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Did Nick Jonas Just Propose To Priyanka Chopra On Instagram?

Glen yesterday with friends 2/2 A post shared by Glen Powell Fans (@glenpowell_) on May 29, 2018 at 12:49pm PDT The 'maybe dating' pair first set rumours alight when they attended the 2017 MET Gala together. But now, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra's Instagram flirting continues and so do those romance rumours.The 25-year-old pop star and actor and the 35-year-old Quantico actress reignited rumours two weeks ago when they were spotted together in Los Angeles a few times. Last week, the two were seen having dinner together and the two stars also appeared to flirt with each other on Instagram. They have not commented on the status of their relationship.The rumoured lovers even celebrated the Memorial Day weekend together along with other friends, and the pair were seen looking cosy while on a boat.However, their Instagram PDA is the real talk now! After Priyanka shared a photo of herself eating In-N-Out with friends in a Chanel gown, he wrote: 'That smile' and also added a red heart.Relationship rumours resurfaced last week when Priyanka and the youngest Jonas brother were seen hanging out around LA several days in a row.And it's not the first time Priyanka has shared some love on her rumoured beau's Instagram page.Taking to the social media last week, she gave Nick a love heart and fire emoji. Something is definitely brewing!But things got out of hand when a hilarious Instagram account photoshopped a fake Nick Jonas commenting under Priyanka's burger picture, popping the flirtatious question "Mujhse Shadi Karogi?" How predictable!What turned things into a comic situation was that people actually fell for it and started drooling over the couple already!Well played, impersonator!

https://www.news18.com/news/lifestyle/did-nick-jonas-just-propose-to-priyanka-chopra-on-instagram-1771099.html

Which Wear OS devices have a heart rate sensor?

There are plenty of Wear OS watches out there, but not all of them have one of the most important features you could ask for a heart rate sensor. Not only are heart rate sensors great for accurately tracking how hard you're going during a workout, they're also helpful for keeping track of your ticker to make sure everything's working like it should. If you want a Wear OS watch with a heart rate sensor, these are the ones to get! There you have it, folks a collection of all the best Wear OS watches that come equipped with a heart-rate sensor. The Fossil Sport is probably the best pick for most people thanks to its newer processor, accessible design, host of features, and competitive price. If want something a bit classier, we strongly recommend checking out the Skagen Falster 2. Happy shopping! This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for more details.

https://www.androidcentral.com/which-wear-os-devices-have-heart-rate-sensor?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+androidcentral+%28Android+Central%29

What Restaurants Are Open on New Years Day 2019 Near Me?

Its New Years Day 2019 and you may be looking for some last minute dining ideas. If you dont have your meals planned for the day, you arent into leftovers, or you are still recovering from your New Years Eve festivities, you may want to venture out for food today. For those not in the mood to cook, there are still plenty of restaurants open near you. Some restaurants have special hours or holiday menus. Whatever the case, read on for the rundown on the possibilities this New Years Day. Fast Food Restaurants Open On New Years Day If youre looking for your early morning coffee, donut or pastry, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Tim Hortons and Starbucks stores are all open for business. Panda Express locations are open for the day, and many hole-in-the-wall restaurants are open on New Years Day as well. So, be sure to check some of your local restaurants. McDonalds and Burger King are definitely open for the holiday, as are convenience stores like Wawa, 7-Eleven, Quick Chek, Sheetz and Speedway, all of which serve quick food options. Boston Market and Buffalo Wild Wings are both open on Christmas Day as well. For those looking for some breakfast, there are many options to choose from. Dennys and IHOP are both be open, though hours may vary depending on location. Cracker Barrel and Perkins restaurants will also be open. Waffle House and Huddle House locations are also open 24 hours, even on New Years Day. Chick-fil-A is open on New Years Day 2019 also, but with limited hours, according to TIME. Other fast-food restaurants open for the day include Taco Bell, In-N-Out Burger, Hardees, Arbys, Subway, Carls Jr., KFC, Wendys, White Castle, Wahlburgers, Sonic, Pizza Hut, and Dominos. Lunch and Dinner Restaurants Open On New Years Day Most diners are open on New Years Day, so definitely check your local area to see if a diner near you is open this holiday. Diners are great options for breakfast, lunch or dinner. When it comes to straight up lunch and dinner restaurants open for the day, there are plenty of ways to go. For more fine dining, Mortons The Steakhouse, Ruths Chris Steak House, Capital Grille, Smith & Wollensky, and Chart House locations are open. If you are in the NYC area, the Times Square location for Red Lobster will be available for dining. Applebees, Lubys Cafeteria, Chilis, Bahama Breeze, and TGI Fridays restaurants will be open and running their businesses. Buca di Beppos, Fogo de Chao, Benihana, Panera Bread, Hooters, Steak n Shake, Texas Roadhouse, Romanos Macaroni Grill, and Black Angus Steakhouse. If youre in the mood for a buffet, most locations for Golden Corral, Old Country Buffet and Shoneys will be available for dining. Sizzlers will be open in some locations as well. For dinner and entertainment, AJC reports that Dave & Busters is open today. If chain restaurants are not your thing, make sure that you check with some of the independent restaurants or mom-and-pop places in your community.

https://heavy.com/social/2019/01/restaurants-open-on-new-years-day-2019/

Is Buddy Whitenys Boyfriend on My Big Fat Fabulous Life?

Whitney Thore, star of TLCs My Big Fat Fabulous Life, has a new love interest this season, by the looks of the trailer promo longtime friend and former roommate Buddy Bell. Fans of MBFFL have long questioned whether the two would ever hook up, and the trailer for the newest season confirms that Whitney has feelings for her friend, although it doesnt look as though the two are actually dating just yet. Buddy actually announces that he has a new girlfriend named Chelsea, whom he says he would marry yesterday if he could. However, his new relationship with Chelsea doesnt sit well with Whitney nor his ex-girlfriend Heather, Whitneys close friend. Heather is angry that Buddy seems to have already moved on from their relationship while she is left still feeling heartbroken about their breakup. The two split up when Buddy entered rehab to deal with his drug addiction. I was the one who suffered, and then he gets to move on and find happiness, Heather says in the trailer. Fk Buddy. Whitney admits that there is chemistry between her and Buddy, and her friend Ashley Baynes even says in the promo for MBFFL that Whitney has an undeniable crush on him. Hunter Thore, Whitneys brother, believes the two should just date. The trailer features an emotional clip where Whitney is telling Buddy how jealous she is that hes found love and she hasnt. Romance?! @whitneywaythore's fabulous year is just beginning! Tune in to the season premiere of #MyBigFatFabLife January 1 at 8/7c. pic.twitter.com/ydgXdxe7VP TLC Network (@TLC) December 15, 2018 Im envious, you met Chelsea and just fell in love, and it seems like the simplest thing in the world. People find partners and they have babies and Im not even anywhere close, Whitney says in the promo. The trailer then cuts to several scenes of the two having fun together giving each other massages, laying in bed and dancing together. Whitney then asks Buddy if she can kiss him, finally giving fans a taste of what theyve all been waiting for. I dont know, I just wish we were together, she says in the trailer. We know that this season has Whitney on a mission to help her mother recover from her stroke, as well as a new venture of teaching big girls dance classes around the country. However, she also mentions how lonely she is, and how she is hoping to find love and start a family. Let us know your thoughts on in the comments! Tune in tonight, January 1 at 8:00p.m ET/PT to see what the season has in store for Whitney and Buddy.

https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/whitney-way-thore-boyfriend-buddy-dating/

Is Starbucks & Dunkin Donuts Open on New Years Day Near Me?

Its New Years Day 2019 and Starbucks is open, though some select stores may run on holiday hours. The same goes for Dunkin Donuts. Find here a means to locate a Dunkin Donuts location near you. Most stores should be opening at their normal time but will close extra early, due to holiday hours. Its important to check with your local Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts for exact times, as the hours may differ, depending on the location. Starbucks always gets into the holiday spirit and its stores have been giving out festive cups with their coffee purchases. The Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brule Latte, and Toasted White Chocolate Mocha are a few of the holiday flavors for coffee drinks this season. Currently, Starbucks has some other seasonal items available on its menu as well and one of them is the Sugar Plum Danish, which has a cream cheese filling. Other new, seasonal menu items include the Chestnut Praline Frappuccino Blended Beverage, Gingerbread Creme Frappuccino Blended Creme, Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino, Eggnog Frappuccino Blended Beverage, and the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Blended Beverage. In addition, ABC6 recently reported that Starbucks was re-releasing limited edition drinks for New Years. The black and white tuxedo collection of drinks from last year comes back and it includes the B&W Mocha, B&W Hot Cocoa or a B&W Mocha Frappuccino blended beverage. For the Black and White Mocha, Starbucks describes the drink as, Espresso and steamed milk get a holiday update thanks to a decadent swirl of dark mocha and white chocolate mocha, whipped cream and a tie-like stripe of chocolaty sequin topping. The Black and White Hot Cocoa has the same topping. And, the Black and White Mocha Frappuccino is made up of, Frappuccino Roast coffee, milk and ice are blended together and dressed up with a decadent swirl of dark mocha and white chocolate mocha, whipped cream and a black-tie stripe of chocolaty sequin topping. Like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts is also offering some festive items for customers to enjoy this holiday season. Customers have the option to create their own beverages. For example, create your own iced coffee by choosing your blend, along with a flavor shot, and a flavor swirl. The blends available are original, Dunkin Decaf and Dark Roast. The flavor shots include raspberry, toasted almond, coconut, blueberry, hazelnut, caramel, and french vanilla. Pumpkin has also been added to this for several of the items, including the frozen coffees. The flavor swirls, similar to the flavor shots, are made up of choices such as french vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, and mocha. For the frozen beverage items, additional flavor shots are the Girl Scouts Coconut Caramel, Girl Scouts Thin Mints, and Girl Scouts Peanut Butter Cookie. As for whats recent on the Dunkin Donuts front, DD now has a mobile app, which is available for download. This app is helpful for on-the-go or at-home ordering online. Customers can earn free drinks with the DD Perks rewards program, plus a birthday freebie, and they can sign up at www.ddperks.com.

https://heavy.com/social/2019/01/starbucks-dunkin-donuts-new-years-open-near-me/

Can cycling cure a hangover?

Indulging in a few beers shouldnt stop you riding your bike. We show you how to fend off a hangover so you can ride headache-free the next day The simple answer to the question how do I avoid a hangover getting in the way of a bike ride? is: dont drink too much. But we all like to have our cake and eat it. Studies have shown that alcohol consumption in Britain typically increased by around 40 per cent in December, with over 600 million units trickling down our throats. Cyclists are certainly not immune Stravas 2017 report showed beer and wine as the third and fourth most commonly referred to food and drink items to appear in activity titles at 33,581k and 10,870k respectively. Hangovers can result in dehydration, nausea, slow reaction times and theres probably an element of fatigue as well since drinking reduces the quality of sleep. Whilst most people find they fall asleep quickly after a drink, its not the best quality post alcohol youll spend less time in deep sleep and more time in the less effective Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage. The primary concern however is the effect alcohol has on hydration levels. Alcohol is a diuretic so drinking too much leads to dehydration because it makes the kidneys produce more urine. If you do ride, once you start sweating, youll be loosing even more fluid, making dehydration worse which reduces performance because the flow of oxygen and nutrients is slowed. Charity Drinkaware also tells us that drinking can increase the potential for unusual heart rhythms for up to two days after drinking even more so if youre an irregular drinker. A night out tends to result in a pretty serious influx of liquid based calories too. One pint of average strength 4 per cent beer contains about 197 calories. That wont have an immediate effect on your performance but it will over time. And before you counter with the fact you need the calories to ride your body isnt able to convert alcohol into glycogen, needed during exercise. Alcohol also inhibits glucose production in the liver meaning that blood sugar levels plummet which is why you might crave sugary food and drink the next day. After a drinking binge, youre chronically malnourished and in dire need of hydration and glucose, explains sports physiologist Nick Tiller. Firstly: keep track of your drinks. Education charity Drinkaware includes anyone taking in over 14 units a week in its danger group. The NHS refers to a binge as anything over six units for a man or woman thats two to three standard glasses of wine over 13 per cent of two to three pints of four per cent beer. Aside from drink less, there are some other tips for hangover avoidance. All of these were thoroughly tested at our very own Cycling Weekly Christmas party, to great success, we reckon five and six make the biggest difference 1) Dont drink on an empty stomach Make sure you have a good meal before you go out having food in your stomach helps slow the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol. 2) Drink water between every alcoholic drink This reduces dehydration, slows down your drinking and encourages you to think about how much youre having. If you feel like drinking a glass of water overly draws attention to your sensibility, go for a soft drink and no one will guess your game (you can laugh at them if youre riding together the next day). 3) Dont mix your drinks Pick wine, beer, or a certain spirit, and try to stick with it. 4) Avoid rounds If people are buying rounds, try to duck the trend and just buy your own drinks that gives you much more control over what you have. 5) Stop early It takes your body an hour to process each unit of alcohol. Stop drinking before the end of the night that gives you a couple of hours of processing time before you go to bed. 6) Hydrate before bed Everyone knows you should drink a glass of water before you go to bed but add a hydration tablet (like Nuun or High5 Zero) for the best effect. Perhaps youve ignored all of the above or you just know youre going to. As outlined above, your indulgence will result in fatigue and dehydration so attempting high intensity exercise isnt particularly advised. However, sitting around inside a stuffy house can make you feel worse and getting some fresh air into your lungs can wake your body up, and get the blood pumping. Whilst the concept of sweating it out is very much a myth (youre dehydrated, sweating more isnt ideal), alcohol is a depressant it slows brain activity and the release of endorphins. Exercising causes new release of the happy hormone, which can give you a bit of a boost. If you do intend to ride, replenish your glycogen stores with a very hearty breakfast, and drink plenty of water ideally with a hydration tablet added. Keep the intensity low, breathe in the fresh air, and remind yourself never to let it happen again. Again.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/fitness/biking-and-boozing-can-cycling-help-your-hangover-146017

Will 13-speed save 1x on the road?

There may still be a place for 1x in the pro peloton When the Aqua Blue team folded and Adam Blythe angrily blamed the 3T Strada bike, claiming it was a track bike with gears saying, youre knackered you cant ride a one-day race never mind a two-week race, onlookers assumed that marked the end of the road for 1x road bikes in the professional peloton. The nail in 1xs coffin appeared to be the launch of the Strada Due in July, a conventional double-chainring version of the Strada, with the brands Gerard Vroomen admitting: Of course pro riders find themselves in a very specific situation, often going up mountains in a peloton surrounded by 100 riders with no choice but to ride the exact pace of those around them, not their own pace. While 3T appeared to be giving up on 1x, or at least hedging its bets, Rotor, one of Dimension Datas equipment sponsors this year, unveiled a 113 groupset at Eurobike. Although its still in its launch phase, the Spanish brand is confident that its headed for the pro peloton and revealed to Cycling Weekly that it had already been talking to 3T with regard to the 1x Strada bike. Rotor engineer Carlos Carton, who led the 113 project, said: With Aqua Blue we have seen that 111 is not enough. For that range, the steps in between are too big for these guys. But with 113 we can extend the range of ratios to match 211 and keep the same steps in between. Rotor has demonstrated that with a road-racing 211 set-up there are actually only 14 different ratios. Its 113 can match it pretty much gear for gear. In addition Rotor, which has six years of experience of manufacturing power meters, has data to suggest that slighter bigger steps when riders reach the larger sprockets are inconsequential and so 13 is plenty: For example in our 110-36 we have 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 the same as what theyre used to using. And then were opening a little bit the steps but we have seen with our power meter data that at slow speed the cadence range that you can afford biomechanically is bigger. So these bigger steps at the top of the cassette are biomechanically supported. So because of this we think it should not be so hard for it to be accepted by pro cyclists and the pro peloton. But it would hard to change minds when they are looking for victories and they are paid for these wins. So they dont want to use something new or untested. So you have to break these mental barriers. My view Paul McGuinness, global communication manager, Rotor The confidence is going to be a big part of it. We are preparing comparison charts that will show people without getting to scientific or too heavy-going that it will, and we have four different cassettes and range of chainrings so that they can match 50/34 and 11-28 or whatever 2x set-up theyre used to. Obviously Shimano have a huge amount invested in the front derailleur. They dont want to take away the front derailleur because they want their customers to buy more of them. And they also want to have different groupsets for different disciplines because thats their business model. As a smaller manufacturer we can be a bit more agile. Our view Clearly the sticking point with 1x is the lack of ratios compared to 211, but Rotors 113 system fills in the gaps. Even if it takes the road pros longer to adopt it, 113 will be snapped up by everyone else.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/will-13-speed-save-1x-road-403572

Why Aren't Cory and Cheyenne Together on Teen Mom OG?

On the season finale of Teen Mom OG, Cheyenne pondered what might come next with Cory after theyd slept together. And the reunion show revealed the answer to Chey's question -- but unfortunately, it was not what she wanted to hear. When Cory joined Cheyenne at Part 2 of the reunion, co-hosts Dr. Drew and Nessa asked him point blank why he and Cheyenne weren't officially together -- even though there was obvious flirting and "crossing the line" multiple times. I dont want to mess it up, because we have to be stuck with that for the rest of our lives, he said. My worst fear is to walk into Cheyennes house and have that type of energy where her mom looks at me and hates me...all I want to focus on is Ryder. Its going smooth with me and Cheyenne. If its not broken, dont fix it. Cheyenne, who kinda-sorta admitted that she was waiting around for Cory until he was ready to be exclusive, was upset by her baby daddys response. Am I not?' I dont know how long Ill wait, but Ill wait. I just had such an idea when I was a kid of getting married and having a family, and I did things so backwards, and now I feel like Im just paying for it. Chey then said she was in love with Cory but didnt want to give him that satisfaction. Cory, meanwhile, didnt feel the same way. I love Ryder, and I want that same feeling for when I have a wife, he said. Share your opinion, then stay tuned to MTV News for more updates on the cast.

http://www.mtv.com/news/3107127/cory-cheyenne-dating-teen-mom-og-reunion/

Will there be a global recession in 2019?

After its worst end to a year since the Great Depression, Wall Street is suddenly a bargain. The S&P 500s forward price-earnings ratio a gauge of a stocks value against analysts earnings forecasts indicates that US stocks have not been this cheap in four years. Another, the price-earnings to growth ratio, suggests that only in the depths of the financial crisis could investors snap up cheaper stock. But investors are reluctant to sink their money into the dying bull run as the curtain falls on a miserable year. Financial markets and the indicators tracking the global economy point to two very different paths for 2019. The former predicts a sudden end to a decade of expansion while the...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/01/01/will-global-recession-20192/

Was hast du hier zu suchen?

Foto: Warner Bros /dpa Ich habe einen groen Teich, sagte der Knig, da musst du morgen hin und musst ihn ausschlmmen, dass er so blank ist wie ein Spiegel, und es mssen noch allerhand Fische darin sein. Aquaman des The Conjuring (Die Heimsuchung) 1 und 2-Regisseurs James Wan ist wirklich ein Schiffbruch von einem Film geworden. Abgedriftet, abgesoffen, Schiffbruch zum Wegschauen. Man kann sich kaum noch jemanden vorstellen, der sich das ansehen soll, ohne nach Luft zu schnappen. Warum dem alten Philosophen den Schwarzen Peter zuschieben, zumindest Aquaman, die DC-Comicfigur aus den 1940ern, haben wir anderen zu verdanken. Der Mythos vom untergegangenen Inselstaat Atlantis ist auf seinem Mist gewachsen. Als illustrierende Anekdote zu grundstzlichen Vorstellungen des Sokrates von einer vertrauenswrdigen Stadtpolitik legte Plato jene Mr im Dialog Timaios seinem eigenen brutal korrupten Groonkel Kritias in den Mund, der auch nur vergangenes Hrensagen als Zeugnis aufzubieten hatte: Mrchen, Seemannsgarn. So gro wie Libyen und die Trkei zusammen soll die Insel laut Kritias gewesen sein; ein prchtiges, machtvolles Knigreich, schwer zu entdecken, da in unschiffbaren, schlammigen Gewssern gelegen, nach einer groen Flut von den Wogen begraben. So ungefhr heit es, und man wei ja, was in jngerer Vergangenheit so aus dem benachbarten Libyen wurde. Wenn es galt, Karthago zu zerstren, hat man sich noch selten Zurckhaltung auferlegt. In Aquaman nun entsteigt die Knigin von Atlantis in Gestalt einer wie unter einer Totenmaske erstarrten Nicole Kidman, mit einem Dreizack bewaffnet, den Wogen, um fr ein paar Jahre als Ehefrau eines Leuchtturmwrters Landurlaub zu machen. Resultat dieser Liaison ist, nun ja, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), der Aquaman, ein Knigskind, gestrandet im Exil. Er spricht zu den Fischen und schwimmt so schnell wie ein Motorboot. Als halbwegs austrainierter, ttowierter Rocker kippt er in den Hafenkneipen der Landratten ganz schn was hinter die Kiemen. Anders gesagt, er sucht seine Bestimmung, nicht zuletzt seine politische. Wie man auch von den Gebrdern Grimm wei, ist der Job des Knigskindes eine freudlose Plackerei. Immer gilt es, irgend etwas wegzurumen, irgendwelchen Schlamm abzutragen, verschiedene Steuer herumzureien. Kein Wunder, dass der Aquaman sich empfindlich strubt, diesen Job zu bernehmen. Zumindest zum Schein, denn in diversen herkmmliche narrative Logik sprengenden Rckblenden erfhrt man, dass er in Wahrheit nie etwas anders getan hat, als sich auf seine Bestimmung vorzubereiten, sprich unter Anleitung von keinem anderen als Willem Dafoe eine Art Kung-Fu-Training mit dem mtterlichen Dreizack aufzunehmen. Im Zeichen des Trainings beginnt Aquaman mit dem Kapern eines Atom-U-Boots und endet mit einer Krnung. Dazwischen Plackerei an digitalen Miniaturlandschaften im Aquarium. Mrchenrume, die so gut wie ausschlielich aus verschwommenen Ornamenten bestehen. Wasser hat keine Balken, Ortsanweisungen sind kostbar, Schlachten dennoch zu schlagen. Aquaman hat einen Rivalen, seinen streitbaren Halbbruder (Patrick Wilson), und eine Verbndete, dessen rothaarige Verlobte Mera (Amber Heard). Mit ihr macht er Erholungsurlaub auf Sizilien, am ungefhren Ort des platonischen Atlantis-Mythos. Die beiden schlendern ber den Markt wie handelsbliche Food-Touristen und werden aus heiterem Himmel von einer Armee von Froschmnnern angegriffen. Im Verlauf der sich entwickelnden Schlacht wird u. a. eine Weinhandlung zerstrt. Die sizilianische Weinflut splt die Froschmnner hinfort. Im direkten Anschluss rkeln sich Mera und Aquaman auf dem Deck eines Fischkutters unter dem Mond des Mittelmeers, bevor auch diese touristische Idylle gestrt wird. Diesmal von einem Schwarm drachenartiger Seemonster, die das knigliche Paar in die Tiefe des Meeresgrundes ziehen, wo pltzlich Nicole Kidman in der Traumlandschaft einer gleichsam unter einer Kseglocke frisch gehaltenen Unterwasserlagune das Paar erwartet. In der Kseglockenlagune am Mittelmeergrund befindet sich ein Wasserfall, hinter dem wiederum in noch grerer Tiefe ein noch gewaltigeres Tiefseemonster in seiner Ruhe nicht gestrt werden mchte. Standesgem wei der Held, dass er nicht die geringste Ahnung hat. Die Knigswrde ist somit schon so gut wie gewonnen. Dies alles geschieht, wie bereits angedeutet, in mehr oder weniger direkter Abfolge. Eine absurde Aneinanderreihung an sich schon schwachsinniger Sequenzen, letztlich nichts anderes als das kumulative Schachtelprinzip der Mrchenerzhlung. Der Schiffbruch hat seine Rahmenhandlung verloren. Keine Planke in Sicht.

https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/346407.kino-was-hast-du-hier-zu-suchen.html

Are Jodie Whittaker and Bradley Walsh back for Doctor Who season 12?

(Photo: Ben Blackall/BBC) Doctor Whos latest series came to a conclusion today with the New Years Day special Resolution. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire quiz: Charles Ingram's controversial game It was the first season for new Doctor Jodie Whittaker who took over from Peter Capaldi after his exit on Christmas Day last year. The thirteenth Doctor was joined by three companions this year, played by Bradle Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole who joined her on adventures across space and time. It saw them encounter historical figures like Rosa Parks and King James, as well as face giant spiders and an unstoppable creature called Pting. As well as a new cast, the most recent season also moved from Saturday nights to Sunday nights and it has proven to be a ratings success after the first episode drew an audience of 11 million people. (Photo: Giles Kyte/BBC) Fans of the show will be pleased to hear that both Jodie Whittaker and Bradley Walsh will be returning for the next series of Doctor Who. Advertisement Advertisement They will also be joined once again by Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole who play the Doctors other companions Yasmin and Ryan. The bad news is that fans have a while to wait before the next series airs on BBC One as season 12 isnt scheduled to be released until earl 2020. That means that there are currently no plans for Doctor Who to be on our screens in 2019. MORE: The best New Year fireworks from around the world

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/are-jodie-whittaker-and-bradley-walsh-back-for-doctor-who-season-12-8298871/

Are the Daleks back in Doctor Who yet?

The Daleks arent in Doctor Who this series. Advertisement We were told this fact over and over again in the run-up to Jodie Whittakers first series at the helm of the Tardis, and overall it seems like a genuinely good thing. Yes, the cyborg, genocidal mutants from Skaro are the Doctors most iconic foes. Yes, their design is probably as associated with the Doctor Who brand as the Tardis, and yes, a highlight of any new Doctor is seeing them go up against their tinpot nemeses. But over the years these reasons have made the Daleks incredibly overused as Doctor Who villains, and its about time they took a break especially in a series that new boss Chris Chibnall was keen to make accessible for first-time viewers. I dont know how many times I need to say it, a slightly frustrated Chibnall told RadioTimes.com at a set visit. There are no old monsters this series. OK? We completely get his reasoning and support his decision, and enjoyed meeting an all-new cast of exciting alien foes this year. And yet. And yet. This must be a massive double bluff, a red herring, an extra layer of secrecy. Theyre the Daleks theyre part of the Doctor Who recipe. Itd be like bringing back Line of Duty without Ted Hastings weird colloquialisms, Game of Thrones without endless scenes of Kit Harington sulking, or doing a series of Poldark where Aidan Turner wears sensible outdoor clothing at all times. Nope, this Dalek disappearance feels mighty fishy to us and here at RadioTimes.com, were determined to uphold the values of the fourth estate and topple this wall of secrecy. Which is why as time goes on well be asking one simple question, and updating our answer as and when any information changes. If you havent seen the latest episode, wed advise you look away now, lest the surprise presence of Daleks ruins your anticipation or even if their expected absence is enough to ruin your immersion. Almost!! In a massive coup for the Dalek lobby, a new BBC trailer has suggested that the Doctors greatest foes will return in the New Years Day special Resolution. Listen below right to the end Until then, faithful readers our #Dalekwatch continues. Any sightings welcome. Doctor Who airs on BBC1 Advertisement This article was originally published on 5 October 2018

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/are-the-daleks-back-in-doctor-who-yet/

When is The Grand Tour season 3 released on Amazon Prime Video? Whats going to happen?

Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson are set to return to our screens before long with a new series of The Grand Tour. Advertisement While no release date has been announced yet, and info on the series remains scarce, we do know that this year the show will be accompanied by a game which will allow fans to drive as recklessly as their beloved hosts, all in the comfort and safety of their own home. Amazon has confirmed that The Grand Tour series three is coming a little later than usual this year. The new series will not be released until 18th January 2019. Series one by comparison was released in November 2016, and series two in December 2017. As usual, each episode is set to be released weekly. Filming has been underway since early 2018. In March, Jeremy Clarkson posting a photo from DriveTribe (the trios social media site) of a truck driving through snow, confirming in the caption that filming was underway. The first batch of studio recordings meanwhile were filmed during October and November. Yes, Amazon Prime Video unveiled a first look at the same time as the release date. The new footage promises more of the same epic road trips that have become a hallmark of Clarkson series, including trips to Colombia, Mongolia, China, Sweden and Detroit. At the end of the trailer Clarkson asks, What is the budget for our show? to which May replies, Smaller than it was. Watch The Grand Tour series three trailer below. Amazon has released three dates for the studio recordings so far. They are 31 October 2018 7 November 2018 21 November 2018 28 November 2018 12 December 2018 The studio tent pitched up on 31st October. A tent with a big window. The studio segments of series two were filmed in a tent in the Cotswolds, conveniently close to Jeremy Clarksons house. Tickets for the live tour dates, which are taking place in October, November and December this year, have been released intermittently on Amazon. The first batch of applications ended on the 12th of October, but tickets for the live dates on 28th November and 12th December have been recently made available and can be bought here. Kep an eye on The Grand Tours official Facebook page where tickets will be released if there are any left to be snapped up. The big news for the the new season is that there is going to be an accompanying game, as introduced by James May and Richard Hammond, half-naked from a pool in the YouTube video below. Basically, you can be us, James May says. All the challenges and experiences weve had, only this time, youre driving. It comes equipped with four player split-screen, meaning fans will be able to face off against one another, and it will be released in episodic format on Playstation 4 and Xbox One from the beginning of series three. And theres also a gameplay trailer, which you can check out below. While information on the new episodes have been scarce thus far, there have been some minor announcements in the last few months that can give us an idea of what to expect. Back in June, Amazon released a picture of Jeremy Clarkson dressed as a mustachioed traffic warden while filming series 3, so we know therell be some unusual cosplay involved On top of this, producer Andy Wilman did debut some footage from the series at the Amazon Prime Videos European showcase event in London at the beginning of October, which featured a clip of unlikely guest star Mary Beard, who was seen in conversation with Jeremy Clarkson. Wilman also disclosed that the trio had been filming in China, Colombia, the USA, Mongolia, Azerbaijan and Georgia ahead of the beginning of studio recordings, which will take place in the Cotswolds. Theyve also been using their own test-track, fondly known by the trio as the Eboladrome because of its resemblance to the shape of the Ebola virus. He added that they felt they had to live up to the name The Grand Tour, and that he is quietly confident about this one so were expecting big things. Seasons 1 and 2 of The Grand Tour are available to watch now on Amazon Prime Video. If you dont already have Prime, you can access it now with a 30-day free trial. Advertisement This article was originally published on 31 October 2018

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-01/grand-tour-s3/

Should I go for sex toys?

Dear Bunmi, Im in my late 60s and lost my husband two years ago. I havent had sex since his death and I miss having orgasms. Im now toying with the idea of using a dildo I have even visited a few sex apps abroad just to have a look. I wouldnt want to do myself any physical damage. Philo, by e-mail. Dear Philo, Youre absolutely not too old for this sort of thing! As for doing yourself any harm, the opposite is the case. A dildo will massage your vagina, keeping you healthy down there, plus having orgasms will help you stay fit. So just do it! As you havent had sex for a while, you may need to take things slowly and gently like any muscle, your vagina can suffer from lack of use. And, if you feel a bit dry, add some lubrication you can use your own saliva, a specially designed lubricant from a chemist, or any unperfumed body oil.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/should-i-go-for-sex-toys/

Should I wait till he leaves his wife?

Dear Bunmi, I have always admired the matured way you tackle problems on your page. I just turned 20 and I love my man so passionately I am prepared to wait. Lilian, by e-mail. Dear Lilian, Forget my experience. In the experience of a million mistresses, if a man says hes staying put he does. And even if he promises to leave one day, hell generally stay put too. Imagine him having cosy evenings with his family! If youre not matured enough to care about his wife and kids, consider what it would be like to have these hurt and angry children staying with you from time to time. Youre only 20. There will be other men. Dont waste time on this one hes taken and all he wants is having fun with you.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/should-i-wait-till-he-leaves-his-wife/

Are the 'Atikulated' not competent enough to handle Atiku's Social Media ?

I hope not He's lost the election anyway Russians and Americans cannot help him Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) December 31, 2018 David Pride had recently announced @DavidaPride on Twitter that he had been contracted as a social media consultant to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general electionssaying : Excited to announce that I have been contracted as the social media consultant for 2019 Presidential Candidate of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar. His vision to get Nigeria Working Again and taking care of the less fortunate is one I support and Im excited to behttps://t.co/HlalIqVery But the PDP presidential candidate denied the report in a statement on Monday signed by Atikus media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku in the statement said David Pride is an impostor and unknown to him.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/are-the-atikulated-not-competent-enough-to-handle-atikus-social-media-lauretta-onochie/

Is Huawei set to become the world's top smartphone maker in 2019?

Relaxnews Official figures have yet to be published, but the world's second-biggest mobile phone producer, Chinese company Huawei, claims it has crossed the symbolic 200-million-unit mark in 2018, and is now aiming for 250 million units in 2019. If it achieves this goal, it may well steal the market's number one spot from Samsung. Huawei certainly has what it takes to succeed in its bid to overtake its South Korean rival. Along with a brand that is increasingly recognised around the world, the company has a demonstrated knack for cutting-edge innovation that is the envy of its competitors. In 2018 alone, the Chinese producer launched not one but two revolutionary smartphones: the P20 Pro, the first smartphone equipped with a triple camera and a 3x optical zoom (the P20 Pro still tops the DxOMark rankings for smartphone image quality), and the Mate 20 Pro, an ultra-powerful handset that can wirelessly charge other compatible smartphones. Both devices are every bit as good as their high-end counterparts sold by Apple and Samsung. Another of Huawei's strengths is its aggressive positioning in the mid-range market, via its subsidiary Honor. Honor products benefit from the same innovations as their high-end siblings just a few months later, and retail for less than $800, overshadowing competing models from Chinese brands OnePlus and Xiaomi. In the medium term, another Chinese phone-maker, Xiaomi, could take the No.1 spot in the market. With its extensive range of cheap handsets for all kinds of consumers, and an increasingly international marketing strategy, Xiaomi has everything it needs to be a key player in the years to come. In imitation of Huawei's strategy of developing a lower-end subsidiary, Xiaomi has also decided to develop a second "more fashionable" brand, which it has christened Poco. In addition, it is currently the world's biggest producer of smart watches and bracelets. Given the power and dynamism of the Asian market, which have made it the world's fastest-growing, it's no surprise that Chinese phone manufacturers are reporting soaring sales. It's also likely that they will become increasingly dominant in Europe and America; the threat of a U.S. boycott won't be enough to put the brakes on Huawei's international expansion.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/is-huawei-set-to-become-the-world-s-top-smartphone-maker-in-2019-1.4236904

What will 2019 have in store for landlords?

It was another shaky year for the private rented sector as landlords continued to adjust to a barrage of ongoing tax and regulatory changes. 2018 saw the first drop in the number of homes available to rent in 18 years as the effects of adjustments to stamp duty and mortgage interest tax relief began to force landlords out of the market. It wasn't all doom and gloom, as tough new licensing rules designed to tackle slum landlords and legislative changes to prevent retaliatory evictions were both introduced, spelling good news for tenants. And landlords have been able to enjoy low mortgage rates as lenders try harder and harder to stop customers from leaving their books. As for this year, 2019 promises no end to the regulatory upheaval. We asked the experts to spell out what landlords will need to know in the coming year. The Government is currently looking at making minimum three-year tenancies mandatory Andrew Turner, chief executive at buy-to-let mortgage broker Commercial Trust, explains what regulatory changes landlords can expect to see in the coming year. The Tenant Fees Bill Andrew Turner says: Plenty has already been discussed concerning the Tenant Fees Bill, which is likely to become law in the spring of 2019. The Bill seeks to remove letting agent charges to tenants, which some have deemed excessive and unfair. These changes could have a number of potential outcomes for landlords. For example, letting agents could increase charges for other services. Andrew Turner, chief executive at buy-to-let mortgage broker Commercial Trust If it becomes more expensive to use an agent, landlords may consequently have no option but to pass on the added costs, resulting in rent increases for tenants. Alternatively, landlords may choose to cut out the cost of a letting agent completely and self-manage their properties. This might become a problem for landlords investing in areas outside of where they live, who may have relied on agents on the simple basis of logistics. For example, the North West has seen significant investment from landlords from outside the region seeking better yields. If letting agent fees increase and landlords opt to self-manage, it could stem this trend, as being in reach of your property investments makes more sense. The Tenant Fees Bill will cap how much tenants will have to pay for damage deposits The other main aspect of the Tenant Fees Bill is a cap on how much tenants should pay for damage deposits at the start of a tenancy. This month the Government announced it would go ahead with a five-week limit on tenancy deposits, where the annual rent does not exceed 50,000. On top of this politicians are reviewing the practice of 'default fees', where tenants are charged for minor indiscretions on their tenancy agreement. 2019 is sure to see a lot more clarity around these evolving issues. Client Money Protection From April 2019, all property agents must register with an approved client money protection scheme, or CMPS. This should provide landlords and tenants with greater peace of mind that their money has been properly secured. A CMPS protects landlord or tenant money, if a letting or property agent goes into administration. Money might relate to a tenancy deposit, rent or funds set aside for property maintenance. Any agent failing to join a CMPS will face a penalty of up to 30,000 for non-compliance. Changes to how agents handle client money will add an extra layer of protection for landlords Dispute resolution Ombudsman Services withdrew from the property and housing sector in August this year, and the Government is now looking to introduce a new redress system for disputes. In November it launched a consultation on a new housing court. The intention is that the creation of a housing court would provide a single path of redress for landlords and tenants. David Smith, policy director at the RLA London landlords may be short on festive cheer this year as rumours circulate that Sadiq Khan is looking to bring in rent controls in the capital. David Smith, policy director for the Residential Landlords Association said: 'It is curious that the Mayor is considering introducing rent controls at a time when rents in London are falling according to official data. 'All evidence around the world shows that where forms of rent control are in place, decoupling prices from the value of properties hurts both tenants and landlords. 'In the end what is needed is a relentless focus on boosting the supply of housing.' The consultation runs until January 22nd, 2019. We are likely to hear a lot more about this concept over the coming months. Longer tenancy agreements The last thing to consider is the prospect of longer tenancy agreements. 2019 should finally see a Government decision on whether to introduce minimum three-year tenancy agreements. The Government argues this will offer greater security to families renting property. Next year looks likely to be another where landlords will need to adjust. Whether that is their investment strategy, financing or daily management of properties, it is imperative that they keep abreast of all changes and how they will be affected. Will Kirkman, of This is Money, says: Throughout 2018, landlords have experienced some of the lowest mortgage rates in memory, despite the Bank of England putting up the base rate to 0.75 per cent. Five-year fixes in particular have grown in popularity since the Bank of England brought in stricter rental income rules for two-year fixes. The average five-year fixed buy-to-let rate fell to its lowest level in October this year to 3.40 per cent, but since then it has gradually risen to 3.54 per cent. Lenders are now even offering cheap 10-year fixes for landlords looking to lock in for a decade. Buy-to-let rates comparison BTL 2 Year Fixed, All LTVs 5 Year Fixed, All LTVs 2 Year Tracker 01/12/2013 4.1% 4.72% 2.87% 01/12/2016 3.01% 3.74% 1.98% 01/12/2018 3.06% 3.54% 2.13% However, low rates won't last forever and next year it is likely that rates will begin to rise again. Moneyfacts' Rachel Springall said: 'It is largely expected that interest rates will rise in the near future, largely down to economic uncertainties. 'If house prices were to fall, this could also impact landlords. As a combination, this could make it more expensive for landlords, so they will need to keep a close eye on their income and make sure they at least have a good mortgage deal to brave the storm. 'Not only this, but if a fall in rental demand dents the buy-to-let market, then we could see landlords have their money squeezed and could even turn to cutting their losses and selling off any properties in difficult times.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/buytolet/article-6480085/What-2019-store-landlords.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490

Is LeBron James Still Chasing Michael Jordans Ghost?

