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On July 9, some 20,000 workers on the London Underground railway system, often called “the Tube,” walked off the job, shutting down one of the largest transit systems in the world. The Tube stretches for 250 miles under the streets of London and its environs, and carries 4 million passengers per day. All four unions representing the workers in the system voted in favor of the strike by a 90 percent margin. Participation in the 24-hour walkout was nearly 100 percent. The Tube was completely shut down. Despite other immediate issues, the underlying cause of the strike is the austerity program of the Conservative (Tory) government of Prime Minister David Cameron. Like other countries in the European Union, it has pursued a harsh government policy of cutbacks and higher costs on the poor and working classes of the United Kingdom. The London Underground is administered by Transport for London (TfL), a semipublic authority supported mostly by fares but under the jurisdiction of the central government. Immediately before the strike, the TfL threw down a “take it or leave it” offer to the unions. In addition to an inadequate pay proposal, it failed to address the serious disruptions of the new Night Tube program, scheduled to begin in September. The new schedules would lay off 850 workers, close all the ticket offices at night, and lead to enormous disruptions in the schedules of night workers. The cutbacks would not only endanger overall safety and convenience, but lessen the services available for disabled passengers. Because of past struggles, as this writer can personally attest, the London transportation system has a relatively high level of support for disabled people compared to most U.S. cities. These rights for the disabled are now under attack.

Retired NASCAR driver Mark Martin and former motocross star Ricky Carmichael are among the 2015 inductees into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. >> Retired NASCAR driver Mark Martin and former motocross star Ricky Carmichael are among the 2015 inductees into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. The seven-member class also includes off-road racer Walker Evans, six-time NHRA champion Warren Johnson and four-time Trans-Am Series champion Tommy Kendall. It also includes two deceased drivers, Duke Nalon (sprint and midget cars) and Lloyd Ruby (USAC). Kendall and Carmichael were present for Friday’s announcement. The 27th class will be inducted June 18 at Detroit’s Fillmore Theater. The hall, currently in Novi, Michigan, is moving to Daytona International Speedway in January 2016. The move coincides with the scheduled completion of the track’s $400 million renovation.

But within the past year, the eight-person city board has become fractured, with McFarlane increasingly on the minority side. McFarlane has been a politician who often shuns politics. She prefers to work behind-the-scenes to wrangle council members toward consensus. McFarlane was a leader in the city’s purchase of Dorothea Dix Park and the recently unveiled plan to make it “a world-class destination park to be enjoyed by the public for generations to come,” according to her news release. She was first elected to the Raleigh City Council in 2007 and served two terms before being elected mayor in 2011. She is the second woman to be mayor in Raleigh’s history. McFarlane supported the creation of the Raleigh Union Station in downtown, the passage of Raleigh’s transportation bonds and numerous transit projects. The council voted to increase the property tax rate to raise funds for affordable housing and the city has spent millions to build more affordable housing apartments and homes. A life-long champion of the arts, she helped make the case for the arts as an economic driver to boost tourism and support the city’s artistic scene. “I am going to focus on the things that really matter to me; my family, the community, the arts and the parks,” she said in the release. Efforts to reach McFarlane on Wednesday were unsuccessful. With fewer allies on the council, the past year has been a trying one for McFarlane. She faced her toughest re-election bid in 2017 after narrowly beating Raleigh attorney Charles Francis in a run-off election. Francis confirmed Wednesday he intended to run again. That election also solidified a growth-cautious majority on the board with Council member Stef Mendell defeating then incumbent Bonner Gaylord. In recent years the council has steadily moved from a growth-friendly to a slow-growth council. Some members of that new majority — Mendell, David Cox, Kay Crowder, Russ Stephenson and Dickie Thompson — have balked at the slow-growth moniker, saying they are smart-growth and pro-neighborhood. Since then McFarlane has sparred with council members on a score of issues, occasionally growing visibly frustrated during some council meetings. Some of the differences touched on how the city should grow including whether to allow short-term rentals like Airbnb and backyard cottages throughout the city. Others have involved transportation including this past summer when McFarlane told council members to “stop misleading the public” about the widening of the Falls of Neuse. Most recently, Raleigh City Council member Kay Crowder told The News & Observer she was “verbally and physically assaulted” by McFarlane’s husband at the Raleigh Convention Center on Feb. 6 during a community meeting unveiling the Dix Park Master Plan. The mayor later apologized for the incident, saying her husband was stressed about McFarlane’s recent surgery and upset that she had not been given credit that night, as other council members had, for her work on the park. McFarlane fields questions ranging from favorite fast food and television to books and sports during an interview on Monday October 30, 2017 in Raleigh, N.C.

Secretary of state says North Korea will get no US aid unless nuclear talks resume. "We have absolutely no interest and no willingness on the part of this administration to give them any economic aid at all," Clinton said. "We are very serious about trying to make it clear to the North Koreans that their recent behaviour is absolutely unacceptable" "That money is in there in the event, which at this point seems implausible if not impossible, the North Koreans return to the six-party talks and begin to disable their nuclear capacity again." On Wednesday, North Korea threatened to conduct new tests of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. It said the tests would take place unless the United Nations security council apologises for condemning its controversial rocket launch early last month. North Korea said the April 5 launch placed an experimental communications satellite into orbit, but US military officials believe it was cover for a test of a long-range missile. Following the UN condemnation, North Korea announced it was pulling out of the six-party denuclearisation talks, expelled international nuclear inspectors and declared that it would restart all its nuclear facilities. Commenting on the North Korean moves, Clinton said the leadership in Pyongyang were "digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole with the international community". "We are very serious about trying to make it clear to the North Koreans that their recent behaviour is absolutely unacceptable." In February 2007, North Korea agreed to end and dismantle its nuclear programmes in return for economic aid and diplomatic concessions. But the deal faltered on disagreements over the standards by which North Korea would be judged to have fully declared all aspects of its weapons programme. In December, the US suspended shipments of fuel aid to the North until it agreed to specific steps to verify its nuclear activities, which Pyongyang refused to do.

In the wake of Heartbleed, a well-known open source development group is creating a simpler, cleaner version of the dominant OpenSSL. OpenSSL is the dominant SSL/TLS library on the Internet, but has suffered significant reputation damage in recent days for the Heartbleed bug. The incident has revived criticism of OpenSSL as a poorly-run project with source code that is impenetrable and documented, where it is at all documented, badly and inaccurately. The main effort of the LibreSSL project is to remove the very large portion of the code that serves purposes that are either of very limited interest or which were scheduled by OpenSSL for removal but never actually removed. Theo de Raadt, founder and leader of the OpenBSD and OpenSSH, tells ZDNet that the project has already removed 90,000 lines of C code and 150,000 lines of content. de Raadt: "Some of that is indentation, because we are trying to make the code more comprehensible. 99.99% of the community does not care for VMS support, and 98% do not care for Windows support. They care for POSIX support, so that the Unix and Unix derivatives can run. They don't care for FIPS. Code must be simple. Even after all those changes, the codebase is still API compatible. Our entire ports tree (8700 applications) continue to compile and work, after all these changes." A blog site called "OpenSSL Valhalla Rampage" that is following the project, is not run by the project. de Raadt says he doesn't know who is running it and that the actual LibreSSL team has been too busy to put up a web site.

From the rudimentary but effective Apollo Guidance and Navigation System that landed the first humans on the lunar landscape to the code used to manage robotic missions to explore other planets, software has always been at the core of NASA’s mission successes. When NASA develops this software, we know the code may have uses beyond the original mission. One of our missions is to ensure that the technologies we create for aeronautics and space missions, including software, have the opportunity to be turned into new products and processes that can benefit the lives of people on Earth. Technology transfer allows us to offer added value to taxpayer investment in cutting edge research and development. Much of this NASA-developed code will be available for public use through a new software catalog starting April 10. With over 1,000 codes organized into fifteen broad subject matter categories, the new software catalog offers a large portfolio of software products for a wide variety of applications. These codes represent NASA’s best solutions to a wide array of complex mission requirements. The technologies featured in the software catalog cover project management systems, design tools, data handling, and image processing, as well as solutions for life support functions, aeronautics, structural analysis, and robotic and autonomous systems. Each NASA code is available at no cost and has been evaluated for access restrictions and designated for a specific type of release, ranging from codes that are open to all US citizens to codes that are restricted to access by other federal agencies. "NASA is committed to the principles of open government," said Adams. "By making NASA resources more accessible and usable by the public, we are encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. Our technology transfer program is an important part of bringing the benefit of space exploration back to Earth for the benefit of all people."

Saudi Women Go For A Spin In Latest Challenge To Driving Ban : Parallels Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that effectively bars women from driving. Women are making a renewed challenge to the ban by getting behind the wheel and posting videos in advance of a national drive-in set for Saturday. A woman drives a car in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Saudi Arabia is the only country where women are barred from driving, but activists have launched a renewed protest and are urging women to drive on Saturday. Activists in Saudi Arabia tried once, they tried again and now they're making a third challenge to the kingdom's long-standing ban on female drivers. Some women have recently made short drives, posting videos on social media sites, and many more are planning to get behind the wheel on Saturday. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that effectively prohibits women from driving, a ban supported by conservative clerics. While there is no law formally banning female drivers, the government does not give them licenses. Government authorities seem to be more lenient these days, however. Sara Hussein, 32, says it's time to claim the right to drive. "Think back in history — Rosa Parks was the only person who sat down on the bus, wasn't she? And then it started to happen gradually," Hussein says. "It does have to start with the few brave people who are willing to risk whatever there is to risk." Hussein's mother, Aziza al-Yousef, who is in her 50s and teaches computer science at King Saud University, is a key organizer of the drive-in. Activists set Saturday as a date for a national road rally, but also encouraged women to just get behind the wheel any time. "We are saying, 'Just go ahead and drive now,' " says al-Yousef. "I know women started driving. The messages are in the hundreds. We are counting the videotapes." Activists have been challenging Saudi Arabia's ban on female drivers by taking to the road and posting videos. Here is one of what organizers say are 100 videos posted so far. The mother and daughter say the videos are coming from across the kingdom and even show one man teaching his wife and sister to drive. Saudi Arabia was made for driving, with wide open spaces and cheap gas. The sprawling capital, Riyadh, is as big as Los Angeles, with no dependable public transportation. Women must rely on men to drive them around. They may be male relatives or drivers who are part of the country's imported labor. But this is expensive and an intrusion into their lives, many women say. As the country changes bit by bit, the prohibition on female drivers can contradict other efforts by the government. For example, the government is urging private companies to hire more women. It is hard to see how that can happen unless women can drive to work, Hussein says. "No one has been given orders from higher up" to arrest female drivers, she adds. Al-Yousef says this campaign, the third challenge to the driving ban, has learned from past mistakes. In 1990, 47 women made the first attempt to challenge the ban. They all lost their jobs, were prohibited from traveling for years, and were shunned for their defiance. The next challenge came in 2011, when activists Maha al-Qatani was the first Saudi woman to get a traffic ticket. The campaign fizzled after some women were jailed for driving. But soon after, King Abdullah said women could vote in local elections, and 30 women were appointed to the 150-member Shura Council, an advisory body to the king. Al-Yousef — who has an international driver's license — says she and other drivers don't want to break laws aside from the one banning driving. She now takes a short drive every day and invites me to join her for a cruise around the capital. We get in the front, her male driver climbs in the back, and we take to the road. "I need people to see that it is normal; we have to let people accept it," al-Yousef says. "It doesn't mean anything if you drive only one day." The afternoon traffic is so heavy that nobody notices two women in the front seat of a car. Then we approach a police station. "Let's see what their reaction is," she says. "You watch it; it's going to be on your right." She says the head of the national police stated publicly that his officers would not arrest women for driving. But they will ticket those without a license, which is impossible for a woman to get here. Al-Yousef drives like a pro. She learned while attending a university in the U.S. The only time she shows excitement is when another activist calls her. "I am driving!" she announces with a distinct rise in her voice. We end our drive at her front door, where her husband is waiting to meet her. "Hello, I'm a coward. How do you do," her husband, Moisen al-Haydar, says with a laugh. Al-Haydar says he's given up driving. He's proud of his wife for braving Riyadh's hectic traffic. He supports her driving campaign, but he's worried, too. There have been online threats and insults against activists. Al-Yousef filed a case this week against the attackers in court. Also this week, conservative clerics urged King Abdullah to stop Saturday's drive-in, but the king did not meet with the complaining clerics. Al-Yousef sweeps away her husband's concerns and sits down to check the latest driving videos. "We've had four today and we are now up to 100 videos," she says as she turns up the volume on the latest driving demonstration. Al-Yousef translates the Arabic in the video: "She says this is a very positive movement; Saudi ladies should have the choice to drive her own car. And she named the tape, 'Yes, we can.' " The final decision is up to the king, who has said he believes women have the right to drive, but hasn't said when.

The 2008 financial crisis had profound economic implications for average Americans. As many lost their homes, savings, and jobs, the executives at Wall Street’s most influential investment firms—the men who engaged in risky practices to boost their own personal gain—were never punished for their actions. This speaks to a change in how society and the press views crime, said award-winning author and journalist Matt Taibbi. Taibbi on Wednesday delivered the Lowell Humanities Series’ first lecture of the semester. Raised in Boston, Taibbi worked for Rolling Stone for 10 years and cofounded The Beast in 2002. He has authored several books, including The New York Times bestseller The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap. Taibbi began his talk by discussing how the character of journalism has changed over the past several decades. He then discussed the 2008 financial crisis and the government’s neglect to punish those corporations who contributed to the crisis. When he was a child, everyone Taibbi knew worked with the media. All of the journalists he knew shared some common qualities. “They were all jerks,” he said. Reporters back then saw journalism as a trade that did not require higher education, and journalists seemed to hate everyone, especially those in positions of wealth and power. The media as a business that he knew growing up has changed dramatically and systemically, he said. The journalists Taibbi knew growing up seemed to disappear around the 1980s. A very different sort of people replaced them—people who grew up with wealth and who viewed journalism as an alternative profession to banking or law school. The different views these journalists had changed how the world reacted to the 2008 crisis. When the crisis first erupted, Taibbi was covering Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech for the vice presidential nomination in Minnesota. Although he was with other journalists, none of them seemed to know what was going on, he said. Although Taibbi initially had trouble finding information for his story, he soon realized that by researching it as a crime story, rather than a financial story, he could find out more. The entire industry of mortgage-backed securities was fraudulent, he said. It was a giant fraud scheme that blew up the United States’ economy, and there was very little reporting about it. In addition to the lack of reporting, there was very little blowback against those who toppled the economy, he said. The lack of a serious investigation was due in part to the fact that society views those who are wealthy and powerful as different from common criminals. Today’s society is one concerned more for corporations than for the children of a woman convicted of welfare fraud, he said. “It speaks to a whole change in the way we look at things now, we have a reverence and fear and respect and lack of skepticism about people who are successful and who have power that we didn’t have 30 or 40 years ago,” he said. bank regulators are a national disgrace.

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Hood sails. Rolex watches. Ultimates each. For over twenty years, Frederick E. "Ted" Hood has designed and manufactured the most desirable, durable and efficient sails ever to drive the competitive yachts of the oceans of the world. He's raced and won with the best. His list of prestigious victories include the Mallory Trophy in '56, the Bermuda Race in '68, and the SORC and the America's Cup in '74. He knows his sails and he knows his sailing. His philosophy contains no room for anything less than maximum application of ability. Durability. Excellence. Exactness The words fit the man. . . the way he works. With ultimate care. With atten- tion to detail. With the pride that comes from making the best that can be made. .. The result is that every skipper worth his salt wants a suit of Hoods on his mast. And, chances are, he wants a Rolex on his wrist. Because uncom- promising performance counts. Rolex. The totally uncompromised machine. Handcrafted in 192 individual steps from a solid block of gold or stainless steel. Mechanically unequaled. Esthetically unparalleled. The world's idea of what a watch should be. Indeed, Mr. Hood and Rolex have precisely the same opinion toward accomplishment. The only true measure of achievement is result. ..... . .. \ 9' \, ROLEX .... .. , c?() "\ \ \ I , \ \ " , " " "- , '" "' .... ... .... :: -- '" \ \ \. \ \ X ffi EEi;: ,., z (;) - .... +-4ï::: I...... õ: 001;; ..::::;. \'\ _ IN .... """'ø: ..!.u)o 0 111 ... . gv f (lHO... o "JIv tû C I I, . ,....... ,;.-. ..bõ. 1'\-- .... '- \, .... b'o"""'.i;If ...çi1 "-:\:P1"" t:? , - " ... -- y; CliRt) ;:;. ."' $ - -<-* pzçtur:eå: The Rolex Submariner Date Chronometer in stainless steel wzth matching Fliplock bràcelet. Pressure-proof to 660 feet. Also avallable in 18 kt. yellow gold. Wntefor brochure Rolex Watch, U.S.A., Inc., Deþt.114,Rolex Building, 665 Fifth Avenue, New York. New York 10022. World headquarters tn Geneva Other offices in 1òronto and major cittes around the world.

We’re through two rounds of the NBA playoffs, and we’ve seen some outstanding performances across the league. Some of them come from the sources you would expect, while others have been more unlikely and surprising. Some didn’t even last that long, but were so impressive that they have earned the recognition. Here are ten players who have stood out above the others during the NBA playoffs thus far. It may be obvious, but even now, there is no one who impacts games more than James. The Cavaliers are a fringe playoff team without him, and if you take him out of the equation, they certainly don’t get past the Indiana Pacers in the first round. James leads all playoff performers with 34.3 points per game, and he adds 9.4 rebounds and 9 assists per game to his tally. Ultimately, the Cavaliers might be favored in their series against the Boston Celtics solely because they have James and their opponent does not. The Brow had only made one playoff appearance prior to this season, a four-game sweep in 2015 at the hands of the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. His second appearance lasted longer and was very impressive. In nine games, Davis went for 30.1 points and 13.4 assists per game, posting a double-double in each playoff game as even the Warriors struggled to contain him. We already knew Davis was a star, but these playoffs were further proof that he can do it consistently against the best when the pressure is on. After serving primarily as a backup for the Celtics during the regular season, Rozier has stepped up in place of the injured Kyrie Irving and put on many different hats. He’s been a scorer, a creator, and an agitator, and he’s quickly matured into Boston’s second-leading scorer in the playoffs. He’ll be a key piece against the Cavaliers after effectively taking on the role of the team’s heart and soul. Rubio waited a very long time to make his playoff debut, but he didn’t disappoint when he finally got the chance. Rubio was so good against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he had Russell Westbrook singling him out as a problem after a 26-point, 10-assist performance in Game 3. He slowed down toward the end of the series, and sadly for the Jazz, a hamstring injury he suffered in the decisive Game 6 kept him out of the entire Houston series, but when he played, he made his mark. Paul will finally play in his first career conference final, which is long overdue and well-deserved. Likely MVP James Harden has received a lot of the publicity, but Paul continues to be a driving force in Houston, as exemplified by his 41-point performance in the Rockets’ clinching victory against the Utah Jazz. It’s fair to say he’s proving that he was never the problem in Los Angeles, and it’s largely down to him that the Rockets are a serious threat to Golden State’s Western Conference dominance. While Paul is a known commodity, Capela is bursting into the scene during this playoff run. The Swiss center has been pretty well-known to serious NBA fans for a while now, but this may be his introduction to the casual viewer. All he’s done is average a double-double and lead the NBA in rebounds during the postseason, providing a valuable interior complement to the Harden-Paul backcourt combination. This is just a quick reminder that Tatum just turned 20 two months ago and is leading the highest remaining seed in the Eastern Conference in playoff scoring. Without Kyrie Irving to carry the load, Tatum has stepped up, with seven consecutive 20-point games and counting to carry the undermanned Celtics past the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. He’ll be huge against LeBron James and the Cavaliers, but the young man has proven to be quite fearless so far — don’t expect him to back down from this challenge. It’s something of a shame that Oladipo only got seven games in his first playoff as his team’s starring attraction. He finished a fabulous season with a fabulous series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 22.7 points per game and 2.4 steals, shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc. The good news for Pacers fans is that it certainly sounds like there’s more to come from their star guard. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons get most of the 76ers’ publicity, and deservedly so, but Saric had an outstanding postseason in his own right. The young Croatian had a outstanding second season and something of a breakout performance in the playoffs, scoring 17.2 points per game and knocking down 38.5 percent of his three-point attempts. He may not be a star, but he’s an outstanding complementary piece and has a bright future ahead of him. The Warriors dominating the Western Conference playoffs is so old hat at this point that they’ve sort of been ignored so far in these playoffs. That’s a shame, because they’re playing excellent basketball, nobody moreso than Durant. With Stephen Curry hurt for the start of the playoffs and some of his teammates struggling at times, Durant has consistently been great, with a pair of 30-point games so far. He looks to be in fine form as the Warriors try to keep their title.

In case Charlie Brooker wants inspiration for the next series of Black Mirror, this week’s F8 was a great place to start. From the company’s plans to take lone selfies in VR, to its skunkworks project to let you hear with your skin, this – more so than Zuckerberg’s post-US election #longform manifesto – was our deepest dive into how Facebook sees the future. This was Facebook’s own Long Term Economic Plan. Distilled to its simplest form? Crush Snapchat. Then take on Google. Most of the actual updates that Facebook has rolled out this week have the former in mind. Camera Effects – like its continued roll out of Stories across its social platforms – are a direct jab at Snapchat. (Which itself rolled out a similar feature at almost the exact same time.) It’s clear that Facebook shares Snap Inc’s view that the phone camera will increasingly become our main window on the world, and that augmented reality is the natural next step. Therefore, whoever owns that window, wins. The stakes are, essentially, who can be first to monetise reality. Facebook knows it has the advantage: over a billion users, and near-infinite resources. Instagram’s Stories functionality alone has already overtaken Snapchat’s total user numbers. (Invested in Snap’s ultra-controlling IPO? How’s that going?) Snapchat invents something the kids love; Facebook copies it; now your mum loves it too. Imitation is nothing new in technology. It’s the circle of tech life. The difference: while Snapchat struggles for revenue; Facebook brings in over $8billion a year. Its platforms – from ads, to video, to its eBay rival Marketplace – are obsessively honed to bring in revenue and scale to epic proportions. (Zuckerberg at F8 even said as much.) Which means that while Snap Inc might be a small hurdle, Facebook’s closest rival – for attention, talent, and ad revenue – is Google, or rather, Alphabet. Brain-computer interfaces are an emerging and mindblowing area of research; WIRED has previously covered companies like Braingate, which built a device to allow individuals with paralysis and locked-in syndrome to communicate, even physically operate robotic arms. Elon Musk wants to encourage their development to stave off his theorised AI-pocalypse. That is to say: this isn’t totally sci-fi. This is real technology, in development. Even if Facebook’s vision requires massive advances in interface technology (unless you fancy a surgical brain implant), it’s not totally unimaginable that this could happen. That’s insane. It’s also begs the question: why is Facebook, a social network, working on this? Partly, it's because R&D Labs are great ways of generating a bit of publicity and attracting talent. They also occasionally, produce huge tangible results. For every failed project from Google’s former X Labs, there’s artificial intelligence initiatives like Google Brain, which recently overhauled Google Translate, or its self-driving car division. But there’s also something unsettling about both company’s approaches, which can be illustrated by two points. Firstly: why are Google and Facebook both working on aerial solutions for delivering rural internet? More customers. Facebook is running out of new spaces to serve you ads; now, thanks to augmented reality, its canvas is theoretically the physical world. The next logical step: mining your thoughts themselves. There are parallels again here with Google. Just as Facebook’s news feed changes can starve small businesses of web traffic, so allegedly are Google’s “snippets”. (With its new, camera-first future, expect media companies with big Facebook presences to feel the pain first.) But when you control the platform, you control the market. Controlling the market has a name, and historically, regulators tend not to like it. As WIRED’s cover story reports this month, the EU competition commission already has Google in its sights. Soon, Facebook might have that in common, too.

In a bid to showcase its data sovereignty credentials, VMware has opened a hybrid-cloud datacentre in Germany. The hybrid-cloud platform in Germany will complement the company's UK location and service provider network. The company said the datacentre will support German and EU compliance and data sovereignty regulations. General availability is planned in the first quarter of 2015. VMware plans to expand its private cloud presence in the US with an early-access programme for its vCloud Air Virtual Private Cloud OnDemand service. According to VMware, users will be able buy private cloud access using their credit cards. VMware launched its vCloud Air hybrid cloud platform last September and operates at five sites in the US and one in the UK. VMware's partner network also supplies vCloud Air through the vCloud Air Network programme. Speaking to Computer Weekly about the difference between VMware's service and rival AWS and Microsoft Azure infarstructure as a service cloud services, Mathew Lodge, vice-president for cloud services at VMware, said: "We are 100% focussed on the hybrid cloud." While Microsoft is its closest competitor, Lodge said: "Azure is Windows centric. We support 90 operating systems and more versions of Windows." Commenting on the German datacentre, Bill Fathers, executive vice-president and general manager cloud services business Unit for VMware, said: "As we continue to expand VMware vCloud Air into new markets, with more services than ever before, we are only just scratching the surface of what the service." The new German datacentre was announced at the start of VMworld Europe taking place in Barcelona. In his opening keynote to 9,000 attendees at the conference, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger discussed why virtualisation gave organisations agility, allowing them to become more dynamic, because they are not constrained by hardware. The opening keynote also showcased several products still in development, including VMware Horizon FLEX – a product VMware says will enable enterprises to centrally provision, manage and secure virtual desktops and applications running locally on Macs and PCs, using policy-based controls to more securely embrace bring your own (BYO) policies. According to VMware, FLEX will allow the IT team to give Mac users, contractors and remote workers access to a secure corporate desktop in a cost-effective package without sacrificing security or corporate compliance. This will allow IT to save on training and support costs, while end-users can quickly become productive on a Mac or PC while disconnected from the network, VMware said. Last month, systems integrator Capgemini will bundle its consulting and mobile services with VMware’s mobile device management capabilities, including its AirWatch EMM software. After the Dell-EMC merger is complete, it will be interesting to see if vCloud Air continues to stay in business. It has very low market share and it's a capital intensive business.

