this year" a recent UN report said. "Food insecurity of the affected households continued to be of concern as the people displaced from Abyei are largely dependent on food assistance" the September 26 report found. The minister also said that food aid was also being sent to Uror county in Jonglei State, where fighting in August killed around 600 people and displaced over 20,000, the UN estimates. "The people at ‘severe risk’ may either not have enough food to eat, enough money to buy seed to plant or enough money to buy food. The prices are increasing almost every hour. I am in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, nobody can get food at eleven o’clock in the morning because people queue up at the restaurant and other local hotels for food”, the minister added. In many parts of the Republic of South Sudan, he said, food prices have gone up due drought and the closure of supply routes with north Sudan after partition. The situation is especially bad in the areas closest to the border with Sudan. An agreement between North and South Sudan to create ten points for trade and for people to move between the two countries has yet to be implemented. Minister Acuil said his government was working with donors to invest in irrigation systems to increase crop production. "Urgent action is needed to prevent a looming humanitarian and food crisis in this country", said Acuil. He added that more than 11,000 people returning to South Sudan are in Renk awaiting transportation, explaining that local resources have been overstretched. In order to address the food shortages the United Nations World Programme (WFP) is helping South Sudan’s government by constructing new roads to improve humanitarian access and allow agriculture goods to be brought to market. Lakes state Governor Chol Tong Mayay, speaking at the inauguration of two roads being built in Rumbek East County, pledged unconditional support and cooperation of his administration to facilitate humanitarian operations in the area. The two new roads link local farmers to markets marking the beginning of a three-year partnership between the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the South Sudan Ministry of Transport to build a total of 500 kilometres of feeder roads to help boost agriculture development. The two roads, totaling 114 km, will connect the villages of Karich with Amok Piny and Aluakluak with Akuoc Cok, providing farmers with better access to markets. The project is being carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry for Roads and Bridges and local government authorities. “We are proud to be starting the construction of this road, which will connect food producers to markets and will connect isolated communities,” said Mayay, in a statement sent to Sudan Tribune. Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday in Juba, Lydia Stone, a senior WFP staff member explained that road construction is a key part of WFP’s support to South Sudan to enable the nascent country to overcome some of the obstacles to developing agriculture. “Feeder roads link areas with high agricultural potential to trunk roads and will provide farmers with easier access to markets for their crops, thereby stimulating production and trade”, she said. In the statement Kuoi Maluach, the chief of Paloich, one of the remote villages connected by the new road said: “We suffer from insecurity and a lack of services. If a woman is having trouble giving birth, we have to transport her to the clinic by bicycle. The road will change everything. It will give us access to trade and services”. Stone said Chris Nikoi, WFP’s new country director, plans to build 500 km of feeder roads throughout South Sudan, especially in areas with high food production. She named Western Equatoria as one of the states WFP plans to help the government construct feeder roads to facilitate local farmers access markets with their produce. The two roads in Rumbek East are being built with funding from the South Sudan Recovery Fund. WFP has contracted the German organization GIZ to undertake the construction works which will be completed by July 2012. To ensure the long life of the feeder roads, local authorities and communities are being trained in road maintenance. Since 2004, WFP has repaired 2,600 km of trunk road, linking eight out of the ten state capitals and connecting South Sudan to Uganda and Kenya via four different routes. The two feeder roads are being constructed as part of the Lakes State Stabilisation Programme, a joint UN programme under the ownership of the government of South Sudan. The programme aims to show the benefits of peace and encourage the participation and empowerment of communities affected by conflict and poverty. Customers in Unity state have told Sudan Tribune reporter Bonifacio Taban Kuich that the cost of some basic food products have doubled since South Sudan became independent in July. Traders and retailers say that they are not to blame for the increase in prices of food and other goods due to the long distances they have to travel and the increase in fuel prices. Landlocked South Sudan has to import almost all of its food and other goods including petrol. Despite being an oil producing country South Sudan has no refinery or processing plant so it has to send its oil to be exported through North Sudan. Juba accuses Khartoum of the blocking the world’s newest international border forcing price rises especially in border states like Unity. In September the two countries agreed to establish ten entry check points in order to facilitate the movement for goods and people. After South Sudan’s secession many traders from North Sudan returned to the North leaving locals to step in to fill the gap. Women in Rubkotna town have taken over businesses from Darfuri traders including vegetable sales. One of the women, Nyayang Nhial, said a bundle of ground okra that cost 1 South Sudanese Pound (SSP) two months ago now costs 2 SSP. "Before the local perfumes cost 20 SSP but now reached up to 50 SSP", said Nhial who started working in 2005 after her husband died in a car accident. Customers told Sudan Tribune that almost everything in the market had doubled in price. Viviana Philip, a customer at the market said she cannot afford to feed her family properly. Items like slippers have risen from 10 SSP to 25 SSP over the last two months, she said while asking the government to intervene. Local butcher Latjor Wiyoak said that meat prices have also increased from 10 SSP to 12 SSP a kilo. He said traders had been forced into the price hike as otherwise they would make a loss. Businesses in South Sudan face many challenges. Poor roads and insecurity make it difficult to move goods around the county and river transport can take weeks. As most traders in South Sudan were from the North before independence many South Sudanese are not as experienced at importing goods from abroad which inevitably involves using much sort-after hard currency. President Salva Kiir of South Sudan announced this week that he would hold a meeting with his northern counterpart Omar Hassan al-Bashir on the issue of price rises and rampant inflation. Stops issuing these stark warnings and get down to the real business of picking it so urgently. It’s too dires now, and will eventually be too diaboblical if you guys failed to addressed it cause now rather later. This is a man-made drought so, the government of South Sudan should take the case to the International Court at Hague against the Global Pollutors Europe, USA, Russia, China, India and Australia. Although there are others, these mentioned countries are the major Pollutors and must be held accountable for loss of Rain in Africa. the should start doing something before this particular cost of living shooting high and rocket the sky. it is the government responsibility to address the food prices before it is deteriorate. failure to address it will lead into disaster. Surprise! Our government did not see this coming! Instead of making food security the number one priority, guess what did it do, it made the relocation of the capital city an important matter. What a bunch of mindless people! I fully agree with the statement attibuted to the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs about the looming famine in South Sudan if urgent intervention measures were not taken. The issue had already been raised. What I do not seem to understand is Minister’s claim that " greater Equatoria region had been the worst effected by the late rains this year" is not in accord with the facts. Plse crosscheck. The recent Rapid Cros Assessment (RCA) indicates that the only states which were better off in terms of food secuirty were the three states in Greater Equatoria. The Minister therefore has to crosscheck his information so that any intervention has to address the trully food insecure population.

Billionaire Mark Cuban offered some advice to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) this week, urging the newly anointed congresswoman to avoid the “bad habit” of partisanship when relaying her message to the masses. An avowed socialist, Ocasio-Cortez rocketed to political stardom during the 2018 midterm elections after unseating fellow Democrat Joe Crowley en route to the U.S. House of Representatives. The congresswoman engaged in a war of words with House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) last weekend after he criticized her proposal to pay for a “Green New Deal” policy initiative by imposing a 70 percent tax on the rich. “My point is that right now Pelosi=McCarthy=Schumer=McConnell=all the same. Now would be a great time for the new generation of politicians, across the board, to take a new approach. We need you to represent us all. The partisan approach doesn’t work,” Cuban wrote. Cuban, who appears on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and owns the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, has also mulled the possibility of running for office. He is frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in 2020.

Yet again the transfer window seems to be passing by with barely a mention of Stoke City. This summer all the narcoleptic gamblers, crocks, and 'ard workers seem to be tied down to lengthy contracts elsewhere. Much to my son's continued disgust, Stoke City are the least interesting Premiership club to support during the transfer window. Almost the entire school summer holidays can be wasted parked in front of Sky Sports News watching absolutely nothing happening. Or as Sir Anthony Pulis would put it, 'waiting for something to drop'. Frankly it's enough to turn a 15 year old into a Sunderland fan, at least for the duration of the window. How exciting that must be: watching players come, go, nearly come, nearly go, pass within 150 miles of the Stadium of Light on their way to visit the in-laws only to find themselves snapped up on double the salary just because they stopped off for a cup of tea somewhere outside Carlisle. Contrast that with Stoke City; for a start you can discount any player we're linked with as they will also be linked to several other clubs all of whom will be prepared to pay them more money and probably not ask them to work quite so 'ard. We know immediately whether they're a genuine possibility if the announcer on SSN prefaces the player's name with 'injury prone', 'addict', 'convicted murderer', 'cat-strangler', 'pensioner', 'free agent', 'recently retired', 'unknown' and so on. 3. 'ard working players from the championship who are not quite good enough but might be as long as "they buy into this football club's 'ard work ethic of 'ard work and then more 'ard work followed by a day of really really 'ard work as a reward for all their 'ard work " Our only signing to date, Jonathan Woodgate, is the living (or barely living) embodiment of Category 2, suffering, as he does, from every single complaint listed above. But apart from him, we remain seated in front of SSN with no expectations other than to be informed of a whole host of players who've turned us down for being unglamorous, not in the north and not in the south (that’ll be the midlands then), not paying enough, not liking our style of football, not liking cold, wind or rain, having an allergy to the angle of the roof on the Family Stand, their agent not liking the M6, there being no Pizza Express in Stoke, and preferring Cliff Richard to Tom Jones thus only being prepared to sign if the fans dispense with Delilah and adopt Wired For Sound as their anthem. We are the masters of the last minute deal, many of whom we get really, really excited about like Eidur Gudjohnnsen only to discover the reason they came to us was.... was..... well, actually none of us can work out why Eidur came to us except that we were pathetically grateful to sign a player of his stature and prepared to pay him a wad of cash without realising he'd formally retired from the game but singularly failed to inform anyone of the fact. And then there are the last minute signings that barely warrant a raising of the head from the summer long transfer inactivity torpor, like Jon Walters & Dean Whitehead, who turn out to be worth a thousand Eidur Fatjohnnssens and exemplify further TP's mastery of the dark arts of footballing alchemy. We sit, we wait, we arch an eyebrow, we groan, we nod off, and we repeatedly utter the mantra that has served us so well in the past: 'Trust in Tony'. Or we pretend to support Sunderland for the close season.