A few weeks after upsetting the 739 Warriors in the 2016 Finals, heres what LeBron James said his biggest motivation was when asked by a prospect at the Nike Skills Academy, as witnessed by then-SI writer Lee Jenkins: My motivation, James said, is this ghost Im chasing. It doesnt really matter whether or not you or I think LeBron James is the GOAT. James himself waxes and wanes from the conversationat times freely discussing like he did at the Nike camp or in his documentary, other times preferring more attention be paid to his off-court pursuits. Whats most interesting to me when comparing these LeBron comments is trying to figure out if hes content or not. SHAPIRO: LeBron James Refuses to Decline First, an appreciation. LeBron James was on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was a junior in high school, and he was boldly proclaimed The Chosen One. He has completely surpassed the hype we (and everyone else) placed on him as a teenager. The only reason the discourse around James reaches such absurd levels is because he commands that much attention. He couldve faded into a solid-but-not-spectacular NBA career, like many highly hyped prep stars do, and the TV debate shows (and hot takey magazine writers) would have found someone else to bloviate about. Instead, James has put together a career thats Hall-of-Fame worthy multiple times over. He basically could have retired after his first Clevelnd stint and still been one of the NBAs all-time greats. LeBron has earned every comparison to Michael Jordan, and its 100% to his credit that the comparison is even a possibility. The 2016 LeBron sounded hungry. He was chasing. He was starting his workouts at 6 a.m., beginning earlier in the summer in the aftermath of Kevin Durant joining Golden State. 2018-2019 LeBron sounds more confident, more willing to reflect, and more secure in his place in the games hierarchy. This isnt to say James is all of a sudden relaxing. I bet those workouts still start earlier than 95% of the NBA. Im sure well see more chasedown blocks once the playoffs start. The question now isnt if LeBron is still giving his all to the game, but what his biggest motivation is if he feels hes already caught the ghost. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images LeBrons Lakers tenure is in many ways shaping up to be the most fascinating experiment of his career. The biggest issue I saw with Jamess decision to sign with L.A. is that it didnt come with the same starpower as his last two decisions. There were no All-Stars waiting in the wings or coming along for the ride. Instead, LeBron made what felt like a not-100%-basketball-related decisionwhich is totally, perfectly cool!when it seemed like other teams could give him a better chance at a championship. Especially with the Warriors still operating with juggernaut-level talent. James is certainly not in the stage of his career to be ring chasing on any level. But for someone chasing a ghost, joining a team of prospects glued together with veteran mercenaries looked like a step backward. If LeBron doesnt feel like he needs more titles to be considered better than Jordan, maybe he doesnt feel the title-or-bust pressure hes lived under for the last eight yearshis recent Anthony Davis recruitment notwithstanding. MAHONEY: The AD Trade Hype Was Years in the Making Cynics, realists, Steph Curry fans, and all kinds of other people will read LeBrons GOAT declaration as goal-post moving. If he says hes the GOAT, hes already creating excuses for losing. Maybe thats true to an extent. James is certainly aware of what hes saying in front of cameras and writers alike. Im more interested in the shift in perspective, and if it means LeBron can finally be content with his accomplishments as opposed to having to amass more of them every second of every day. For outsiders, LeBron could believe hes the best or win 10 more titles, and it wouldnt change many of their opinions, both good and bad. S---, half?) of his career should ultimately reveal what is truly motivating him. If hes sitting shotgun next to Magic Johnson on the driveway of 2019s best free agent, then its probably fair to assume James is still looking for more stones for his Infinity Gauntlet. If a Hollywood trade mag announces two more Space Jam sequels that are going to be filmed back-to-back, it may be a hint LeBron wouldnt mind some more free time. James has always had the right to approach his career the way he best sees fit. Without any championships or any outside validation, he still would have had a remarkable impact both on and off the court. For seemingly the first time now, at least publicly, LeBron appears willing to admit his approach is not about climbing, its about enjoying the view from the top. If that really is the caseand again, Anthony Davis is out thereIm interested to see how that affects Jamess decisions moving forward. Selfishly, I never want James to stop trying to reach new heights. But that gets harder to do when you know youre at the top.

https://www.si.com/nba/2019/01/01/lebron-james-michael-jordan-warriors-lakers-greatest-player-all-time-debate

Whats the Difference Between Stress and Anxiety?

Its December the last and, for many of us, busiest month of the year. Because youre so busy, you might be feeling irritable and exhausted, and your to-do list may seem longer each passing Its December the last and, for many of us, busiest month of the year. Because youre so busy, you might be feeling irritable and exhausted, and your to-do list may seem longer each passing day. Your hands are sweaty and clammy and youre not sleeping well at night. To compensate, youre hitting the coffee pot more than you typically do. That in turn leads to feeling fidgety. Your heart is beating faster, and you ultimately end up with a stomach ache. Stress is your bodys response to a specific event, and once the event or stressor is over, your symptoms go away. Anxiety tends to linger and sometimes requires treatment with medications to make those symptoms cease. While some amount of stress can be considered healthy and motivates us to work on making the stress go away, an excessive amount of stress can lead to anxiety. And if its left untreated, anxiety leads to unhealthy habits such as smoking, overeating or engaging in risky behaviors such as using illicit drugs or excessively consuming alcohol. The symptoms of anxiety include the above, as well as near perpetual worry, feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty concentrating. [See: 7 Healthy Ways to Deal With Working Over the Holidays.] Sometimes symptoms of anxiety can include chest pressure or tightness, a sensation of choking, stomach pain or nausea, or excessive sweating. Any of these could be a symptom of a panic attack. Panic attacks can occur spontaneously without any warning and can be quite debilitating. They do tend to occur more often in the setting of anxiety than with stress. Once you recognize theyre occurring, spend a few moments reflecting, perhaps writing down what you believe is causing you to feel this way. If its a certain event with an endpoint, such as holiday preparation, then you can identify it as a stressor causing your symptoms. You can then create a plan or a list to help you deal with that stressor. If youre having trouble even identifying what the stressor is, if you have more than half a dozen stressors or if your symptoms have lasted long after your identified stressor is over, you should seek medical attention. Your symptoms could be attributed to an anxiety disorder rather than to stress alone. Your doctor will want to make sure you dont have any medical illnesses that could be causing your symptoms. If none are identified, you may be experiencing anxiety. [Read: Making the Holidays More Meaningful and Less Materialistic.] Regardless of whether you have anxiety or stress, healthy sleep habits can help you manage symptoms. These include turning off all electronics, television or other forms of entertainment at least a half hour to an hour before bedtime. Keep your bedroom cool; wear loose, layered clothing and bed coverings; and use a sound machine to help lull you to sleep. Limit all food and beverages a few hours before you fall asleep. Consider earplugs if your bed partner, roommate or pet snores. Purchase light-blocking window shades or wear an eye mask. Practice a few minutes of mindfulness, deep breathing or meditation prior to nodding off. Studies have long shown that even brief periods of activity can help lower both stress levels and anxiety. Carve out time for a brief walk or some other form of exercise, despite how hectic your schedule is. If the weather prevents you from exercising outside or heading to a gym, crank up the music and have a dance party in your own home. If fast-paced music isnt your idea of relaxation, enjoy some non-lyrical music while engaging in gentle yoga or stretching. Turn to others for help. If your to-do list is a mile long, enlist a friend to help and treat him or her to coffee or lunch to thank them. Or have a friend babysit your kids while you run errands but dont forget to return the favor. Or, perhaps consider speaking to a spiritual advisor in your community. [See: 8 Proven Strategies to Stop Overthinking and Ease Anxiety Now.] Remember that medical professionals are available if you just cant seem to shake off stress or anxiety. They can help you figure out whether youre truly dealing with an anxiety disorder, or if its just the stress of the busy season. They will also have access to and information about mental health professionals in your neighborhood. If necessary, theyll be able to prescribe treatments that can help your symptoms. The end of the year is a challenging and busy time for many of us. Armed with this information, youll be able to tell whether youre experiencing normal end-of-the-year stress, or whether your symptoms represent something that requires medical attention. originally appeared on usnews.com

https://wtop.com/news/2018/12/whats-the-difference-between-stress-and-anxiety/

Who Will Be Nominated for Best Director?

There are but two guarantees in this years Oscar race for best director: Bradley Cooper and Alfonso Cuarn will be nominated for A Star Is Born and Roma, respectively. Who else makes the final five is anybodys guess. Eleven other directors including some Oscar-nominated veterans and would-be first-timers all have a legitimate path to those remaining spots. Below, going in alphabetical order, your Carpetbagger weighs their odds. Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade In his favor: Burnhams junior-high dramedy has netted several breakthrough awards from critics. Working against him: This years race may be too stacked with heavyweight names for Burnham to slip through.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/01/movies/best-director-oscars.html

How Effective Is That Flu Shot?

You've probably heard most of the reasons people give for not getting a flu shot. 'I've never gotten one and I've never gotten the flu.' 'The one time I got a flu shot, it gave me the flu!' 'Oh I probably will...when I get the time.' But maybe the one you've heard the most is in the form of a question: 'Do those flu shots really work?' Well, depends. The Centers For Disease Contro l says that the last flu season (2017-2018) the shots were about 40% effective. So I guess, the answer would be yes and no. There's a lot of reasons that some flu seasons, the shot works better (or worse) than others. There are different strains of the flu virus, so this is not an exact science. Every case of the flu will not be prevented, but yes, you should get a flu shot. Experts say there are certain groups of folks who really should get the vaccine. They include the elderly, pregnant women, folks with underlying conditions and the little ones, too. And they add, if you do get the flu after getting the vaccine, it won't be as bad or last as long. 164 millions shots have been administered this flu season, so even if the effectiveness rate is, say, 40%...that's still a whole lot of people avoiding the flu! WCCO 4 Minneapolis Contributed To This Article

http://ksoo.com/how-effective-is-that-flu-shot/

What time does the Rose Bowl game start?

Urban Meyer will take the field for his final game as the Ohio State head football coach Tuesday in Pasadena, and the Buckeyes will be looking to make their case as one of the true top-four teams in college football after their Playoff snub. Washington quarterback Jake Browning, meanwhile, will try to end his college career with Rose Bowl upset. The 2019 Rose Bowl Game Presented By Northwestern Mutual will begin at 5:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. You can stream the game online or watch on a mobile device via WatchESPN. Ohio State enters the game as a 6-point favorite, according to William Hill. The Buckeyes and Huskies have each won seven Rose Bowl games in program history. Ohio State last won in 2010 over Oregon, while Washington has not won a Rose Bowl since 2001.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/01/what-time-does-the-rose-bowl-game-start

When is Doctor Who back with series 11 and will it be the same cast?

Doctor Whos eleventh season has come to an end following todays New Years Day special and many fans are already wondering when she will be stepping back into the tardis. Doctor Who revamped the Daleks in New Years Day special and fans are divided Jodies first season as the Doctor has proven to be a ratings success after her first episode drew an audience of 11 million people. The actress was also joined throughout the series by here three companions played by Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole. Fans have some time to wait for a new season but the good news is that Jodie will be staying on in the role. The BBC has confirmed that the twelfth season of Doctor Who will be back on BBC One in early 2020. That means that Who fans will have to wait a year for anymore adventures through space and time. Advertisement Advertisement It was also confirmed that Jodie Whittaker will continue as the Doctor for a second series. She will also be joined by returning companions Graham, Yasmin and Ryan, who are played by Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole. MORE: Susan Boyle and Simon Cowell very excited as they prepare big plans for 2019 after Americas Got Talent: The Champions

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/when-is-doctor-who-back-with-season-12-and-will-it-be-with-the-same-cast-8298572/

What Was David Pastrnak Going For With Winter Classic Goal Celebration?

The new year is just hours old, but David Pastrnak is out here making a bid for goal celebration of the year at the 2019 NHL Winter Classic. Pastrnak got the Boston Bruins on the board at Notre Dame Stadium, knotting the score against the Chicago Blackhawks at 1-1 in the first period with a power play goal. He then went for the Dirty Bird celebration, flapping his arms before being swarmed by teammates. Were not entirely sure what the motivation behind the celebration was. Some speculated on Twitter that it may have been a nod to Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsovs similar bird walk celebration. https://t.co/t2GeCRAGTG Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 1, 2019 Whatever it was, we liked it. The Winter Classic provides some of the best eye candy of the year, from custom goalie masks to classic outfits. Thumbnail photo via Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports Images

https://nesn.com/2019/01/what-was-david-pastrnak-going-for-with-winter-classic-goal-celebration/

When are The Great British Bake Off Christmas and New Year specials on TV?

Behold, we bring you tidings of great joy! Channel 4 have spruced up their Christmas schedule with a generous double helping of The Great British Bake Off. Advertisement The two episodes, split over Christmas and New Year, will feature eight former contestants in total, with plenty of fan favourite cameos to look forward to. The Great Christmas Bake Off will air at 8pm on Christmas Day on Channel 4. The Great New Years Bake Off will air at 7.40pm on New Years Day on Channel 4. Each episode will see four former contestants take on a range of seasonal challenges. Last year, the fan favourites competing for the festive Star Baker title included Val Stones and cool-as-a-cucumber Selasi Gbormittah. Joining the bakers will be judges Paul Hollywood (no doubt sporting an unseasonal tan) and Prue Leith (fingers crossed shes wearing a Brussel sprout necklace), while Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding will be there to bring some Yuletide cheer to the tent. Liam Charles, Flo Atkins, Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth will be back to bake at Christmas, while Candice Brown, Kate Henry, Tamal Ray and Steven Carter-Bailey will be battling it out on New Years Day.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/great-british-bake-off-christmas/

Have We Reached Peak Rotisserie Chicken?

Not too long ago, rotisserie chicken from the grocery store had an iffy reputation as the go-to and to-go meal for students and singletons. It was there for folks heading home at 8 p.m. and desperate for something close to a home-cooked meal. Sometimes the chicken wouldnt even make it home youd eat it in the car, says Angie Quaale, food trend expert and owner of Well Seasoned, a gourmet food store and cooking school in Langley, B.C. These days, the convenience and low cost of a pre-roasted bird have warmed almost everyone to the rotisserie chicken. The appeal is so wide and so simple, says Quaale, citing its versatility and (relative) nutritional value. You literally grab it and go. You can buy a rotisserie chicken at just about any supermarket, but Costcos has a cult-like following of rotisserie regulars: some 60 million fly off warming shelves each year at the low price of US$4.99. Massive numbers like that might make the Costco rotisserie business seem lucrative, but its not. According to Costcos CFO, the retailer loses $30 to $40 million annually to deliver a chicken for under five bucks. Rather than raise the price an unforgivable offence to many loyal Costco shoppers execs have instead decided to cut out the middleman and open their own chicken-processing facility. The $275-million plant, currently under construction in Nebraska, aims to produce two million chickens per week. That might be enough to finally, maybe, satisfy our ever-increasing cravings for barbecued birds. Any stigma or shame over takeaway meals is long gone, says Quaale, and rotisserie chicken the grandfather of grab-and-go dinners has moved seamlessly from takeout to home cooking in our collective consciousness. Everyone from busy parents to thrifty shoppers to health nuts has embraced the birds, tweaking them as necessary to their diets and lifestyle. You can add veggies on the side, you can pull the meat off and add it to pasta sauce, you can put it atop a salad, says Quaale. All give the smug satisfaction of making a meal without having to turn on your oven. Ensuring theres a hot chicken in every pot, however, is a finicky balance of supply and demand. Its hard for us to keep up, explains Jamie Cooney, CEO of Rowe Farms in Guelph, Ont., and its exponentially more difficult for the big guys. A decade ago, Rowe Farms, which operates seven retail locations, didnt have rotisserie chickens anywhere in their business model. These days, every one of our stores has a rotisserie ovenwe sell rotisserie chickens in all our locations and to most of our wholesale customers. Rotisserie has gone from something non-existent to, depending on the week, the single largest-selling item in the store. Rowe Farms processes and harvests a nicer word for, well, you know about 8,000 chickens per week; about a quarter are fated for the roaster. Those birds tend to be younger and smaller and better priced by unit, rather than weight, as the rotisserie customer prefers. But having a fresh, warm and moist bird ready for every customer who walks through the door can be a logistical nightmare. Too many chickens left over is a waste of food and money. But if business is too good and people feel the need to call in advance to book their bird, Cooney will be concerned. That tells me they cant rely on stopping in at 6:15 p.m. and getting a chicken, he says. Which is, of course, the whole point of a takeaway meal. Heres What Youll Be Spending More On At The Grocery Store Next Year And it needs to taste good, too. We also face a bit of a challenge in that people dont always appreciate what it takes to bring good food to them, says Cooney. His chickens are local, organic and hormone- and antibiotic-free and priced accordingly. That makes them cost more than double the price of a Costco bird. Cheap foods the norm, and shoppers want it, but they also want something organic and local and with a certain animal standard. Its a Catch-22. As always, warns Quaale, you get what you pay for. Youve got to know that a $6.99 chicken just isnt as good as a $12.99 chicken, she says. If price is the most important factor, heres a novel idea: Roast your own chicken at home, she says. Its very, very easy and cheap, too. Then pull the meat off the bone and freeze it, and use the bones to make stock. Thats how to make a chicken go far.

https://www.chatelaine.com/living/rotisserie-chicken/

Is It Time to Rethink the Line Between Animation and Live-Action?

As I sat watching a pre-release screening of Aquaman a couple weeks ago, I kept getting hung up on the same thought. Admittedly, my mind had been wandering a bit unlike a lot of other critics, including ScreenCrushs own Matt Singer, I did not enjoy Aquaman , committed goofiness aside but during one of the various scenes set in the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, I could not stop thinking the same thing: This is an animated movie. And this thought isnt just exclusive to Aquaman, but to many purported live-action films that are awash in computer-generated imagery. Its time to rethink how we treat live-action and animated films, because the lines keep blurring. But its just the latest example of animated effects taking precedent over live actors in a major feature film. In the films many underwater sequences, characters like Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), Mera (Amber Heard), and King Orm (Patrick Wilson, and please, call him Ocean Master) swim around, get into battles, ride sharks like theyre horses, etc. The combined effect of all these sequences is that it doesnt even feel like youre watching real actors placed in front of green screens. Instead, many of the effects-heavy sequences feel as if visual effects artists literally had to draw on the faces of these actors to the otherwise CG bodies of the characters. The underwater (and CGI) world of Aquaman . Of course, Aquaman isnt the first comic-book movie to feel like its being created whole cloth from computers; hell, its not even the first such film from this calendar year to have that effect. Plenty of sequences in Avengers: Infinity War , Black Panther , and Ant-Man and the Wasp depict presumably live actors in settings that call to mind video-game cut scenes in terms of their shaky attempt at approximating real life. Its not exactly a case where Marvel or DC films fall into the fabled uncanny valley, in which animation attempting to mimic the style of real actors becomes almost physically unnerving to watch. However, when Ant-Man goes into the Quantum Realm or when all your favorite MCU heroes travel to another planet to stop Thanos from using the Infinity Stones to wipe out half of humanity, youre not watching real people in a real environment, but a lot of CGI thrown at the screen. The rules for the Best Animated Feature category at the Oscars deem that if animation figures in 75 percent of a films running time, it qualifies as feature animation. Without going frame by frame in films like those mentioned above, its difficult to say for sure if Aquaman qualifies based on the AMPAS regulations. Whats not difficult is seeing how little of the film was created on an actual set, as opposed to CG environments being created around live actors, who can only constitute so much of a given frame of a feature film. Even if this is intentional when Arthurs lighthouse-keeper father stands on its dock, staring out at the Atlantic Ocean, its aggressively obvious that actor Temuera Morrison is standing in front of a green screen, as if its 1950s-style projection its hard to treat Aquaman as anything but animated. The lines are blurring even further in 2019 of what constitutes a live-action or animated film. Walt Disney Pictures, over the last few years, has gone to the trouble of remaking its hand-drawn animated films. Theyve made everything from the execrable Alice in Wonderland (which itself feels like an animated film, even if the animation there is profoundly unpleasant to look at) to the charming 2016 remake of Petes Dragon , a David Lowery-directed film that managed to feel much closer to an actual live-action film that happened to include some CG effects. Disney But consider Jon Favreaus 2016 remake of The Jungle Book , in which the end credits state that the film was made in downtown Los Angeles. Thats because the entire film was crafted either on sound stages where young Neel Sethi, as Mowgli, acted in front of blue screens, or on computers. Most of the A-list voice cast of The Jungle Book did their work in a recording studio, not wearing motion-capture suits. (If you watch the behind-the-scenes features on the films Blu-ray, youll see exactly how blue the sets were to construct the jungles of India.) The same goes for Favreaus next film, the sure-to-be-massive remake of The Lion King , which many people have helpfully (and likely inaccurately) deemed a live-action remake. That would be quite the surprise, seeing as there are no humans in the story and the recent teaser trailer suggests that the animals will be CGI creations. They will, in short, be animated, just in a different format and style than in the 1994 original. Last year, there was an entire Oscar campaign that spoke to one angle of the live-action vs. animation debate. That was thanks to actor/filmmaker Andy Serkis, whose motion-capture performance as Caesar in the Planet of the Apes franchise had gotten enough (justified) critical praise that Fox tried to push him as a candidate for Best Actor. Though he didnt get a nomination he never got one as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings films either its an understandable push. Serkis is just as worthy of consideration for awards as any actor not wearing a mo-cap suit; the stigma, of course, is that if the work is animated, it may not be worth consideration for an Oscar. (This is why its been so remarkable, even with up to 10 Best Picture nominees, that Pixars Up and Toy Story 3 both got a nod in that category.) The Serkis campaign is similar to the debate a few years ago about whether or not Scarlett Johansson deserved an Oscar nomination for her voice work in Spike Jonzes Her (she absolutely did). Though that film is live-action, the stigma of voice work being associated with animation persists. This is arguably why studios like Warner Bros. and Disney may be loath to categorize films that absolutely are animated as animation. (Regarding the Lion King remake, Disney has neither dubbed it live-action or animation, simply describing the technologically groundbreaking production, which seems like a stretch unless a computer-animated film can be called technologically groundbreaking in 2019.) Animation still has a stigma of being juvenile or immature, even as comic-book films draw their inspiration from a style of animation, and some of them can even be complex and mature. (For that, just skip Aquaman and watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse instead.) But films like Aquaman and the reality that comic-book movies, animation remakes, and other adaptations arent going away anytime soon are an important reminder to critics and audiences alike: we need to approach these movies differently. You may love Aquaman or find it irretrievably stupid (it me). But its relationship to live-action filmmaking is tenuous at best.

http://wsbs.com/live-action-vs-animation-in-2018/

What Pre-Cut Produce Is The Biggest Time Saver And Actually Worth The Price?

Grocers know that every advantage counts when you have a limited amount of time to get dinner on the table, which is why were seeing more and more pre-washed and pre-cut foods in the produce aisle but these shortcuts dont come cheap. The Chatelaine food team scoured the stores for fruit and veggies that come in a variety of ready-to-cook portions and preparations from diced and sliced, to spiralized, chopped, processed and more. We assessed each by three factors: time saved, taste and price. Heres what wed buy again, and what wed prep ourselves next time. Serious Time-Savers These prepped items cost a little more, but bring big returns in the kitchen without sacrificing on flavour. This is where we feel the best value lies. Butternut Squash While its good to know how to cut butternut squash, it is one of those kitchen tasks that takes time and effort. For what you lose in savings on the prepared version, you save in time and energy in the kitchen. (Definitely worth it when youre on a dinner deadline.) Sweet Potatoes Just like squash, sweet potatoes are lower in moisture and more difficult to cut up. Theyre also not graded like regular potatoes, so there are huge size variations, which adds another step to your grocery shop: digging through the bin for similarly sized potatoes. We think the prepared option is a great when youre feeling the schedule crunch, and looking for a quick, healthy side dish. Spiralized Zucchini, Sweet Potato And More Unless you own a good spiralizer (hand-held options are fantastic for soft veggies like zucchini or cucumber), spiralizing vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and beets can be difficult. If youre not sure about investing in a spiralizer, the pre-prepared options are worth the occasional purchase (and a great way to determine if buying your own spiralizer is a good investment). How To Tell If An Egg Is Bad (And Why You Shouldnt Store Them On The Fridge Door) Sliced Mushrooms These are often the same price as whole mushrooms so theres no real reason to debate it, unless you dont plan to use the whole container quickly, or you need whole mushrooms for your recipe. Score. Fresh Beans And String Peas When it comes to saving time, cutting beans and de-stringing peas is not even close to the top of our list of things we want to spend time doing in the kitchen. Pre-prepped wins out every time. Pineapples Sure, youll get way more for your dollar if you cut up a whole pineapple at home, but it can be a juicy, messy task. And if food waste is a concern, buying a smaller portion of the pre-sliced stuff is absolutely worth the price tag. (Unfortunately, we cant help you with pineapple mouth, the prickly sensation on the tongue you get from eating too much of the golden stuff.) Shortcuts Worth The Price These are worthwhile tricks and long-lasting ingredients that cost a bit more and, while not being huge time-savers, theyre great to have available in a pinch. Cauliflower Rice Yes, its more affordable to buy a head of cauliflower and make your own cauliflower rice (blitzing it up in a food processor is pretty speedy). But, if you dont have the time, the tools or dont want to wash your Cuisinart, the bagged stuff is a great alternative. Squeeze Bottles Of Herbs When it comes to taste, herbs are best fresh. And when garnishing a dish, adding a final flourish of pureed herbs just doesnt cut it. But we understand that having a bunch of fresh basil or oregano always at the ready is a bit of a pipe dream, so if youre looking to add a last-minute hit of flavour to a sauce or dressing, freshly squeezed will do the trick. Minced Garlic And Ginger How to prep garlic is a polarizing topic among chefs, but if your goal is to save on time and potential food waste (as recipes dont usually require using a whole bulb), our food editor, Irene Ngo, swears by the jars of both pre-minced garlic and ginger. If you dont use a lot of either ingredient regularly, its a handy staple to have in the fridge. Items That Minimize Food Waste Youre not only saving time with these quick-fix essentials, youre cutting down on how much food you could end up tossing out. 10 Cheap Meals To Make When Youre On A Tight Budget Bagged Vegetable Medley If youre looking for an assortment of veggies, this is it. Buying one of each loose is not as cost-effective, and you run the risk of fridge over-crowding, which can lead to loosing track of your crisper contents, spoilage and food waste. Bagged Coleslaw A whole head of cabbage is the cheapest option, but its also harder to use up. (It does have a remarkably long shelf life, but can still lead to unnecessary food waste if youre not diligent about cooking with it.) We wholeheartedly support the bagged options as a regular purchase. Prepared Items With A Short Shelf Life Think twice when reaching for these they can save time but you lose on flavour and longevity. Chopped Onions When you chop or dice onions, the flavour immediately starts to degrade, so while buying pre-diced onions may save on tears from the fumes, you lose out on flavour, which is usually the key purpose of adding onions to any recipe. Wed consider these more an exception than a go-to. Whole loose onions cant be beat for cost and shelf life, and if youre worried about making it through a large bag (which is the most affordable option of them all) make sure to store it in a cool, well ventilated space to lengthen the lifespan. Sliced Peppers Peppers are sold either in multi-packs, or as singles by weight. And if youve ever stood in front of the bin weighing peppers in each hand to find the lightest one, youre not alone. But aside from the effort to avoid paying for heavy peppers (aka, the seeds), the markup and shorter shelf life of sliced peppers means that exercise is still worth it. So unless you plan to use those pre-cut slices immediately, save room in the grocery budget for the real time-savers. Probably Not Worth It Celery Sticks Celery is too cheap and easy to prep to make this a regular purchase. Sliced Apples If you buy them whole, apples last longer, and dont turn brown from oxidization before youre ready to get snacking. But hey, maybe you need to eat something, like RIGHT NOW. (Hanger is a thing, we totally understand.) Watch: How to peel and core an apple

https://www.chatelaine.com/food/kitchen-tips/grocery-shopping-produce/

Can wind and solar replace fossil fuels?

By Richard D. Patton Statements implying that wind and solar can provide 50% of the power to the grid are not difficult to find on the internet. For example, Andrew Cuomo announced that The Clean Energy Standard will require 50 percent of New Yorks electricity to come from renewable energy sources like wind and solar by 2030 Considering that the wind is erratic, and the solar cells only put out full power 6 hours per day, it seems a remarkable statement. For some answers, we turn to Germany, which has some of the highest electric bills in the world as well as a high proportion of its electric power produced by wind and solar (19%). Lets take a look at German consumption and generation. As you can see, the power generation (black line), especially after 2011, has been rising, but the power consumption (blue line) has been falling slightly. The red line denotes dispatchable generation, i.e. all power generated except wind and solar. This includes nuclear, fossil, biomass, hydro and geothermal power. The table below shows what happened more clearly. 2001 2011 2016 Consumption 520.2 546.2 536.5 Dispatchable 539.1 506.4 496.3 wind+solar 10.6 68.3 116.3 losses+export 29.5 28.5 76.1 Between 2001 and 2011, wind and solar generation rose 57.7 billion kwh. The difference of dispatchable minus consumption fell by 58.7 billion kwh. In this period, solar and wind were displacing dispatchable power. Germany chose to reduce its nuclear fleet in this period, so fossil fuel use (mostly coal) remained strong and Germanys carbon footprint was not significantly reduced. In the period from 2011-2016, Germanys wind and solar generation increased by another 48 billion kwh, but the difference between dispatchable generation and consumption was essentially flat at around 40 billion kwh. Losses+export increased by 47.6 billion kwh to 76.1 billion kwh in 2016. This increase is due to exports of 49 billion kwh to other countries in 2016. While nuclear power fell 20% from 2011 to 2016, the dispatchable non-fossil fuel (nuclear, hydro, biomass and geothermal) portion of power generation remained almost constant, as can be seen on this graph. This left the German fossil fuel and the intermittent (wind + solar) portion of power generation. In this period, wind and solar rose from 68 to 116 billion kwh, yet this rise of 48 billion kwh had no effect on the use of fossil fuels to generate power in Germany. During the period of 2011 to 2016, consumption fell by 10 billion kwh. Fossil fuel generation fell by 5 billion kwh, and non-fossil fuel dispatchable generation (nuclear, hydro, biomass and geothermal) also fell by 5 billion kwh. The increase in wind and solar (48 billion kwh) had no effect on fossil fuel use. Stability Problems, an example To the problems caused by intermittent power, let us examine German power usage on January 7-9, 2016. This graph begins at start of January 7, which is a Thursday. The load line (black) shows low power usage. The spot price (orange, right-hand scale) is 25/Mwh. The blue line is the sum of wind and solar power, and the red line is how much power is being exported. The day starts and the load increases as people head to work. The spot price rises to 42 /Mwh because the load is increasing. The wind picks up and the wind+solar line rises. It keeps rising throughout the day. As people go home and the work day ends, the spot price plummets to 12 /Mwh because there are too many producers of electricity. To cushion the system, more power is exported. The next day, the price rises in the morning but is still low (25/Mwh) during the day due to high wind output. Around noon (hour 37) the wind power plummets. This is in the middle of the work day on Friday, so the load is high. Wind+solar was producing almost one-half of the power, but within four hours, approximately 15,000 Mw of power are taken out of the system while the system is near peak load. The spot price rises quickly to 47/Mwh as the wind+solar power falls. The exports of power are reduced to cushion the system. Notice that the exports move with the wind+solar power (positive correlation) and the spot price moves opposite to wind+solar power (negative correlation). The correlation coefficient of Germanys wind and solar energy output and the exchanges with other countries in 2016 was r=0.503. The correlation between the spot price and the wind and solar generation is -.411. Wind+solar underwent a nearly 6-fold increase in power over 30 hours, and the system must accommodate that power. Wind+solar then fell by 50% (25% of the load) in 4 hours. Exporting some of that power out of the system helps stabilize it. The spot price movements attract or repel other power producers to balance the system and prevent blackouts. Despite these efforts, Germany is now plagued by blackouts. According to the (German) Federal Grid Agency (the Bundesnetzagentur), there are 172,000 power outages in Germany annually. This was reported by Hessen Public TV (HR). Previously, the German grid was impeccable. After all of this effort, including patience are the part of the public in accepting these continual blackouts, Germanys carbon footprint has barely budged. The CO 2 emissions from coal and coke have only fallen 2% between 2011 and 2016, due to decreased consumption of electricity. The extra 48 billion kwh produced from wind and solar plants built between 2011 and 2016 was balanced by exports of 49 billion kwh in 2016. In terms of reducing Germanys carbon footprint, the entire effort is a failure. Apparently, there is a limit to how much intermittent power a grid can use before it becomes unstable. German wind and solar use maxed out in 2011 at around 68 billion kwh, or 12.5% of consumption. Back in the 90s, engineering textbooks on wind were saying that people used to believe that wind could only supply about 10% of the power to the grid due to stability problems, but further studies showed that it could actually supply 30%. The real-life example of Germany shows that the engineers who said wind could only supply 10% of the power had a point. It has not been proven that the NY Clean Energy Mandate (or similar mandates elsewhere) can be met by relying on wind and solar power. Given the example of Germany, doubts are in order. As advertised by its politicians, Germany gets 19% of its energy from wind and solar. What they do not say is that it also exports 1/3 of that energy out of country, leaving its carbon footprint unchanged since 2011. Some small countries, notably Denmark, have advertised that they get 50% or more of their energy from sun and wind. What they really mean is that they have a large country (in the case of Denmark, Germany) next to them absorbing that power and selling them power when the wind stops blowing and the sun goes down. Because it is a small country selling into a big market, its energy sales do not disturb the grid stability of the bigger market. It is a much different case when the larger country (Germany) tries it. Germanys attempt, the Energiewende (energy transition), is widely judged to have been a failure. If New York goes down that path, it is not likely to do much better. Sources Andrew Cuomo 50% announcement https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-establishment-clean-energy-standard-mandates-50-percent-renewables Data for graphs were sourced from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Unfortunately, this is a beta site, but there was no other link to international data. The EIA website has generation and consumption figures for every country for the years 1980-2016. The link for German electricity generation (including different sources wind, fossil fuel, etc.) is: https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/data/browser/#/?pa=00000000000000000000000000000fvu&c=ruvvvvvfvtujvv1urvvvvfvvvvvvfvvvou20evvvvvvvvvnvvuvs&ct=0&tl_id=2-A&vs=INTL.2-12-AFG-BKWH.A&ord=CR&vo=0&v=H&end=2016 The link for German electricity consumption is: https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/data/browser/#/?pa=0000002&c=ruvvvvvfvtujvv1urvvvvfvvvvvvfvvvou20evvvvvvvvvnvvuvs&ct=0&tl_id=2-A&vs=INTL.2-2-AFG-BKWH.A&vo=0&v=H&end=2016 The correlation coefficients were calculated from hourly European data compiled by P. F. Bach. He did those same calculations and sent them to me in a personal communication; the numbers matched. Here is the download link to his website. http://www.pfbach.dk/firma_pfb/time_series/ts.php He got the data from Entso-e, a platform showing power genraton, consumption and transmission in Europe. Its website is here, and registration is free: https://transparency.entsoe.eu/transmission-domain/physicalFlow/show The power outages data are from no tricks zone. Pierre Gosslin, who runs it, usually has interesting facts about Germany. Here is the link to that: http://notrickszone.com/2017/12/01/germanys-national-power-grid-mess-country-seeing-whopping-172000-power-outages-annually/ The links to German TV from that article do not work. Also, from no tricks zone, a report form ARD TV in Germany. http://notrickszone.com/2018/01/26/unstable-green-power-grids-german-ard-television-tells-citizens-to-start-getting-used-to-blackouts/#sthash.rvUw5X6k.PzjU81fG.dpbs The link from that article to ARD TV is available below https://www.ardmediathek.de/ard/player/Y3JpZDovL2Rhc2Vyc3RlLmRlL3BsdXNtaW51cy81MWU3M2MwYy0wYjljLTQ4MTgtYTk0My1lZmJiZGIzMGU5YmI/ My German is very poor, but the show said 473/day or 172,645/year. Also, the show linked the stability problems to storms and wind power. In other words, wind power was specifically called out for Germanys stability problems. Advertisements Share this: Print Email Twitter Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Reddit Google

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/01/01/can-wind-and-solar-replace-fossil-fuels/

Will Shane Ray be a Kansas City Chief in 2019?

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shane Ray is slated for free agency in 2019. Ray is a former Broncos first-round pick from the 2015 NFL draft. Well, first of all, you can never have enough pass rushers in the NFL Secondly, Ray grew up in Kansas City and still has a ton of love for his hometown. He played football at Bishop Miege High School and for the Missouri Tigers. Ray even has a mural of the Chiefs, Royals, and Sporting KC tattooed on his body Ray is possibly leaving the Broncos franchise on some seriously rocky terms. He was benched and made a healthy scratch for the final two games of the 2018 regular season. As a rookie in 2015, he played backup to Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. He had four sacks that season, but didnt start a single game. The Broncos won the Super Bowl that year. Between his 2016 and 2017 season, Ray started a total of 15 games due to nagging injuries. The 2016 season was by far his most productive season, with eight sacks, 48 tackles, 21 QB hits, a forced fumble, and a touchdown. After the Broncos declined Rays 2019 team option and drafted Bradley Chubb in the top of the 2018 draft, it was clear they intended to move on. For the remainder of the 2018 season Ray wasnt given much of a chance by the Broncos. He suffered an ankle sprain late in October and that was the beginning of the end for Ray. Finally, with the season coming to an end, Ray opened up about his frustrations to reporters. Woah! Here's what Shane Ray had to say when asked if this has been a frustrating year and whether or not it was disappointing to be inactive on Saturday. #Broncos #4Broncos @CBSDenver pic.twitter.com/aRq6KKucYT Michael Spencer (@MichaelCBS4) December 17, 2018 It has been a frustrating two years but Im good. I dont have no problems, Ray said to Broncos reporters. I come in, go to work, I dont control what they do. Thats all up on them, so I just do what I do. When Ray was made inactive for the first time as a healthy scratch, the Broncos staff waited until the day before the game to tell him. He explained how that felt. Little disrespectful, but its all good though. I dont think Ive been inactive in my whole career, Ray said. Whatever reason they felt that I need to be inactive, thats on them. I dont have to answer to that, guys. Im here for these next two weeks. Obviously, were not going to the playoffs. Ill be in here doing my work like a professional. Shane Ray is now slated to become a free agent and hell have his choice of a new team. Shane Ray on becoming a free agent, its nice to have a chance to go to a place where there isnt a preconceived notion about you. James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 31, 2018 Its unclear if the Chiefs will carry any pre-conceived notions about this player. He did have some concerns prior to the 2015 NFL Draft, but we dont know how Brett Veach and Andy Reid feel about him. Its also not known if Ray will be a fit with the Chiefs because he wants to be a starter the next place that he goes. On the Chiefs roster, hes unlikely to be more than the No. 3 outside linebacker unless the Chiefs dont re-sign Dee Ford. Perhaps the extra motivation of playing the Broncos twice a year and playing for the hometown team would allow for Ray to alter his aspirations and come to play for the Chiefs. Theres a lot left to play out before we know for sure whether this will be a possibility, but as the 2019 free agency period approaches in March, keep an eye on this name for the Chiefs.

https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/01/will-shane-ray-be-a-kansas-city-chief-in-2019/

What To Look Out For During The 2019 Formula 1 Season?

