Escape Artists offers up a global discourse ranging from great finds close to home to adventures far afield. You'll find weekly travel deals here, too. Share your road wisdom, rave about great finds and rant about roadblocks that get in the way of a great trip.
Contributor: Travel editor Kerri Westenberg.
Email us with tips and questions.
An analysis of airline fees by Travelnerd, a website that offers airport parking info, terminal maps, airport shuttle directories and other ways to ease traveler's airport navigation, found that more than 50 airline fees changes in the last year. Of the fee changes, 36 out of the 52 were direct fee increases. Eighteen out the 52 fee changes were attributed to Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air, "ultra low cost carriers notorious for charging fees" according to the report.
According to the online report: "These changes have had a tremendous impact on U.S. travelers, especially on families. Travelers really have to be extra cautious when booking a flight. U.S. carriers are becoming creative at charging consumers extra fees,” says Alicia Jao, VP Travel Media at TravelNerd. “A new trend that we’re currently seeing is carriers bundling and tiering services. This practice is not only more confusing for travelers, but it also complicates price comparison. Even airlines that have touted fewer fees are joining the game, indicating only more fees in 2013."
Fees are becoming an increasingly heated topic among travelers, and online sites are trying their best to keep track. Airfarewatchdog.com is one of them. Go here to download a PDF of "every airline fee you'd want to know about."
I have a whopping 230,000 miles accrued on my Delta account. That's not because I'm an exceptional jet-setter. It is because I deeply dread the frustration that attends most attempts to use the miles. As a result, I tend to let them grow ever larger with each trip to Target paid for with my Delta-branded American Express card. I determined to change that over the weekend. It was time my miles worked for me! I wanted to use them not to garner a free flight, but to land me in cushy first-class for the uncomfortably long flights to and from Maui. Seeking an upgrade 10 months ahead seemed a slam-dunk. Not so, fellow travelers. I wound up spending nearly two hours on the phone during two separate conversations with very kind and enthusiastic Delta personnel (thank you Tracy and Tanner) over the weekend. And after all that time, I'm still not the proud holder of a reservation in the posh front of the plane.
Because many of the upgrade seats were taken, Tracy and I determined a few things after much noddling and wrangling: We would fly to L.A. one day and take the morning fligh to Maui the next morning. (Upgrades for the afternoon flight to Maui had already been nabbed.) Two of the people in my party would be able to use upgrades; the third in my party was going on miles alone. (The airline holds a certain number of seats for upgrade, seperate from those for award travel). Breaking up the flight seemed appealing, especially since it would give us a day in our old stomping grounds of Santa Monica. Tracy held the reservation to allow me time to chat with the others in my party before officially booking.
Oh what a difference a few hours makes. By the time I phoned back, the upgrades on the red-eye flight out of Maui were no longer available. Turns out that Tracy could hold the seats, but not the upgrades. In the intervening time, someone else got them. My next Delta pal, Tanner, couldn't do much except suggest I return two days later. That timing didn't work, so I just passed, and then nearly passed out, exhausted.
My take-away was not a round-trip, first-class tickets to Maui. It was this: A reminder in how to use your miles. If you want to book a reward ticket or an upgrade, do it as soon as possible. And if you want to go to such popular destinations as Hawaiiduring the holiday season, book the first day a flight is available from the airlines. That, generally speaking, is 330 days out. Today, 2/13/2012, I could book a flight that returns from Maui 1/10/2012, for instance (both the flight to and the return need to be bookable, of course). Those rewards go quickly.
The experience left me both amazed at the nice Delta people who tried so hard to help--and a little sad. But not too sad because, really, to be able to plan a family trip to Hawaii is pretty first-class, no matter how we get there.
I love it when a destination exceeds expectations, especially when they are already exceedingly high.
I always try not to get my hopes up too much, but that proved to be not a problem at Powell's Books in Portland, Ore. What a soulful stroll: room after room, floor after floor, beautifully organized but with a rambling, ramshackle feel that fits like a great pair of shoes.
Powell's is the world's largest independent used and new bookstore, filling a city block and spread across four floors (1.6 acres, but who's counting).
It's certainly a place where even a non-bookish person could while away an hour or two; avid readers will want to "book" (sorry) the better part of a day. Indeed, Powell's is a perfect fit for a city that requires a lot of rainy-day endeavors.
Moseying through its countless rooms felt a lot like strolling around Venice: It's easy to feel like you're getting lost, but you're never really far from a touchstone, or at least a sign pointing to it. The rooms are color-coded, and it's no problem finding a staffer to help with directions.
There are boatloads of discounted books (the new and used volumes are intermingled), and a more than decent chance of finding that work that you loaned to someone years ago and wish you had gotten back.
If time allows, don't miss the third-floor Rare Book Room, where mahogany shelves lend an old-world air to a place that, even without that eminently tasteful space, feels like just about the most civilized spot on the planet.
Megabus.com, the express bus service made famous by its bargain-basement fares, doubled the number of trips between the Twin Cities and Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago today. The company now offers eight daily trips between Minneapolis and Chicago, four trips between Minneapolis and Madison and four trips between Minneapolis and Milwaukee.
Megabus.com one-way ticket prices begin at $1; that fare requires traveling midweek and booking online and well in advance of travel. The company's ticket prices fluctuate according to demand, so booking earlier, when fewer seats have been sold, garners the best deals. Typical one-way fares range from $10 to $30. There is a $3 service fee for tickets purchased by phone; most travelers book online at Megabus.com. The buses offer reclining seats and lavatories.
All trips depart Minneapolis from the megabus.com bus stop located in the parking lot on the east side of Chicago Ave. between South 3rd St. and S. Washington Ave, near the Downtown East / Metrodome Light Rail Metro Transit Station. Buses arrive in Chicago on a street adjacent to Union Station.
A reader asks: can an American get a credit card from a European bank, which would contain the special chip that allows them to be used in ticket machines and other outlets in Europe?
My answer: Probably, but you don’t need to if you’re simply interested in getting a card with chip technology rather than a card issued by a European bank.
A bit of context for people unfamiliar with the technology: American credit cards use a magnetic strip to exchange information during a financial transaction. In European and other countries, card issuers have turned to EMV chip technology (named for Europay, MasterCard and Visa). Where people are handling the charge, American credit cards often work. Not so at unmanned kiosks, such as those at train stations and gas pumps.
According to Greg McBride of bankrate.com, getting a card from a European bank isn’t impossible, though “banks are understandably reluctant to lend money on an unsecured basis to borrowers in a foreign jurisdiction.” It’s likely you could get one after opening a deposit account with that bank.
Fortunately, you likely don’t need to go through the hassle of opening an account overseas. “Chase has recently rolled out chip-and-pin technology,” McBride said, “and other large national and regional banks will most certainly follow suit.”
Wells Fargo, the largest bank in Minnesota, is one of them. Eric Schindewolf, vice president of product development at Wells Fargo, said the bank is rolling out a pilot program this summer with 15,000 customers who are frequent international travelers. “The pilot program is about understanding what it means to do a smart card program, how will customers use the product, what questions will they have.” The card will have both a magnetic strip and a chip for use here and overseas. Schindewolf said he didn’t know when or if such a card would go into production. Though this might be hard to accept for avid overseas travelers, the company has already identified the customers who will be part of the pilot program.
If you can’t track down a card with a chip through Chase or another bank, there is another option. Travelex, which used to issue traveler’s checks, now offers prepaid currency cards with chip-and-pin technology which you can use just like a debit card.
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Kyle Shanahan: I’ve heard of no trade talks involving Jimmy Garoppolo
It’s been two weeks since the 49ers made it clear that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo won’t be on the team this season, but that he will remain technically on the roster for now, while they hope to finagle some/any trade value for him.
Coach Kyle Shanahan was asked on Tuesday whether there’s any current trade interest in the man who took the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV and nearly to Super Bowl LVI.
“I believe that goes on with his agents, but none that I hear of,” Shanahan told reporters.
He aded that he’s heard of no offers for Garoppolo, either.
This means that any interested team is biding its time, knowing Garoppolo eventually will be cut. And that the 49ers haven’t cut him because circumstances will change, quickly and dramatically, if a starter with another team gets injured.
(Or, frankly, if San Francisco’s starter gets injured.)
For now, Garoppolo continues to come and go as he pleases. He’s on board with the strategy, because if a starter goes down elsewhere (or in San Francisco) he becomes far more likely to make something far closer than the $24.2 million salary that he’ll lose once he’s cut.
Even though the rosters reduce to 53 three weeks from today, his salary doesn’t become guaranteed, as a practical matter, until September 10. We’ll see whether the 49ers carry him for an extra 12 days, as they continue to wait and hope that a starting quarterback goes down -- and that the market for Garoppolo goes up.
Currently, it has nowhere to go but up.