The bullpen collapsed again as the Diamondbacks lost for the 13th time in the past 19 games. DENVER – The cast has changed for the Diamondbacks, only they keep playing out the same tired script, one brutal night after another. In a deathly quiet visitors’ clubhouse, players sat motionless in front of their lockers late Wednesday night, seemingly stunned by the realization that their misery could reach new depths. Yoshihisa Hirano, only recently given the reins in the closer’s role, became the latest Diamondbacks reliever to get beat in excruciating fashion, serving up D.J. LeMahieu’s opposite-field, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth of a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. The Diamondbacks were two outs away from shaving their deficit in the National League West to just 1 1/2 games. Instead, it could grow to 4 1/2 games by the time they leave town on Thursday evening. Handed a 4-3 lead in the ninth, Hirano allowed a leadoff single to Gerardo Parra, a hard-hit ball that first baseman Paul Goldschmidt could not handle, and, two batters later, Hirano left a fastball over the plate that LeMahieu smacked into the right-field seats. They did get a lead. They did get a solid outing from lefty Patrick Corbin. And they did get good relief work through the eighth inning. But while the ninth was a disaster, the Diamondbacks’ offense once again gave the pitching staff little breathing room. With one out in the fourth, Alex Avila launched a solo home run to center field to extend the Diamondbacks’ lead to 4-2. It was the last baserunner the Diamondbacks would have, as the Rockies retired 17 consecutive batters through the end of the game. Rockies relievers recorded 15 of those outs, marking the first time in the franchise’s 25-year history the bullpen recorded five perfect innings. It was the eighth consecutive game decided by one run that the Diamondbacks have lost. This season, they’re just 18-28 in one-run games. But the Diamondbacks’ recent misery is not limited to one-run games. Nineteen games ago, they were a first-place team. But their 6-13 stretch has resulted in a five-game swing in the standings, with the Diamondbacks now sitting in third place with 16 games remaining. Parra smoked the first pitch he saw from Hirano on one hop to Goldschmidt. It came off his bat at 98 mph, and Goldschmidt tried to play the ball to his left on a short hop. He couldn’t do so cleanly. After a Charlie Blackmon sac bunt, LeMahieu hit a 1-1 fastball, a pitch that Hirano wanted down and away but instead went up and over the plate. “It got away and it was kind of up where he could hit it,” Hirano said, speaking through interpreter Kelvin Kondo. It was the eighth time the Diamondbacks’ bullpen had suffered a loss in the past 15 games.

And Kate came out ahead of Meghan in a recent poll. Photo Illustration by Jordan Amchin. By Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty Images (Queen Elizabeth II), by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images (Prince Harry). Prince Harry has pushed his grandmother the Queen off the top spot in a new royal poll, which has deemed the newly married duke the most popular royal of 2018. Harry, sixth in line to the throne and at the center of the year’s biggest royal media event, was deemed likable by 77 percent of respondents, in a poll of 3,600 Britons conducted by YouGov between May 15 and October 31. Harry is followed closely by the Queen, with 74 percent, and Prince William, who is third with 73 percent of respondents saying they have a favorable view of him. Harry is described by his fans as “admirable, likable, humorous, fun-loving, and genuine,” the YouGov survey said. Prince Charles, who celebrates his 70th birthday tomorrow, comes seventh in the poll. His brother Prince Andrew is the least popular royal, ranked 15th in the survey. Despite their constant presence in the media and ease with audiences, both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle came in behind their spouses in the poll, ranked fourth and sixth, respectively. (Meghan came in behind Prince Philip, who has retired from public life, though he might have decades of royal life to boost him there.) It’s not the only poll in which Kate has recently out-ranked her sister-in-law; another recent survey found that Kate remains the most influential royal when it comes to fashion. The Queen, the country’s longest reigning monarch, is traditionally voted the most popular member of the royal family, but 2018 has been an epic year for Prince Harry, whose global popularity was on vivd display during his and Meghan’s recent South Pacific tour. Only 7 percent of those surveyed had a negative opinion of Harry while 13 percent had a neutral one. 20 percent had a negative view of Prince Charles, and 30 percent percent had a neutral opinion.

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The Catholic University of America | Washington, D.C. 3600 John McCormack Road, N.E. Attire for this event is business.

SYCAMORE – A Cortland man who police say stabbed his father in the chest with an 11-inch knife during an argument is being held without bond after a court hearing Wednesday. DeKalb County Judge Philip Montgomery ruled Wednesday that Ricardo A.G. Vasquez, 24, of the 100 block of Paw Paw Avenue in Cortland, would remain jailed without bond. The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office has asked that Vasquez be denied bond, and a hearing on that request is set for 9 a.m. April 23. Vasquez was charged with attempted murder and armed violence, aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery causing bodily harm. If convicted of attempted murder, he could face up to 30 years in prison. “If there is a finding of severe bodily injury, you’d serve your sentence at 85%,” Montgomery told Vasquez, who appeared during the bond call via closed-circuit video. Montgomery also ordered that Vasquez have no contact with his father. Vasquez, who had been hospitalized since the incident, was arrested at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital. He is also charged with criminal damage to property. First responders were dispatched to the area around 9:45 p.m. Saturday, police have said. A man, later identified as Ricardo Vasquez, Ricardo A.G. Vasquez’s father, ran to a neighbor’s home and asked them to call for help. Upon arrival, police learned the father had been stabbed. According to court records, Ricardo A.G. Vasquez stabbed his father twice in the chest with an 11-inch knife. Vasquez also used a ball joint separater tool to damage his father’s car. Police said in court records that he broke the windshield and made several dents in the 2003 Nissan’s body. The father was taken to OSF St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford with serious injuries. The nursing supervisor on call Tuesday evening at St. Anthony’s said that he was no longer in the ICU and not listed on her patient sheet. Vasquez is currently on probation for an earlier felony conviction stemming from an incident in Sycamore, according to DeKalb County court records. In October 2016, he was charged with aggravated battery to a pregnant woman, domestic battery and battery to an unborn child. Police said Vasquez admitted to trying to punch his pregnant girlfriend in the abdomen during an argument over her plans to take their 4-month-old child and leave him. Vasquez pleaded guilty in October 2018 and was sentenced to two years of probation and a domestic violence prevention class in that case, records show.

These are commercial building permits on file with Cleveland County for the month of September. Location: 525 W. Zion Church Rd. Location: 110 S. Main St. Location: 4357 W. Dixon Blvd.

The only thing missing is the star of the show. When she hears that performer Cassie Cassava (American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle) is coming back home to sing in her church’s Easter service, Marlee contrives to steal the singer for her own program. She’s just trying to help her fellow “Crispers.” A big production needs a big star, right? But of course, nothing ever goes as planned. When disaster strikes, will Marlee’s big dreams disintegrate? Will she discover what will truly help others? What is Easter really all about? As Marlee struggles with the collapse of her theatrical dream, her friends gather around to encourage her and point her in the direction of Easter’s true significance. She thinks “bigger” means “more important,” that good drama needs flash and show. But she learns that Easter’s message of forgiveness and hope doesn’t need a big spectacle. Jesus “came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The message from Mark 10:45 resounds throughout the story. This newest Easter-themed VeggieTales show (the first since 2004) features Bob the Tomato as the good-hearted but slightly grumpy Pastor Erwin, Mr. Luntz as the slightly crazed robot rabbit creator, and the rest of the usual Veggies as townspeople and singers. The music, always funny and clever, is better than ever. Because Cassie is coming to sing in an Easter church service, she and the choir naturally belt out gospel tunes heavy on soul. Doolittle showcases her talent through Cassie, adding a delightful new character to the Veggie family. Big Idea Entertainment is using the launch of this DVD to partner with World Vision. The DVD includes a short promotional video with a special message from Bob and Larry on the opportunities for child sponsorship. Also releasing in conjunction with the DVD is a special music CD, VeggieTales: Hosanna! Today’s Top Worship Songs For Kids!, featuring award-winning artists Amy Grant and Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall. ‘Twas the Night Before Easter contrasts the popular sentiment that “bigger is better” with the gospel truth that Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection is our true source of hope. The writers did not flinch from including direct references to Scripture and the Bible’s themes of hope and salvation. In this VeggieTale, the gospel message shines bright and clear.

Qualcomm has violated a court-ordered ban on the use of patented wireless tech owned by Broadcom, a federal judge rules. The legal drama between wireless chipmakers Qualcomm and Broadcom continues this week. On Thursday, the companies said a federal judge has ruled that Qualcomm is in contempt of an injunction that bans the use of patented wireless technology owned by Broadcom. U.S. District Judge James Selna ruled that Qualcomm violated an injunction issued last year that banned Qualcomm from using technology in its chips that violates Broadcom's patents on wireless technology. The judge also ruled that Qualcomm has not been paying royalties to Broadcom for the use of its technology in Qualcomm-based cell phones with QChat walkie-talkie feature. Qualcomm said in a statement that it will appeal the decision. It didn't disclose how much the damages will mount to. In May 2007, a jury found that Qualcomm had violated patents held by Broadcom that help cell phones process video and walkie-talkie conversations. Selna ordered Qualcomm to stop using the technology and to pay Broadcom royalties on existing infringing QChat products. Qualcomm has since developed technology that circumvents the disputed patents. This means that newer QChat phones aren't affected.

Country singer Daryle Singletary died suddenly Monday morning. Singletary died at his home in Nashville. The cause of death is not immediately known, but it was unexpected. Daryle had 5 Top 40 hits, including "I Let Her Lie" and "Amen Kind of Love." He also scored a number 4 song with "Too Much Fun." He performed Friday in Alabama at The Rodeo Club and as far as we can tell there were no signs of trouble or health complications. He was not a Bro Country guy ... his roots were more traditional country. He once said, "I've been fortunate to be able to always keep it real and not have to compromise."