The 2018 FIA Formula 1 Season has come and gone. Lewis Hamilton has taken the title, completing his strongest season to date and helping Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport capture their fifth consecutive constructors championship. Preparation is well underway for the 2019 season, with plans on the 2019 cars already done and under construction before the chequered flag falls in Abu Dhabi. In 2019, teams and drivers will enter new relationships as they all aim to clinch the world title and new rules will come into play in a bid to make the competition more closer. There is plenty to look ahead for the 2019 season and here at The Checkered Flag, we have compiled a list on what to look out for next year in Formula 1. One of the biggest news from the 2018 season was the announcement of Charles Leclerc to Scuderia Ferrari for 2019 in only his second season. The Monegasque driver impressed in his rookie season with Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team, regularly making Qualifying 3 appearances and scoring points throughout the season. He was that impressive in his first year in F1, that Ferrari decided to take a gamble and make a change to their line-up for the first time since 2015. Leclerc will replace Kimi Rikknen and will partner alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. The twenty-one year old will have a great teacher in Vettel at Ferrari and will help Leclerc settle in at the team during the beginning stages of the 2019 season. But Leclerc is expected to help Ferrari pursue for their first title since 2008, and will have to deliver results. Leclerc has personally aimed for two wins during his first year with the Italian team, but itll be interesting to see how long it will take for Leclerc to get settled in and start performing. Back in 2015, it took two races for Vettel to start winning at the Italian team. The 2019 season will see changes all around the paddock, but there will be a big notice on how youll tune into the sport this year. From this year, there will be only one channel UK viewers can watch Formula 1 live all season long. Sky Sports F1 will begin their exclusive live coverage of the sport in 2019, ending the free-to-air TV era. Channel 4, who previously shown a mixture of live races and highlights, will only show the British Grand Prix live alongside Sky Sports. Sky signed a deal back in 2016 that would make them the exclusive broadcasting channel, which would end coverage on free-to-air channels such as ITV, BBC and Channel 4. Some fans rely on free-to-air coverage as the price of a Sky broadband deal isnt affordable for them, so some passionate fans will have to settle with late coverage of the sport compare to those who can. Liberty Media have released F1 TV and throughout the 2018 season, have been experimenting with the streaming channel. F1 TV is available in the UK, but does not broadcast live races due to the Sky deal. But in the future we could see change that allows users to stream F1 on their TVs, Phones, Tablets etc. But this year, no doubt we will see a dip in viewing figures in the UK throughout the year. Channel 4 will continue to show qualifying and race highlights throughout the season, with the exception of Silverstone which will be live. Daniel Ricciardos shocking announcement during the summer break of the 2018 season that he would leave Aston Martin Red Bull Racing for Renualt F1 Team will be a talking point throughout the 2019 season. The Australian decided for a change of scenery for 2019 by joining the Enstone team that finished fourth place in the constructors championship in 2018. Ricciardo raced with Red Bull since 2014 and has claimed seven wins, competing with the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen in his stint with the team. But last year Ricciardo suffered numerous reliability issues that resulted in eight retirements in 2018. Only two trips to the podiums, both coming at wins in China and Monaco. The move by Ricciardo will be watched closely whether he made the right decision or not to leave Red Bull. Renault made a jump last year with Nico Hlkenberg and Carlos Sainz Jr. to record their best season since their return in 2016. But Renault havent made a podium appearance since then, but ambitions will be high with Hlkenberg and Ricciardo in their roster. It could be a matter of the team jumping up to third if Red Bulls move to Honda doesnt work out. Well have to see if Ricciardos move turns into like Lewis Hamiltons move to Mercedes, or Fernando Alonsos move to McLaren in 2015. One of the new changes coming into 2019 is the change of the aerodynamics on the cars in a bid to increase more overtaking opportunities. Last year, Ross Brawn and his team announced that several key changes regarding the front wing, barge boards, rear wing and DRS will be made in a bid to allow the cars to follow each other and not be affected by the dirty air. The front wing platforms will be changed to a more wider, simplified design to alternate the airflow and reduce aerodynamic turbulence. Smaller barge boards are being made to open more sponsorship opportunities for the teams to add on their cars. The rear wing are now simplified with limited development being made on the wings and will be taller and wider. These changes will help with research over the upcoming 2021 regulation changes that are set to take place. In a bid to improve the quality of racing and overtaking, F1 has decided to change the philosophy with the aero. Several teams have tested the new front wings already with prototype designs but we wont know the real outcome until lights out in Albert Park in March. Brawn says the changes should improve the quality of racing by 20%, but he has also stated that if the changes do not work out, they will keep on experimenting to find the right solutions in F1 problems relating to following one another. A real concern is that some teams have found ways to keep the level of downforce the same from 2018 with the new 2019 wings, meaning the changes could prove to be just an appearance change. We wont know the full answer until the end of the year. Red Bull not only lose Ricciardo, but the Renault engine as well as the team decided to end their relationship with the French engine manufacturer, who helped them win four consecutive titles between 2010 and 2013. Now, Red Bull will join forces with Honda as theyll kick start a brand new era in F1 alongside Verstappen and his new team-mate Pierre Gasly. Honda spent the 2018 season with Red Bulls sister team Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda and throughout the year, Red Bull have been keeping a close eye on the Honda engine to see its performance and how the Honda engineers work ahead of their move. This will be Hondas first crack at working with a top three team since their return in 2015. This move however, comes with a big risk. Honda are the only engine manufacturer in F1 under the V6 Hybrid era to not record a win or a podium finish since 2015. Their return to F1 with McLaren F1 Team was filled with turmoil as the relationship between the two broke down. After reliability issues and lack of performance, McLaren decided to cut their deal short and swapped for a Renault engine whilst Toro Rosso took the Honda engine. McLaren finished sixth overall whilst Toro Rosso ended in ninth. Whether Honda and Red Bull will be able to connect together and find a blueprint for success will be watched closely. The deal has to work if Red Bull want to challenge for titles in the future. If Honda doesnt work out, Red Bull could be falling down towards the midfield. Kimi Rikknen will return to Sauber in 2019, eighteen years since he started his F1 career with the Swiss team back in 2001. His move came when Ferrari decided to change their line-up, ending his tenure with the team after five years. He was able to pick up one last win at the United States before his move to Sauber. He will join alongside Antonio Giovinazzi, a colleague Rikknen worked with at Ferrari for the last two years as the Italian worked as the teams simulator driver. Rikknens move to Sauber maybe the end of his time at the top but itll be fun to watch and see whether the Finn still has the talent to battle in the midfield with a smaller team. At 39 years old, Rikknen is nearing the end of his career but the Finn isnt showing any signs that he wants to retire in a hurry. He still says that he still has the motivation to race and for the next two years, he will do so with Sauber. Who knows. Ferrari and Red Bull have made changes to their line-up for 2019, with fresh blood coming into the team ahead of the new season. One team who decided to stick with their drivers was Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will stay on for one more year together, both signing new contract extensions during the 2018 season. Hamilton always has question marks whether he wants to stay in the sport but no doubt the Brit will still be here aiming to win a sixth title. Its his team-mate who has a future in doubt at the team. Last year, Bottas had one of the most unluckiest seasons when he failed to snatch a win in multiple occasions. Bad strategy calls, punctures, mechanical failures and team orders prevented him from stepping on the top step of the podium. Fans felt sorry for Bottas at the beginning of the season but towards the end, they feel Bottas hasnt done much since he joined the team. Bottas plays a perfect number two role to help Hamilton towards the end of the season, when it is crunchtime for the two titles. But there will be pressure on Bottas as Esteban Ocon will spend the year on the sidelines at Mercedes after missing out on a drive. Bottas is currently on a one-year deal at Mercedes, with an option for 2020 if the team want to activate it, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said that Ocon will be a Mercedes driver one day. The British Grand Prix has been one of the crown jewels of the sport since its formation in 1950, hosting the first ever race at Silverstone. Since then, the Northampton circuit has been the home of British Motorsport and the place for Britains home for a F1 race. But in 2019, this could be the last ever British Grand Prix at Silverstone for some time. In 2017, the BRDC decided to activate its clause on its current contract, which would end their deal to host the British Grand Prix in 2019. The decision was made due to the increase in cost to host the race, an amount the BRDC couldnt afford yearly. No news over a deal with F1s new owners Liberty Media has been made yet and concerns start to grow whether a race will happen beyond 2019. This isnt Liberty Medias fault that the deal is becoming non-affordable. The deal was signed back in 2010 when the Donington Park deal fell through, agreeing to a 17-year deal and a new circuit layout would be introduced. Silverstone is also a circuit where it isnt Government funded, meaning the BRDC have to provide the costs of hosting a Grand Prix. Some alterations could be made in where the British Grand Prix will be hosted. London has been long discussed over hosting a race, but a race in the capital city will create problems and planning in a largely populated city will cause some headaches. F1 will see new faces enter the grid for the first time in 2019, with three new rookies entering the sport straight out of the FIA Formula 2 Championship. The top three from the 2018 season will enter the sport, making it the first time since 2010 where the top three in GP2/F2 go on to enter F1 the following year. George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon will become F1 drivers at Williams Racing, McLaren and Toro Rosso respectfully and will be looking to replicate their talents into F1 like they did in F2 last year. The two Brits and Thai driver will be looking to place their foot into the sport at the midfield and cement their place in F1. Russell, the F2 champion, will race alongside Robert Kubica, who himself is returning to the sport after an incredible comeback story. The Brit from Kings Lynn will hope to lead Williams back into the heart of the midfield after a difficult 2018 season. Norris spent the last two years at McLaren testing with team alongside his FIA F3 and F2 duties, now Norris will get the chance as hell race at the Woking based team in 2019. Norris is highly rated and will look to show his skills in his rookie season as McLaren aim to re-build. Albon will race at Toro Rosso with Daniil Kvyat, who returns to the team for a third time. Albon initially agreed to race with Nissan e.Dams in FIA Formula E, but Toro Rosso called his name for 2019 and agreed to race with team. Albon had a strong season in F2 and was a title contender, finishing the year third overall in the drivers table. All three drivers will hoping to put a rookie of the year performance in their debut season, but theyll have to find their feet in the sport first before they can think about wins and titles. All three join midfield teams, which could mean well see all three jockeying positions over the course of the season. Last year saw multiple teams fight within the midfield. Outside of the top three teams, all teams were squabbling among-st one another at every Grand Prix, with a new winner coming out on top. Renault and Hlkenberg were the best of the rest in the standings but a close battle between Haas F1 Team fueled the battle towards the final races. McLaren ended the year in sixth, with Racing Point Force India in seventh, despite started scoring points since Belgium when the team had to reset its points count due to a change of ownership. They scored 52 points as Racing Point, but if their points as Sahara Force India stayed (59 points), they would of jumped Haas. Sauber, Toro Rosso and Williams followed them up. The gap between the midfield is closing up and no doubt in 2019, the battle for fourth place or beyond could be a close fight in 2019. The gap to the top teams maybe big, but F1 and Liberty Media are trying to ensure the midfield teams get a chance to battle for wins and possible titles in the future. That may not come as early as 2021, but current fight within the midfield looks promising and should provide fans some entertainment for the year. At the moment, the momentum swings to Renaults favour due to their talented line-up and performance in 2018. But a change in aerodynamics and new cars could shake up the order of the pack. This is the year Daniil Kvyat needs to show the world that he is worthy of an F1 seat. The Russian returns to F1 and Toro Rosso after a year away from the sport. Kvyats time from the sport has been anything but rocky. He was handed a seat at Red Bull in 2015 after one year, where he claimed two podium finishes between 2015 and 2016. But after two clashes in China and Russia, Red Bull traded him to Toro Rosso for Verstappen. A demotion that hit Kvyat hard, as his results tumbled down. At the end of the 2017 season, Kvyat was dropped completely by Red Bull and lost his F1 drive. After a year away spent at Ferrari as their simulator driver, Kvyat is back at Toro Rosso for a third crack at the team. This has to be the year Kvyat is back to the glimpse we saw back in 2015 at Red Bull. In that season, he beaten Ricciardo in the championship as the Russian finished seventh overall. But ever since that season and the demotion, Kvyat was lost and couldnt score points regularly. Now back to partner alongside Albon, this is the year Kvyat can re-launch his F1 career and prove to everyone that he still has the talent. With British driver Dan Ticktum waiting in the wings for a shot in F1, both Kvyat and Albon will have to show that they are worth their place in the sport.

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2019/01/what-to-look-out-for-during-the-2019-formula-1-season/

What are the biggest films coming out in 2019?

Get What's On updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email A new year means another 12 months of huge cinema releases and with Oscar season just around the corner, the beginning of 2019 is a great time for film fans. While some of the Oscar contenders have already been released - First Man, Vice and Widows - there are many more to come. Stan & Ollie - January Already topped for Oscar success, the true story of Laurel and Hardy will feature Manchester's Steve Coogan and American comedic expert John C. Reilly. The film will depict the events of the comedy duo as their status waned following the death of the golden era of Hollywood. Diminished by age, the duo set out to reconnect with their adoring fans by touring variety halls in Britain in 1953. The shows become an instant hit, but Stan and Ollie can't quite shake the past as long-buried tension and Hardy's failing health start to threaten their precious partnership. The Lego Movie 2 - February The first movie was something of a surprise success - written and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller it was both a critical and commercial success. The second movie has been directed by Mike Mitchell but it has once again been written by the comedy duo. The plot will revolve around the Duplo invaders and their plans to destroy EVERYONE in the Lego universe so expect the film to be just as absurd as the first. Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, Channing Tatum, Elisabeth Banks and Margot Robbie will all lend their voice talents to the movie. Dumbo - March The latest live-action remake of a Disney classic. Directed by Tim Burton, the film will tell the story of everyone's favourite fictional flying elephant. The film will star Colin Farrell, Eva Green and Danny DeVito - who starred in Burton's 1992 Batman sequel Batman Returns as The Penguin. For those unfamiliar, the film tells the story of a struggling circus which enlists a man and his two children to care for a newborn elephant that can fly. Hellboy - April Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now Now something of a cult classic, the two original movies starring Ron Perlman were directed by Oscar winner Guillermo Del Toro. There was never a third entry to complete the trilogy and instead - in 2019 - we will get a reboot with Stranger Things' David Harbour in the title role. Response to the trailer has been mixed but little has been seen of the movie, and with it slated to be R-rated it could easily be a great comic book movie for 2019. Ian McShane and Milla Jovovich also star. Avengers: Endgame - April Apart from maybe Star Wars, this will be the biggest cinematic event of the year. Endgame is the epic climax to a story that's been 10 years in the making. Infinity War had every chance to be a mess, its cast was so huge and a fully CGI villain was a brave move but the film was a smash and upturned the Marvel Cinematic Universe on its head. Now it's up to Tony Stark, Steve Rodgers, Captain Marvel and more to put a proper end to Thanos. Endgame will once again be written and directed by the Russo brothers. Pokemon: Detective Pikachu - May The concept of a live-action Pokemon film with a talking Pikachu came about is pretty astonishing in itself. That the Pikachu of the movie is voiced by Ryan Reynolds in full Deadpool mode is even more puzzling/brilliant. How you feel about the film is likely dependant on how much of a Pokemon purist you are or how much you love Ryan Reynolds. Still, it will be different, that's for sure. Men in Black International - June A soft reboot of a much-loved 90s gem. While the sequels aren't remembered as fondly as the original, there is undoubtedly a great universe to explore and Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson are going to do exactly that in Summer 2019. Toy Story 4 - June Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now Toy Story was already the perfect trilogy but eight years after Toy Story 3, Pixar is having a fourth crack at the whip. The film had been rumoured for years but in autumn we got an official teaser trailer. The plot is still relatively unknown but the toys are still enjoying their new home with Bonnie and when new toy Forky is introduced to the group they all embark on a road trip together. Spider-Man: Far From Home - July Peter Parker might have met a dusty end in the finale of Infinity War but he'll presumably be back for Endgame as the Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel will be out in June and it will be a very short film if he's still just a sad pile of rubble. The Lion King - July Following the success of 2016's The Jungle Book, John Favreau has been tasked with the live-action remake of The Lion King. Despite a trailer which matched the original trailer almost shot-for-shot, the actual movie will supposedly be much different. Voice actors for the film include Donald Glover, Beyonce, Seth Rogen and James Earl Jones returns as Mufasa. It: Chapter 2 - September The 2017 adaptation of one of Stephen King's most iconic novels was well received and stood up to the 1990's TV mini series which is considered a cult classic. Chapter 2 will once again be directed by Andy Muschietti and the story picks up 27 years after Chapter 1 ends with the Losers' Club returning to Derry as adults to fulfill their promise of stopping Pennywise. Star Wars: Episode IX - December The big one - the currently untitled third entry in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. J. J. Abrams will return to direct the finale, after directing The Force Awakens in 2015. Unsurprisingly, details have been kept top secret and almost no information is out in the open and very few set photos have been published. A trailer will likely arrive in the first few months of 2019.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/what-biggest-films-coming-out-15610792

Has Man Utd target Mauricio Pochettino dropped a hint as to future plans after Spurs win?

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is wanted by Man Utd and Real Madrid The European heavyweights are both set to battle it out to appoint the Tottenham boss in the summer. Spurs owner Daniel Levy doesn't want to let Pochettino go but the lure of the big-time could be too great to turn down. Sources close to Tottenham this week claimed Real are a bigger threat to their hopes of keeping Pochettino than Manchester United. But there is an awareness at the club that United would be an attractive proposition for the Argentine. However, Pochettino's latest interview - following the 3-0 win over Cardiff - suggests his love for English football means he won't leave for La Liga. Asked about Manchester City's clash with Liverpool on Thursday, Pochettino responded: "I don't care, I don't care, I don't care. "Of course I'll be watching because it's an unbelievable game and I appreciate football. Of course both teams are the best today in England. "The day after we play in the FA Cup very close to Liverpool and we need to be ready again. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is wanted by Man Utd and Real Madrid "We need to be ready again because we have a busy fixture list." The Sky Sports reporter responded to Pochettino: "That's English football for you." Poch then smiled and beamed: "I love it, I love English football." Old Trafford chiefs have admired Pochettino since he arrived in English football and started working his magic at Southampton and now Tottenham. But that admiration turned into a full-blown love affair in August when Spurs thrashed United 3-0 at the Theatre of Dreams. Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, was struck by the manner of Spurs' win and the brand of football Pochettino's vibrant side produced. Man Utd have appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their caretaker boss It was the kind of football that became a thing of the past at United under Jose Mourinho. It was also a tantalising glimpse into what the future could be like at the club should Woodward be able to achieve the impossible and lure Pochettino to Old Trafford. Others have been linked with succeeding Jose Mourinho, including Zinedine Zidane, Laurent Blanc, Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri and Gareth Southgate, whose long-standing ambition is to manage one of the big clubs. But Pochettino, who Woodward considered targeting to replace Louis van Gaal when the Dutchman was sacked in 2016, stands head and shoulders above them all. He appears to tick all the boxes. Pochettino is young, ambitious, nurtures sides with an attractive footballing philosophy and carries himself in a dignified manner. Trending

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1065827/Man-Utd-Mauricio-Pochetino-Tottenham-Real-Madrid?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-sport-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Sport+Feed%29

Is euthanising birds the only solution?

It is sad that mynahs in Potong Pasir were captured and euthanised because they were making a lot of noise (Major intervention to tackle mynah issue; Dec 29, 2018). I remember the times when many households had roosters that loudly announced the rise of the sun daily. There were times then when people waited for birds to flock back home and enjoyed the myriad sounds they made every evening. They were - and indeed are - music to the ears. In the name of civilisation and development, we have misused and abused all the natural resources around us. Society is now trying to rediscover kampung living and is turning to organic edibles. This is a good sign but it is time we recognise that we have done enough damage to the planet. We have encroached into the jungles and displaced flora and fauna. In a small island like ours, it is inevitable for us to expand our dwelling places but with nowhere else to go, birds, squirrels and rodents do return. They are then seen as invaders of "our" territory. Once, someone even referred to the chirp of birds as "the worst morning alarm", conveniently forgetting that the birds were once the community's best morning alarms. In my estate, I see many motorbikes that make a lot of noise. It is worse when they are ridden under the blocks or revved up inside carparks. The sound echoes and is deafening, and the noise even travels up to the eighth floor of my block. I have lodged complaints with the town council, Land Transport Authority and National Environment Agency, but to no avail. I am sure we can think of better solutions for such incidents. Ramamurthy Mahesh Kumar

https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/is-euthanising-birds-the-only-solution

What makes a great Bloody Mary?

On New Years Eve, I stopped in at Pit Stop Catering and BBQ where owner Matt Smith was opening for a few hours to sell his popular Bloody Mary mix - which he sells on special occasions -- and a Hang Over hash that most revelers would enjoy on New Years Day. Welcome to Hangover Headquarters! he greeted me as I walked in the door at his take-out counter in Cascade, located at 6479 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI. 49546. Typically Matt is only open on Thursdays and Fridays, so this was an extra special event, and lines were gathering at the door to make sure to get his signature mix, which has a distinct smokiness to it because he actually puts it on his smoker for four hours. I even recorded a FB Live video for our MIBest Page. (Follow us at facebook.com/mlivemibest.) Knowing that Matt is a fan of Michigan spirits, I invited my friend Jon OConnor from Long Road Distillers to join us and bring along his Vodka and other award-winning spirits, such as his Michigin and Aquavit. Both of these guys have been featured as part of our Michigans Best series: Pit Stop as a finalist for Best BBQ, Mac and Cheese and Wings. Long Road as a leader in the Michigan spirits industry for its Gin, which uses all Michigan products, including juniper sourced on Beaver Island, and tasty cocktails. Check out the video I put together with Matt and Jon as we discussed: What Makes a Great Bloody Mary? Matt likes to use pickle juice, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce in his mix. Jon uses Italian tomatoes and a spicy blend of peppers. Follow our adventures as we traveled the state in 2016 for Michigans Best Bloody Mary. Unfortunately our top pick, Latitudes in Howard City, has closed down. But the rest of the list is solid. Let us know in the comments or send us an email: Im at gonzo@mlive.com. Amy Sherman is at asherma2@mlive.com. Also, if we missed your favorite restaurant or bar, let us know in the comments or by email Heres to a great 2019!

https://www.mlive.com/michigansbest/2019/01/what-makes-a-great-bloody-mary.html

Did Instagram's rumored Snapchat rival pop up in Android banner ad?

Facebook-owned Instagram has been rumored to be working on a new photo messaging app to go head-to-head with popular rivals like Snapchat, and evidence supporting such hearsay may have just turned up in the most unlikely of places. The Verge today reported that Instagram appears to have mistakenly leaked the existence of a new Snapchat competitor called Bolt, which turned up as a new banner ad inside the current Instagram for Android app. "Introducing Bolt," the screenshot snapped by Twitter user Richard Groves late Wednesday reads, promising "one tap photo messaging" and offering a link to download the free app via the Google Play Store. Needless to say, that particular button goes absolutely nowhere, and the mysterious banner ad vanished 15 minutes later, but not before other late-night internet users managed to spot the same message lurking in their own Instagram installations. This certainly wouldn't be the first time Facebook has tested unannounced features inside its mobile apps, with the recent iOS app Slingshot actually leaking onto the App Store before the social network had the chance to announce its existence. While it's easy to connect the dots and assume Bolt could be a Snapchat wannabe, a separate report from TechCrunch arrived at an entirely different conclusion, suggesting the app could be a fictional title instead. "It's worth pointing out that there's nothing in this leak that specifically confirms that Bolt is a forthcoming Instagram-owned property," remarked Sarah Perez, hypothesizing "Bolt" could simply be a placeholder for parent company Facebook's lucrative mobile app install ads. We've reached out to Instagram for further clarification one way or another, but in the meantime, Instagram lovers on Android should keep their eyes peeled for the elusive banner ad that kicked off all this speculation in the first place.

https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/software/applications/did-instagram-s-rumored-snapchat-rival-pop-up-in-android-banner-ad-1258925

Would 2019 begin with Georgia on a Sugar high?

There were worse fates than facing Texas in the Sugar Bowl. When Georgia came within an eyelash of beating Alabama in the 2012 SEC championship game, which served as a de facto play-in to the BCS title tilt, the Bulldogs didnt land in one of the BCS-affiliated games. They fell to the Capital One Bowl against Nebraska, while Florida which Georgia had beaten wound up losing to Louisville in the Sugar. This Sugar was a New Years Six game in prime time Jan. 1, and Texas is not nobody. It stands with Georgia, as Longhorns coach Tom Herman said Monday, on college footballs short list of major national brands. People would watch this game. They mightnt remember its winner, but theyd watch. For Kirby Smart, though, the Sugar has needed some selling. His Bulldogs had come so close to winning a second consecutive SEC title and thereby qualifying for the College Football Playoff for a second year running that anything less would constitute a comedown. Smart had lobbied for his team to crack the field of four it wound up No. 5 and the weak showings by No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 4 Oklahoma in Saturdays semis touched off a storm of social-media crowing, some of it from Bulldog Nation, but much from the Bulldogs themselves. When Georgia players met the media Sunday morning, they expressed no such righteous indignation. They surely had been ordered to tone it down, doubtless because they still had a game to play and a worthy opponent to confront. If the Bulldogs were to come out New Years night and apologies for the tangled metaphor lay an egg, theyd leave the rainy Crescent City with egg on their faces. Here was Smart on Monday, responding to a question as to whether Georgia should have made the CFP: Our concern, as you well know, is with Texas. And everything that we'll be judged on is how we finish, and we want to finish the right way. And we want to play our best football game at the end of the year, which is tomorrow night. Coaches live in fear of how their teams will treat a bowl. Everyone in the playoff is primed, but the non-playoff postseason games often hinge on which team is happier to be there and has more to prove. For Texas, this marked the first bowl appearance outside the Lone Star State since Dec. 28, 2011, when the opponent was California and the Holiday Bowl the venue. The Longhorns hadnt won 10 games in a season since 2009, when they lost to Alabama for the BCS title. Last year they finished 7-6 after beating Missouri in the Texas Bowl. They were, in a word, hungry. Georgia believes it coulda/shoulda been playing for another national title. In the attempt to snap his men to attention, Smart laid it on thick Sunday. The opportunity in front of our team is as grand as there is, as there can be, because for our guys they're looking at it as an opportunity to play to a standard, to make a statement, to play to the excellence that we try to create at the University of Georgia. They've got an opportunity to do that against one of the top programs in the country. Some of that was even true. Still, the month after the latest near-miss against Alabama has been fraught with intrigue. The ballyhooed freshman quarterback Justin Fields has placed his name in the NCAA transfer protocol. The All-American cornerback Deandre Baker is skipping this game so as not to get hurt ahead of the NFL draft. Several juniors tailback Elijah Holyfield and tight end Isaac Nauta among them are considering whether to make themselves draft-available. Even Smart conceded that the past four weeks had been wild and crazy. There seemed little question that Georgia was more talented than Texas. And yet: When last these teams met, the more gifted team lost. That was on Jan. 2, 1984, in the Cotton Bowl. Texas entered ranked No. 2 in the land, which would become a bigger deal that night when No. 1 Nebraska was upset 31-30 by No. 5 Miami, which was rewarded with the national title. The Bulldogs entered the game 9-1-1 and ranked No. 7 in their first post-Herschel season, but the feeling was that theyd overachieved they were beaten 13-7 at Sanford Stadium by Auburn in the game that gave the Tigers the SEC title and would stand little chance against Texas in Texas. The Longhorns led 9-3 with 4-1/2 minutes remaining when Craig Curry muffed a punt. Georgias Gary Moss recovered at the Texas 23. Two plays later, it was third-and-4 at the 17. The Bulldogs had converted only one of 13 third downs. Quarterback John Lastinger faked a handoff and spun right. The pride of Valdosta broke through the line and outran safety Jerry Gray, since enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, to the pylon. Georgia would win 10-9. Texas chance at a national title was gone. Of all Vince Dooleys famous upsets, that Cotton Bowl ranked second to none. Conversely, the Austin American-Statesman declared Currys flub the most heartbreaking Texas sports moment of the 20th century. (Ahead of the Longhorns two title-denying Cotton Bowl losses to Notre Dame and the Dallas Cowboys losing three Super Bowls by a total of 11 points, not to mention two last-gasp NFL title defeats against Green Bay.) The better team didnt win that Cotton Bowl. Georgia managed just 215 yards, but it scored one more point. Thats the sort of result that Smart and staff had been working like mad to prevent. Human nature, however, can be the toughest of all foes. After another Bama disappointment and wild and crazy December, the Bulldogs would gladly have settled for a nice serene NOLA victory.

https://www.ajc.com/blog/mark-bradley/would-2019-begin-with-georgia-sugar-high/9yV6tDXc0Yjq1pCwIwcy6H/?src=rss

Can a bit of technology called LENA help young brains develop language?

Columnist Theres a new student at Bright Beginnings, a preschool in Southeast Washington. Shes called LENA, and while she doesnt say much, shes very attentive. LENA isnt a person. Its a machine, a little gadget smaller than a cellphone that students wear in a pouch in a smock. What the LENA device does is capture audio fields for language interaction in that childs environment, said Anthony Sims, director of organizational learning at Bright Beginnings, a school that serves families experiencing homelessness. The charity is a partner in The Washington Post Helping Hand fundraising campaign. [From a little acorn and a great need did Bright Beginnings grow] LENA it stands for Language Environment Analysis is both hardware (that little $250 recorder) and software (the programs that parse the recordings). It was developed by a nonprofit organization headquartered in Colorado. The program has just been rolled out at Bright Beginnings, where once or twice a week, one or two pre-K classes of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds don LENA-equipped smocks. The kids like [the smock] because its bright and colorful, Sims said. One person said their kid called it their superhero uniform. At the end of the day, the recorders are collected and the data they captured is uploaded to a hub to be analyzed. If this all sounds a bit Big Brotherish, Sims points out that LENA doesnt record the specific dialogue. No one is actually listening to their conversations, he said. The computer is counting the words, not what words are said. The LENA software is able to tally discrete words. More importantly, it notes who is talking. The difference in frequency between a child and an adult voice lets it discern conversational turns. These are the back-and-forth interactions when one person stops talking and the next person starts. And that is the key to LENA, Sims said. Exposure at a young age to a large vocabulary is important, but research suggests that back-and-forth conversation can help in the development of the growing brain. The objective really is to build on the research thats shown that the early childhood talk environment really advances language and brain development for children, Sims said. This particular approach seeks to increase language and what they call conversational turns between adults and their children. The LENA program just started at Bright Beginnings, so theyre still in the process of establishing baselines for their students. The data will be shared with teachers, so they can see how theyre interacting with the kids under their supervision. The data will also be shared with parents. Sims said LENA can encourage parents to adjust the way they interact with their children. If you dont understand the difference between talking to kids and prompting them with questions, and inviting them to ask questions, then we really arent improving the language gap that were hearing about in kids in lower socioeconomic backgrounds, he said. Questions that elicit one-word answers from children okay arent as beneficial as ones that invite something richer. Better, Sims said, is a layered question that leads to greater elaboration: You had science today. What do you think about it? In addition to the children enrolled at its two locations in Southeast, Bright Beginnings has home-based programs. Staff members visit children at their homes and provide parenting help. The LENA devices will be worn there, too, then collected, the data uploaded and crunched so parents can gauge interaction with their children. [A unique preschool helped this once-homeless mom. Now she teaches there.] Sims joined Bright Beginnings in September. He holds a doctorate from Howard and has been an educator for 28 years. Gone are the days where we look for those silent classrooms, he said. Unless students are working independently, hed rather see children querying the teacher as they strive to learn. The wonder of the young noggin is that the brain doesnt just produce language. Language helps improve the brain. Homelessness and poverty can starve young brains of the developmental capital they need. Sims thinks the Bright Beginnings parents will want to know what they can do to make sure their sons and daughters are ready for kindergarten and the world beyond. Thats the true power of data, he said. Its not just the answers it gives us. To give, visit posthelpinghand.com and click Donate. To contribute by mail, make a check payable to Bright Beginnings and send it to: Bright Beginnings, Attn: Helping Hand, 3418 Fourth St. SE, Washington, DC 20032. Our fundraising drive ends Friday, so please give today. Twitter: @johnkelly For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/can-a-bit-of-technology-called-lena-help-young-brains-develop-language/2019/01/01/97d7122e-0ddf-11e9-831f-3aa2c2be4cbd_story.html

How many episodes are there in Luther series 5 and when is the next one on TV?

Idris Elba stars in Luther (Picture: BBC/Des Willie) If you loved the first episode of the new Luther series and are desperate to see the next one already, youre in luck. Our favourite TV detective returned on New Years Day four years after we last saw him on the small screen. And now weve been given another slice of Luther and Alice Morgan, we obviously want more. Luther series 5 is coming (Picture: BBC) The fifth season of Luther is comprised of four episodes. Impatient fans will be overjoyed to hear that this season will be airing back-to-back, meaning well get to see all four episodes before the week is out. With the first episode showing on TV on New Years Day, the second episode will air on Wednesday 2 January, the third on Thursday 3 January and the fourth and final episode on Friday 4 January. All episodes will air on BBC1 at 9pm. Watch this. #Luther. Starts New Year's Day at 9pm on @BBCOne. pic.twitter.com/MDDuEagbfO BBC One (@BBCOne) December 4, 2018 Luther series 5 will be a return to form (Picture: BBC) Writer and show creator Neil Cross had said in December last year: We missed John Luther. We missed some old friends. And we wanted to make the biggest, scariest, darkest, most thrilling series of Luther theres ever been. So thats what weve come back to do. Advertisement Advertisement Luther has never been scheduled to do it every year, Idris Elba recently pointed out. We do it whenever we want, and thats why this feels like a good time to come back; its just because weve been away for a while. There is unfinished business, but theres also more Luther. A new nightmare awaits DCI John Luther in series five, and he must once again confront the depths of human depravity. The official press release states: As a series of monstrous killings becomes ever more audacious, Luther and new recruit D.S. Catherine Halliday are confounded by a tangle of leads and misdirection that seems designed to protect an unspeakable horror. But even as the case brings him closer than ever to the nature of true evil, a reluctant Luther must also face the ghosts of his own past. Striding back into the line of fire, he must choose who to protect and who to sacrifice. Whatever his next move, it will have devastating consequences for those around him and change John Luther forever. Luther is back filming (Picture: BBC) Lets see a trailer To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The BBC finally released the trailer for the fifth series in November and it looks bloody good. A long three years has passed since we last Idris Elbas DCI Luther swooping in to save Londoners from a horrifying number of murderers and his return looks set to be as dramatic and exciting as ever. Idris Elba as Luther is finally back (Picture: BBC) Set to a revamped version of Britney Spears Toxic, the trailer sees the iconic character delve right into the deepest depths of human depravity with new recruit D.S. Catherine Halliday (Wunmi Mosaku) by his side. Advertisement Advertisement Luther is forced to confront his own demons of his own recent past and must choose who to protect and who to sacrifice. Yep, were bursting with anticipation too. As well as Idris and Ruth, Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley and Patrick Malahide will return for the four-part series as DSU Martin Schenk, Benny Silver and George Cornelius; and Wunmi Mosaku, who won a BAFTA for her performance in BBC Ones Damilola, Our Loved Boy in 2017, as well as starring in current Channel 4 drama Kiri, will join as new recruit D.S. Catherine Halliday. Filming for series five, created by Emmy-nominated writer Neil Cross and produced by BBC Studios,.took place in London. Ruth Wilson has admitted hat she is open to fronting a Luther spin-off if the script was right. The 36-year-old actress, who plays wicked research scientist Alice Morgan in the BBC1 detective drama, said that she is in talks to star in a show focused on her own villainous character. Weve talked about it actually. Yes, definitely, if the script is right and the storyline is right, she said. Advertisement Its funny. People like watching her because she comes in and out. I dont know. Ruths character Alice Morgan is obsessed with Luther, played by Idris Elba (Picture: BBC) The screen star said that she would be prepared to branch out on her own because her alter ego is so multifaceted. Shes a scientist, shes incredibly intelligent. Shes not like Luther [played by Idris Elba], she told The Sun newspapers Bizarre TV column. Youd have to make the show quite different in style though, and get inside her head. Youd have to find a new pivot, but yes we have talked about it, and she is an amazing character. Whether youre late to the party or you want to relive all of the great previous series, all four seasons are available to download on BBC iPlayer, so theres no reason not to get acquainted with Luther. Luther is coming soon to BBC One with series 1 to 4 available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. The fifth season starts on 1 January 2019. Advertisement MORE: Luther season 5 to launch on Christmas as we finally learn what happened to Alice MORE: Idris Elba joins The Rock and Jason Statham filming for Fast And Furious spin-off

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/how-many-episodes-are-there-in-luther-series-5-and-when-is-the-next-one-on-tv-8297125/

Was the death of Sen. McCain top story of 2018?

Sen. John McCain poses at the Republic Media building in downtown Phoenix, Thursday August 3, 2017. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic) The number one story of 2018 is the death of Arizona Sen. John McCain. It's not the wall. Not the government shutdown. Not the Robert Mueller investigation. It's nothing done or said or tweeted by President Donald Trump. It's the loss of Sen. McCain. When the senator ran for re-election in 2016, he said it would be his last term. And despite taking some knocks from his own party, he won, making him one of the rarest and most valuable politicians any nation could have. A powerful, truly independent voice. Or, as he wrote in his last book, "The Restless Wave:" Im freer than colleagues who will face the voters again. I can speak my mind without fearing the consequences much. And I can vote my conscience without worry. He was pretty good at that already. But with no election worries, with a term lasting until 2022, and with the clout he had in the Senate, McCain, as a Republican foil for Trump, would have been invaluable. Which makes his loss incalculable. In the tug of war for the soul of the Republican party, McCain was the strong man at the other end of the rope, pulling against Trump and his supporters. When McCain lost his grip there was no one with his country above party values and his self-reliant spirit to pick up the line. Democrats don't have the same weight Members of his own party feared Trump. All the bluster and tough talk that Republican stalwarts aimed at Trump during the campaign has long since dissipated into whimpering, submissive obedience. Democrats can criticize the president, but it will never have the weight of a politician from the same party. That was McCain. Like when he said in a speech last October: "To abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history." Measuring our loss He did not specifically name the president but you got the implication. Thats because McCains intent wasnt simply to run down Trump, but to elevate other Republicans. That was his value. Thats the measure of his loss. Our loss. E.J. Montini is a news columnist for The Arizona Republic, where this column originally appeared. Read or Share this story: https://www.reporternews.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/01/01/sen-john-mccain-2018-top-story/2450024002/

https://www.reporternews.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/01/01/sen-john-mccain-2018-top-story/2450024002/?from=new-cookie

Who Will Lead In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence?

Accelerating trends in artificial intelligence (AI) point to significant geopolitical disruption in the years ahead. Much as mass electrification enabled the rise of the United States and other advanced economies, so AI is poised to reshape the global order. Forecasts suggest that AI will add a massive $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Prospects for sustaining global competitiveness are now directly tied to the industrialization of AI. AI and machine learning are predicted to reshape manufacturing, energy management, urban transportation, agricultural production, labor markets, and financial management. Governments that can successfully cultivate a culture of disruptive innovation will be strategically positioned to lead in the twenty-first century. By contrast, governments that resist AI will find themselves facing a daunting future. Battle of the Titans At the research level, the United States remains highly invested in AI and other disruptive technologies. The National Science Foundation (NSF) currently invests over $100 million each year in AI research. DARPA recently announced a $2 billion investment in an initiative called AI Next whose goal is advancing contextual and adaptive reasoning. Meanwhile, the US military has created a new Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) to oversee service and defense agency AI efforts. But where the US has established a strong lead in AI discovery, it is increasingly likely that China may dominate the industrialization of AI. Alongside Chinas expertise in factory machinery, electronics, infrastructure, and renewable energy, the countrys government is increasingly focusing on AI leadership. According to former Google head Kai-Fu Lee, Chinas innovation system is nurturing a kind of global economic duopoly that will inevitably force countries around the world to choose sides. Lee would know. After completing his PhD in speech recognition at Carnegie Mellon he went on to lead AI research at Apple, Microsoft Research, and Google China and now oversees venture capital investing in Beijing. As Lee points out, the strength of Chinas economy is a productive synergy between government policies and market forces. Not only does China have advanced commercial capabilities in AI but more importantly it has a coherent national strategy. Unlike the US, Chinas government has become highly invested in leveraging AI to drive its enormous economy. Chinas state-led strategy builds on the countrys national champions Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent (BAT) in a long-term effort to restructure the global technology market. Chinas government correctly recognizes that AI is critical to its future growth. Where China has commoditized computers, electronics, smartphones, infrastructure, telecommunication technologies, and supercomputers, Beijing has now set its sights on system-wide AI. This includes autonomous vehicles (AVs), advanced medical equipment, robotics, and financial technologies. Until very recently, most of the AI-driven innovation deployed by Chinese industries has been incremental rather than disruptive. But this is changing. Chinas technology sector is reaching a critical mass of expertise, talent and capital that is realigning the commanding heights of global power. In fact, the Chinese government plans to lead the world in AI by 2030, announcing more than $110bn worth of technology merger and acquisition deals since 2015. China expects to widen its lead in the industrialization of AI by leveraging massively abundant data and rapid prototyping. The countrys growing internet economy generates vastly more data than any other country, leveraging speed, execution, and product quality, particularly through its fintech companies. With instantaneous mobile payments, for example, Chinas mobile infrastructure is providing a tsunami of data for training AI algorithms. After two centuries of Western dominance in technology and innovation, the tables are now turning. Chinas highly efficient planning model has become a force to be reckoned with. Even as the big five US technology giantsAmazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple and Googleredefine Western capitalism, China is inventing a kind of technonationalism. While the US retains a significant technology dominance in AI, resources are fragmented and national leadership is weak. Even as the Congress has recently passed legislation introducing a national security commission on AI, the US still lacks a coherent vision for coordinating AI. Perhaps an even more challenging problem is the deep divide between the public and private sectors. In the wake of the Edward Snowden revelations, technology professionals now repudiate government, wary of colluding with an opaque military-industrial complex. The main problem facing the US and other advanced economies is a kind of market fundamentalism that devalues government-led moon-shots. After a half century of US-led neoclassical economic theory, Chinas planning model is proving to be more strategically effective at delivering the goods. Where the US thinks in electoral cycles, China is reshaping the playing field, accelerating the decline of the Western-led world order. What is obvious is that Western countries are in need of new leadership at multiple levels. Just as a post-war generation built a liberal global order, so today aging democracies are in need of a new and compelling vision for a high tech global society. A new generation of leaders is urgently needed younger, smarter and most importantly, technology literate.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielaraya/2019/01/01/who-will-lead-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence/

Is dit het einde van de vreugdevuren in Den Haag?