LEFT COAST WRITERS LITERARY SALON: Brooke Warner, author of Green-Light Your Book: How Writers Can Succeed in the New Era of Publishing, writing coach, and publishing expert
Writers, we think this is the perfect way to kick of the year.
Join us for the first LCW salon of 2017 and an evening with talented editor, coach and publishing expert, Brooke Warner, author of Green Light Your Book: How Writers Can Succeed in the New Era of Publishing. Green-Light Your Book is a straight-shooting guide to a changing industry. Written for aspiring authors, previously published authors, and independent publishers, it explains the ever-shifting publishing landscape and helps indie authors understand that they’re up against the status quo, and how to work within the system but also how to subvert the system in order to succeed.
Publishing expert and independent publisher Brooke Warner is fearless in her critique of an industry that’s lost its mandate, and in so doing has opened the door wide for indie publishers to thrive. While she does not shy away (more…)


New Haven Independent |
While celebrating his birthday on his Westville Manor front steps with his two granddaughters, Jose Valentin shared his perspectives of gun violence in New Haven with a group of 15 adults walking the neighborhood to talk to residents about stopping the violence.
Valentin works at a barbershop in the Hill. He agreed that all violence, especially gun violence, needs to stop.
Valentin said he sometimes deals with angry and violent youth at his barbershop. “These kids think ignorance is a joke,” he said.
To see the article in the New Haven Independent, click here.


I want to share with you today about an upcoming webcast I’m going to be participating in! 2009 will be a year that Hearts at Home will test the waters with some webcasting so we can provide encouragement to moms year-round and reach women all over the world.
When I was asked to be a part of this webcast being produced by a brand new resource called WebTV4Women, I knew I wanted to give it a try. I’ll admit that recording my message in front of a video camera was quite different than speaking to a live audience, but I’m excited about the possibilities!
This Christmas webcast is a free event and I want to invite you to join in on the fun! Every day for 12 days you’ll receive an email link to watch a 5-15 minute video from the speaker of the day. On December 9, you’ll have the option of joining in on a live, interactive webcast that will top off the 12 days of encouragement that will prepare your heart for Christmas. Not only that, but anyone who registers also receives a free downloadable Holiday Organizer!
Click on the graphic below to register for this free seminar today!
Want regular encouragement?
Subscribe to get Jill's latest content by email.


Wholesale prices-based inflation rate rose to a ten-month high of 5.02 per cent for the week ended February 23, as food and some manufactured products turned costly.
Inflation rate for the previous week was at 4.89 per cent and was last above five per cent on May 19, 2007 (5.06 per cent).
The Wholesale Price Index-based inflation rate stood at 6.20 per cent in the corresponding week a year ago.
During the week under review, prices of fish marine, mutton, fruits, vegetables and milk went up, while the rates of arhar and moong declined. However, the index for fuel, power, light and lubricants remained unchanged. The government had raised petrol and diesel prices on February 14.
Among manufactured products imported edible oil, vanaspati, coconut oil, mustered oil, got expensive.


Kansas City, MO (July 20, 2023)- Two children and an adult were hospitalized in a Kansas City hit-and-run on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Police arrived at the 57th Street and Olive Street injury crash at 9:35 p.m.
Police said a northbound Toyota Camry hit a Mongoose BMX bicycle on Olive Street.
A six-year-old, a nine-year-old, and an 18-year-old were on the bike when it crashed.
The driver fled after the collision, but alert neighbors caught and detained him until the police arrived.
The nine- and 18-year-old brothers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the six-year-old was in critical condition.
Law enforcement is investigating the hit-and-run to hold the perpetrators accountable.


The San Francisco History Center's S.F. Punk Archive presents a free four-part film series that takes you from the chaos of contemporaneous footage to recent documentaries striving to illuminate a hidden history.
Ten short years after the ultimately disenchanting Summer of Love, San Francisco harbored a new counterculture united around unrepressed outrage and the rejection of hypocrisy. Punk erupted from the city's dark cellars and dingy underage clubs but was snubbed by local press and radio. Self-made zines, handbills, Super-8 film, vinyl and video became the instruments for recording and disseminating this explosive movement.
Join us for an entertaining and illuminating exploration of the birth of San Francisco's original punk underground.
Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the program which will begin at 6 pm. The auditorium will open at 5:30.
Punk documentary: Buried In The MixWednesday, January 10, 2018, 6 pm, Main Library, Koret Auditorium.Buried In The Mix combines an intimate portrait of 4 denizens of the early days of the fabulous Mabuhay Gardens (Mia Simmans of Frightwig, Bob Clic of The Lewd, Fritz Fox of Mutants, and Patrick O'Neil, Dead Kennedys roadie and author) with spoken word accounts, by such punk pioneers as Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys, Guantanamo School of Medicine), Penelope Houston and Greg Ingraham (Avengers), Ted Falconi (Flipper), V. Vale (RE/Search), the photography of Bobby Castro, Ruby Ray, Sue Brisk and many other bands and artists to create a collage of stories that reveal a glimpse of the San Francisco punk movement in its raw, raging glory.This work-in-progress screening also incorporates historic video of performances from the deep dark past as well as the recent SF Punk Homecoming and Punk Renaissance reunion shows in 2013 and 2015 alongside contemporary interview footage, highlighting the do-it-yourself attitude and inspired rebellion of early punk, rebellion that is needed today more than ever.Followed by a Q & A with filmmaker Timothy Crandle.
Photo credit: Rachel Thoele of Frightwig, SF Punk Renaissance, Verdi Club, 2015, by Laura Ming Wong.
Watch the trailer.


pic from jeaniuss.blogspot.com"Is Grace Jones too easy?" Jean Paul-Paula answered when asked who his style icon is in a New York Times TMagazine interview last year. Jean is a Netherlands based blogger, model, stylist and magazine editor and he oozes androgyny.
He came to my attention through the abovementioned interview, which also featured Bryan Boy and Yu Masui, a London based fashion writer. These boys are androgyny defined.
Check out Jean Paul-Paula's blog Jeaniuss for frequent updates on his escapades and photo shoots.


There are many good reasons to undertake corporate tax reform this year. Politicians from both sides of the aisle have declared support for cutting the headline corporate tax rate and recouping the lost revenue through a broadening of the tax base. President Obama’s budget for fiscal year 2016 calls for a cut in the corporate tax rate from 35 to 28 percent (with a special rate of 25 percent for manufacturing). Former Ways and Means Chairman David Camp’s tax reform proposal from last year called for a cut in the rate to 25 percent. The recent Rubio-Lee proposal would similarly cut the rate to 25 percent. There is even speculation that Paul Ryan and President Obama may be working on a deal to cut headline rates this year. Here’s why we need to get this done.