Published: Jan. 5, 2013 at 10:14 p.m. Updated: Jan. 6, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. The best drama in the NFL on Saturday night didn't take place in Lambeau Field. It surrounded Chip Kelly's future in the NFL. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported the Cleveland Browns met again with Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, two sources said. The Browns now are trying to decide who they prefer: Kelly or Marrone. That assumes the Browns even have a choice. Kelly is meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. Mary Kay-Cabot of The Plain Dealer reports that Kelly's lunch session with the Eagles on Saturday has extended late into the night. Kelly and the Browns were scheduled to meet again over dinner with the potential of closing a deal. As of Friday, sources with knowledge of the Browns' decision told Rapoport that Kelly was close to being their coach. At this moment, the team's brass is undecided if it prefers Kelly over Marrone. This is a high-stakes contractual dance taking place between the Eagles, Browns and Kelly. Marrone's inclusion in the mix only clouds things. The future of both organizations hangs in the balance. That's bigger than any playoff game.

Fittingly, Emina and Haso Peljto had their first date at a basketball game. The Yugoslavian couple married and had two children, both of whom play the game—and the younger is a star for Harvard. Born in Sarajevo, Hana Peljto '04 fled with her family to Slovenia to escape the war at home, which began in 1992. There, the lanky 10-year-old learned the hoop trade, dribbling and shooting for hours each day. Now, as a 6-foot, 2-inch, power forward for the Harvard women's team, she has brought European-style play to the Ivy League with a vengeance. Though she calls him "an inspiration and role model like no other," Hana Peljto's uniform number was not chosen to match Michael Jordan's. Two years ago, Peljto crashed the Ancient Eight as a freshman sensation: she was Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Ivy and outshot the rest of the league with a .497 field-goal percentage. Last year, as a mere sophomore, she was unanimously voted Ivy League Player of the Year after leading Harvard to the league championship. Her scoring average of 20.1 points per game was second in the Ivies, and the third highest in Harvard history, topped only by the stellar junior- and senior-year numbers—21.6 and 28.5 respectively—of Allison Feaster '98, currently with the WNBA's Charlotte Sting. "I like doing it all," says Peljto. "Here [in the United States] they specialize early—they separate post players from guards—but in Europe you learn all the skills right from the beginning." Peljto has breathtaking versatility. Last year she led the Crimson not only in scoring but also rebounding (averaging 9.5 per game), and was second on the team in steals (40) and free-throw percentage (.840). In the team's first game against Dartmouth, she poured in a career-high 36 points, and in the final league contest stung the Big Green again, pulling down 21 rebounds for another personal best. "You cannot pick a way to stop Hana," says her coach, Kathy Delaney-Smith. "She will find another way to score. She can post up, she's a slasher [cutting across lanes in transition]—and no forward runs the floor better than Hana." Peljto, a psychology concentrator, has a heritage as diverse as her athletic skills. "I'm a Muslim, but I have everything in my family," she explains. During their two and a half years in Slovenia, her family faced severe discrimination: Hana and older brother Mirza were shepherded to refugee schools. Seeking better educational opportunities, the family migrated to Ottawa, then moved on to Minneapolis, where Peljto's father was hired as a software engineer. Financially, it was another hard time: since visa restrictions prevented her mother from working for three years, she volunteered as a math teacher at a school for Bosnian refugees. Peljto's parents are both engineers with athletic leanings: her father played soccer, her mother ran cross-country. Playing one-on-one basketball against her brother (who was on the St. Olaf's varsity) strengthened Peljto's game. So did school games in Ottawa, where the 13-year-old held her own against girls three and four years older—"a real confidence booster," she says. At Osseo High School outside Minneapolis, she set nearly every school scoring and rebounding record, won a state championship as a senior, and was player of the year in Minnesota. "I've always been a hustle player," she says. "Rebounding is my strength. I run the floor, and do a lot of things that require effort—working hard." Delaney-Smith notes Peljto's "absolutely incredible passion and intensity. She's never had a bad practice. And her work ethic is the same, whether we are drilling her favorite or least-favorite part of basketball." Naturally, Peljto's multi-threat game inspires double- and even triple-teaming, but Harvard's well-balanced attack makes that strategy risky. Point guard Dirkje Dunham '04 has stepped confidently into the large shoes of Jen Monti '02, who graduated with Harvard's all-time assist record. Shooting guard Rochelle Bell '05 is a fine defensive player, and captain Kate Ides '03 will see action at center—along with Reka Cserny '05, a 6-foot, 3-inch, talent from Budapest who was last year's Ivy Rookie of the Year. "She plays a lot of European style—it's very easy to click with Reka," Peljto says. "She's an awesome passer, a great defender, and can shoot from anywhere. It's nice having Reka there, because her player can't double-team me, and vice versa." The pair of East Europeans in the front line are giving Crimson opponents a lot to contend with. College women's basketball, like the professional game, is becoming a global sport. And no zone defense can stop this trend—or its leading exemplars in Cambridge.

The cabinet today approved the Public Procurement Policy for goods produced and services rendered by micro and small enterprises (MSEs) under which all central ministries, departments as also public sector units will have to mandatorily procure 20 per cent of their annual purchases of goods and services from MSEs. The policy will be notified under section 11 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006. Ministries and PSUs, however, can spread their purchases over a three-year period beginning the current year for achieving an average 20 per cent minimum procurement goal per year. Out of 20 per cent target of annual procurement from MSEs, a sub-target of 4 per cent (ie, 20 per cent of the 20 per cent) will be earmarked for procurement from MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs. However, in the event of failure of such MSEs to participate in the tender process or meet the tender requirements and the L1 price, the 4 per cent sub-target for procurement earmarked for MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs will be met from other MSEs. Ministries and departments not confirming with the minimum procurement goal of 20 per cent at the end of three years, would have to provide reasons for the same to the review committee set up under the policy. The participating MSEs in a tender quoting price within the band of L1 + 15 per cent may also be allowed to supply a portion of the requirement by bringing down their prices to the L1 price, in a situation where L1 price is from someone other than an MSE. Such MSEs may be allowed to supply up to 20 per cent of the total tendered value. In case of more than one such MSE, the supply will be shared equally. Every central ministry and PSU will report the goals set with respect to procurement to be met from MSEs and the achievement made thereto in their respective annual reports. The policy also lists 358 items reserved for exclusive procurement from MSEs. For enhancing the participating of SCs/STs in government procurement, the central ministries/PSUs have to take necessary steps, including organising special vendor development programmes, buyer-seller meets etc, according to the draft policy. The 20 per cent mandatory procurement goal will not, however, apply to defence armament imports. In addition, defence equipment like weapon systems, missiles etc will also remain out of purview of such policy of reservation.

The Lady Leafs’ gymnastics team finished fourth at the Downers Grove South Regional with none on Feb. 2. Among five teams, Downers Grove South won the regional title with a team score of 138.325, and the Lady Leafs finished fourth with a team score of 113.675. With the top five individuals advancing to sectionals in each event, Geneseo finished shy of advancing any individuals to the Hinsdale South Sectional. Geneseo’s Evie Wilson earned a 10th place finish in the all-around with a total score of 29.45. A sophomore, Evie finished with a team-best score on the vault (12th, 8.15), uneven bars (17th, 6.65) and floor (13th, 7.40). The Lady Leafs’ Grace Girten finished 11th in the all-around with a total score of 29.00. A sophomore, Girten claimed 16th in the vault competition with an 8.00. Emma Heller finished 12th for the Lady Leafs in the all-around with a score of 27.62. A junior, Heller had her best finish landing a 15th place finish for her floor exercise (7.27). Geneseo’s Alexys Johnson finished 14th in the all-around with a score of 27.45. A senior, Alexys had a team-best 12th place finish on the balance beam with a score of 7.35. The Lady Leafs’ Brynn Johnson nabbed a 15th-place finish in the all-around with a score of 25.40. A junior, Brynn earned her best score on the vault with a score of 7.95 to earn a 19th-place finish.

A foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump's presidential campaign met Russian government officials last year, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing testimony he gave this week to a U.S. congressional committee. In numerous media interviews in recent months, the adviser, Carter Page, has either denied meeting Russian government officials during a July 2016 trip to Moscow or said he met "mostly scholars," the newspaper said. Page sent an email to at least one Trump campaign aide describing his insights after conversations with Russian government officials and others, the Times reported, citing a person familiar with the message. The newspaper said the email was read aloud during the closed-door testimony on Thursday to the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, which is investigating efforts by Russia to tip the November 2016 election in Trump's favor and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Russia says it did not interfere in the election and Trump has denied any collusion. Page played down the significance of the meetings in an interview with the Times on Friday. "I had a very brief hello to a couple of people. That was it," he said. Page said one of the people he met was a "senior person," but would not confirm the person's identity. Special counsel Robert Mueller, who has impaneled a grand jury in his probe of the collusion allegations, charged Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and another aide, Rick Gates, with money laundering on Monday. It was announced the same day that another Trump adviser, George Papadopoulos, had pleaded guilty early in October to lying to the FBI. Page was questioned by the FBI earlier this year and has also appeared before the grand jury as part of the special counsel's probe, the Times said.

Bleecker Street said today that its Keira Knightley-starring Colette, which it acquired with 30WEST at the Sundance Film Festival last month in a big mid-seven-figure U.S. rights deal, will hit screens in limited release September 21. It is one of several 2018 release dates shifted and set by the indie distributor. Also getting a date is another Sundance pickup, Debra Granik’s Leave No Trace, which will bow limited June 29. Papillon, the redo of the 1973 prison escape drama that stars Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek, which Bleecker Street landed at Toronto last year, will now bow nationwide August 24. The company firmed much of its 2018 slate, shifting the previously slotted Beirut to April 11 nationwide, On Chesil Beach to May 18 limited and the Hilary Swank starrer What They Had to October 12 limited. Colette, directed by Wash Westmoreland and co-written in part with his late partner/husband Richard Glatzer, stars Knightley, Dominic West, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, Elinor Tomlinson and Aiysha Hart in the story of the famed French author’s fight over creative ownership and gender roles that drive her to overcome societal constraints, revolutionizing literature, fashion and sexual expression. The Park City auction included several suitors who quickly surpassed the $4 million starring bids.

Maria graduated from The University of Arizona in The School of Journalism with a Bachelors degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism, and a minor in communication. While at the UofA School of Journalism Maria reported, edited, wrote, and produced her own stories. Before joining the KGUN9 team Maria completed multiple internships at other local stations with KVOA News 4 and KOLD News 13/FOX 11. Through her internships Maria was able to gain extensive experience in reporting, editing, writing, and producing. Maria has a strong passion for journalism and is excited to be advancing her journey. Maria is a Tucson native, she went to Flowing Wells High School. At Flowing Wells she ran Cross-Country, and Track & Field. Also, she spent many years in theater as an actress and stage manager. Maria enjoys spending her free time catching up with her family and friends. She is the youngest of three, one older brother and a half-sister. Maria really loves keeping up with her health and going to the gym. She also spends a lot of her time cooking, as well as eating out, especially local! Maria says, she likes to stay busy, and never live the same day twice. Maria loves her home town (Tucson) and does not plan on leaving any time soon!

SAVANNAH, Ga. – A brutal winter storm smacked the coastal Southeast with a rare blast of snow and ice Wednesday, hitting parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina with their heaviest snowfall in nearly three decades. Forecasters warned that the same system could soon strengthen into a “bomb cyclone” as it rolls up the East Coast, bringing hurricane-force winds, coastal flooding and up to a foot of snow. At least 17 deaths were blamed on dangerously cold temperatures that for days have gripped wide swaths of the U.S. from Texas to New England. A winter storm warning extended from the Gulf Coast of Florida’s “Big Bend” region all the way up the Atlantic coast. Forecasters said hurricane-force winds blowing offshore on Thursday could generate 24-foot (7-meter) seas. Schools in the Southeast called off classes just months after being shut down because of hurricane threats, and police urged drivers to stay off the roads in a region little accustomed to the kind of winter woes common to the Northeast. In Savannah, snow blanketed the city’s lush downtown squares and collected on branches of burly oaks for the first time in nearly eight years. William Shaw, a Savannah native, used baby steps to shuffle along a frozen road from his home to the post office. Dump trucks spread sand on major streets in Savannah ahead of the storm and police closed several bridges, overpasses and a major causeway because of ice. By the time the morning’s dreary sleet and rain turned to fluffy snow, Savannah came out to play. Families with children flocked to Forsyth Park near the downtown historic district for snowball fights. The National Weather Service recorded 1.2 inches (3 centimetres) of snow – Savannah’s first measurable snowfall since February 2010 and the first that exceeded an inch (2.5 centimetres) in 28 years. Across the Georgia-South Carolina line in Charleston, the weather service reported 5 inches (12.7 centimetres) as the snow was winding down at 5 p.m. That’s the most snowfall in Charleston since December 1989, and plenty for Chris Monoc’s sons, ages 4 and 2, to go sledding outside their home near the city’s iconic Ravenel Bridge. Airports shut down in Savannah, Charleston and elsewhere as airlines cancelled 500 flights Wednesday, and at least 1,700 more were cancelled Thursday. Interstate 95 was nearly an icy parking lot for almost all of its 200 miles (322 kilometres) in South Carolina. Troopers couldn’t keep up with the number of reported wrecks which numbered in the hundreds. In Tallahassee, Florida, Michigan transplant Laura Donaven built a snowman 6 inches (15 centimetres) tall. The city tweeted that snow fell there for the first time in 28 years. “I made a snowball and threw it at my dad,” said Donaven, a 41-year-old hair salon owner. READ MORE: Bitter cold causing chaos across much of U.S. The weather service said the winter storm will probably intensify into a “bomb cyclone” that could dump more than 8 inches (20 centimetres) of snow on the Boston area on Thursday and at least half a foot (15 centimetres) of snow in the New York City region. WATCH: Extreme cold weather causing major issues across U.S. Meteorologists have been using the term “bomb” for storms for decades, but the phrase went viral on social media on Wednesday. A storm is a bomb – or bombogensis happens – when it drops 24 millibars of pressure in 24 hours. This storm looks like it will intensify twice that rate, said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. Mississippi’s largest city said record cold is breaking water mains, leaving some customers with little or no water flow. Jackson city spokeswoman Kai Williams said Wednesday evening that the city knew of 37 separate water main breaks that it attributed to cold. The city has declared an emergency and is hiring outside contractors to help repair water main breaks. Blizzard warnings were issued from Rhode Island to Maine. Oravec said he expects they could be extended as far south as parts of New York. “It’s sort of akin to a hurricane travelling up the coast,” says Ryan Maue, a meteorologist at the private firm Weather.US. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency through Friday for 28 counties. School systems on the Alabama coast waived uniform requirements so students could bundle up. A snowman, built by Marty Ritter, sits on the back of his truck outside Morrow Cleaners, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida’s largest theme parks announced that water attractions such as Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay and SeaWorld’s Aquatica were closed. Temperatures were running well below normal for this time of year, and the lows are expected to hover right around freezing. In Prairieville, Louisiana, Valerie Anne Broussard struggled overnight to keep warm in a house that is being rebuilt after the 2016 floods that hit the small community southeast of Baton Rouge. Her home has exterior walls and floors but no insulation, no central heating and only a few working electrical outlets. Eggs that she left on the kitchen counter froze and broke open. “It’s like a camping trip that I didn’t sign up for,” said Broussard, who’s been huddling with her 8-year-old daughter, newborn baby and boyfriend in a bedroom warmed by space heaters. Making the most of the South’s bitter cold snap, the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro offered discounted tickets for those willing to brave the cold to see polar bears frolic in their kind of weather, along with Arctic foxes and elk. African elephants, lions and gorillas were sheltered out of public view. As the cold pushed farther northward, Jerry Gorans found himself stunned by the frigid temperatures as he walked along the waterfront City Dock of Annapolis, Maryland, where birds stood still on icy water. Kenneth Freeman, carries his daughter Alora, 8, as they visit a frozen water fountain downtown in Atlanta, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018.

Instead of prolonging the war in Afghanistan, US and NATO must tackle the root of the problem - in Pakistan. Last week, with the announcement of modified troop plans for Afghanistan, US President Barack Obama also reiterated that there would be no shift in US strategic thinking vis-a-vis Pakistan and that Washington has no desire to change the status quo. After the killing of Taliban leader Akhtar Muhammad Mansur in Pakistan last May, many observers erroneously concluded that the incident was a "major break" and "a telling manifestation of the change in US-Pakistan relations", one which would "provoke a crisis" in the relationship between the two countries. However, last Wednesday, while touching upon the killing of Mansur in a US drone strike, Obama deliberately made no mention of Pakistan, where Mansur and his predecessor, Mullah Omar, both lived and died in hiding. It was therefore strange to hear the US president calling "on all countries in the region to end safe havens for militants and terrorists", with no reference to Pakistan at all. From the Afghan perspective, this means giving assent to the Pakistani military's brutal war in Afghanistan in the guise of fighting the Taliban and the Afghan insurgency. Why does Washington tacitly embrace Pakistan's duplicity on Afghanistan? The US has major long-term strategic interests and objectives in Afghanistan and the region (South and Central Asia) which are being facilitated and protected through Pakistan and an open-ended US military presence in Afghanistan. According to US calculations, Pakistan must remain in the US sphere of influence. This harsh reality is why Americans look the other way when Pakistan says one thing and does another. "When Pakistani support becomes necessary, as during the anti-Soviet jihad of the 1980s," wrote Robert Grenier, a former CIA Chief of Station for Pakistan and Afghanistan, in 88 Days To Kandahar, "America finds a way to overlook Pakistani misdeeds and focus instead on common interests. After 9/11, we found ourselves in another such cycle." After the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Pakistan's military rulers owned a policy of selective counterterrorism. While they detained and sold hundreds of al-Qaeda operatives to Washington, the Taliban's comeback in Afghanistan was accelerated from Pakistan, under US watch. After the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Pakistan's military rulers owned a policy of selective counterterrorism. During the tenure of President Pervez Musharraf, "the ISI encouraged the resurgence by providing training, a safe haven, and even some advisers" to the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani terrorist groups to intimidate Afghanistan and challenge its stability. The Bush administration "allowed Pervez Musharraf to give the Afghan Taliban a sanctuary", according to Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer, a senior adviser to US presidents and author of Deadly Embrace. After the collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the CIA received "no policy guidance" regarding senior Taliban leaders in Pakistan. The CIA station in Pakistan "would come across reports indicating that members of the Taliban Shura were pitching up in Quetta or Karachi", but the "leads" were then passed to the Pakistani spy agency to investigate, as claimed by Grenier. It was "obvious", he argued, that Pakistan had no intention of chasing the Taliban on its soil. For the Pakistani intelligence agency, in this new post-Taliban strategy, low-cost Pakistani terrorist groups from North Waziristan region also became an asset - beside the Afghan groups - to run a controlled chaos in Afghanistan. The Pakistani government denies it but to Karzai's government, senior US officials disclosed accounts of Pakistani support for the Taliban and other anti-Afghanistan groups. In his book, After the Taliban: Nation-Building in Afghanistan, James Dobbins, the special US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, wrote that Pakistan's ISI and Frontier Force "collaborated with the Taliban and other insurgent groups operating out of Pakistan's border regions". US Army General John Campbell, the last American and ISAF commander in Afghanistan, publicly acknowledged that "based in, and operating from Pakistan HQN [the Haqqani network] remains the most virulent strain of the insurgency" in Afghanistan. The HQN "presents one of the greatest risks to Coalition forces, and it continues to be an al-Qaeda facilitator", he added. The Pakistani government remains in a state of denial, stating that it "condemns all forms and manifestations of terrorism" and that peace in Afghanistan is in the "interests of Pakistan". Nevertheless, whenever questioned on the lack of action against the Pakistani dimension of the conflict in Afghanistan, senior US officials including Obama repeatedly put Karzai in the picture that "Pakistan is not susceptible to an American military response". But addressing the problem of Pakistan's relationship with terror, does not necessarily mean taking a military action against the country. In a telephone conversation, in 2014, while discussing preparations for the Bilateral Security Agreement between the two countries, Obama told Karzai that Washington "cannot open another front against Pakistan". Pakistan is a strategic "ally" in the war on terror. During a visit to Washington, in 2013, Obama asked Karzai to take Pakistan's "concerns" about the Indian influence in Afghanistan "seriously". It was a baseless Pakistani narrative coming from a US president. I would argue that if, as a matter of fact, the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) has sanctuaries in Kunar (as claimed by Islamabad), and from there they plan and carry out attacks on Pakistan, Washington should be answerable for it. As late as mid-2014, there were "more than 60" small and big US military installations in the province. In the fullness of time, the Bush and Obama administrations both remained largely passive to take firm action against Pakistan's double dealing in its foreign and security policies on Afghanistan. Today, like in the past, the Pakistani military establishment serves the US in securing its strategic interests in south and central Asia. In this risky role, as stated by a former senior US official in Grenier's account, "the unwritten rule for Pakistan has been never to admit engaging in activities of which Washington disapproves; and in fact, such duplicity is tacitly welcomed by the Americans during times". Yet, Washington will further risk trouble with Afghanistan and regional powers. Disregarding the undeniable role of Pakistan's military and intelligence services in nurturing and harbouring Taliban and other violent groups destined to upset the stability of the region will undoubtedly lead to calamity and ruin, in all likelihood another 9/11. Instead of prolonging the futile war in Afghanistan, the US and NATO must tackle the origins of security threats and the key problem of sanctuaries in Pakistan.

In the midst of an overwhelming week of intense news, President Obama, joined by daughters Sasha and Malia, took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to ensure two turkeys, both males, named Mac and Cheese, would not be served at anyone’s dinner table this Thanksgiving. “I am here to announce what I’m sure will be the most talked about executive action this month,” the president began, poking fun at critics of his recent executive order on immigration. “To spare the lives of two turkeys, Mac and Cheese, from a terrible and delicious fate,” he continued. Mac and Cheese will get to live out the rest of their days at a 10,000 acre Virginia estate. The official White House turkey pardon is a tradition that has taken place on and off since at least Reagan’s presidency, although some claim President Lincoln was the first to reprieve a bird in 1865. The tradition as it as known today was solidified by the first President Bush in a response to animal rights activists picketing near the White House. President Obama, the first lady, and daughters Sasha and Malia will give back to the Washington, D.C. community this evening by serving up some not-so-lucky turkeys at a Thanksgiving dinner at a to-be-announced location.

It's the Salone del Mobile 2012, or the Milan Design Show, to us non-jet setters. But even though we can't be there that doesn't mean we can't enjoy, and maybe even covet, the odd thing on display. They are designed by Consuelo Castiglioni, the founder of Marni, who is known for her eccentric patterned print fabrics. But the chairs are not upholstered. Instead they themselves are the print with their colour woven in simple shapes and combinations. All of the chairs have a metal frame and multi-coloured PVC threads woven into the back, seat and arm rests. That means they will last a lifetime--or more--and become a vintage collector's item for the next generation. Plastic chairs are a common household item in Colombia, where these are made. They are a variation on the local chair; updated and made with new colour variations. The bright, contrasting colour blocks are a Marni feature. There is a small matching table for inside or outside use. The chairs are made by ex-prisoners in Colombia. The project helps them to re-establish themselves into a working and social life. Funds raised from the sale of the chairs will be donated to ICAM, a Milanese organization that reunites imprisoned mothers and their children. The chairs are part of a photo exhibition, “L’Arte del Ritratto” which celebrates the small family company's employees. The chairs are used as backdrop and seating for a series of portraits of the staff from different departments of the firm. The pictures were taken by an Italian photographer Francesco Jodice and will be published on line, and a travelling exhibition will make the rounds of different Marni stores around the world. You can't always get what you want, but you can dream...chairs by the Italian fashion designer Marni at the Milan Design Show.

Clean and Wash Khardi nicely and remove all water. Then cook with haldi, salt and vinegar on a slow gas till the water dries. Then cut onion, ginger, garlic, corinder leaves, green chilly finely. Mix all the above things with khardi, adding egg, lime, and bread (squeeze bread very well and remove all water). After adding all the things mix it very well. Then make small balls and press it between your palms and fry. Same goes with the others. Enjoy it with tomato sauce. boiled and mashed potatoes can also be added to the mixture. it tastes good.

She doesn't read the news! Her position elicited dozens of replies, most of them in protest. “Please be joking, Kim,” tweeted one user. Another pointed out that Canada’s first and only female prime minister — who was in office from June 25, 1993 to Oct. 24, 1993 — once bared her shoulders for a provocative black and white photo in 1993 in which she held up a suit of lawyer’s robes in front of her body, as if naked.

"I am writing a family drama now. I have not finished the script yet, so it is too premature to talk about it. But all I can say is that it is my kind of family drama," Zoya told IANS. Her first directorial, 'Luck By Chance' in 2009, was about a struggler's rise in Bollywood. The second, 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', was a light-hearted entertainer on love and friendship. Daughter of veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, Zoya says she wants to continue experimenting with different stories. "I want to try different stories. I want to do something new and try various themes," said the 40-year-old. As a writer, Zoya has worked on the script of the soon-to-be-released "Talaash", a suspense thriller, a genre she loves. "Talaash", releasing Nov 30, features Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji.

Auto tariffs were the big takeaway from this weekend’s meeting between President Trump and Chinese leaders to de-escalate their trade war. But don’t be misled. The real threat to American auto jobs isn’t Chinese tariffs on American made cars. It’s China’s plan to flood the U.S. with cut-rate cars made with low paid labor. After the trade powwow, Trump advisors reported that China will drop or remove its punitive 40% tariff on autos imported from the U.S. Don’t pop the champagne cork. Removing Chinese tariffs on U.S. made-autos will do almost nothing for our auto workers. Truth is, only 2% of Fords sold in China are made here. The big three U.S. automakers will tell you “we build where we sell.” They’ve moved operations to China because the Asian giant is where the U.S. was in 1925 in terms of car ownership, with plenty of first-time car buyers. GM makes more cars in China than here, and sells more in China. The company’s more Chinese than American. Back in the U.S., the problem ahead is the coming wave of cheap Chinese-made cars. It’s a rerun of what Japan and South Korea did in the 1970s and 1980s. Their low-priced cars killed thousands of jobs in auto-producing states like Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Now five Chinese auto companies plan to sell in America within two years. Chinese auto workers make about $11,000 a year. No wonder Chinese negotiators say they want both sides to scrap all tariffs. It’s a trick. Fortunately, Trump doesn’t seem to be falling for it. He’s appointed a hardliner, pro-tariff U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, to spearhead the Chinese negotiations. It’s a sign Trump appreciates that tariffs are vital to staving off more disasters like the GM plant closings announced last week. On November 26, CEO Mary Barra blindsided the nation, announcing that G.M. is shuttering four U.S. factories, including the Lordstown, Ohio plant that makes the Chevy Cruze, and the iconic Detroit-Hamtramck plant that produces the Chevy Volt and other sedans. The closings will lay off 3,300 production workers and 15% of GM’s white collar workforce. Barra’s justification is that its sedans aren’t selling, and the closings are needed to “stay in front of a fast-changing market.” Investors agreed. GM stock soared. In 2016, candidate Trump pledged to prevent such disasters. Trumbull County, home of the Lordstown plant, went for Trump after giving Barack Obama a 23 point margin in 2012. Trump also improved protections for U.S auto jobs when he renegotiated the trade pact with Mexico and Canada, announced last week. The pact, pending Congress’s approval, requires that at least 75% of a car’s value — meaning parts and labor — originate in North America for the car to be duty free. That’s up from 62.5% under NAFTA. It will force companies that assemble in Mexico, like Nissan and Volkswagen, to use North American-made parts. To protect U.S. wages, nearly half of all the parts will have to be made by workers earning at least $16 an hour, a jab at Mexico, which currently pays nearly the lowest auto wages in the world. GM’s Barra is coming to Washington this week with mea culpas. But GM’s future as a company is largely in China and other new foreign markets. Fortunately Trump has U.S. auto workers’ backs. Betsy McCaughey is a former Lt. Governor of New York.