De vonkenregen in Scheveningen. Beeld Eric Brinkhorst Bewoners vegen brokken houtskool van hun stoepje. Een man fotografeert de gaten die rondvliegende kooltjes hebben geslagen in de plastic delen van zijn motorkap. En ondertussen stroomt de promenade vol mensen die de afgebrande cafetaria en de verkoolde fietsen komen aanschouwen. Het is nieuwjaarsdag en Scheveningen ruikt naar vuur. Ja, het ging mis vannacht, daar is iedereen het over eens. De wind speelde met de kolossale vuurstapel die de bewoners elk jaar tussen Kerst en Oud en Nieuw op het strand bouwen tegelijkertijd met de concurrenten in Duindorp. Brokken gloeiend houtskool vlogen door de lucht, zeilden over het dorp en regenden op straten, in tuinen en op daken. Her en der ontstonden brandjes. Slachtoffers waren er niet. Toen de rook nog niet was opgetrokken, kondigde de Haagse burgemeester Pauline Krikke een onderzoek aan naar de gebeurtenissen. Daarbij ligt voor mij ook de vraag op tafel, zei ze, of het organiseren van de vreugdevuren in deze vorm in de toekomst verantwoord is. Dinsdagmiddag maakte ze bovendien bekend dat de stapel 48 meter hoog was, 13 meter hoger dan was afgesproken. Gebarsten voorruit Het begon allemaal prachtig op oudejaarsavond, zegt Jan Rietman dinsdagochtend in zijn appartement op de derde verdieping, waar nog altijd een vuurlucht hangt. Kijk, vanaf dat balkon keek hij met zijn vrouw, zijn zus en haar man hoe de vuurstapel werd aangestoken. Gigantisch mooi, zegt hij. En toen kwamen de vonken, eerst een paar, toen veel meer. Een sprookjesachtig gezicht was het, met ernstige gevolgen. Al gauw snelden enkele bewoners van het complex met emmers en pannetjes water het dak op, om te voorkomen dat dat vlam zou vatten. Een buurvrouw raakte overstuur. Het was heftig hoor, zegt Truus Rietman, de vrouw van Jan. Vanaf de galerij zagen ze de vonken in de straten verder van het strand landen. En pand vloog in brand. Rietman kon zijn auto niet meer op tijd verplaatsen. Hete blokken houtskool deden zijn voorruit barsten. Vorig jaar hebben enkele bewoners uit zijn complex al bezwaar gemaakt tegen het vreugdevuur, zegt Rietman. Ze kregen veel rook in hun huis. Daarom werd de stapel opgeschoven. Dit drama voorkwamen ze er niet mee. Het kan zo niet langer, concludeert hij. De vonkenregen in Scheveningen. Beeld Eric Brinkhorst Domme, domme pech Karin van der Does wandelt met haar hond over de promenade. Mijn balkon ziet er net zo uit, zegt ze en wijst naar de hopen houtskool op de boulevard . Ze woont nog achter de Oude Kerk die de brandweer vannacht uit voorzorg nat spoot. We hebben geen schade en geen letsel. We moet alleen vandaag schoonmaken en kunnen daarom niet naar de nieuwjaarsduik. Zelf was ze er ook bij. Haar zoon en haar kleinzoon hadden de afgelopen dagen pallets gestapeld. Alles was goed gegaan. Alleen stond de wind niet goed. Niemand kon hier iets aan doen. Het was domme, domme pech. Hoe het in de toekomst moet, weet ze ook niet. Wel vreest ze een eventueel verbod. Dan gaat het weer de stad in, h? zegt ze. Van der Does wijst naar de keerlus van de tram en de huizen eromheen. Wij hebben nog meegemaakt dat het vuur daar was, zegt ze. Die mensen stonden de hele avond hun huizen nat te houden zodat de ramen er niet uit sprongen. Brandweer bezig met nablussen de dag na de vonkenregen bij de boulevard van Scheveningen Beeld ANP Nieuwe traditie Want zo ging het vroeger in Den Haag. Groepen jongeren verzamelden voor de jaarwisseling kerstbomen, autobanden en pallets om in hun eigen buurt een eigen vreugdevuur te maken. De schade aan bestrating, autos en ruiten was aanzienlijk. Begin jaren negentig besloot de gemeente plekken aan te wijzen voor de vuren, later kwam er een verbod. Er was nog ruimte voor twee vreugdevuren. Zo ontstond een nieuwe traditie: de strijd tussen Scheveningen en Duindorp. Die leeft enorm in de wijken. Zie daar het dilemma waar burgemeester Krikke voor staat. Verbiedt ze de vreugdevuren, dan loopt ze het risico dat de rellen zich weer naar de wijken verplaatsen. Nieuwe afspraken maken met de bouwers over de hoogte of het bouwvolume lijkt ook niet aantrekkelijk. Zulke afspraken zijn de afgelopen jaren regelmatig geschonden net als dit jaar. Brandende kooltjes De Scheveningse fotograaf Dick Teske arriveert dinsdagochtend op de boulevard. Hij was hier vannacht ook, vertelt hij, en het leek wel oorlogsgebied. Hij maakte onder andere een foto van een moeder met een kind van een jaar of vijf, rennend tussen de vuursnippers. Je voelde de brandende kooltjes op je hoofd vallen', zegt hij. Mensen wisten niet meer waar ze heen moesten. Teske is, net als veel anderen, van mening dat het zo echt niet langer gaat. Ik vond het altijd hartstikke leuk, zegt hij. Het is geen misselijk vuurtje, dat ze elk jaar op het Zuiderstrand stoken. In de dagen tussen Kerst en Oud en Nieuw stapelen de Duindorpers tienduizenden pallets op elkaar. Dag en nacht bouwen ze door, zodat in vijf dagen een houten toren ontstaat zo hoog als een flatgebouw met tien verdiepingen. Die toren, stellen ze allemaal, die symboliseert de saamhorigheid hier, de eenheid. Nou, in Duindorp dus. Nu nog wel, in elk geval. Lees hier de reportage. De vonkenregen in Scheveningen. Beeld Eric Brinkhorst Beeld ANP Schade op de boulevard van Scheveningen Beeld ANP Beeld ANP

https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/is-dit-het-einde-van-de-vreugdevuren-in-den-haag-~bdd8f657/

Is the Psychology of Deadly Force Ready for the Courts?

On Oct. 2, 2018, police psychologist Laurence Miller took the stand to testify in the defense of Jason Van Dyke, a white police officer who shot Laquan McDonald, a black teenager from Chicagos West Side, in 2014. The facts of the case didnt look good for Van Dyke. A 13-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, he had shot McDonald 16 times within seconds of exiting his squad car. Though McDonald was holding the knife he had reportedly used to damage a patrol vehicle, the 17-year-old was shot while walking away from cops in the middle of the street. None of these events were in dispute. The shooting had been captured by another police vehicles dashboard camera, and Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder, 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, and one count of official misconduct. The 67-year-old Miller, who lives in Boca Raton, Florida, was not there to argue about external events. Instead, he asked jurors to focus on Van Dykes perception of the shooting. With the lights dimmed in the crowded courtroom, Miller presented a slideshow titled, The Neuropsychology of Deadly Force Encounters. In life-and-death situations, he explained, the bodys stress response can distort cognition, perception, and memory. For police officers, this can lead to a phenomenon he referred to as deadly force mindset, where the officer, flooded with neurotransmitters and hormones that ensure survival of the moment, feels his or her only option is to kill or be killed. Van Dyke, Miller argued, should be found not guilty of the charges against him. Jurors scribbled notes throughout Millers testimony. The use of psychologists in courtrooms is nothing new, of course, and defense attorneys and prosecutors alike have long relied on expert testimony to help divine the complex soup of chemical hormones and electrical impulses that drive human behavior. But the use of psychology in the defense of police officer shootings is less commonin part because so few officers ever end up on trial. Only 96 officers in America have been arrested for murder or manslaughter for an on-duty shooting since 2005, according to Bowling Green State University criminologist Philip Stinson, and such cases rarely make it to a courtroom. But when they do and some experts suggest it is likely to become more common with the proliferation of cameras documenting police-suspect interactionstestimony on the unique and stressful psychological tableau of police work has become a staple for the defense. And yet, some psychologists argue that while the biology of stress is well established, its connection to deadly force is far less clear. While officers can experience cognitive and perceptual impairments, like tunnel vision and dissociation, during deadly encounters, researchers ultimately know very little about what role they play in the decision to use deadly force. In the absence of rigorous science, psychologists are dubious of using the neurobiology of stress in defense of police officers who kill. The defense used what seems to be an exculpatory argument, though not actual data, to say, You shouldnt be responsible because this is the level of stress on the job, said psychologist Phillip Atiba Goff, a professor at the City University of New Yorks John Jay College of Criminal Justice and cofounder and president of the Center for Policing Equity, a think tank that studies racial disparities in criminal justice policy. This is a bad area for science to be in. On Oct. 5, jurors in Chicago ultimately found Van Dyke guilty of 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and second-degree murder. A sentencing date is pending, and while Van Dykes attorneys were still angling last week for a new trial (the judge denied those motions), in a phone interview after the original trial, Miller suggested that his testimony may have at least partly prompted the jury to deliver a verdict of second-degree, rather than first-degree murder. Thats a lesser charge, and one that would seem to suggest, legal experts say, that jurors believed that Van Dyke felt himself to be in danger, even if his reaction was unreasonable. Whether or not Miller was pivotal in prompting that conclusion is impossible to know, but several psychologists and neuroscientists interviewed for this story suggested that if jurors were influenced by Miller, it was based on shaky science at best. For his part, Miller wholeheartedly disagrees. The scientific database on stress-related cognitive distortions goes back a century, Miller said. The neurobiology and neuropsychology of stress is settled science. Millers testimony hinged largely on the crucible of stress and the threat police officers often face. If your car is skidding off the road, correct it; if someone is chasing you, elude them, Miller testified during the trialadding that there is a twist for first-responders: Even though their brains are telling them, Run! Get away, save yourself, their job is exactly to do the opposite. They have to run toward the danger, he testified, suggesting that acting against biological imperatives of survival heightens feelings of danger and increases the perception of a threat. Miller proceeded to describe in detail the function of various brain structures, as well as interactions and feedback loops that make up whats called the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a feature of the neuroendocrine system that regulates a galaxy of biological processes, such as the secretion of cortisol and norepinephrine. During emergency situations, Miller explained, the amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, the brains command center of-sorts, which kicks the sympathetic nervous system into high gear. The bodys fight-or-flight response is then activated, leaving it momentarily marinated in chemicals that help ensure survival. Millers core arguments do have some obvious merit. Daniel Reisberg, a professor of psychology specializing in perception, cognition, and law at Reed College, for example, noted that police officers who have been in a gunfight naturally often describe it as highly stressful. Our bodies have a fairly well-tuned mechanism that kicks in when were under stress, Reisberg said. The problem, some researchersincluding Reisbergsay, is when Miller and others among a small group of frequent police defense experts venture further into the unsupported, or at the very least, highly speculative frontiers of psychological and neurological science. Kimberley McClure, a professor of psychology and law at Western Illinois University, for example, pointed out that because stress responses are highly individual, Miller would have to clearly establish those factors that may have activated the HPA-axis during those seconds before Van Dyke got out of his car. And while researchers agree that stress can distort perception, there isnt much peer-reviewed research connecting these distortions with the decision to fire a lethal weapon. The training officers receive on the use of lethal force has tended to focus on the quality of an officers handling of his or her weapon the loading, unloading, and the giving of instructions, McClure said. Less research has focused on cognitive factors, she added, such as decision-making and memory under stress. Cops, of course, are trained to resist the urge to flee the scene, and experts suggest proper training and experience can give police the ability to suppress some effects of stress during threatening encounters. Research has also found that clear and strict departmental policies on when to use force can help eliminate errors in officer discretion. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Van Dykes own statements prior to arriving at the scene, as he described them two years later during the psychological evaluation with Miller, suggested an officer primed for violent interaction. Why dont they shoot him if hes attacking them? he recalled asking his partner when news of a teenager vandalizing a police car first came in over the radio. Oh my God, were going to have to shoot the guy. While its difficult for researchers to know what cops are thinking during threatening encounters, the factors that influence their decision to use force are slowly being understood. Since researchers are not at the scene of real-world, deadly encounters, they create high-stress, naturalistic role-play scenarios that let the officer decide whether or not to use force, then analyze their decision-making process afterwards. Research like this is new, and it is finding that the most powerful predictor of police using force isnt levels of stress, but rather a suspects noncompliant behavior, such as physical aggression or resisting arrest. In fact, a 2018 study published in the journal Criminal Justice and Behavior found that many officers do not experience stress symptoms during difficult encounters. The study authors assessed use-of-force decision-making by analyzing 91 debrief sessions, which occurred after newly recruited officers participated in two hypothetical scenarios: one involving domestic violence and another involving a drunk suspect. While most recruits in the study reported some form of stress-related impairment, only about 11 percent reported perceptual impairments. Among those who did experience impairments, however, symptoms affected their ability to perform some fine motor tasks and to successfully execute force techniques. For these individuals, the authors say, its possible that stress could lead to an incorrect assessment of the situation, resulting in injury to officers or suspects. But experts suggested that far more research along these lines including studies where scientists at universities team up with police departmentswould be needed to understand the extent to which these distortions occur in the real world, and what role theyre playing when officers pull the trigger. What remains unclear, the authors of the study noted, is how officers are making these force decisions. Miller has been a psychologist consulting with police departments for nearly 20 years. In 1988, he earned his Ph.D. from CUNYs department of psychology, where he specialized in neurocognition. He is licensed to practice psychology in Florida, where he also completed forensic examiner training in 1998. Today, he runs his own private practice, and primarily consults with the West Palm Beach Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, where he assesses officers after theyve been involved in deadly force encounters and other distressing situations. On the stand, Miller said that he has testifiedtypically for the defenseas an expert witness in four or five high-profile cases. His fee as an expert witness in cases that require travel is $10,000 per day of testimony (he testified for one day in Van Dykes case). Van Dykes defense also paid Miller $10,000 for a psychological evaluation on April 1, 2016. Multiple experts interviewed for this story say there are only a handful of psychologists who are called upon to defend use of force cases like Van Dykes. Psychological and legal scholars are not convinced that the research is strong enough for the courts. To determine whether an expert witnesss scientific testimony is based on sound scientific reasoning, judges often use whats become known as the Daubert Standardnamed for a 1993 Supreme Court case in which a family sued a pharmaceutical company for birth defects they believed attributable to a prescribed medication. For scientific testimony to meet the Daubert criteria, it typically must be based on peer-reviewed research that is widely accepted by the scientific community. McClure and other experts argue that the research used in defense of police shootings too often fails to meet this threshold. We simply dont have enough scholarship related to officers decisions during lethal force encounters to meet the Daubert criteria for science in the area, McClure said. Upon reviewing Millers testimony, McClure noted that she was struck by how few peer-reviewed citations appeared. It seems premature for experts to offer testimony in these cases. Defending his testimony, Miller said the Daubert Standard was first developed to assess other forensic science techniques, like chemical analysis, and that it does not map neatly onto fields like clinical psychology. Applied to psychology, it usually refers to the use of psychometric tests and measurements for cognition, personality, brain injury, etc., he said by email. Clinicians and lawyers agree that there is great difficulty applying the standard to clinical examinations. Since Miller did not use any psychometric tests when he evaluated Van Dyke, he does not believe the Daubert Standard is a useful framework for his testimony. That testimony included citations of research by police psychologists William Lewinski and Alexis Artwohl, who have suggested that perceptual distortions are commonly reported among officers involved in deadly force encountersand that these distortions give reasonable grounds for pulling the trigger. Lewinski, who declined to be interviewed for this article, runs the Force Science Institute, a research group that studies, among other things, how the mind works during rapidly unfolding events. Like Miller, Lewinski has previously been called on by attorneys defending police officer actions at trial, where he explained how stress and distortions can have profound effects on officers perception during deadly force encounters. A New York Times profile of Lewinski put his role in courts more bluntly: When police officers shoot people under questionable circumstances, Dr. Lewinski is often there to defend their actions, the paper noted, adding that he charges $1,000 per hour as an expert witness. Lewinski has been accused by his colleagues of disseminating junk science on the witness stand, drawing from studies he has published in police trade magazines and effectively bypassing the peer-review process. Asked by the Justice Department to review Lewinskis research, Washington State University psychologist Lisa Fournier said the work was invalid and unreliable, and she questioned the ability of Mr. Lewinski to apply relevant and reliable data to answer a question or support an argument. Miller acknowledged that much of Lewinskis work is on the borderline between case study and empirical research. Case studies are anecdotes that help tell one officers story. They are a precursor to empirical testing, said Miller, and therefore should carry some weight. But other experts interviewed for this article maintained that case studies are no substitute for systematic peer-reviewed research that helps us understand what thousands of officers think and do. For his part, Miller explained that he immerses himself in the peer-reviewed literature before taking on any case as an expert, using his decades of experience in the field and clinical judgment as references. Of course, everyone deserves a vigorous defense. But the defense must also be rational, said Fournier, who is an editor at the American Journal of Psychology. That means expert witnesses should have no conflicts of interest, refrain from cherry-picking, and only cite peer-reviewed articles. After reviewing Lewinskis research for the Justice Department, Fournier said that shes frightened by what passes for science in courtrooms when use of force is being defended. Context, she maintains, is key. Scientists know a lot about the human bodys stress response. But they know much less about how stress affects police officers, who are trained to perform their duties under highly stressful scenarios, and what impact it has on their decision to shoot or not. Though police departments and psychologists have worked together for decades, the American Psychological Association did not formally recognize police psychology as a specialty until 2013. Broadly defined by the APA, police psychology aims to ensure that law enforcement and other public safety personnel carry out their duties safely, ethically, and lawfully. Ethical concerns naturally arise when two different disciplines come together, and some psychologists are concerned about the way expert witnesses present the science of their field in courts. A 1994 research report from the National Institute of Justice raised concerns about psychologists addressing excessive force only during stress management training. Does treating it this way encourage the perception that stress is an excuse for excessive force? asked Ellen M. Scrivner, the reports author. Stress or anything else is not an excuse for any kind of misconduct, Miller said. I agree that one should not reflexively exculpate an officer (or anyone else) just because of any mental state or condition. On the stand, Miller testified that these deadly force cases ultimately boil down to what an officer perceived. Now that dash cameras and body cameras are worn by more and more police officers, juries can weigh an officers word against other evidence. Miller thinks video recordings are a mixed blessing for law enforcement, and that in the case of Van Dyke, the footage repeatedly played for the jury didnt accurately portray what the responder was perceiving. In the courtroom, Van Dykes lead defense attorney asked Miller if there was any scientific literature on the psychology of police use of force. One of the things I want to make clear today, Miller said in response, is that just about all of what Im going to be testifying to in the area of police psychology grows out of a much larger field that goes back almost a century, on the psychology and neuroscience of the brains response to emergency situations. Still, while it may be true that scientific study of stress has a long pedigree, other experts suggest that extrapolations made from that science to explain or excusecertain behaviors are far more complicated. Expert witnesses have the responsibility to help judges, juries, and attorneys understand what knowledge is out there, said McClure, who recently evaluated the application of scientific research in officer-involved shooting policies. But experts should also have an appreciation for gaps in the information we have, she said. There are a number of gaps, and its important to identify those: for one, so researchers can do more research in those areas, and two, she continued, so we can better inform the courts about what we know with a greater level of certainty. Zachary Siegel is a freelance journalist covering public health and criminal justice. His work has appeared in WIRED, New York Times Magazine, and The Atlantic, among others. He was a 2018 Guggenheim Justice Reporting Fellow at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at CUNY and currently lives in Chicago.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-the-psychology-of-deadly-force-ready-for-the-courts

Can Silicon Valley Learn to Stop Worrying and Love the Pentagon?

SIMI VALLEY, CaliforniaPalmer Luckey stands out. At just 26 years old, the exuberant, fast-talking founder of virtual reality headset company Oculus VR is one of the youngest people in the room by several decades. Surrounded by clean-cut suits with muted ties and shiny shoes, Luckey is sporting a goatee and a collared Hawaiian shirt. Luckey is here to tell the audience of national security heavyweights at the annual Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, something they dont want to hear: If the U.S. Defense Department wants to win over Silicon Valley, it needs to bet big on small start-ups. What you need to do is fix some of the economics, Luckey said at the conference on Dec. 1, noting that there have been no new defense companies worth more than $1 billion since the end of the Cold War. Government needs to concentrate their investments and generate some real success stories. Instead of spending small sums of money on a multitude of experimental pilot programs that never make it into production, Luckey said the Pentagon should invest significant dollarsenough to attract the kind of outside investors that can sustain a new companyon a small number of promising technologies. Of course, Luckeys company and others like it would be the primary beneficiaries of such a strategy. But he believes the U.S. government would benefit, too. Urging the bureaucrats to implement more effective investment practices is just one of the ways Luckey and a small group within the tech industry are leading the charge to transform the fraught relationship between the U.S. military and Silicon Valley. Although the U.S. government pioneered many of the great technological breakthroughs of the 20th centurythe internet and satellite navigation, for exampledue to declining military budgets and soaring investment in tech companies in the 1990s, the private sector is now driving innovation. The Pentagon needs to leverage the private sector in order to maintain its edge, experts say, and the tech industry is drawn to lucrative government contracts, but the two parties are struggling to see eye-to-eye on key issues, including business practices and the ethics of war. This past year marked a turning point in the relationship as the tech community began choosing sides in a contentious debate over the morality of using controversial new technology such as autonomysystems that can function without a human telling them what to doand artificial intelligence on the front lines of battle. On the one side is what Luckey calls a vocal minority protesting government work. In June, Google opted not to seek another contract for the Pentagons flagship artificial intelligence program, Project Maven, after 3,000 employees signed a letter opposing the companys involvement in the project on the grounds that Google should not be in the business of war. Meanwhile, at Microsoft and Salesforce, a cloud-based software company based in San Francisco, employees protested the companies contracts with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, respectively, for the agencies role in separating migrant families. And at Amazon, employees demanded the company stop selling its facial recognition software to police departments. Googles was the only successful protest. On the other side are firms like Luckeys Anduril Industries, Hivemapper, and SpaceX, as well as leadership at Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, all of which are publicly vying for Defense Department contracts. In an exclusive interview with Foreign Policy, Luckey freely admitted that when he decided to found Anduril the potential for lucrative government contracts was a significant draw. He saw an opportunity to fill a gap that is not currently being met. As one of just a handful of tech companies working on defense issues, Luckey knew Anduril would be able to punch above our weight. But Luckey, a self-described libertarian-leaning Republican, also considers himself a patriot. He said that cutting-edge technology does not beget totalitarianism accidentally; unlike Russia and China, the United States has a really strong record of protecting human rights. That has not always been truewitness, most recently, the Abu Ghraib torture scandal and other alleged U.S. human rights abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Luckey insisted: I think that when people talk about potential for abuse in the United States, they need to look at this as part of a holistic, bigger picture, which is that Russia and China are already doing this stuff. He is concerned by the rise of China, particularly its rapid advances in technology driven in part by strong civil-military fusion. Beijing is already using artificial intelligence and facial recognition systems to surveil its citizens and detain hundreds of thousands of Muslims in concentration camps, where they are reportedly forced to memorize Communist Party propaganda and renounce Islam. Luckey slammed Google and other tech companies that refuse to work with the U.S. military while happily making concessions to the Chinese government. For example, until recently Google was working on a controversial project to launch a censored search engine in China, and it is currently working to establish an artificial intelligence center at Tsinghua University. Tsinghua this summer hired Jeff Dean, Googles AI chief, as a member of its Advisory Committee on Computer Science. You have these supposedly American companies that have to bow to Chinese interests because the Chinese are playing hardball with trade, Luckey said. They see China as a multi-hundred-billion-dollar opportunity much more than they see them as a national security threat. At first glance, Luckey seems like an unlikely figurehead for the pro-Pentagon movement. He was homeschooled by his parents in Long Beach, California, and as a teenager had an insatiable interest in gaming and virtual reality. Following in the footsteps of tech giants like Apples Steve Jobs and Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, Luckey dropped out of collegehe majored in journalismin 2012 to found Oculus, which in 2018 accounted for over 25 percent of the entire VR market. After just 18 months, Facebook acquired Oculus for $3 billion, one of the fastest multibillion-dollar exits of all time. Luckey attributes the explosion of the VR industry over the last few years to his decision to sell Oculus to Facebook. Facebook was a great way where we could turbo-charge not just Oculus but the entire virtual reality industry, he said. The modern VR industry would not exist without that Facebook acquisition. This is where Luckeys story diverts from the norm. First, shortly after the acquisition, ZeniMax Media filed a lawsuit contending that Luckey and Oculus used ZeniMaxs intellectual property to develop the Oculus Rift. Eventually, a jury trial found Luckey broke a nondisclosure agreement with ZeniMax but did not steal trade secrets, and in June the two parties settled the case. Luckey declined to comment on the specifics of the case, though he said he felt pretty vindicated by the decision. When you get acquired for billions of dollars, people really come out of the woodwork, he said. But another fight was brewing that would leave a lasting mark. After working happily for a few years at Facebooks Silicon Valley campusthe period in which Oculus shipped its first consumer product, the Oculus RiftLuckey abruptly left the company. No explanation for the departure was given by either party, but the Wall Street Journal reported Luckey was fired for his support of then-candidate Donald Trump. Luckey would not specifically confirm or deny the report and declined to comment on anything regarding Facebook (the companys poor record on protecting users data, though, speaks for itself). But he noted that conservatives are often ostracized in Silicon Valley, and their voices are drowned out by a very small, radical, vocal minority that is against the United States government having the best military technology. You basically just cannot talk about your politics if you do not agree with the groupthink in Silicon Valley, Luckey said. Because everyone is so afraid to say anything at all, lest they get crucified by their coworkers or blacklisted for promotion, there are just no visible people that are talking about these conservative ideas. He added: If I had been a Hillary Clinton supporter, I would be astounded if I was not still at Facebook. Luckey decided it was time to start a new venture, one that would break with the liberal culture of Silicon Valley. He had always had an interest in national securityas a teenager he worked at a U.S. Army-funded research laboratory that used virtual reality to treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorderand set out to solve a problem that had bothered him for a long time. On the one hand, Luckey said that Americas major defense primes such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are not equipped with the technology, tools, or talent to build some of the most critical next-generation military technology: artificial intelligence, immersive displays, autonomous systems, and more. On the other hand, the Silicon Valley companies that are very good at developing this technology refuse to work on national security problems. You have a group of people who want to do it who cant, and a group of people who can but wont, Luckey said. He co-founded Anduril Industriesnamed after a sword in J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings seriesin 2017 to try to bridge that gap. I wanted to make a place where we could have thatwe could build that technology, build those tools, recruit that talent, and work unabashedly on national security problems without having to worry about how it might alienate our user base, Luckey said. Alongside companies like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, which are vying for the Pentagons massive cloud contract, Anduril is positioning itself as a liaison between the U.S. government and the tech industry. Anduril already has contracts with multiple entities within the Defense Department and Department of Homeland Security to provide situational awareness and force protection at military bases and the U.S. border with Mexico. The company recently hired Washington insider Christian Brose, who led the Senate Armed Services Committees staff under the late Republican Sen. John McCain for four years and served as a speechwriter to former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, as its head of strategy. Normally a staffer with Broses experience would go on to join the traditional defense industry or big-name consulting. But Brose said he made the unconventional move to join a one-year-old start-up because he believes Anduril will be a key piece of how the U.S. military ensures its technological advantage in a new era of great power competition. Like Luckey, Brose believes improving the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Defense Department is a two-way street. For our part, the technology community needs to be engaged with our military. We need to understand their challenges and constraints, be patient at times, and not always assume that we know best, Brose said. Working together is not optional. It is essential. In addition to urging the Department of Defense to tweak its strategy in order to better accommodate the business environment of Silicon Valley, Luckey is also critical of the tech community. In August, he wrote a blunt op-ed in the Washington Post titled Silicon Valley Should Stop Ostracizing the Military with Trae Stephens, Andurils chairman. We understand that tech workers want to build things used to help, not harm. We feel the same way. But ostracizing the U.S. military could have the opposite effect of what these protesters intend: If tech companies want to promote peace, they should stand with, not against, the United States defense community, Luckey and Stephens wrote. Luckey is no warmonger. He believes the United States should think very, very carefully before putting troops in danger. Many people assume hawks want to fight wars; for Luckey, its the exact opposite. He got into the defense industry because he wants to avoid those fights. The real goal here is to deter conflict by having the best technology possible, Luckey said. But in order to set the global standard on the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technology, the United States must maintain a technological edge, he stressed. I dont want to pretend that there are no ethical challenges. But I think its a moral imperative that we lead, not that we just sit here and let Russia and China and these other countries define the rules that dictate how artificial intelligence is used, Luckey said. We wont have a seat at the table if were not in the lead.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/12/31/can-silicon-valley-learn-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-pentagon-palmer-luckey-oculus-vr/

What does it mean to be a PC?

Sounds like a simple question. And it used to have a simple answer. It's a computer with an x86-compatible processor and a copy of Microsoft Windows. The only exceptions involved dubious standards of personal hygiene or a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. In either scenario, allowances for running Linux were made. Today, things aren't so clear. Portable computers of all kinds are increasingly powered by ARM chips. In fact, some of the big research houses that crunch the data and work out the trends have been bundling tablets in with conventional laptop and desktop computers under the all-encompassing 'personal computer' label for a while. More recently, Microsoft revealed that its upcoming ARM-compatible operating system, which appears to be more or less a port of Windows 8, will deliver the full Windows desktop even if there will be limitations regards the apps you can run. Not that I necessarily think that Windows for ARM will be a terribly big deal. But it does feed into the broader picture where internet access and computing in general is becoming ever more mobile and ever less tethered to x86processors. Already, more people around the world access the internet from a mobile device rather than conventional computers. Cisco even reckons there will be many more mobile internet devices than people by 2016. And they'll very probably all be ARM powered. At the same time, while Intel and AMD attempt to squeeze x86 chips into ever smaller form factors, ARM chips are heading in the other direction and becoming ever more sophisticated powerful. Nvidia, for instance, says it plans to offer multi-core ARM processors suitable for heavy duty server computers, probably in 2014. As it happens, it increasingly looks like AMD might give in to the ARM architecture and use it for its own chips. Whether that actually happens or not, ARM architectures are certainly due to take on capabilities previously reserved for high performance systems, such as 64-bit instruction sets and out-of-order execution. It won't be long before a high end smartphone has all the computing power most consumers really need. And that raises the possibility of using a single device both on the move and docked on the desktop. Meanwhile, cloud and browser-based apps and services are increasingly making the argument you need that x86 ecosystem and broad compatibility seem pretty redundant. Now, I don't want to get carried away. There's plenty to shake out and I for one think ye olde mouse and keyboard interface has plenty of legs left when it comes to getting stuff done. So, I'm not saying tablets are about to take over or anything along those lines. But I can also feel the winds of change. Thus, my plan is to get hold of one of the latest transformable Android tablets and see if it can truly replace my precious laptop PC. I'll still have my desktop and my smartphone, of course. So in terms of overall device count, nothing will have changed. But I reckon it will still provide an intriguing insight into what being a PC is all about.

https://www.techradar.com/au/news/computing/pc/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-pc-1065018

Are these all-singing-all-dancing fitness trackers really that 'smart'?

LIBBY GALVIN (pictured) put seven devices to the test, and based on my experience and Dr Sanders' comments, then rated them. From the cheapest pedometer to 400 smart watches, a dazzling array of fitness 'wearables' on the market claim to do everything from count the number of steps you take to analyse how you sleep. And the experts say they really are worth investing in if you want to get moving. 'Trackers give you feedback about your activity levels and allow you to set goals, and the research suggests these elements can be very motivating,' says Dr James Sanders, a research associate in digital health technology at Loughborough University. Step counting using an accelerometer, a sensor that detects movement seems to be reliable across most devices, but some scientists raise their eyebrows at claims of accurately measuring heart rate and sleep. 'Newer trackers measure heart rate using photoplethysmography, which works on the basis that blood reflects red light and absorbs green light,' explains Dr Sanders. 'Green lights on wearables pass through the skin and when the blood is pumped through your capillaries it changes the amount of light returned to a sensor. The tracker is programmed to use this to determine your heart rate. 'But signals can be distorted by intense activity, skin pigmentation or wearing lotions and tissue-on-tissue compression (which may happen at the wrists when we do exercises such as push-ups),' he adds. 'To be more precise, you'd need to use a chest strap recording the electrical activity of the heart.' Tracking sleep, too, is complex, he says. 'Most wearables can detect sleep and wake states, and if they have heart-rate sensors they may sense stages of sleep, but there are limitations in detecting deep sleep the most restorative stage. 'You would need to measure brain and muscle activity and eye movement, and these trackers don't do that.' I put seven devices to the test, and based on my experience and Dr Sanders' comments, then rated them. OFFERS DAILY DETAILS WITH MINIMAL FUSS Motiv smart ring, 199.99, mymotiv.com CLAIM: Tracks heart rate, steps, sleep, and calories burned. VERDICT: The least obtrusive wearable I tried, it's comfortable overnight and water resistant, so there's no need to take it off when washing or swimming. Its sleep tracking seemed accurate the easy-to-navigate graph on my app the next morning was correct when it came to the time I'd nodded off and woke up, showing six-and-a-half hours sleep. The graph also differentiates between restful and restless periods, but I can't entirely vouch for the accuracy of that I was asleep after all. Unfortunately, it's not for gym lovers: it was uncomfortable when I leaned on my hands during a downward dog in yoga, never mind lifting weights or attempting a pull up. Dr Sanders warns: 'The small size may make the ring appealing, but it's unclear how day-to-day activities such as typing may affect its step measurements. And the three-day battery life means people need to remove it often to charge, and the more you take it off, the more opportunity there is to forget to put it back on.' 6/10 Motiv smart ring, 199.99, mymotiv.com LIKE A PERSONAL TRAINER IN YOUR EAR Samsung Gear IconX, 179, samsung.com CLAIM: Wireless earphones log distance and calories burned. And a built-in coach also offers encouragement. VERDICT: I was excited to try these but sadly, as an iPhone user, I couldn't make the most of them. The five-hour battery life would not see you through the day and, as Dr Sanders points out, 'as they are primarily for listening to music, you would be taking them out regularly, which may limit the accuracy of your activity data'. 'They also don't include a heart rate monitor, which is a shame,' he says. 'However, having a 'personal trainer' in your ear may help you complete your workout.' 5/10 STYLISH TRACKER FOR ALL EXERCISE TYPES Fitbit Charge 3, 129.99, fitbit.com CLAIM: Tracks steps, distance and calories; issues reminders to move. Automatically recognises different exercises and sleep stages. VERDICT: This straddles the gap between simple fitness tracker and elite smart watch, at a reasonable price. It's easy to use, waterproof and the changeable wristbands meant I could wear a rubber strap in the pool and switch to a prettier fabric band the rest of the day. Once a week the app emailed me an update of my weekly achievements, which was motivating and meant I didn't feel 'tied' to checking my stats constantly. It seemed accurate on sleep. The only downside is it can't map runs as it doesn't have GPS, unlike the Galaxy and Garmin (see right). Dr Sanders says the idle alert a vibration when you haven't moved enough and reviewing your progress on the watch face can help with motivation 'on the go'. But how accurately it can recognise different sports 'will be in question until we get independent evidence'. 8/10 Fitbit Charge 3, 129.99, fitbit.com CHIC, BUT A BIT TOO CUMBERSOME TO WEAR Bellabeat Leaf Urban, 129.99, bellabeat.com CLAIM: Tracks steps, distance, calories, sleep and stress. VERDICT: Bulky, it got in the way when worn round my neck, snagged on clothes when on my wrist, and fell off while I walked with it on my waistband. Dr Sanders points out that 'wearing it as a necklace may cause the sensor to pick up movements, such as when it swings around, which aren't related to activity'. I found it underestimated my sleep patterns, telling me I'd had four hours when other trackers showed I'd had six-and-a-half and, based on that, it upped my stress score the following day which would have made me feel more anxious if I didn't know better. I wanted to like this, but all I noticed was what it can't do (such as measure heart rate) and that at this price it should do. 3/10 Bellabeat Leaf Urban, 129.99, bellabeat.com IDEAL FOR MUSIC AND TECH FANS Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music, 299.99, garmin.com CLAIM: Tracks steps, heart rate, stress, sleep and sports including yoga, golf and skiing. Monitors fitness by estimating VO2 max (the maximum rate of oxygen consumption during exercise). VERDICT: This has something for everyone. The music feature and GPS means you can leave your phone at home when exercising great news, as I hate mine bouncing around in my pocket when I run. The sleep tracking was good it even recognised me waking slightly around 5.30 one morning when my husband got up for work. But it's not faultless, as it thought I was asleep when I was just reading in bed. 'The music element may help with motivation during exercise,' says Dr Sanders. 'VO2 max reflects cardio- respiratory fitness and is a strong indicator of health although how accurately this measures it is unclear without independent research.' 9/10 Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music, 299.99, garmin.com BUDGET BUY WILL APPEAR TO SWIMMERS Misfit Shine 2, 48.93, amazon.co.uk CLAIM: Tracks steps, distance, calories, and sleep. VERDICT: Probably the best of the trackers without displays, despite lacking a heart rate monitor. The long battery life (six months) means it's always ready to go, and you can wear it anywhere wrist, ankle, clipped to clothing or laced on your shoe. As Dr Sanders points out: 'The ability to be worn in a number of places makes it aesthetically pleasing, and the reduced need for charging and being waterproof means you don't need to take it off often.' For an additional 9.99 you can use a Speedo swimming app, which claims to track distance and count laps, which is worth doing after all, this wearable is less than a third of the price of other trackers with far fewer features. 7/10 Misfit Shine 2, 48.93, amazon.co.uk FOR A PHONE ADDICT WANTING TO WORK OUT Samsung Galaxy Watch, 279.00, samsung.com CLAIM: Tracks heart rate, calories, sleep quality and stages, and up to 40 exercises. Also monitors stress and provides meditative breathing tutorials. VERDICT: This can do almost too much I was constantly buzzed with notifications until I work out how to switch off the smartphone pairing option, although this would be a bonus for people who like to stay connected. Not all the features are available unless you have a Samsung phone, but it was still useable without one. My favourite feature: it vibrates to prompt you to move after an idle period, but unlike other trackers, which you can trick by standing up and sitting back down, it prompts you to do five 'torso twists', tracking the motion until complete. It was not brilliant at monitoring sleep compared with the Fitbit and Motiv but as it's quite chunky I wouldn't wear it in bed anyway. Dr Sanders says: 'It's stylish and can perform two jobs (smart watch and activity tracking), which means it's less likely to end up gathering dust.' 6/10

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6545499/Are-singing-dancing-fitness-trackers-really-smart.html

Who is Alex de Minaur?