By Bryanna Fissori
A failed drug test leading to the cancellation of the Championship bout of Guillermo Jones vs. Denis Lebedev, scheduled to take place April 26 in Moscow, Russia has led to a $2.4 million lawsuit filled against promoter Don King.
Drug testing athletes prior to competition serves a number of purposes, but in the vast majority of cases, results are not available until after the competition. The typical scenario in the case of combat sports is that weeks post-event a fighter will be notified that he tested positive. This news is commonly followed by a brief uproar, which may or may not include a deduction or retraction of the fighter’s purse as well as a victory or title depending on the situation.
In March of 2013, boxers Lamont Peterson and Amir Khan were slated to fight in June, when Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone causing cancellation of the fight. The difference in this situation was that the pre-fight testing was far enough out that a replacement opponent could be found, thus mitigating any financial loss. The test for Jones reportedly took place four days prior to the scheduled Russia bout.
The law suit filed against King is unique in that his fighter Guillermo Jones, the former WBA cruiserweight champ, had to pull out of the fight last minute (literally hours before) due to the results of a failed drug test. The substance found was furosemide, which also goes by the names “Lasix” or “Salix” amongst others. It is used for weight loss and specifically water loss. The drug is commonly used by heart and kidney failure patients to treat excess water retention. It can also be used to mask other steroids. The testing was done by Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses (LAD) and the WBA refused to sanction the fight because of the substance.
The bout was to be a rematch after Jones knocked out Lebedev in the 11th round last May, though he was striped of the title because at that time his post fight results found him positive for the same substance. Why he was under the assumption he would not get caught again doing exactly the same thing, or why he hasn’t figured out a better way to cut weight is information BoxingInsider.com has not obtained.
The cause of action for the lawsuit is breach of contract, which was brought forth by Lebedev and the Russian promotion World of Boxing LLC. The case was filed in Manhattan Federal Court because the parties have diversity jurisdiction. The plaintiffs are asking to recover the funds used to orchestrate the bout including $800,000 that was deposited directly into King’s account in order to secure Jones.
A breach of contract occurs when a binding agreement is not fulfilled. The contract should contain the responsibilities of each party and if those obligations are not met legal action is typically available to obtain a remedy. In some cases, contracts may lay out the repercussions for a breach, such as what is to happen if the event is cancelled due to the fault of one party. In this case either there is not express stipulation set forth in the contract or King is refusing to abide by it.
In similar cases of cancelled events courts have often found for the non-breaching party (Zons P.R. v Rick Ross 2012, Click Entertainment v JYP Entertainment “Rain” 2009).
Judging by statements King made to the media upon return to the United States, he will likely contest the legality of the test administered. King has contended that WBA officials were not present and that he did not receive a copy of the results s promised. If the test results are thrown out and considered in-admissible it could potentially change the amount of liability King is facing for the cancelled bout and justify a counter claim for negligence on the part of the promotion and testing officials.
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It was a relatively short trip, but the 30-minute drive to Junction City was still enough to change the routine of the Manhattan High baseball team on Tuesday.
After a slow start in Game 1, the Indians finally got the offense going, turning a one-run deficit into a 6-3 win before getting the run-rule victory in the nightcap, 12-2.
MHS head coach Don Hess said the team still has to get better at being ready to play from the first pitch of its games.
“Sometimes when you go on the road, you get off the bus and you’re out of your routine,” he said. “We talk all the time about being ready to hit from the first pitch, and it seems sometimes that it takes us one time through the order before we’re comfortable.
“We weren’t taking good swings at the ball, and once we did start doing that and putting some pressure on the defense, things worked out for us.”
With four games this week, Hess turned to Jacob Biller to pitch against the Blue Jays. The senior responded well, going 6 1/3 innings and striking out eight while allowing just two runs to get the win.
“He had kind of a slow, rougher first inning, but Jake went out there and did a really nice job,” Hess said. “He kept us in the ballgame until our bats woke up.”
After seeing Junction City retake the lead on a solo home run by Trae McDaniel in the bottom of the fourth, MHS put up four runs in the top of the fifth with the help of a struggling Junction City defense that committed five errors in the game.
With two outs, the Indians reached on a dropped third strike, then again on an error by the shortstop, with both runners moving up on a passed ball. Garrett Francis reached base on another error by the shortstop to score a run, before a second passed ball allowed another run to score.
Jonah Webber and Jacob Biller each came up with RBI singles to cap the rally and give Manhattan a 5-3 lead.
The Indians got an extra run in the sixth with Mike Leeper driving in Kellen Myers with a triple.
Junction City got a small rally going in the seventh inning, but Jesse Steinbring came on in relief of Biller and got the final two outs.
In Game 2, offense came easy from the start, as Manhattan put up five runs in the top of the first to set the tone while scoring in every inning except the fifth in the run-rule victory.
Ethan Fabrizius got the start for MHS and pitched four innings while allowing only one earned run. Evan Olson pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief before Connor Brown got the last out.
“Sometimes the innings for the pitchers have been tough to come by, but they all three went in and did a really nice job for us,” Hess said. “And it’s going to take all of the pitchers on our staff for us to achieve the things we want.”
Offensively, MHS got 11 hits, including three extra-base hits, in the win. Fehr, Leeper, A.J. Epperson and Tyler Wohler all had two-hit games, while Fehr and Webber each had two RBIs.
“I think that’s the first time we’ve scored 10 runs in a game this year,” Hess said. “We had some guys whose bats came alive, and we had some extra base hits too, which is nice to see… Hopefully we’re making strides in that area.”
Manhattan hosts Topeka West on Friday at Norvell Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.


Scientists conducted a study between genders and found girls are more likely to suffer from depressive episodes, whereas video games could boost the mental health of young boys
Source link : http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/daily-star-latest-news/~3/MNvh04klumY/lazy-video-game-addicted-boys-23527583
Author : [email protected] (Tom Campbell, Unzela Khan)
Publish date : 2021-02-19 02:55:23
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.


4 Bizarre, Overlooked Details From The Matt Gaetz Allegations
It has been quite the week for Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has found himself in the hot seat after the New York Times published an explosive new report alleging the lawmaker “is being investigated by the Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him.” As apparently “a variety of federal statutes make it illegal to induce someone under 18 to travel over state lines to engage in sex in exchange for money or something of value," officials are reportedly looking into whether the representative broke any trafficking laws when allegedly traveling with the girl in 2019. According to a later report from the publication, the probe is also purported to be looking into Gaetz's “involvement with multiple women who were recruited online for sex and received cash payments.”
As the Rep. denies these allegations, telling the Daily Beast that “The last time I had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, I was 17," he explained to Fox News anchor, Tucker Carlson that the New York Times story was a “planted leak,” claiming that he and his family are being shaken down for $25 million in an act of what the politician says is "organized criminal extortion." During his appearance on Fox, Gaetz explained that someone texted his father “demanding a meeting wherein a person demanded $25 million in exchange for making horrible sex trafficking allegations against me go away.”
With the story becoming more complicated by the minute, keeping up with Gaetzgate's infinite twists and turns is not a task for the faint of heart. From the strange item reportedly found sitting atop a trash bin outside of Gaetz's office, and some of the lawmaker's very unfortunate resurfaced tweets, here at 4 bizarre details you may have missed about Gaetzgate.
1. Gaetz was the only member of Congress to vote against an anti-human trafficking bill in 2017.
In a political move that has aged like a fine glass of milk on a hot summer day, Insider notes that the Republican lawmaker was the only Congressional opponent to the bi-partisan “The Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act" of 2017. Created with the intention of assigning a "designated a trafficking prevention coordinator at the Department of Transportation and created a committee to develop best practices for states and transportation stakeholders to combat human trafficking," according to the publication, the bill was ultimately passed and signed into law by then-President Trump in January 2018.
Although both sides of the aisle seemingly worked together to bring the important act into law, Gaetz was reportedly a single congressional naysayer, the lone vote against the bill that ultimately passed 418 - 1.
2. Gaetz reportedly has a reputation for partying hard – and being kind of a loner.
According to the New York Times, in 2019 and 2020, Rep. Gaetz and his associate Joel Greenburg, a former tax collector that was indicted on several felony charges last year, including one for federal sex trafficking, reportedly partied hard together, allegedly offering women money to meet with them at hotels. “Some of the men and women took ecstasy, an illegal mood-altering drug, before having sex, including Mr. Gaetz, two people familiar with the encounters said,” the newspaper reported. “In some cases, Mr. Gaetz asked women to help find others who might be interested in having sex with him and his friends, according to two people familiar with those conversations. Should anyone inquire about their relationships, one person said, Mr. Gaetz told the women to say that he had paid for hotel rooms and dinners as part of their dates.”
Despite these wild stories, when it comes to his time in politics, the representative generally keeps to himself, according to the Daily Beast. “I don’t really socialize with my colleagues,” he said in a 2019 BuzzFeed News write-up centering around what some have called his “workaholic” tendencies, apparently in response to missing a West Virginia Republican retreat. However, it seems Gaetz should have considered attending the retreat after all — according to the article, members of the Republican party generally aren't big Gaetz fans. “I don’t think a lot of people are going to go out of their way to defend him, especially with this outlandish-sounding defense,” a GOP staffer explained to the Daily Beast. “I don’t think you’ll find a lot of people who are desperate to keep him involved in Republican politics,” they continued, with a separate “republican operative” noting that the party "doesn’t like him very much."
Even so, Gaetz still reportedly still showed his congressional colleagues images and videos of naked women he says he had sex with, including one clip allegedly depicting a nude woman hula hooping, CNN reported Thursday, with one source noting that “it was a point of pride” for the lawmaker.
3. A strange item has reportedly been spotted in the trash bin outside of the Rep's office.
Considering this scrutiny, it seems Gaetz may have been relatively haphazard when it comes to cleaning up after himself. “A Hill source sent The Daily Beast a photo of a trash bin outside Gaetz's office as lawmakers cleared out their offices at the end of a recent session," the Daily Beast wrote in the same article. "At the top of the heap was an empty Costco-size box of ‘Bareskin’ Trojan condoms."
4. A few extremely unfortunate tweets have come to light in the aftermath of Gaetzgate.
Amid the allegations, several internet sleuths have taken to Twitter in an attempt to answer the age-old question of “how could we have predicted this mess?" in their noble pursuits, several posts have made the rounds once again, their meanings skewed in the broader context of the reports. First up? the tweet behind the entire scandal's nickname. Just last week, 'Space Karen' Elon Musk took to Twitter to share a message for his 50 million followers and apparently the press corps, requesting a highly-specific (and quintessentially Musk) nickname for any future controversies involving him – none other than "Elongate"
In a glorious act of cosmic foreshadowing, Gaetz snapped quipped back making a similar, likely unwitting request for his impending scandal. “Deal. I want Gaetzgate,” he wrote.
Yet the lawmaker's interaction with the SpaceX CEO is far from the most alarming posts unearthed amid the scandal. In what could easily be one of the most retroactively unfortunate posts to ever grace the Twittersphere. In a reply to pop star Bebe Rexha's 2019 assertion that “there’s no age that you can’t be be sexy,” Gaetz proposed a suggestion that will inevitably go down in the annals of history – featuring the singer's tweet on Florida's welcome sign.
So folks, as more details emerge about the alleged investigation into Matt Gaetz, remember one thing – he is definitely not Matt Gertz.