This week on campus, students continued to react to both the presidential election results and the multiple hate crimes that have occured in Ann Arbor since, culminating Wednesday when nearly 1,000 students joined Rev. Jesse Jackson in a walkout protest against racism and violence. However, one reaction stood out because of its different focus. Earlier this week, students and others began circulating a #NotMyCampus petition condemning and commenting on both recent protests and a Nov. 9 vigil on the Diag in response to the election results. Appended to the petition were personal statements by community members expressing feelings of misrepresentation by the administration and exclusion from their community for their conservative viewpoints. While it’s vital that campus is a space where all feel comfortable engaging in thoughtful dialogue about their political leanings, we feel this petition misunderstands the fact that one cannot equate these feelings of exclusion to fearing for the safety of their life, a salient concern for students in light of recent incidents of violence on this campus. We recognize that the roughly 10 percent of students who voted for President-elect Donald Trump feel excluded, and these feelings are legitimate. Research suggests that the kind of polarized rhetoric surrounding this election could have adverse effects on the social progress that occurs when we have conversations with those who hold different views than our own. It must be understood that many students who voted this way do not feel aligned with Trump’s offensive ideology and voted for him for other reasons. But we must also emphasize why the majority of our campus community is frustrated by the students who signed the #NotMyCampus petition. We fear the petition signers may not understand how those who are fearful for their physical safety see a vote for Trump as a vote for racism and other discriminatory ideas to reign in our world. It is impossible to divorce the idea of Trump from the offensive rhetoric and racist beliefs his campaign promoted, legitimized and normalized. It is concerning that the students who voted for Trump — regardless of whether they personally support such rhetoric — could put aside his alarmingly exclusionary and offensive claims and promises, seemingly not understanding how this kind of speech can harm our country and our campus. The statement under most scrutiny by the petition is from a speech University President Mark Schlissel gave at the Nov. 9 vigil, in which he stated, “Ninety percent of you rejected the kind of hate and the fractiousness and the longing for some kind of idealized version of a non-existent yesterday that was expressed during the campaign.” With these remarks, Schlissel made two parallels: A vote for a candidate other than Trump is a vote against hate, and by extension, a vote for Trump is a vote for hate. Though somewhat indirect, this second parallel — along with administrators’ extensive outreach to students both over email and through presence at protests — understandably made many students who voted for Trump feel ostracized. We feel that Schlissel’s quote was not attempting to condemn students who voted for Trump, but rather prioritizing students who are grieving, suffering or fearing for their livelihood. But we also believe Schlissel should and could represent and support the 90 percent of students who voted against Trump without rejecting the 10 percent of students who did by affirming student safety and concerns without wading into ideology. It is vital that Schlissel understands this and urges our community to come together instead of deepening the divide. We do want to acknowledge the proactive approach Schlissel and other administrators have taken. In the recent past, from the #BBUM movement to the protests against racist posters to the creation of this year’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan, administrators have been criticized by students for not engaging with students enough and not providing genuine support when students are both frustrated and hurting. This week, Schlissel and many administrators and staff have been present and supportive. In comparison to the University administration’s past responses to students’ concerns on campus, Schlissel and other administrators’ responses to hateful rhetoric should be commended. Everyone in our University community must be careful not to denounce conservative or Republican ideology and increase the harmful polarization that has made Trump the president-elect. Though the 10 percent’s feelings of exclusion should be heard, these same students must, in turn, hear and understand why marginalized communities and their allies feel their votes supporting Trump are votes supporting racism. Only when both sides have listened and heard this can we begin to move forward toward a more productive, safe and united campus.

No wins yet in 2010 for American League Cy Young winner Zack Greinke as the Texas Rangers won 4-1 on Friday night at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Greinke gave up a home run to Vladimir Guerrero and it was Guerrero’s third homer in his last three at-bats against the Royals. He hit two, including the game-winner, in Thursday night’s 13-12 Rangers win. David Murphy doubled and, after two outs, Matt Treanor hit a pop-up that shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt dropped and Murphy scored. The Rangers went up 3-1 in the third inning as Elvis Andrus and Michael Young each singled and Guerrero lifted a sacrifice fly. They added another run in the fifth inning. Greinke went seven innings and gave up nine hits and four runs, three earned, with one walk and three strikeouts.

My father used to read to my brothers, sisters and me at bedtime. When I was seven he read us a fantasy novel, The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. I got so into the story that I’d sneak into his wardrobe when he was in work to read ahead. It didn’t occur to me that a 700-page book wasn’t meant for a little girl. I never decided to become a writer. I started writing because my memory - damaged by years of sleep deprivation with three colicky babies - began to fail. I’d had an interesting dream and I didn’t want to forget it, but I knew I would. So as soon as my sons were fed and dressed, I sat down at the family computer to type it out. It was the most exhilarating experience. Once I started, I quickly became addicted. Three months later I’d completed that first draft of Twilight. I felt no pressure when I was writing Twilight because no one was supposed to read it but me. Even after I showed it to my sister - because she wanted to know why I was always busy - it was still an expectation-free zone. Pressure and expectations were added soon but by then I knew I wasn’t going to stop writing. I got the idea for my new novel, The Chemist, when I was filming Breaking Dawn, [the final two films in the Twilight series]. It’s about a brilliant, introverted woman who has been on the run for three years, but her life changes when she meets someone who may be a teacher or may be an ice-cold terrorist. One night during filming I told my best friend the outline of the story. We always said we’d never trust an idea that came to us on a night shoot but I liked the story so I made some notes anyway. I am a naturally shy person and talking to strangers is tough so when it comes to researching my books, and talking to brilliant strangers whose understanding [of a subject] is on a stratospherically higher plane than mine, I find it even more challenging. I researched The Chemist more than I did any of my other novels; I contacted lifeguards, trauma nurses, a policeman, a chemistry professor, even a molecular biologist. I write when my husband and sons are asleep, usually from 9pm until 2am or 3am, then I edit my draft during the day. I have a hard time writing when there are distractions and even when I turn off my phone and put a sign on my office door it’s impossible to escape. Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card Beautifully written, deep and thoughtful, I pondered this story for a long time after I finished it. Jane Eyre by Charlotte BronteMy favorite protagonist. She has a harsh beginning and a limited future but she has integrity. The Rook by Daniel O’Malley O’Malley combines many of my favorite things; a complicated heroine, dry British humour and unusual superpowers. The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffreyAs a fantasy world, Pern is so richly developed that it feels like it must exist in reality. Sleeping Dogs by Thomas Perry There’s something compelling about the nameless assassin, and how he always finds a way to think and shoot himself out of any situation. Persuasion by Jane Austen I love her detailed, developed heroines and being so immersed in another time period that it feels I’ve actually been there. Her stories never feel stale.

Honoring MLK: Activism then vs. now. INDIANAPOLIS — Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. RTV6 talked to people who were alive during his time and say, in today's day-and-age, we could really take a page from his book in history. Some of us learn about his legacy in the history books, others felt it first hand. Growing up, Vanessa Owens says Dr. King Jr. was her role model. "I was never in the same room, never touched him, but the power of his presence was just felt all over the world," Owens said. A civil rights figure known across the globe, no doubt. "In America today, I'm able to talk to a white man because Dr. Martin Luther King stood and paid the price," Owens said. "I can walk in the streets of America today with dignity." His message of togetherness, some feel, needs to be included in today's activism. Where, they say, division by race and socio-economics still exists and even more divisiveness remains. "He tried to tear down walls, not build walls," Owens said. "He wanted people to be together and that's something to aspire to every day." They're calling on the need for strong, young leaders — willing to be relentless, but not hateful or combative in refusing to finding common ground. A heart full of grace and a soul directed by love. In the words of Dr. King himself, you only need "a heart full of grace and a soul directed by love." Words that resonate now more than ever.

TEXAS and James are set to headline a two-day summer music festival at Linlithgow Palace. The line-up for Glen’s Party at the Palace has been announced - with top acts on the bill including Imelda May and Gabrielle. There will also be a DJ set from former Spice Girl, Mel C. Co-producer John Richardson, said: “Every year we wonder how we are going to better what we’ve done in the previous year and we’ve set the bar pretty high recently having had the likes of Nile Rodgers, Simple Minds, Kaiser Chiefs and Amy Macdonald on the bill. More acts for the second stage are yet to be announced. The first day of the festival will be headlined by 90s indie act James, along with Gabrielle, Cast, Mel C, Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5, The Complete Stone Roses and Carly Connor. Sunday’s line-up will be topped by Texas ahead of Imelda May, Embrace, Peter Hook and The Light, The Prince Experience and Dopesickfly. The event takes place on August 11 and 12.

Mike Smith picked a fine time to come up with his biggest save of the year. His timing was even better 20 minutes later when he came up with an even better one. Two days after punctuating Sunday’s loss to the Islanders by suggesting every player in the lineup needed to do more of the little things to keep their playoff hopes alive, Smith put his money where his mouth is. After days of wondering if the Flames could snap their funk at home or against the Oilers, the only debate now revolves around which save was bigger in a gritty, crucial 1-0 win. Was it the glove save on Ryan Strome as the Oilers forward was alone in the slot late in the second? Or was it the split-save pad stop on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who appeared to have an easy tap-in from Connor McDavid on a 2-on-1 in the final frame? “Geez, I don’t know – the one that sticks out for me was the 2 on 1,” said coach Glen Gulutzan, flashing a grin not seen ‘round these parts for awhile. “I don’t know – the last one maybe?” said Travis Hamonic, still bleeding from a Mike Cammalleri elbow that led to a spirited fight with Darnell Nurse. “That’s a 10-bell save. You don’t want to put him in a spot to do that… but it’s nice that he can. None of this is to suggest the save he made on McDavid in alone early in the third wasn’t a crucial stop, either. For a team that had won once in regulation in its last 11 home games, it goes without saying the Flames needed a break or two to keep themselves in the thick of a playoff hunt. More than anything, they needed a hero – and Smith played that role brilliantly, making 28 saves with a sore groin just one game after returning from a month-long injury. “He’s been our best player all year for a reason,” said Mark Giordano, who was also a horse out there. The uber-competitive 35-year-old Smith simply willed his team to the win, reminding the Flames how much easier it was to win when the best player on the ice was their backstop. “It’s cliché, but you’re just trying to make the big save at the right time,” said Smith when asked about several of his heroic stops. Sam Bennett made two big shot-blocks while playing admirably on the second line in Matthew Tkachuk’s stead. Matt Stajan ended the game with another big shot-block. Everyone swarmed McDavid all night and the focus on a solid start and team defence was clear. “We were talking in the third about greasing one out and proving we can play that kind of game,” said Hamonic of the low-scoring affair. Outside of goals, the game had everything, giving the crowd plenty to chant about as the Flames desperately clung to the one-goal cushion given to them by Johnny Gaudreau early in the second. McDavid was dangerous all night, the game was full of big hits, timely shot blocks and the type of defensive effort people probably expected to see more of when Hamonic was acquired to round out their vaunted top four. “You have to learn to win games when you have 15 shots, and games when you have 45,” said Smith. Smith simply wouldn’t stand for anything less than a win on this night. “It starts with your play on the ice,” said Smith when asked about his post-game comments Sunday as a leader.

Dr. Andrew Jacobs rejoined the Royals in 2008. Dr. Jacobs, who also worked for the Royals during the 1990 season, has nearly 30 years of sports psychology experience. In addition to his work with the Royals, Jacobs has worked for the University of Kansas, the U.S. Cycling team, the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Comets of the MISL. He has also served as a consultant with Reebok as well as numerous national organizations in swimming, golf and tennis and hosts a weekly radio show in Kansas City. Jacobs, a Kansas City native, received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and his doctorate from the California School of Professional Psychology: San Diego. He currently resides in Leawood, Kan., and has two sons, Jonathan and Gregory.

NEW YORK (AP) - Brian Beard Jr. scored 26 of his career-high 36 points in the second half, Devon Andrews added 18 points and Florida International rallied to beat Youngstown State 102-93 Sunday at the Johnny Bach Classic. Osasumwen Osaghae scored 14 points, Beard made seven assists, and the Golden Panthers (5-1) shot 54 percent to the Penguins’ 49 percent and made 25 of 34 free throws. Trailing 48-44 at halftime, FIU opened the second half with an 11-6 run capped by Willy Nunez Jr.’s 3-pointer for a 55-52 lead. The Penguins rallied and the lead went back and forth until Beard’s 3-point play amid a 10-2 run put the Golden Panthers ahead 69-66. They upped the lead to 83-78 with 7:58 left to play and never trailed again.

Citizens Advice offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. Through our national network of charities, we give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem. In 2017-18 we helped 2.6 million people face to face, over the phone, by email and webchat, and people visited our website 25 million times. We’re looking for an Assistant Service Designer to join the team. Our team works to design and develop services that truly meet the needs of our service users. You’ll work with service users, frontline staff, subject matter experts and stakeholders, alongside other researchers and designers, to design new services. You’ll need to have worked on projects that apply a design process in a fast paced, iterative environment. We’re interested in people who can see the bigger picture and also be able to get into the detail when needed. You will need to be able to communicate your thoughts and ideas well, both verbally and visually. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about creating positive change and who will always be client focused, collaborative, hardworking and open to learning new things. Experience using a range of design methodologies as part of following a coherent design process. Good analytical skills, with the ability to think creatively and pragmatically and identify solutions. Good written and oral communication and influencing skills, including the ability to communicate insights, ideas and outcomes to diverse audiences. Ability to adapt flexibly to new subject areas, and provide constructive challenge in unfamiliar areas. Ability to support the design process and contribute to the development of new and existing services. Closing Date: Sunday 9th December. Interview Date: Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th December.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced its partnership with The Independence Fund to provide wellness and mental health education to Veterans, caregivers and families. VA and The Independence Fund will collaborate on suicide prevention initiatives to connect Veterans with care and support before they reach a crisis point. The two organizations will work together on Operation Resiliency to encourage Veterans to take part in suicide prevention initiatives. This includes a 2019 retreat that will bring together at-risk Veterans who served in the same unit during deployments. Partnerships such as this with The Independence Fund are an important part of VA's National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide. For more on veteran healthcare, visit the Military.com Benefits section. The VA Non-Paid Work Experience program provides veterans the opportunity to get training and practical job experience.

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Blockchain is upending the world's financial markets with the rise of bitcoin, and now the digital-ledger system is poised to do the same next year for raw materials like food and energy. Companies including BP Plc, ABN Amro Group NV and Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. said last month they will adapt blockchain to streamline physical energy transactions. In October, four banks joined a venture started by UBS Group AG and International Business Machines Corp. to use the technology in a platform for the global goods trade. Natixis SA and Trafigura Group Ltd. announced in March they will employ the system to finance buying and selling oil. "We're talking about this massive change in the way that business is being done," said Eric Ervin, the chief executive officer of Reality Shares Inc., a San Diego fund manager that created an index to track returns of companies adopting the technology. "Everything happens automatically, without a bunch of paperwork, processing and transferring." Blockchain is an online ledger that records transactions using encryption to ensure security while allowing a network of users to verify them. The most-prominent use was in bitcoin, which became a global sensation in 2017. Over the past year, as investors became more comfortable with how bitcoins and ledger systems work, the price of the cryptocurrency has surged more than 2,000 per cent and touched a record this month of $17,578.45. While the bitcoin market relies on blockchain to transmit and store the value of each token, the transparent tracking technology has "much greater potential" across businesses that increasingly need to store and exchange massive amounts of data, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said in a Sept. 12 report. Farmers already see the possibilities. The government of Ukraine said in October it will use blockchain technology to manage its registry of crop land because the current systems is vulnerable to fraud that leads to ownership disputes. In sub-Saharan Africa, a fertilizer company and an exchange owner are using the technology to develop an agricultural commodity platform. The technology is a big selling point for the global food industry to identify counterfeit ingredients and to trace the source of contamination during product recalls. Michigan State University estimated fraud costs the global food industry as much as $40-billion a year. In August, IBM said it's working with a group of companies including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Nestle SA, Tyson Foods Inc., Unilever NV and McCormick & Co. to identify ways they can incorporate blockchain. In most food-supply chains, "it might take weeks to figure out where it went from source to destination," and in some cases, the source may not be known, Arvind Krishna, IBM director of research, said at a Dec. 5 technology conference in Park City, Utah. "On a blockchain, it takes just seconds." More are joining in. JD.com Inc., China's second-largest e-commerce platform, Wal-Mart, IBM and Tsinghua University said Thursday they'll work together to create a blockchain-based system for collecting data about the origin, safety and authenticity of food. De Beers is investing in a blockchain platform that traces the origin of diamonds in a bid to boost confidence in an industry that has been marred by the sale of gems from war zones. "Now more than ever, consumers expect to know more about their luxury goods, the route they have traveled, their authenticity, and whether they have been a force for good in the world," Bruce Cleaver, chief executive officer of De Beers, said in a blog post on the company's website. Blockchain also is becoming a key tool for shipping companies. AP Moller-Maersk A/S in March disclosed a ledger system with IBM that will help manage and track the paper trail of tens of millions of shipping containers. About $16-trillion of physical raw materials are transported around the planet each year, and better tracking offers the promise of big reductions in record-keeping costs. Current spending on documentation alone accounts for 7 per cent of global trade, according to the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. Still, widespread adoption of blockchain systems may take a while because the transition to new systems will be disruptive and requires some investment. There's also concern about the potential risk of putting all that data online. In July, CoinDash, a blockchain technology startup, said its website was hacked and $7-million was stolen from investors trying to participate in the company's initial coin offering. In November, Tether Ltd. disclosed on its website that a "malicious" attacker swiped $31-million in tokens and sent them to an unauthorized bitcoin address. "So many things could go wrong," said Peter Thomas, a senior vice president in Chicago for Zaner Group LLC, a commodity trader. "Before I have faith in it, we're going to have to see it work for a while." Blockchain "brings some much-needed innovation" in an industry where the current process has been "paper and labor intensive," Arnaud Stevens, Natixis' New York-based head of global energy & commodities, said when the new system was announced in March. European utility companies Enel SpA and RWE AG joined a project to test blockchain-based trades in wholesale power and natural gas markets. TenneT Holding BV is looking at the technology to manage power grids that are preparing to accommodate the growing volume of renewable energy. Vemanti Group Inc. said Dec. 12 it will invest in a Singapore-based company developing a blockchain-based platform energy trading. There was even a proposal this month by the president of Venezuela, where the domestic currency is in freefall because of economic sanctions and a long recession, of creating digital petrocurrencies backed by the country's reserves of oil, gas, gold and diamonds. This week, a group announced plans to use blockchain to create OilCoin, a U.S.-government regulated digital currency that would be backed by crude. Consumers could also benefit from wider adoption of the technology. In Thailand, power producer BCPG Pcl said last month it plans to use the blockchain to allow customers who produce energy through solar rooftops to engage in internet-based energy trading. "The potential is huge to increase efficiency and to create value propositions," said Harry Smit, a Utrecht-based analyst at Rabobank. "Once you've established blockchain and it's working, you will see faster changes, because then the transformation of the value chain becomes an option."