Australia's Alex de Minaur is continuing to make the world stand up and take notice. The up-and-comer climbed into the top 100 in 2018 and currently sits 31st in the ATP singles rankings. He rounded out his season by making the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals, beating a host of rising talent before losing to world number 15 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the decider. After a terrific summer in Australia, de Minaur turned heads at the US Open by beating Japan's Taro Daniel and American Frances Tiafoe to set-up a tantalising showdown with 2018 Australian Open finalist Marin Cilic. Their third round match was an epic, with de Minaur taking the first two sets in a remarkable display of tennis, but ultimately went down in a five-set defeat. Tennis world reacts to Alex de Minaur's epic five-setter against Marin Cilic More recently, de Minaur made it to the round of 16 at the Shanghai Masters before losing to world number five Alexander Zverev. In mid-October, the 19-year-old went down to Philipp Kolschreiber in three sets at the Stockholm Open. The Aussie sensation first made himself known in January 2018 by beating more fancied opponents like Steve Johnson and Milos Raonic on the way to the semi-finals at the Brisbane International. He backed that up by toppling Fernando Verdasco, Damir Dzumhur and Benoit Paire on his path to the Sydney International final a week later. He was knocked out of the Australian Open in the first round by Tomas Berdych, but took German Alex Zverev - ranked fifth in the world - to five sets at the Davis Cup in January. Brisbane International: Alex de Minaur De Minaur was in top form in his first match of 2019, with a 6-2 6-2 win over fellow Aussie Alexei Popyrin in the first round of the Brisbane International. The result saw de Minaur win through to the second round alongside countrymen John Millman, Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson. Back where is incredible rise up the ranks began 12 months ago, de Minaur takes on Thompson in the second round in Brisbane. The winner will play either Rafael Nadal or Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the quarter-finals. Alex de Minaur in 2018 Before winning a wildcard to Wimbledon, he had previously won a wildcard at the French Open where he fell to world number 16 Kyle Edmund in straight sets in the first round. Come Wimbledon, De Minaur made waves with some stirring performances before eventually falling to world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the third round. ADM made it all the way the finals of the Citi Open in August, losing to world #2 Alexander Zverev and then followed it up by making ti to the round of 32 at the US Open, eventually falling to Mairin Cilic. At the Next Gen ATP Finals, where he's the youngest of the 21-and-under competitors, De Minaur dropped just one set on his way to the semi-finals before claiming a hard-fought five-set win. He took the first set off Tsitsipas in the final, but the Greek was too clinical, eventually claiming a four-set win. As the youngster's career begins to gain momentum, Sporting News takes a look at all things Alex de Minaur. Biography Nickname: Demon Date of birth: 17 February 1999 (age 19) Place of birth: Sydney, Australia Residence: Alicante, Spain Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Weight: 69kg (152lbs) Playing style: Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Turned pro: 2015 Prize money: US$951,038 Highest ranking: No. 31 Current ranking: No. 31 Background Born to a Spanish mother and a Uruguayan father, De Minaur spent the first five years of his life in Sydney. He has since split his time between Spain and Australia, finishing his schooling while on tour. The right-hander is backed by Tennis Australia and says grass is his favourite surface to play on. An avid golfer, the Demon says Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer were his idols growing up. Junior results De Minaur is a past winner of the Australian Under 14s and Under 16s Championships, held at Melbourne Park. In 2016, he won the Australian Open Boys doubles alongside Blake Ellis and reached a junior singles ranking of number two in the world. De Minaur reached the semi-finals of the 2015 Boys US Open and a year later was beaten in the Boys Wimbledon final by current world number 25 Denis Shapovalov. On tour De Minaur made his professional debut at a Futures tournament in Spain in July 2015 and first appeared in the ATP rankings at 1544 in August of that year. He made his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2017, beating Gerald Melzer in the first round, before losing in straight sets to Sam Querrey in the round of 64. De Minaur drew Robin Haase in the first round of the French Open and went out in straight sets, before losing in the second round of qualifying for Wimbledon. At the US Open, he was unlucky to draw current world number seven Dominic Thiem and went out in the first round 4-6 1-6 1-6. Stellar start to 2018 The then 18-year-old made it to his first ATP Tour semi-final in Brisbane in early January, beating Steve Johnson, Milos Raonic and Michael Mmoh all in straight sets. After winning the first set and having the upper hand in a second set tiebreak, De Minaur lost to Ryan Harrison in the semis. A week later, in Sydney, the young Aussie went a step further by reaching his first ATP final at the Sydney International after beating world-number 42 Benoit Paire, 4-6 6-1 6-1, in the semi-finals. The in-form young gun overcame a shaky first set where he dropped a break point with the scores tied at 4-4 in the first set, demolishing his French opponent in the following two sets as he went on to win 12 of the next 14 games. He lost to Russian Daniil Medvedev in the final. Earlier in the tournament, he caused a boilover with a 6-4 6-2 first round win over Fernando Verdasco, before overpowering world number 30 Damir Dzumhur to reach the quarter-finals. De Minaur won the first set 6-2 and was up 3-0 in the second set when Dzumhur retired. Racking up Grand Slam appearances After winning wildcards to the Australian, French and US Opens last year, the 2018 season offered bigger and better things for De Minaur on the sport's toughest stages. After his success at the Brisbane and Sydney events, De Minaur earned a wildcard to Melbourne Park, but was ousted in the first round to Tom Berdych. De Minaur did, though, take a set off the big-serving Czech. Later, the young Aussie earned a wildcard to Roland-Garros, where he hoped to improve on his first round exit at the hands of Robin Haase 12 months earlier. However, pitted against 16th seed Edmund, De Minaur fell in straight sets. It would be Wimbledon where De Minaur would make his greatest impression yet. The 19-year-old defeated 29th-seed Marco Cecchinato in four tough sets in the opening round, before sweeping aside Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in four. A Centre Court match-up with the world's top ranked player, and 17-time Grand Slam winner, Rafael Nadal. It would be De Minaur's ninth career Grand Slam match, and his sixth against a seeded player. In contrast, Nadal was to play in his 274th career Grand Slam match. Sadly for the young Aussie, Nadal brought his A-game to Centre Court, handing De Minaur a straight sets defeat, 6-1 6-2 6-4. De Minaur then made even more headlines at the US Open when he reached the third round, and pushed Marin Cilic all the way in a five-set classic. Big praise from big names Lleyton Hewitt has taken De Minaur under his wing, while Nick Kyrgios sung his praises after the Brisbane International. "He's got a lot of good guys to guide him, obviously Lleyton and the team, Kyrgios said. He's unbelievable to watch, I think he's going to have a great year." As the season wound down, de Minaur was honoured alongside Ash Barty, with both youngsters sharing the prestigious Newcombe Medal. Always humble, de Minaur was surprised by the honour. "This is something I definitely did not expect, de Minaur said. Its been a whirlwind of a year... Ive enjoyed every second of it. "Ive just tried to keep improving each day, keep battling it out, keep fighting every single point. Im super proud of my efforts. History has been made in 2018. The highest individual honour in Australian tennis is awarded to @alexdeminaur and @ashbar96 #Newks18 pic.twitter.com/ne3wuNXOxR TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 26, 2018 Rugby league fan After upsetting Raonic in Brisbane, De Minaur shouted Blue Wall which is a reference to the New South Wales State of Origin team. Although he has spent plenty of time in Europe, hes a rugby league fan and a New South Welshman. Blue Wall is what the NSW State of Origin team calls themselves, he said. And its sort of a mindset of trying to be a brick wall potentially, just not giving anything away, not giving anything cheap away, and just pretty much leaving it all out there. So thats what I like to think Blue Wall is. Thats what us New South Welshmen try to do while were on the court.

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/tennis/news/who-is-alex-de-minaur-ranking-us-open-atp-brisbane-international/1393n7yzxymlv12f52bqaqvdwx

Is the Liberal International Order 2018s Biggest Loser?

Writer Walter Russell Meade mentions all the preceding in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. But the biggest loser of all, he says, and he just may be correct, is the liberal international order itself. Making his case, Meade writes: The biggest loser of 2018 was the post-Cold War system that the U.S. and its closest allies hoped would shape global politics. The idea was that liberal democracy, market-based economic systems and the rule of law would spread from the West into the postcommunist [sic] East as well as into the Global South. International institutions would increasingly replace the anarchic competition of states by developing rules-based approaches to issues from trade to climate change. Great powers like Russia and China never liked this approach, seeing it as a thinly disguised form of U.S. hegemony and a threat to their illiberal political systems. The aspiration for a liberal world system has faced growing headwinds for many years; in 2018 it buckled further under stress. Even Japan, long a zealous upholder of the rules-based order, exited the International Whaling Commission; Russia solidified its hold on southeastern Ukraine; China fortified its artificial islands in the South China Sea; the U.S. flouted WTO procedures in pursuit of what the Trump administration calls fair trade; and one country after another failed to comply with its commitments under the Paris climate agreement. A modern Voltaire might quip that the old system was neither liberal nor international nor an order, but its absence will be felt if it disintegrates. Quite true. Whether or not the liberal international order is the biggest 2018 loser, though, it is surely on the wane. Lets examine one significant aspect of this matter. Just as WWI was billed as The War to End All Wars, our democracy-ber-alles foreign policy endeavors have been attended by a certain naivet on the part of true believers. Among those sincere about the Westernization program, these follies were predicated on the notion that not only is our political system universally applicable, but that our values, to use that favored term of those whove forgotten virtues, would be universally accepted. Of course China would become like us. But the men who founded Western civilization and, specifically, those forging the United States, were under no such illusions. For example, President John Adams noted in 1798 that our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. Democracy is not a cure (and our system is a republic, actually), but a system fit for those who have been cured. As to this, if wed long ago sent missionaries to such nations and could have evangelized them successfully, they might have the foundation of which Adams spoke. Of course, such endeavors are now considered old-fashioned, intolerant, impositional, and paternalistic. No, wed never seek to impose Christianity. Just democracy. We try imposing a system of beliefs democratism, if you will without even realizing its merely the newest evangelization. This isnt to say evangelization is bad or that our conception of government is ideal or flawed, only that our idealists' blindness to what they're actually doing is matched by their blindness to why its actually failing. Even if so, mans history isnt one of hungry receptiveness to Truth, but moral-corruption-driven resistance to it. Moreover, most important when evangelizing is providing good witness for ones faith. They dont even like themselves. Lastly, todays Western leaders rule republics, tout democracy, but are nonetheless quite undemocratic. If the West could have one New Years resolution, it should be, before trying to change the world, to change itself. A little more nation-building at home, of the right kind, and we just may not have to fear a future New Years headline reading (in Chinese), The Years Biggest Loser Was the West. Photo: koya79/iStock/Getty Images Plus

https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/31066-is-the-liberal-international-order-2018-s-biggest-loser

Has Kanye West destroyed his reputation?

While some think Kanye West is planning a presidential run in 2020, others argue his political shenanigans are costing him his legacy. After showing support for President Donald Trump, criticizing Barack Obama and proclaiming slavery was a choice -- many have jumped off his bandwagon. With acclaimed projects out in 2018 -- including "Ye," skeptics debated whether or not to support him. PERSPECTIVES In May, Kanye stopped by TMZ to express his support for Trump and argued slavery was a choice. Kanye appeared on the show with Candace Owens where they explained "free thought" and how it can make the world a better place ... from a place of love. During the conversation Kanye said, "When you hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years?! That sounds like a choice." Van from our newsroom took great offense and fired back. Things got intense and ultimately led to a face-to-face at Van's desk. Many praised the way TMZ's Van Lathan responded to Kanye's comments. According to CNN, Lathan said: "And while you are making music and being an artist and living the life that you've earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives," Lathan said. "We have to deal with the marginalization that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said, for our people, was a choice." "Frankly, I'm disappointed, I'm appalled and, brother, I am unbelievably hurt by the fact that you have morphed into something, to me, that's not real," Lathan concluded. Many argue nobody could have put it better than Lathan. I didn't want to post this because I hate giving Kanye West's words more power. But then I saw Van Lathan speak up in the clip. He stood up and perfectly articulated what Kayne is failing to see. This is courage. pic.twitter.com/MwRXdBA8zk -- Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) May 1, 2018 Maybe Childish Gambino sees where Kanye went wrong and believes in his redemption story. In his animated video for "Feels Like Summer," Gambino depicts a crying Kanye being comforted by Michelle Obama. While some praised the imagery of black women uplifting black men, others argue that it shouldn't fall on black women to uplift anyone else. Plus, folks haven't forgotten about Kanye's political controversies, arguing he needs to take responsibility for himself. Billboard reported: The video's most controversial scene arrives during a dream sequence when a crying Kanye West, seen wearing a Make America Great Again hat, is being comforted by Michelle Obama. Some of the more angry viewers saw the moment as an insult to black women, while others believed Obama represents Kanye's late mother. "@donaldglover Just so you know, it is not the job of Black women to heal or fix Black men. Black women do not exist to be other people's mules," @LegalSojourner, who describes herself as lawyer and black feminist, tweeted." Twitter user @13Xum, a self-described songwriter, took a different view. "Michelle Obama comforting Kanye West in 'Feels like Summer' video was suppose to depict her being a mother like figure for Kanye being that Kanye seems lost in life and doesn't have a mother," he wrote. Kanye apologized for the slavery comments in August 2018. Kanye also squashed his beef with Drake. Let me start by apologizing for stepping on your release date in the first place ... We were building a bond and working on music together including squashing the issues with Cudi at our office. -- KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) September 5, 2018 But critics ain't buying Kanye's apology. BE REAL. KANYE is only apologizing months after the fact because Surgical Summer FAILED miserably and his reputation is in the toilet!! If he was real why didn't he humble himself and CALL Drake like a man?!!! Because this is "apology" denying his involvement is FAKE -- B [?][?] (@AthenaMani) September 5, 2018 Kanye is killing the game by producing music for other artists like Kid Cudi. He dropped his new LP, "Ye," in June. While some skeptics struggled with whether or not to listen to him and support him, the album garnered praise. Listeners say the album sounds like old Kanye, and that's a good thing. Listen to "Ye" below via Spotify. kanye's new album got that old school kanye vibe -- REY (@elrey) June 1, 2018 But others refuse to support him at this point. Ever since Kanye started going on pro-Trump rants, many detractors have argued he's officially canceled. So Kanye's new album... Let's not partake. It's equivalent to folks watching Roseanne--willing to ignore her vitriolic racism for a nostalgia trip. But there is no separating art from the artist. And Kanye is now a willing tool for white supremacy. I'm NOT here for it. -- Shree [?] [?][?] [?] (@shreec) June 1, 2018 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2019/01/has_kanye_west_destroyed_his_r.html

Why Subscribe to WVSports.com?

WVSports.com is the leader in WVU coverage on both the team and Mountaineers recruiting and now is a great time to give us a try with our 50-percent off deal! Sign up for a new annual subscription to WVSports.com and you get it for half the cost as part of our WVU50 promo! New members can sign up for an annual account at WVSports.com and you will get an entire year to browse the coverage that we provide over what should be an exciting couple of weeks! What are you waiting for because the deal is only around while supplies last! New users: https://westvirginia.rivals.com/sign_up --REMEMBER TO INSERT THE WVU50 PROMO CODE! This deal would give you the coaching search, recruiting for both sports, spring football, next summer's recruiting camps, next year's fall camp and through most of next football season as well. AND FREE GEAR! THIS IS AVAILABLE UNTIL JAN. 15! We'll let our current members tell you. TESTIMONIALS: CThruU: WVSports.com is the only site I read for news, insight, and analysis of WVU Sports. No one covers recruiting better. No other source provides as deep an understanding of not only what happens on the fields or courts, but also how and why it happens. The regular post game analyses and comprehensive breakdowns of each game are peppered liberally with relevant player and coach quotes, giving readers a much greater appreciation for the game and the sport. Following that up with interactive Q&A threads in the forums goes above what any other site offers. If that isnt enough, coverage of breaking news on WVU sports is unrivaled (intentional.) You only need one source for all things WVU; this site is it. superwvufan13: Pay my $99 once a year and get gorged every single day. Not once a year, not once a month, not even once a week, but everyday, all day long. Anyway, once i joined the Blue Lot, I never looked at another mag. What an unbelievable deal. Thanks so much guys !! mdeer: I read every piece of Mountaineer athletics information I can find. Without a doubt the first place I go to find information is on the blue lot and with Keenan Cummings. There is not a better place in the print or digital space to find the most inside scoop on Mountaineer football and basketball.I can say for certain that the information provided by Keenan is both timely and accurate. If you are not reading the blue lot you are certainly missing out! Mounty Dan: Checking this site is the first thing I do every morning and the last thing I do every night. Not to mention the dozens of times I check in during the day. Been doing it for over twenty years now so Ive spent countless thousands of hours here. It is far and away the best place to get Mountaineer info and its kind of a sanctuary that allows escape from all the other stuff we have to contend with on a daily basis. These guys do an incredible job keeping us informed. Keno is absolutely relentless! vidmkr27: I used to be a common run-of-the-mill average Mountaineer fan. I waited till football season, turned on the TV, and watched the Mountaineers play. Every now and then I would read an article in the paper or hear some rumors on the street, but I never did know the true inside information. I don't remember how it happened, but I stumbled on a WVU message board back around 2004. I paid my money for a 1-year subscription to wvsports.com. The information I get there on a daily basis is what makes me feel like an insider and REAL Mountaineer fan. The season is more exciting because I can spend all year preparing for it with information on recruiting, coaching changes, truly anything that you would want to know from behind the scenes. Now, if that isn't enough, add in the fact that this is a 24/7 365 look into all of Mountaineer Sports. Men's and women's basketball, baseball and yes, even wrestling and volleyball information. I can tell you, this has made me truly enjoy each and every day of being a Mountaineer fan. I'll hear a rumor on the street or at the stadium from some uninformed fan and just chuckle and say to myself, 'If they only knew the truth they would be shocked.' There's only one way to be a true gold and blue Mountaineer fan and that is to join wvsports.com. You will never watch and experience WVU Sports the same again. dedhoops24: WVSports.com & Keenan Cummings...#Period....As a native West Virginian and avid WVU sports fan now living outside of the state, there is no place better to get the up to date and credible content I need and crave. The information provided is always accurate and first rate, the staff writers are well connected and always breaking scoop. Best $9.99 a WVU sports fan can spend a month.... dave: I have probably been a member of this site as long as anyone minus a few folks who have been with Vernon since this was a mere email group. The information here has always been first rare and now more than ever the staff are ahead of the curve. The one thing that has kept my interest here is the clubhouse mentality of this service. It is more than reading and liking stories. We are a weird, fun and mostly functional family with most of the good that comes with it. It is a fun club and a good place for WVU fans. ParrotheadEER: Look at any of the posters length of time here...and most of us were here long before rivals was here...we are a family, and like family there are a few you won't like, but then there will be so many more you will. bleedbluegold3: The Blue Lot is not simply a message board , its where you come to get the best info available on all things WVU , not only are the writers top notch but the members provide insight as well . Here we laugh together , cry together and even fight a little , but in the end Im glad to call it family. Come be part of the family . winwvu: As an out of state Mountaineer fanatic, I've always struggled with keeping up with the day to day news of my favorite team. Long ago, I had the Sunday edition of the Morgantown paper mailed weekly to my house, after that the weekly publication specializing in WVU sports news. With the advent of the internet, I became a daily reader of this site in it's early stages. The daily reading has continued for approximately 20 years to the present day. WVsports.com is the only site one needs to receive all of the breaking news, team updates, and game analysis. The staff continually pumps out interesting information and the quality of writing is top notch. WVsports.com continually strives to get better with new and interesting features. Try it, it won't disappoint. WVGEEK: Ive been a long time subscriber to this site. I have utilized it to my benefit in many ways. 1. West Virginia sports news and content. Simply some of the best on-line. 2. Recruiting updates that go further than simply talking about star ratings.3. Discussion on the message boards that range from heated fan debate to comedy. (Sometimes in same post. )Also, the contributors for the site are willing to jump into the discussion with the prescribers. Simply stated, this site has become my one stop shop for all things WVU sports. I dont go away for very long regardless of the time of the year. My hope is that it will continue to thrive for many moons to come. Oregonmountie: WVsports, especially the BlueLot is my go to site for the most up to date and behind the scenes information on WVU sports and general athletic overviews. From the in-depth recruiting articles to the player and coaches interviews you have all you need to get you daily Mountaineer fix....then add the lively exchanges on the blue lot amongst the rabid fan base and you couldnt ask to be better connected. Between Vernon, Keno and the other contributing writers, they always have us covered!! Now just waiting on the next set of recruiting sticky files! !

https://westvirginia.rivals.com/news/why-subscribe-to-wvsports-com--1

Whats beyond Pluto?

Pluto explorer ushering in new year at more distant world By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer Thursday, December 27 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The spacecraft team that brought us close-ups of Pluto will ring in the new year by exploring an even more distant and mysterious world. NASAs New Horizons spacecraft will zip past the scrawny, icy object nicknamed Ultima Thule (TOO-lee) soon after the stroke of midnight. One billion miles beyond Pluto and an astounding 4 billion miles from Earth (1.6 billion kilometers and 6.4 billion kilometers), Ultima Thule will be the farthest world ever explored by humankind. Thats what makes this deep-freeze target so enticing; its a preserved relic dating all the way back to our solar systems origin 4.5 billion years ago. No spacecraft has visited anything so primitive. What could be more exciting than that? said project scientist Hal Weaver of Johns Hopkins University, part of the New Horizons team. Lead scientist Alan Stern of Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, expects the New Years encounter to be riskier and more difficult than the rendezvous with Pluto: The spacecraft is older, the target is smaller, the flyby is closer and the distance from us is greater. NEW HORIZONS NASA launched the spacecraft in 2006; its about the size of a baby grand piano. It flew past Pluto in 2015, providing the first close-up views of the dwarf planet. With the wildly successful flyby behind them, mission planners won an extension from NASA and set their sights on a destination deep inside the Kuiper Belt. As distant as it is, Pluto is barely in the Kuiper Belt, the so-called Twilight Zone stretching beyond Neptune. Ultima Thule is in the Twilight Zones heart. ULTIMA THULE This Kuiper Belt object was discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2014. Officially known as 2014 MU69, it got the nickname Ultima Thule in an online vote. In classic and medieval literature, Thule was the most distant, northernmost place beyond the known world. When New Horizons first glimpsed the rocky iceball in August it was just a dot. Good close-up pictures should be available the day after the flyby. New Horizons will make its closest approach in the wee hours of Jan. 1 12:33 a.m. EST. The spacecraft will zoom within 2,200 miles (3,500 kilometers) of Ultima Thule, its seven science instruments going full blast. The coast should be clear: Scientists have yet to find any rings or moons around it that could batter the spacecraft. New Horizons hurtles through space at 31,500 mph (50,700 kph), and even something as minuscule as a grain of rice could demolish it. Theres some danger and some suspense, Stern said at a fall meeting of astronomers. It will take about 10 hours to get confirmation that the spacecraft completed and survived the encounter. POSSIBLY TWINS Scientists speculate Ultima Thule could be two objects closely orbiting one another. If a solo act, its likely 20 miles (32 kilometers) long at most. Envision a baked potato. Cucumber, whatever. Pick your favorite vegetable, said astronomer Carey Lisse of Johns Hopkins. It could even be two bodies connected by a neck. If twins, each could be 9 miles to 12 miles (15 kilometers to 20 kilometers) in diameter. MAPPING MISSON Scientists will map Ultima Thule every possible way. They anticipate impact craters, possibly also pits and sinkholes, but its surface also could prove to be smooth. As for color, Ultima Thule should be darker than coal, burned by eons of cosmic rays, with a reddish hue. Nothing is certain, though, including its orbit, so big that it takes almost 300 of our Earth years to circle the sun. Scientists say they know just enough about the orbit to intercept it. COMPARING FLYBYS New Horizons will get considerably closer to Ultima Thule than it did to Pluto: 2,220 miles versus 7,770 miles (3,500 kilometers vs. 12,500 kilometers). At the same time, Ultima Thule is 100 times smaller than Pluto and therefore harder to track, making everything more challenging. It took 4 hours, each way, for flight controllers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland, to get a message to or from New Horizons at Pluto. Compare that with more than six hours at Ultima Thule. WHATS NEXT It will take almost two years for New Horizons to beam back all its data on Ultima Thule. A flyby of an even more distant world could be in the offing in the 2020s, if NASA approves another mission extension and the spacecraft remains healthy. At the very least, the nuclear-powered New Horizons will continue to observe objects from afar, as it pushes deeper into the Kuiper Belt. There are countless objects out there, waiting to be explored. ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. There are only 7 reindeer in NJ, and this guy owns 2 of them By Ted SHERMAN Monday, December 24 Call him one of Santas helpers and just like the jolly old elf himself, Mark Sopko has been very busy this Christmas season. But its not toys that keep Sopko occupied through the holidays. Its reindeer. Hes got two of them, and as one might imagine, theyre in high demand this time of year. Theyre wonderful. They bring all that joy around the holiday, said Sopko of Reindeer Magic and Miracles. Named Thunder and Jingles, they make their home year-round at Sopkos Central Jersey farm, but spend much of their time after the arrival of Thanksgiving making appearances at local and private events, schools, parades, breakfasts with Santa, and sometimes even the occasional office Christmas party. Its a short-lived season. No ones much thinking about reindeer in January, and both reindeer typically shed their antlers after the holiday one in January and the other in April. To many, though, reindeer are nothing less than mythical creatures. Its the whole flying sleigh thing and, you know, the big jolly guy in the red suit. Sopko, 49, a former zookeeper, recounts the many conversations hes had with unbelievers. Many times, adults ask what kind of animal is it? Its a reindeer, I tell them, he said. Still, they persist. Come on. Really. Its a reindeer. Thats what it is, Sopko responds. And they are. Native to the Arctic and the northern reaches of Europe, these reindeer do not come from the North Pole. They come breeders across the United States, where there is a network of reindeer ranchers who also live for this time of year. Unfortunately for Kris Kringle, their numbers have been dramatically decreasing in the wild, according to a report earlier this month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In the past two decades, Arctic caribou and wild reindeer populations have dropped sharply from 4.7 million to 2.1 million grazing animals with the largest declines in Alaska and Canada. The report blamed the declines on Arctic warming, which it said has increased the frequency of drought, affecting the quality of forage. The NOAA report also noted that longer, warmer summers can increase flies, parasites and lead to disease outbreaks in the herds. In New Jersey, reindeer are currently banned from import, according the state Department of Environmental Protection, because of the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease. A contagious and deadly neurological disorder, Chronic Wasting Disease causes fatal damage to the central nervous system in members of the deer family. There are eight permitted reindeer in the state Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen, said DEP spokesman Larry Hajna, initially unaware of the legal status of Thunder and Jingles. A further check by Hajna revealed there are actually just seven reindeer with the right paperwork to call New Jersey home, but none of them apparently belong to Santa. According to DEP records, those seven animals are owned by two individuals. Sopko is one of them. This is a second go-round as a reindeer wrangler for Sopko, who acquired his first pair, Rocket and Fetch, back in 2012. He delighted in their antics True to his name, Rocket liked to run around. And Fetch, well, was always going after sticks. Sadly, he said, they both succumbed to tick-borne disease, and he thought for a time about leaving the reindeer to Santa. That was a really tough time for us, losing the two of them, he recalled. It looked like the end. But ultimately after their deaths, he decided to bring home another pair Thunder, a three-year-old male, and Jingles, a five-year-old female. Its not all fun and games. Reindeer are a lot of work, said Sopko. Hes out twice a day, feeding them and bringing them fresh water, although they prefer to eat snow than drink water when the flakes start falling. They get fresh hay. For treats, Thunder likes to munch every now and then on a bit of lichen, which Sopko said reindeer eat like grass in their native habitat. Jingles is partial to apples. Their hooves have to be trimmed. Theres reindeer poop. And the antlers. You have to protect the antlers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture comes out every year and inspects them. Sopko said they are very curious animals and can have playful bursts. At one event, one of his reindeer stood transfixed by a group of young dancers who were performing the Nutcracker, intrigued by what was going on. Still he said theyre very docile. After Christmas, like Santa, their work will be done. Hes gotten offers to appear at Christmas in July parties, but its too hot for the reindeer. They get the summer off. During the warm weather, their shelter is in a grove of evergreen trees and he has fans to keep them cool. If he has to transport them in the summer, their trailer has an air conditioner. Theyre very pampered, he said. ___ Online: https://bit.ly/2SjWel1 FILE This image made available by NASA in March 2017 shows Pluto illuminated from behind by the sun as the New Horizons spacecraft travels away from it at a distance of about 120,000 miles (200,000 kilometers). The probe will ring in 2019 by exploring an even more distant and mysterious world. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute via AP) https://www.sunburynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2019/01/web1_122037436-d7fd06c9c5cd4d17b7e6478f6183543d.jpg FILE This image made available by NASA in March 2017 shows Pluto illuminated from behind by the sun as the New Horizons spacecraft travels away from it at a distance of about 120,000 miles (200,000 kilometers). The probe will ring in 2019 by exploring an even more distant and mysterious world. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute via AP) FILE This illustration provided by NASA shows the New Horizons spacecraft. NASA launched the probe in 2006; its about the size of a baby grand piano. (NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI via AP) https://www.sunburynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2019/01/web1_122037436-d28a25127973446a8a4b10ea2b696e0f.jpg FILE This illustration provided by NASA shows the New Horizons spacecraft. NASA launched the probe in 2006; its about the size of a baby grand piano. (NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI via AP) FILE This composite image made available by NASA shows the Kuiper Belt object nicknamed "Ultima Thule," indicated by the crosshairs at center, with stars surrounding it on Aug. 16, 2018, made by the New Horizons spacecraft. The brightness of the stars was subtracted from the final image using a separate photo from September 2017, before the object itself could be detected. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute via AP) https://www.sunburynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2019/01/web1_122037436-948cef030d794a81a59d157c7cb5e548.jpg FILE This composite image made available by NASA shows the Kuiper Belt object nicknamed "Ultima Thule," indicated by the crosshairs at center, with stars surrounding it on Aug. 16, 2018, made by the New Horizons spacecraft. The brightness of the stars was subtracted from the final image using a separate photo from September 2017, before the object itself could be detected. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute via AP) NEWS

https://www.sunburynews.com/features/23769/whats-beyond-pluto

Will there be a peaceful transfer of power in DRC?

Congolese president Joseph Kabila has been in power for nearly 18 years, but he has now agreed to step down. Millions of voters went to the polls in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday to choose his successor after a delay of more than two years. The votes are being counted, but both Kabila's chosen candidate and the opposition are already claiming victory. The election was marred by widespread irregularities, including complaints of vote rigging and violence. The internet has been cut, in an apparent attempt to stop speculation about the results. And people in some areas didn't get to vote because of fighting and an outbreak of the Ebola virus. Presenter: Laura Kyle Guests: Al Kitenge - CEO of Innovation Task Force Marie-Roger Biloa - journalist and CEO of MRB Networks Alex Vines - head of the Africa Programme at Chatham House Source: Al Jazeera News

https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2019/01/peaceful-transfer-power-drc-190101193103079.html

Who will compete for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania?

The WWE Universal Championship match for the Royal Rumble is set Brock Lesnar defends his title against The Monster Among Men Braun Strowman. ALSO READ: Every confirmed WWE Royal Rumble 2019 entrant so far Although the Rumble is nearly a month away, that hasnt stopped discussion regarding the WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 35 in April. Bryan Alvarez gave his thoughts on a possible Universal title match on Wrestling Observer Live: I mean as far as I know Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins for the Universal Title although that could change. I am not confident about that for a lot of reasons. Lets see what happens at the Royal Rumble and then well talk more about that after a while. If Alvarez turns out to be correct, that means Brock Lesnar will bear Braun Strowman at the Royal Rumble. (Photo Credit: WWE.com | H/T: Ringside News)

https://www.foxsportsasia.com/wwe/1009634/wwe-universal-championship-match-wrestlemania-35-rumors/

How much has each train operator increased fares?

Train fares in Britain have gone up by an average of 3.1%. Here are the average increases for each train operating company: c2c: 2.6% Caledonian Sleeper: 0% Chiltern Railways: 2.8% CrossCountry: 3.2% East Midlands Trains: 2.7% Govia Thameslink Railway (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink): 3% Grand Central: Refused to disclose an average increase Great Western Railway: 2.9% Greater Anglia (includes Stansted Express): 3.1% Heathrow Express: 0% Hull Trains: 3.2% for Advanced fares (other fares are unchanged) London North Eastern Railway: 3.4% London Northwestern Railway: 3.2% for regulated fares (unregulated fares are unchanged) Merseyrail: 2.9% Northern: 3.2% ScotRail: 2.8% South Western Railway: 2.9% Southeastern: 3.1% TfL Rail: Most single fares are frozen but Travelcards and price caps have been increased by an average of 3.2% TransPennine Express: 3.1% Transport for Wales: 3% for regulated fares (unregulated fare increases are under review) Virgin Trains: 3.2% West Midlands Railway: 3.2% for regulated fares (unregulated fares are unchanged)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-6545779/How-train-operator-increased-fares.html

Will Matt Patricia give next offensive coordinator room to roam?

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Jim Bob Cooter might be out of a job, a fall from potential head-coaching candidate two years ago to the unemployment line, but dont think just because the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator is going to change that the offense will suddenly improve. It might -- and that is clearly going to be the plan for the Lions as they try to find the fourth coordinator to work with quarterback Matthew Stafford in his career. But for Detroit to have an offense that finally works and truly unlocks Staffords skill set, change has to come from above the coordinator. Best of NFL Nation Jackson transforms doubts to division title Eagles eager to crash postseason party Garrett's November message received Hilton limping to 'second home' in Houston Unheralded ballers from Week 17 The philosophy -- and trust -- have to be there from the head coach. While Cooter was the man responsible for the playcalls, Matt Patricia admitted that he had some say on what happened from a philosophy standpoint on offense, particularly when it came to how aggressive or conservative the approach was. I would say that in general Jim Bob is in charge of the offense, and he puts the packages together, but Im in charge of all of it, Patricia said last month. So all three phases are going to have what I feel is going to help us win that game in particular, the best, sure, no doubt. Were going to look at it as a holistic team and try to do what we can in all three phases to work together as a team based on what our opponent does to try and put ourselves in a situation to win. More often than not this season, that didnt happen -- and that's why Cooter is out of a job. Cooter said earlier in December that he took ownership for everything that happened offensively, as hes supposed to do. But to think the head coach doesnt have some influence would be nave. Perhaps some of that came down to trust -- Cooter was one of the holdover hires from Jim Caldwells staff, in part because of his work with Stafford, and Patricia clearly valued familiarity with almost all of the hires he made himself. Some of it is clearly on Cooter, who should have been better all season at utilizing the strengths of his options and eliminating some of the predictability that existed before the Lions fired Caldwell and hired Patricia. It is something he showed flashes of, especially once the Lions lost key players such as T.J. Lang, Golden Tate, Marvin Jones Jr. and Kerryon Johnson. But the spurts of good game plans or creative playcalls were too few and far between. Jim Bob Cooter's Lions offense lost a lot of key personnel and never quite got rolling in 2018. Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire There is something to the loss of so many talented players and what it does to an offense -- and the playcaller. I can just assume that if its a guy that is significant to your offense and your game plan, it will be tough to kind of put someone into that role when that person does all that stuff and you have to put a different person in that, running back LeGarrette Blount said. You know, probably isnt as quick, isnt as fast, isnt as agile. You just dont know. But I think he did a really good job of filling in the role of missing a couple guys with K [Kerryon Johnson] and with GT [Tate]. Cooter started to show some cohesion with those alternate parts in the season finale against Green Bay, a 31-0 shutout in which the leading receiver, Brandon Powell (six catches, 103 yards), and leading rusher, Zach Zenner (21 carries, 93 yards), had both been afterthoughts the majority of the season. It can be asked where that offensive performance was before -- Powell and Zenner played in prior weeks, albeit in smaller roles -- and whether it can be duplicated or if this was a one-off against a beat-up, headed-for-the-exits Packers team. Beyond what Cooter did, theres a level of culpability higher up -- and this went for Caldwell as well as Patricia. In Caldwells case, the run game didnt have much of a presence, as evidenced by his teams, no matter where he coached, having below-average rushing attacks. In Patricias case, the two things that showed were conservatism and how the Lions handled late-game and late-half situations. There has been little question that throughout his career, Stafford has been better in no-huddle, tempo situations. He has been particularly strong in the fourth quarter. Yet the 2018 Lions, even when trailing in the fourth quarter, when that style of play makes the most sense, rarely looked like the team they were in 2016 and 2017. The urgency they used to have just didnt seem to be there, even when they had most of the same offensive options that had so much success the past two seasons (before they traded Tate and lost Lang and Jones to injury). The biggest change was the head coach and what he wanted. Against the Rams, in a game that came after the trades and injuries started to pile up, the Lions had a chance but trailed in the fourth quarter. Instead of picking up tempo, the Lions slowed. Patricia, in explaining it, said he was looking for good, controlled plays. I think if you get yourself into a situation where youre going to be more at risk for a bad play or a situation where youre trying to run some time down, youre trying to be methodical about what youre doing, Patricia said. Youre trying to make sure that you have good plays called and good situations handled. There are a lot of guys on the other side of the ball that youre trying to defend there or trying to protect against, so in those situations, were trying to do everything to give us a chance to win. And handling the clock and handling all that where, in that situation, we just wanted a really good drive. Just needed a good drive to go down and get some points. So that was the most important thing for us right there. Patricia acknowledged that there are different phases of tempo to use late in games. But the Lions rarely went to the one that worked so well in the past -- not that they would have beaten the Rams or many other teams they lost to, considering six of the teams losses were by double digits. But the late-game management showed that it is more than just the coordinator who needs to change. For the offense to succeed, Patricia and the Lions need to find an offense they trust and one that fits their quarterback. For a while, it seemed Cooter was finally the fit Stafford needed. Now, after a bad season, the Lions are searching for the right way to unlock the offense. Again.

http://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/35029/will-matt-patricia-give-next-offensive-coordinator-room-to-roam

Whos next as Greenwoods Menswear joins the high street casualties?

Next will provide an insight into the performance of retailers over the crucial Christmas period when it presents a fourth-quarter update on its trading tomorrow Paul Marriott Photography A 158-year-old northern retailer describing itself as the quintessential English gentlemans outfitter has become the latest victim of the malaise hitting the high street. Greenwoods Menswear, which was rescued from administration less than 18 months ago, has gone into liquidation and its chain of stores from Doncaster to Rochdale have closed their doors, with the loss of more than 100 jobs. All eyes will turn tomorrow to Next, which will provide an insight into trading in the crucial Christmas period in a fourth-quarter update. Analysts at Jefferies expect the fashion retailer to announce a 12.7 per cent fall in store sales, partially offset by a 10 per cent rise in online sales. Greenwoods, which in the 1990s had about 200 shops, went into administration in

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/whos-next-as-greenwoods-menswear-joins-the-high-street-casualties-wrktj6dzn

What If Theranos Was A Hedge Fund?

Submitted by Michael Edesess of Advisor Perspectives The amazing story of Theranos, a company started in 2003 by a 19-year-old Stanford dropout, is told in page-turning detail in a recent book by Wall Street Journal reporter John Carreyrou. Despite an incredibly distinguished board, leading venture capital investors, raves from a respected Stanford dean and contracts with consumer chains Walgreen and Safeway, the companys claims were finally revealed in 2015 to have been fraudulent. The comparison shows why investment science is not science. The story of Theranos Elizabeth Holmes always had her sights set high. Carreyrou records that at age nine or 10 when she was asked, What do you want to do when you grow up? she said without hesitation, I want to be a billionaire. As a Stanford student in 2003, she spent a summer in Singapore testing the blood of patients suspected of carrying the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus. It convinced her there must be a better way to test blood. In late 2003, at the age of 19, with the help of Stanfords School of Engineering Associate Dean Channing Robertson, in whose laboratory she had worked, she incorporated the company that would become Theranos and dropped out of college. Theranoss goal was to perform a wide range of blood tests with only the blood from a finger-prick, using a miniaturized analytic device. With Robertsons and Stanfords network, and Holmes charisma and impressive delivery of her idea, she quickly acquired funding and staffed up. She gave successful presentations of the technology to major companies like the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis. But as early as 2006 some of her staff noticed that the technology presented to Novartis was fake. Depicted as a video of a blood sample being processed in real-time by the miniature analyser, the video actually was a recording of a successful test that had been performed earlier. The analyser usually didnt work. When Theranoss CFO learned of this he told Holmes, Weve been fooling investors. We cant keep doing that. As soon as he told her that, he was summarily fired. This scenario was played out again and again. Tests that were supposedly done by the microanalyzer using blood from a finger-prick were actually done by a large conventional Siemens analyzer using a venous draw. Anyone who expressed scepticism or pointed out that the technology wasnt working was forced out of the company. Turnover was extremely high. Employees had been required to sign very restrictive non-disclosure agreements upon hiring, and were made to turn over all documents and devices upon departure as well as to sign additional restrictive agreements. Management by Holmes and particularly her second-in-command (and secretly, boyfriend) Sunny Balwani was aggressively autocratic. Theranos departments, even those that should have been working together, were kept apart by reporting separately to Holmes so that they would not share information. Departed employees who might go public with information detrimental to the company were threatened with lawsuits by the law firm of David Boies, probably the most prominent attorney in America, on the pretext of protecting trade secrets; just how frightening became crystal clear to Carreyrou and his sources in 2015 as he pieced together his eventual article unmasking Theranoss fraud. This continued, astonishingly enough, for more than a decade. Meanwhile, glowing articles were written about Holmes and Theranos in numerous magazines and newspapers, including Fortune, Forbes, USA Today, Inc., Fast Company, Glamour and The Wall Street Journal itself. Segments were heard on radio and seen on television stations. Her board of directors included former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and George Schultz, General James Mattis, and other prominent individuals. When Carreyrous article was published in The Wall Street Journal on October 16, 2015, it began the unravelling of the company. Eventually, its largest investor, Rupert Murdoch, who had invested $125 million, sold his shares back to Theranos for one dollar to take the tax loss. Holmes, Balwani, and Theranos were charged with massive fraud by the SEC. If it hadnt been for Carreyrou, the fraud which caused actual harm to patients might have continued for years. Now lets go beyond what Carreyrou wrote and change the scenario. Elizabeth Holmes comes up with a brilliant-sounding idea for an investment strategy using complex derivatives. With her charisma, hypnotic presentation skills, networking abilities and radiant intelligence, she quickly raises seed capital for a hedge fund. She hires top investment talent and makes them sign strict non-disclosure agreements, keeping them separated from each other to prevent leaks. Understandably, she goes to great lengths to ensure that anyone who leaves the company does not reveal information about it, including hiring the top law firm in the nation, known for its tactics of intimidation. After a little while it is discovered internally that her original brilliant-sounding investment strategy doesnt work very well. But it is now only one of many strategies being tested and deployed by her by-now large staff. Results for most of these strategies are ho-hum, but they are written off with unverifiable explanations, such as that they are strategies that protect against down markets while slightly underperforming in up markets. Furthermore, of the many strategies being tested and used, there are one or two that have succeeded, so far, moderately well, though they are run-of-the-mill long-equity investment strategies departing only in small ways from closet-index funds. Arcane quantitative measures and performance goals are adapted and devised to show that the funds are meeting their objectives. The results are presented in complicated PowerPoints to potential and existing investors, and to consulting firms, who nod their heads affirmatively. The PowerPoints continue to highlight the original strategy using complex options, conveying the impression that this is the strategy being used. Mostly, though, the investment results do not come close to matching the initial exuberant hype. Holmes says it takes time for her investment strategy to work. The institutions and wealthy investors in her funds and their consultants are still impressed by her and stay with her, saying they arent concerned about the short-term performance of these funds. Holmes co-authors articles with prominent academics, who are on her payroll, using complicated-looking mathematics, reaching bold conclusions that support the strategies her funds use (but to a discerning eye, dont agree with the mathematics). These articles are published in peer-reviewed financial journals, helped by the fact that her co-authors and reviewers understand how that system works. She speaks regularly at conferences, and is the frequent subject of admiring articles in magazines and newspapers. Falsifiability and science Unlike Theranos the healthcare company, Theranos the hedge fund can never be proved to have misrepresented the effectiveness of its approach. There is no way to prove analytically that an investment strategy cannot work, except for the most patently absurd strategies, such as buying and selling the same stock simultaneously although many have tried and have laid false claims to do so. Other than the most fundamental conclusions based on the no-free-lunch principle higher expected return will come only with higher perceived risk there is little that can be proved using pure reason or mathematics. There is also almost no chance of using evidence to prove statistically that the strategy does or does not work. The statistical record for a proposed strategy will take years to accumulate and by that time the strategy may have changed, the investment environment will have changed, and the likelihood of establishing superiority to the statistics of its background population are extremely low given the chaotically random nature of those data although again, many have tried and have laid false claim to do so. When sceptical questions were posed outside the firm as by media correspondents (the ones who werent completely starstruck) Theranos CEO Holmes brushed them aside with easy explanations. (When they were posed from inside the firm, the questioner was immediately fired.) Some of the explanations were outright lies; more often they were vague half-truths that could only be unmasked once it was finally learned how fraudulent all the claims were. But for the alternative Elizabeth Holmes, the imaginary hedge fund CEO, explanations that are vague half-truths are delivered routinely and readily accepted because such responses are the industry norm. Performance was poor because the markets were in an inscrutable, unpredictable irrational bubble (or panic); it was poor because the strategy lags in up markets but more than makes up for it in down markets; it was poor because the strategy was out of style. These vague half-truths will never be unmasked as fraud, like those of Theranoss Holmes were, because it is impossible to verify whether they were true or false. This applies not only to many hedge funds but to other investment managers, mostly those saying they use quantitative strategies and claiming to be doing science. Karl Popper, the famous 20th century philosopher of science whose lifespan almost coincided with the brilliant economist and critic of scientism Friedrich Hayek introduced the term falsifiability to the philosophy of science. According to Wikipedia, Popper proposed that statements and theories that are not falsifiable are unscientific. Declaring an unfalsifiable theory to be scientific would then be pseudoscience. Popper argued that if a theory is inconsistent with possible empirical observations it is scientific, whereas if it is consistent with all possible observations it is unscientific. That is, if there is some possibility of making an observation that will prove the theory or claim false i.e. if it is falsifiable then it can be regarded as a scientific theory or claim. But if there is no possibility of observing something that cannot be explained away by modifications of, or additions to the theory or claim, then it is unscientific. Theranoss claims were scientific. It was doing science, after all. It claimed to have a miniature device that could do more than a hundred blood tests with the blood from a single finger-prick. When all the facts were finally put together, this claim was shown to be a falsehood. That is the nice thing about scientific claims you can actually prove whether they are false. The claims of the hedge fund Theranos are not scientific. Whatever is observed, it can be explained away by some prevailing circumstance, or some vague modification of the claim. Its claims are not falsifiable. It is not doing science no matter how much mathematics it applies, or how much mathematics it purports to use to substantiate its claims. If all that she wanted was to be a billionaire, Holmes should have started a hedge fund. But wait, maybe she still can. Watch for it. And she can still call it science, because the academic-industrial investment complex doesnt understand what science is. Economist and mathematician Michael Edesess is adjunct associate professor and visiting faculty at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, chief investment strategist of Compendium Finance, adviser to mobile financial planning software company Plynty, and a research associate of the Edhec-Risk Institute. In 2007, he authored a book about the investment services industry titled The Big Investment Lie, published by Berrett-Koehler. His new book, The Three Simple Rules of Investing, co-authored with Kwok L. Tsui, Carol Fabbri and George Peacock, was published by Berrett-Koehler in June 2014.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-01/what-if-theranos-was-hedge-fund?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedge+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+for+everyone+drops+to+zero%29

What will the Redskins do in the offseason?