Communication with customers is one of the most important aspects of a successful business. The easier the business makes it for the customer to communicate with them, the more likely the customer is to participate. There are many ways companies can interact with their clients, but one of the easiest ways for the customer is via SMS messaging. Here are several ways your company can go about SMS messaging with a customer.
The simplest way to communicate with customers through SMS messaging is the one-way SMS.
With this form of messaging, the company is able to send out messages, reminders, or announcements to their customers, but the customer is unable to respond. For example, this form of messaging is ideal for doctor’s appointment or prescription reminders. However, there is no way for the company to confirm that the customer even received the message.
As technology becomes more advanced, so do the ways companies interact with their customers. In a two-way SMS, communication is still limited, but the customer is able to respond to the message sent by the company. Most of the interaction is based on a question and answer series, where the company’s message will tell the customer how to respond based on their needs. However, the customer is still interacting with an automated system through specific keywords.
Sometimes a customer’s requests can exceed the limitations of the automated service’s abilities. That is when the much more advanced conversational SMS comes into play. This form of messaging allows the customer to interact with a real, live individual representing the company. The representative is able to respond to the customer’s text message through their computer. The customer uses a five-digit number in place of a telephone number to connect with the representative. As a result, the representative is able to help a number of customers concurrently. Being able to interact with several customers at once, allows the representative to deliver a faster response.
Toll-free texting or 8YY texting is similar to conversational SMS, however, it is much more simple. 8YY texting allows customers to send texts to the company’s 1-800 number instead of generating a five-digit number per customer. The customer is still provided with a representative to assist them, but they are able to reach the representative in a much simpler way.
Some forms of SMS messaging are so advanced they eliminate the representative all together. This evolved system is called the chatbot. The chatbot is able to assist an endless number of customers with frequently asked questions, or enable them to subscribe to or end their business with the company. The chatbot is much more advanced that a simple automated system in that it can learn from each message it participates in. This is a great option for companies that experience high volumes of messages from customers.
Different types of companies will have different types of customers with different types of needs. The top priority of any company should be to meet the needs and demands of their customers. The type of messaging a company chooses, should be able to maintain the satisfaction of their customers.


In one way or another, all of our lives have been affected by divorce. It's never pretty and it's never easy. But a local program has been very successful in helping people recover after a divorce.
Marilyn Scafe is one of about 700 graduates of the divorce recovery program at Lutheran Ministries. She says her divorce was one of the most difficult chapters in her life. Not only did she have to adjust to living alone and managing finances, she also needed to get through the anger and the guilt of her separation. But the Lutheran Ministries program gave her hope that there was light at the end of what seemed like a very dark tunnel.
"It was a wonderful class - three Saturday sessions that gave you support, encouragement and probably more importantly, the tools to work towards healing and recovery from divorce. It's not a fun thing to go through," says Scafe.
If you’re interested in attending a Divorce Recovery Workshop, one is beginning this weekend. It’s a three-part series. The first starts Saturday, February 11, continuing February 18 and February 25. They all begin at 9am and run until noon at the Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries. For more information you can call 962-4279.


Author: Paul Ploumis27 Aug 2014 Last updated at 05:08:52 GMT
(Kitco News) - Gold prices ended another quiet trading session firmer Tuesday, on some bargain hunting and short covering following recent losses. The market place could remain subdued the rest of this week, ahead of the unofficial end of summer that comes with the approaching U.S. Labor Day holiday weekend. December Comex gold was last up $6.10 at $1,285.00 an ounce. Spot gold was last quoted up $8.10 at $1,284.75. December Comex silver last traded up $0.009 at $19.44 an ounce.
One underlying theme this week is the rallying U.S. dollar index and slumping Euro currency. The U.S. dollar index is at an 11-month high, while the Euro is at an 11-month low. Comments from European Central Bank president Mario Draghi late last week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are concerning to many market watchers. Draghi strongly hinted the ECB is set to implement more monetary stimulus measures to prop up the flagging European Union economy—and to ward off the threat of deflation in the bloc. The state of the EU’s economy is prompting some increased demand for safe-haven assets. German bonds are hovering near record-low yields, while U.S. Treasury yields have also dropped significantly recently. Safe-haven gold is also seeing a good bounce Tuesday morning. With this increasingly interconnected world, it’s hard to imagine other major world economies being healthy when the European Union’s is so sickly. This notion is an underlying bullish factor for gold.
The other theme in the market place is new record highs, or multi-year highs, in the major U.S. stock indexes this week. It’s been a “perfect storm” for the U.S. stock market recently: U.S. economic growth that’s not too hot and not too cold; an economy that’s still awash in cash from years of easy money policy from the Federal Reserve; and very low inflation that makes returns from the stock market look better than other asset classes. However, there are a few early clues this perfect storm for the equities market is ending. One is the U.S. Fed has hinted just recently it will move sooner rather than later to raise interest rates if the U.S. economy continues to show improvement.
Courtesy: Kitco News


In addition, that advertisers are most likely to advertise their products and services to those that would typically respond to them (Baran 125). In general, “magazines are often further specialized through split runs which are special versions of a given issue in which the editorial content and ads vary according to some specific demographic or regional grouping” (Baran 125). There are trends and convergence in magazine publishing. These trends are online magazines, custom magazines, meeting competition from cable television, advertorials, and advertiser influence over magazine
Symbolism is used in many stories, novels, and essays. It is an extraordinary addition to make a story interesting. The use of symbols in stories make the most significant ideas strike out as well as make the reader have distinctive ideas of what actually is trying to be said. Symbolism makes the reader think critically about what the author wants us as the readers to transmit. In “Paul’s Case,” there are some examples of the use of symbolism.
Asking questions has made my close reading improve. Ellen Raskin helped me understand that it is important to have both high and low questions. Ellen Raskin uses quantities of figurative devices. On a different note, this is one of the main reasons why I like this book so much. Subsequently, one of the main crafts the author uses is figurative language.
Specifically, one can respond with either simple agreement, simple disagreement, or agreement and disagreement simultaneously. Via this idea, along with the help of another template, the writer can identify an issue, map some of the voices of controversy, introduce a quotation, state one’s own argument, and qualify said argument. They restate their main idea, that the templates foster the writer’s abilities by ingraining in them useful literary tools. The last argument that Graff and Birkenstein make is that their templates do not stifle creativity, but instead allow for its growth. Their argument raises the point that all creative works are based in patterns and structures.
Successful writers have the capability to do creative things with their words. The effectiveness of one’s word usage is an important foundational aspect of rhetoric and advanced writing. Chapter four of the textbook, “Writing for Success” by Scott Mclean is entitled, “Working with Words,” it breaks down common mistakes writers make, gives strategies and tips on how to avoid them. It also focuses on what is needed to help develop strong meaningful sentences in order to leave the desired impression with a reader. The first section of the chapter
There are many formal and informal tests that assess the pragmatic skill. Because of the nature of pragmatics, it is difficult to construct a standardized test that accurately captures the essence of social communication. However, the assessment of pragmatic development is necessary to understand the competence of language use. NEED FOR THE STUDY Although there are abundant tools to investigate the varied pragmatic aspects (Verbal, Non- verbal and Para-linguistic) there is only limited research on evaluating them in a sample of conversational speech. Hence there is a need to understand them to plan for the appropriate intervention AIM OF THE STUDY The current study aims to compare the varied pragmatic aspects in normal and individuals with varied communication
When we don’t have the knowledge of other culture, we tent to judge because we tend to be naïve. There are many people in this world that share values, believes, and culture we are similar yet different. Not knowing how to react to other peoples’ differences because our low education level, is different from having a higher education and still feel superior to other people however, being in the lower education should not exclude people from being responsible of their actions. Before, the deaf communities where different in the eyes of the hearing world. Humans can be so cruel at times and there is not stop, however in orders to stop people’s ignorance education is a valuable tool that people should take advantage of.
As stated in Chapter 8, the use of rhetorical features is a great way of synthesizing and analyzing ideas. Incorporating the use of pathos, logos, and ethos has taught me much about the different ways I should analyze an article when writing an essay. Furthermore, it helped me structured my essay in a different way and I believe that the use of rhetorical features will be very useful with my future assignments. For instance, when analyzing my past essays, my best work was my visual analysis because it was the assignment where I incorporated new techniques. For instance, I analyzed the two ads and went in depth to each of the ads’ meanings.
I was able to utilize a magazine post, newspaper article and research journals to form my argument and provide support. I think I have also become better at revising my own work and reforming the structure of my paper to make it more clear than it was previously. I am particularly proud of my argument
In this fast moving world who does not want to get success? Success is something which everybody wants to achieve, but not everybody can achieve it because they do not know how to get success. To get success one should take some decisions, one should also know what he/she wants to accomplish to get the ultimate results. It is the key to success for an individual as well as for the nation and without this feature people cannot be able to capture the success. Education is not limited to books only but it also teaches us the way of life, dignity and respect of people, fundamental rights of people and gives us the concept of equality.