In the age of Instagram, food is no longer designed to just be food. It’s a set piece, a lifestyle statement of fantastical hyperbole. So we drink unicorn lattes, eat rainbow bagels, and lick our charcoal-black soft serve in front of neon signs. Food is no longer about eating. It’s about the documentation of unattainable perfection, catching the next ever-illusive meme. Yet in this new wave of food-as-influencer, there is a single, curmudgeonly brand that insists on photographing its dishes on conference room tables, under fluorescent lighting, and from all sorts of unflattering angles. It’s a brand that looks art directed by your 65-year-old parents who bought some no-name Android smartphone, hired based upon their portfolio of blurry photos on Facebook. Indeed, transparency strategy that’s been working for Domino’s since it started critiquing its own product in a 2010 reformulation and apology tour. Domino’s admitted that its food was failing taste tests and disappointing consumers, and it promised to embrace more legible ingredients. Sales at Domino’s continue to climb in the U.S. while industry-leader Pizza Hut’s drop. One forecast projects Domino’s taking Pizza Hut’s No. 1 spot by the end of the year. And though it has fewer followers than the Hut, Domino’s routinely gets more likes on Instagram and Twitter. In the world of big pizza, this unlikely approach is outmaneuvering the competition, including peers like Papa John’s and Little Caesar’s. But let us be clear about something when it comes to Domino’s social feeds. It’s not just full of realistic photography without a food stylist on the set. It’s often downright gross bro-food, like what you might see waking up at 5 a.m. on the floor of a frat house. We’re talking about grease-stained boxes, mozzarella cheese that has a white balance set to the color of earwax (17,000 likes). We’re talking about garlic knots that resemble lovingly shaped micro-penises (8,500 likes). Here’s a twist you didn’t see coming! Introducing BREAD TWISTS, pizza’s newest best friend. We’re talking about congealed chicken wings sitting in a pool of lukewarm buffalo sauce (8,000 likes). We’re talking about using a flash to photograph food (10,000 likes). This pizza’s hot in more ways than one. ???????????? The Domino’s feed is not appetizing by any objective measure. But if you look at it long enough, over enough time, the cadence of grotesqueness begins to sink in. The studio lighting and Photoshop-enhanced pepperoni of Papa John’s and Pizza Hut start to look like the culinary equivalent of a French manicure and a spray tan. Fake. Instead of employing professional photographers, Domino’s relies on its digital marketing team to update the social media feeds. The cinema verité approach began in 2012, when Domino’s launched the Show Us Your Pizza Campaign, and shared the (often ugly) food photos taken by its customers. After that, the aesthetic just stuck. And today, the pizzas Domino’s photographs are all real, either pulled from a test kitchen oven, or delivered by an employee, no food stylist required. And, clearly, there’s no sweating the need for natural light or perfect post-processing by Domino’s employees who will sometimes even take photographs in their own suburban homes. Domino’s is a living embodiment of a #nofilter brand. Of course, this approach doesn’t just buck social media trends; it bucks everything established by fast food (or what the industry calls QSR) restaurants. Consider the low-angled Greek god stature with which McDonald’s has photographed its Big Macs over the years. The bun is a golden mountain. The seeds upon it are alabaster gems. And somehow, as if through consumer X-ray vision, you can even make out the pickles, beef, lettuce, and special sauce within their perfectly balanced stack. These foods have always been photographed as icons, so carefully presented that no minimum wage employee working during the lunch rush could ever live up to the promise. And yet as consumers, we continue to fall for the bait and switch again and again. In theory, Domino’s will only drive more loyalty with every person who sees a deflated pile of cheese sticks on its feed and orders them in real life, because Domino’s is delivering on its promise. And in the age of the unicorn-colored influencer, when nothing we see in social media is really all that real, perhaps society is using Domino’s to self-administer its own antidote, one soggy slice at a time. For now, Domino’s plans to stay the course with its approach to food photography. Maloney suspects that Domino’s will soon have competitors on Grosstagram, and as implausible as that may sound in today’s influencer space, perhaps it’s true. For as much as we’re all hooked on social media, more and more, we seem to be reaching a societal tipping point of understanding that what we see online isn’t actually all that real. And for a brand that wants to connect with its customers in an earnest way? Maybe admitting that is the first step.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) final report shone a light on Canada's residential school system, a dark chapter in our history with lasting impacts still felt by Indigenous people today. Ontario is working with Indigenous partners to address the legacy of residential schools, close gaps and remove barriers, create a culturally relevant and responsive justice system, support Indigenous culture, and reconcile relationships with Indigenous peoples. True reconciliation goes beyond the TRC's 'Calls to Action'. The Province will continue to look to Indigenous partners for guidance and leadership. Ontario plans to invest more than $250 million over the next three years on programs and actions focused on reconciliation, which will be developed and evaluated in close partnership with our Indigenous partners. New Funding: Up to $20 million over three years, including up to $1.4 million in 2016-17 to support the revitalization of the Mohawk Institute Residential School. Work with Indigenous partners to establish a commemorative monument in Toronto -- dedicated to residential school survivors -- as a site of learning, healing and reconciliation. Support restoration of the Mohawk Institute Residential School and work with Indigenous partners to develop an interpretation centre. Identify death records of "lost children" who attended residential schools and contribute to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation archives, locate burial sites and repatriate remains when requested and/or provide memorial ceremonies and markers. Work to waive fees for Indigenous people seeking to reclaim traditional names, and honour Indigenous traditions by accommodating the use of single names. Address systemic racism and discrimination directed against Indigenous peoples through an Indigenous-Informed Anti-Racism Strategy. New Funding: Up to $150 million over three years, including $3.5 million in 2016-17 in life promotion support and $2.3 million in 2016-17 in new mental health and addictions supports. Establish up to six new or expanded Indigenous Mental Health & Addictions Treatment and Healing Centres. Help stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma by investing in mental health and wellness programs. Increase the number of licensed child care spaces and culturally relevant programming off-reserve. Expand child and family programs on-reserve and, through Indigenous and federal partners, make supports available in more communities. Through recreation-based programming, work with remote high-need Indigenous communities to identify community priorities for children, youth and families. Support culturally based suicide prevention strategies for children and youth, and provide crisis intervention, as needed. Explore reclassifying First Nations/federally operated schools to enhance collaboration between the provincially funded education system and First Nation schools. Develop an action plan for responding to social emergencies in Northern First Nation communities. New Funding: Up to $45 million over three years, including $200,000 in 2016-17 in Gladue expansion. Create more victim services programs for Indigenous peoples. Establish an Indigenous Language Courts pilot project to help break down language barriers and increase access to justice. Increase funding to Community Justice Programs that focus on healing and cultural restoration. Develop culturally appropriate programs, including community supervision, to provide support to Indigenous people accused of crime. Host a Gladue summit to identify service gaps in the justice system. Increase the number of Gladue report writers and Gladue aftercare workers. Enhance healing services and cultural supports for Indigenous inmates in custody and offenders under community supervision. New Funding: Up to $30 million over three years. Develop an Indigenous Cultural Revitalization Fund that would support cultural activities and programming in Indigenous communities, including on-reserve and in urban centres. Host an Indigenous languages symposium with Indigenous partners to review current programs, and to identify community priorities and supports needed for Indigenous languages. Support youth cultural camps in Indigenous communities. Create a traditional medicine garden on government-owned property in Toronto. New Funding: Up to $5 million over three years. Lead by example and take active steps to apply a model of reconciliation on a daily basis. Change the name of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs to the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Reflect the term 'Indigenous' in government ministries and programs, where appropriate. Discourage the use of names that are considered offensive to Indigenous people in organizations funded by the government. Engage with Indigenous partners on approaches to enhance participation in the resource sector by improving the way resource benefits are shared. Work with the federal government to address the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This document was published on May 30, 2016 and is provided for archival and research purposes.