Sports Columnist The Redskins used to be kings of the offseason, and they have plenty of work to do before free agency begins March 13 if they want to reclaim that label. Coach Jay Gruden all but admitted Monday that his future with the franchise is unclear. Fans are bailing faster than the Titanic crew, and owner Dan Snyder needs another shiny trinket to lure them back. Maybe it will be a new quarterback, but firing president Bruce Allen addition by subtraction could be the best way to regain public trust. Here are five priorities to watch during the offseason. Washington Redskins team president Bruce Allen. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post) #FireBruceAllen Fans want to know why the team president is still around after nine awful years. And until Bruce Allens gone, many arent coming back. This was the worst attendance in the Dan Snyder era, and figures were propped up by an influx of visiting fans. Its the same scenario that caused general manager Vinny Cerratos ouster in 2009, but the Redskins owner needs Allen to negotiate a new stadium deal. Because Snyder is an introvert who doesnt play well with others. Still, many fans want Allen gone for fear of his creeping influence. Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson walks off the field following an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Re-signing Peterson The Redskins best offensive player this year was a sudden preseason signing. The team needs Adrian Peterson even more in 2019. Sure, Derrius Guice will return after missing his rookie season with a torn ACL, but it takes a long time to recover from that injury. Peterson is a great locker-room influence, and he should have options this offseason after proving he can still contribute by rushing for 1,042 yards. Peterson also wants to play for a contender, and Washingtons probably not one. Look for a decision a few days after the start of free agency March 13. Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien warms up before the First Responder Bowl NCAA football game against Boston College Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez) Drafting a QB The brutal truth is that Alex Smith is a long shot to ever play again after a devastating broken leg in November that prompted the Redskins to spiral from 6-3 to 7-9. A second hard truth is that the team has no replacement or salary cap room to sign a worthwhile free agent. So, its time to look to the draft. Except, the No. 15 pick probably wont yield a top-tier QB prospect, so it might be better for the team to look in the middle rounds, when Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien, above, nephew of Redskins Super Bowl XXVI MVP Mark Rypien, might be available. Snyder loves marketing the glory days. CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Washington Redskins guard Shawn Lauvao (77) during action against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Il on December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) Finding a left guard No more waiting for Shawn Lauvao, above, to stay healthy after missing 33 games over the past four seasons, including 11 in 2018. Moving Ty Nsekhe to left guard didnt work, either. Offensive linemen are invaluable, with few good ones ever becoming free agents. Its time to invest a second- or third-round pick because the draft is always loaded with plug-and-play guards. Look for Boston Colleges Chris Lindstrom or Oklahomas Cody Ford, in the second round or Michael Deiter of Wisconsin in the third round. When healthy, the Redskins line is otherwise pretty effective. Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally) Thinking secondary The stunning release of safety D.J. Swearinger has a ripple effect on the secondary. For starters, it forces the Redskins to keep cornerback Josh Norman, above, who hasnt been worth his mega-contract over the past three years. Norman is obviously bored with football but stays for the money. Maybe Washington would have cut him this offseason, but they need a veteran presence. Questions abound with this young unit. Read more from Rick Snider: Jay Gruden deserves one more season with the Redskins Redskins final games will decide who stays, and who goes Redskins' latest loss assures there will be an offseason exodus

https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2019/01/02/things-watch-redskins-rebuild-offseason/

What are the coldest and hottest temperatures recorded in Chicago?

Warren Klews Dear Warren, Chicagos official temperature records began on Nov. 1, 1870, and have continued to the present time. The citys highest and lowest temperatures in that period are 105 degrees on July 24, 1934, and -27 degrees on January 20, 1985. Worldwide temperature extremes display much greater variability. The Earths highest temperature is a sizzling 134 degrees recorded at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913. The lowest temperature stands at -129 degrees at Vostok Station, Antarctica, on July 21, 1983. However, satellite-based temperature sensors beamed at the interior of Antarctica have recorded lower temperatures in recent years.

https://wgntv.com/2019/01/01/what-are-the-coldest-and-hottest-temperatures-recorded-in-chicago/

Will There Be An Oprah G. Winfrey International Airport???

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Oprah Winfrey attends the European Premiere of 'A Wrinkle In Time' at BFI IMAX on March 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/John Phillips/Getty Images) Councilwoman Sharon Hurt of Tennessee wants to name their airport after Oprah Winfrey. She wants to call it Oprah G. Winfrey International Airport. In case you are wondering why Oprah, the media queen has ties to Tennessee. She went to East High School in Nashville and attended Tennessee State University. Hurt also said that the City needs to do a better job of acknowledging the contributions of notable black figures. There has been some push back naming the airport after Oprah. The airports chairman said that naming it after her would not align with their naming policy.

https://www.wrmf.com/will-there-be-an-oprah-g-winfrey-international-airport/

Is Trevante Rhodes The Sexiest Man Of 2018?

Youve spoken ladies and the sexiest man of 2018 is Trevante Rhodes! Trevante Rhodes gained widespread recognition in Barry Jenkins Oscar-winning film Moonlight. The triumphant tale chronicled the life of gay Black man who battles societal norms to overcome insurmountable odds and ultimately find love in the same sex. Rhodes follow-up roles include appearances in The Predator, 12 Strong and most recently, the intense Netflix thriller Bird Box. With over 45 million accounts that tuned into the thriller, Rhodes quickly became the standout eye-candy. The former athlete, who had a successful career as a track and field sprinter (he won a gold medal at the Pan American Junior Athletics Competition in 2009, likened his bae-dom to winning a championship. Its a blessing. Its cool, but if you think about it in regards to sports, if one year you win the championship, you still gotta go back to work tomorrow, he said in an interview with Essence about his new sex symbol status. Rhodes secured 29.9 of votes drawn by Hellobeautiful.com, beating out Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan and Jason Mamoa, who round out the top three finest men of 2018. was originally published on hellobeautiful.com Also On Black America Web:

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/12/31/is-trevante-rhodes-the-sexiest-man-of-2018/

Is a bipartisan Jobs Act 3.0 coming?

Bloomberg reports that there is some interest on a bipartisan basis in a Jobs 3.0 bill that would include provisions: ...intended to help companies bring in more capital through initial public offerings and certain investors. The legislation, for example, would enlarge the group of accredited investors who can take part in some unregistered securities offerings, ease startup fundraising involving angel investors, and allow all corporations not just emerging-growth companies greater freedom to talk to investors and test the waters about their potential IPOs. But there's some stuff missing (granted some of these would be more controversial political): Securities fraud reform.Our expansive securities anti-fraud legal regime poses serious risks to the competitiveness of our markets. Noting that virtually all states now allow corporations to adopt charter provisions limiting director and officer liability and observing that corporate law properly consists of a set of default rules the parties generally should be free to amend, I have proposed allowing corporations to adopt provisions in their articles of incorporation to opt out of derivative litigation and/or securities class actions. Shifting to a more flexible principles-based securities law system from the current rules-based one. Comprehensively reviewing the governance provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank to determine whether there are some that are imposing undue burdens. See generally Bainbridge, Stephen Mark, Corporate Governance and U.S. Capital Market Competitiveness (October 22, 2010). UCLA School of Law, Law-Econ Research Paper No. 10-13. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1696303

https://www.professorbainbridge.com/professorbainbridgecom/2018/12/is-a-bipartisan-jobs-act-30-coming.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+professorbainbridge%2FsheN+%28ProfessorBainbridge.com+%C2%AE%29

What Should I See at MLA and AHA?

Last year, I tried to attend the Modern Language Association convention I was on a panel and everything but a noreaster had other plans and I never made it to New York. Things look clear in Chicago for travel later this week, so Im confident this is the year that I attend my fields largest disciplinary gathering for the first time. I started graduate school in 1994, so maybe I should consider this a kind of commemoration of 25 years in at least English-adjacent work. And because its going to be in the same place at the same time, I figured Id pop into the American Historical Association meeting[1] as well, just to see whats doin. Ill be credentialed as press through Inside Higher Ed (dont laugh). While I feel like Ive had at least half-a-dozen different lives within this world (with more still to come), when it comes to something like MLA, Im a newbie. With AHA I dont even know enough to know what I dont know. Im not totally unprepared. Im a Chicago-area native and lived in the city of and on for a number of years. I know how to navigate the El, the proper footwear for walking, the kind of coat I will need. I will be bringing a larger suitcase than necessary to account for the books I anticipate returning with. Right now, I only have a couple items on my dance card. Im planning on attending a Friday happy hour in honor of HASTAC[2] because I want to thank Cathy Davidson in person for endorsing Why They Cant Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities. On Saturday from 4-5pm, you can find me at the Johns Hopkins University Press booth (426) at the Hyatt exhibition space along with Kathleen Fitzpatrick, director of Digital Humanities and a professor of English at Michigan State University and author of the imminently forthcoming Generous Thinking: A Radical Approach to Saving the University. Beyond that, my goal is to see worthwhile and interesting things that I can report back to the world in the form of a future blog post or two. Ive got some events Ive scoped out, but Im open to hearing from others about what I should see. This is where you come in. In the comments (or you can Tweet at me @biblioracle) please tell me what I should see and do at both the MLA and AHA conventions. Feel free to pitch your own panel or those of a colleague or friend. Be not shy about it, but also consider including why the panel may be of broader interest to someone (like me) who sits somewhat outside the mainstream. And tell me any other convention-related activity that may be of interest. Highlighting your favorites in the comments might just help spread the word to other readers as well. Guide me, experienced ones.

https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/just-visiting/what-should-i-see-mla-and-aha

Could a stem cell jab help banish back pain for good?

A single jab of stem cells is being tested as a new treatment for a common cause of lower back pain. Doctors believe that the injection can help re-grow discs in the spine that have been damaged by degeneration, and reduce inflammation and pain without the need for invasive surgery. Animal studies have shown that stem cells which have the potential to develop into many different types of cell can restore one of the main functions of spinal discs, to act as a fluid-filled cushion between bones in the back. Now a trial is under way at a hospital in Ohio in the U.S., where 24 people will receive one of two doses of stem cells, or placebo jabs. Animal studies have shown that stem cells can restore one of the main functions of spinal discs, to act as a fluid-filled cushion between bones in the back The spine has 26 vertebrae that are cushioned by small soft-centred discs, made of a jelly-like substance, which allow the free movement of the spine. Ageing, genetics or injury can damage discs, reducing their ability to act as a cushion between vertebrae and provide support. The discs also lose some of their water content and dry out. This, in turn, brings the vertebrae closer together, reducing the discs shock-absorbing ability. A lack of blood supply means damaged discs do not repair themselves. They can bulge or slip out of place, putting pressure on nearby nerve endings, which causes chronic pain and movement problems. Existing therapies treat the symptoms of the disease, rather than the causes of the condition. First-line treatments include painkillers, steroid injections to reduce inflammation and physiotherapy. In severe cases, or if other treatments are ineffective, patients may be offered surgery which involves welding together adjacent vertebrae so they heal into a single solid bone. While this surgery will relieve pain, it can limit movement. Researchers are now looking at tackling the root cause of the disease using stem cells, which are thought to have anti-inflammatory effects and stimulate the growth of new tissue. The most significant unmet need is a therapy that cannot only improve the patients pain and function, but has the ability to reverse, halt or slow disease progression, say the researchers carrying out the trial at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in the U.S. Researchers are now looking at tackling the root cause of the disease using stem cells, which are thought to have anti-inflammatory effects and stimulate the growth of new tissue Stem cells develop into mature cells that make up the organs and tissues of the adult body. In the laboratory, stem cells can be coaxed into becoming blood cells, bone, cartilage, fat, blood vessels or heart muscle. There are two types of adult stem cell: haematopoietic, which become bone marrow and blood cells; and mesenchymal, which become solid organs and tissues such as bone and cartilage. While haematopoietic cells can be taken easily from bone marrow and are being used to treat patients with some types of cancer, mesenchymal cells, which are at an earlier stage of development, can be taken from any tissue. It is the mesenchymal cells that the new treatment utilises. In the trial, the first to use stem cells for the treatment of lower back pain, patients will have stem cells taken from their bone marrow and injected into the disc identified as the cause of symptoms. Bone marrow, a semi-solid material, is extracted from the hip bone under a general anaesthetic, using a syringe, and stem cells recovered from it. The researchers say the cells will strengthen the disc by increasing its water content, improving cushioning between vertebrae and reducing inflammation and pain. In the trial, patients will have stem cells taken from their bone marrow and injected into the disc identified as the cause of symptoms The patients pain and movement will be measured they will undergo MRI scans and quality-of-life assessments before the treatment and at regular intervals for up to a year afterwards. Commenting on the research, Roger Hackney, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Spire and Nuffield hospitals in Leeds, says: There is an enormous expansion of interest as to whether stem cells can be used to treat everything from spinal cord injury to curing arthritis. This is a small study and, although the future is probably very bright for stem cells, the science is early in its development. Meanwhile, electrical stimulation of the scalp is effective at relieving symptoms of lower back pain, according to results from the first clinical trial where it was compared to placebo in 21 patients. Doctors at Harvard University in the U.S., reporting their findings in the journal Pain Medicine, used transcranial direct current stimulation for chronic lower back pain. Patients had ten daily sessions of the treatment or a placebo. Results suggested significantly less pain and depression symptoms in those having the treatment after six weeks. The electrical treatment is thought to work by blocking activity in a region of the brain implicated in the sensation of pain.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6545915/Could-stem-cell-jab-help-banish-pain-good.html

Would human extinction be a tragedy?

Now there might be those on the more jaded side who would argue that if we went extinct there would be no loss, because there would be no one for whom it would be a loss not to have access to those things. I think this objection misunderstands our relation to these practices. We appreciate and often participate in such practices because we believe they are good to be involved in, because we find them to be worthwhile. It is the goodness of the practices and the experiences that draw us. Therefore, it would be a loss to the world if those practices and experiences ceased to exist.

https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/would-human-extinction-be-a-tragedy-1.61019391

Is Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Netflix?

Golden Globe-winning sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been a big success, with fans around the word tuning in week after week to follow the misadventures of the NYPDs 99th police department as they solve crime, catch bad guys and get up to all sorts of hijinks in their time off. Advertisement The series stars Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, an offbeat and childish detective who clashes with stern new boss Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) when hes not solving cases with best friend/partner Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) or making bets with rival/love interest Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero). Rounding out the cast is badass detective Rosa Diaz, neurotic desk sergent Terry (Terry Crews), self-obsessed office worker Gina (Chela Peretti) and inveterate losers Hitchcock and Scully (Dirk Blocker and Joel McKinnon Miller). And fans of the series who want to watch it again (or catch up before its shown on TV) are in luck, because Brooklyn Nine-Nine is indeed available on Netflix UK. Advertisement The first four seasons are currently available to stream, and it doesnt look like theyre going anywhere anytime soon.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-02/is-brooklyn-nine-nine-on-netflix/

Why head to a packed beach when a deserted one is around the corner?

The propensity for humans to huddle should no longer surprise. But surprise me it does, especially every summer when I head to one of the most popular seaside towns west of Melbourne; the main beach is like a tin of sandiness while one just a few metres away is practically deserted. Anglesea Beach. Credit:Richard Cornish Maybe its laziness. Most people cant be bothered to walk a few minutes for a bit of space. You see this in tourist spots in remote parts of Australia, where visitors stray no further than a stones throw from the other hordes at some stunning gorge or waterfall, when a short stroll would give them the forest or the river to themselves. At Anglesea there are good reasons for people congregating the way they do. The nippers program. The flags that we should all swim between. An abundance of lifesavers. And the promise of an endless supply of social interactions. Mums family started coming here at the end of the 1800s and built a shack here 101 years ago. Back then, they were one of the handful of families who summered here, and they knew everybody.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/why-head-to-a-packed-beach-when-a-deserted-one-is-around-the-corner-20190102-p50p7q.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national

Is Venezuela Willing to Start a Carribean War?

Scott B. MacDonald Security, Americas The timing of Russia sending two long-range bombers to Venezuela earlier in December has Washington wondering what Caracas is thinking. On December 22, 2018, the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela intercepted the ExxonMobil research ship, the Ramform Tethys, in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The ship is flagged by the government of the Bahamas and was contracted to conduct seismic work by ExxonMobil and has a crew of seventy. Relations between Guyana and Venezuela have deteriorated considerably since Nicolas Maduro came into office in 2013, following the death of Hugo Chavez. This incident could be the beginning of a more sustained push by the authoritarian Maduro regime to stir up nationalism in the run-up to the beginning of a new presidential term in January 2019. Guyana and Venezuela have a longstanding border dispute, dating back to the early nineteenth century but since settled by international arbitration. Venezuela has periodically challenged that settlement, claiming about half of the country. The recent discovery of large quantities of oil off the shore of Guyana conducted by major oil companies, in particular ExxonMobil, has led to a new oil rush for the Caribbean country. With a population of less than one million and an economy that has struggled in the past, the addition of oil is real boost to the economy, and if used prudently, could considerably improve the lives of most Guyanese. The problem for Guyana is that the Venezuelan economy is sinking, and badly. According to the International Monetary Fund, inflation should reach ten million percent in 2019. The country is struggling to produce enough oil for exports, and food, toilet paper and other daily staples are hard to find. Crime is rampant, and the economy is now based on barter, with goods having greater value than the worthless government currency, the bolivar. Close to 2.5 million people have already fled Venezuela and more are expected to head across the borders to Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador as well as throughout the Caribbean. There is some talk that up to ten million Venezuelans may ultimately leave their country to escape economic collapse, a lack of personal safety and political repression. The Guyanese government is deeply concerned that Venezuela could continue to push on the border issue. The government released a statement, saying that it rejects this illegal, aggressive and hostile act perpetrated by the Government of Bolivarian Republic of which once again demonstrates the real threat to Guyanas economic development by its western neighbor; an act that violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. On paper, the Venezuelan military is much larger than Guyanas. However, the terrain through which any large-scale Venezuelan incursion would proceed is challenging. Much of the border is jungle, and there are few roads as well as a number of rivers. Moreover, one has to wonder as to how combat effective the Venezuelan armed forces are at this stage, considering the countrys budget problems and the corruption within the officer corps. The answer is probably no; the preference would be more likely to conduct a number of bullying operations, such as the seizure of oil exploration ships. Making the situation more complicated is the involvement of the major powers in the region. Both China and Russia have been and continue to be actively engaged in keeping the Maduro regime in power, although it is questionable that Beijing or Moscow would favor backing Caracas in a shooting war with Guyana. Moreover, the United States has made it clear that it considers Venezuela, in the words of national Security Adviser John Bolton, part of the troika of tyranny, alongside Cuba (which has security advisers in Venezuela) and Nicaragua. Washington has little regard for the Maduro government and has suggested regime change would be a good thing. However, if Venezuela were to escalate the situation from the seizure of an oil exploration vessel to a land grab or an attempted naval blockade of the offshore oil fields, the situation could turn ugly. The United States has already let it be known that it disapproved of the Venezuelan action and stands behind Guyana.

https://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-willing-start-carribean-war-011600257.html

What will happen to New Jerseys economy in 2019?

As we begin 2019, the global economy seems uncertain. But experts believe the outlook is more positive than negative, including in New Jersey. Our growth rate for employment, at least through October, was very consistent to that of the nation, was very consistent to that of New York and was ahead of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, Rutgers University economist James Hughes said. As a result, the New Jersey economy in 2018 really outperformed our expectations earlier in the year. Hughes pointed out that after a sluggish period following the Great Recession, the last several years we have gained traction and the economy has gotten up to speed." He said the state economy has been impacted by fundamental structural changes, including the flow of Millennials out of suburban New Jersey into urban environments, and suburban office buildings and malls struggling to stay relevant. Weve had to adjust to really a post-suburban economic and demographic era, but I think the state has finally started to respond," he said. The office industry has repositioned a number of buildings and campuses, really transforming them into viable future economic assets. At the same time, as Millennials adults as old as 35 have started having children, theyre going to be looking for family-raising environments, and I think theyre getting tired of living in a shoebox in Brooklyn and a little bit of green patch in New Jersey looks pretty good. Hughes pointed out the recent announcement by e-commerce giant Amazon to locate a new headquarters in Long Island City will benefit the Garden State economically. Were in the gravitational field of New York City and so were getting a spillover effect from that. We have a chance to be part of that broader technology ecosystem going forward. With the recent interest rate hike by the Fed, ongoing concern about a possible trade war with China and political shifts in Europe, financial markets remain jittery. But Hughes said the state's unemployment rate remains low and should remain that way "unless the global economy goes into a tank. He said when all of these factors are taken together, were in a much better position today than we were, say, in 2012 and 2013. You can contact reporter David Matthau at David.Matthau@townsquaremedia.com

http://nj1015.com/what-will-happen-to-new-jerseys-economy-in-2019/

Which Fork Is Which?

WEDNESDAY PUZZLE As the mother of two nearly grown human beings, I had a vested interest in making sure that, when they went out into the world to break bread with other human beings, no words like rude or even completely feral would be bandied about. Were not exactly a multiple fork household even under the fanciest of circumstances, but Im proud to say that no one in my immediate family has ever been asked to leave a restaurant. Its the little victories that count. So I was happy to see that these lessons are still being taught to younger generations, at least as far as I could see in the clues of Jacob Stulbergs puzzle. Or so I thought. A theme can zig when you think its going to zag. Sometimes you can even come to a fork in the road, like this one. Image Credit Deb Amlen This really happened. I was crossing Eighth Avenue on my way to the office, and stepped over this utensil in the street. So I walked back out into the middle of a busy New York City avenue, with absolutely no regard for my own safety, and snapped a cellphone shot of it. This is the kind of thing I do for my job. Because I care.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/01/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2019-01-02.html

Is Bed Rest Necessary in Pregnancy?

Share this content: linkedin google Email Print Some negative effects of maintaining bed rest during pregnancy include deep vein thrombosis, decreased bone mass, an overall decrease in conditioning, and an increase in the development of mood disord Over the years, clinicians have advised bed rest for pregnant patients who present with a variety of conditions. Although many providers still believe that bed rest is a reliable precaution for women at increased risk for preterm delivery, experts now routinely warn against bed rest in most situations. According to the Mayo Clinic,1 even when a patient's condition warrants bed rest, it should be done with as much moderation as possible, with activity-restriction levels varying in order to keep pregnant patients as active as possible. This might include limiting or avoiding certain activities such as strenuous exercise, lifting, and other intense activities. Pelvic rest is different from bed rest and describes the avoidance of certain activities for patients with conditions such as placenta previa. Pelvic rest may include avoiding actions that place pressure on the pelvis or pelvic muscles, such as intercourse, douching, or using tampons. According to information from the Mayo Clinic website, some of the negative effects of overprescribed bed rest include deep vein thrombosis, decreased bone mass, overall decrease in conditioning, and increased occurrence of depression and anxiety disorders. Information from the Mayo Clinic also outlines some helpful tips for pregnant patients facing recommendations of increased bed rest and decreased activities. Such patients are advised to press for clear explanations from their clinician about why bed rest is necessary, whether pelvic rest would serve as an alternative to bed rest, what modifications are suggested and what activities are appropriate, and specific recommendations about which sexual activities should be limited and which are unrestricted. When restrictions on activities are necessary, the Mayo Clinic website also offers these tips for patients to deal with such restrictions when truly indicated: Get organized. Make sure everything you need throughout the day is within reach. Beat boredom. Email, text, or write letters. Organize photos, or start a scrapbook. Shop for baby goods online. Read your way through the bestseller list. Learn relaxation techniques for labor. Stay limber. If your healthcare provider approves, walk, stretch, or do gentle exercises. Accept help. When friends and loved ones ask what they can do, be prepared with a list of tasks mowing the lawn, putting away the groceries, building the crib, cleaning the bathroom, taking the kids to the park, or keeping you company. Help your older children adjust. Do your best to provide as much stability for the older children as you can. This includes hiring a regular babysitter in the morning, coordinating with a favorite aunt to pick them up from school, or scheduling weekend visits with grandparents. Read books, color, or watch movies together. Seek support. To maintain a positive attitude, connect with other moms-to-be who are on bed rest or those who have been through it. Check for support groups online. If you're having trouble coping, ask your healthcare provider or mental health provider for additional help. Expect emotional challenges. Share your fears, hopes, and concerns with your partner. Let each other vent. If intercourse is not permitted, look for other ways to maintain intimacy. It is important for physician assistants and nurse practitioners to be aware of the shift away from the overuse of bed rest and the need to provide detailed information for patients when it is thought to be indicated. As the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians notes, cautioning against bed rest and promoting safe activities is ideal.2 References

https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/the-waiting-room/bed-rest-necessary-in-pregnancy/article/822488/

Does A 'New Year' Have To Mean A 'New Me'?

As the eve of the New Year approached I found myself as many others, reflecting on the year that has been. I think its human nature to look back, whether good or bad. And It can be easier to focus on one rather than the other, the key to moving into the New Year with the best attitude is to have some balance on the previous years reflections. For once, as I enter into the new year, my focus isnt to change everything that I am. Im not focusing entirely on the lows of 2018, fretting on how Ill make unrealistic changes to become the person I have always wanted to be. Im not drunkenly singing in the new year because I need to feel comfortable in my own skin and need the confidence. I dont feel the need to judge anyone else for staying in, heading out, making resolutions or not. This year I feel different because today is another day on my journey. This week I wont change everything, but Ill continue changing, improving and focusing on being a happier, healthier person in mind and body. Im not going to set deadlines, due to my condition of borderline personality disorder I dont react well to these, but Im setting action targets, goals and making plans. I genuinely feel like Im on the marathon not sprint journey. Ive spent so many New Years eves crying over the things the previous year had brought me, and dont get me wrong, some years really have been, I dont judge anyone who is looking forward to starting afresh. Ive spent New Years eves hiding behind huge amounts of alcohol, Ive also didnt New Years eves crying, promising the next year will be better, I dont judge anyone who is doing this this year. I just want to move forward, I want to learn the lessons the past has taught me, I dont want to forget the bad times. These are the events and situations that have made me who I am. They have built my experience, my resilience and have trained me and prepared me for what is yet to come. I also dont want to put rose tinted glasses on, believing that it was the best year ever and nothing will ever top it. I made incredible amazing memories, but they will stay with me and empower me to make more memories in the future, I want to be objective, to balance the year of 2018 and take those things Ive learnt and experienced in 2019. making me a better person. I want to achieve more, but not all tomorrow or in the first month, failing miserably after a few days. I want to set goals which are achievable and matter. I also want to make a difference, not just to my life, but others. My aims and hopes for 2019 are simple, to develop. To take myself to a better place at a steady pace, learning consistently as I go. I want to try new things, experience new things, meet new people, visit new places, leatn new teachings. I go into 2019 with hope and much less anxiety than I have for many years. I am the only one that can make this new year be the best it can be and I will do my very best.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/does-a-new-year-have-to-mean-a-new-me_uk_5c2b872ce4b0535a214bd06f

Which new superfoods pack a real punch?

Peak avocado has been and gone. Kale is no longer king. You can't cheat death by drinking pomegranate juice after all. And reports of turmeric's importance as a "miracle spice" may, it turns out, have been exaggerated. Peak avocado has been and gone. Kale is no longer king. You can't cheat death by drinking pomegranate juice after all. And reports of turmeric's importance as a "miracle spice" may, it turns out, have been exaggerated. Things move fast in the world of superfood trends. In 2018, health and wellness influencers over the world may have been busily tucking into kimchi and slurping down bone-broth but for 2019 attention has moved to a whole new range of produce and products. Here's our round-up of the rising stars hitting your supermarket shelves. Irish Heather Honey For antioxidant power that beats Manuka to the punch If you've been forking out the euros on expensive jars of Manuka honey in the health-food store because of its much-touted antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, you might want to start looking closer to home. A study carried out by researchers in DCU and Trinity College looked at the amounts of phenolic compounds (a measure of a honey's antioxidant properties) found in various types of Irish honey. They discovered that humble Irish heather honey packed as powerful an antioxidant punch as Manuka, and crucially, it is (currently) much less expensive to buy. Lloyd Hewson, from Nourish health foods, predicts that the news about Irish heather honey will lead to a revival of the sweet stuff's popularity next year. Customers, he says, are increasingly moving away from sweeteners such as agave. "People seem to be very interested in honey," he explains. They stock several Irish-produced brands of heather honey and ivy honey. "They are all raw," he adds. "Customers don't want over-processed honey." Edible crickets For improved gut health There's been hype building around the value of insect-based food sources for several years now. Not least since Angelina Jolie heartily endorsed the notion of bugs as food in 2017, tucking enthusiastically into a snack of fried spider. It has long been known that bugs can provide a high-protein, low-fat food source. But new research puts crickets squarely on the map as part of the growing trend for foods which promote healthy gut flora - itself increasingly recognised as an important marker of good health. Crunchy edible crickets. Photo: AFP PHOTO/ TANG CHHIN SOTHY Last summer, the results of a clinical trial published in the journal Scientific demonstrated that participants fed a diet high in crickets had increased numbers of beneficial gut bacterial and lower levels of harmful inflammatory markers in their blood. Cannabidiol cookies Currently taking the UK by storm Not to be confused with hash brownies, these are treats that are made with CBD oil (a non-psychoactive chemical derived from the cannabis plant which won't get you high). Neither will they get you in trouble with the law, as CBD oil is legal in Ireland and is sold in health-food stores around the country. Interest in the benefits of cannabidiol is growing all the time. In Ireland, a number of high-profile campaigns have been waged to make it available on prescription for children suffering intractable epilepsy. Research supports its usefulness as an anti-inflammatory and as a treatment for reducing anxiety. But it's worth bearing in mind that though the products on sale in health food shops in Ireland are legal, they are largely unregulated, so it can be hard to know exactly what you are getting. Some experts caution that CBD is properly treated not as a health food, but as a drug. Moringa plant powder To supercharge your smoothie The miracle tree moringa Native to India, where it grows on the foothills of the Himalayas, Moringa plants have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, earning it its nickname "the miracle tree." Every part of the tree is edible, and its leaves, which are densely packed with vitamins and minerals, have also been used in India and Africa as a treatment for malnutrition. For good reason - just a few leaves "contain seven times the Vitamin C of an orange, four times the calcium of milk and four times the beta-carotene of carrots", says nutrition researcher C. Gopalan quoted in Time magazine. Brazil nuts A recent study carried out by researchers at San Diego University found that, "Brazil nuts help people feel full and maintain a healthy level of glucose, reducing the risk of obesity and diabetes," according to the study's author, Mee Young Hong, PhD RD. If that is not incentive enough, another study published in July found that men who consumed a diet rich in nuts showed improved sperm count and motility. Camu camu A little-known fruit native to the Amazon might soon be employed as a weapon in the fight against obesity. Scientists in Quebec discovered that Camu camu boasts 20-30 times more Vitamin C than kiwis and five times more polyphenols than blackberries. Camu camu can help combat obesity Not only that, researchers at Laval University discovered that mice fed an extract of Camu camu gained less weight when fed a diet rich in sugar and fat, compared to controls. The cohort fed the Camu camu demonstrated improved glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity as well as lowered inflammation. Irish Independent

https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/which-new-superfoods-pack-a-real-punch-37673325.html

Why did the bartender cut me off?

First, a true story to set the tone. A young man went to a well-known bar in Arizona. He had already been drinking before he got there, but it wasnt necessarily clear how intoxicated he was when he chose to buy more drinks. It was one of these things where the bar was so crowded it was very hard to really notice signs of intoxication, said David Delorenzo, owner of BarAndRestaurantInsurance.com. In the course of a couple hours, the man had been served about two beers. As time passed, however, it became clear he was too drunk to continue his night. Attempts were made by his friends and employees of the bar to get him into some form of taxi service vehicle, but he resisted and instead meandered off on his own. He ended up getting in his car, high speeding it down the road somewhere and killed an 11-year-old, Delorenzo said. The child was in a car he crashed into. Another child and their father were both seriously injured as well. The drunk driver didnt have much money to his name, so the subsequent lawsuit took a turn toward the bar. Though the bar had only knowledge of the man drinking about two beers purchased from them, they ended up paying the bereaved family a $1.5 million settlement. Because he was at this bar and they should have done more and this and that, they just settled, because the last thing they want to do is go in front of a jury, Delorenzo said. Unlike some states, there is no limit in Arizona as to how much financial obligation a party can be held liable for in liquor license cases. The law This tragic story is indicative of how Arizonas liquor license law is written. According to the law, owners of liquor licenses in the state can be held at least partially responsible for property damage, personal injuries, or wrongful deaths that are incurred or caused by those who purchased and consumed alcohol from the licensees while already obviously intoxicated. Obviously intoxicated is defined by the statute as inebriated to such an extent that a persons physical faculties are substantially impaired and impairment is shown by significantly uncoordinated physical action or significant physical dysfunction that would have been obvious to a reasonable person. Incentive to tread carefully Given how broad-reaching the law is, it behooves dram shops bars, restaurants or similar commercial establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold to be as careful as possible not to expose themselves to potential liability, Delorenzo said. Dram shops in Arizona typically carry $1 million to $2 million insurance policies. This is accomplished by checking customer identification, having staff trained to recognize signs of intoxication and maintaining records, such as video camera footage, for extended periods of time in case a suit is levied within the two-year statute of limitations for liquor license liability claims. Especially for a busy night like New Years Eve, save that footage, Delorenzo said. A lot of times these lawsuits will not come to fruition until one day before the two-year statute is up. Watchful Jeannette Avila, who tends bar at Fireside Cocktail Lounge in Kingman, has been working in the industry for 20 years. She said that usually when she has to cut someone off, its during the night shift. You can very easily humiliate somebody and then it will just cause an issue, she said of telling someone theyve had enough to drink. So I always try to talk to them one on one so no one else can hear. Ive always tried to cut people off quietly. She likes to provide snacks and water for those needing assistance in pacing themselves. To help bar goers from reaching the point of no return, or rather of no more alcohol, she recommends that patrons set a time or drink limit and stick to it. We all know our limits, we all know how many we can have, Avila said. Its a matter of standing by what you say. Theres even more to the law when it comes to intoxication than many people realize. Being intoxicated behind the wheel isnt the only concern for drinkers. Its even hard when people get a ride to the bar, she said. They think its OK for them to be intoxicated. Its still not OK. Its irrelevant whether they have a ride or a cab, its still against the law. Arguing with Avila or any other bartender about being cut off is a good way to get kicked out of an establishment. Avila says that for both parties, herself and the patron, the issue comes down to responsibility. Its my responsibility to make sure you get home legally and responsibly, she said. If you leave this bar and you go kill somebody, Im responsible. Thats a big deal in Arizona, its a big deal anywhere. Daily Miner reporter Travis Rains contributed to this report

http://kdminer.com/news/2019/jan/01/why-did-bartender-cut-me/

Where is The Last Kingdom filmed?

Im sick of building Saxon barns, Im sick of mud, Im sick of killing the grass. Martyn John, The Last Kingdoms production designer, is joking, but his laughter has a mildly maniacal edge. Small wonder, after a gruelling seven-month shoot. But at least the efforts of John (whose previous work ranges from Foyles War to The White Queen) and his team look like theyre paying off. As we squelch our way through the mud, dung and straw, its hard to deny that the set looks, feels and even smells pretty authentic. No one watching would be under any illusions that life in ninth-century England was tough. Advertisement The main set of The Last Kingdom spans about eight acres just outside Budapest in Hungary, owned by Korda Studios and used to film period and fantasy dramas including Skys costume romp The Borgias, the Ken Follett adaptation World without End and Emerald City, the recent reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. Recycling, it becomes clear, is essential. Not just of general items (although I see little 21st-century litter during my tour), but of entire sets, with Winchester doubling as York, Leeds, Northampton and assorted other conurbations in Wessex and East Anglia. With a few tweaks, some canny camera angles and the many ginnels and alleyways around the walled city, its hard to see the joins. John is even the sort of heathen who will happily re-dress a cathedral as a pagan meeting hall if it services the series. The story also once again takes to the seas, when Uhtred is enslaved on a Viking longship: a conundrum for a production at the heart of a landlocked country. While authenticity is the watchword for John and his team, green screen was deployed for some seabound sequences that were, in fact, shot in the studio car park. For the rest, John used the sites man-made lake. A few hundred metres away, meanwhile, is a seemingly redundant bog that was repurposed as a marshland village in the first series at a cost of 30,000 (John estimates the equivalent in the UK would have cost five times as much). E4s The Aliens, Skys upcoming Roman invasion epic Britannia and the BBCs Robin Hood are just a few to have joined The Last Kingdom in filming there. Part of the reason is budgetary, as construction costs are much cheaper, but there are aesthetic benefits, too. For The Last Kingdom, says one of the series directors, Jon East, who also filmed ITVs Maigret revival in Budapest, Hungary offers many unspoilt acres of un-farmed and un-bordered grassland and forest. These are hard to find in the UK, where walls and fences fragment the landscape, clearly announcing that it is not a ninth-century world. Its cheaper to shoot abroad in a virgin landscape than it is to digitally remove all the trappings of the 21st-century in post-production. The same goes for Maigret: Budapest is easier to transform into 1950s Paris than either Paris itself or any other major UK city, because there are fewer and smaller unspoilt architectural areas. Advertisement This article was originally published on 4 May 2017

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-02/where-is-the-last-kingdom-filmed/

Will the Penny system drop 100mm on Central Queensland?