At the start of the event, Rohan from Blessing of Kings wrote a post to ask whether the new implementation of PvP on Ilum was "genius or madness", which summed up pretty nicely of why I personally really enjoyed it:
Free-for-all keeps things balanced on servers with unbalanced factions. Small teams only keeps the feel of multiple forces running around, prevents raids from stomping everyone, and gives tanks and healers a place in combat. The quest objects and respawn timers give people something to fight over, rather than simply ganking. Plus, it's only 2 of 6 quests, so it is pretty optional if you absolutely hate PvP.
The final interesting note is that this is a temporary event, though it will be repeated in the future. By making it temporary, it means that when the event appears again, everyone will flock to it again. This keeps the numbers high and many people involved, which is essential for good PvP.
However, looking around the forums, blogs and general chat, I actually saw a lot of people complain about the PvP portion of the event. Essentially the complainers seemed to come from one of two factions: on the one hand we had the PvE purists and completionists, who felt that they absolutely had to do all the quests regardless of whether they involved going to the PvP area or not, just to then complain that anyone actually engaging them in PvP in a designated PvP area clearly had no life, no self esteem and/or a small manhood. On the other hand we had the hardcore PvPers, who felt that the PvP area had way too many non-player mobs in it and that it was pointless to PvP there because there were no tangible rewards for actually killing people.
While both groups came at it from a different angle, their complaints kind of met in the middle to agree that the PvP portion of the event somehow wasn't "PvP-y" enough because there were parts of it that involved interacting with the environment (gasp) and random ganking didn't pay off.
I can certainly see where they are coming from, but as someone who is neither a PvE purist nor a hardcore PvPer, for me this was exactly why the free-for-all PvP did work so well. I'm someone who enjoys both PvE and PvP, even if my focus definitely lies with PvE. I do enjoy a good in-game brawl as well though, as long as it's optional to take part in it and people can easily walk away from it if it stops being fun. As such I've occasionally wondered what it would be like to level on a PvP server, but I can't actually see myself doing it because PvP potentially being omnipresent would make it hard for me to ever enjoy myself in peace. With that said, I loved the new PvP area because it was essentially a mini-simulation of life on a PvP server that you could easily pop in and out of at your leisure.
"Ooh, so nicely grouped up for AoE... oh wait, I'm still a healer. Never mind."
I do think that both the quests involving mobs and the lack of rewards for actually killing people were an essential part of why it worked like that. The quests provided people with a reason to go to the area and mill around there for a while regardless of whether anyone else was there at the time or not. Nobody likes to just sit around and twiddle their thumbs while just waiting for PvP to magically happen.
The lack of rewards for actually killing people was an important point in my eyes because it actually made the decision whether to cooperate or fight a genuine choice. For me personally at least, not knowing whether those red names over there would engage in combat or not was a big part of what made things interesting. I did queue up peacefully a couple of times, when it was quiet. Other times I engaged in mad mayhem with guildies, sometimes we won, sometimes we lost, but it was fun regardless. However, this was only possible because the rewards for fighting were limited to capturing an objective more quickly and simply having fun. I'm pretty sure that if there had been better rewards for actually killing people, the area quickly would have devolved into nothing but a pure farming ground for the strongest PvPers, with nobody getting anything else done. Would that really have been more interesting/fun?
I hope that Bioware considered the way the PvP worked during this event a success and won't change it too much in future reiterations.


The ferocious storm lasted just 10 minutes but cars left out in the open – including many brand new imported cars awaiting onward transportation – were hit by hail the size of golfballs.
Some of the cars being repaired by the technicians from Dent Wizard International have up to 400 dents in their bodywork. The team comprises seven dedicated hail technicians, four of whom have been posted from Italy, two from France, and one from England.
It has been called in by Dent Wizard trade customers in Dover to repair cars that were lined up on open forecourts or car storage areas on Saturday morning. The team calculates that it has work for at least a week on the cars, many of which ‘look like the cratered surface of the moon,’ according to Dent Wizard managing director Quintin Cornforth.
About 25,000 cars a year are severely damaged by hailstones across Europe, which is half the number in the USA, Dent Wizard’s home country.
The hail season on the continent runs from May to September with as many as 100 storms in a summer. Some of these can involve hailstones weighing four pounds.
‘All our hail technicians have to be on call to move into a hail-hit area within 48 hours in order to assist with insurance claims and, of course, perform a very large number of repairs in a very short time,’ explained Cornforth.


Sabine joined PLMR in 2018 and has since secured coverage in client’s target publications, organised meetings with ministers and MPs, as well as given strategic campaigns and crisis management advice. She is also one of PLMR’s Brexit and parliamentary procedure experts.
Prior to joining PLMR, Sabine was a Senior Political Consultant to 50 clients at Dods’ UK Monitoring. With a specialism in immigration/home affairs, rights, justice and employment, she was tracking legislation, advising on engagement opportunities and supporting public affairs campaigns. In this role she frequently wrote for PoliticsHome and the HOUSE, Parliament’s magazine.


Late on Wednesday night, the Cards put out a tweet that some folks thought might have been an April Fool’s joke.
👀Coming soon… pic.twitter.com/yN2e5lr7Yv
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 2, 2020
I guess I could see people thinking that it might be a joke, but 1) brands usually try to do their jokes early in the day, not early evening and 2) everyone had pretty much agreed the traditional jokes weren’t appropriate this year, what with us all trying to deal with a pandemic and everything. Getting a huge championship trophy, though? That definitely feels like it could have been an Onion story or something of that nature.
A lot of people were down on this, but honestly, it seemed like a pretty interesting centerpiece for the new section of Ballpark Village, which is where it is at. It looks like it is right in front of the new office complex and the fitness place, right down from the new apartments. It ties BPV Phase II into the Cardinal tradition and looks pretty nice right there with the new buildings. (You can see it in this video if you haven’t.)
Seeing this also made me think about that new section of the village and how strange it must be for all the people that had planned this, built this, booked this to now….basically have it sit empty. I know that the apartments were pre-sold, but how many of those people were able to keep that commitment given the sudden changes in employment status and work hours we’ve seen this past month? Forget that, how many could actually get moved in without risking contamination?
And for those that did move in, sure they can still get some nice views of the stadium, but they expected to see games going on, people going by, a great atmosphere as part of their daily lives. Instead, there’s a quietness as people hunker down. There’s not much activity at the stadium at all–most of the employees are working from home, if they are able to work at all.
I’m sure the business that paid the what-has-to-be-exorbitant rent didn’t plan on many of their employees still not seeing their new digs. They didn’t plan on business slowing. They thought that the opening of BPV2 would be a time of great celebration. Instead, it’s just going to happen quietly, assuming people are moving in already.
Which does bring us to the DeWitts. With millions and millions of dollars, there’s nobody that’s concerned that they aren’t going to be getting by or that they can’t handle this downturn, but it definitely isn’t what they were expecting either. And they’ve put a lot of their own money into this project–money that well may impact the ball club over the next year or so as well. With no baseball revenue coming in and less BPV revenue than expected, it wouldn’t be surprising if the spending is even less than we are used to in this coming winter–and that says a lot, given that they didn’t really spend this year.
As fans, we should want Ballpark Village to thrive, not only because it adds a dimension to the St. Louis downtown area and to the ballpark experience, but because the better it does, the more likely (I am not saying it’s a guarantee, mind you) that some of those revenues will find their way to the ballclub. Right now, the pandemic may be making the new phase a money pit and that’s not a great thing for anyone.
I’m sure that statue was commissioned and paid for a long time ago. It may be the last new thing downtown sees for quite some time.