This Amendment amends and restates our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in Part I, Item 1. "Financial Statements" for the three and six months ended and as of June 30, 2018 to recognize certain revenue from a license agreement that was not recognized previously. Accordingly, the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth below reflects the effects of this restatement. You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis, particularly with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should read "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on our proprietary ProCellEx(R) protein expression system. We developed our first commercial drug product, Elelyso(R), using our ProCellEx system and we are now focused on utilizing the system to develop a pipeline of proprietary, clinically superior versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that primarily target large, established pharmaceutical markets and that in most cases rely upon known biological mechanisms of action. With our experience to date, we believe ProCellEx will enable us to develop additional proprietary recombinant proteins that are therapeutically superior to existing recombinant proteins currently marketed for the same indications including applying the unique properties of our ProCellEx system for the oral delivery of therapeutic proteins. On October 19, 2017, Protalix Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary, and Chiesi entered into the Chiesi Agreement pursuant to which Chiesi was granted an exclusive license for all markets outside of the United States to commercialize pegunigalsidase alfa. Pegunigalsidase alfa is our chemically modified version of the recombinant protein alpha-Galactosidase-A protein that is currently being evaluated in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of Fabry disease. Under the terms and conditions of the Chiesi Agreement, Protalix Ltd. retained the right to commercialize pegunigalsidase alfa in the United States. Under the Chiesi Agreement, Chiesi made an upfront payment to Protalix Ltd. of $25.0 million in connection with the execution of the agreement and Protalix Ltd. is entitled to additional payments of up to $25.0 million in development costs, capped at $10.0 million per year. Protalix Ltd. is also eligible to receive an additional up to $320.0 million, in the aggregate, in regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Protalix Ltd. agreed to manufacture all of the PRX-102 needed for all purposes under the agreement, subject to certain exceptions, and Chiesi will purchase pegunigalsidase alfa from Protalix, subject to certain terms and conditions. Chiesi is required to make tiered payments of 15% to 35% of its net sales, depending on the amount of annual sales, as consideration for the supply of pegunigalsidase alfa. On July 23, 2018, Protalix Ltd. entered into an Exclusive License and Supply Agreement with Chiesi, or the Chiesi U.S. Agreement, with respect to the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa in the United States. Under the terms of the Chiesi U.S. Agreement, Protalix Ltd. granted to Chiesi exclusive licensing rights for the commercialization of PRX-102 in the United States. Protalix Ltd. is entitled to an upfront, non-refundable, non-creditable payment of $25.0 million from Chiesi and additional payments of up to a maximum of $20.0 million to cover development costs for PRX-102, subject to a maximum of $7.5 million per year. Protalix Ltd. is also eligible to receive an additional up to a maximum of $760.0 million, in the aggregate, in regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Chiesi will also make tiered payments of 15% to 40% of its net sales to Protalix Ltd., depending on the amount of annual sales, subject to certain terms and conditions, as consideration for product supply. In December 2017, the European Commission granted Orphan Drug Designation for pegunigalsidase alfa for the treatment of Fabry disease. The designation was granted after the European Medicine Agency's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, or the COMP, issued a positive opinion supporting the designation noting that we had established that there was medically plausible evidence that pegunigalsidase alfa will provide a significant benefit over existing approved therapies in the European Union for the treatment of Fabry disease. The COMP cited clinical and non-clinical justifications we provided to establish the significant benefit of pegunigalsidase alfa, noting that the COMP considered the justifications to constitute a clinically relevant advantage. Orphan Drug Designation for pegunigalsidase alfa qualifies Protalix Ltd. for access to a centralized marketing authorization procedure, including applications for inspections and for protocol assistance. If the orphan drug designation is maintained at the time pegunigalsidase alfa is approved for marketing in the European Union, if at all, we expect that PRX-102 will benefit from 10 years of market exclusivity within the European Union. The market exclusivity will not have any effect on Fabry disease treatments already approved at that time. In January 2018, the FDA granted Fast Track designation to PRX-102. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs and vaccines for serious conditions that fill an unmet medical need. On May 1, 2012, the FDA approved for sale our first commercial product, taliglucerase alfa for injection, an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for the long-term treatment of adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of type 1 Gaucher disease. Subsequently, taliglucerase alfa was approved for marketing by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Taliglucerase alfa is marketed under the name alfataliglicerase in Brazil and certain other Latin American countries, and under the name Elelyso in other territories. Since its approval by the FDA, taliglucerase alfa has been marketed by Pfizer, as provided in the Pfizer Agreement. In October 2015, we entered into the Amended Pfizer Agreement which amends and restates the Pfizer Agreement in its entirety. Pursuant to the Amended Pfizer Agreement, we sold to Pfizer our share in the collaboration created under the initial Pfizer Agreement for the commercialization of Elelyso in exchange for a cash payment equal to $36.0 million. As part of the sale, we agreed to transfer our rights to Elelyso in Israel to Pfizer, while gaining full rights to Elelyso in Brazil. We will continue to manufacture drug substance for Pfizer, subject to certain terms and conditions. Under the Amended Pfizer Agreement, Pfizer is responsible for 100% of expenses, and entitled to all revenues globally for Elelyso, excluding Brazil, where we are responsible for all expenses and retain all revenues. For the first 10-year period after the execution of the Amended Pfizer Agreement, we have agreed to sell drug substance to Pfizer for the production of Elelyso, and Pfizer maintains the right to extend the supply period for up to two additional 30-month periods subject to certain terms and conditions. Any failure to comply with our supply commitments may subject us to substantial financial penalties, which will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. The Amended Pfizer Agreement also includes customary provisions regarding cooperation for regulatory matters, patent enforcement, termination, indemnification and insurance requirements. On June 18, 2013, we entered into the Brazil Agreement with Fiocruz, an arm of the Brazilian MoH, for taliglucerase alfa. In 2017, we received a purchase order from the Brazilian MoH for the purchase of approximately $24.3 million of alfataliglicerase for the treatment of Gaucher patients in Brazil. The purchase order consists of a number of shipments in increasing volumes. Shipments started in June 2017. Fiocruz's purchases of alfataligliceraseto date have been significantly below certain agreed upon purchase milestones and, accordingly, we have the right to terminate the Brazil Agreement. Notwithstanding, we are, at this time, continuing to supply alfataligliceraseto Fiocruz under the Brazil Agreement, and patients continue to be treated with alfataliglicerasein Brazil. We are discussing with Fiocruz potential actions that Fiocruz may take to comply with its purchase obligations and, based on such discussions, we will determine what we believe to be the course of action that is in our best interest. (1) pegunigalsidase alfa, or PRX-102, a therapeutic protein candidate for the treatment of Fabry disease, a rare, genetic lysosomal disorder in humans, currently in an ongoing phase III clinical trial. (2) alidornase alfa, or PRX-110, a proprietary plant cell recombinant human Deoxyribonuclease 1 under development for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, or CF, to be administered by inhalation. We recently completed a phase IIa efficacy and safety study of alidornase alfa for the treatment of CF. (3) OPRX-106, our oral antiTNF product candidate which is being developed as an orally-delivered anti-inflammatory treatment using plant cells as a natural capsule for the expressed protein. We released final data generated in our phase II clinical trial of OPRX-106 for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in March 2018.Additional data was released in June 2018. We have licensed the rights to commercialize taliglucerase alfa worldwide (other than Brazil) to Pfizer, and the rights to commercialize pegunigalsidase alfa worldwide to Chiesi. Otherwise, we hold the worldwide commercialization rights to our other proprietary development candidates. In addition, we continuously evaluate potential strategic marketing partnerships as well as collaboration programs with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and academic research institutes. Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements appearing in this Quarterly Report. There have not been any changes to our significant accounting policies since we filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, except for recognition of revenue from license agreements that was not recognized previously. We used a significant estimate in order to determine the cost expected to be incurred upon satisfying the identified performance obligation. The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which we prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate such estimates and judgments, including those described in greater detail below. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. All of our outstanding convertible notes are accounted for using the guidance set forth in FASB ASC 815 which requires that we determine whether the embedded conversion option must be separated and accounted for separately. ASC 470-20, regarding debt with conversion and other options, requires the issuer of a convertible debt instrument that may be settled in cash upon conversion to separately account for the liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer's nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. Our outstanding 7.50% secured convertible promissory notes due 2021, or the 2016 Notes, were accounted for partially as liability and equity components of the instrument and partially as a debt host contract with an embedded derivative resulting from the conversion feature. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the embedded derivative was reclassified to additional paid in capital. Issuance costs regarding the issuance of the 2016 Notes are amortized using the effective interest rate. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, note holders converted $1.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2016 Notes into a total of 1,338,707 shares of our common stock, and cash payments of approximately $11,668, in the aggregate. In addition, in June 2018, we exchanged $3.42 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 4.50% convertible promissory notes due 2018, or the 2013 Notes, for 2,613,636 shares of our common stock and approximately $2.2 million in cash, and delivered the necessary funds under the indenture governing the 2013 Notes, which was $2.5 million, to effectively discharge the remaining outstanding 2013 Notes. As of June 30, 2018, a total of $58.1 million aggregate principal amount of the 2016 Notes were outstanding. In addition, as of June 30, 2018, all of the 2013 Notes outstanding have been effectively discharged. We recorded revenues of $2.0 million during the three months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $4.4 million from revenues of $6.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease resulted from the decrease in the amount of drug substance sold to Pfizer and drug product sold to Brazil. We recorded revenues of $2.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Revenues from the license agreements represent the revenues we recognized in connection with the Chiesi Agreement. Cost of goods sold was $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $3.3 million from cost of revenues of $5.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease resulted primarily from decreased sales of drug substance to Pfizer and drug product to Brazil. Research and development expenses were $7.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 20%, from $9.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. We expect research and development expenses for our various development programs to continue to be our primary expense. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $656,000, or 23%, from $2.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease of $393,000 in sales expenses. Financial expenses, net were $1.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to financial income net of $11.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. During the three months ended June 30, 2017, financial income included an income of $14.3 million as a result of the re-measurement of the fair value of the 7.50% convertible notes embedded derivative. In addition, financial expenses is composed primarily from interest expense on convertible notes of $1.2 million for the period ended June 30, 2018. We recorded revenues of $6.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $2.7 million, or 29%, from revenues of $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in the amount of drug substance sold to Pfizer and drug product sold to Brazil. We recorded revenues of $5.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018. Revenues from the license agreements represent the revenues we recognized in connection with the Chiesi Agreement. Cost of goods sold was $5.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $2.5 million, or 33%, from cost of revenues of $7.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease resulted primarily from costs related to the production of drug substance sold to Pfizer and drug product sold to Brazil. Research and development expenses was $14.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $509,000, or 3%, from $15.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, a decrease of $695,000, or 13%, from $5.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease of $433,000 in sales expenses. Financial expenses, net were $3.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to financial expenses net of $41.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, financial expenses included a charge of $38.1 million as a result of the re-measurement of the fair value of the 7.5% convertible notes embedded derivative. In addition, financial expenses is composed primarily from interest expense on convertible notes. As a result of our significant research and development expenditures and the lack of significant revenue from sales of taliglucerase alfa, we have incurred operating losses from our continuing operations since our inception. To date, we have funded our operations primarily with proceeds equal to $31.3 million from the sale of shares of convertible preferred and ordinary shares of Protalix Ltd., and an additional $14.1 million in connection with the exercise of warrants issued in connection with the sale of such shares, through December 31, 2008. In addition, on October 25, 2007, we generated gross proceeds of $50.0 million in connection with an underwritten public offering of our common stock and on each of March 23, 2011 and February 22, 2012, we generated gross proceeds of $22.0 million and $27.2 million, respectively, in connection with underwritten public offerings of our common stock. In addition to the foregoing, on September 18, 2013, we completed a private placement of $69.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.50% convertible notes due 2018, including $9.0 million aggregate principal amount of the of 4.50% convertible notes related to the offering's initial purchaser's over-allotment option, which was exercised in full. In December 2016, we completed a private placement of $22.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.50% convertible notes due 2021. Finally, on July 25, 2017, we completed a private placement of an additional $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.50% convertible notes due 2021. Pfizer paid Protalix Ltd. $60.0 million as an upfront payment in connection with the execution of the Pfizer Agreement and subsequently paid to Protalix Ltd. an additional $5.0 million upon Protalix Ltd.'s meeting a milestone. Protalix Ltd. also received a milestone payment of $25.0 million in connection with the FDA's approval of taliglucerase alfa in May 2012. Pfizer has also paid Protalix Ltd. $8.3 million in connection with the successful achievement of milestones under a clinical development agreement between Pfizer and Protalix Ltd. In connection with the execution of the Amended Pfizer Agreement, we received a $36.0 million payment from Pfizer, and Pfizer purchased 5,649,079 shares of our common stock for $10.0 million. In the fourth quarter of 2017, Chiesi made an upfront payment to Protalix Ltd. of $25.0 million in connection with the execution of the Chiesi Agreement. Net cash used in operations was $17.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2018 of $15.7 million was further increased by a $4.0 million increase in accounts receivable and a decrease of $1.3 million in accounts payable and accruals, but was offset by $1.3 million of amortization expenses in connection with the convertible notes and depreciation expenses of $846,000. Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $447,000 and consisted primarily of purchases of property and equipment, and an increase in restricted deposit. Net cash used in financing activities was $4.8 million and included the repayment of convertible notes. Net cash used in operations was $17 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2017 of $58.7 million was further increased by an increase of $3.5 million in accounts receivable and an increase of $1.8 million in inventories, but was partially offset by change of $38 million in the fair value of convertible notes embedded derivative and increase of $5.4 million in accounts payable. Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $969,000 and consisted primarily of purchases of property and equipment and an increase in restricted deposit. Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $11.0 million and consisted primarily of cash settlement for certain conversions of our convertible notes. We expect to continue to incur significant expenditures in the near future, including significant research and development expenses related primarily to the clinical trials of pegunigalsidase alfa. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and commitments will be sufficient for at least 12 months. We have based this estimate on assumptions that are subject to change and may prove to be wrong, and we may be required to use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our product candidates, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures associated with our current and anticipated clinical trials. Our future capital requirements will depend on many other factors, including our progress in commercializing alfataliglicerasein Brazil, the progress and results of our clinical trials, the duration and cost of discovery and preclinical development and laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates, conversions of our outstanding convertible notes from time to time, the timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates, the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights, the number and development requirements of other product candidates that we pursue and the costs of commercialization activities, including product marketing, sales and distribution. We may need to finance our future cash needs through corporate collaboration, licensing or similar arrangements, public or private equity offerings or debt financings. We currently do not have any commitments for future external funding, except with respect to the development-related payments and milestone payments that may become payable under the Chiesi Agreement. We may need to raise additional funds more quickly if one or more of our assumptions prove to be incorrect or if we choose to expand our product development efforts more rapidly than we presently anticipate. We may also decide to raise additional funds even before we need them if the conditions for raising capital are favorable. Any sale of additional equity or debt securities will likely result in dilution to our stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and could also result in covenants that would restrict our operations. Additional equity or debt financing, grants or corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate our research and development programs, reduce our planned commercialization efforts or obtain funds through arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to relinquish rights to certain product candidates that we might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently. Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor and clinical trial costs. We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our results of operations during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017. Currency fluctuations could affect us through increased or decreased acquisition costs for certain goods and services. We do not believe currency fluctuations have had a material effect on our results of operations during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017. We have no off-balance sheet arrangements as of each of June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017.

I shot the music video for my song, "We Are Americans." Between takes while the director was setting up a different camera angle, I was on my mark on the set. I thought, "Wow, can you believe this?" For over a year, I have been seeking the right production company and funding to produce this video. Suddenly, I have a talented director shooting my music video at no expense. Praise God! A production company approached me about having my own TV show; the premiere show is coming soon. For seven years, I have been trying to build a new $30 million dollar arts and performance center in my small town, stifled by Democrat city commissioners who hate me because of my Tea Party involvement. We are not seeking funding from the city, merely their support (permits and etc). As you can imagine, many times over the past seven years, I thought my project was dead. Suddenly, the city is open to working with us. Just as God sent Solomon knowledgeable men to help him build the temple, I have a master developer with 50 years of experience, architects, engineers, attorneys and environmental experts on my team; not costing me a dime. After years of seeming to have to struggle for every move forward, suddenly, things are falling into place without me pressing to make it happen. What has brought me such favor and good fortune? The answer is faithfulness. I did not have a brilliant master plan for success. Year after year, I simply did whatever God put in front of me to do; no matter how big or how small. With maximum preparedness and effort, I walk through each door that "God" opens for me. Brother and sister patriots, this is how we take back America from this tyrannous monster government that is devouring our God-given freedom and liberty. Faithfulness is how we push back the infectious evil pandemic cultural rot carried by this Administration infecting our land; particularly the minds of our children. Regardless of how hopeless and dark things may appear, regardless of how much the Democrats and mainstream media pound on their chest in celebration of the death of the Tea Party, we MUST remain faithful; continue storming the walls of the Obama regime. Come hell or high water, we patriots MUST remain faithful. Keep blogging. Keep writing books. Keep rallying. Keep training conservative candidates. Keep teaching classes on the Constitution. Keep saying, "No!" to political correctness. Keep praying. Keep working to elect conservatives. Keep educating low-info voters to the truth. Keep politically pushing back against the bullying and tyranny of Obama via his political thug henchmen (IRS, DOJ, NSA and etc). When we are faithful, God is faithful to bless what we do. Founding Father, Samuel Adams said it best. "It does not take a majority to prevail...but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." We must remain responsibly "irate"; not passively accepting our president acting like a king, tyranny and government bullying us as the new normal. Patriots, I realize that sometimes you may be weary and discouraged. Please believe me when I say that faithfulness is the key. If we remain faithful, suddenly, we will witness a great turnaround; a restoration of freedom and liberty in America.

The Philosophy Department is located in the Social Sciences and Humanities Building. The UC Davis Philosophy Department is located in the Social Science and Humanities Building, along A Street on the eastern edge of campus. This irregularly-shape building is the largest structure in the area, with two sloped five-story towers sheathed in aluminum. Department offices are in the tan stucco wing on the northeast corner, bordered by A Street and the bicycle path that connects North Quad and Third Street. The main entrance is through the glass door on A Street. The department office is on the first floor, and most faculty offices are on the second floor. The building opens early in the morning and closes shortly after 5:00 P.M. Those approaching from on campus will do best to follow the bicycle path extension of North Quad to the end of the building and turn right just past steps to the lower level. From downtown Davis on foot or cycle, take any of First through Third Streets west to A Street. By car, take First or Second Street west to A Street. From I-80 East, exit at the UC Davis exit and take Old Davis Road to A Street. From I-80 West, exit at Richards Boulevard. Turn right and go under the tunnel. Turn left at First Street (the first street) and proceed to A Street. Visitors may park for a fee in the public lots on campus. The nearest public lot is located on Howard Way, just south of Russell Boulevard. A Street is one-way going north and Third Street is blocked off in a way that provides limited access. There is 15-minute parking next to the building and five one-hour spaces on A Street. All other spaces are reserved for residents of the neighborhood. Beginning at B Street and extending to downtown, two-hour parking is available. Parking regulations are strictly enforced by both the City of Davis and the University of California. Parking near the department is free on weekends and holidays. For more information, see the Transportation and Parking Services site. There are several bicycle racks just outside the department offices. UC Davis police occasionally warn or cite bicyclists whose vehicles do not have a current California license. Motorcycle parking is available on Third Street, just east of A Street.

Why the heck did we start using electronic voting machines anyway? Careful with those wandering eyes, Donald. The crowd did not hold their feelings back. You can snap your ballot.

No matter how much you love going on holidays, the part that comes before it can be quite hectic. Packing, getting the family out of the house and into the cab, running around the airport not to miss your flight can be stressful. ITL World, a leading travel management company, has created a roadmap for inclusion of NDC, a travel industry-supported program launched by Iata for the development and market adoption of a new, XML-based data transmission standard. Twenty-one South African tourism entities and companies will today conclude a roadshow of the Middle East during which they showcased their touristic offerings to the region’s leading outbound travel professionals.

The reason? “I think people realize they might be carrying cash, also they might not report it to police, so I think they become victims of crime more than others…they present a unique opportunity,.” Groomes said. The area, which law enforcement call Police Service Area 302, is bordered by 16th Street NW, Harvard Street NW and Park Place NW, and it’s 31 percent Hispanic. Groomes characterized the incidents as crimes of opportunity, not hate crimes. Didier Sinisterra, deputy director of the Mayor’s Office of Latino Affairs confirmed that the office is working with police to provide information to Latino residents on protecting themselves. . OLA is also encouraging people to open bank accounts, so that they aren’t carrying large amounts of cash. This week, they will be in Mount Pleasant on Friday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The word gentrification is regularly used to describe the process of white people displacing black people in up-and-coming neighborhoods. The cover story of this week’s City Paper goes beyond that stereotype and offers a point of view which isn’t often present in color-coded, nuance-free debates about how areas are changing: that of the black gentrifier. And those of us walking fancy dogs, gawking at fancier renovations, but who happen to look like most of our neighbors, don’t necessarily have better insight into what’s going on around us than the white folks do. The class differences can yawn almost as wide as racial ones—almost. Soon enough, “D.C. will be majority rich people,” Ngongang says. “The statistics of D.C. will match what corporate America looks like.” It stings for a minute, because I’m not quite sure which side of that statistical warning I want to identify with. Speaking of Irving Street nw, just spotted this. My puppy on 14th Street, last spring. Note the prominent poop bags. We scoop! First I blogged about dogs, then I pointed you towards some controversy over a Greater Greater Washington post…funnily enough, this post is about dogs and GGW. A few days ago, Lynda Laughlin wrote a post there called, “Irving Street becomes unofficial dog latrine“. In it, she asks, “how much dog urine is just too much for such a public space?”. That question hit home for me, literally. For those of you who are familiar with this stretch of sidewalk, there is very little green space and the sidewalks are particularly crowded in the morning with commuters going to the Metro or waiting for one of the many buses. With so little green space, dogs pee on the large planters in front of the apartment building, leaving behind noticeable puddles of dog urine. For the dogs that do make it to the tree boxes, they are not the first for the ground is already fairly saturated by 8 am…If you plan to own a dog in a city, shouldn’t you at least consider taking your dog further then just the nearest tree box? I am going to dispute this respectfully, and then I’m going to present a different view, because lost in all the judgment of animals and their owners is one potent fact; dogs can make a neighborhood. Three Kings in the Epiphany Procession in Columbia Heights, 2009. This past Sunday was Epiphany, also celebrated as Three Kings’ Day. Latin American Catholics in the neighborhood (and around the world) celebrate it with a big procession of people dressed as the Three Wise Men, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, and more, complete with donkeys and sheep. The procession goes down 14th and ended with a performance at the Gala Theatre, plus free churros and hot chocolate…The reader says more animals showed up a bit later. Always like to see interesting cultural traditions like this.

RICHMOND, Va. - A bill making its way through the Virginia General Assembly would freeze college tuition for in-state students. Delegate David Reid proposed the bill, saying Virginia families and students should not be going into debt to attend a public college. It would lock in this year's rates, but room and board could still increase. The bill also caps the percentage of non-Virginia students enrolled at each public college for the next four years. The bill passed the Education Committee 17-4 with bipartisan support. The bill will be studied in the Joint Subcommittee to see the fiscal impact it would have on colleges and the Virginia budget.

There have been four incidents of male suspects grabbing or physically harassing female Northwestern students in recent weeks, and one additional incident of two male suspects making disparaging and rude comments to two female students at night. Many students expressed concern over how long it took NUPD to alert students about the crimes. The most recent two incidents occurred on Nov. 13 around 5 p.m., according to an email from NUPD Chief of Police Bruce Lewis. Two female students reported that one male wearing a gray jacket and another male wearing a red jacket, both speaking with distinctive European accents, made several rude and disparaging comments but did not make any physical contact while walking in the 1900 block of Sheridan Rd. At 5:10 p.m., another female student reported that two males in their mid 20's - early 30's made a rude comment and then attempted to grab her as she was walking southbound on Chicago Ave., according to the email. Both incidents are currently being investigated by Evanston police. The first incident reportedly took place Oct. 28 around 10 p.m. at the intersection of Chicago Ave. and Sheridan Rd. Lewis said in a campus-wide email that “a tall white male with blonde hair and a Russian accent” approached a female Northwestern student from behind and grabbed her backpack while saying obscene comments to her. She was able to get away and contact police, but NUPD was not able to find the suspect. The second incident, according to Lewis, occurred on Nov. 4 on University Place near Scott Hall. Lewis said that “a Hispanic male with black hair” grabbed another female Northwestern student from behind. A source close to the witness said that the student was waiting for a friend at the location when this man approached her, making her nervous and prompting her to attempt to walk away before he grabbed her and asked for her phone number. She was also able to get away and contact NUPD. The attacker was identified by this source as 21-year-old Yontan Vazquez (reportedly no Northwestern affiliation). Lewis’s email stated that the suspect was apprehended on account of battery and is now being held in Cook County Jail. The third incident took place past Thursday, Nov. 8, around 5:30 p.m. in South campus – on Hinman Avenue, near Sheridan Road. Another female Northwestern student was reportedly grabbed from behind by “two approximately six-feet-tall males” and she was able to get away. The two men have not been found. While Lewis sent out the two emails detailing the incidents on Nov 8 and 9, students living on South campus said that they learned of the incidents much earlier. Students said that word of the incidents also spread through word of mouth – among friends, RAs, parents and sorority group chats. Medill sophomore Alexa Mikhail, who lives in the sorority quad, said that she originally heard of the incidents via her sorority’s group chat a couple of weeks ago. “I think that it kind of shows badly on how [Northwestern officials] feel on women’s safety when we weren’t actually emailed about these incidents right away,” Mikhail said. Mikhail said that she thinks it should only have taken one incident to prompt the University to notify the entire community, just as it does with emailed reports of crimes such as robberies and break-ins. Mikhail pointed to the fact that Chicago news divisions reported on the issue at a similar time that or even before the University notified students. “I honestly was paranoid. I was very afraid – I was turning around like every two seconds as I’m walking back. ” Mikhail said. “I don’t feel safe on my own campus." She said that one male friend, Weinberg freshman Bobby Read, will take the shuttle or walk with her and that they both check in on each other to make sure that they are both safe. As a member of multiple student organizations on campus that often meet late into the night and early morning, Read said that, even before these incidents occurred, he and his friends have always tried to take precautions while walking home. Now, these precautions have been heightened. “The fact that it’s happened three times in the past almost two and a half weeks has been a real shock and an eye-opener to me,” Read said. After hearing about these incidents, Mikhail said that she has been motivated to take extra precautions, such as carrying pepper spray and walking home with others. “The fact that we have to literally walk around with the button of pepper spray in our hands in case we are attacked coming back from class is just ridiculous,” Mikhail said. Read also commented on the disconcerting nature of these incidents. “I don’t understand why it happens. I don’t understand why people think it’s okay. I don’t understand why males think it’s okay,” Read said. Lewis also encouraged the Northwestern and Evanston communities to help spread awareness of such incidents and to take precautions in order to prevent them from happening again. In response to the incidents, there has been a noticeable boost in the number of NUPD security officers on patrol and students have organized self-defense classes in order to help students, particularly females, to feel safer on campus. “I’m so happy that the women that it happened to spoke up,” Jaffer said. “I’m glad that we’re all aware of it." This story was updated Nov. 13 at 11 p.m. to include additional information about the two new incidents. It was also updated on Nov. 14 at 8:15 p.m. to clarify the time frame in which parents were notified of the crime alerts.

Archives|TOPICS IN WALL STREET.; Irregular Movement of Prices; Curtailment of Public Interest. TOPICS IN WALL STREET.; Irregular Movement of Prices; Curtailment of Public Interest.

Archives|BIG CUT IN FRENCH BUDGET.; May Obviate New Taxes if Approved by Chamber and Senate. BIG CUT IN FRENCH BUDGET.; May Obviate New Taxes if Approved by Chamber and Senate.

Steven Howard's early goal gave Hartlepool a surprise 1-0 victory over Sunderland in their friendly encounter at Victoria Park on Friday. The Black Cats fielded a side with several first-team regulars but fell behind in the eighth minute to the npower League One side when Howard finished from close range. Sunderland were rather subdued in the first half although improved after the interval, with David Meyler shooting just wide from 25 yards. Their best chance of a leveller came when Fraizer Campbell saw his stooping header superbly tipped over the bar by Scott Flinders as Sunderland crashed to their second pre-season defeat. Sunderland's fierce rivals Newcastle got their Trofeu do Guadiana tour under way in unusual circumstances as they and Olympiacos could not be separated - despite a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Steven Taylor, making his first appearance since December due to injury, opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a deflected strike after the Greek champions had failed to clear their lines. Newcastle's hopes of victory increased when Francois Modeste was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 74th minute but Olympiacos claimed an equaliser five minutes later when Kostas Mitroglou fired home from Djamel Abdoun's cut back from the left. The clash then went to penalties, but even then the teams could not be separated after five penalties each, with Papiss Cisse missing for the Barclays Premier League outfit by blazing over the bar while Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul saved Andeas Tatos' effort in a 4-4 stalemate.

Investigation to cover the violence that erupted after the disputed November 28 election. The United Nations has named a team of human rights experts who are to investigate alleged rights abuses in Ivory Coast. The move follows the capture of Laurent Gbagbo, whose refusal to quit the presidency after losing it led to conflict in the west African country. The UN has reportedly uncovered 536 bodies in the west of Ivory Coast since the end of March and it is believed that a further 400 people died as a result of fighting in Abidjan, the commercial capital, even before the most recent fighting there. The investigation is to cover the period since the November 28, 2010 election which Gbagbo lost, according to UN-certified results. The disputed election erupted into violence with Gbagbo and his supporters facing off against Alassane Ouattara, who has international backing as the poll winner and Ivory Coast's president-elect. Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses in the conflict. But Issiaka Konate, a spokesman for Ouattara in London, has insisted that of the violence that occured in the aftermath of the election "there's only one person responsible ... and the whole world knows that it's Mr Gbagbo". "Had Mr Gbagbo stepped down peacefully, so many things that happened after the election wouldn't have happened," he told Al Jazeera. Gbagbo was captured by Ouattara's forces on Monday, but sporadic clashes involving heavy weapons continue to rock Abidjan. The fighting was heard in areas largely loyal to Gbagbo, the central Plateau district and Cocody in the north, as pro-Ouattara forces tried to return the city to normalcy after 10 days of bitter street battles. Following Gbago's capture, Ouattara called for calm and promised a South Africa-style truth and reconciliation commission. "I call on my fellow countrymen to abstain from all forms of reprisal and violence," he said in a speech on his TCI television, calling for "a new era of hope". But the Associated Press reported a spate of reprisal killings on Tuesday, and quoted a catholic priest in the port of San Pedro as saying parishioners had reported the kidnappings of dozens of young men. Gbagbo, who is being held in Abidjan's Golf Hotel, where Ouattara has been living since the disputed election, also spoke briefly on Ouattara's TCI television, calling for an end to the fighting. Jendayi Frazer, a former US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told Al Jazeera that Ouattara's key goal should now be to ensure Gbagbo's supporters could be brought on side. "He has to restore the economy quickly, and most importantly he has to reach out to Gbagbo's supporters and try to forge the kind of political agreement that will allow the security environment to return to some sense of normalcy," she said. "It's going to be hard, and that is where the role of the United Nations is going to be so important." In a potential boost to Ouattara's legitimacy, army chiefs who fought for Gbagbo pledged their loyalty to him, according to TCI television. The channel said that Philippe Mangou, Gbagbo's former army chief of staff, as well as "all the generals of the ground, air and navy forces" had sworn their loyalty to Ouattara. Frazer said that with Gbagbo removed from power, Ivory Coast had strong economic prospects. "The international community is moving rapidly to remove the sanctions [against Ivory Coast] to restart economic activity there ... there's tremendous opportunity and there will be a lot of good will politically," she told Al Jazeera. French troops are said to have led Gbagbo's capture and in Paris on Tuesday a spokesman for Gbagbo accused French special forces of carrying out a coup in its former colony on behalf of Ouattara. "It was a coup d'etat which had no other aim but to gain control of the resources of Ivory Coast," Alain Toussaint told reporters. "Gbagbo was captured by French special forces, who took him to the Golf Hotel." foot in his compound despite having bombarded it from the air. "Not a single French soldier set foot in his residence," Francois Fillion, the French prime minister, told parliament. "The priority is now reconciliation and reconstruction, it's a victory for the rule of law, for democracy and for the United Nations mission in Ivory Coast," he said, brushing off critics of France's role in the conflict. He also said that there was no reason for French forces to remain in Ivory Coast over the long term. "Licorne has no call to remain in Ivory Coast," he said, referring to the French force in the country. France has 1,700 troops in Ivory Coast and there is a large French community in major Ivorian cities. The French defence minister, Gerard Longuet, said his ministry would scale back its forces after the capture of Gbagbo to a "few hundred men" but gave no timetable.