The final chapter in Roy Andersson's droll trilogy 'on being a human being' introduces three dozen more brilliantly absurd vignettes. In a Venice Film Festival lineup full of cynicism, suicide and despair, who would expect the new Roy Andersson picture — “the final part of a trilogy on being a human being” — to be the most life-affirming? And yet, from its comic title to the wistful smile that accompanies its over-too-soon last shot, Andersson’s delightfully odd “A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence” finds the Swedish master of comic absurdity feeling downright generous, perched at a comfortable enough distance from this coterie of sad sacks and lonelyhearts to recognize the humor in such painful subjects as mortality, aging, unpaid debts and unrequited love. Just last year, Ethan Hawke was quoted as referring to “Before Sunrise” and its two sequels as “the lowest-grossing trilogy in the history of motion pictures.” But even he probably hasn’t bought tickets to Andersson’s incomparable triptych — rapturously received by critics, though audiences have proven all but allergic to the first two films, which have cleared barely $100,000 so far in the U.S. The result of four years of rigorous planning and meticulous execution, “Pigeon” could fare slightly better than “Songs From the Second Floor” and “You, the Living” (both of which bowed at Cannes), but only just. At least arthouse programmers can now get creative, treating Andersson’s now-complete tragicomic opus, a decade and a half in the making, as the special event that it is. “Pigeon” is by far the most accessible of the three films, offering a continuity throughline in the form of novelty salesmen Sam (Nils Westblom) and Jonathan (Holger Andersson), a comedic duo who’d be right at home in a Samuel Beckett or Tom Stoppard play. Here, the Laurel-and-Hardy-esque pair appear in nearly one-third of the film’s 37 fixed-camera compositions, a series of chuckle-inducing tableaux that clock in at just under three minutes apiece on average. Each of these shots serves as a nearly self-contained comic vignette, like a cross between a “Where’s Waldo” cartoon and a Gregory Crewdson photograph, and the best way to approach them is as you might a large-canvas painting or a Jacques Tati film: Study the faces, soak up the details, allow the eye to wander and the mind to free-associate. Where other directors seek out exceptional moments, Andersson endeavors to capture the poetry of the mundane. With the exception of one scene, in which twin girls blow bubbles from the balcony of a nondescript apartment building, and another that observes a plumpish new mom (Andersson loves his ladies with a little meat on their bones) cooing over her baby carriage, all the characters here are adults. Most of them have fewer days ahead of them than they do behind, but none seem to truly appreciate the gift of living. Andersson does, and he wants us to recognize it, too. Right up front, the helmer presents three “meetings with death”: a husband who suffers a heart attack while struggling to uncork a wine bottle; an old lady convinced she can take her handbag to heaven; and a cruise-ship passenger who collapses at the lunch counter, having just paid for his meal (sorry, no refunds). More playful than his fellow Swede Ingmar Bergman, who famously challenged Death to a game of chess, Andersson recognizes that there’s no cheating mortality — though sometimes we can speed it along, like the suicidal CEO glimpsed later in the film. Best just to have a sense of humor about it. Some critics have mistaken Andersson’s movies as “depressing” (while others have incorrectly labeled him a “commercials director,” failing to understand that he accepted those commissions to finance his painstaking feature ventures). “Droll” would be a better word for the artist’s attitude toward the washed-out blue and beige world he presents. His characters wear white face makeup to enhance their pallor, sleepwalking zombielike through their lives. Even the young couple seen necking on the beach appear to be doing so in slow-motion. In the interval since his last film, Andersson has embraced hi-def digital cameras, which benefit his aesthetic enormously. Now, the helmer can ensure that even the far-distant background of every scene appears in sharp focus. Though the colors are dreary and the characters numb, compositionally speaking, there’s not a single dull frame in the entire film. Andersson thinks like a painter, following Edward Hopper’s example of enhancing loneliness by depicting it within a greater context. He shoots rooms at an angle, using perspective to direct our eyes toward the activity in adjacent rooms or on the other side of windows, instead of observing everything directly on axis, the way his similarly detail-oriented American namesake, Wes Anderson, insists on doing. In “Pigeon,” people go about their business in the dreary little boxes of their lives, but they don’t behave like marionettes on strings, but almost like actors on a stage, occasionally turning to address the audience. “Today I feel kind,” announces a cheesemonger, while his wife gestures to the audience to let us know she thinks he’s crazy. It’s unclear whether the shift to digital has allowed Andersson to manipulate his footage the way directors such as David Fincher and Ruben Ostlund do, using their locked-down cameras to make invisible nips and tucks. Regardless of the method, the film is a master class in comic timing, employing pacing and repetition with the skill of a practiced concert pianist. Early on, outside a dance studio where the flamenco teacher gets a little too hands-on with one of her pupils, a lady janitor says into her phone, “I’m happy to hear you’re doing fine.” (Mobile phones are a rare nod to modern life in a film that appears to be set in a timeless retro past — and where King Charles XII and his infantry are prone to drop in unannounced, like characters in a Monty Python sketch.) The cleaning woman’s line becomes a hollow platitude echoed by many of the characters by film’s end, and yet, there’s something to be said for merely surviving in such an absurd world as this. Down on their luck, Sam and Jonathan bill themselves as being in the “entertainment business,” selling plastic vampire teeth and a corny laughing device engineered to amuse. These two friends look like they haven’t smiled in a long, long time. Emerging as the most well-rounded character in the entire trilogy, Jonathan suffers from melancholy spells, culminating in a disturbing dream sequence, where colonial soldiers lead African slaves into a giant copper instrument that produces a beautiful sound as the people inside are being roasted alive. What a curious species are homo sapiens. Judging by the film, we wage war, torture animals and take advantage of one another, and yet, Andersson assures us, things could be worse. In the grand scheme of things, he’s happy to show we’re doing fine. Production: (Sweden-Norway-France-Germany) A Roy Andersson Filmproduktion production, in co-production with 4 1/2 Fiksjon, Essentail Filmproduction, Parisienne de Production, Sveriges Television, Arte France Cinema, ZDF/Arte, with support from Svenska Filminstitutet, Eurimages Council of Europe, Nordisk Film- och TV Fond, Norska Filmfonden, Film- ind Medienstiftung NRW, CNC. (International sales: Coproduction Office, Paris.) Produced by Pernilla Sandstrom. Executive producers, Sarah Nagel, Isabell Wiegand. Co-producers, Philippe Bober, Hakon Overas. Crew: Directed, written by Roy Andersson. Camera (color, HD), Istvan Borbas, Gergely Palos; editor, Alexandra Strauss; production designer, Ulf Jonsson, Julia Tegstrom, Nicklas Nilsson, Sandra Parment, Isabel Sjostrand; costume designer, Julia Tegstrom; sound, Robert Hefter, Owe Svensson; casting, Sophia Frykstam, Zora Rux, Katja Wik, Stig-Ake Nilsson, Andrea Eckerbom.

Steven Spielberg has Ready Player One officially out in theaters today and Carl's Jr. tried to get in on the marketing fun by renaming their new charbroiled sliders to "SpielBurgers." The legendary director caught wind of the fast food chain's publicity stunt and quickly shut it down after admitting that the sliders tasted "pretty good." Though Carl's Jr. never officially renamed their product, they're pretty happy that they got some kind of reaction out of Steven Spielberg with a semi-endorsement. Carl's Jr. posted a bunch of spoof videos on Twitter advertising the name change of their sliders to the "SpielBurgers" to help promote Ready Player One and their new product. The videos each take on some of the director's most famous work, from E.T. to Jurassic Park. The fast food chain even decided to take their guerilla campaign to the next level when they had some of the "SpielBurgers" delivered to Amblin Entertainment yesterday, which prompted Steven Spielberg to record a response video and post it to Twitter. The fast food chain tweeted over the weekend about the name change in honor of Ready Player One and noted that Steven Spielberg hadn't signed off, but that they "assume that he's cool with it." In addition to the burgers, an employee even left a letter on an Amblin executive's car. After Carl's Jr. delivered the "SpielBurgers" to Amblin, the director announced a cease and desist to the fast food chain after sort of complimenting the taste of their creations. Spielberg had this to say. "It has recently come to my attention that Carl's Jr. wants to rename their charbroiled sliders SpielBurgers and they're pretty good, but I'm passing. Cease and desist. You can't do it - sorry, guys." The publicity stunt worked out perfectly for Carl's Jr. They knew that Steven Spielberg would never sign off on the deal, but if they got any response from him, it would be well worth it. Not only did Spielberg respond, he recorded a video that stated that "SpielBurgers" were pretty good, resulting in free promotion for the fast food chain and Ready Player One. Obviously, Carl's Jr. is pretty happy with the outcome that they orchestrated. Though the note on the executive's car was a tad bit creepy. As for official partnerships, Ready Player One teamed up with the extremely popular HQ Trivia app for a record breaking prize of $250,000. The trivia game will take place tonight, March 28th at 6:30 PM Pacific and 9:30 PM Eastern, to celebrate the release of the movie. As for Steven Spielberg actually eating Carl's Jr., that has to be a bit of a white lie. One cannot imagine one of the most legendary directors of all time eating that type of fast food, even though our president mows down McDonald's more than once a week. You can check out the brilliant marketing plan to promote fast food and Ready Player One below, courtesy of the Carl's Jr. Twitter account.

BLAKELY, Pa. --More than 170,000 pounds of food was handed out to those in need in Lackawanna County. Newswatch 16 found cars lined up outside Peckville Assembly of God Church waiting to take advantage of the generosity. The church gave out hundreds of hams, turkeys and other meat as well as fresh produce and toiletries. "I do not know how to explain it to you but the food helps me pay medical bills because I save money here and I pay my bills, ya know?" said William Carter of Dickson City. Peckville Assembly of God Church gives out free food every Friday. Anyone who lives in Lackawanna County can sign up.

Hello fellow people who desire to change their habits. I want to start a habit of 30 minutes of yoga each morning before work. In order to do that, I would need to establish a morning routine AND wake up 30-40 minutes earlier than usual. I immediately became overwhelmed just thinking about this and already anticipating my failure. Considering I am not much of a morning person, and don’t work out EVER, this is a rather ambitious goal. *Deep Breath* Upon reading further I learned that many people have a burst of motivation when they start a new habit – however this quickly fades after a slight slip up or when you realize there may be limits to your motivation. This is why itis important that your habit be EASY PEASY and require little to no motivation! • Drink a full glass of water before my feet hit the floor (I leave it at my bedside all night, so I guess I ingest a little dust as well, maybe a gnat. Whatever). • Go to the bathroom (I told you, easy, no motivation, but super exciting to cross off your list). • Clean out kitty kat’s litter box (something I would sometimes have no problem skipping before initiating this challenge). • Enjoy a cup of coffee (never actually skipped this before). • Take vitamins (when I don’t eat breakfast, I don’t bother taking vitamins because you’re supposed to take them with food. So this is another one that was easily skipped). Yes, most of this stuff is stuff I would do anyway, but now I am doing it consciously, consistently, SKIPPING NOTHING, every day. I am only implementing this routine on BUSINESS DAYS. I have a feeling this is frowned up. But we’re just going to go with it for now. I am on (business day) 9. Anyway, only one day in the last nine did I forget my vitamins. My first instinct was to recoil in failure, but I went easy on myself and just made sure I got back on the track the next (business) day. Another important part of this challenge is logging your progress and being held ACCOUNTABLE. This is where YOU - my fellow habit changers come in! So even though I’m already a few days in – from here on I will check in each day to let everyone know I’ve accomplished my EASY PEASY morning routine and will offer support and encouragement to the rest of you.