It was a busy weekend for High School Musical sweethearts Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.
The oh-so-cute couple were spotted holding hands as they roamed Beverly Hills on Saturday night (October 27).
Zac and Vanessa spent their time together doing a little shopping with those big paychecks that Disney pays them.
Earlier in the day, Zac kept himself busy at the gym and skateboarding in Studio City, while Vanessa visited a girlfriend in Hollywood. But it's tough to keep these two lovebirds separated for too long!
Enjoy the pictures of Zac and Vanessa's shopping outing on Saturday night (October 27).


Big treats in store for children
CHILDREN and the young at heart scored a big hug and a friendly wave from dragon and viking Gobber and Gronckle during the start of school holiday fun at Plumpton Marketplace.
The stars of How to Train Your Dragon and ABC TV’s Dragons Defenders of Berk, arrived at the shopping centre for daily meet and greets last week.
But marketing manager Rebecca Carrig said the school holiday fun was set to continue with a craft village on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11am-2pm.
“Children can come and create their own Viking shield,” Ms Carrig said.
“It’s been really great to see kids’ reactions and interesting to watch those who obviously recognise and know the characters by name.”
Ms Carrig said there would be plenty more exciting times ahead at the shopping centre this year as Father’s Day approaches and Christmas not long after.
She encouraged any one who takes pictures of their children with the characters or during craft activities in the shopping centre to share them on Facebook and Instagram and tag Plumpton Marketplace.
Kobi, 10, and Seanna Talbot, 7, with Gronkle and Gobber.


Jordan FrithNov 7, 2023
Barcodes are about as ordinary as an object can be. Billions of them are scanned each day and they impact everything from how we shop to how we travel to how the global economy is managed. But few people likely give them more than a second thought. In a way, the barcode's ordinariness is the ultimate symbol of its success.
However, behind the mundanity of the barcode lies an important history. Barcodes bridged the gap between physical objects and digital databases and paved the way for the contemporary Internet of Things, the idea to connect all devices to the web. They were highly controversial at points, protested by consumer groups and labor unions, and used as a symbol of dystopian capitalism and surveillance in science fiction and art installations.
Jordan Frith's book Barcode (Bloomsbury, 2023) tells the story of the barcode's complicated history and examines how an object so crucial to so many parts of our lives became more ignored and more ordinary as it spread throughout the world.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose forthcoming book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.


If you’re looking for constantly updated end-of-session coverage…
Thursday, May 31, 2012
* It’s at this link. We’ll have updates throughout the day and late into the evening. Check for videos of press conferences and press releases, plus live reports from numerous reporters on the ground. Don’t miss it!


Janice Morse reports:
When Thomas Abner was just 7 years old, his older brothers’ Indiana Scoutmaster, Steven O. Woodard, started molesting him, attorney Konrad Kircher said.
“For the next three and a half years, Thomas was abused, molested and raped more than 300 times,” said Kircher, a Mason lawyer who represents Abner in a civil lawsuit he filed Tuesday in Warren County against the Boy Scouts of America.
Some of the molestation allegedly happened in 1999 while Woodard and the Abner family spent a week at a hotel in Mason, visiting Kings Island, Kircher said. No incidents happened at the amusement park itself, Kircher told reporters at a news conference across the street from the park, clarifying language in the lawsuit.
The suit is the first of its kind in Ohio, Kircher said, following the October public release of the Boy Scouts’ formerly secret “perversion files,” about alleged pedophiles among the group’s ranks. Those files will be used in Abner’s case to prove that the Texas-based organization knew about people like Woodard, yet did little or nothing to stop them – and took steps to conceal sex offenses, Kircher said.
The suit accuses the Boy Scouts of fraud and negligence, asserting that the Scouts should have disciplined Woodard for spending time alone with him and his family in non-Scouting activities, a violation of the group’s anti-sex-abuse policies.
Kircher is working on Abner’s suit with two Oregon lawyers, Kelly Clark and Paul Mones, who were the lead trial attorneys in a landmark 2010 case that forced release of the files and led to a $19.5 million judgment against the Boy Scouts.
In an unusual twist, even though Woodard pleaded guilty in 2002 to sex crimes against Abner in Delaware County, Ind., “this case probably could not be brought in Indiana,” Kircher said. That’s because Indiana has not revamped laws that set time limits for childhood sex-abuse victims to file lawsuits, Kircher said.
In 2006, Ohio law changed, allowing child sexual-abuse survivors to file lawsuits up until the age of 30. “Six or seven years ago, this lawsuit would not have been possible,” Kircher said, noting many victims take years to muster the courage to disclose abuse.
In response to Abner’s suit, the Boy Scouts of America released a statement from its director of public relations, Deron Smith: “Any instance of child victimization or abuse is intolerable and unacceptable. While we have not seen this lawsuit, we deeply regret that there have been times when Scouts were abused, and for that we are very sorry and extend our deepest sympathies to victims.”
Kircher countered: “Steven Woodard followed a pattern that was not unknown to the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts had tracked predators. … they had tracked the Steven Woodards of the world.”
That’s what the “perversion files” demonstrate. The publicly released files cover the period of 1965-85, ending a decade before Woodard met the Abner family.
Thomas Abner told his mother about Woodard’s abuse when he was 14, Kircher said, leading to criminal charges against Woodard. The Scoutmaster had faced a 108-year prison term. But after a plea agreement, Woodard was sentenced to seven years in prison for molesting three boys, two of whom were former members of the Indiana-based Scout troop, Muncie’s newspaper, The Star Press, reported.
At Woodard’s 2002 sentencing, a judge noted that concerns about Woodard had been raised to Scout officials, “apparently without success,” the newspaper reported; two active scouting leaders spoke in support of Woodard, leaving a victims’ advocate “absolutely furious.”
Woodard only spent about three years in prison before he died of liver failure, Kircher said.
As for Abner, he’s been struggling to confront psychological problems attributed to his abuse. Now 25 and living in Arizona, Abner made the unusual choice of “going public,” using his real name in the suit, rather than a pseudonym Kircher said, because “it’s part of his healing process.”
Reporter Douglas Walker of The Star Press contributed to this story.


Lauding Dean Baker’s piece on loser liberals, Sam on why the government always picks winners and losers. And Bo Biden calls for a time of action in reaction to President’s formation of a Financial Fraud Unit; he doesn’t mention Eric Schneiderman. Plus, JP Morgan Chase backs off on its collection of consumer debt. And East Haven, CT mayor plans for a taco dinner and behind the arrest of Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom. Your calls and IMs.