Waiakea High School was runner-up to champion Punahou at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association 2011 David S. Ishii Foundation Golf Championships at Waikoloa Village Golf Course. The University of Hawaii at Hilo is headed to Florence, Ala. for the NCAA Division II Men’s National Championship following a fifth-place finish at the Central/West Regional in Albuquerque, NM. Russ Cochran backed up his 10-under 62 yesterday with a 7-under 65 on Saturday and leads defending champion Tom Watson by two strokes after 36 holes of the Champions Tour’s season-opening event. Cochran’s two-round total of 17-under 127 matches the tournament record set by Don Pooley (63-64) in 2006. Results and groupings for round three.

The fact that the now deposed Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidency set the standard so deplorably low for good governance and democracy should not deter the Sri Lankan public from demanding that the incumbent Government fulfill election pledges to the highest extent demonstrable. We should not lapse into a mindset of settling for less purely due to the undeniably nightmarish possibility of a Rajapksa-return, with its minders now eagerly waiting and watching in the wings. Indeed, it is only if the Sirisena Government fails that this eventuality will arise in any event. There is therefore a grave need for judicious pressure to be exerted to ensure that such failure is averted. In 1994, when an equally exuberant democratic wave swept the Chandrika Kumaratunga government into power, many who contributed to that victory made the cardinal mistake of being co-opted into the new dispensation. The end result was inevitable. One monumental mistake after the other by the Kumaratunga Presidency was met with little resistance as critical pressure had subsided. Ultimately when highly honourable judges were bypassed for judicial appointments under her watch due to a perceived difficulty ‘to control them’, the mewling response from Colombo’s intellectual community was pitiful. In the wake of the January 2015 elections, it is therefore encouraging to see ordinary voters contributing to an energetic media discourse on our democratic destiny. To hear songs of democracy and freedom on the national airwaves and to hear the unequivocal rejection of abusive and racist mentalities cultivated by Rajapaksa propagandists is exhilarating. The opening up of critical spaces and the shifting of the debate from elitist forums to the wider public along with citizen empowerment is therefore most significant. Yet the differences between the deposed regime and its ‘Maithri’ successor are less certain than what we would like them to be. There are undoubtedly positive features such as the disavowing of ostentation and financial wastage, the conciliatory tone taken with the North’s provincial administration, relief measures given to the people and the dismissal of a ‘war mentality’ which had paralyzed the Sri Lankan people. Nonetheless, with the exception of the Rajapaksas and their grossly corrupt inner family, the old political guard and its supporters appear to have been absorbed into the new dispensation at various levels. This somewhat unsettling trend has serious implications for the credibility of the new administration. What perchance happened to all those documents documenting corruption which UNP parliamentarians were frantically waving around prior to the elections? Certainly there are discernible oddities. For example, an anti-corruption committee is appointed while the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (not the Government) and trade unions traipse to court and to the Bribery Commission. Yet corrupt heads of public corporations remain in their positions, some continuing to hold as many as three or four chairmanships. Arrests are not evidenced even though two weeks have passed since the elections. Urgent priorities are the cleansing of the public service, the higher judiciary and the Bribery or Corruption Commission, (the chair of which has himself been accused of corruption) as well as giving justice to Tamil detainees who languish in prisons without charges being filed. The new Government has yet to move firmly on all these fronts. Specific constitutional procedures apply when unsuitability to hold the office of the Chief Justice is evidenced. Quite apart from ongoing investigations into charges of treason, judicial misbehaviour on the part of the incumbent has been alleged for some time. Rather than twiddling one’s thumbs and expecting a resignation, adherence to the law must be evidenced through amended Standing Orders ensuring due process unlike in 2013. One does not need a two-thirds majority for this. Agreeing to give diplomatic positions (as reported) to go quietly into the night sets a distasteful precedent. As repeatedly observed in these column spaces, the Bar must chart a sterner course of action. Parroting calls for resignation serves little purpose. The same logic applies to the members of the Bribery or Corruption Commission whose removal is akin to members of the higher judiciary. Merely changing the Director General does not suffice. At the height of the post-election euphoria, Parliament should have been summoned by the President for this purpose. The House should have ceaselessly sat thereafter. And again, wheeler dealers behind nefarious Rajapaksa politicians have yet not been dealt with. A misconception prevails that the existing legal framework is inadequate to deal with corruptors. Sri Lanka’s Commission on Bribery or Corruption (Act, No 19 of 1994) was conceived of in a similarly hopeful political era. It contains a powerful and imaginatively conceptualized definition of what constitutes corruption. Undoubtedly, an even better law may be framed in later months. At least, the Commission may be enabled to act suo moto with a dedicated investigative force, its financial independence secured and its reach expanded. But nonetheless, immediate action can be taken under the law as it exists presently. While restoration of the 17th Amendment and implementation of ‘Maithri’ pledges in regard to the Executive Presidency remain pivotal, procrastination in applying the existing law will inevitably impact on the Government’s performance within its 100 day campaign. So early warning signals currently being issued by an ominous groundswell of public opinion needs to be hearkened to by this Government. January 2015 must not be another squandered opportunity. While abstaining from political witch-hunts is well and good, there must be accountability demonstrated. Again, the problem is that many proverbial ‘bad eggs’ in the previous regime also form part of the current dispensation. In the end result, the due operation of the law was the electoral lynch-pin on which the ‘Maithri’ campaign pinned its hopes. Sri Lanka’s voters heeded that call, irrespective of majority and minority ethnicity. The Sirisena Government will be assessed and judged on this measure. The new Indo-Lanka equation — what was India’s role?

The National Highways Authority awarded in mid-October six contracts for the construction of a 484-kilometre highway linking Khartoum, Haiya and Port Sudan. Two construction contracts and one construction supervision contract were also awarded to local and international firms for a new 278-kilometre paved road between Haiya and Atbara. China’s CICOwas awarded the contract to build a 150-kilometre section of the new road, while a joint venture between Progressive Constructionand Larsen &Toubro, both of India, and the local TLCis to build a second 128-kilometre section. The contracts are for the construction and paving with asphalt of a seven-metre-wide road with hard shoulders. It also includes the construction of bridges, crossings, drainage and other auxiliary works. The supervising engineer for both projects is a joint venture between the local Ashraf & Salah Consulting Engineers (SAC) and Kuwait’s Associated Engineering Partnership. The new road will cut about 300 kilometres off the 1,172-kilometre journey between Khartoum and Port Sudan. The link between the two cities will be completed with the strengthening of the existing 206-kilometre road between Haiya and Port Sudan. The Egyptian contractor El-Nasr General Contracting Company (Hassan Allam),together with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Mobty for Trading & Contracting Company,was awarded in mid-October the contract to upgrade the road. The joint venture will lay a 50-millemetre-thick asphalt layer over the existing road and strengthen the shoulders and side slopes. The contractor is also required to upgrade drainage and widen some parts of the road. The supervising consultant for the rehabilitation work is a company identified as the local Technon, with Lebanon’s Khatib & Alami. The $120 million project is scheduled for completion in early 2006. The scheme is 70 per cent funded by an $90 million, 25-year loan from the Kuwait-based Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. The remaining $30 million is from the government. The design consultant for the entire project was a team of the local Newtech with Jordan’s Consolidated Consultants. El-Nasr has also been awarded the contract to build the Egyptian portion of a 280-kilometre highway along the Red Sea from the Egyptian border to Port Sudan. News of the award came after Khartoum and Cairo signed on 2 November an agreement to build the road, which will be the first asphalted road between the two countries. Funding for the $88 million scheme will be split equally between the two governments. The Sudan section will be built by a joint venture between Higlieg Petroleumand Lukluk, both local.

Deborah Harry has given her blessing to Kirsten Dunst‘s portrayal of her in a forthcoming Blondie biopic. The Blondie frontwoman backed the actress after bloggers reportedly criticised the choice of Dunst for the role. “I’ve met with [Dunst] a couple of times and hung out with her socially. She’s just a sweetie,” Harry told Spinner. The Michael Gondry-directed film is currently in pre-production. Meanwhile, Harry is about to embark on a solo US tour in support of ‘Necessary Evil’ – her first solo album in 14 years.

Farewells are never easy, but after 152 years in business it's time for Kirkcaldie and Stains to say goodbye. It's a store that has maintained many of its traditions, including the reintroduction of a doorman in 1998, Christmas windows and as always, a strong emphasis on quality customer service. Sonia Sly finds out what life has been like for some of the longest standing members of staff and what they'll miss about the iconic Wellington store. There might be three Santa’s all up, but only two work on any given day, and they alternate in one-hour blocks. Professional Santas have it down like Christmas clockwork. What will happen to these Santas when Kirkcaldie and Stains shuts its doors after a 152-year reign in Wellington? Promotions manager Lyn Tait says there have been challenges in staying current while maintaining the store’s heritage brand in an ever-changing retail market. The store is renowned for embracing Christmas, but this year they debated as to whether they would even do a final Christmas window. As a parting gift to Wellington, they have. Tait points to the bare shelves and areas of dwindling stock sitting nestled amidst rows of lush green trees with shiny red baubles. She’s sad to say goodbye to the store, which has played a large part of her life over the past 28 years. It’s like family. Buyer Mary Gray feels the same: she’s the longest-standing member of staff at the department store. With 35-years of experience on the shop floor, she has witnessed a shift from the days of using Lamson tubes (to send money upstairs) to the implementation of modern tills. The transition from old to new won’t just be a drastic change for the staff, says doorman Neville Wellbourn. Wellbourn has been with the company for a decade. Will he miss the green and red uniform? He shares a secret: he’ll be making make the transition from old to new, too; swapping his green and red trimmed coat and matching top hat for a brand spanking new suit. That’s as much as Wellbourn can disclose for now. For those customers who will miss the old store and seeing Wellbourn in his Kirkcaldie colours, there is currently a cardboard cutout of the doorman with a space where his face goes, so customer can take a final snap as a keepsake. For old time’s sake.

Kenya plans to shut a refugee camp that is home to nearly a quarter of a million people, mostly Somalis, in the next few months. The three-decade-old Dadaab camp in eastern Kenya would be closed by the end of August under the Kenyan plan, according to an internal UN document seen by AFP. The note, which was dated February 19, asked the UNHCR "to expedite relocation of the refugees and asylum-seekers residing therein". An aid worker in Dadaab, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that all international organisations were aware of a plan to close the camp, but the "government is keeping it low-profile". Dadaab was considered the world's largest refugee camp, with at its peak some 580,000 refugees. The largest camp is now Cox's Bazaar in Bangladesh, home to about 600,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled neighbouring Myanmar. Dadaab now shelters about 230,000 people, the vast majority of them Somalis who fled across the border following the outbreak of civil war in 1991. Many have lived there ever since. In May 2016, the government unilaterally decided to close the camp, saying it was a terrorist training ground for Al Shabab militants based in Somalia. However, many encountered drought, hunger and dire conditions in a country where 5 million lack enough food and where African and Somali forces are still fighting Al Qaeda-aligned Al Shabab militants. Amnesty International said it had documented government officials threatening refugees and telling them they had to leave, "raising serious questions about whether returns were voluntary". Then in February 2017, Kenya's High Court ruled the plan to close the camp was unconstitutional, violated Kenya's international obligations and amounted to the persecution of refugees. Since sending troops into neighbouring Somalia in 2011, Kenya has come under repeated attack from Al Shabab militants. The government has presented Dadaab as a security risk, saying Somali Islamists inside the camp planned the Shabab attacks at Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall in 2013 and the Garissa university attack in 2015, though it has not provided evidence.

The oil marketing companies (OMCs) have decided to defer recovery of loan amount from Ujjwala beneficiaries for next six refills starting from April 01, 2018. Keeping in line with the spirit of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme and the centre’s goal to achieve universal LPG penetration by 2022, the oil marketing companies (OMCs) have decided to defer recovery of loan amount from Ujjwala beneficiaries for next six refills starting from April 1, 2018. The deferment of loan recovery, upto to six refills would be implemented as per the guidelines. The scheme would be applicable for all the existing PMUY LPG connections who have availed loan for stove or first LPG cost from the OMCs. All PMUY customers who have outstanding loan, as on March 31, 2018, will have a deferred recovery of the outstanding amount up to six LPG refills. Besides, all new consumers who will be enrolled after April 01 will also have a deferred recovery of the outstanding loan amount. The loan deferment scheme, along with other OMC initiatives such as PM LPG Panchayats (peer learning platforms to support behavior change in Ujjwala beneficiaries) will boost the LPG refill consumption by PMUY customers and facilitate usage of cleaner fuel. It would provide a big push to the country’s progress towards sustainable development goals. About 70 percent of the PMUY customers have availed interest free loan facility provided by OMCs towards financing LPG stove and/or first LPG cost. Under the scheme, OMCs are recovering the subsidy amount provided on subsequent refills from beneficiaries who have taken loan and adjusting the same towards the repayment of the loan. Hence 70 percent Ujjwala beneficiaries purchase refills at market price until their loan is paid back. Paying the market price for the initial few refills is an additional hurdle that was coming in the way of their shift towards cleaner fuel.

Bargain book sale, Sunday November 24 to Saturday November 30 while stocks last. On Friday November 29 and Saturday November 30 fill a bag for $2. Auckland Libraries purchases more than half a million items in a variety of formats each year, providing a range of quality books for library users of all ages. Our 55 branches have around 3.5 million items and issue more than 17 million items each year. Librarians assess our collections regularly and deselect material that is worn, damaged, or out of date. Librarians will also remove Items from the collection if they become less popular with our customers. While the library retains a few copies of dated material in collections like the stacks of the Central City Library, other copies are withdrawn and offered for sale to the public. Twice a year the Central City Library holds a bargain book sale to offer the public the opportunity to purchase withdrawn materials. Withdrawn materials are in good condition but are no longer needed and include adult fiction and non-fiction, magazines, community languages, children’s books, teens books, and a small amount of sheet music and CDs. While Auckland Libraries holds regular book sales, we also provide withdrawn materials to retirement homes, preschools, prisons, Pacific Island schools, and other libraries. We also provide support for charities, including the Variety Club of New Zealand and Lions Clubs New Zealand, through the donation of withdrawn material.

Manchester United put their impressive recent record against Arsenal on the line on Saturday night with Sir Alex Ferguson admitting nothing can be taken for granted by his misfiring side. Barclays Premier League defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool have left the Red Devils licking their wounds this week and another reverse at Old Trafford would represent the first time the Red Devils have lost three games on the trot since May 2001. And despite United having lost just one of their last 10 meetings with the Gunners, Ferguson said: "Matches against Arsenal are always hard and competitive. You hope to perform properly in these games and our recent record is an indication that we have done that." He added: "But you don't take anything for granted because when two good teams meet each other you want to be the better team on the day." United will be weakened by the absence of up to 10 senior players, including Nani, who suffered a serious gash to his leg in a challenge with Liverpool's Jamie Carragher at Anfield on Sunday. Many observers felt the tackle warranted a red card and Carragher apologised immediately after the game. Ferguson kept his own counsel after imposing a media ban and, even though he was not interested in getting involved in a debate on the matter on Friday, his one remark showed the depth of feeling. "It was a disgraceful tackle, we know that, but you just move on," he said.

A SWANAGE woman aims to raise awareness of a little-known form of dementia a year after her beloved husband went missing from their home. Gerald Turner suffers from Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and, despite a huge search effort, has not been seen since he left their property in Church Hill in the early hours of Sunday, March 4, last year. His wife, Jane Pierette Turner, has joined forces with friends to create a band to raise awareness of the daily struggle faced by those with Lewy Body Dementia and their carers. The band, The Doolallys, aims to raise money to start a new project to allow sufferers and their carers to meet up for respite, crafts or music projects. LBD causes a progressive decline in mental abilities and symptoms include visual hallucinations, changes in attention, slow movement and tremors. Mrs Turner told the Daily Echo: “Gerry, alas, has not been found. It has been a difficult time for myself to say the least and also for family, friends and this small town where Gerry grew up. “We would like to create a space for carers of LBD to be able to take the person they are caring for with them. People with LBD still have their memory and get very frustrated and upset in other dementia groups when they are separated from their carers. “The idea is to help look after the carers so they can do their caring with more knowledge, insight and understanding of the needs of the LBD victims. Mrs Turner hopes to set up a support group in the Swanage and Wareham area and is holding a launch event at Harmans Cross Hall at 2.30pm on Sunday March 10. Tickets will be available on the door. Mr Turner was 67-years-old when he went missing and had early onset LBD. His wife said she was fortunate to be young enough to look after him but added: “After a while I was on my knees heading for a breakdown.

Have a happy and safe Halloween, everybody! The Rookie Doesn’t Know a Trade!?!?!? Stay clear of the morning zombies! Why do we do what we do? What does it take to be a good firefighter? How can we do it better? Safer?

OVERTON (ABC News) -- Two young sisters with an "entrepreneurial spirit" set up a lemonade stand in Overton, Texas, to raise money for their dad's Father's day gift, their mom said. But Andria and Zoey Green's business closed abruptly Monday after police came by to tell them their stand was illegal without a city Peddler's Permit, according to Overton Police Department Chief Clyde Carter. "It's illegal to sell lemonade without a permit," Carter told ABC News today. "But we didn't tell them to shut down, we just asked them to get a permit." The girls' mother, Sandi Evans, said they went to try to get a Peddler's Permit at City Hall, but found out they'd have to get licensed by the Rusk County Health Department before being allowed a Peddler's Permit. The Rusk County Health Department did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for additional information including specific details about the process for getting a permit to sell lemonade. "Once we found out everything we would have to go through, we just decided to stop technically selling the lemonade," Evans told ABC News today. "The girls are still going to have the stand, but they're just going to ask for donations instead." Andria, 8, and Zoey, 7, are going to open up stand again Saturday, and a lot of locals and even people outside the community are planning on coming to support them, she added. Chief Carter told ABC News that asking for donations for lemonade isn't illegal and isn't a problem. After news stations covered the story, many businesses have showed support for the girls in the form of donations and freebies, their mom said. "We received free passes to Splash Kingdom, where the girls wanted to take their dad for Father's Day," Evans said. "We got them from the owners of the theme park and then again from a radio station." The girls have also collected $200 in donations after they temporarily closed up shop, Evans added. "We do have so many positives coming out of this, and since I don't feel right keeping the money now that they got their dad's gift for free, we're going to give away the extra tickets and set up scholarships with the donations they've collected," she said. "We're going to give the scholarship to a local graduating high school senior majoring in business management."

Mike Ashley files accounts for his group of companies | City A.M. Mike Ashley's businesses generated nearly £3bn of revenues during the year to April 2015 latest filings at Companies House have shown. The Newcastle United owner consolidates his business operations into MASH Holdings Ltd - a company in which he is the sole shareholder. Its financial statements were filed on 27 July 2016. Ashley took out further lending in May 2016 in the form of an overdraft of £50m with HSBC that was guaranteed by MASH Holdings. Ashley increased like for like revenues by nearly £450m. However profit before tax fell from £543m to £410m. The financial statements showed that the majority owner of Sports Direct consolidated his cash and lending positions. At the end of 2014 he had £380m cash against loans outstanding of £417m - the majority of which was due to be repaid within a year. This was restructured to cash of £180m and loans of £197m. Although no reconciliation is provided, in a separate note it is disclosed that the company had forward currency contracts that were valued at £92m, an increase of £88m from the previous year. The statements acknowledge both the appointment of new manager Rafa Benitez and the relegation to the second tier of English football under post balance sheet events notes.

CBCB, a long standing Berkeley based medical cannabis dispensary. The Bloom Room, a premier San Francisco medical cannabis dispensary. Igzactly420, a San Francisco based non-profit medical cannabis dispensary and vapor lounge located in the downtown financial district. Berkeley Patients Care, a Berkeley dispensary that has provided safe access for medical cannabis patients since 2001. Blue Sky Care Center is a high quality medical cannabis retailer located in San Jose. "We are excited to see some great traction in the Bay Area, especially with some shops of this caliber," explains Derek Peterson, CEO of Terra Tech. "Word is spreading and we are adding new retailers weekly, we are also experiencing consistent reorders from existing retailers, which is a great sign that patients are appreciating the quality of our products." IVXX products are only available to qualified patients through permitted medical cannabis dispensaries that are in full compliance with California Prop 215, SB 420 sections 11362.5 & 11362.7 of HSC. The company has also launched a full website, IVXX.com, in support of the brand. Through the website, patients and brand enthusiasts will be able to learn more about the products offered by IVXX, find local retailers, as well as purchase IVXX branded gear. The Oakland-based lab will be producing all of the concentrates for IVXX. Terra Tech Corp. (TRTC) through its wholly-owned subsidiary GrowOp Technology, specializes in controlled environment agricultural technologies. The company integrates best-of-breed hydroponic equipment with proprietary software and hardware to provide sustainable solutions for indoor agriculture enterprises and home practitioners. Our complete product line is available at specialty retailers throughout the United States, and via our website. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Edible Garden, cultivates a premier brand of local and sustainably grown hydroponic produce, sold through major grocery stores such as Shoprite, Food Emporium and others throughout New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. MediFarm LLC is focused on medical cannabis businesses throughout Nevada. IVXX LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary that produces medical cannabis extracted products for regulated medical cannabis dispensaries throughout California.

Walking through St. Augustine’s frenetic post-recess hallways, greetings seemingly come from everywhere. Poking his head into a Grade 2 classroom, Const. Don Johnson is soon surrounded by hugs and high-fives from adoring students. It’s just another day at the office for Johnson, one of more than 40 members of the police school resource officer (SRO) program, a policing initiative meant to bridge the gap between Calgary students and city police now in its 40th year. “No question, it’s vital,” Johnson said. While other police services in Canada have some sort of school liaison program, most concentrate on high schools. Calgary’s program is unique in its direct engagement with elementary school students — not only maintaining a friendly presence in the schools, but actively teaching lessons in the classroom on issues ranging from self respect to the importance of staying safe. “It’s more than just education by the standard definition,” said St. Augustine principal Steven Laberge. He described the school resource program as one that transcends a simple partnership between school board and police force. “It’s having someone in the building who’s relatable and a member of the community,” said Laberge. Johnson, he said, is an important part of the school family. “And the students see him as such,” Laberge said. Calgary’s SRO team consists of 38 constables, three sergeants and one staff sergeant, split across the city’s elementary, junior high and senior high schools. Fully engaged during the school year, SRO officers support divisional patrol and the Calgary Stampede during the summer months. Their program is based on the Start Smart Stay Safe model, a joint project of the Calgary Police Service, the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic School District that helps children make safe choices, learn respect for others and be productive members of the community. The program has proved to be so successful, other police departments use it as a model, sending officers to train alongside Calgary’s SROs. This is Johnson’s second tour in the program — something the 26-year policing veteran considers to be the most fulfilling aspect of his career. “The bigger piece, for me, is the relationship that I get to build with these kids,” he said. That relationship has grown over his years on the job — sometimes he keeps in touch with former students. “I think it’s vital,” Johnson said. “Building a good relationship with youth and the police is going to serve them for the rest of their life. “If you’ve never had the opportunity to build a relationship with a police officer growing up, you may not be comfortable dealing with the police,” he said. For Johnson, speaking from his years on the job, the school resource officer program makes sense for Calgary.

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains details about the series finale of The Middle. The big finale starts in the dark — yes the dark. Axl (Charlie McDermott) enters Frankie (Patricia Heaton) and Mike’s (Neil Flynn) room as they are asleep and makes the announcement that he has decided to take the job in Denver. After his announcement, there is a silence between the parents until Frankie starts to comedically sob and finds comfort in the cookies she keeps bedside — cookies that Mike also partakes in. Axl’s decision to leave the nest to start a new chapter in his life sets the tone for the series finale. As he says goodbye to his family, we say goodbye to them and the show. Sad, I know, but all good things must come to an end. That said, the episode is a quintessential “goodbye” episode which delivers all the feels. The audience, who has essentially lived with the Hecks for nine years, has grown to love them so much that it is as if they are part of the family. In turn, the show’s ending, like every beloved TV family sitcom finale, lovingly rips your heart out and leaves you reaching for the tissues. When Axl breaks the news to his siblings Sue (Eden Sher) and Brick (Atticus Shaffer), the reactions are very different. True to Sue form, she is excited and hysterical because she is excited to share a special goodbye moment with him before he leaves. As for Brick, he immediately starts taking measurements of their room for remodeling. So we know where he stands when it comes to Axl’s departure. As they prepare for his farewell, Axl thinks he has 30 days to tie up loose ends. That is PLENTY of time. But then, Mike reads his job offer. Because Axl seems to have trouble with months and their corresponding numbers, it turns out that he doesn’t have 30 days until his job starts — but 4 days. Yes, FOUR days. Axl begins to fit 30 days of prep into 4. All the while, Frankie tries to play it cool when it comes to Axl leaving home. She doesn’t want to seem clingy so she tries to be easy breezy. But based on the opening scene, we know that she is just pushing all those feelings of grief down. It’s only a matter of time before they come bubbling up to reach a tearful boiling point — don’t worry we’ll get there. Meanwhile, Axl comes and talks to Sue and she thinks they are going to have their special moment, but instead, Axl is worried about Brick not being devasted enough about him moving out. Sue is upset at this because she is hellbent on having that special goodbye moment. Enter Sue to break up the Hallmark moment with her delightful sibling hysteria. She, of course, gets upset because Brick got his “moment” with Axl before her. This leads to a very touching scene — in its own Middle sort of way — between the siblings. As the family gets ready for the big Denver road trip, Brick and Sue argue over who is going to get the middle seat and Frankie is still playing it cool — until Mike gives Axl a special engraved watch as a going away gift. When Frankie sees this, she is immediately jealous and yells at Mike for having a heartfelt moment while she is playing it cool. At this point, her emotional goodbye is inevitable — as is the audience’s. In the final moments of the show, Sean (Beau Wirick) comes back into the picture in a shoehorned, yet welcome side story. As he is about to get on the plane to Ghana, he gets stopped by security because they find a snow globe in his carry on. It’s from Sue and he realizes he wants to be with her — and you can guess what happens after that. He goes after her while she is on the family road trip to Denver. He catches up with them and one thing leads to another and Sue and Sean end up together… even though he’ll be gone for a couple of months. See what I mean? It was shoehorned…but sweet. While in the car, Frankie has a breakthrough moment and let her feelings loose as they argue over the family cell phone plan. The Middle finale brings to mind the series finale of another iconic TV family: the Keatons on Family Ties. Like The Middle, it was a two-part finale and like The Middle, it featured the eldest child, Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) leaving the nest to his dream job in New York. Everyone has a moment with him before he leaves and like Brick, the siblings are taking measurements of his room to remodel. But it’s his mom Elise (Meredith Baxter) who, like Frankie, tries to avoid the fact that he’s leaving. And in the end, she accepts it with a whole lotta emotion. This type of finale, although formulaic, works as it hits all the right notes because saying goodbye to family is never not emotional. But if you hate your family, then that is a totally different story. As the family pulls over to let Frankie have her breakdown, the Hecks, as they always do, comfort each other. They wipe the tears away and Frankie says, “It’s the end of an era — it’s never gonna be the same again.” Mike assures, “That’s the way it’s supposed to be.” Both sentiments can speak for the family as well as the show. In the show’s epilogue, Frankie gives us an update on the future of the Hecks. We see Axl as a grown working man with three boys exactly like him: demanding and kind of lazy. Brick has created a wildly successful book series that features the adventures of a kid who gets sucked into a magical microfiche machine. And after an off and on relationship with Sean, Sue finally marries him. As for Frankie and Mike, they never won the lottery or fixed all the things falling apart in their house. It ends with Frankie saying, “For all the things we didn’t have, we sure had a lot.” With that we see the Hecks drive off into the sunset.