The Netherlands’ Chris Vos clinched gold as the World Para Snowboard World Cup Finals in Klövsjö concluded. Newly crowned world champion Lisa Bunschoten earned victory on the opening day of the World Para Snowboard World Cup Finals in Klövsjö. Klövsjö is set to host the World Para Snowboard World Cup Finals, with athletes set to descend on the Swedish municipality for the last competition of the season. France’s Maxime Montaggioni retained his men’s SB-UL banked slalom title as action begun today at the World Para Snowboard Championships in Pyha in Finland. The World Para Snowboard Championships are due to get underway in Pyha in Finland tomorrow boasting a new snowboard cross format and the return of France's world champion Maxime Montaggioni among the highlights. Slovakia's Miroslav Haraus was among the six slalom gold medallists on the last day of the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup Final in Morzine in France. Marie Bochet and Arthur Bauchet both claimed standing gold medals for hosts France today at the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals in Morzine. Jesper Pedersen led Norway to victory in World Para Alpine Skiing's inaugural mixed team competition at their World Cup Finals in Morzine in France. The closing event of the World Para Alpine Skiing season will begin tomorrow when the World Cup Finals get under way in Morzine in France. France’s Paralympic champion Marie Bochet finished the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup at La Molina today with a perfect record after winning her eighth consecutive race in this season’s series. Austrian 16-year-old Veronika Aigner, with sister Elisabeth as her guide, sprang a surprise in women’s visually impaired event on the fourth day of the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup at the Spanish resort of La Molina. Switzerland's Theo Gmur, Paralympic champion in the men's standing giant slalom, succeeded at the third attempt in beating France's 18-year-old world champion Arthur Bauchet at the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup at the Spanish resort of La Molina. Double world champion Jeroen Kampschreur’s revenge win in the men’s sitting event headlined a day of comebacks during the second giant slalom races at the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in La Molina in Spain. France's Arthur Bauchet got off to a winning start today at the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in La Molina, triumphing in the first of three men's standing giant slalom contests. France's Arthur Bauchet will be the man to beat in the standing events when the penultimate World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup of the season begins in La Molina tomorrow.

The Mapes family of Effingham enjoy the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago with their children including their adopted children, Regino and Regina, who were born in the Philippines. Misty Mapes and her husband, Patrick, of Effingham always had a desire to add to their family through adoption. That dream became a reality in part due to Gift of Adoption Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to families that need help to pay for the hefty cost of adopting a child. The Mapes, who have two biological children, Braydon, 16, and Madison, 11, were able to adopt 8-year-old twins, Regina and Regino — who go by Ina and Ino — about a year ago from the Philippines. They received a $4,000 grant that helped them pay travel expenses to the Philippines to bring the children home. Though they had always had tossed around the idea of adoption, they were spurred to take action when their older son asked them about it a few years ago. "He said, 'Hey. Can we adopt? I'd like to have a brother," Misty Mapes recalled. Misty Mapes, who works as a teacher, and Patrick, who is a dockworker, set about eliminating as many of their expenses as they could to save the $40,000 they would need to took to fund the adoption. That final boost was provided by the Gift of Adoption Fund, which bridges the game when people are nearing the goal of completing the adoption, but need a little extra financial help to finalize it, said Marcy McKay, a La Grange resident and volunteer for the fund. Though they didn't need the financial help to adopt their children that the Gift of Adoption Fund provides, the McKays, who have three adopted children ages 14, 13, and 11, know how costly it is and are working to help other families adopt. In November 2014, Bethany and Jared Crain got a call saying that they were matched with an expectant mother. While they were ecstatic that they could be adding to their family of three, they decided not to tell their 4-year-old that she could be getting a sibling. "It's just so extremely expensive," said McKay. "A lot of people don't have that kind of money." The need on the part of children to have families is great, too. The fund estimates there are 140 million children around the world who are orphaned and 500,000 in the U.S. who are living in foster care and have no permanent family to call their own. The goal of the fund is to inspire adoption by providing grants to qualified parents. Parents who seek grants are required to show that they have financial need and have already completed some of the steps needed to adopt such as working with a licensed agency and having a home study done. The fund puts an emphasis on completing adoptions for children who may find it more difficult to be placed with a permanent family. Those children may be siblings, like Regina and Regino Mapes, children who are aging out, have medical needs or who may go into foster care. The grants that are supplied by the nonprofit range from $3,500 to $7,500. Joan Schoon's desire to be a foster parent was born out of compassion and sympathy. As a teenager, she remembers listening to her friends who were foster children complain about treatment they endured in some of their previous foster homes. "They apply for the exact dollar amount they need and the grants are paid directly to the adoption agency," McKay said. The fund was founded in 1996 by a couple who, like the McKays, felt thankful that they had the financial resources to pay for adopting children, and wanted to help other families who need the support, according to its website. She said the group raises money through a variety of fundraisers such as cocktail parties and golf outings. "It's such a compelling cause," said McKay, noting that many of their donations are in the $50 to $100 ranges. "It's a perfect fit," she said.

https://shop.bbc.com/guinness-harp-baseball-cap-21685.html?___store=en_us 4964 Guinness Harp Baseball Cap https://shop.bbc.com/media/catalog/product/2/1/21685-guinness-baseball-cap_1_.png 21.98 21.9800 USD InStock /New to the Shop /Apparel /Gifts /Apparel/Accessories /Fall Catalog /Holiday Catalog /Shop by Price/Gifts Under $25 When the strings of a Gaelic harp design appear on the left, it’s the official emblem of Ireland. When they’re on the right, it’s the classic trademark of Dublin’s most famous brewery, established in 1759. When the harp is embroidered in golden thread and appliquéd on a grey cotton cap, you’re ready for a good day, wherever you are. Sturdy bill with top-stitching shades your face from the sun. Back strap with golden, embossed clip adjusts for a perfect fit. Official Guinness merchandise. 100% cotton. When the strings of a Gaelic harp design appear on the left, it’s the official emblem of Ireland. When they’re on the right, it’s the classic trademark of Dublin’s most famous brewery, established in 1759. When the harp is embroidered in golden thread and appliquéd on a grey cotton cap, you’re ready for a good day, wherever you are. Sturdy bill with top-stitching shades your face from the sun.

BATH TWP. - The annual presentation by the Bath Park Board on the "State of the Parks" is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. March 21 at The University of Akron Field Station in the Bath Nature Preserve. Trustee Elaina Goodrich, Interim Service Director and Bath Parks' Administrator Mike Rorar, Field Station Manager Dr. Greg Smith and Bath Park Board member Pam Reitz will present updates of the parks' improvement projects, detail the status of grant requests and outline future plans for Bath's four parks. Light refreshments and a bonfire in the Regal Beagle will follow the presentations. For further information, call 330-666-4007.

The Learning Network | What Have You Learned Playing Video Games? What Have You Learned Playing Video Games? What are your favorite video games? What do you think they have taught you? Do you think video games can help inspire social change? Have you ever played one that helped you understand a serious global problem? This year, a United Nations program devoted to urban planning in countries affected by poverty or natural disasters began developing a sports field in the slums of Kibera, Kenya, designing it in the popular sandbox video game Minecraft. The game, which allows players to build entire worlds out of cubes in a 3-D environment, helped the project leaders create a visual representation of the field that could be easily understood by the neighborhood’s residents. The project, known as Block by Block, is among the highlights this week at the Games for Change Festival in New York, an annual event that promotes video games that seek social change. These efforts — known as serious games — once focused on education, to entice students to learn through digital play. But attention has shifted to more ambitious efforts like Block by Block, and a large part of that push has come from Games for Change, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 that has worked with Google, NASA, the United Nations, the Rockefeller Foundation and TEDx. One speaker at this year’s festival is Zoran Popovic, the director of the Center for Game Science at the University of Washington, in Seattle. He led the team of researchers responsible for the puzzle game Foldit, which sought to crowdsource a solution to a scientific problem. Foldit asked players to take on the role of a biochemist and map out how proteins might be folded in nature. The game provided scores based on how well they performed. Three papers in the journal Nature have been published, based on Foldit discoveries, since the game’s release in 2008; the most famous, in 2011, explained how Foldit players had helped to decipher the structure of an AIDS-related enzyme, a problem that scientists had been trying to solve for years. Mr. Popovic plans to unveil a new project this week, a synthetic-biology game called NanoCrafter, whose goal is to discover molecular structures that could benefit vaccine and cancer research. — What are your favorite video games? What games did you play when you were younger? Looking back, what do you think they taught you — whether physical or mental skills or something more intangible? How have they enriched your life? — Have you ever played a video game like the ones at Games for Change, in which the goal is “more than entertainment”? What did you think of it? What did you learn? — Do you think video games can be effective tools for learning? Do you think playing them might actually help “change the world”? Why or why not? — If your school were to invest in a “video game for change” that was, like the examples in this article, fun to play, intellectually enriching and altruistically focused, what would you like it to be about? How might it work? Honestly I have never really played video games before, well I have but not as much as an average teen. But that little that I did play I just learned little strategies and the games really made you think. But they are really not that productive. I used to play games a lot but i have slowed down playing them now. I actually have learnt a lot of things from certain video games like strategies, and my friend said that he learnt that rubber comes from trees. I think integrating games into school could be a good idea. It would probably be executed poorly in most areas though. There’s a stigma against video games in general that label all games as bad for your brain and they make you do bad things. My favorite video game has to be guitar hero. I think this game has taught me how to multitask with my hands. I think video games are very good and can help inspire social change, depending on the type of game. No, I have never played a video game that has helped inspire me to change a serious global problem. I don’t like to play video games. I rather do something else than be in four hours play games that not be educated. the video games i have played are strategic and would make me think. i have never played a video game that benefits a cause before so i would go with some of the concepts listed in the article when deciding on one for my school to invest in. That’s actually really interesting concept because most games are like what you guys said, fps and the like. there are a handful of games that are different or promote learning. i personally have not heard anything that could help with research. My favorite video games are the grand theft auto video games. Not just because of the violence but also because I don’t play very many video games and it’s fun to just drive around and wander the game. When I was younger my favorite video game was a hand held analog stick with a few different games on it including PAC man. I don’t believe that playing these types of video games benefits you much. I’ve never played a more than entertainment goal game. But I think it’s a very intriguing idea, especially scenes so many kids learn from their surroundings and technology now days. My favorite video games are Minecraft, COD, Counterstrike Source, Guitar Hero, Farcry, and Rainbow six. Looking back at these games I have learned a little more about weaponry, and playing video games has also helped with my hand-eye corrdination. I also think playing video games can help increase your reflexes and response time. When I started playing Minecraft I immediately fell In love because it allowed me to use my creativity and build things that I’ve always wanted to build. I think video games can be a very effective tool for learning because it makes learning fun. But I also think that it should be taken in moderation and staring a screen all day isn’t that great for you and neither is sitting all day. The more interactive learning is the better it will be in general. I think that bringing video games into schools could be a good way to bring more interaction to learning. My number one game is World of tanks. when i was younger, i played minecraft. I was a 4 year minecraft player.. Minecraft gave me inspiration. But when i got World of tanks, i quit minecraft. World of tanks has taught me alot. Ive learned alot since i started playing. No blood, no gore. Just fun with big metal machines. I don’t know because I don’t play video games. Well i have not learned a lot because i don’t play a lot. It shows that there is violence in the world. Also how to help you shoot more acculturate. I think that if schools had games then more people could enjoy and relax more. I have played some games that teaches you life lessons and some games that inspires you. Video games nowadays have little education to offer for you if you are playing modern consoles. The way i learned to play video games is that most people can easily play any game if they put their mind into it. i play video games every single day and beat every single game there is its just what i like to do everyday when i get home from school etc. i can play really hard games that not everyone can beat i’m technically the best at playing horror games and war games plus games like assasins creed 1 to throughout all the other assasin creed games. i am such a video game expert i’ve played every system that ever came out from the beginning of atari to all of todays games. i just love to play video games. I love playing video games with my brothers. I play Black Ops, Mine Craft, Kinect Sports and more. Playing these games explain more than moving your thumbs it showed you how to multitask and some of the video games keeps you physically active when you have a X-Box 360. Im a senior in High School. Im always playing video games whenever im not either at school, work, or golf. I love video games and I feel that they are a quintessential part of learning. I have played almost every game. Games like pokemon help you to solve problems. Games like portal cause you to use physics and puzzles to play the game. Games like the bioshock series or the half life series create stories, that in my opinion, are better than reading book because you get to experience it. Even games like Call of duty increases reflexes. – My favourite video games are Deus Ex, The Witcher 2 and Half-Life 2. As someone who lives in germany, where most students don’t speak english very good. I think video games taught me a lot about english. It was the only subject I NEVER had problems with. From the first day on I was too good for my grade. – I honestly have never played one of those games, but after this article I’m definitely looking forward to them. – I don’t know, maybe about subjects, that are boring and complicated for many students, like biology and chemistry? I personally wouldn’t be able to come up with an idea, but smart people, probably would. I play a lot of RPGs mostly. They are some of my favorite games. Most RPGs give you choices, and what choices you make affects the people, and world around you. Usually the choices range from good, to neutral, to evil. This is very similar to how life really is. The choices we make, whether they are good or bad, have a bigger impact on the world around us than we may think. my favorite video games are games like Portal and Persona, games that actually require thinking while playing and not just mindless button mashing, the thing i think they’ve taught me… that no matter who you are you can always be a hero if you put your mind to it! Unfortunately not, i would love to have the chance to be able to though, i believe that video games are more than just a way to distract ourselves or have a good time, i believe that the educational value of video games are much greater than what people believe. Yes, video games are tools, whether the tool is used for entertainment or for education, it’s full potential cannot be realized unless someone steps forward and says “lets try to use it like this!” and works hard on that. I would like that many possibilities for interactive learning would open up, these interactive lessons would not only increase the amount of fun in a classroom, but also the amount of passion from students who can honestly say that the lessons spoke to them. @Alondra The correct sentence would be: I don’t like to play video games. I Would rather do something else than playing four hours of video games that do not help with my education. I have played video games for years. All to often my choices were challenged or denied by my parents. At first I couldn’t comprehend the difference or what were the deciding factors for their answer. As I’ve grown older I see know how video games have the power to shape one’s personality. Even in video games there are choices to be made, altruistic choices that can benefit another individual in the game or choices to eliminate your opponent. The choices are made in real life all to often and it’s vital that children and teenagers recognized the value or consequences of the choices even within the games. I am impressed by the idea of Games for Change. If our school were to invest in such a game perhaps one that affords students the opportunity to understand how closely connected their games choices are to real life. A game that teaches altruistic behavior and choices while still having fun. We find a significant change and positive growth in our society through future generations. The focus of the some games is to build what ever the mind can imagine. I think that games can be more than entertainment because it makes you think about things that you may have see in your life. It also could make you think of real building and structure around the world. Others games can make you think about real life world problems and make you aware that they are happening. They may also help influence what you do later in your life. Overall I think that some games can do more than just entertainment and can make you think about real things and ideas.