PS4 sale in San Francisco ends in murder
The console's owner was shot multiple times after meeting with the suspect in a location specified by the online ad
Wednesday 04 December 2013
Police in America have arrested a 21-year-old suspect, accused of shooting and killing another man after responding to an advertisement placed online to sell a PlayStation 4.
Ronnie Collins has been jailed on suspicion of murder and attempted robbery according to The San Francisco Chronicle, after allegedly shooting and killing 22-year-old Ikenna Uwakah.
Uwakah was shot multiple times at 3.30pm local time at the corner of Mendell Street and Galvez Avenue in Daly City, the location where he had agreed to sell the new console.
Local television station KTVU TV reported that Uwakah advertised the device for sale on photo-sharing site Instagram for "some $600".
Police report that Uwakah drove to the location with his girlfriend, but was shot while sitting in the passenger seat of his car. The gunman fled the scene and Uwakah’s girlfriend drove to San Francisco General Hospital, where Uwakah later died.
It was initially reported that Collins had taken the PlayStation 4 after killing Uwakah. This information has not yet been clarified by San Francisco police, although the charge for attempted robbery remains.
Sony’s PS4 was launched last month in the US and two weeks later in the UK, with a lot of demand for the device. More than 2.1 million consoles have been sold worldwide since its launch.
Uwakah's sister, Uzoma Uwakah, told the San Francisco Chronicle that her brother had previously sold items online before. "He had a lot of friends, and a lot of people liked him," said Uzoma Uwakah. "He was a normal kid, just trying to find his way in this world."
Life & Style blogs
Looking past the search results: Google 2.0 will 'build airports and cities' says report
Jennifer Lawrence nude pictures leaked: Reddit removes 'The Fappening' board dedicated to sharing naked pictures of celebrities
Anti-depressants can change how the brain works in just hours
iPhone 'Wave': iOS 8 hoax claims you can charge your iPhone in the microwave - you can't
The 'Angelina Jolie effect': Her mastectomy revelation doubled NHS breast cancer testing referrals
Daniele Watts: Django Unchained actress detained by Los Angeles police after being mistaken for a prostitute
Scottish independence referendum: A nation divided against itself
Scottish independence: David Cameron is becoming the 'George Bush of Britain'
Scottish referendum results: Cross-party consensus collapses amid Tory-Labour spat on the 'English question'
Russia freezes Ukraine into submission: Kiev admits country doesn't have enough fuel for winter
Scottish independence: The Queen breaks silence on referendum debate – as think tank warns of £14bn black hole if Scotland votes Yes
- 1 Mario Balotelli: Staff at arson-hit Manchester Dogs' Home convinced Liverpool striker is behind five-figure donation
- 2 Friends 20th anniversary: Alison Jackson photographs reunited cast
- 3 A bottle of wine a day is not bad for you and abstaining is worse than drinking, scientist claims
- 4 The response to my Pizza Express review has been overwhelming, and taught me a lot about journalism
- 5 Free U2 album: How the most generous giveaway in music history turned into a PR disaster
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Liberty_C. is the inspiring creative persona of Austrian singer/songwriter Katja Cruz. Regular readers of The Static Dive were first introduced to Cruz in January upon the release of her single “Time to Grow.” That song introduced a diversely talented singer with an uplifting sound. She delivered a hopeful message to a world that was slowly rising from the ashes of a terrible year.
In April, Liberty_C. followed with her debut full-length album “Free to Be Me.” Once again the singer brought the positive vibes on an 11-song collection of personal tales of love, empowerment and growth. With each release she mixes classic Pop and Jazz moods with organic and electronic instrumentation to create her own unique groove. At the heart of the sound is a skilled singer who infuses her songs with equal parts soul, style and sincerity.
“New Horizons (I’m Ready)” is the latest single from Liberty_C., released worldwide to all major streaming services on October 22, 2021. Cruz wrote and recorded the song just a short time ago when it appeared that we were finally putting the pandemic in the rearview mirror. The song carries a hopeful and joyous message of rebirth and renewal.
Katja echoes the excitement and newfound confidence of a world preparing to emerge from isolation and fear as she sings, “I feel the strength of a lion and I shine like a diamond.” Musically, “New Horizons (I’m Ready)” features a smooth Jazz/Pop ensemble. A skillful quartet of bass, drums, piano and saxophone matches Liberty_C’s optimism with the perfect balance of disciplined musicianship and feel-good improvisation.
Sadly the enthusiasm of early 2021 has been tempered by a recent resurgence of COVID and its variants. Many around the world are forced to retreat back to isolation for the time being. Touring musical artists like Liberty_C have been forced to cancel shows. Masks and social distancing are once again the norm. However, a brighter day is still on the horizon. When it arrives Katja Cruz, Liberty_C. and the world will be ready.
Check out “New Horizons (I’m Ready)” below. You can also hear the song on both the Deep Indie Songwriters and Deep Indie Jazz playlists. Follow the links below to connect with Liberty_C. Get on her socials and get ready for a brand new day.


Authorities with the Pickens County District Attorney's office are investigating the death of 82-year-old Dora Johnson, 63-year-old Patricia Hudson, and 53-year-old John Virgil Johnson. All three were found at Johnson's home in Carrollton. Investigators with the Pickens County DA's office told WVUA TV they're treating the investigation as a double murder-suicide. According to investigators, evidence indicates that John Virgil Johnson's wounds were self inflicted. Investigators will not comment on Dora Jonhson or Hudson's wounds until they receive autopsy results. ...Read more
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A federal jury has convicted Jesse Mae Brown Pollard of kidnapping a 6-year-old relative to pressure the girl's mother in a dispute over a piece of land and a portable storage shed in east Mississippi.
The jury on Thursday convicted Pollard, a former teacher and basketball coach, of conspiracy, kidnapping and obstruction in U.S. District Court in Jackson. ...Read more
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AVM Africa (Pvt) Ltd, a company that once dominated the Zimbabwean bus market, has recently returned with a revolutionary prototype that promises to transform public transport in the nation. The company has developed a prototype 120-seater bus that could potentially revolutionise the urban transport system in Zimbabwe. This move is key in transforming public transport in Zimbabwe.
The 120-Seater Bus: A Game Changer
Additionally, the newly assembled AVM bus is designed to carry 120 passengers at once. It comprises of 20 seated and 100 standing passengers, with two exits at the front and back. The design includes ample bus hangers for the standing passengers, ensuring comfort and safety for all occupants. This is common with buses used for public transport in many countries.
This development marks a significant shift in the Zimbabwean bus market, where AVM once held a dominant position. However, the company’s return to innovation is seen as a positive move. This is to address the challenges faced by the nation’s public transport system. Also, the future will reveal whether or not ZUPCO will take part in providing public transportation with these buses.
Support from Government Officials
Also, the unveiling of the prototype took place in the presence of Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni and senior officials. Minister Nyoni emphasised the importance of government support for innovation. She says that it leads to the realisation of new ideas, methods and production processes, thereby accelerating economic growth. This innovative move in the public transport sector can be a stepping stone for other players to do more.
Furthermore, she also highlighted the government’s goal to import fewer goods and produce more domestically. The minister expressed hope that the advancement of the transport sector, including the introduction of locally produced buses, will contribute to this goal.
Transforming Public Transport in Zimbabwe: A Step Forward
Moreover, the launch of the 120-seater bus prototype represents a significant step forward in transforming public transport in Zimbabwe. It shows that innovation and local production are viable options for addressing the nation’s public transport needs.
The success of this project could set a precedent for other sectors of the economy. This is including manufacturing and logistics, to focus on domestic production rather than relying heavily on imports. This could lead to increased job creation, reduced costs for consumers and a stronger national economy.
In conclusion, the unveiling of the 120-seater bus prototype by AVM Africa is welcome. It is a testament to the potential of local innovation in addressing the challenges facing Zimbabwe’s public transport system. As the nation continues to seek ways to boost its economy and improve living standards, such developments should be encouraged and supported.


Prosser family honors late-mother by naming restaurant after her
PROSSER, Wash. — It’s been five months since one Prosser family lost their loved one to a horrific crime. Now, they’re honoring Graciela Gomez, also known as Graciela Fuentes, by doing what she loved.
Fuentes was known not only for her smile, but for her cooking.
“She mainly cooked tamales and posole — that was her main specialties,” said Isabel Ramos-Fuentes, Garciela’s daughter. “It would be so weird how she could feed so many people off a small portion because she could make it last.”
Ramos-Fuentes learned how to cook at a young age. She said her mom taught her once she could reach the stove. Ramos-Fuentes would be in charge of cooking when her mom was sick. As she got older, they decided to look into opening a restaurant.
“My mom’s dream was kind of like — I want a place, you know, where I can cook,” she said.
She started to look for a place and found one in Downtown Prosser.
“We told my mom, ‘hey, we looked at a building and it looks like it’s right. It looks like it would work,” she said.
They were all in and started the process to get the building. On Aug. 10, everything stopped after a phone call that would change the family’s life.
“I thought, you know, maybe she had a heart attack or she couldn’t breathe or something,” Ramos-Fuentes explained.
Her brother called and said there was something wrong at their mother’s house. She rushed over and found police everywhere at the Prosser home. According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Fuentes was shot and killed in her home, allegedly by her husband, Silvestre Fuentes.
“To me it was like, up to the point I feel like it’s not true,” her daughter said holding back tears. “You know, I feel like she’s still here and I’m still waiting for that call. Even though it’s been months, it feels like I just talked to her yesterday.”
Silvestre was arrested the next day in Union Gap. As for Ramos-Fuentes, she questioned whether or not she wanted to keep her plans to open the restaurant. It was set to open in October.
But something or someone told her to do it.
“I just had to continue it for her,” she said. “Even though she’s not here, we’re still going to put her recipes out there.”
After Ramos-Fuentes, her four other siblings grieved and the family grieved their loss she pushed forward. That’s when she opened Fuentes Taqueria on Jan. 2 at 1219 Meade Ave. in Prosser. The menu was all because of her mother.
“I think it was kind of like, her hands that would make that food taste good because there are still some recipes that I still have from her that even though I put the same ingredients, the same portion — they don’t come out as good as hers,” Ramos-Fuentes said.
Two common themes are in the restaurant. Bible verses and flowers. Ramos-Fuentes said her mother recently started going to church with her. She also said her mother loved flowers and the garden she had at home.
“They say that heaven is full of flowers, so my siblings — we’re like, I bet mom’s out there in her garden picking flowers,” she said.
The holidays were hard for the family. She said her mom’s house was the place to be when it came to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“She was the connection to all of us,” Ramos-Fuentes said. “Now that we don’t have her or my dad, it’s like we’re just kind of wandering.”
The connection she’s hoping to get back is through her mom’s cooking.
“I’m going to dedicate it [the restaurant] to her…without her recipes, I don’t think we would be able to make it,” Ramos-Fuentes said.
Her mom’s picture will hang up in the front for every customer and employee to see. She hopes to get a plaque made to put underneath it.
“I don’t know why things happen like this, but I do believe that God can make something good out of bad,” Ramos-Fuentes said. “I miss her a lot. Wherever she’s at — heaven — she’s really happy.”
The restaurant will be open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays.
COPYRIGHT 2019 BY KAPP-KVEW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.