Without psychological safety, there’s greater risk of cutting corners and people getting hurt, whether employees, customers, or patients. “Psychological safety at work takes effort. It’s not the norm. But it’s worth the effort,” says Professor Amy Edmondson. She explains how and why a culture of open candor—and the willingness and courage to speak up—is a strategic asset and can be developed in companies of all sizes, in her new book The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth. “These are not things that happen routinely in most organizations, but they are mission critical to doing well in a complex, fast changing world,” she says. In our Q&A we asked her guidance for managers and leaders. Martha Lagace: What makes a workplace psychologically safe or not? Amy Edmondson: Individuals feel they can speak up, express their concerns, and be heard. This is not to say that people are “nice.” A psychologically safe workplace is one where people are not full of fear, and not trying to cover their tracks to avoid being embarrassed or punished. When we are psychologically safe at work we’re willing to accept that we can be ignorant about some things and very smart about others. Psychologically safe employees are more interested in learning, excellence, and genuinely connecting with others than in looking good. I care about psychological safety and the impact it can have on business risk and human safety. Without psychological safety, there’s greater risk of cutting corners and people getting hurt, whether employees, customers, or patients. Product launches might fail because we didn’t listen when colleagues asked hard questions about how the product would work. Without psychological safety, if the boss says, ‘You must hit this target’ but the target is impossible, you can end up with cheating and scandal, which obviously nobody wanted. Lagace: How do organizations help or hurt psychological safety? Edmondson: Organizations are usually designed in ways that exacerbate rather than ameliorate our natural tendencies for self-protection. Most organizations are hierarchical, but in some more than others employees are acutely aware of status differences. In those organizations, people are overly careful and cautious around those higher up in the hierarchy. That’s a psychologically unsafe situation and ultimately it is a risky situation for the company. At hospitals and NASA test sites, for example, psychological safety matters for human safety and sometimes even life and death. Well-run, high-risk organizations have nailed this by creating a climate of directness. They make clear that anyone can voice a good observation or idea independent of his or her position in the hierarchy. Lagace: How can managers create psychological safety among people they lead? Edmondson: Managers in any role—whether at the top or front line of an organization—can do this. On one level it is so simple. But simple doesn’t mean easy. And simple doesn’t mean it will occur to someone in the moment to do it. First, set the stage. Create a shared understanding of the nature of the work we do and why everyone’s input matters. If I am a physician running an intensive care unit, for example, I need to frequently set the stage by reminding people what is at stake, how fragile our patients are, and how complex and error-prone our systems are. This is not about calling out potential incompetence. It means acknowledging out loud that by their nature our systems can compound mistakes, and unless we do everything with interpersonal awareness and focus, things can go wrong. Having set the stage, it’s also important to proactively invite input. Asking is the simplest and best way to get people to offer their ideas. Even if a leader has explained how error-prone the work is, people still have a threshold to overcome in speaking up with concerns or mistakes. To help them, simply ask questions. Questions like: “What do you see in this situation?” Most of us feel awkward not answering a question addressed to us. Third, respond appreciatively. Having explained the nature of the work and asked for input, if you bite someone’s head off the first time they bring bad news, that will kill the psychological safety pretty quickly. Managers need to say things like, “Thanks for that clear line of sight.” And, “What can we do to help you out?” Responding appreciatively does not mean that you’re thrilled with everything that was said; it means that you recognize the courage it takes to come forward with bad news, or to ask a question when you’re unsure about something. It’s important to note that psychological safety is a necessary not sufficient condition for organizational learning, innovation, or excellence. Other drivers of success include the willingness to have challenging conversations thoughtfully, the willingness to be wrong, and such things as good experimental design. There are many factors that affect an organization’s success in the 21st century. This is just one of them. Lagace: You write that psychological safety varies a lot even in one company. Edmondson: Yes. In most organizations of any size that I’ve studied or that others have studied, we find significant differences across work groups, regions, or branches; a lot of that is because of local leadership: the team leader, the branch manager, or whoever leads the local unit. Psychological safety also has an important relationship with diversity, inclusion, and belonging. As the experts note, diversity can be directly altered. It is a lever that managers can pull, so to speak, given the power and resources to do so. Specifically, they can decide to design hiring to achieve greater diversity—whether gender, race, geography, or national culture. But simply hiring a diverse talent pool is not enough, of course. Inclusion is the next level, when people of different backgrounds feel that their voice matters and that they are included in the important meetings. Then, belonging can be seen as a higher level still. It’s possible for people to be at important meetings even to be speaking up, and still to not feel that people like them belong there. Belonging means this is a place where I can thrive; I feel that I am truly a member of the community. As organizations seek to convert diversity into inclusion and belonging, psychological safety is increasingly important. Without psychological safety, diversity does not automatically mean people can bring their full selves to the work.

MONTEVIDEO – The swelling of various rivers and streams in the interior of Uruguay due to recent heavy rains has displaced 514 people, authorities said Friday. The hardest-hit region is the central province of Durazno, where 384 people have been driven from their homes by the rising waters of the Yi River. The Uruguayan air force reported Friday that it carried out reconnaissance flights to monitor the floods in Durazno and that military units on the ground were carrying out evacuations in the area. Government forecasters said they expect roughly 48 hours of dry weather before a storm arrives on Sunday.

Fox’s “9-1-1” was once again the top drama of Wednesday night while the 1990s episode of “The Goldbergs” was the top-rated show overall, according to Nielsen overnight data. For ABC, “The Goldbergs” drew a 1.7 rating in adults 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers, matching its season high in the demo. “American Housewife” held even at 8:30 (1.4, 5.3 million) but dipped in both measures with a second new episode at 9:30 (1.1, 4.2 million). “Match Game” (0.7, 3.2 million) slipped in the demo. Airing at 9 p.m., “9-1-1-” drew a 1.6 rating in adults 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers. That is down slightly in the demo compared to last week, but still good enough to outrank every other drama for that night in that measure. Prior to “9-1-1,” a new episode of “The X-Files” (1.0, 3.86 million) was even in the demo but sank to a new low in total viewers. On CBS, a two-hour “Amazing Race” (1.3, 6.7 million) was down in both measures, while “Criminal Minds” (0.9, 5.2 million) was down in the demo. For The CW, “Riverdale” (0.5, 1.4 million) was even, while “Dynasty” (0.2, 0.56 million) slipped in total viewers. Fox topped the night in the demo with a 1.3 but finished second in total viewers with 5.1 million. CBS and ABC tied for second in the demo with a 1.1. CBS was first in total viewers with 5.8 million. ABC was fourth in viewers with 4.4 million. NBC was fourth in the demo with a 0.9 but third in total viewers with 4.8 million. The CW averaged a 0.3 and .967 million viewers.

WOOSTER -- Jimmy D. "Brillo" Allenbaugh of Wooster, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at Cleveland Clinic. He was born June 30, 1954, in Wooster, the son of Dwight and Mary Rohrbaugh Allenbaugh, and married Karen (Feltner) Walkerly on Dec. 31, 2000. She survives. Jimmy was a 1972 graduate of Hillsdale High School and had been a welder for Stahl Manufacturing for 34 years. He was an avid reader, enjoyed bowling, bird watching and shooting pool. He had an amazing sense of humor and always had a smile on his face. He liked to tinker and fix things, and cherished his grandchildren. Surviving in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Michelle (Tim) Kline of Big Prairie; grandchildren, Caleb and Cassidy Varns, Kallie Kline; a brother, Boyd (Sharon) Allenbaugh of Wooster; sisters, Twila Allenbaugh and Gloria Smail, both of Loudonville; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Jr. (Suzanne) Feltner of Creston, Steven Feltner of Shreve and Roger Feltner of Orrville; a niece and nephew Greg and Amy Allenbaugh, both of Wooster and other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, Aaron Smail, a sister-in-law, Barbara Feltner; and his father-in-law, Kenneth Feltner Sr. There will be no calling hours. Private services will be held. McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster, is assisting the family.

Fury followed reports that Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council forked out almost £40k to confer the Freedom of the Borough on rugby legend Rory Best. The massive sum follows news last week that the same council spent £15.5k on confering the same honour on former Portadown FC manager Ronnie McFall. The Ulster, Ireland and Lions rugby star was conferred the honour at a ceremony in the Palace Demense, Armagh last year by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough. According to the council’s response to the FoI, the venue and equipment hire was £14,442.50 - even though the venue is owned by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council. The FOI response, requested by Save Craigavon Park and Lakes campaign group, showed that the ceremony costs totalled £39,759.56. This included Catering £14,221.50; 3 x A3 signs (public park notices) £37; Freedom Scroll & Book of Burgess £2,835; Entertainments Licence (portion) £66.66; Videography & supply to local and national media outlets £750; Musical Entertainment £1,745; Security Services £92.40; Venue and equipment hire costs £14,442.50; Photography Services & supply to local and national media outlets £835; Design, Printing, Stationery & Venue Dressing £4,131.50; Photo Wall Backdrop £243 and flowers £360. A spokesperson for Save Craigavon Park and Lakes said: “We totally support Rory Best being conferred the Freedom of the Borough but we think the level of spending was extortionate. “The level of deprivation in this area is very high and people are struggling. A spokeswoman for ABC Council said: “The award of Freedom of the Borough acknowledges the contribution of organisations or people to the life of our area which is rarely assigned and represents the highest civic honour that can be bestowed. “Councillors representing every area of the borough unanimously agreed that Rory Best deserved this important recognition for the contribution he has made locally, nationally and internationally. Captain of Ireland and Ulster as well as a British and Irish Lion, Rory brings great pride and honour to our area throughout a long and distinguished career and in acknowledgement of this, a fitting tribute was supported by all councillors. “A great ambassador for the local community, Rory is Patron for the Portadown Panthers, a non-contact Tag Rugby Club for people with learning disabilities, members of which came together to participate in a Festival of Rugby organised by City Of Armagh Rugby Club on the morning of the event and which featured teams from right across the borough. “The Council was also delighted to work closely with BBC Northern Ireland as part of a planned documentary which incorporated the event and which showcased highlights of Rory’s stellar career and the place he proudly calls home.

March 13, 2015, 12:02 a.m. Newspapers have hiked prices to squeeze more revenue out of a smaller customer base. But it looks like that trick is already losing its power. By Ken Doctor @kdoctor March 13, 2015, 12:02 a.m. Have you bought a lonely single copy of a newspaper lately, from a newsstand or a newspaper box? Probably not. Neither are many other people. Single-copy newspaper sales — which not that long ago made up as much as 15 to 25 percent of sales — are obsolescent, dropping in double digits per year and, for many papers, 25 to 50 percent or more in just the past three years. Single copy is just one corner of a disappearing world, and it’s one we’ve paid little attention to. In its decline, though, we can see the print-to-digital transformation from another angle. Why the drop? Of course, digital reading is a prime reason, propelled by the smartphone revolution; more than one billion smartphones were shipped for sale around the world last year, a mind-boggling number. But it’s not the only reason. Right up there on the list would be newspaper company strategy, as expressed in its pricing decisions. Call it quarteritis — a piling on of quarters, raising single-copy prices from 50 cents to 75 cents and then to a dollar and more. Publishers have applied the same pricing theory to both home delivery and single-copy selling over the last four years or so: Get a lot more money from somewhat fewer readers, and come out financially ahead overall. In revenue, the theory has worked, driving flat-to-positive circulation revenue in a time of declining subscriber bases — though publishers’ pricing power may have peaked quite quickly. Look at a company like Gannett, whose circulation revenue was down 0.9 percent for 2014, despite — or because of — some of the most aggressive price increases in industry. Gannett’s 25 percent-plus price increases for home delivery aren’t unusual for the industry. The upward pricing of newsstand copies across the industry has also been dramatic, as measured by the Alliance for Audited Media last year. For the first time, the most common price for a daily newsstand paper hit $1; the most common price for Sunday is now $2. These higher prices have driven these major single-copy declines. They prompt a major question: Has the newspaper industry further accelerated its own decline through its shock treatment of single-copy buyers? Let’s take one of Gannett’s largest papers, the Des Moines Register, once a must statewide read for the civically involved. On an average weekday, it sells just 9,000 single copies. For both Sunday and daily, it has lost 53 percent of its single-copy sales in just three years. Its home delivery sales have dropped substantially as well over the same period, down 23 percent on Sunday and 14 percent for daily. Still, the rate of single-copy loss runs double to triple that of home delivery. It’s a pattern that repeats itself in the data. We see the same pattern of loss elsewhere — reaching 50 percent or more for the Register and the Sunday Denver Post, with The Washington Post showing losses in the 40 percent range. Even the smaller market Charlotte Observer and Dayton Daily News show 20 percent-plus losses over the last three years. It’s curious — and maybe indicative of the newspaper industry’s woes — that it’s nearly impossible to get an apples-to-apples comparison of single-copy volume (number of copies sold) and revenue over the past decade. Some reporting systems have changed, and much of the data is piecemeal, obscuring our — and the industry’s own — understanding of what’s happening. There’s much good data work in progress at the Alliance for Audited Media, Inland Press, and the Newspaper Association of America, but not a lot in this area. NAA’s survey of members last year provides the best window into the overall loss — and its key driver. The volume of sales loss generally correlates directly with higher pricing, says John Murray, the Newspaper Association of America’s vice president for audience development. In general, the greater percentage price increase, the greater the loss in volume: “If you don’t price up, it’s at most 5 percent erosion,” he says. Think back to the days when a cup of coffee cost 50 cents and the morning paper half as much. For less than a buck total, you could browse through the day’s news at your leisure at the corner coffee shop — days that seem as faded as Garrison Keillor’s private detective Guy Noir on Prairie Home Companion. Today, stop by Starbucks on a Sunday morning, and a cup of artisanal joe and a Sunday Times may well set you back more than ten bucks. In the digital-reading era, single copies of magazines have tanked as well. Take newsmagazines, the once-healthy sector dominated by Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report. In 2008, newsmagazine single copies lost 11 percent of their sales in a single year. In no year since have they lost less than 8 percent; in 2013, they lost 10.4 percent. Overall, U.S. magazines lost 14 percent of their newsstand sales last year, part of a vertiginous and one-way decline. The bankruptcy of one large newsstand distributor contributed, but then again, when things start going south in a business, the collateral damage just cascades. So let’s return to the why. NAA’s data shows that pricing makes a major difference. The detail of that pricing may surprise you. 44 percent of U.S. dailies now charge $1 for a weekday paper, according to a 2014 AAM 2014 study, while 39 percent charge 75 cents. It wasn’t that many years ago that 50 cents replaced a quarter as the standard. And five years ago, half (48 percent) of newspaper publishers charged 50 cents; now only 15 percent are at that price. For Sunday editions, $2.00 is the prevailing charge, with 40 percent of dailies using it. Another 28 percent charge $1.50. 12 percent of Sunday editions are sold for more than two dollars. We have to ask how long an industry can offer less and less and charge more and more. What’s happened in newspaper pricing is that too many publishers have doubled their prices while halving the size, and quality, of their products. I can’t think — nominations invited — of other industries that have done that with longer-term success. It’s like selling a 20-ounce bottle of Coke for a buck — and then three years later hawking a 10-ounce bottle for two dollars. We can tick off a few other reasons for single copy’s dramatic drop. One is self-fulfilling: With fewer rack sales per location, and a keen eye toward cost reduction, newspaper companies then gradually decrease the number of locations selling single copies — improving ROI but limiting availability. So this single-copy decline is, at least in part, heavily self-inflicted. The industry’s gains in overall circulation revenue — driven by those broad price increases for both home delivery and single copy — has been an important offset against declines in print advertising. Is that a smart strategy? We know that the circulation revenue gains — as measured by NAA — have been real, 3.7 percent in 2013 and 5 percent in 2012. (2014 data will be out in May.) That added revenue has salved the painful hurt of deepening print ad decline — not offsetting it, but helping to ease the trauma. But if it’s only a two- or three-year balm — if numbers like Gannett’s 0.9 percent decline start to be seen more widely — too-aggressive single-copy pricing may be a prime suspect. It would make sense that single-copy buyers would make up one of the most qualified sets of would-be digital buyers. In that funnel of potential digital subscriber acquisition, occasional single-copy buyers would have to be considered good prospects. Clearly, they like the news brand. They buy it, at least once in a while. And they, like almost everyone else, are transitioning, however slowly, to digital news. Perhaps the big trade-off of more revenue for less volume — fewer customers — is a smart one, and you can make the case that publishers had little choice. In the medium term, though, they’ve clearly pushed aside some print readers who might have transitioned over to paid digital or all-access subscriptions. Why does that matter? Most of the new circulation revenue we’ve seen associated with paywalls comes from print readers paying a little extra, either as part of single print/digital bundle or as an upcharge. So the industry has narrowed its likely subscription prospects, even as it’s benefited in the short term from more revenue. That becomes even more problematic if, as I believe, the industry’s final 2014 circulation revenue increase will slow further — or possibly even turn negative — just three years into the paywall game. There’s one other financial impact of single-copy loss: preprint ad revenue. It’s true that some big-box advertisers have been cutting back on preprints in single copies, but they still constitute important revenue overall. With other ads declining, those circulars for Macy’s and Best Buy now contribute a larger and larger part of ad revenue. What do you do with circulars? You insert them into papers, and if you’re selling fewer single copies, preprint orders necessarily decline, reducing revenue. Publishers can offset some of that decline by putting circulars into free “Sunday Select” distribution, but that may only mitigate the loss. Step back from the nuances of pricing and volume, and we see the larger prism of reading change. The airport magazine stands and big-city kiosks all feel the loss. Tablets and Kindles have made a dent in print magazine buying; smartphones not only offer more news choices than any single print paper, but — let’s remember — they offer today’s news, not yesterday’s. We do indeed live in a swirling world of “single copies,” but they’re stacked atop each other in almost infinite depth, though only millimeters deep, on our phones. In Internet mythology, the second copy is free — but in the world of still needing to pay journalists to produce that first copy, somehow those second, third, and subsequent digital copies must be accounted for. Photo of a Rome newsstand by Michael Summers used under a Creative Commons license. POSTED March 13, 2015, 12:02 a.m. Doctor, Ken. "Newsonomics: Single-copy newspaper sales are collapsing, and it’s largely a self-inflicted wound." Nieman Journalism Lab. Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, 13 Mar. 2015. Web. 18 Apr. 2019. Doctor, Ken. "Newsonomics: Single-copy newspaper sales are collapsing, and it’s largely a self-inflicted wound." Nieman Journalism Lab. Last modified March 13, 2015. Accessed April 18, 2019. https://www.niemanlab.org/2015/03/newsonomics-the-collapse-of-single-copy-sales/.

Slate’s asterisk highlights delightful turns of phrase from our coverage. Slate’s asterisk hoodie highlights our delightful readers in a cozy cotton-and-polyester American Apparel sweatshirt. Previously limited to Slate staff—who treasure these warm and comfortable hoodies like Prudie treasures insane questions from angry in-laws—they’re now available to readers. Wear it while browsing Slate, listening to a podcast, or (we guess) doing other stuff. Model is 6'2" and wearing a size M.

9% of this provider’s 317 patients filled at least one prescription for an antibiotic drug, compared to an average of 21%. 15% of this provider’s 317 patients filled at least one prescription for an opioid, compared to an average of 17%. 15% of this provider’s prescriptions were for brand-name drugs, compared to an average of 19%. $52 was the average price of a prescription from this provider, compared to $61 among peers. 14 is the average number of prescriptions (including refills) per patient, compared to an average of 12. This provider's address and specialty information was last updated on Feb. 16, 2016.

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--InfoSec Institute, the leading provider of IT security education and workforce security awareness training solutions, today launched its Certified Security Awareness Practitioner (CSAP) boot camp. The course is the first of its kind to certify professionals with the expert knowledge, skills and confidence to build and manage enterprise security awareness education programs that get results and secure end user behavior. “The best security awareness programs go beyond routine phishing simulations and training campaigns to sustainably shift workforce security culture. With our new CSAP boot camp and certification we’ll arm program managers with the strategies, tactics and ideas to kickstart a strong security awareness program and reduce cyber attack susceptibility,” said Jack Koziol, CEO and Founder of InfoSec Institute. InfoSec Institute offers the CSAP boot camp in four flexible delivery options to suit where, when and how today’s students learn best. Like other InfoSec Flex courses, the Certified Security Awareness Practitioner boot camp includes a CSAP exam voucher and is backed by InfoSec Institute’s Exam Pass Guarantee. Students may also earn CPEs for their certification by self-reporting to organizations like (ISC)2 or ISACA. Enrollment for the CSAP boot camp is now open – get course details here and request pricing. Plus, watch for additional training courses this fall when InfoSec Institute launches security awareness boot camps tailored to security champions, application developers, IT professionals and end-users. InfoSec Institute fortifies organizations of all sizes against security threats with award-winning information security education. Recognizing cybersecurity is everyone’s job, the company provides skills development and certification training for IT and security professionals while building the workforce security aptitude through awareness training and phishing simulations. Recognized as a Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training, InfoSec Institute is also a Training Industry “Top 20 IT Training Company” and the Security Training & Education Program Gold Winner in Info Security Products Guide’s Global Excellence Awards. Boot camp certifies professionals with knowledge and skills to develop and sustain successful security awareness training programs.

A US-headquartered animal health and mineral nutrition company is to create up to 150 jobs in Sligo over the next five years. Phibro Animal Health plans to establish a biotech facility producing a range of animal health vaccines at the IDA Business Park in Finisklin, Sligo. The new facility, the company’s first manufacturing plant in Europe, will initially focus on producing Phibro’s vaccines for the treatment of a range of poultry diseases for sales globally. The company hopes eventually to expand production to include vaccines for livestock and aquaculture. Phibro develops, manufactures and markets a broad line of animal health and nutrition products for poultry, pigs, cattle, dairy and aquaculture customers around the globe. The Nasdaq-listed company, which employs more than 1,400 people globally, operates in 65 countries. It recorded $764 million in annual sales last year. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, Phibro was founded in 1946. “The creation of Phibro Ireland marks an important milestone in our development as a leading global player in the animal health biological market,” said Jack Bendheim, Phibro’s chairman, president and chief executive. The news was welcomed by local political and business figures who pointed out that it brings to almost 700 the number of jobs announced for Sligo so far far this year. Aidan Doyle, chief executive of the local chamber of commerce, said that since April, 550 new jobs had been announced for Sligo. He attributed the feelgood factor to the identification of a “valuable skills network” in Sligo and the northwest. “It’s very important that we keep the momentum going and that in the wake of the Ireland 2040 launch that we continue to bring investment to the regions”, he said. Local Fine Gael TD and deputy Government chief whip Tony McLoughlin, who made the announcement, said the jobs were exactly what was needed in the region. “They give the entire region a boost and help us to attract home many people who have had to locate elsewhere for skilled work,” he pointed out. Deputy McLoughlin said a number of recent significant job announcements in Sligo underlined the government’s commitment to bringing jobs to the regions. “This really has been a fantastic few weeks for Sligo, with major job announcements from Abtran, E3Retail, and LiveTiles showing how the county is benefiting from both indigenous and Foreign Direct Investment,” he said. IDA Ireland’s executive director, Mary Buckley said it was “great news for Sligo and the northwest. She said the IDA was committed to winning investment for regional locations . The company will be located at the facility in Sligo vacated by Eli Lilly - Elanco in 2016.