During LeBron James’ back-to-back championship winning tenure in Miami, rival Joakim Noah famously referred to King James and the Heat as “Hollywood as hell.” Over the summer, James fully embraced his inner producer by relocating to Los Angeles and jump-starting the Spurs-Lakers rivalry that had remained dormant since 2013. After a string of untimely backcourt injuries during the preseason, NBA pundits are predicting that San Antonio’s 21-season playoff streak is likely at its end, with James and his “Meme Team” among the squads supplanting the Spurs in the pre-season. Although neither team is projected to be hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy in June, Spurs vs. Lakers still presents some intriguing matchups. Besides, anytime Michael Beasly, JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson are on the court at the same time, expect the unexpected. $22-$398, Sat Oct. 27, 7:30pm, AT&T Center, One AT&T Center Pkwy., (210) 444-5000, attcenter.com.

Trevor Brennan was sensationally exonerated by Toulouse for his sickening attack on an Ulster fan, just as the victim was leaving an A&E department in London having been treated for a suspected fractured skull. accountant Patrick Bamford at the Stade Ernest Wallon during Sunday’s Heineken Cup match. serious injuries after being punched at least six times in the head, the incident was still causing shockwaves. contradicted by the 33-year-old second row’s uncle — speaking on Irish radio — and the French club. involved in an "altercation" with one visiting supporter who is alleged to have repeated the chant. understandable" in light of the alleged provocation. gone further by asking ERC to investigate the conduct of the Ulster fans, a move which is bound to incense the Irish province. charges but last night he appeared ready to drop the matter, saying: "It is not up to me to decide what punishment Brennan gets. It is in the hands of the ERC. But it would be nice if at the very least he apologised." bar's a load of rubbish" and I just shouted: "A below-par Irish pub, Trevor". banter. I actually put my hand out to shake his hand. "The next thing I remember was being in the Toulouse physio room where I was being treated by a French doctor."

As usual, Professor Jack Ponton (Letters, 8 July) cuts through all the smoke and mirrors erected by the renewables industries to give the facts. He points out the absurdity of the regular and monotonous claims from the wind industry that at certain times they providing enough electricity to power umpteen million homes. Until there is a research breakthrough in battery storage, wind-generated electricity will continue to be an expensive failed science which only benefits the developers and land owners. I am reminded of a former MSP who berated me on my anti-wind stance, stating that the wind produced at night was more than required during the day and was not wasted but stored in batteries. I asked her where this scientific breakthrough was located. Silence. I suspect that many of our present politicians are equally ignorant and are unaware of the risks that renewables pose to our energy security, especially with their anti-fossil fuels fixation. Do they appreciate that Longannet is due to close soon, followed by nuclear?

Touted as the world's "most human" Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant that can "read between the lines" and "understand emotional expressions", Amelia has the potential to turn India's healthcare sector into an inclusive one, believes her creator Chetan Dube, CEO of New York-headquartered AI company IPsoft. Amelia got her name from Amelia Earhart, one of the pioneering women in American history who became the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. The tech Amelia combines automation, cognitive and emotional intelligence with Machine Learning (ML) capabilities to perform as a digital colleague. When Amelia was first created, her conversational abilities sent shockwaves in the AI community, raising fears of job losses, especially in countries like India where a large number of people are employed in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. But Dube, who left a teaching job at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences 20 years ago to pursue a career in business, is unperturbed by the talk of job losses as he believes that AI would not displace as many jobs as it would help create. "We are now at the third version of Amelia, a development process that has been going on for the last 15 years, and she is the industry's most advanced, conversational AI," Dube told IANS in an email interview. "Not only does she communicate in over a 100 languages, she also has the ability to learn and improve over time which makes her the market's only AI that can fully adapt to new business requirements. She can automate any process in a business," he added. Amelia can be pre-trained to handle requests and questions related to HR, finance, IT and procurement. In fact, according to Dube, Amelia can be trained to handle almost any knowledge-based task. "She helps customers open new bank accounts, process insurance claims and register patients for hospital entry. As a whisper agent, Amelia provides her human colleagues with a personalised conversational user interface (UI)," said Dube, who thinks Amelia can do wonders in transforming India's healthcare sector. "Amelia allows patients to self-manage in scheduling doctors' appointments, tests and medicines. She can also offer condition-specific advice and well-curated health management tips. "A robust digital colleague like Amelia can free caregivers from high-volume patient needs to provide specialised care for unique or pressing concerns, while subsequently providing patients with enhanced 24/7 access to medical services," Dube explained. "AI and Amelia are vital for an inclusive and democratic healthcare sector and could have an enormous impact," he added. According to him, common AI assistants like Alexa, Cortana and Siri cannot read between the lines. They cannot understand underlying meanings or emotional expressions. Even when it comes to more advanced AI, the majority of these virtual assistants lack capabilities of contextualising information as people do, he said. "When customers or employees interact with Amelia, they don't feel they are interacting with something artificial due to her advanced empathetic abilities, capacity to switch context and channels, and intelligent responses. Amelia is the only AI on the market that offers all of these features with expert-level accuracy and emotional intelligence," Dube noted. IPsoft, Dube said, is now exploring opportunities with a number of agencies in digital health programmes, to accelerate technology adoption which will take pressure off of the human workforce while maintaining and improving services. The company, which has 16 offices in 13 countries, including one in Bengaluru, helps with the digitisation process required in an organisation to deploy Amelia and make her work. "It is a crucial part of our work to make sure our clients have the right prerequisites to implement Amelia. In fact, we have developed Amelia 'Marketplace', the first off-the-shelf AI-Marketplace for digital labour and conversational AI. "The Amelia Solutions Marketplace offers complete out-of-the-box functional roles and associated skills for Amelia across verticals such as banking, insurance and healthcare," he said. In order to train Amelia, IPsoft and its partners teach her the essential knowledge she will need to understand how a business runs. "Partners provide IPsoft with industry-specific terminology, as well as any required logic frameworks that Amelia needs to learn to develop her decision-making skills," Dube explained. India, according to Dube, is on a "straight path" of becoming a technological force to be reckoned with in the coming years. "An important part of this advancement is, of course, to invest in the right innovation and technologies that strengthen the country's already strong industries," he said.