In a world where peer recommendations are a highly effective and influential form of marketing, businesses are feeling the pressure to keep pace—and taking some drastic measures to do it. According to an Aug. 19 New York Times article, businesses are increasingly hiring external partners and freelancers to post positive online reviews as if they were coming from real customers. Otherwise-honest companies “cheat” the review system to avoid losing the online race for positive mentions. While ethics are not in their favor, the data certainly supports them: 87% of consumers trust a friend’s recommendation over a critic’s review (Marketing Sherpa).
Tip Sheet: Employees: The Best Tool in Your Comms Arsenal
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Lady Lakers Pick Up First Conference Win
October 10, 2012By William Kelly of Lakeland High School
It was a "pink-out" at Lakeland High School to help fight breast cancer during Lakeland's last home game of the season. It went as planned as the Lakers got their first conference win of the season beating the Hamilton Marines 3-0. During the 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 game, Nikki Chavez lead the Lakers with 9 kills. The Lakers start their conference tournament on Thursday.


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MANILA, Mar 25 (Mabuhay) — Having admittedly prayed for a baby girl, celebrity couple Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Sotto shared that their fifth child is a boy, through an updated sonogram of the actress’ pregnancy.
“It’s a boy! Again!” Sotto wrote on Instagram, with a laughing emoji.
“Thank you Lord! We were really praying for a girl, pero ito ang binigay ng Panginoon. Babae man o lalaki, we are more than grateful to God. He knows and controls everything,” he said.
Sotto and Hermosa, both 37, have four children: Kiel, Kaleb, Vin, and Ondrea — the only girl.
When the couple announced their latest pregnancy in December 2020, Hermosa included a photo of Ondrea’s prayer for a sister.
Referring to the yet-unanswered prayer, Sotto, in his post on Tuesday, quipped: “So paano na Lord? Ibig ba sabihin may kasunod pa ito?” (MNS)


The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
A person with knowledge of the situation says that the Miami Heat have closed their training facility after a second player tested positive for coronavirus.
The Heat will have players at the arena over the coming days to satisfy their NBA-mandated testing requirements but will not reopen the gym for individual workouts before leaving for the Disney complex near Orlando on Wednesday, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no details were announced.
The second player’s identity was not released by the team. Heat guard Derrick Jones Jr. tested positive for coronavirus last week and has been working through the NBA protocols on a return-to-play plan.
— AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami.
Toronto FC pushed back its departure to Florida for the MLS is Back Tournament to Saturday, saying more time is needed to complete pre-travel COVID-19 testing.
The MLS team had been scheduled to leave by charter Friday. Toronto opens the World Cup-style tournament on July 10 against D.C. United.
The New York Red Bulls also delayed their Friday departure, saying a staff member had produced an inconclusive COVID-19 test result. The Red Bulls said they would reschedule their flight once all the test results were confirmed.
Six players from FC Dallas and one from Columbus Crew SC have already tested positive in the Sunshine State. They have been isolated and are receiving care while the other members of their delegations are in quarantine pending more testing.
Major League Soccer had required teams to arrive in Florida no later than a week before their first game at the tournament, which runs July 8 to Aug. 11 at Disney’s Wide World of Sport Complex in the Orlando area. But issues with test results have caused several delays.
Kansas has suspended its voluntary football workouts because of an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the program.
The school says it has tested 164 athletes and recorded 16 positives, including 12 football players. It says 45 athletes are currently in quarantine across all sports.
“When we welcomed our young men back to campus a couple of weeks ago for voluntary workouts, even with the policies and procedures in place to try and protect them from becoming infected with the virus, events outside of our control has made the decision to pause these workouts necessary,” coach Les Miles said in a statement.
The school says the other teams with athletes back on campus will continue their voluntary workouts.
New Jersey’s premier thoroughbred track is scrambling to follow capacity limits set by the state as it prepares for its opening night of racing.
Monmouth Park is scheduled to present a six-race card Friday evening. Track officials said in an afternoon statement that no more than 500 people would be allowed in certain areas, but added that information on a final capacity number would be released later in the day.
The Asbury Park Press reported the track had submitted a plan to the state to allow roughly 16,000 people in the track’s outdoor areas, but the plan was not approved. The track has hosted as many as 60,000 for the Haskell Stakes, its signature event.
Monmouth Park’s sports book will open but be restricted to 25% of normal capacity. All visitors to the track or sports book will be required to wear a mask and be given a brief health questionnaire.
A third Washington Nationals player has decided to opt out of playing this Major League Baseball season because of concerns about the novel coronavirus.
Manager Dave Martinez said depth catcher Welington Castillo was uncomfortable playing because he has young children. He joins first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross among those deciding not to play for the defending World Series champions.
The 33-year-old Castillo played last season for the Chicago White Sox and then joined the Nationals as a backup option.
Indians outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. has tested positive for the coronavirus and is being quarantined from his teammates.
Chris Antonetti, the team’s president of baseball operations, said DeShields tested positive before coming to Cleveland. The Indians held their first workout at Progressive Field on Friday.
Antonetti said DeShields is doing well and has only had “very mild symptoms” at this point. He’ll have to twice test negative before he’s permitted to re-join the ballclub.
The 27-year-old DeShields spent the past five seasons with Texas. He was acquired by the Indians in the offseason trade that sent two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to the Rangers.
The Sept. 12 football game between Lafayette College and Navy has been canceled.
Lafayette informed the Naval Academy that it cannot bring its football team back to campus in time to meet medical advisory guidelines established by the FBS.
Navy is seeking to fill the date with another opponent.
The Green Bay Packers are optimistic they will have fans at Lambeau Field this season, but they note that seating capacity would be cut significantly and spectators must wear face coverings.
The NFL club also acknowledges the “possibility that Lambeau Field will be unable to host fans for games this season” because of the pandemic. Training camps across the league are to begin in mid-July.
Reduced seating capacity means the Packers can’t guarantee that ticket holders in the general bowl and club seats will be able to reserve tickets. Season-ticket holders will be asked if they want to be part of a process allowing them a chance to reserve tickets.
Those who opt out can have their 2020 payment refunded in full or credited to 2021.
The Latvian soccer federation says its national team will play a postponed friendly at Montenegro on Oct. 7.
The match in Podgorica was originally scheduled to be played March 26 but was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Baltic News Service reported the new date.
Soccer has resumed around much of Europe in empty stadiums. The Champions League is scheduled to be completed in August at a mini-tournament in Portugal.
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Ghaziabad: A petition of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar seeking further cross-examination of forensic expert Dr BK Mahapatra was trashed by a special CBI court here.
After rejecting Talwars` petition, Additional Sessions Judge Shyam Lal fixed September 26 for the start of final arguments in the case.
In their petition, the dentist couple who are being tried for murders of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj had appealed the court that they wanted cross-examination of Dr Mahapatra "as several questions are yet to be asked".
"Our application has been rejected by the court," said Manoj Sisodia, counsel of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar.
Mahapatra is a forensic scientist at Central Forensic Science Laboratory Delhi and had prepared the report for the CBI.
So far, all the defence and prosecution witnesses have been examined in the Ghaziabad`s CBI court and final arguments will start from Thursday.