Google didn’t always get design. In fact, the earliest versions of some of its top products were downright homely. A lot can change in 20 years. Helpless newborns become campus-dwelling scholars, carefree twentysomethings turn into responsible adults, and tiny tech startups grow into colossal corporations—complete with sprawling portfolios of polished products. Yes, indeed: Just as hominids mature over the course of two decades, Google—which is officially marking its 20th birthday on Thursday—has undergone quite the dramatic transformation since its founding. Heck, even Google products that launched 10 years ago are now barely recognizable from their infant forms. Let’s take a journey back through time to see how some of the company’s most popular products looked at their onset—and just how far they’ve come to reach their current-day states. Google.com—the website and search engine, which represented all Google had to offer in the beginning—began as a research project called BackRub, the brainchild of Stanford PhD students Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Once it had morphed into Google, early versions of the site sported a bare-bones page with plain text stating, “Welcome to Google” and links to both a regular search engine prototype and a more advanced “might-work-some-of-the-time” version. Google.com in 1998—and you thought the site’s design was minimalist today . . . Clicking the link for the regular prototype took you to a sparse page with a rudimentary version of the Google logo (complete with a Yahoo-style exclamation point at the end, so you knew it had to be exciting!). The page boasted that the nascent search engine held around 25 million pages—a number “soon to be much bigger,” the company promised. The main Google.com search engine prototype, complete with ample exclamations. And it wasn’t lying: As of two years ago, Google was up to a whopping 130 trillion pages, according to Search Engine Land. Today, the company is a touch more modest, with a public estimate that its index holds “hundred of billions of web pages” amounting to more than 100 million gigabytes of data. Oh, and that 1998 link to the “might-work-some-of-the-type” prototype? It pulled up—what else?—a beta version of Google’s namesake service. The first official Google beta project—a sign of what was to come. When Google announced Gmail on April 1, 2004, plenty of folks thought it was a joke. The company was known for its April Fools’ pranks, after all, and the official Gmail announcement seemed suspicious both for its then-outrageous-seeming claims (a whole gigabyte of storage—per user?!) and for the silly-sounding tone with which it was written. In reality, of course, it was no laughing matter: Even in its earliest forms, Gmail reshaped expectations for what a web-based email system should be—not only with the amount of storage it offered, but also with its focus on search and its conversation-like organization of threads. A heavily annotated version of Google’s original Gmail inbox. The concept of archiving messages instead of deleting was wild at a time when most webmail services were providing mere megabytes of storage. From the get-go, Gmail gave users tools for managing this ever-expanding history of communication, such as the service’s unusual label system in place of folders, its trademark “All Mail” section, and its superb and supremely speedy search technology. Google used this graphic to introduce users to Gmail’s search interface. The first Gmail conversation view, complete with ads in the site’s right sidebar. Google’s messaging app saga kicked off with the advent of its Google Talk client in 2005. Talk was initially released as a Windows-only application, though non-Windows users were also able to access the service via an array of third-party clients. Google Talk Beta—back when there was only one Google messaging product to keep track of. The first Talk client let you connect with anyone from your Gmail contacts—a “great way to communicate with your friends without having to leave your computer,” as Google put it at the time. The app even included an internet-based calling feature that promised to make your voice sound “a lot better than it does on answering machines” (what a relief!). A click of the “Call” button was all it took to start talking with a Google Talk contact. Before long, Google Talk got integrated into Gmail, where it was frequently referred to as “Google Chat” or “gChat” by users (though no services with those names technically ever existed). Talk eventually merged with Hangouts, which is now slowly being transitioned into an enterprise product while Android Messages—and, to a lesser extent, Allo—takes over the main messaging role. Maps found its way into Google’s product portfolio in 2005, back when MapQuest was the industry leader and printable text directions were the norm. Maps’ earliest design introduced draggable, interactive maps that loaded almost instantly as you moved your mouse around—a now mundane-seeming detail that was anything but ordinary at the time. Google Maps, in its beta days: What’s now mundane seemed magical at the time. From day one, Maps allowed you to search a neighborhood not only for business names or addresses, but also for vague concepts such as “banks,” “pizza,” or “Wi-Fi hotspots” (and remember, this was 2005—when mobile data access was a rarity, and public hotspots were still relatively tough to find). Google Maps brought the power of search into mapping, even in its rough-around-the-edges initial form. And, of course, Maps’ biggest innovation: The service empowered you to see step-by-step directions as an overlay on an actual map. It was, dare I say, revolutionary. The first incarnation of Google Maps directions. At its genesis, YouTube didn’t look much like the service we know today. The earliest available screen shots, from 2005—when YouTube was still an independent effort—show a sparse site centered on video dating. Users were encouraged to upload videos of themselves and then search for potential matches. YouTube, before it figured out its identity. Within a matter of months, though, the site had pivoted into more familiar video-library terrain. And by the time Google acquired YouTube in 2006, the service was using the slogan “Broadcast Yourself”—an identity it’d stick with through 2012—and sporting an entertainment-centric setup that put creative and often wacky user-made videos front and center. A slightly less strange version of YouTube, as the site existed in 2006. Google Docs grew out of a buzzworthy web-based word processor called Writely. Google bought the app in March 2006, when Microsoft Word was the undisputed productivity champion and web-based alternatives were barely a blip on the radar. The company continued to operate the app under the Writely name through that October. The Google-owned Writely, before its Docs rebranding. Once Google combined Writely with another app it had acquired and been operating as an experimental version of Google Spreadsheets, however—bringing both entities under the Google Docs banner—everything took on a more recognizable form. Still, the Docs interface remained decidedly basic and its function set limited, with a focus mostly on the service’s standout collaboration system. An early version of the Google Docs productivity suite. The company’s cofounder even told CNET the “last thing” he wanted his app to do was to “compete with Microsoft head-to-head”—a mind-set that clearly wouldn’t last for long. Unlike the other products in this story, Google Calendar’s early design—at the service’s launch in 2006—probably looks pretty familiar. That’s because the app didn’t really evolve all that much until its long-awaited redesign just last year. Google’s initial Calendar design, which would mostly stick around until 2017. Last but not least, a Google product that’s undergone one of modern tech’s most dramatic evolutions: Android. Android’s first public release, in 2008, didn’t even have a dessert-themed code name—but it did have a customizable home screen complete with wallpapers, shortcuts, and a limited range of system widgets. Notifications and multitasking were key focuses for the platform even back then, though things looked just a teensy bit different from what we’re used to today. It wasn’t until the following year’s Android 1.5 Cupcake release that foundational elements like an on-screen keyboard, voice input, and video recording made their way into the platform. All of that may seem like a lifetime ago, but it was a mere nine years in the past—a powerful reminder of just how quickly technology has progressed, and how different the world was when Google and its various products first came along.

So then there were four. This weekend's World Cup semi-finals bring together the four best teams in the world, and given their form so far, we should be in for a feast of rugby. I hope it stays dry at Twickenham because all four teams play with great continuity, so unless the weather intervenes, I don't think we will get into a stalemate. Both should be fantastic games. It is very humble of Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer to say this All Blacks is the best side ever. Statistically you'd be hard pressed to say it's not. They have played 52 matches since the last World Cup and won 47, only losing three. They are an absolutely awesome team. The banter between the coaches makes for a nice spirit going into the game, but once that whistle goes, it will be an explosion of rugby, absolutely unbelievable in its intensity. People say it could be a very tight game, but with two teams of contrasting styles, I anticipate there will be tries - at least four overall - unless the weather comes into play (rain is forecast for late afternoon on Saturday). You have got one team that is confrontational, and predominantly defensive, in its approach and one that is very efficient in all departments. What New Zealand will not have had too much of is an opposition team really contesting the breakdown with them, and even dominating it. The very few games they have lost in the last four years have been when the opposition have dominated that area, as Australia showed in the Rugby Championship earlier this year. Like any good team, they struggle if they can't get the quick ball they require. In Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw and Schalk Burger, the Springboks have got three tearaways who will absolutely terrorise the breakdown. Not only that, but in second rows Lood de Jager - arguably the best lock in the competition - and Eben Etzebeth, they have other big ball-carriers who are conspicuous in all the rucks and mauls. The All Blacks back-row trio of Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino may have a marginal edge in experience, but in terms of physicality and brains at the breakdown, it is incredibly equal. And if you look at the front five forwards in both teams, I'd say the Boks have the edge there in physicality and aggression. If the Boks win the breakdown, they win the game. If they dominate there, they force the opposition to kick more, and the only way they could lose in that situation is if they are not clever with their kick-returns. But Bryan Habana is brilliant defensively, his fellow wing JP Pietersen is not going to do anything silly and full-back Willie le Roux is decent under the high ball. Win the breakdown, kick smartly and return New Zealand's kicks well and South Africa are in with one hell of a chance. But, for me, this All Blacks side is the smartest rugby team. They are definitely the best in the rugby brain department, and this is where they have the edge. They appear to have the answer for most predicaments. Whatever the Boks throw at them, they will have an answer. You can't predict what this guy is going to do, and that is almost impossible to defend against. When you think you have got him, he escapes because of that acceleration and wicked step. He is just exceptional in tight spaces, and lethal in open spaces. He makes things happen when he has got the ball, in the same way full-back Ben Smith does - he doesn't 'die' with the ball, he is always alive to what's possible. When you co-ordinate that with the brains and speed of Aaron Smith at nine, the experience and brain of Dan Carter at 10, the thrust and experience of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith at centre, and the running-back brutality of Julian Savea, you have almost got the complete backline. It is just phenomenal. South Africa's backline includes one of the top try-scorers of all time in Habana (64 Test tries), and a good running full-back in Le Roux, who has got an educated left boot and is a good footballer. Their midfield of Handre Pollard (21), Damian de Allende (23) and Jesse Kriel (21) have had some success against New Zealand in their young careers. But when it comes to the heat of the battle, you need clear minds. You don't want them frustrated. There is no doubt that having been in those situations many times, New Zealand's trio have an advantage. But sometimes you can't halt youthful enthusiasm. When I was young, there was nothing that was going to stop me, and even when it did, you got up and did it again. You have no fear, you just want to impose yourself on the opposition. That is what Pollard and his midfield mates will be doing for 80 minutes. The Pumas have realised through the increased competition of the Rugby Championship that they can beat these 'big three' southern hemisphere teams. They have taken it upon themselves to change their old forward-dominated style and realised that if they don't try to play rugby and score some tries, what chance have they got to win? The Pumas are a big, strong side. In players like prop Ramiro Herrera, lock Tomas Lavanini and flanker Pablo Matera they have young men bristling with confrontation, with older guys like Agustin Creevy and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe equally fired up. There is a brutality about the way they run hard with the ball and win the collisions, getting quick ball and getting rid of it to their dynamic backs. The fliers on the flanks, Juan Imhoff and Santiago Cordero, have run in some impressive tries and, inside them, they have the experience of Juan Martin Hernandez. We have not seen 'El Mago' (The Magician) do anything unbelievable, but he is doing the right things well, whether it is a relieving kick down field or a 20-metre pass to his left or right to put someone else into space. The Pumas are on fire, playing with no inhibition and massive ambition. One classic example was Imhoff's first try in the quarter-final against Ireland. The execution was so simple and so efficient, it was brilliant, with beautiful passing and quick running, combined with great skill. In the Rugby Championship, Argentina used to drop off with 15 minutes to go. But we haven't seen that in this tournament. A lot of these guys are playing first-class rugby now and they are fit for purpose. The only way I can see them falling away is if the emotion takes over. When I saw them lined up for the anthems before the Ireland match, and the tears were flowing from every player, I thought they had lost it before the kick-off. They are an emotional nation but they are also smart, and they delivered. But if the Pumas are one of the sensations of this World Cup, what a revelation the Wallabies pack has been. For years they looked lightweight up front but now they are scoring tries from rolling mauls. So Argentina are going to find it hard against a formidable Aussie pack, with David Pocock back to play a key role in the breakdown battle. Australia may have conceded a few unusual tries against Scotland but up to that point their defensive line has been absolutely superb. They have only conceded five tries, while Argentina have conceded nine. So we are going to find out what brain power the Pumas have got to get through the Wallabies defence. The tries they have scored so far suggest they will find a way while, for me, the Aussies have been a bit formulaic in their patterns. They look to manipulate a defence and get into position to create quick ball, and then go to the flanks to score. But I don't think they are going to find it that easy against Argentina. On form you'd go for the Pumas to win, but history says Australia. They are able to just do what it takes to win a game. They carved England apart in the pool stages, but needed body, mind and soul coming together to beat Wales, and got out of a hole against Scotland when they should have been clear after scoring five tries. I would expect New Zealand and Australia to be in the final. But if it goes the other way, I wouldn't be surprised.

BAGHDAD - The Iraqi interior ministry on Sunday asked Kurdish authorities to arrest Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi saying he was planning to flee the country. Hashemi, a member of the secular Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc, has been accused by Baghdad of running a death squad. He fled to the autonomous Kurdistan region in December, but authorities there have so far declined to hand him over. “The (Iraqi) interior ministry requested that the interior ministry of the Kurdistan regional government carry out the arrest warrant issued against him and hand him over to judicial authorities,” a statement said.

A year after Saturday Night Live debuted their classic David S. Pumpkins sketch with Tom Hanks, SNL dedicated an entire animated special to their now-beloved Halloween character. Hanks’ Pumpkins – as well as his sidekicks ghouls played by Mikey Day and former SNL cast member Bobby Moynihan, who returned for the special – was on hand to introduce the cartoon, which told the backstory and answered many lingering questions about the pumpkin-suited man. Despite airing in SNL‘s usual late-night time slot, the animated special kept it relatively PG-rated: The half-hour special told the story of the year that Pumpkins, the “Halloween guy” who emerges out of a magical pumpkin, and the narrator saved October 31st by confronting the “Raincoat Man” who stole of the neighborhood kids’ trick or treat candy. Following a two-week break, SNL returns November 4th with host Larry David and musical guest Miley Cyrus.

The U.S. and Iran are back to trash talking each other mercilessly. The U.S. and Iran Are Back to Trash-Talking Each Other Mercilessly. Very Smart. Iranians burn U.S. flags outside the former U.S. embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 2014, during a demonstration to mark the anniversary of its storming by student protesters. Here we are again: After the comparatively good vibes of the past couple of weeks, things have reverted to normal in the contentious U.S.-Iranian relationship. Over the weekend Secretary of State John Kerry expressed concern that Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had declared his country still “180 degrees” opposed to U.S. policies in the Middle East. “Even after this deal, our policy towards the arrogant U.S. will not change,” the supreme leader said on Saturday, at a ceremony marking the end of Ramadan. It’s a little hard to believe that the secretary is really reaching for the smelling salts in response to the idea that Iran is still committed to pushing back U.S. influence, given that he is about to head to the Gulf for a trip that he himself says is part of an effort to push back Iranian influence in the region. And it’s not as if his boss is embracing Iran. So what’s with all the trash talking? Both governments know that the best way to sell the nuclear deal to skeptics is to diss the other side as much as possible. The U.S. and Iran are reaching out to assuage their allies, with Kerry headed to the Gulf and secretary of Defense Ash Carter headed to Israel, while Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech that the deal would not diminish Iranian support for “the people of Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon.” And both governments insist that nothing has changed in their adversarial relationship except for the accomplishment of a narrow goal—the elimination of an Iranian nuclear weapons program for the U.S., the lifting of sanctions for Iran. Some in both camps likely hope that relations may soon improve more broadly. But for now, the best way to sell a risky deal with a longtime enemy is to make it clear over and over again that the other side is still the enemy.

Ruby Walsh is hoping to be given the green light to return to the saddle for next weekend's top-class meeting at Auteuil. The leading rider has been sidelined since breaking his leg for the second time in quick succession when falling from Al Boum Photo in the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Having lost his race against time to be fit to ride at the Punchestown Festival, Walsh is now targeting a comeback in France for the Grand Steeple weekend. Speaking to Paddy Power News, he said: "I have to go back to the surgeon next week to find out how it's progressing. He'll have the final say on whether I can compete in France, which was my aim. "I've been riding away but it'll depend on what the X-ray throws up. The two-day meeting features the Grand Steeplechase de Paris and the French Champion Hurdle - the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil. Whether Walsh is passed fit to ride or not, his boss Willie Mullins is likely to be represented in both of the main events. Walsh added: "Willie has Yorkhill, Killultagh Vic, Bacardys, Let's Dance and more (in the French Champion Hurdle). As always, Willie is targeting a few at this race. They're all still in full training and gearing up to run. It's a huge pot and the English and Irish horses have had a good record in the race in recent years. L'Ami Serge won it last year, while Shaneshill finished third. Willie has won it on several occasions, and Paul Nicholls has also won it a couple of times. Djakadam, last seen finishing second in the Punchestown Gold Cup for a fourth time, could fly the flag for the Closutton team in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. "It's over three miles and six furlongs and it will still be difficult enough for him," said Walsh. "It's a long time since he ran in France so running over the French jumps will be a tough ask, but it's worth having a go. "His run at Punchestown suggests that he's still bang on form."

The Dell Streak Tablet is now available from Dell Inc., helping fill the space between smartphones and e-readers with a $549.99 device that sells for $299.99 when purchased with a two-year AT&T contract. The Android-based Streak has a five-inch touchscreen that Dell says is suited for widgets, games and apps, “without squinting or compromising portability,” while presenting Web pages “in their natural form.” Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capability and available 3G connectivity enable large-file downloading, listening to music, real-time social networking updates, and connections through e-mail, text, IM, and voice calls. The screen presents Web pages “in their natural form,” according to dDell. The Dell Streak relies on Qualcomm’s Snapcragon chipset for always-connected/always-aware operation and was designed to support software, application and platform upgrades. Other features include: integrated Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation and street and satellite views: easily integrated social media apps; 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash; removable battery; 2GB internal storage; user-accessible Micro SD expandable memory available up to 32GB.

The organist Paul Jacobs once played all of Bach’s organ works – more than 200 pieces – in an 18-hour marathon. That was 14 years ago, in Pittsburgh, and no, enough time has not elapsed that Mr. Jacobs is ready to do it again. But when he began discussing a Bach marathon with WQXR, as part of the station’s monthlong “Bachstock: 30 Days of Peace and Music,” he came up with an alternative plan: he would play some works himself, and would invite 19 of his current and former students to play the rest. As the chairman of the Juilliard School’s organ department, Mr. Jacobs is ideally placed to round up players for the marathon, which begins at 7 a.m. on Nov. 22 at St. Peter’s Church (619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street), and is expected to run until sometime after 1 a.m. on Nov. 23. The program schedule is divided into 75-minute segments, most played by a single organist, a few shared by several players. David Crean, who is now on the faculty of Wittenberg University, in Springfield, Ohio, will open the concert, and Gregory Zelek, a current student of Mr. Jacobs, will close it. Mr. Jacobs, exercising one of the perquisites of his job, has reserved prime time for himself: his 75-minute recital begins at 8 p.m. He will also, however, speak about Bach as a composer and organist between segments throughout the day. The other organists on the program include James Wetzel (at 8:15 a.m.); Raymond Nagem (at 9:30); Janet Yieh, Colin MacKnight and Yinying Luo (at 10:45); Chelsea Chen (at noon); Ryan Jackson (at 1:15 p.m.); Benjamin Sheen (at 2:30); Daniel Ficarri, Griffin McMahon and David Ball (at 4:15); Isabelle Demers (at 5:30); David Enlow (at 6:45); Christopher Houlihan (at 9:15); Michael Hey (at 10:30); and Ryan Kennedy and Alexander Pattavina (at 11:45). WQXR, which is recording the concert and may use parts of it in its future programming (it will not stream it live), is selling tickets for 75-minute sections for $10, a half-day pass for $40, and a full-day pass for $75, at WQXR’s website. A version of this article appears in print on 11/05/2014, on page C3 of the NewYork edition with the headline: Bach Organ Marathon.

There is nothing more tragic than the death of an innocent child. Words cannot capture the grief that we feel when young lives so full of potential are lost to violence. It is not surprising, then, that Americans reacted to the most recent school shooting with sorrow, anger, and a desire to know whether it could have been prevented. Gun control advocates have been capitalizing on this compassion, but their proposals fail to strike at the heart of the problem. These groups are heavy on emotional appeal but light on practical solutions to secure our schools. Before we reflexively expend our political will for action on more futile gun laws, people should consider a Texas program that has already proven effective. Texas allows school districts to approve “marshals” or “guardians” as the last line of defense against a shooter. Under this program, faculty members volunteer to keep a firearm within reach in case the unthinkable happens. They undergo mental health screenings and rigorous firearm safety training — in some cases they are held to a higher standard than police officers. In an active shooter situation, law enforcement takes roughly three minutes to respond on a good day (through no fault of their own). It’s disturbing to consider the damage that can be inflicted in that amount of time. Only school marshals — who, contrary to the media portrayal, represent a select few trained and capable staff members — can deliver response times measured in seconds rather than minutes. Arguably, the deterrence factor is even more important. It shouldn’t take an academic study to prove that shooters are far less likely to target a school that will offer resistance. It’s commonsense. Those willing to shoot defenseless children are deranged, evil men, and the only thing such men respond to is force. They are cowards, and the prospect of return fire is the only thing likely to convince them to leave a school alone. Coverage in the aftermath of Parkland has focused disproportionately on the AR-15. The gun has been established as a symbol of mass shootings, a device designed for wanton destruction. What use, we are repeatedly asked, could private citizens have for an AR-15? Texans like myself have been frustrated by this collective amnesia. On November 5, 2017, a private citizen heroically stopped the fleeing shooter of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs using an AR-15. The lesson is that guns are morally neutral. It is people who have the capacity to use them for good or evil. Those willing to kill the innocent in cold blood will hardly be hindered by a new gun regulation. They are, after all, willing to murder – it defies logic that they will respect a gun law. It stands to reason, therefore, that schools should be made a hard target, just like airports, stadiums and government buildings. President Trump Donald John TrumpForget the spin: Five unrefuted Mueller Report revelations Lara Trump: Merkel admitting migrants 'one of the worst things that ever happened to Germany' Financial satisfaction hits record high: survey MORE recently endorsed the broad outlines of Texas’ school security plan. While I welcome this issue going national, states have every reason to seize the initiative themselves – student safety shouldn’t have to hinge on the intractable gridlock of Washington politics. The states are the laboratories of democracy, flexible and resourceful enough to try out creative ideas. Texas has already proven the effectiveness of school marshals, and I hope other states will realize that they can implement this program inexpensively with or without Washington’s blessing. There have been no shootings, intentional or otherwise, at any participating districts in Texas. Teachers and students feel — and in fact are — safer coming into work. A sign outside of Argyle High School, which has opted into the program, reads “Please be aware that the staff at Argyle are armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students.” Is a would-be shooter more likely to target such a school or a “gun-free zone?” The answer is obvious. The children at our schools deserve better than another round of trite political opportunism on guns. They deserve concrete measures to secure their safety. Texas has developed a system that works; if other states are serious about reducing school shootings, they will follow suit. Ken Paxton is attorney general of Texas.

After 35 years and countless imitators, how does the original Rocky stand up? Yours truly, having somehow never seen the original Rocky despite nearly that many years of moviegoing, sits down with Mr. Balboa for the first time to see if the old guy's still got the moves. So yeah, Rocky is one of "those" movies. The kind everyone just assumes everyone else has seen. The kind that everybody really ought to see. And the kind that, for whatever reason, I never got around to. Until now. To my credit, it came out two years before I was born. For most of my formative years, I was far more interested in Star Wars trivia than "some stupid boxer movie." Even through almost a decade of writing about film and television, there was always something higher priority in the queue. So when we received a screener of the new Blu-ray Book edition of Rocky, I knew it was time to take the plunge. And surprisingly, it was not the movie I expected. On the surface, Rocky seems dated. Not because of its era or any of the trappings of its production, but simply because it dips into familiar sports-movie tropes we've seen a thousand times. Until, of course, you realize that many of those clichés wouldn't be so familiar if Rocky hadn't helped cement them. We've got the down-on-his-luck long shot. We've got the training montages. We've got the fight (game/match/championship) that could change his life (as a friend of mine once asked, "Doesn't anybody in boxing movies box just because they really enjoy it?"). Once you stop looking through the lens of all the imitators that came later, you find a solid sports-underdog movie that is at least as interested in being a character drama. Sports movies are most effective in the way they viscerally tweak our emotions. Even people who couldn't care less about sports will find their heart racing and then uplifted by the last few minutes of, say, Miracle. Sports movies give us all the excitement and investment of live sports, but all wrapped up in a tidy, perfect Hollywood package. The iconic shot of Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is unforgettable, but would it be as powerful without that music playing behind it? Despite being adept at the language of the genre, Rocky is most notable for the way it defies expectations. [Spoilers, assuming you've somehow managed to avoid being spoiled for three and a half decades.] If there's one area where sports movies are at their most clichéd, it's the finale, where the hard-luck team or old-timer looking for one last shot at glory overcomes the odds and wins the day. Rocky doesn't give us that. Instead, Rocky's victory is much smaller, more personal. All he wants to do is go the distance, and that's what he does. A lesser script would have given Rocky that last-minute, slow-motion knockout punch that sent Apollo Creed to the mat. And that might have been emotionally satisfying, but would that ending have made the movie the classic it's become? I don't think so. But, as I said, Rocky isn't just your typical sports movie. It's just as interested in the characters as the competition, and that ending is representative of everything that comes before. It's about regular people, the people who may not conquer the world, but who just keep getting back up every time they're knocked down. To borrow a quote from another movie about guys pummeling each other, "We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't." Rocky knows he can't defeat the champ. He just wants to go the distance. That might not make for the usual Hollywood ending, but it's something with which most of us can identify. The best most of us can hope for is to go the distance. But sometimes that simple act of will, the determination to get up off the mat and keep standing, is a victory in itself. In theory, I like these "Blu-ray book" editions. The accompanying essays usually provide come cool insights into the movies they accompany, and it's cheaper than throwing together a new making-of segment. However, I'm not crazy about the trade-off being a bare-bones edition of the movie, which is exactly what we get with this release of Rocky. There's not a single bonus feature to be found on the disc, which boggles my mind for a movie as ingrained in the pop culture as Rocky is. Surely we could have at least gotten a retrospective feature of some sort. The book itself contains two short essays bookending bios for the cast and crew. "Stallone: Going the Distance" takes a look at the origins of Rocky, and how the character paralleled Stallone's own hard-luck beginnings. This is easily the more interesting of the two pieces, but at only three full pages of text (and accompanying photos), it's hardly comprehensive. "Anatomy of a Scene: The Final Fight" is more or less a play-by-play of the climactic tussle, with commentary on how it reflects theme. Both of these are interesting, but would have been a lot more interesting as short featurettes. The Blu-ray book edition of Rocky is well put together and features a good transfer of the film, but there's not much here to merit a new purchase if you already own one of the earlier Blu-ray releases.

EU parliament votes to recognize Palestinian state 'in principle', just hours after removing Hamas from terrorism blacklist. The European Parliament overwhelmingly backed the recognition of a Palestinian state "in principle" on Wednesday, following a series of votes on the issue in EU nations which have angered Israel. Lawmakers approved the motion by 498 votes to 88 with 111 abstentions, although it was a watered down version of an original motion which had urged EU member states to recognize a Palestinian state unconditionally. The socialist, greens and radical left groups in the European Parliament had wanted an outright call for the recognition of Palestinian statehood. But the centre-right European People's Party of European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, the leading group in parliament, forced them into a compromise motion linking it to peace talks. "There is no immediate unconditional recognition (of statehood)," EPP chief Manfred Weber said. But his socialist counterpart Gianni Pittella insisted it was a "historic decision" and a "victory for the whole parliament". Several European parliaments have passed motions urging their governments to recognise a Palestinian state in recent weeks in a bid to pressure Israel to relaunch the moribund peace process. France, Britain, Spain, Ireland and Portugal have all passed votes to that end. Sweden has gone even further, officially recognizing "Palestine" as a state. The vote couldn't have been more poorly-timed, coming just hours after the EU provoked a storm of criticism by removing Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations due to an alleged "technical issue." While EU officials rushed to explain that the move was only temporary and that it still related to Hamas as a terrorist group, Israeli officials were infuriated by the move. "We are not satisfied with EU explanations that the removal of Hamas from the terror organization list is a 'technical matter,'" Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu challenged. "The burden of proof is on the EU and we expected them to immediately return Hamas to the list as everyone understands that it is an inseparable part of it - Hamas is a murderous terrorist organization that notes in itscharter that its goal is to destroy Israel," he added. "We will continue to struggle against it firmly and with strength so that it will never achieve its goals." Other senior legislators had harsher words still, blasting the Europe's "blindness" and "loss of moral way." Deputy Transportation Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) said the decision "testifies to the disconnect by Europe from reality." "Hamas which is responsible for hundreds of dead citizens in Israel, Hamas which trains three-year-old children with weapons, and Hamas which took all residents of the (Gaza) strip hostage as a shield for terror activities is the forefather of murderous terrorist organizations; those who whitewash an organization like this give terror a hand," she added. Likud Central Committee Chairman Danny Danon accused Europeans of reasonng "that their blood is holier while the blood of Israelis is abandoned - otherwise it is impossible to understand how the European court decided to remove the Hamas organization fromthe list of terrorist organizations." "In Europe apparently they forgot that Hamas abducted three youths last summer and shot thousands of rockets at citizens of the state of Israel," continued Danon. "This is European hypocrisy that is a continuation of their two-faced proposal to support the establishment of a Palestinian state. The message from the court: kill Israelis and get a state." Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett also condemned the decision, saying: "the sodomite laws of the European court allowed the spilling of the blood of Jews wherever they are and speak to the loss of a moral way." "If there's someone who thinks the sacrifice of Israel will save Europe, they're wrong," added Bennett. "Israel is strong and knows to defend itself from those seeking its harm, but the ones who will suffer from strengthening terrorist organizations are the Europeans themselves. Terror that receives justification in Tel Aviv will spill quickly to London, Paris and Brussels. Unfortunately Europe can't say we didn't warn them in advance." Knesset speaker MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) accused the EU of "losing its head." "Removing Hamas from the terrorist organizations list by the Union's court teaches about the imperviousness and moral warping, and is a prize for Islamic extremist terror that strikes every place in the world including Europe itself. Is there no limit to shame? I hope that the injustice is fixed quickly."