An Aberdeen nursery has been given a positive review by inspectors. Donview Nursery, Clifton Road, was given a “good” rating, the second highest possible, by the Care Inspectorate after a recent inspection. Owner Amanda Wallace Davidson said: “The entire team do a wonderful job every day caring for the children of Donview Nursery and it’s lovely to hear the feedback from the parent and carers acknowledging this. One parent quoted in the report said: “I am extremely happy with the care provided for my child at Donview Nursery. The Care Inspectorate made just one recommendation for the nursery, calling for more work to be done on personal care plans for each child, although it was noted that staff were fully aware of the needs of each child. Donview has improved from the last inspection in July of 2017, where they were given an adequate rating.

The Progressive Conservatives brought an emergency two hour debate to the floor Wednesday to discuss the current shortage of family doctors and the decision by the new health authority to limit how many doctors can work at walk-in clinics or set up shop in the Halifax area. The McNeil government's promise to provide every family in the province with a doctor has become the major issue of the spring sitting. The opposition brought an emergency two hour debate to the floor to discuss the shortage of family doctors and the decision by the new health authority to limit how many doctors can work at walk-in clinics or set up shop in the Halifax area. The opposition says the decision flies in the face of a key Liberal election promise. "Mister Speaker, when we asked the Speaker about that promise that he made to the people of Nova Scotia that every family would have a doctor," said Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie. "When we asked him about that promise in their campaign platform he said that that was old information." "Well, Mister Speaker, Nova Scotians remember it as a promise made and now it's a promise broken." Emergency debates are not rare and they don't accomplish anything concrete except to give people a chance to talk about the issue. Alfie MacLeod, the PC MLA for Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg, was the man who called for the debate. "We have, according to the minister, 10 new doctors coming to Cape Breton ... that is only to replace 10 doctors that are already gone," said MacLeod. MacLeod said in a meeting that happened this weekend, local doctors said 15 new physicians were leaving the area. "They put in their resignations and they've been attracted to different jurisdictions. They have said they're going to retire and some have just thrown up their arms and said 'I could practice for a few more years, but you know what, the system is making it so hard I don't want to do that.'" Marian Mancini, MLA for Dartmouth South, said one of her constituents, a young woman in her 30s who moved back to Nova Scotia from Alberta more than two years ago, still can't find a family doctor. Mancini says while the woman is able to go to the walk-in clinic, it's not acceptable. "At the walk-in if she needs to get an x-ray, they'll give her the slip to get the x-ray and then do your follow-up with your family doctor. She doesn't have a family doctor," said Mancini. "This is a young person ... wondering whether it's worthwhile staying in this province that she returned to. It's her home province. And she's thinking 'I might as well go back out west because this is not quality of life.'" Liberal backbencher Terry Farrell from Cumberland North said the McNeil government intends to keep its promise to improve the health care system. "Nova Scotians chose that change resoundingly in October of 2013, they voted for that change and they chose that change, he said. "I'm pleased to say that under the premier and the minister of health, we're in the process of effecting that change. That is happening every single day of our mandate."

Mohammad Hadaf, who was struck by an Israeli missile aged six, is among more than 500 children killed in the conflict. Nine-year-old Mohammad Hadaf sustained severe injuries in an Israeli air strike during the 2014 Gaza War when he was six, leaving him paralysed, blinded, and unable to speak. He finally succumbed to his wounds on December 6, last year. "I hope nobody will ever have to experience what I did," said Saleh, Mohammad's father. "I had to feed my son through a tube. When you see your son in this kind of pain, you also feel the pain with him," he told Al Jazeera. Mohammad is among more than 500 child victims of the 51-day Israeli offensive, in which more than 2,000 Palestinians were killed. When Israel began bombarding Gaza, Saleh said he was afraid for his children because "our house was not well-built and could not survive the bombs". With his wife Nisrin and five children, the family moved to a relative's home in Khan Younis. Their home in al-Qarara was bombed by Israel a few days later. During a ceasefire, they returned to collect whatever belongings they could find. Saleh wanted to go alone, but his children and wife begged to join him. An hour after they arrived, Saleh saw smoke. Israeli forces had fired a missile in front of his home. "I saw all of them fall down to the ground," he said. Three of Saleh's young neighbours - aged eight, 15 and 19 - were on the street at the time. They were killed instantly. Saleh, Nisrin and four of their children were injured. Three-year-old Ayesh was paralysed on one side of his body. He has since healed. Five-year-old Remas sustained an injury to the skull. Mohammad was hit in the abdomen and spine, and had to be resuscitated during surgery because of a lack of oxygen to the brain. Accompanied by his aunt, the child travelled to Turkey for further treatment. Mohammad spent years rotating between hospitals and undergoing surgeries, but continued to deteriorate. He became blind and lost the ability to speak or move. The financial burden wreaked havoc. "If I were to try and explain to you all the money I spent on Mohammad's treatment - his wheelchair, medicine, special food - I wouldn't be able to finish," said Saleh. None of Gaza's political factions helped the family because they are not associated with a specific party, he claimed. "We spent everything we had on Mohammad's treatment. We have nothing left," said Saleh, who was with his son when he died. "Even though I knew how badly he was doing, and that he wouldn't last much longer, it was hard to accept his death. I loved him so much," Saleh told the B'Tselem rights group. Amit Gilutz, B'Tselem spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that "one of the most horrifying hallmarks" of Israel's assault on Gaza was its targeting of residential homes. This policy resulted in more than 1,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, being killed. They took "no part in the fighting", said Gilutz. The trauma continues to haunt the Hadaf family. "We don't even own a television in the house, because we cannot deal with seeing bad things anymore," said Saleh. Jess Ghannam, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California - San Francisco, told Al Jazeera that he has documented "many cases of severe PTSD" in Gaza following Israeli bombardment in 2012, from 2008 to 2009 and most recently in 2014. "Many Palestinians living in Gaza exposed to war develop symptoms of PTSD that include flashbacks, anxiety, and hypervigilance," he said. "They live with daily distress and the expectation that something bad will happen, and this results in fatigue and general ill health." Saleh is among those who live in constant fear, saying: "We feel like another war will break out at any moment." Ghannam said this sentiment is common among traumatised Palestinians. "Because of the occupation and siege, there are continuous reminders of war so that the healing process can never fully be realised," he said. "Palestinians in Gaza live in constant fear of another attack and do not have any chance to process events and heal. It is a constant state of psychological distress and siege." Children struggle the most, said Saleh. "They become so scared when they hear the Israeli planes above us at night. Sometimes they wake up at night crying," he said. "They are always afraid. My children are completely different than how they were before the war. Sometimes they have problems focusing. You have to ask them questions more than once in order to get an answer. "All of these memories of the war and Mohammad's suffering will stay with them for the rest of their lives. They will never be the same."

April 24 (Reuters) - Canadian stock index futures pointed to a higher open, supported by some stronger-than-expected North American corporate earnings and data from Germany that boosted hopes of a European Central Bank rate cut. * Apple Inc on Tuesday bowed to investors’ demands to share more of its $145 billion cash pile, while posting its first quarterly profit decline in more than a decade. * Barrick Gold Corp reported an 18 percent drop in first-quarter profit on lower metal prices and volumes, and cut its capital spending for this year. But Barrick shares rose in pre-market trading. * Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd reported a 53 percent rise in first-quarter profit as freight revenue rose and it improved its efficiency. * Cenovus Energy Inc reported a higher first-quarter operating profit as margins at its U.S. refineries improved. * Metro Inc more than tripled its second-quarter earnings, helped by an after-tax one-time gain of C$266.4 million related to the sale of 10 million shares of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. * MEG Energy Corp reported a first-quarter loss, compared with a profit a year earlier, after a weaker Canadian dollar and lower prices overshadowed higher production. * European shares built on their best day in seven months and oil climbed back above $101 per barrel on Wednesday after weak data bolstered expectations for a European Central Bank rate cut. * BlackBerry : The company said its new smartphone BlackBerry Q10 will be available in Canada starting May 1 through Rogers Wireless Inc, Telus Corp and Bell Mobility. * The Bank of Nova Scotia : Colombian financial group Sura and Bank of Nova Scotia said on Tuesday they bought the Peruvian pension fund BBVA Horizonte for a total of $516 million. * CRH Medical Corp : Bloom Burton cuts to hold from buy, believes although the company’s first-quarter earnings came in line with expectations, the balance sheet is not sufficient to acquire any other products that could meaningfully add to its top line although management has indicated it continues to scan the environment for possible acquisitions. * Encana Corp : Canaccord Genuity cuts price target by $1 to $20.50, says the company’s new hedges in 2014 have further removed its torque to any additional potential natural gas price strength. * Teck Resources Ltd : RBC cuts target price to C$38 from C$42 as the company noted that at current prices higher cost and lower quality mines are coming under pressure, and that the market has already seen production cut by approximately 30 million tonnes.