Tom Saunders, chief meteorologist for Sky News, said while Penny will be well away from the coast today there is the potential the low will redevelop back into a Tropical Cyclone and make a sharp right hand turn and start heading back towards the Queensland Coast over the weekend. Tom Saunders, chief meteorologist for Sky News, said while Penny will be well away from the coast today there is the potential the low will redevelop back into a Tropical Cyclone and make a sharp right hand turn and start heading back towards the Queensland Coast over the weekend. Sky News WEATHER forecasters say 100mm falls are possible for Central Queensland next week if the Cyclone Penny system circles back towards the Queensland coast. Tom Saunders, chief meteorologist for Sky News, said while Penny might move well away from the coast today there was the potential for the low to redevelop back into a Tropical Cyclone. "Our models show Penny will make a sharp right hand turn and start heading back towards the Queensland coast over the weekend, he said. "By Sunday we could start to see an increase in wind and rain along the central parts of the Queensland Coast and by early next week, this system could actually hit the coast. With the possibility that Ex-Tropical Cyclone Penny will reform, Mr Saunders says falls of up to 300mm are possible wherever it makes landfall, which is still uncertain. "Rain over the next week is highly dependent on the exact movement of Cyclone Penny, he said. "But up to 100mm is possible for Central Queensland. "If Penny makes landfall as a cyclone we could see 200 and 300mm of rain. The JTWC forecast track issued this morning shows the Tropical Cyclone Penny system may turn back to the Central Queensland coast but there is with low confidence in this path due to the complex steering environment. JTWC While there is still large amounts of uncertainty as to where the system will move, Jess Gardener, meteorologist for The Bureau of Meteorology, said the system could be upgraded today. "Currently it is sitting south east of Lockhart River as a tropical low, "It is in an environment that is favourable for redevelopment and we could see that system redeveloping into a Tropical Cyclone out on the Coral Sea and continue to move South East. As for its predicted track, Ms Gardener said it is still hard to know exactly where it will go at this stage. "Towards the end of the week there is the possibility it could re-curve back and track east towards the Queensland coast, she said. "We do have a fairly large amount of uncertainty around where it would land but chances are it would be between Cairns and Mackay. She said the amount of rain seen in parts of the region was highly dependent on whether the system does reform and move towards the coast. "It is a bit early to have any certainty with those kinds of figures, she said. "If it does come back towards the coast there will be heavy rainfall, but exactly where and how much is still uncertain. We will know more in the next few days. The Bureau of Meteorology has said it will continue to release tracking maps and bulletins on the movement of the system ever six hours.

https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/will-the-penny-system-drop-100mm-on-central-queens/3613333/

Is air pollution on the decline in the country?

As the New Year brings in both lethal air and hopes for greater action on air quality in North India, data for 2018 shows that several Indian cities had worse levels of air pollution in 2018 than the worst in the world. Photo: AFP In mid-November, dangerously high levels of particulate matter pushed Delhis air quality index into the orange very poor air zone, throwing Delhis administration into panic, with talk of bringing back restrictions on private vehicles to combat the deadly air. Yet, through 2018, other cities in India experienced similar deadly dips in their air quality, relatively unnoticed: for instance, mid-February in Ahmedabad, through December in Hapur, late November in Gaya, the air quality should have warranted emergency measures in these cities. As the New Year brings in both lethal air and hopes for greater action on air quality in North India, data for 2018 shows that several Indian cities had worse levels of air pollution in 2018 than the worst in the world. The good news, however, is that particulate matter (PM) levels have declined in most Indian cities for which data is available. In 2016, the last year for which globally comparable data was available, the top 13 spots for the most polluted cities in the world were taken up by Indian cities, led by Kanpur, according to the World Health Organizations (WHOs) Ambient Air Quality Database. While 2018 was a better year for air quality than 2016 and 2017, many of these cities would still make the global list in 2018, if trends in the rest of the world remained unchanged, an analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shows. (charts 1a and 1b). Kanpur, the worlds most polluted city in 2016, registered a significant improvement in its particulate matter levels in 2018, as did the other Indian cities in the WHO list, including Delhi. However, some of Delhis satellite cities for which data was not available in 2016 registered much higher air pollution levels in 2018 than Kanpur, Gaya or Delhi, creating a new worst in the world record. The industrial hub of Bhiwadi in Rajasthan and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, both part of the National Capital Region (NCR), were not measured in 2016, but had among the highest levels of particulate matter in 2018. Gurugram was one of the few cities to get worse between 2016 and 2018. While a range of pollutants found in the air have negative impacts on human health, this analysis focuses on the level of PM2.5 and PM10tiny particles of less than 2.5 and 10 microns diameter, respectively. These tiny particles are capable of penetrating the lungs and entering their bloodstream at high concentrations. Chronic exposure to these particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as of lung cancer, according to the WHO. The WHO considers exposure to PM2.5 concentrations of under 10 microgram per cubic metre annually, and under 25 microgram on average over an hour to be safe. Indias colour-coded air quality index considers PM2.5 levels under 30 ug/m3 to be good and over 90 to be poor. Among cities for which consistent data was available for 2018, four of the five worst cities in terms of PM2.5 concentration levels are in NCR: Faridabad (163.5), Ghaziabad (141.9), Gurugram (132.1), and Bhiwadi (127.5). Patna (117.7) and Muzaffarnagar (116.7) follow close behind (chart 2). While much of the media, policy and politics debate around air pollution focuses on Delhi, the problem is equally bad in Delhis satellites and even beyond. The northern cities are particularly badly affected. Several cities in this beltGaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Varanasi, Jodhpurapart from Delhis satellites had levels of PM2.5 concentration this year that would have put them among the 20 worst cities of the world in 2016. Unsurprisingly, North India is also the epicentre of pollution-related ailments and deaths. Last year, 1.2 million people lost their lives to pollution, according to research by the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative published in The Lancet Planetary Health . The study estimated that the highest PM2.5 exposure level was in Delhi, followed by the other North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana (chart 3). One out of every seven deaths in India was attributable to air pollution, and air pollution lowered Indian life expectancy by 1.7 years, the study showed. Although there is some dispute over its relative share, vehicular pollution is undoubtedly an important contributor to air pollution. Construction and stubble burning seem to be the other big culprits in the North Indian belt. Delhis odd-even scheme to reduce vehicles on its roads may not have had much of an impact but a series of clear-air focussed policy initiatives may finally be having some effect, an analysis of long-run pollution trends based on satellite imagery showed . Despite dangerously high levels of particulate matter in other cities, no city other than Delhi has taken government-level action on air pollution so far. One reason may be that the scale of the problem in the rest of the country is much less understood than it is in Delhi. The capital alone has 38 functional monitoring stations, as many as 11 other states put together. In comparison, Mumbai, the next biggest city, has just one monitoring station. Moreover, there are serious collection and data integrity problems with the reported CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) data, which perhaps mask the real extent of the country-wide bad air problem. Rukmini S. is a Chennai-based journalist.

https://www.livemint.com/Politics/zGElgt6WwTYxReJBzTgdgL/Is-air-pollution-on-the-decline-in-the-country.html

How To Get A Safe Ride On New Years Eve In Lexington?

Here are a few options you can use for a safe New Years Eve. Lyft is offering a $20 credit from December 21 until January 1 state-wide. Users will be able to receive two $10 rides when they use the code SLEIGHRIDEKY in the mobile app. This offer is in thanks to Safe Ride KY which is a coalition led by the Kentucky Distillers Association. Limited supplies. If youre still looking for plans, check out a sampling of what to do on New Years. Also check out whats open and whats closed during the New Years holiday. For more Lexington, Kentucky arts, food, culture, and entertainment news, click here to subscribe to the Ace digital e-dition, emailed to your inbox.

https://www.aceweekly.com/2018/12/how-to-get-a-safe-ride-on-new-years-eve-in-lexington/

What awaits 666th Fifth Ave. after Millenniums move?

As 2019 dawns, the locomotive of change is roaring on all pistons. Tishman Speyers supertall Spiral, future home of Pfizer, is on the rise. Brooklyns stalled Pacific Park is showing new energy. The new year raises lots of big questions. One is what Brookfield has in mind for 666 Fifth Ave. the long-cursed office tower it took control of last year from beleaguered Kushner Cos. Nobody knows exactly what Brookfield will do to redesign and upgrade the obsolescent tower. But the task was likely made easier by Millennium Managements decision to leave 170,000 square feet at 666 Fifth Ave. for Boston Properties 399 Park Ave. Boston announced on Dec. 27 that it had signed a lease with Israel Izzy Englanders hedge fund for 300,000 square feet at 399 Park Ave., a deal that brought the tower to 93 percent full but that went largely unnoticed in the holiday week. It wasnt bad news, either, for Brookfield Asset Management, which bailed out Kushner when it took a 99-year lease on 666 Fifth Ave. last summer. Brookfield knew that Millennium planned to leave well before we first reported in July that the firm wanted out of 666, which was hemorrhaging $25 million a year for Kushner. Brookfield made its deal with Kushner in August. While losing a 170,000-square-foot tenant would hurt most landlords, Millenniums move will only make it easier for Brookfield to reposition the tower for 21st- century office tenants. Its 1.3 million square feet were already 30 percent vacant before Millennium decided to go. Having one tenant fewer eliminates one more nuisance in the way of the project. It will be interesting to see what happens with 666 Fifths remaining tenants. There would be many more retail vacancies than already exist if not for the boom in natural foods-oriented, fast-casual eating spots. Typifying the trend, two growing chains have signed leases on the heavily trafficked West 45th Street side of the Durst Organizations 1155 Sixth Ave. Dill & Parsley took 1,446 square feet and Dig Inn took 1,416. Company president Jody Durst noted that the Durst family, which has long championed sustainable food products, founded McEnroe Organic Farm upstate. We are proud our new tenants are dedicated to using natural ingredients, Durst said. The asking rent was $400 per square foot. Its a pity that developer Sam Chang was prevented by the Department of Buildings arcane street wall rules from preserving the original, Gothic-inspired faade of the former Christ Church at 344 W. 36th St. as part of a new hotel project. But his McSam Hotel Group replicated it as well as it could using modern materials. The fake faade is meant to add allure to the otherwise charmless, glass-walled, 26-story hotel.

https://nypost.com/2019/01/01/what-awaits-666th-fifth-ave-after-millenniums-move/

Could Centralia be Australia's new state?

The idea of merging South Australia and the Northern Territory, creating the new state of Centralia, has been raised again, with some support from former Territory and federal MPs. Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Tim Fischer is on board, backing recent comments from former NT Attorney-General John Elferink. But with the Territory economy in crisis, the concept is unlikely to attract much interest in SA, especially from the current Liberal administration. Australian Conservatives Senate candidate Rikki Lambert says the idea is an interesting one and not without merit. He says SA Premier Steven Marshall should explore the proposal but only on South Australia's terms. At the moment, Mr Lambert says, the terms are not really attractive to SA. "You have a jurisdiction that is effectively broke wanting to join a South Australian jurisdiction that is only just coming off of the dependence on state spending that we saw under Labor," he said. But Mr Fischer said he strongly supported the idea of a merger which would help Australia capitalise on the opportunities presented by the transcontinental railway that now linked Adelaide and Darwin. He told AAP a merger would bring a "dynamic economic focus" to the new state. Mr Elferink has suggested repealing the NT's self-government act to create the new state of Centralia. He said the merger would have the resources to rival Western Australia and would help boost Australia's trade with Asia. His plan comes at a time of economic turmoil in the Top End with the Labor government's recent admission that its finances are so bad it is borrowing money to pay public service wages and interest on its debt. A report on budget repair called for public service cuts but the government has ruled out taking a "slash and burn" approach to public sector jobs. It has called for public comment and help, including input from industry and unions. Former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill was keen to forge closer economic and cultural ties with the Territory, meeting with Chief Minister Michael Gunner a number of times to progress those aims. But the new SA government under Mr Marshall is expected to be less enthusiastic about the idea of significantly closer links. Current SA Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas was in favour of exploring a merger in his previous role as a union leader. "But if it's going to be pursued, it needs to be done with the support of both the population of the Northern Territory and the South Australian community," Mr Malinauskas said. Business SA boss Nigel McBride also liked the idea back in 2015, with it offering local companies a "real gateway to Asia".

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-6546165/Could-Centralia-Australias-new-state.html

Could potato flour revitalize a small town in Iwate Prefecture?

According to Katsuyasu Ito, chef and owner of LAureole Tanohata, Hidemitsu Kikuchi, is the last person producing imo no kona (potato flour) commercially in Japan. Working in Tanohata, a tiny village on the Sanriku coast of northeastern Iwate Prefecture, Kikuchi should be heartily applauded for his steadfast work each year to create this local food, which is traditionally made into little dango dumplings or manj steamed buns. The process to craft this product is both laborious and time-consuming, but the possibilities for the naturally silky and gluten-free flour are endless. Although a few additional varieties of potatoes are slowly making their way to Japan, the majority of potatoes grown here are either of the May Queen or Danshaku varieties. May Queen are slightly creamy, thin-skinned and oval, while Danshaku are round, a bit starchy and develop a thick skin. Due to their oval shape, which helps Kikuchi thread the potatoes on a string; and their lack of eyes, which speeds up the peeling process, May Queen potatoes are favored over Danshaku for producing potato flour. In January, shortly after the beginning of the new year, Kikuchi, assisted by his mother, Fuchi, hauls the summer harvest of May Queen potatoes out of storage and lays them out in the cold Iwate winter air to freeze for two to three days: the first freezing in what will be multiple cycles of freezing and thawing over the course of the following two months. Once frozen, he and his mother bring the potatoes inside to peel, rubbing and scraping the peels off using their bare fingernails, as the potatoes thaw. Now thawed, the once-frozen potatoes are soft enough to stab through the center with a long heavy needle. Kikuchi threads the potatoes so they butt up against each other onto long strands of thick twine. These strands are then tied together in groups of five or six and anchored onto a rope suspended over the edge of an icy stream. The potatoes soak in the snowy water over the course of two weeks to take away their bitterness and allow tiny cavities in the porous potatoes to fill with ice water, which facilitates quick freezing when they are finally removed from the stream. Leave the potatoes too long in the water and they will blacken, cautions Kikuchi. Once the potatoes are removed from the frigid water they are hung out again in the bitter cold air to freeze once again. As the weather warms slightly, the potatoes will begin to thaw in the sun, thus dripping out accumulated moisture, then freeze again at night. This alternating sequence will eventually allow the potatoes to become completely dehydrated. By the end of February, the potatoes will be feather-light, like balsa wood. These buoyant, off-white ovals are then packed into feed bags and kept in a cool, dry place until milled, as needed, into flour. The potatoes will keep whole until the rainy season in June, at which time they risk molding, and are then milled and stored carefully. The process of drying these potatoes, and the surreal image of the strands submerged in the icy stream, captures me in a way that I dont often experience. And I worry for the future of this unassuming, yet incredibly versatile, ingredient. Thus far, I have guarded the existence of this flour, lest the limited supply be gobbled up by chefs in Tokyo, but I am ready to share this secret with the world. Tanohata, where Kikuchi produces his potato flour, is a town of about 3,500 inhabitants and was half-destroyed by the tsunami that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Tanohata has an abundance of natural resources the surrounding mountains are full of game, mushrooms, nuts and native plants while the nearby lush hills are home to an inspirational native Japanese grass-fed dairy but is remote, and would benefit from more Japan-wide recognition to hasten its progress toward revitalization. It is my hope that if demand increases for potato flour, able-bodied Tanohata-based residents will see the potential in increasing production of this versatile ingredient. I have recently been introducing interesting Japanese ingredients to my good pal, ex-Chez Panisse chef Jerome Waag, co-owner of the Blind Donkey in Tokyo. I tried to describe Tanohatas flour to Jerome, but could not get past the inevitable preconception that working with potato flour creates something akin to a potato slurry. This is a truly revolutionary ingredient that looks and acts like flour in all of its good ways, but does not gum-up and it also has a lovely flavor. In Iwate Prefecture, chef Katsuyasu Ito of LAureole Tanohata, an outstanding eatery perched above a secluded cove with a breathtakingly beautiful view, has combined this homely flour with local grass-fed milk and a dab of butter and turned it into a genius bechamel sauce, which he uses as a base for a seafood and leafy greens white stew, all made with local ingredients [see sidebar]. To get to Tanohata is no small feat from most places in Japan, but the last leg of the journey involves a clickity-clack ride along the Kita-Rias Line that runs adjacent to the Sanriku coast on a picturesque vintage train fitted with wooden tables for eating your bento. For the food-obsessed, Tanohata is certainly a destination worth exploring, and potato flour an ingredient worth trying. LAureole Tanohata: Aketo 309-5, Tanohata, Shimohei-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 028-8402; Tel: 080-9014-9000. Lunch 12-2 p.m. (LO), dinner 6-8 p.m. (LO). Potato flour fish stew Ingredients 1 liter of milk 3 tablespoons Iwate potato flour 2 tablespoons butter 2 teaspoons sea salt 500 grams white fish Shimeji mushrooms Bok choy Directions Simmer the potato flour and milk for about 20 minutes. Stir in the butter. Sear the white fish in olive oil, and add to the pot with a couple handfuls of shimeji mushrooms, a small head of bok choy (quartered lengthwise and blanched) and chopped delicate herbs such as chives and chervil for garnish.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=life&p=1667378&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+japantimes+%28The+Japan+Times%3A+All+Stories%29

What coaching changes will teams make for 2019?

How the coaching carousel looks on the dawn of Black Monday: Cleveland: Its a more wide-open field now. With the Browns showing so much promise in a 5-3 second half, this is a far more attractive job than it was two months ago. With the success of Freddie Kitchens as offensive coordinatorBaker Mayfield loves him and responds to himmy sense is the Browns feel they dont have to get the next great offensive brain to work with Mayfield and develop an offensive identity. They might have that guy now. So that could put a defensive presence like Vic Fangio of Chicago in play, or even a special-teams guru like Dave Toubwell known to GM John Dorsey from their days in Kansas City. Gregg Williams will be interviewed for the gig, but it doesnt look like hell be a serious candidate. I still think McDaniels and Lincoln Riley will be vetted by the Browns too. Scroll to continue with content Ad Green Bay: The Pack is rounding up some different suspects. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is an interesting name; hes done a lot with less at the strong academic school, which could be appealing to GM Brian Gutekunst because so many marginal players need to play roles for NFL teams to win; roster churn in the NFL is a way of life. Ill be surprised if the Packers dont interview Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who I believe will be interested only in the best jobs on the market because he knows he has a bright future in New England. If I were McDaniels, those jobs this year would be Cleveland and Green Bay. Hmmmm. I said last week McCarthy could be interested in Arizona (for football and family reasons); CBS Jason LaCanfora said Sunday that McCarthy would not be a candidate there. This is an interesting jobassuming, today, that Steve Wilks is let go after one seasonbecause Cards have had a talent drain and have not had impact drafts the last couple of years. Even though they have the first pick in the draft, GM Steve Keim could be on thin ice with one more bad season. Denver: Vance Joseph could never stop the bleeding. Broncos had an eight-game losing streak last year, and Joseph vowed to be better at turning around the bad runs. This year, Denver had a four-game losing streak early, and finished the year losing four in a row. You just never got the feeling he could turn it around. That plus game-management issues (such as kicking the field goal, down four with 4:39 left at the Cleveland 6-yard line, and losing by one to the Browns Dec. 15) doomed Joseph, who will leave with an 11-21 record. The Broncos thought briefly of dumping the offensive coaching staffJohn Elway wants to emulate some of the more imaginative offensive schemes in footballand pairing Joseph with a bright young offensive coordinator; Im told Elway would not have brought Gary Kubiak back to run the offense. But Denver is more likely to blow it up today and start a wide search. Elway is most likely to try to find the best available offensive mind and build a staff around him. New York Jets: Discipline, or a lack of it, killed Todd Bowles. Three straight seasons of 5-11, 5-11 and 4-12 are the obvious reasons Bowles will get fired. But this one play from Sundays desultory end of his reign crystallized how Bowles couldnt get through to some undisciplined guys. Midway through the second quarter, defensive lineman Henry Anderson of the Jets had the harebrained penalty of the day, shoving Tom Brady after he threw the ball away on third down, giving the Patriots, already up 14-3, a fresh set of downs and, as it turned out, an easy third touchdown of the day. Theres a reason why the Jets are 4-11, Ian Eagle said on CBS. Yes there is. Bowles has railed against the lack of discipline, and now someone new will see if they can get through to players committing stupid fouls. Im told its likely GM Mike Maccagnan will get one more coach to hire. If I were him, Id try to convince Mike McCarthy to be interested. Not sure McCarthy would comehe is widely reported to be considering taking 2019 offbut control over the roster and the specter of coaching Sam Darnold should tempt him. Atlanta: Beware, coordinators. The bloated Falcons coaching staff will likely be overhauled, with head coach Dan Quinn changing lots at the top. Endangered: offensive coordinagtor Steve Sarkisian, defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel and veteran special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong. Owner Arthur Blank will give GM Thomas Dimitroff and Quinn 2019, and maybe not much longer, to clean up this 7-9 mess. Baltimore: Strange days in Maryland. As I wrote last week, Im not sure John Harbaugh will sign an extension; he might, but its no sure thing. If he doesnt sign, and if the Ravens decide not to proceed with a lame-duck head coach, itll be interesting to see where Harbaugh would land, because hed easily be the hottest commodity on the market. First things first, though. The Ravens will be a tough out in the playoffs, and thats got to be everyones first priority now, of course. Jay Glazer had Lewis out on FOX Sunday, and I dont doubt it. I know Bengals owner Mike Brown, and I know how much he likes regularity, and I also know this would not be a widely sought job. I remember a few years ago discussing the Bengals job with a league executive, who said, You mean the 33rd franchise? The Bengals are not progressive, and they are not an attractive franchise, and I cant imagine a coach whod have other options wanting to succeed Marvin Lewis. Tampa Bay: Dirk Koetter couldnt fix Jameis Winston, and so hes gone. With GM Jason Licht staying and lording over the coach search, its obvious the Bucs are going to give another coach the chance to save Winstons Tampa career in 2019, year five of Winstons time with the Bucs. The Buc job is somewhere far south of Green Bay and Cleveland on the coach-desirability meter and north of Cincinnati. Itll be interesting to see how much interest Licht can drum up among premier candidates. He is, according to owner Shad Khan, despite another afternoon of player misbehavior that has been shockingly consistent for the most disappointing team in the NFL. Stability should not be confused with satisfaction, Khan said after the game in a statement confirming coach Doug Marrone, EVP Tom Coughlin and GM Dave Caldwell would return in 2019. Eleven months after the Jaguars blew a 20-10 lead with 10 minutes left in the AFC title game at New England, they finished 2018 as the NFLs most disappointing team with a woeful 20-3 loss at Houston. Im a bit surprised, though clearly Khan is doing this only because he knows disruption to the status quo could do more harm than good. But the leadership trio was also forewarned about 2019 thusly by Khan: I will not overlook how poorly we accounted for ourselves following a 3-1 start. There were far too many long Sundays over the last three quarters of the season, with todays loss in Houston being the final example, and that cannot repeat itself in 2019. I was surprised, too, to hear the respected Jay Glazer say this about the Miami coach on the FOX pregame show: If hes out, he will skyrocket to the top of a lot of lists. Gase is 23-26 in his three seasons in Miami, with no playoff wins; he was hired to develop Ryan Tannehill into a prime NFL quarterback, and though Tannehill has missed 23 games due to injury during Gases tenure, the quarterback play between Tannehill and Jay Cutler has been mediocre at best. In his last 21 starts, Tannehill has not thrown for 300 yards in a game. Not once. The Miami Herald reported that EVP of football operations Mike Tannenbaum is likely to be fired, so that lends credence to Tannenbaum being the sacrificial guy, with Gase and GM Chris Grier staying. But well see. Owner Stephen Ross isnt happy with consistent irrelevance, so I bet hell knock on Jim and John Harbaughs doors before Gase can feel secure for 2019. Carolina: Ron Rivera is safe. Good move, David Tepper. Read more from Football Morning in America by clicking here

https://sports.yahoo.com/coaching-changes-teams-2019-124908387.html?src=rss

Is Irans macho posturing on disputed Abu Musa Island aimed at the UAE?

Monitoring Desk TEHRAN: Iranian army chief General Mohammad Baqeri lashed out at regional enemies on Tuesday, warning them against bringing in the US and hatching plots in the Persian Gulf. The statement was full of symbolism, as Baqeri spoke from Abu Musa island, which been a dispute between Iran and the UAE. This also comes in the backdrop of UAEs U-turn on Syria. From being one of the most vocal critics of Bashar al Assad to opening up an embassy in Damascus, the oil-rich kingdom has departed from its previous foreign policy, which was to overthrow pro-Iranian Assad regime and replace it with the one which has the blessings of the Gulf coalition. Iran holds the island since the Britain left it in 1971, overlooking an agreement with the UAE that called for joint control of the territory. The (Iranian) chief of staffs speech against the regional enemies from the Abu Musa island is an open challenge against the UAE, said Omer Duran, an Istanbul based Middle East expert. Baqeris warning from the island, which is also claimed by the UAE, means that Iran is not so far from the UAE and Iran is watching them closely. Duran said access to Abu Musa island gives Iran a strategic edge over the UAE, since it is located in the Strait of Hormuz. A third of the worlds sea-borne oil passes through the strait from the Middle East crude producers to major Asian markets. Iran recently warned that they will block the strait if the US imposed sanctions werent lifted soon enough. Amid the sovereignty disputes, Iran has shown the capacity to possesses the lands that are claimed by its enemies, Duran said. Baqeri, the Iranian military general, stressed on the need to sideline what he called aliens in order to achieve regional peace. Security in the Persian Gulf islands has been achieved through the struggles of the top forces and using most updated military equipment, he said. Ensuring region security is possible only through the company of all regional states and presence of aliens is disruptive to this aim. The UAE justified its foreign policy reversal saying the kingdom wanted to normalise ties with Assad and curb risks of regional interference in Arab, Syrian affairs an apparent reference to non-Arab Iran, whose support for Assad has been critical to his war effort. After Bahrain and the UAE reopening their embassies in Damascus, Duran said the two kingdoms have a major influence over Saudi Arabia when it comes to devising policies for the Middle East. Duran, however, doesnt expect that either Iran or the UAE will start any serious confrontation against each other. The USS John C. Stennis, an American warship, entered the Persian Gulf on December 22, marking the US presence in the region as tensions between Tehran and Washington are soaring. The US-Iranian war of words has escalated since the US president Donald Trump took Washington out of a world powers nuclear deal with Iran in May, and re-imposed sanctions on its banking and energy sectors. In recent years, there have been periodic confrontations between the Revolutionary Guards and U.S. military in the Gulf, but the number of incidents has dropped in recent months.

https://thefrontierpost.com/is-irans-macho-posturing-on-disputed-abu-musa-island-aimed-at-the-uae/

How Do We Build Successful Regional Bioeconomy Strategies In Europe?

By Eurasia Review Around 50 researchers and policymakers gathered at the ERIAFF network & European Forested regions workshop Successful regional bioeconomy strategies what should they look like? In this event, BioMonitor, represented by Myrna van Leeuwen from Wageningen University and Research was able to assist and understand the needs of the policymakers in their effort to strengthen the circularity and sustainability in existing policies related to the bioeconomy. The new EU Bioeconomy Strategy released this October listed down three main Action Plans that serve as a basis for Europe to progress towards a circular bioeconomy. These are scaling up and strengthening the bio-based sectors, rapidly deploying the bioeconomies across Europe,protecting the ecosystem and understanding the ecological limitations of the bioeconomy. The meeting was attended by policy makers, both at EU and regional level, as well as representatives from EU research environment. From the H2020 community, BioMonitor was joined together with Power4Bio. This workshop has provided participants with a valuable opportunity for an exchange and to get to the bottom of the EU bioeconomy policies starting with the regional policies. The policymakers levelled with themselves during the workshop and identified the gaps and imbalances they face, particularly in terms oflack of regional data on socio-economic, environmental and societal aspects. In addition, they stressed the need for good and reliable indicators (with a clear definition and a clear metrics) for measuring and monitoring the bioeconomy development. BioMonitor is a H2020 project composed of 18 partners from universities, statistical and standardisation institutes, consultancies and data modelling experts. It will monitor and measure the bioeconomys impacts on socio-economic and environmental aspects by using the data and analysis tools. In her presentation Myrna van Leeuwen explained to the regional representatives how BioMonitor may be of help in addressing specific policy and research questions and indicators they are looking for, thanks to the robust data system (which will be embedded in official statistics) and the model analysis framework which will be developed by the project. In this way, regional officers will be supported in their need to benchmark and compare the performance of their own region by using a set of indicators universally used among the EU regions. Starting from the regional perspective, BioMonitor will be aligning to the actions mentioned in the recent EU Bioeconomy Strategy. A systems wide-monitor approach will then be created in order to track the progress of EU regions towards a sustainable and circular bioeconomy based on its various drivers such as job creation, climate mitigation, renewed and strengthened EU industrial base, circular economy, healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. This workshop was very valuable for BioMonitor as the stakeholders involved expressed their needs based on own practical experience on having a (regional) monitoring tool that relies on a set of reliable, harmonized, consistent, open and countable data, says Myrna van Leeuwen. Such tool will help for building trust among all actors involved in the trajectory towards a bioeconomy, i.e. farms, firms, governmental authorities, and the consumer.

http://www.eurasiareview.com/02012019-how-do-we-build-successful-regional-bioeconomy-strategies-in-europe/

Was braucht der Mensch 2019?

Im Gesprch zeigt sich: Fast jeder trennt zwischen privatem und beruflichem Leben. Und dann ist da noch ein Wunsch fr unsere Erde Von Elmar Knchel Der Jahreswechsel ist die Zeit der guten Wnsche. Die Menschen wnschen einander ein gutes neues Jahr. Die Erwartungen sind ganz unterschiedlich. Und je lnger man nachdenkt, umso mehr muss man einander wnschen. Unseren Gesprchspartnern fielen dazu viele Aspekte ein fr ein gesegnetes neues Jahr. Der Erde wnschen sie weniger Kriege, Krisen und Katastrophen. Persnlich unterscheiden sie zwischen privatem und beruflichem Leben. Polizist: Gesundheitund Respekt Artur Dachs, Polizeichef von Bobingen und Knigsbrunn, ist im privaten Bereich wunschlos glcklich. Der Zweite Brgermeister Kleinaitingens hoffe, dass ihm und seiner Familie weiterhin Gesundheit beschieden bleibt, dann sei er absolut zufrieden. Beruflich she das allerdings etwas anders aus. Er wnscht sich fr 2019 ein ruhiges Jahr mit wenig Straftaten. Auch dass er und seine Kollegen, trotz angespannter Personallage, auch weiterhin im ntigen Ma fr die Brger in Bobingen und Knigsbrunn prsent sein knnen. Er wrde es auch sehr begren, wenn der zunehmende Werteverlust, den er und seine Beamten tagtglich beobachten knnten, gestoppt wrde. Ein respektvoller Umgang mit den Mitmenschen und deren Eigentum knnte viele Probleme beheben. Auch wrde er sich wnschen, dass weniger Aggressivitt im Umgang der Menschen untereinander und auch gegenber Einsatzkrften wie Polizei, Feuerwehr und Rettungsdienst herrschen wrde. Vor allem jngere Brger wrden sich, oft auch unter Alkoholeinfluss, immer weniger um ein geordnetes und friedvolles Miteinander bemhen. Toleranz und Respekt trten immer fter in den Hintergrund. Der Egoismus nhme zu. Wenn jeder bei seinem Streben nach persnlicher Freiheit daran denken wrde, dass die Freiheit dort endet, wo ein anderer eingeschrnkt oder behindert wird, wre schon viel gewonnen, erklrt Dachs. Leiterin der Sozialstation: Menschlichkeit und Entlastung Zwei Wnsche sind es, die Carolyn Kreuzer, Leiterin Sozialstation Bobingen, auf der Seele liegen. Als glubige Christin vermisse sie doch sehr den Bezug zu Gott im tglichen Leben. Ich wrde mir wnschen, dass der Respekt vor der Natur und der Schpfung insgesamt wieder mehr in den Vordergrund tritt. Menschlichkeit, Toleranz und Wertschtzung, auch gegenber alten Traditionen und christlichen Gepflogenheiten, sollten wieder einen greren Stellenwert einnehmen, so Kreuzer. Auch beruflich hat sie einen dringenden Wunsch: mehr Anerkennung und finanzielle Verbesserungen fr Pflegekrfte. Denn in einer alternden Gesellschaft wrden diese verstrkt gebraucht. Doch nur zufriedene Mitarbeiter knnten auf Dauer Hchstleistungen erbringen. Und gerade diese seien von ihren Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeitern tagtglich gefordert. Das Anwerben von Nachwuchskrften knnte durch gesteigerte Attraktivitt des Berufes leichter werden. Aber sie freue sich auch, dass sie so ein motiviertes Team habe und ein hervorragendes Betriebsklima herrsche. Das solle auch im Jahr 2019 so bleiben, wnscht sich Carolyn Kreuzer. Pfarrer: Zeitund Klarheit Peter Lukas, evangelischer Pfarrer in Bobingen, wnscht sich spontan vor allem Zeit. Seine Ausfhrungen zeigen, dass dies nicht nur an seinen Terminen liegt. Selbst die groe Politik kostet ihn Zeit und Kraft. Privat wrde ich mir wnschen, mit verbesserter Terminplanung, auch zusammen mit meiner neuen Kollegin, wieder etwas mehr Zeit zu gewinnen. Diese wrde ich dann nutzen, um wieder etwas mehr Musik zu machen. Lesen und das Schreiben, zum Beispiel neue Kabarett-Texte, kamen in letzter Zeit deutlich zu kurz, erzhlt Pfarrer Lukas. Beruflich hofft er, dass es ihm auch weiterhin gelingen mge, vor allem junge Leute fr den christlichen Glauben zu begeistern. Denn dieser sei immer noch ein guter Weg, um Vertrauen und Lebenssicherheit aufzubauen. Darber hinaus drfe man aber auch die groen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit nicht vergessen. So wrde er sich von den Regierenden dieser Welt mehr Mut wnschen. Mut, um endlich eindeutige Entscheidungen zu treffen, um die Schpfung zu erhalten und den Klimawandel einzudmmen. Fr Deutschland wrde er sich wnschen, dass es, in Absprache mit der Industrie, gelnge, den Waffenhandel zu beenden. Gerade fr Deutschland sei es, aus seiner Geschichte heraus, vordringlich, hier mit gutem Beispiel voranzugehen. Auch die Bildung betreffend hat Pfarrer Lukas ein dringendes Anliegen an die Politik: Als Trger einer groen Kindertagessttte brauchen wir Planungssicherheit und mssen wissen, wo der Bildungsweg hingeht. Die gegebene Garantie eines Krippenplatzes hat zur Folge, dass die frheren Krippenkinder auch in der Schule eine lngere Betreuungszeit brauchen, vor allem auch in den Ferien. Dies wurde bisher nicht gengend bedacht. Hier erhoffe ich mir einen hohen qualitativen Anspruch an die Betreuung, auch wenn dieser mehr Geld kostet. An guten Wnschen und Hoffnungen fr 2019 mangelt es nicht. Und es gibt mit Sicherheit noch viele, die diesem Artikel hinzugefgt werden knnten. Hoffen wir, dass einige in Erfllung gehen mgen. Themen Folgen

https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/schwabmuenchen/Was-braucht-der-Mensch-2019-id53059436.html

Are there poachers at work inside Film City?

national Carcasses of leopard and deer found caught in snares in the Film City area at Aarey has got authorities worried The leopard carcass and The carcass of a Sambar that was caught in the snare The decomposed body of a leopard found on Monday and the body of a Sambar trapped in a metal snare found just metres away at Film City on Tuesday has set off alarm bells in the minds of authorities on whether there are poachers at work here. Shockingly, the nails of the leopard are missing. On Tuesday, veterinary officer from SGNP Dr Sailesh Pethe and ACF Girija Desai visited the spot where the panchanama was conducted. During inspection of the area, they discovered the body of the deer in a snare. Both bodies were taken to SGNP where they were cremated post the important procedures as per NTCA guidelines. The metal snare that was found in the area On Tuesday afternoon, the forest department team, headed by DCF Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, forest ranger Sameer Inamdaar and five other officials, along with volunteers from Aarey Milk Colony, who have been helping the forest department monitor leopard activities using camera traps, searched the forested patch around the set of the TV serial Karn Sangini and found two snares. Given the seriousness of the incident, forest officials have decided to carry out a major search and combing operation in the entire Film City area with the help of Maharashtra Security Force and volunteers to see if there are more snares active in the area. Honorary Wildlife Warden of Mumbai Suburbs and Member of State Wildlife Board Mayur Kamath said, "It is a very serious incident as this is the second time in the last three years that a leopard has been found trapped in a snare inside Film City despite the fact that there are so many MSF jawans and members of Film City security patrolling the area day and night. It is impossible that no one heard both animals' distress calls as both are large mammals who produce loud, audible cries when trapped in a snare. The need of the hour is that film city takes these incidents seriously and keeps tabs on people roaming in its jurisdiction." Deputy Conservator of Forest, Thane (Territorial) Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar said, "The leopard and Sambar might have died around 15-20 days back and someone spotted the leopard's body on Monday evening after which they informed us. This is a serious incident and appropriate action will be taken against those responsible." Ramgaonkar also said he would be raising the issue with higher-ups in Film City. Pethe said, "The post mortem of the leopard revealed that the skeleton was intact except for 11 nails missing. A metallic wire loop was encircled on the lower abdomen. However, all internal organ systems were decomposed, hence the probable cause of death cannot be concluded based on pathoanatomical observations. Regarding the deer, its head portion was missing and a metallic wire was found encircling the front left leg. The internal organs of the deer, too, were decomposed." Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

https://www.mid-day.com/articles/are-there-poachers-at-work-inside-film-city/20184161

Is the End of the Brutal War in Yemen Finally at Hand?