Journaling dietary intake can be a useful tool when trying to eat healthier. Eating healthy is something most people would like to do, but it can be overwhelming and difficult for some to do for the long term. However, there are a few tips, tricks and practices that can help you stay focused on healthy eating habits without adding extra stress to your life. Although it may seem like a silly practice to some, writing down your dietary intake can be extremely helpful. Writing down everything you eat and drink can provide accountability without bringing other individuals into the picture. Food intake can be documented either before or after consumption, although if you do it before you eat, it may help curb overeating. There are several electronic methods for recording food intake that can also be used if traditional journaling isn't your style. Planning ahead is key when sticking to a healthy eating plan. People mainly lose their focus because of their lack of planning, which can make them feel overwhelmed. By setting aside time each day to plan meals and snacks for the next day, you can prevent this. A weekly menu board is an effective tool for meal planning. Plotting nightly dinners in advance can make planning healthy meals easier and improve time management. Prepping snacks and lunches ahead of time can also help you stay focused and prevent you from eating unhealthy foods on impulse. A person's support system can have a huge impact on their ability to stick to a healthy lifestyle change. Informing family, friends and co-workers about your healthy eating plan and asking them to encourage and support you can help you get through any difficult or frustrating moments. This can also provide accountability since most meals are eaten in the presence of others. Goal setting can be extremely beneficial when trying to stay focused. Goals will help increase self-motivation and decrease the likelihood of eating unhealthy. The most important thing to remember when setting goals is that the goal has to mean something significant to the individual. Personal attachment to a goal will increase the likelihood she stays on track. Goals should also be small, attainable and realistic. This will help prevent burnout and frustration. Once goals are reached, new goals should be set to further success. Davis, Amanda. "How to Stay Focused on Eating Healthy." Healthy Eating | SF Gate, http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/stay-focused-eating-healthy-7373.html. Accessed 20 April 2019.

While excited about her next venture, Maher will miss SAFB. She particularly appreciates the community support Scott receives. “I work not only with 3,100 of the best airmen the Air Force has to offer, but I work with a community that absolutely keeps Scott at the forefront of their minds and how they can support us, our airmen and our families,” Maher said. “That community partnership we’ve had has been incredible. They truly understand what is to have an installation in their midst. Prior to her post as the 375th AMW commander, Maher’s position was as chief, Special Access Programs Division, at Headquarters Air Mobility Command at Scott, according to her Air Force bio. Also noted in her bio, Maher has participated in numerous operations including Operations Southern Watch, Allied Force, Noble Eagle, Desert Fox, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and the relief efforts in support of JTF-Matthew. She is a master navigator with more than 1,900 hours in the T-43, T-34C, and the KC-135R/T, her bio also noted. Col. Joseph Meyer, the wing’s current vice commander, will assume command of the 375th AMW until Col. J. Scot Heathman takes command in late summer, as stated in the news release. The news release noted Heathman is currently serving as the vice commander at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Meyer has served as vice commander since July 2018. According to his Air Force bio, Meyer’s prior position was United States Transportation Command Liaison Officer to United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea, Yongsan, Republic of Korea. Overall, Meyer has held four positions at SAFB. Additionally, Meyer’s bio notes he has served in numerous supervisory and leadership positions to include: 14th Airlift Squadron commander at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.; and twice as the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Meyer also has deployed both operationally and on staff in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as noted in his bio. Maher cherished her time working with Meyer, and has no doubt he will excel in his new post. According to the Scott Air Force Base website, the 375th AMW mission is to provide aeromedical evacuation for patients, and operational support airlift for high priority passengers and cargo, and installation support to 31 mission partners including United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, and the 18th Air Force, totaling almost 13,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, Department of Defense civilians and contract personnel. The wing operates 12 C-21 aircraft, and is an associate partner for C-40 airlift missions with the Reserve’s 932d Airlift Wing, and KC-135 refueling missions with the Illinois Air National Guard’s 126th Air Refueling Wing, according to Scott’s website.

On the heels of a Comic-Con panel that packed Hall-H to see veteran sic-fi actor Harrison Ford, Liongate has issued more goodies for those interested to see what Ender's Game has to offer, including this first clip from the movie beyond the basic trailer. The history lesson/recruitment speech from Ford's Colonel Graff is a familiar one if you've seen the trailer, but this time a fast-paced montage of the battle that birthed a hero is shown interspersed with clips of Graff. Ships duck in and out and around one another in battle, accurately communicating the large scope of the movie, as well as highlighting some of the special effects. The focus then zeroes in on Mazer Rackham and follows his final run that ended the battle and won the day for the International Fleet. Sadly, while there's new footage, there's no new dialogue. Based on the best-selling, award winning novel, ENDER'S GAME is an epic adventure directed by Gavin Hood starring Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, with Abigail Breslin and Harrison Ford. In the near future, a hostile alien race has attacked Earth. In preparation for the next attack, the humans begin training only the best students to find their future leader. Ender Wiggin, a shy, but strategically brilliant young man is pulled out of his school to join the elite. Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters the training, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. He is soon ordained as the military's next great hope and is charged to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race. For fans of the books and those looking forward to the movie, there was also an Ender's Game Experience just outside the Convention Center in the Gas Lamp district of San Diego. Like others of its kind, the intent is to allow fans a chance to hop inside of the movie for a few minutes and come out knowing whether you've got what it takes to enroll in the Battle School. Movie props help set the mood in the 8 rooms fans move through and film footage exclusive to the Experience is also available for viewing. There's interactive digital content as well and participants can enter to win a cash prize courtesy of the Experience's sponsor, HGTV. Fans of the the best-selling novel, Divergent, got a first look at its movie counterpart, set to release in March of 2014. Stay tuned to our Comic-Con 2013 Coverage for more great news. Ender's Game will be in theaters on November 1, 2013. Divergent will be in theaters on March 21, 2014.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s agriculture ministry said on Friday an outbreak of African swine fever had been confirmed in Tianjin, the first to be reported in the municipality located just southeast of Beijing. The fever was found on a farm that had 639 pigs, with 292 infected and 189 dying of the disease, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, which earlier on Friday reported a fourth outbreak this week in northeastern China’s Liaoning province. The Tianjin case represents the closest African swine fever, which does not affect humans, has come to Beijing in around 30 outbreaks across China since Aug. 3. Thousands of hogs have been culled in an effort to prevent the spread of the highly contagious fever, for which there is no vaccine, through the world’s largest pig herd.

Syrian refugees arrive on a dinghy on the Greek island of Lesbos, Sept. 7, 2015. A year and a half later, thousands of asylum-seekers remain stuck on Greek islands uncertain what their future holds. Omar Ahmed, 27, carries the heavy burden of bearing witness to horrific things. He saw public beheadings after ISIS stormed his home city of Mosul, Iraq. Later came an attempted coup in the country he escaped to, Turkey. “Helicopters were shooting, F-16 jets were bombing the parliament — it was terrifying,” he recalls of the incident in Turkey last July. Now, Ahmed is on the Greek island of Samos, hoping to gain asylum in Europe. As he relays frenetic accounts, yachts and fishing boats are bobbing in the glistening Vathi harbor. But a lengthy limbo on this picturesque island is not easing his mind. Ahmed is in detention along with more than 1,000 other migrants and refugees, in a squalid ex-military facility with capacity for barely 600 people. For five months he has lived under a plastic canopy. Most others are in either tents or metal containers. They are some of the reported 14,000 migrants still stuck on the Greek islands after a historic exodus to Europe. The shelter in Samos, Greece, where migrants have to await the authorities' decision of what to do with them next. If their asylum is denied, a deal between the European Union and the Turkish government dictates that Greece will deport them to Turkey. Leading humanitarian groups have condemned that agreement for “prolonging and exacerbating suffering” of refugees. For many, this uncertainty is taking its toll. Mental health is one of the latest casualties of the refugee crisis. That’s especially evident on Samos, where there were 12 suicide attempts and six instances of self-harm in the detention center in January alone. Ahmed recalls it painfully well. Migrants went on hunger strike recently at the Samos shelter. In late March, a 25-year-old Syrian was found hanged in an apparent suicide at Greece’s largest port of Piraeus. He had asylum application papers on him. Despite the purgatorial misery in Greece, fear of deportation stalks migrants here. Turkey could also send them back to their countries of origin, including Syria and Iraq. Dr. William Gorman, a clinical psychologist at the Marjorie Kovler Center in Chicago, has worked for decades researching refugee trauma and treating survivors or torture. Last month he visited Samos and found many of the people in detention were in a disturbed state. “The most common reactions of refugees I have witnessed on Samos include post-traumatic stress disorder with acute and pervasive anxiety symptoms and major depression, with grief and loss, guilt and remorse, helplessness, and hopelessness, at times accompanied by thoughts of suicide,” Gorman says. At its shortest point, the forbidding cliffs of Turkey’s Mount Mycale are barely half a mile across the Aegean Sea from Samos. Some refugees have been known to swim across to Greece. But most are smuggled there on boats, now for as little as $200 per person, compared to an average of $1,200 during the peak flows of 2015. The small stretch of water between the Greek island of Samos, left, and Turkey. The small stretch of sea claimed the lives of at least 434 asylum-seekers in 2016, according to the International Organization for Migration. In the year since the EU and Turkey reached the resettlement deal, drownings have sharply decreased, although 11 Syrians, including five children, lost their lives after their raft capsized off Samos' coast last month. In March 2016, when European leaders were desperate to prevent more of the record numbers of migrants from rushing in, they hastily signed the agreement with the Turkish government. In exchange for 6 billion euros in aid and visa waivers for Turks to travel to Europe, Turkey would increase sea and land border patrols and accept migrants deported from Greece. Turkey is host to the world’s largest population of refugees — almost 3 million. Most of them fled the six-year-long conflict next door in Syria. The Turkish government insists it is working to integrate Syrians into its society. But many arriving in Samos speak badly of their time in Turkey, and of getting trapped in an intolerable web of exploitation and segregation in the workplace. Majd Thabet, a 24-year-old from Damascus, used to fly around the world as cabin crew for an international airline, until Syria’s war broke out. His negative experience in Turkey propelled him to sail to Europe to rebuild his life and career. This corner of the world is steeped in historical significance and poignancy. During the sixth century BC, a wave of artisans and thinkers flocked to the island of Samos to help construct its thriving commerce and architecture, some remains of which still stand. Many of those newcomers arrived from Mesopotamia and Assyria, the same blood-strewn regions that hundreds of thousands of exiles escape from today. Ahmed, the Iraqi asylum-seeker, recalls vivid details of the days when Mosul fell to ISIS, and of the campaign of gruesome executions, incessant religious harassment and plummeting economic conditions that followed. As European-Turkey relations deteriorate over disputes related to foreign campaigning for Turkey’s upcoming constitutional referendum, senior Turkish cabinet members have made a series of belligerent statements seemingly threatening the refugee deal. “I’m telling you Europe, do you have that courage? If you want, we’ll send the 15,000 refugees to you that we don’t send each month and blow your mind,” Turkey’s interior minister, Suleyman Soylu, told a crowd of supporters last month. Could the breakdown of Europe’s refugee deal wreak havoc on the Greek islands? Vangelis Orfanoudakis of the Samos branch of Doctors Without Borders thinks so. Andrew Connelly reported from Samos, Greece.

ARCHIVE PHOTO: The Burbank Bulldogs (13-10) lost some key players to graduation, including first-team all-league pitcher Daniel Starkand, who was 5-3 with a 0.60 earned-run average in 58 innings pitched in league. The Burbank High baseball team got a taste of what it takes to compete with the top teams in the Pacific League last season. The Bulldogs tied for second place with Arcadia and were competitive with champion Crescenta Valley. Providence is also coming off a successful year after taking a season off from Liberty League competition. Burroughs returns a solid group from last season’s playoff squad and Bellarmine-Jefferson is adapting with a small squad under the direction of a new coach. The Bulldogs (13-10) did lose some key players to graduation. That included first-team all-league pitcher Daniel Starkand, who was 5-3 with a 0.60 earned-run average in 58 innings pitched in league. He surrendered just eight runs (five unearned) and had five shutouts. In addition, he had 41 strikeouts and walked 12. The team also lost all-league catcher Paul Frias (.263 with 15 hits, 11 runs batted in, 12 runs scored and 10 stolen bases). One of the key returners is first-team all-league standout Dylan Mersola. Last season, the shortstop batted .403 with 27 hits, six doubles, 14 RBI, 12 walks and an on-base percentage of .500. He also stole 13 bases in 14 attempts. Also returning to bolster the Burbank offense is senior outfielder Ricky Perez, who hit .323 with 20 hits, 16 runs scored, 12 RBI, 17 walks and nine stolen bases. Playing first for the Bulldogs will be Harrison Hernandez, John White will be at third, the catchers will be Hector Rodriguez and Sam McKinnon and Chris Okimoto and Joe Bogenschutz will be at second base. Joining Perez in the outfield will be Ian McKinnon, Sebby Santoro and Angel Roman. On the mound, the Bulldogs will go with Angel Villagran, Gavin Bushey, Shaun Troy and Martin Silva, among others, as the team is going to “pitch by committee,” according to Hart. With his returning talent, Hart said he expects to compete for a Pacific League championship. Like Burbank, Burroughs (12-14) returned to the playoffs last season after missing the postseason the previous year. After the program was shut down in 2011 because of an underage drinking scandal, coach Kiel Holmes came in, straightened things out and helped lead the Indians make it to the postseason. Returning to pace the offense is senior shortstop Brian Pozos, who earned first-team all-league honors last season. Pozos batted .353 and had a .532 OBP with 11 runs scored, seven RBI and nine stolen bases in league. At first base for Burroughs will be senior Patrick Christopher and sophomore Noah Haddad, the catcher will be senior Chris Davies, at third will be junior Anthony Robles and senior Luis Pereyra — when he’s not pitching — and Miles Haddad will be at second. Patrolling the outfield will be senior Jimmy Cramer, senior Brandon Ortega, junior Cameron Rodriguez (a transfer from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame) and senior Akira Abderrahman. Along with Pereyra, Ortega, Rodriguez, senior Daniel Barraza and sophomore Thomas Wilson will see time on the mound. Holmes is also looking for good things from junior Tyler Renta, who can play behind the dish or in the outfield. Having gotten back to the playoffs last season, Holmes said his team has higher expectations this year. The Pioneers enjoyed a remarkable turnaround after dropping out of the Liberty League for the 2012 season. Under the direction of coach Steven Knez, Providence was one of the top two teams in the Freelance Division. “Last year was something to definitely build on,” Knez said. “We did drop out of the conference and we played a weaker schedule. But this year we’re playing a tougher schedule and we are hoping that we are going to be able to continue to be successful. One of Pioneers’ key returners is senior shortstop/pitcher Aaron Zeigler. Knez said he will rely on Zeigler to be a steadying force on offense as well as in the field. Junior returner Mason Inumerable will play the infield as well as pitch for the Pioneers. Newcomers who could see their share of playing time are freshmen Sean Holt (pitcher/first base), Thomas Keller (catcher/pitcher) and Daniel Caetta (pitcher/third base). Back in the Liberty League this season, Knew said he is looking forward to see how his team will perform and maybe it can qualify for a postseason spot. Under former coach Kiko Garcia, the Guards went 4-13 last season and finished fourth in the five-team Santa Fe League with a 3-9 mark. The team also didn't make the postseason. It was the first time in 10 years that the Guards were shut out of the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Garcia stepped down at the end of the 2012 season. Marty Marquardt is hoping he can help the Guards get back to their previous winning ways, as the 2001 graduate of St. Francis High is in the midst of his first season. “This has been a good experience and hopefully it’s made me a better coach,” Marquardt said. “I’ve gone back to a fundamental type of coaching for a lot of the guys who might not have that much experience. But the guys have responded well and we’re coming along. Among the Guards players who doesn’t need the fundamental tutoring is senior catcher Mitch Kellogg, who is in his fourth year of varsity experience and who will also pitch. Marquardt said having a seasoned player behind the dish will be a stabling force for Bell-Jeff. Other key returners are senior third baseman/pitcher Ryan Okiishi, another four-year player, and senior shortstop Adolfo Bermeo. Junior Parker Williams will pitch and play first base, Sal Palacios will play at first and in the outfield and senior Ruben Lopez will also be in the outfield. “We are just hoping to keep improving as a team, and hopefully we’ll be able to make the playoffs,” Marquardt said.

Intel unveils its vision for a future of TV integrated with the internet and other digital devices. Intel has unveiled its vision for TV sets being more integrated with the internet and other devices in the future to make viewers more "connected" with the screen. The chip manufacturer said that it views the future of TV as being accessible everywhere, as well as more personal, social and informative. Therefore, it wants to be at the forefront of technological development for uniting TV and the internet to enhance the consumer experience. Speaking at Intel's Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, Intel chief technology officer Justin Rattner told BBC News that "TV is out of the box and off the wall". He continued: "TV will remain at the centre of our lives and you will be able to watch what you want where you want. We are talking about more than one TV-capable device for every man and woman on the planet. People are going to feel connected to the screen in ways they haven't in the past." Rattner said that he sees the ongoing success of the TV industry resting on the increasing variety of ways in which consumers can access content whenever they want. During his presentation, he demonstrated a series of new innovations, including a facial recognition system which automatically activates individual viewer content preferences. He said that the growing availability of more sophisticated devices has meant that smartphones, netbooks and mobile internet devices are now accepted TV viewing platforms. Also speaking at IDF, Cisco vice president of video product strategy Malachy Moynihan told delegates to expect a massive increase in video being consumed over the internet. He said: "We are seeing an amazing move of video to IP [internet] networks. By 2013, 90% of all IP traffic will be video; 60% of all video will be consumed by consumers over IP networks." Intel's digital home group boss Eric Kim explained that consumers do not want their TVs to act like PCs, but rather the "key challenge is how to bring the power and richness of the internet but keep it TV simple". Kim showed delegates the company's new Atom CE4100 system-on-a-chip (SoC), which is able to support internet content and services on digital TV sets, DVD players and next-generation set top boxes. Another major area of development in the TV industry is 3D, with manufacturers such as Panasonic and Samsung developing products to support such services. During a recent press conference at the IFA technology trade show in Berlin, Sony chief executive Sir Howard Stringer announced that 3D technology will be widely incorporated into Bravia TV sets, PS3 consoles, Blu-ray players and laptops by the close of 2010. At IBC 2009 earlier in the month, set top box manufacturer Pace showcased its new digital TV receiver with a 3D-enabled user interface. According to research by Screen Digest, there will be 1.2 million 3D-ready TV sets in US homes by the close of 2010, which could increase to 9.7m by 2013. In response to these developments, Rattner used a live 3D broadcast during his presentation when he spoke to a 3D projection of 3ality Digital's Howard Postley while the audience wore special glasses. The two men discussed Intel's new high-speed optical technology, codenamed Light Peak, which is claimed to simplify digital downloads and also make them cheaper. Potentially ready for commercial launch in 2010, Light Peak could replace the copper wire cables currently used on many communications network. Rattner concluded: "The old TV world is fading fast and the future is here."

Imagine 2.5 miles of toy train track crammed into a single room. It stretches an incredible 2.5 miles, is composed of roughly 93,000 LEGO bricks, and takes about two hours for a tiny motorized train to traverse, start to finish. You’re looking at Danish LEGO enthusiast Henrik Ludvigsen’s pet project: a continuous, crisscrossing railway crafted from slender blue plastic rails and connected by tiny LEGO “ties.” According to Guinness World Records, which validated the track as the world’s longest, Ludvigsen and a team of 80 others (part of the “Byggepladen” LEGO enthusiast group) took just six hours to assemble the 13,124-foot, 2-inch track — the culmination of a year-and-a-half of planning. What prompted Ludvigsen to do this now?

While there are extraordinarily important issues to reckon with--endingthis catastrophic war and devising a sane national security policy,providing universal health care, and repairing the gutted socialcompact--fixing our air travel system may be one of the most potentpolitical issues of our time. An outdated air traffic control system, flight routes from the 1950's,and air traffic controllers retiring more quickly than they can bereplaced while the Bush Administration plays hardball on a new contractand imposes work rules-- these are just some of the issues that have led to the airline "industry post[ing] its worston-time performance since it began collecting comparable statistics in1995." Roughly 25 percent of domestic flights run late. And now--with 27 million passengers expected to travel over Thanksgivingand the public taking matters into its own hands with the air passenger billof rights movement--President Bush has attempted to "solve" the problem with a little sleight-of-hand and a PR effort. While there are extraordinarily important issues to reckon with–endingthis catastrophic war and devising a sane national security policy,providing universal health care, and repairing the gutted socialcompact–fixing our air travel system may be one of the most potentpolitical issues of our time. Roughly 25 percent of domestic flights run late. And now–with 27 million passengers expected to travel over Thanksgivingand the public taking matters into its own hands with the air passenger billof rights movement–President Bush has attempted to “solve” the problem with a little sleight-of-hand and a PR effort. After the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis I wrote about how our eroding public infrastructure demanded a real public investment agenda (just as I had called for when the levees broke in New Orleans). The antiquated air traffic system is a key partof that agenda. Now the alarms are ringing loudly on that front. Sowhat can be done? Experts agree that a new satellite-based navigation system is needed to “allow planes to abandon the highway maps and fly freely since a computerized system can check for conflicting flight paths.” Accordingto Boyd, airlines are currently limited to using approximately 3 percentof the sky. But that system–called NextGen for Next Generation AirTransportation System–is expected to cost up to $22 billion (less than two months in Iraq and Afghanistan) and won’t be ready until 2025. Who’s going to pay for it? What is happening in the air is a microcosm of what’s happening on theground with the hedge funders. When it comes to the air traffic control system, private jet owners “incur 16 percent of the costs but pay only 3 percent.” And just as hedge funders sent their lobbyists to Congress to defeat the effort for a saner tax system, so too are these tourists in corporate jets fighting to hang on to their unjust privilege of using the skies on the cheap. But even once the navigation system is built, the runways available forarrivals and departures are still limited, and airlines areover-scheduling. A source in the FAA says that airlines will have toeither cut back the number of flights, use larger airplanes instead ofsmaller commuter flights, or serve more regional airports (whichcustomers are often reluctant to use). Raising landing fees might beone way to move in that direction. According to the New York Times, aBoeing 737 landing in Kennedy pays only about $800–“often far lessthat the price of a single full-fare ticket.” (Three-fourths of thechronic delays nationwide are linked to delays at Newark, LaGuardia, and Kennedy.) As for corporate jets, at most airports they don’t pay any landing fee at all, according to the FAA source. Meanwhile, passengers have grown increasingly frustrated and travelhorror stories are commonplace. Kate Hanni, a California real estate agent who was stranded for eight hours on a runway last December, founded the Coalition for Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights that now has 21,000 members. Among its proposals are: allowing passengers to get off of the planeafter it has been on the tarmac for longer than three hours; refundtickets at 150 percent for bumped passengers or passengers delayed bycancellations or postponements over 12 hours; provide food, water,sanitary facilities, and access to medical attention during delayslasting longer than three hours. Good legislation is pending in the House and Senate though the Bush Administration has offered no support. “The Administration has still not commented on the passenger bill ofrights legislation that is currently in Congress….” Hanni recentlysaid. This issue is waiting to be seized by a political leader who will linkit to our decaying infrastructure and the desperate need for publicinvestment. Let’s hope that we don’t wait for the next disaster beforetaking significant steps towards safety and sanity in our skies.

CINCINNATI — When the weather is warm, the iconic Findlay Market becomes a popular spot in the Tristate. Dave Schmidt has captured some remarkable photos for WCPO Insiders. Schmidt is the photographer for Cincygram. That's his incredibly popular Instagram handle. He has more than 33,000 followers on Instagram, where he focuses on the beauty this region has to offer.

LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp was told by Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola that his side do have weaknesses. City and Liverpool are tussling at the top for the Premier League title, with the Reds edging it currently. Klopp's men put themselves at the top of the tree after beating close rivals Manchester United 3-1 at the weekend. And they have a chance to extend that lead with a win against Wolves tonight. But the German manager is not getting ahead of himself, admitting that Guardiola's side have no weaknesses. Klopp had told his press conference on Tuesday: “I have to respect that City are really, really, really good. "I can’t say that City are lucky here and lucky there. They aren’t. Every match day they are spot on. They were last year when they got 100 points and they stay in that mode. "I have to say it, there’s no sign of weakness. "In the first 15 minutes against Everton maybe, but that was 12.30pm after a Champions League game so it was an extended warm-up and there were balls flying around and missed passes. "But after that they took charge of the game and won it comfortably. Thank you very much. Next one. “They are the current champions and they still play like champions. We are all the challengers. "That’s why we should concentrate on every game and not take any result for granted. But Guardiola has hit back at Klopp, saying that his side are currently working on their weaknesses. He said: “Any team has strong points and weak points. Of course we have weaknesses.