It’s immediately clear that Parquet Courts aren’t done now, not by a long chalk. Based in Brooklyn, Savage and his bandmates – guitarist and fellow songwriter Austin Brown, bassist Sean Yeaton and Savage’s younger brother Max on drums – have been releasing excellent punk-rock records defined by venom, groove and lyrics that make you wish you read more books since their 2011 debut ‘American Specialties’. If 2012’s ‘Light Up Gold’ woke the world up to a group that many touted as the latest answer to The Strokes, ‘Wide Awake!’ is an indelible underlining of their status as one of the most important bands in the world right now. Before we continue, a mildly surprising fact: this record was produced by 19-time Grammy nominee Danger Mouse, whose CV includes The Black Keys, A$AP Rocky, Norah Jones. Far from softening Parquet Courts’ edges, he has enhanced everything that makes the quartet great – sound, imagination, style. The Beastie Boys, Black Flag and Talking Heads are all here in spirit. ‘Violence’ is the first standout, a mazy, bassy call to arms. Like many of Parquet Courts’ best songs, it functions as an alarm clock, a cattle prod. “Violence is daily life,” they chant, Savage considering the “pornographic spectacle of black death” that is the human condition. But the frontman is there for the listener too, offering us his hand as he spits, “Savage is my name because Savage is how I feel… My name belongs to us all… My name is a threat”. This band have long articulated the inertia of acclimatising to adult life, and ‘In And Out Of Patience’ – a classic Parquet number – does so almost flippantly. “I’m neither here nor there,” muses Savage. It’s there again on the breakneck ‘Extinction’, Savage poking fun at his daily existence (“I’m trying not to turn into a psychopath”) over impatient guitars. Austin Brown’s contributions (‘Mardi Gras Beads’’ dreamy textures, the spacey, desperate ‘Back To Earth’, maudlin jam ‘Death Will Bring Change’) take their time with their introspection, but cut just as hard. By the time the record spins through the pepped-up ‘Freebird II’, the irresistible carnival feel of the title-track and the piano-driven stomp of closer ‘Tenderness’, you’re left winded by its brilliance. Parquet Courts are a magical band that make you feel everything all at once: youth, nostalgia, happiness, desolation, flying high, running low. The record’s last line, then, is fitting, Savage calling for “the fix of a little tenderness”. But where would the thrill be in that?

The controversial $3 billion corporate tax initiative Measure 97 went down in defeat, according to partial election returns Tuesday night. Measure 97 was failing 58 percent to 42 percent as of 9:50 p.m. The defeat follows a hard-fought campaign that broke Oregon's spending record for ballot initiatives and pitted business interests against the state's largest public employee unions. Measure 97 would charge certain C corporations a 2.5 percent tax on their gross annual sales in Oregon above $25 million. The measure called for the state to spend the new revenue on education, health care and senior services. Supporters of Measure 97 were still figuring out how to respond Tuesday night. Ben Unger, executive director of the union-affiliated group Our Oregon which backed the measure, suggested a different tax proposal might have fared better with voters. "Clearly, we learned the tonight that the details weren't right," Unger said. However, when a reporter asked if the tax rate proposed in Measure 97 was too high, Unger said "I would be surprised if you talked to very many voters that found that that was the problem." Pat McCormick, a spokesman for the campaign to defeat the tax, said Measure 97 "fell of its own weight when people understood what it would do" and now it's up to state officials to come up with proposals to balance the state budget. "The business community does have members that are very much committed to finding routes to go forward," McCormick said. State economists in the nonpartisan Legislative Revenue Office estimated the tax would raise at least $6 billion for every two-year spending cycle, a 33 percent increase in tax revenue going to the state's current $18 billion general fund budget. That would have been the largest tax increase in Oregon's history, at least by dollar amount, according to Legislative Revenue Officer Paul Warner. Those potential tax hits -- and the promise of new revenue for government services -- spurred businesses and public employee unions to the highest level of campaign spending in Oregon history. As of Friday, opponents reported raising $25.9 million, while supporters reported $16.4 million. The previous record for the costliest Oregon campaign was set in 2014, when opponents of a measure to label genetically modified foods spent nearly $21 million with supporters spending $8 million. Measure 97 started out with 60 percent support in a poll taken a year ago. A poll in September found the same level of support. But by mid-October it had eroded down to 46 percent and by the end of the month only 40 percent of respondents to one poll said they'd vote for it. The central debate throughout the campaign was whether corporations or consumers would end up paying the cost of the tax -- and how much. A study by economists in the Legislative Revenue Office found businesses would pass on part of the tax in the form of higher prices, and a typical Oregon family might wind up paying $600 a year. Grocery stores and other low-margin businesses said they would be forced to raise prices, because the 2.5 percent tax would obliterate their slim profit margins. Supporters of the measure said no economic modeling -- including in a study they funded, by Portland State University economists -- could accurately estimate the impact of the measure. The backers argued it was too different from gross receipts taxes in other states. And they offered state-by-state shopping comparisons to show that different tax rates didn't result in different prices. But Measure 97 opponents also pointed to a written opinion from a lawyer for the Legislature that said lawmakers could spend the revenue as they wanted simply by passing budget bills, despite language in the measure calling for the money to be spent on early childhood and K-12 education, health care and services for seniors. Gov. Kate Brown, lawmakers, public employee unions and the business community now face the challenge of coming together after the bruising battle to address the state's ongoing challenges. Voters' rejection of Measure 97 means the governor and lawmakers must now pass a tax increase, budget cuts or some combination to fill a projected $1.35 billion budget shortfall in the next two-year budget. That estimate was based on the amount of money needed to preserve existing services and programs.

Hands-on with a transparent 3D TV Jump to media player Chinese electronics firm HiSense shows off a transparent television at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Online plants a growth area? Jump to media player Theodore Sean goes through Parrot's Flower Power app, a program and tool that lets gardeners put their plants online. NY fireman introduces 'life saver' app Jump to media player Charismatic former New York fireman Billy O'Connor tells the BBC why he think his company's mobile protection app is vital to stay safe. Will.i.am 'excited by what's not there' Jump to media player Musician-turned-tech entrepreneur will.i.am talks to the BBC about what excites him at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Can 'goo' protect your phone? Jump to media player A firm showcases a "goo-like" material for protecting mobile devices at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Chinese electronics firm HiSense is occupying the space at CES normally reserved for Microsoft. The company is making the most of the Windows-maker's absence by displaying its wares - including this transparent 3D television. The company says it could potentially be used by museums and other attractions to create exciting displays that combine real objects - such as artefacts - with 3D imaging. Hisense spokesman Payton Tyrell said the screen was still a prototype. Go to next video: Online plants a growth area?

USC announced Thursday it would appeal NCAA sanctions it considers "excessive." And even before those plans became official, Trojans football coaches were calling recruits and getting out the message that the penalties could be reduced. "They're trying to appeal it and at least cut it in half," said incoming freshman Giovanni Di Poalo, an offensive lineman from Ventura St. Bonaventure High who said he spoke to Trojans line coach James Cregg. However, if recent history is any indication, Trojans players and fans shouldn't get their hopes up. Since a key change to an NCAA bylaw was made in January 2008, only one in 11 appeals has been successful. The change: An appeal will be granted only if the offended party shows "the penalty is excessive such that it constitutes an abuse of discretion" by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. Before, an appeal could be won if, upon review, it was determined that a penalty was inappropriate based on the evidence and circumstances. "It's a tougher standard to meet," said Mike Glazier, the head of Collegiate Sports Practice group at the Kansas office of Bond, Schoeneck & King, who for 20 years has been working with universities during the NCAA investigation process. "It was changed for that purpose — to make it harder to be successful on appeal." USC officials were not commenting specifically about their appeal plans Thursday, but the university released a letter from school President Steven B. Sample addressed to "Members of the Trojan Family," and in it he said he "sharply" disagreed "with many of the conclusions reached by the NCAA Committee on Infractions." Among those conclusions was that USC knew or should have known that star running back Reggie Bush and members of his family were receiving extra benefits from would-be marketers and prospective sports agents in violation of NCAA rules. As a result, the Trojans' football program was hit hard — too hard, the university feels — with penalties including 14 vacated victories, a two-year ban from participating in bowl games and a loss of 30 scholarships. "…monitoring and regulating human behavior is complex at best," Sample's letter continued. "…In this environment, we need to make sure that we are doing everything we can…to protect our students, their families — and ultimately the university — from unscrupulous sports agents and others who seek to exploit our elite student-athletes or their families." USC's stance is that violations with Bush took place — but they had no way of knowing about them. Bush has denied wrongdoing from the time allegations surfaced years ago. Glazier said such an appeal would be "a pretty big uphill battle." He added: "Just to be successful on appeal because you claim the penalties are too harsh, your chances are not very good." Michael Buckner, a Florida-based attorney and private investigator who has worked on NCAA cases, agreed that "most of the penalties" would be upheld. However, he said the loss of 10 scholarships a year "might be excessive," noting that the NCAA usually reduces scholarships at the rate of two for every one ineligible player. Buckner, a USC alumnus, said it appeared to him the infractions committee "did what they should have done and imposed the appropriate penalties" considering USC's status as a repeat offender that was failing to properly monitor its athletes. Buckner's firm represented Alabama State — the only school to be successful with an appeal since the bylaw was changed. That change was prompted, experts say, by a string of successful appeals that overturned certain aspects of sanctions against Oklahoma (2008), Ohio State (2007), Georgia (2005), Georgia Tech (2004) and Michigan (2003). NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said the bylaw change was "part of the normal legislative process to constantly be evaluating what is happening in our structure and what's being addressed and what's being successful." Alabama State had its penalty of five years probation for widespread academic fraud shortened to three years in 2009 after Buckner's firm asked the appeals committee to consider how federal and state courts had defined "abuse of discretion." Not based on a correct legal standard or was based on a misapprehension of the underlying legal principles. Based on a clearly erroneous factual finding. Failed to consider and weigh material factors. Based on a clear error of judgment, such that the imposition was arbitrary, capricious or irrational. Based in significant part on one or more irrelevant or improper factors. That the NCAA would toughen rules on appeals came as no surprise to its membership. "It's like anything," said Brian Battle, the compliance director at Florida State, which had an appeal denied in January. "Any time somebody wins something, they'll say, 'Where did we … do something that caused this separate group of people to overturn the decision?" Times staff writers Mike Hiserman and Eric Sondheimer contributed to this report.

Franklin police arrested a gunman Friday morning after he sequestered himself inside a home and refused to come out. Police said Martin Zaragoza, 22, was on the run after he fired several shots outside a home on Granville Road during a domestic dispute. Zaragoza fled prior to officers arriving. Officers searching for Zaragoza determined he was inside his West Meade Boulevard home and requested SWAT support after he refused to surrender. The gun Zaragoza is suspected of firing was located inside his home. Several residents in Franklin Estates have been allowed back in their homes after they had to evacuate while police worked to place Zaragoza into custody. Zaragoza was taken safely into custody. Authorities charged him with reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault and violation of an order of protection.