When the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, it is expected to pass a House resolution upholding congressional war powers and ending all direct U.S. involvement in the Saudi coalitions war in Yemen. But hopes remain high that H. Con. Res. 138 will help to end the Yemen war itself. Congressional strategists and activists who have been working on the issue believe passage of the war powers measure will force Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the negotiating table. Together, they are challenging the position of some former Obama administration officials who have warned the war powers resolution alone cannot bring the conflict to a close. Those former officials, led by Brookings Institution fellow Bruce Riedel, say that cutting off the Saudi pipeline of spare parts is the only way to prevent further airstrikes, which have been central to the Saudi war strategy. Proponents of the war powers resolution, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, argue the Saudis will not be able to continue the war without the political-diplomatic support of the United States, and the Yemen resolution will make dramatically clear the Saudis can no longer count on US support. How the Senate came to pass a version of the Yemen resolution, co-sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and ratified in December by a vote of 56 to 41, would appear to lend support to their argument. The Khashoggi Effect Until 2018, the Obama and Trump administrations had successfully avoided any congressional move to block US support of the Saudi-Emirati bombing of civilian targets in Yemen, or the countrys air and naval blockade. That success was possible, at least in part, because the US media largely ignored the mass starvation of the Yemeni people and unprecedented cholera epidemic these acts of aggression had wrought. The media also failed to report on the United States direct role in that conflict. From mid-2017 to mid-2018, MSNBC ran only a single story that mentioned the United States in-flight refueling of Saudi planes and its provision of intelligence for Yemeni bombing targets. Nevertheless, some key members of Congress were well informed about the United States complicity in the Saudi coalitions crimes. As early as March 2018, when Sens. Sanders and Lee first introduced the Yemen war powers resolution, a head count by the office of co-sponsor Chris Murphy indicated it would pass the Senate with a narrow majority. Several of those votes were lost in May to legislation by Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., And Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., which required the secretary of state to certify that Saudi Arabia was making efforts to end the war, increase access to humanitarian goods and reduce harm to civilians. But this fall, a tragic event and dramatic revelations created new impetus for a Yemen war powers resolution: Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed and hard evidence emerged that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi government had ordered his murder and dismemberment over his critical coverage. The political impact of that story can hardly be exaggerated. Whereas before the media had been reluctant to report on the war, they were suddenly eager to document its myriad atrocities, including the ongoing starvation of Yemeni children. The pressure on President Donald Trump to abandon his unflinching support of the Saudi regime intensified. Administration officials knew full well the Saudi coalition was already planning to capture the key Yemeni port of Hodeida the countrys lifeline for food imports and humanitarian goods. That assault was scheduled to begin on Nov. 3, and it would have further weakened the administrations case against a war powers resolution if one were brought to the Senate floor. The administration also knew by late October that Democrats likely would be taking control of the House of Representatives, where Republican leadership had successfully employed legislative tactics to prevent even a congressional debate on the Saudi-led war efforts. The Administration Adjusts Its Yemen Policy Between Kushners personal ties to Crown Prince Mohammed and the lure of tens of billions of dollars in arms sales, the Trump administration remained wedded to the Saudi regime. But it was now forced to make adjustments in its policy to try to shore up the collapsing congressional support for the war. So Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a call on Oct. 30 for a cease-fire in Yemen and peace negotiations within 30 days. A careful reading of Pompeos statement, however, reveals two key giveaways to the Saudi regime: It did not require the Saudis to halt their bombing until after the Houthis had halted missile strikes on Saudi and United Arab Emirates targets, and the Saudi coalition was only required to cease bombing populated areas, evidently leaving it free to hit targets outside urban concentrations. There would be more to come. After discussions with the Trump administration, the Saudi government officially requested on Nov. 9 that the US end the refueling of the coalitions aircraft for its Yemen operations. The Saudi statement said the coalition had increased its capability to independently conduct in-flight refueling in Yemen, and had therefore requested, in consultation with the United States, the cessation of in-flight refueling support. Experts maintained the Trump administration had compelled the Saudis and their UAE allies to accept less capability especially as it pertained to longer-range strikes by UAE aircraft for domestic US political reasons. Former National Security Council official Riedel, for one, commented that giving up US refueling would make it harder for the Saudi coalition to carry out strikes deep into Yemeni territory. All that elaborate maneuvering with the Saudis failed to influence the Senate, which voted, 63-37, in November to advance the Yemen war powers joint resolution. Prior to that vote, Pompeo and Mattis had briefed the Senate in an attempt to tamp down anger over the Khashoggi murder, attempting to sell the idea that American interests required US support for the Saudi coalitions war in Yemen. But senators who attended the briefing told reporters their arguments especially regarding the crown prince and Khashoggi had not been credible. If anything, Pompeo and Mattis had strengthened their determination to support the resolution. In December, seven Republicans joined 49 Democrats in approving the Sanders-Lee resolution, 56-41, in a major rebuff to the entire foreign policy establishment. That vote was followed moments later with the unanimous approval of a separate resolution condemning the Saudi crown prince by name for Khashoggis grisly murder. In a clear indication the Trump administration aimed to hold the line against a Yemen resolution, the Saudi coalition abruptly halted the Hodeida offensive it had begun 12 days earlier, almost certainly under US pressure. The Saudis also agreed to participate in U.N.-brokered consultation that began in Sweden on Dec. 6 led by the United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths. Even before the conference had officially begun, Griffiths negotiated a swap of 2,000 to 3,000 prisoners held by the two sides. And on Dec. 13, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a cease-fire in Hodeida, where the fighting had been concentrated, although it soon broke down with mutual recriminations. The Trump administrations official position, based on the notion that limited support to member countries of the Emirati and Saudi-led coalition, including intelligence sharing, logistics, and, until recently, aerial refueling did not constitute being engaged in hostilities, was that the resolution had no legal effect. But the activists and congressional staff who worked on the resolution are convinced that the administrations frantic efforts to prevent its passage reveal just how powerful it will prove. One Democratic congressional strategist involved in promoting the resolution acknowledged as much in an interview with Truthdig. At the same time the Pentagon and the Trump administration were saying it would have no impact, they were scrambling to change the facts on the ground by unilaterally suspending air refueling, the strategist said. The strategist also admitted this first assertion of war authorities by Congress would force the administration to retreat, and when the US is no longer the steadfast patron of the Saudi coalition campaign, the Saudi coalition will be compelled to seek an urgent and immediate peace settlement. Robert Naiman, policy director at Just Foreign Policy, an activist membership organization that has been working to support the eventual passage of the Yemen resolution in both houses of Congress, agrees the resolution is bound to push the Saudis toward ending the war. Ive always believed any kind of congressional vote that says no in a toothy way like the war powers resolution would be enough to force the administration and the Saudis to change policy, he told Truthdig. Naiman called the administrations gambit to head off passage of the resolution a political signal the whole world sees. He said he believes the political-diplomatic signal is even more important than direct military participation. The wars swift conclusion appears all but inevitable. While Crown Prince Mohammed may be committed to final victory, the Saudi regime remains heavily dependent on US political-diplomatic cover, as it has since the beginning of the bombing campaign in Yemen. Ironically, that political reality could now tip the balance toward peace. Gareth Porter, an investigative historian and journalist specializing in US national security policy, received the UK-based Gellhorn Prize for journalism for 2011 for articles on the U.S. war in Afghanistan. His new book is Manufactured Crisis: the Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare. He can be contacted at porter.gareth50@gmail.com. Reprinted from TruthDig with the authors permission. Read more by Gareth Porter

https://original.antiwar.com/porter/2019/01/01/is-the-end-of-the-brutal-war-in-yemen-finally-at-hand/

What does Dr M think of Anwar as the next PM?

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad refrained from giving his evaluation of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the latest joint interview with Chinese language news outlets Sin Chew Daily and Pocketimes published today. Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 While Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has agreed that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should succeed him as the next prime minister, he has so far refrained from passing judgment on his former deputys suitability to lead the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government next. The incumbent prime minister known for plain-speaking continued to refrain from giving his evaluation of the PKR president in the latest joint interview with Chinese language news outlets Sin Chew Daily and Pocketimes published today. No, I don't make an assessment of that. All I said is that at the time when we were forming Pakatan Harapan, we agreed that he should be my successor. I never said he is good or bad, the position they want me to promise is that I don't stay on as prime minister for a long time, he said in English when asked if Anwar is so far the best candidate to be the next prime minister. In the same interview featured in a YouTube video clip by Pocketimes, Dr Mahathir was asked if Anwar has the luck or destiny to be prime minister, but managed to sidestep the loaded question. No, he is still in the position to be the prime minister when I step down, so you can't say now that he will never be. If you ask me, some of the others wanted to be prime minister, like Musa Hitam; no more. Even Tengku Razaleigh also I don't think anymore. But Anwar is in the party, he is in PH, he is the leader of PKR and I have made a promise that I will give it up. I want just to help the party win the election, although I was not very sure about that, Dr Mahathir added. Anwar was deputy prime minister to Dr Mahathir from December 1993 to September 1998 when he was sacked from the government over corruption and sodomy allegations. He then co-founded Keadilan as an Opposition party, and is now the president of PKR, one of the four PH components that defeated the Barisan Nasional coalition in the general election last year. Tun Musa Hitam was the first deputy prime minister to Dr Mahathir from July 1981 to March 1986 when both men were in Umno. Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is Umno's Gua Musang MP and had last year lost party polls to be Umno president. Dr Mahathir also debunked allegations that Anwar is looking to speed up his rise to prime ministership instead of waiting out the two-year timeframe for the leadership handover. He didn't say I want to be earlier or anything like that, Dr Mahathir replied when asked. He reaffirmed his own previous timeframe for the prime ministership before passing on the baton. I thought I'd give myself two years plus, a little more perhaps, but I think, I promised, I'll keep my promise, he said in the interview. Sin Chew Daily reported Dr Mahathir as saying that he estimated the current PH government to have achieved 30 per cent to 40 per cent of its efforts in addressing the problems left by the previous administration, adding that the most difficult parts had been tackled. The 93-year-old also showed his humour when noting that he would be considered aged after another two years. People said that I have some experience, so they want me to use my experience to correct all the mistakes by the previous government. After that I can go. Two years more, I'll be 95 you know, very old, he told Sin Chew Daily he would still honour his promise if asked to step down at the end of two years. Sin Chew Daily also reported Dr Mahathir as saying there was no need to discuss if he would complete the full five-year term as prime minister, reiterating that the PH coalition had decided on the handover of his position. Dr Mahathir became prime minister for the second time after the May 9, 2018 elections, making him the oldest sitting head of government. Dr Mahathir's first stint as prime minister lasted 22 years.

https://www.malaymail.com/s/1708310/what-does-dr-m-think-of-anwar-as-the-next-pm

What India can learn from the Asian heavyweights?

It's a story of survival of the fittest and the Indian players are physically inferior to their competitors ... The Asian Cup is underway this weekend and some of the best teams in Asia will battle it out for the ultimate honour. Four of these teams tested themselves against some of the best in the world, last summer in the World Cup. Australia narrowly lost to eventual champions France and Japan were minutes away from eliminating semi-finalists Belgium. South Korea shocked defending champions Germany and eliminated them in the Group Stage. It was the first time that an Asian team defeated a defending world champion. Saudi Arabias World Cup campaign was underwhelming but they still did better than most Asian countries by just qualifying. Then there are a few teams that failed to qualify but were really close to realising their dream Syria, for instance. These are the teams India will have to compete against as part of their 2022 World Cup qualification campaign. To compete at that level, India must bring about improvement in quite a few areas. To start with, the scouting and recruitment system has to churn out physically gifted players in almost all positions. India has already started shifting their priorities and are looking for talented players with good physique which is vital for any team to compete on a global stage. And with good reason. While technique and game sense is certainly important, physicality must be taken into consideration while forming the squad. In order to change the playing style of a team and see a more attacking and technical side, you need players with world-class ability on the ball. Such players are not produced overnight. It takes a generational change to produce a team that can challenge on the ball. It takes a lot of concerted effort to groom players who are excellent technically and won't be physically dominated. There are exceptions to this theory where players like Lionel Messi and Xavi are highlighted. This was seen agianst China, where India struggled on the ball. Which is exactly why India should focus on having a physical squad. There is a saying that goes it is hard to teach new tricks to an old dog. It is hard to develop the physique of a player who is good on the ball and it is even harder to teach a physical player how to be technically better. You cannot teach a 25-year-old player how to keep the ball well because technical skills are mostly developed at a very young age. You can improve on that a bit through training now, but not much. Which is why the scouting process for most teams are looking to find gifted players who are also physically good. Most of the teams who have been doing well in Asia have all adopted this strategy. Iran, Australia, Syria, Saudi Arabia and surprisingly even South Korea can boast of taller players than India. The average height of the Indian squad is around 1.81 metres, which is skewed by the three goalkeepers who stand at 1.86. 1.88 and 1.90 metres. Iran have the tallest squad in the tournament and it was no surprise to see them go toe-to-toe with teams like Portugal and Spain in the World Cup. South Korea, who were a diminutive team a decade or so back, are now one of the tallest squads. They changed their strategy and players like Heung-Min Son, both technically and physically superior, have cropped up. Of course physicality should not be given the preference always. An exception could made for only one or two positions. Rest of the team should be physically competitive. If you are looking at two players of similar technical quality, you should pick one with a better physique. When players are at a similar level technically, football becomes a game of survival of the fittest and this is where India should look to improve.

https://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/india-national-team-scouting-system-afc-asian-cup-physical/einwl2uqej0n1fswqznaoa8a8

Has Modi fatigue set in?

January 02, 2019 10:20 IST Desperate times need desperate actions, and the BJP's only option is to enforce legislation to build a Ram mandir, says Sunil Sethi. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters The gist of a famous Shakespeare quote is: When woes come, they don't come singly, they come in battalions. The second week of December wasn't the brightest week for Narendra Modi, all-powerful prime minister and the BJP's pre-eminent lodestar. It began badly with Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel abruptly quitting his job, like an uncomfortable dinner guest walking out without so much as a thank you nod to the host. It ended far worse with the election results and the BJP's clear erosion of power in the Hindi heartland. I happened to be at the local butcher's as the news trickled in. Eyes cocked at the television on the wall, mutterings of "Harengay, Harengay!" (They'll lose, they'll lose!) were loud but not unexpected in the main Muslim establishment in the market. For months the owner has complained of reduced meat supplies from adjoining Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and rising prices. The losses of demonetisation may have subsided, but among shopkeepers, in a refrain of the BJP's heavy reversals in urban Madhya Pradesh, the biggest grouse is against the goods and services tax. Many can't wrap their heads around the GST; online filing of returns can mean engaging accountants. "It's a constant headache, and it's costly," says the owner of the largest general provisions store. Together with falling agricultural incomes and rising joblessness in the hinterland, these major failures have put paid to the endless stream of subsidies and schemes flowing from the munificence of Modi raj. The lure of cheesily-named central yojanas sprouting toilets, bank accounts, health insurance and LPG connections across the land left voters unmoved. Mr Modi's goodie-bag has often pointlessly competed with State-sponsored dole, as in Vasundhara Raje's Bhamashah scheme in Rajasthan of cash handouts to women, or Raman Singh's massive toilet-building spree in Chhattisgarh. In India Today's recent state-of-the-states development survey, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are ranked third and fifth out of 21 big states as most-improved, and a cherubic Raman Singh is seen showering blankets on poor tribals but, still, he was cold-shouldered out of the chief minister's seat. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is right in describing the poll result as a case of 'fatigue'. He might have said 'Modi fatigue' -- the fallout of a gigantic exercise in image-building that employs every forum and medium in promoting one single brand. At home, Brand Modi is the party's big-ticket campaigner, sole policymaker and chief PR who sets cargo vessels afloat on the Ganga and unveils the Statue of Unity; overseas, he has a weakness for pomp and circumstance with rock star appearances at Central Park or Wembley Stadium. The Modi juggernaut brooks little dissent. RBI governors and CBI chiefs can go or be sent packing. What Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at his press conference called the PM's 'arrogance' is actually a degree of self-regard and consuming hubris. That Mr Gandhi addressed a presser hours after a fight he led from the front, in itself, is in sharp contrast to Mr Modi's disdain for the media. No such exchange has taken place during the prime minister's tenure. The Congress president, who will take on the Modi juggernaut next summer -- with its long-tailed caboodle of sadhus and dharam sabha leaders demanding the Rama temple, or hitmen who kill cattle traders and police officers -- seemed to be everything Mr Modi is not. 'We do not want to erase or ignore anyone,' he said of his surge in temple visits. But he did not gloat, nor duck questions. Confident but modest, he drew the battle lines clearly. He was respectful of political foes and candid about errors of judgement and his steep learning curve. Above all, he did not look like a tricked-out apparition on a self-promotion tour. In short, Rahul Gandhi was a far cry from the grumpy son standing by his mother and mumbling regret at his party's pathetic 44 MPs in 2014. About 130 million first-time voters will be added in the 2019 general election. Some of this segment -- desperate for jobs and release from the stultifying dead-end of farm incomes -- may find Mr Gandhi an appealing alternative to Mr Modi. That does not mean he is PM-in-waiting, only that the final heat of the race is close. Desperate times need desperate actions, and the BJP's only option is to enforce legislation to build a Ram mandir. This could unleash a wave of communal hatred -- the spoils of giveaways exposed as limited with diminishing returns. An ambiguous fuzziness clings to Mr Gandhi but the worst of that halo is his accident of birth. As fourth-generation heir to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, his large chamber of princes is led by Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot. Mr Modi's banner of 'Sabka saath, sabka vikas' is worn out and shop-soiled. The country wants change. That's the pointed message from the December 11 debacle.

https://www.rediff.com/news/column/has-modi-fatigue-set-in/20190102.htm

What's behind the China-Taiwan divide?

Image copyright AFP China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be part of the country again, but many Taiwanese want a separate nation. The dispute with China has left relations frayed and a constant threat of a violent flare up that could drag the US into the fray. The first known settlers in Taiwan are Austronesian tribal people thought to have come from modern day southern China. The island first appears in Chinese records in AD239, when China sent an expeditionary force to explore - a fact Beijing uses to back its territorial claim. After a brief spell as a Dutch colony (1624-1661) Taiwan was unquestionably administered by China's Qing dynasty from 1683 to 1895. Starting at the beginning of the 17th Century, significant numbers of migrants started arriving from China, often fleeing turmoil or hardship. Most were Hoklo Chinese from Fujian (Fukien) province or were Hakka Chinese, largely from Guangdong. The descendants of these two migrations now make up by far the largest population group. In 1895, following Japan's victory in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government had no choice but to cede Taiwan to Japan. But after World War Two, the Republic of China - one of the victors - began ruling Taiwan with the consent of its allies the US and UK, after Japan surrendered and relinquished control of territory it had taken from China. However in the next few years, the leader at the time Chiang Kai-shek's troops were beaten back by the Communist armies under Mao Zedong. Image copyright Central Press Image caption Chiang Kai-shek, once the leader in China, fled with his supporters to Taiwan Chiang and the remnants of his Kuomintang (KMT) government fled to Taiwan in 1949. This group, referred to as Mainland Chinese and then making up 1.5m people, dominated Taiwan's politics for many years, even though they only account for 14% of the population. Having inherited an effective dictatorship, facing resistance from local people resentful of the 228 Massacre and authoritarian rule, and under pressure from a growing democracy movement, Chiang's son, Chiang Ching-kuo, began allowing a process of democratisation, which eventually led to the 2000 election of the island's first non-KMT president, Chen Shui-bian. After decades of hostile intentions and angry rhetoric, relations between China and Taiwan started improving in the 1980s. China put forward a formula, known as "one country, two systems", under which Taiwan would be given significant autonomy if it accepted Chinese reunification. The offer was rejected, but Taiwan did relax rules on visits to and investment in China. It also, in 1991, proclaimed the war with the People's Republic of China over. There were also limited talks between the two sides' unofficial representatives, though China's insistence that the Republic of China (ROC) government is illegitimate prevented government-to-government contact. Image copyright AFP Image caption Chen Shui-ban was a backer of independence for Taiwan from China Beijing became alarmed in 2000, when Taiwan elected as president Chen Shui-bian, who had openly backed independence. Mr Chen was re-elected in 2004, prompting China to pass a so-called anti-secession law in 2005, stating China's right to use "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan if it tried to secede from China. In 2008, Ma Ying-jeou was elected president. He sought to improve relations with China, mainly through economic agreements. In elections in January 2016, Tsai Ing-wen defeated Kuomintang party candidate Eric Chu. Mr Ma was barred by Taiwan's constitution from the seeking a third term in office. Ms Tsai leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which leans towards independence from China. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Under Ms Tsai, cross-straits relations soured again After Donald Trump won the 2016 US election, she spoke to the president-elect in a phone call, in what was a break with US policy set in 1979 when formal relations were cut. Throughout 2018, China stepped up pressure on international companies forcing them to list Taiwan as a part of China on their websites and threatening to block them for doing business in China if they failed to comply. In November, Ms Tsai's political party received a heavy setback in regional elections perceived by Beijing as a blow to her separatist stance. There is disagreement and confusion about what Taiwan is, and even what it should be called. Chiang Kai-shek's Republic of China (ROC) government, which fled the mainland to Taiwan in 1949, at first claimed to represent the whole of China, which it intended to re-occupy. It held China's seat on the United Nations Security Council and was recognised by many Western nations as the only Chinese government. But in 1971, the UN switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing and the ROC government was forced out. Since then the number of countries that recognise the ROC government diplomatically has fallen to about 20. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province which it has vowed to retake, by force if necessary. But Taiwan's leaders say it is clearly much more than a province, arguing that it is a sovereign state. It has its own constitution, democratically-elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces. Given the huge divide between these two positions, most other countries seem happy to accept the current ambiguity, whereby Taiwan has most of the characteristics of an independent state, even if its legal status remains unclear. While political progress has been slow, links between the two peoples and economies have grown sharply. Taiwanese companies have invested about $60bn (40bn) in China, and up to one million Taiwanese now live there, many running Taiwanese factories. Some Taiwanese worry their economy is now dependent on China. Others point out that closer business ties makes Chinese military action less likely, because of the cost to China's own economy. A controversial trade agreement sparked the "Sunflower Movement" in 2014 where students and activists occupied Taiwan's parliament protesting against what they call China's growing influence over Taiwan. Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Some Taiwanese vocally support formal independence but most favour the middle ground Officially, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) still favours eventual independence for Taiwan, while the KMT favours eventual re-unification. Opinion polls show only a small minority of Taiwanese support pursuing one or the other at the moment, with most preferring to stick with the current middle ground. Yet more and more people say they feel Taiwanese rather than Chinese. Support for the DPP increased at the January 2016 election. This was partly because of dissatisfaction with the KMT's handling of economic matters, from the wealth gap to high housing prices, and partly because of worries that Mr Ma's administration was making Taiwan too dependent on Beijing. The US is by far Taiwan's most important friend, and its only ally. The relationship, forged during World War Two and the Cold War, underwent its sternest test in 1979, when President Jimmy Carter ended US diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in order to concentrate on burgeoning ties with China. The US Congress, responding to the move, passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which promises to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons, and stressed that any attack by China would be considered of "grave concern" to the US. Since then, US policy has been described as one of "strategic ambiguity", seeking to balance China's emergence as a regional power with US admiration for Taiwan's economic success and democratisation. The pivotal role of the US was most clearly shown in 1996, when China conducted provocative missile tests to try and influence Taiwan's first direct presidential election. In response, US President Bill Clinton ordered the biggest display of US military power in Asia since the Vietnam War, sending ships to the Taiwan Strait, and a clear message to Beijing.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34729538

Will Kerala be rebuilt in 2019?

By Express News Service As 2019 gets off the block with the Womens Wall, Malayalees would be bracing for more such events, despite the No Hartal movement gathering momentum. Sure, the Sabarimala issue looms, but right at the end of the year. So, the year is going to be about what Kerala manages to squeeze in between the Wall and the Pilgrims Progress. Hopefully, Kerala will get to see some development too. Forgo hartals, concentrate on progress and growth C J George,MD, Geojit Financial Services Kerala industry and business, in general, are seriously impacted by frequent hartals called by all political parties. The year 2018 saw over 100 regional and state-wide hartals. Kerala should ideally change the name to Hartal Pradesh which will rhyme with North Indian states! Hence the first and most important wish is to somehow stop this nonsense. Secondly, after having jointly fought the recent floods, now the rehabilitation is derailed due to the paucity of funds and unfortunate controversies like the Sabarimala womens entry. Kerala loves controversies and the net result is a big hit on the economy. The wish is somehow Kerala focuses on progress and growth. Focus on tackling cyber crimes Loknath Behera,State Police Chief Crime is assuming new proportions as the years go by and the state police are taking up challenges in a big way by adopting technology and novel crime investigation methods. In 2019, our focus will be more on tackling cyber crimes which have been increasing drastically.Though there have been certain complaints regarding the rude behaviour of the police towards public, the police in Kerala is considered among the best compared to other states. We will be focusing on improving soft skills of police personnel and also make it mandatory for the police to behave politely and decently with the public.As part of bringing down police atrocities at police stations, we will be introducing a live monitoring system of all police stations. Surveillance cameras will be installed in all police stations and they will be monitored 24x7.The project will be completed by April 2019. We also hope to appoint Inspectors as SHOs in all police stations in the state in 2019.This will immensely help us improve better public-police interaction at the police station level. Vision for a zero-waste Kerala Jose Dominic,Co-founder, CGH Earth Group I wish Kerala sees fewer hartals, which paralyses it on a regular basis. We need a vision for a zero-waste Kerala, which would bring it on a par with developed countries; a state in which the public transport system is evolved to cater to the needs of the evolving demographic. Finally, a year in which the farmers get better value for their produce. Expecting real growth in realty sector Najeeb Zackeria,chairman, CREDAI Kerala & CMD, ABAD Builders Going forward into 2019, I expect the real estate market in Kerala in the first half with limited project launches and therefore less new supply across the micro markets. With more availability and choice of ready-to-occupy homes, location preferences and right pricing of such stocks would see faster offtake with demand catching up considering that home loans options also continue to be at attractive rates. However, the overall sluggish Kerala economy with numerous challenges during 2018 with no real growth coupled with the NRI job crisis would also take some more time to abate. I expect there will be more GST rate rationalisation, more projects being completed and business sentiments will definitely improving during the second half of the year. I also believe that going into the election year, the Central budget in February would also offer much more to cheer for the home buyers.Overall for the genuine end-users and for the reputed developers, there definitely is scope for a win-win transaction, large numbers of which will also trigger a spurt in the economy. Outlook for 2019 is Positive V P Nandakumar,MD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Broadly speaking, the outlook for 2019 is positive with Indias economy continuing to grow at a rapid pace. However, there are some risk factors too, especially the risk of spillovers to the domestic economy from rising international trade tensions and a slowdown in global growth. As for our business, the gold loan business would benefit from higher gold prices likely because of heightened uncertainty and trade wars. Gold is, after all, well known as a safe haven asset. Higher gold prices indirectly benefit the gold loan business as customers get higher loans for their gold. As for our new businesses, our microfinance subsidiary, Asirvad Microfinance, looks set to continue growing at the scorching pace it has set in the past two quarters. The microfinance industry in India, in general, has bounced back from its demonetisation woes.Disbursements are up and recoveries are strong and Asirvad will continue to expand into new geographies. We also expect our commercial vehicle division to maintain rapid growth as capacity gets added to Indias road infrastructure, and as petroleum prices begin to decline from recent record highs. Our affordable home loans business will grow at a more sedate pace as the real estate scenario continues to be a bit dull. Overall, I would expect 2019 to be better for growth than the year that went, assuming of course, that there are no unanticipated shocks. Year of hope P Sathasivam, Governor Greetings to the people of the state and Keralites across the world. Let this New Year strengthen the unity of the state in the ideation and implementation of Keralas reconstruction. I sincerely wish that 2019 would bless us with joy, development and prosperity. Pinarayi Vijayan,Chief Minister I wish Keralites the world over a New Year of peace and progress. Kerala enters 2019 after surviving the flood-related crisis with great unity. The next challenge is to recreate a better Kerala. The government is confident that this can be completed successfully with the support of people. Last year saw a big challenge towards secularism, federalism and Constitutional values. The fight to protect secularism and Constitutional values should continue. Ramesh Chennithala, Opposition Leader New year greetings to all Keralites. Hopes of a new Kerala filled with harmony, peace and mutual trust should lead us forward. P S Sreedharan Pillai,BJP state president My warm greetings to all Keralites. It is time for Keralites to participate in the prosperous journey of the country led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Let the New Year be of re-dedication (referring to the ensuing LS polls).

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/jan/01/will-kerala-be-rebuilt-in-2019-1919047.html

Can the Bears count on Cody Parkey in the playoffs?

The Chicago Bears have a very talented roster. So talented, in fact, that its hard to find even one glaring weakness on a team that went 12-4 and won the NFC North. But if theres any player who gives Bears fans a bit of anxiety, its kicker Cody Parkey. Parkey signed a four-year, $15 million deal in free agency last offseason and was viewed as a massive upgrade over the misfit platoon of Mike Nugent, Cairo Santos and Connor Barth. At the end of the day, you calculate all the times Ive kicked the ball this year, including extra points, which are 33-yard field goals essentially, Ive kicked at 87 percent, Parkey said via the Chicago Sun-Times. Its easy to look at and be like, Oh, hes done terrible this year. But at the end of the day, Ive kicked at 87 percent, which by no means is terrible although its not where I want to be. Parkey isnt wrong when he says his conversion rate isnt terrible, but it isnt the kind of increase in reliability the Bears hoped for. Chicagos kickers converted 84 percent of their kicks (field goals and extra points) last year. They believe in me, Parkey said of the Bears continued faith in him. But its not, like, every day they make sure to tell me, like, they believe in me. If I go 10-for-10 or if I go 0-for-10, nothing changes in them and their attitude towards me, which is huge. Points will be at a premium in Sundays wild-card game against the Eagles, who field a defense capable of shutting down Mitch Trubisky and the Bears offense. Chicagos defense will do its part, which means the game could ultimately come down to Parkey. The playoffs will provide Parkey with a fresh start and an opportunity to win over Bears fans. If he fails, it will be hard for GM Ryan Pace to justify bringing him back in 2019.

https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/01/cody-parkey-kicker-chicago-bears-nfl-playoffs-wild-card-eagles/

Was tut sich 2019 in Eimsbttel?

Hamburg Wirtschaft, Wohnen, Weiterentwicklung. BILD hat bei den Bezirksamtsleitern nachgefragt, was sich 2019 in ihrem Zustndigkeitsbereich tut. Heute spricht Eimsbttel-Chef Kay Gtgens (56, SPD). Er sagt: Nachhaltigen Wohnraum schaffen und gute Mobilitt bleiben auch 2019 ganz wichtig. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt wird die Strkung des sozialen Zusammenhalts sein. Wohnungsbau: Ab 2019 wchst am Eidelstedter Platz ein Zentrum mit rztehaus, Einzelhandel und 200 Wohnungen. Knapp 700 Wohnungen entstehen im Projekt Neue Mitte Stellingen am Sportplatzring. Wirtschaft, Wohnen, Weiterentwicklung: BILD hat bei den Bezirks-Chefs nachgefragt, was sich 2019 in ihrem Zustndigkeitsbereich ndert. Straenbau: Grte Baustellen sind Frster- und Torfweg sowie der Baumacker. Gesamtkosten: 5 Millionen Euro. Quartiersentwicklung: Grtes Projekt des nchsten Jahrzehnts ist mit rund 900 Wohnungen das neue Stadtquartier Unnastr./Quickbornstr. nas

https://www.bild.de/regional/hamburg/hamburg-aktuell/was-tut-sich-2019-in-eimsbuettel-59305752.bild.html

Was ndert sich 2019 bei der Rente?

Die Zukunft bleibt ungewiss. So viel ist sicher. Abgesehen davon stehen aber auch im neuen Jahr viele Neuerungen und Gesetze an. Diese nderungen bei der Rente werden dann wichtig, wie die Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen informiert. Renten steigen Ab dem 1. Juli sollen die Renten im Westen um 3,18 und im Osten um 3,91 Prozent steigen. So steht es im Entwurf des Rentenversicherungsberichts 2018 der Bundesregierung. Die Anpassung gilt fr alle Altersrenten, fr Erwerbsminderungs- und Hinterbliebenenrenten, fr gesetzliche Unfallrenten sowie fr die Renten der Landwirte aus der landwirtschaftlichen Rentenkasse. Zugleich sollen Rentenniveau und Beitrag bis 2025 stabil bleiben. Eine monatliche Rente von 1000 Euro, die nur auf Westbeitrgen beruht, wrde sich nach den aktuellen Zahlen um 31,80 Euro erhhen, eine gleich hohe Rente mit Ostbeitrgen um 39,10 Euro. Der sogenannte Eckrentner mit 45 Jahren Beitragszeit wrde monatlich rund 45 Euro mehr an Rente bekommen. Auerdem wird der nchste Schritt gemacht, um den Rentenwert Ost an den im Westen geltenden Rentenwert anzugleichen. Von derzeit 95,8 Prozent steigt der Ost-Rentenwert dann auf 96,5 Prozent des Westwerts. Verbesserungen bei der Erwerbsminderungsrente Ab dem neuen Jahr wird die Rente berechnet, als htten Betroffene bis zum Alter von 65 Jahren und acht Monaten weiter in die Rentenkasse eingezahlt. Bis jetzt wurde so gerechnet, als wre bis zum 62. Lebensjahr eingezahlt worden. Bis 2014 wurden sogar nur fiktive Einzahlungen bis 60 bei der Berechnung bercksichtigt. Die Neuerung erhht die Rente deutlich. So erhlt ein Durchschnittsverdiener, der erwerbsunfhig wird, im Jahr 2019 etwa 90 Euro im Monat mehr im Monat. Kleiner Wermutstropfen: Wer bereits eine Erwerbsminderungsrente erhlt, ist von der Neuregelung nicht betroffen. Mehr Rentenpunkte bei Mtterrente Mtter und Vter, deren Kinder vor dem 1. Januar 1992 geboren sind, bekommen ab 1. Januar statt bisher 2 nun 2,5 Entgeltpunkte gutgeschrieben. So will es das von der Bundesregierung beschlossene Rentenpaket mit der Mtterrente II. In Westdeutschland entspricht ein Rentenpunkt aktuell 32,03 Euro (2019 voraussichtlich 33,04 Euro), in Ostdeutschland sind es 30,69 Euro (2019 voraussichtlich 31,88 Euro). Mtter und Vter, deren Nachwuchs ab dem 1.1.1992 geboren wurde, erhalten unverndert 3 Entgeltpunkte pro Kind. Rentenansprche fr die Kindererziehung erwirbt der Elternteil, der ein Kind berwiegend erzogen hat. Haben mehrere Elternteile das Kind gemeinsam erzogen, wird die Erziehungszeit einem Elternteil zugeordnet. Mehr Rentner werden steuerpflichtig Einhergehend mit den Rentenerhhungen werden im neuen Jahr voraussichtlich rund 48.000 Rentner erstmals steuerpflichtig. Nach Regierungsangaben mssten im kommenden Jahr rund 4,98 von den rund 21 Millionen Rentner Senioren Steuern zahlen - fast doppelt so viele wie 2005. Aber welcher Rentenhhe Senioren betroffen sind, lesen Sie hier. Beitragsbemessungsgrenzen steigen Die monatliche Beitragsbemessungsgrenze West steigt ab Januar 2019 von 6500 auf 6700 Euro (80.400 Euro jhrlich). Im Osten liegt sie dann bei 6150 Euro im Monat (2018 5800 Euro); jhrlich sind das 73.800 Euro. Bis zu diesen Einkommensgrenzen mssen Arbeitnehmer im nchsten Jahr Beitrge zur Renten- und Arbeitslosenversicherung bezahlen. In der knappschaftlichen Rentenversicherung werden die Grenzen fr die Beitragsbemessung im nchsten Jahr bei 8200 Euro im Monat (West), also 98.400 Euro jhrlich, und fr die stlichen Bundeslnder bei 7600 Euro pro Monat (91.200 Euro im Jahr) liegen.

https://www.n-tv.de/ratgeber/bei-der-Rente-article20758893.html

Where do the investigations related to Donald Trump stand?

Where the investigations related to President Donald Trump stand and what may lie ahead for him:Trump is facing criminal investigations in Washington and New York.Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. Trump also plays a central role in a separate case in New York, where prosecutors have implicated him in a crime. They say Trump directed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal hush money payments to two women as a way to quash potential sex scandals during the campaign.House Republicans brought an unceremonious end to their yearlong look at the Justice Department's handling of the investigations into Trump's ties to Russia and Democrat Hillary Clinton 's emails.In a letter released before Republicans cede the House majority to Democrats, the chairmen of two committees described what they said was the "seemingly disparate treatment" the two probes received during the 2016 presidential election and called on the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel to investigate further.The wrapping up of the congressional investigation, done in a letter and without a full final report, was a quiet end to a probe that was conducted mostly behind closed doors but also in public. Republican lawmakers often criticized interview subjects afterward and suggested they were conspiring against Trump.Trump's pick for attorney general, William Barr, sent an unsolicited memo to the Justice Department this year criticizing parts of the Mueller probe as "fatally misconceived. "The 20-page memo, sent in June while Barr was in private practice and months before he was selected by Trump for the Justice Department job, may prompt questions about his ability to oversee the special counsel's investigation fairly.The document argues that there could be disastrous consequences for the Justice Department and the presidency if Mueller were to conclude that acts a president is legally permitted to take such as firing an FBI director could constitute obstruction of justice, just because someone concludes that there was corrupt intent.There is no smoking gun when it comes to the question of Russia collusion. But the evidence so far shows a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-related contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition period, and that several lied about the communication.There is also evidence that some people in the president's orbit were discussing a possible email dump from WikiLeaks before it occurred. American intelligence agencies and Mueller have said Russia was the source of hacked material released by WikiLeaks during the campaign that was damaging to Clinton's presidential effort.That is another unresolved question that Mueller is pursuing. Investigators have examined key episodes such as Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey and his fury over the recusal from the investigation of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions Trump has repeatedly slammed the Mueller investigation as a ``witch hunt'' and insisted there was ``NO COLLUSION'' with Russia. He also says his now-former lawyer, Cohen, lied to get a lighter sentence in New York.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/where-do-the-investigations-related-to-donald-trump-stand/articleshow/67344732.cms

Did Liberman reveal Trump's peace plan?

President Trump's peace plan includes Palestinian statehood for Gaza Strip - but not in Judea and Samaria, Al-Hayat report claims. Palestinian Authority officials say a former Israeli Defense Minister revealed details of the soon-to-be released American peace plan for the Middle East, the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper reported Wednesday. According to the report, shortly before he left office in November, former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) told Palestinian Authority officials that the upcoming plan, dubbed the Deal of the Century by President Trump, would include the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip. Arabs living in Judea and Samaria would be citizens of the new Palestinian state, the PA officials said of the American plan, but no territory in Judea and Samaria would be ceded to the newly-formed Palestinian state. Instead, the areas currently under PA control in Judea and Samaria would receive expanded autonomy and broad economic incentives. The plan reportedly also includes provision for the establishment of a new airport and seaport in the Gaza Strip to be paid for with international aid money. There has been no official confirmation from the Trump administration, which has refused to disclose details from the upcoming peace plan. A spokesperson for Liberman denied the report, saying that the Yisrael Beytenu chairman had not seen the American peace plan. "Former Defense Minister and Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman hasn't seen the plan, and to the best of his knowledge the Americans have not revealed details of the plan to anyone in Israel, and it isn't even clear if the plan has been completed. So the [Al-Hayat] report is simply incorrect." On Monday, PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas denounced the American plan, calling it a conspiracy. This is a conspiracy: a conspiracy that they are going to be waging from afar, Abbas said during a Fatah faction meeting Monday night. They say, Wait for the deal. Everything is on the table, and nothing is left hidden. What they offer is rejected, rejected, rejected. We will fight to prevent it, because we will not sell our sanctity.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257041

Why do we celebrate the New Year?

Share This The gifts have been exchanged, the treats are all gone, some may be a little fuller in the midsection, and the excitement of the holidays has worn off. There is always a bit of a letdown associated with the end of the holiday season. When you finish reading this article, you may feel confusion as well. I thought it would be fun to look into the history of New Years Day for this weeks Good Question. What I know now that I did not know before is that somebody really goofed when they assigned this day to the calendar. It all begins with a guy named Janus, the Roman God of doors and gates (Why they needed a God for that is beyond me). Janus had two facesone facing forward and one facing backward. Julius Caesar, who was the ruler at the time, felt that the start of a new year was a door to the future. So naturally, he named a new month January after Janus. Well, heres where it gets a little weird. To celebrate this occasion, Caesar ordered a violent execution of Jewish forces. New Years day celebrations continued through the years with what evolved into heavily sexualized parties. The Pagans believed these parties were symbolic of the chaotic world that existed before the creation of the cosmos. (Dont ask me, Im only the messenger). This continued for about 500 years until someone had the idea that celebrations of this sort were morally off base. So they were dropped. The date of the New Year was eventually changed. Whether this was an effort to disassociate this day with previous celebrations or just start something new is anyones guess. Stock image For a while, December 25th was the new New Year. Then it was March 1 and later March 25 in conjunction with the Vernal Equinox or what we now know as Easter. Around 1725 or so it was changed back to January 1. As if that wasnt confusing enough, the length of the calendar year also went through some changes during this time. In the days before Caesar, it was a ten-month calendar year but in 46 B.C. that all changed. We still have a vestige of the old March-start calendars hidden with us in plain sight, states an article from Time. The months of September through December are currently months nine through twelve even thought the root word of September is Septem which is latin for seven, not nine. Octo means eight, and so on. Stock image The occasion is further complicated when you add the tradition of making new years resolutions. But Im afraid this point will have to be a discussion for another time. For now, well wrap this up by saying Happy New Year.

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2019/01/why-do-we-celebrate-the-new-year/

Did Mariah Carey spend New Year's Eve with Pippa Middleton?

While millions of viewers may have missed Mariah Carey's live TV antics on the 2018 New Year's Eve ball drop special, it seems she still managed to entertain a lucky group. The award-winning vocalist rang in the new year on the white-sanded shores of St. Barts' luxury Nikki Beach club. As she belted out her tunes - both new and old - the 48-year-old songstress appeared to be a mere two-minute walk from none-other-than royal-connected Pippa Middleton! Mariah Carey hosted a very glamorous New Year's Eve bash in St. Bart's Photo: Getty Images Royal aficionados may recall that Kate Middleton's 35-year-old sister jetted off to St. Bart's for the holiday. Of course, joined by her husband James Matthews and their 11-week-old baby Arthur, the trio have been spending time with another newly-formed trio: James' brother Spencer Matthews, his wife Vogue Williams and their three-month-old boy Theodore. MORE: Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more reveal their favorite moments of 2018! It's unclear as to whether the parents got a sitter and stepped out for Mariah's special show, but we do think it's a pretty glamorous coincidence. Either way both parties were no doubt enveloped with luxury. The We Belong Together diva hosted Nikki Beach's NYE celebration and treated guests to her hit songs. Following the intimate set, she dined with attendees and enjoyed a beautiful butterfly-themed caked. The jury is still out as to whether she got her "hot tea" this year or not. "I couldn't have asked for a better way to ring in 2019 than performing in such a magical place!" Mariah wrote on her Instagram along with a glittering shot of her donning a fitted diamond-studded gown. "I'll be back," she added with the hashtags "celebration of life" and "forever young". MORE: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez had the cutest New Year ever Meanwhile, Vogue shared an adorable photo of her, Spencer and Theodore greeting 2019. Clad in gold and purple party hats, the threesome seemed elated to be together. "Three peas in a pod!" she wrote in the caption. If the sweet picture is any indication of how Pippa, James and little Arthur spent their evening, we're sure they had a wonderful one as well.

https://us.hola.com/en/celebrities/2019010113347/mariah-carey-pippa-middleton-new-years-eve/