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Deadly wildfires threaten thousands of acres of pot farms in California

Hezekiah Allen

“We’re expecting some pretty significant property damage ” California Growers Association Executive Director Hezekiah Allen told Chron. “As damage numbers emerge it’s going to be pretty stunning on all fronts and certainly our membership has been directly impacted.” Reached via phone Allen said that a number of his members have lost homes and their farms to the fire already others were not so optimistic about returning after evacuating. "We've got a few other folks that said they would be shocked if it were still there when they got home " Allen said. "What do you do when you lose your business to a fire? We can't get insurance or aid from FEMA — we don't have access to those programs we can't get loans " Allen said. While pot is technically legal in the state of California purchasing it for recreational purposes is not quite there yet. The state has until January to set up its regulations which could mean that there may be a potential shortage of regulated pot to hit store shelves when the time comes. Allen is confident there will still be some weed when recreational dispensaries open however. "There won't be a shortage of crop. Whether or not theres a shortage of licensed regulated crop — it's tough to say " said Allen . Allen says the CGA and its community members plan to set up a crowdfunding effort in the wake of the fires which is one of their only options considering they can't get relief from federal programs. Hell cannabis businesses still can't even open up a bank account leaving growers with very limited choices on how they can recuperate their losses from this natural disaster.

“We’re expecting some pretty significant property damage ” [TGT] told Chron. “As damage numbers emerge it’s going to be pretty stunning on all fronts and certainly our membership has been directly impacted.” Reached via phone [TGT] said that a number of [TGT] members have lost homes and their farms to the fire already others were not so optimistic about returning after evacuating. "We've got a few other folks that said they would be shocked if it were still there when they got home [TGT] said. "What do you do when you lose your business to a fire? We can't get insurance or aid from FEMA — we don't have access to those programs we can't get loans [TGT] said. While pot is technically legal in the state of California purchasing it for recreational purposes is not quite there yet. The state has until January to set up its regulations which could mean that there may be a potential shortage of regulated pot to hit store shelves when the time comes. [TGT] is confident there will still be some weed when recreational dispensaries open however. "There won't be a shortage of crop. Whether or not theres a shortage of licensed regulated crop — it's tough to say " said [TGT] . [TGT] says the CGA and [TGT] community members plan to set up a crowdfunding effort in the wake of the fires which is one of their only options considering they can't get relief from federal programs. Hell cannabis businesses still can't even open up a bank account leaving growers with very limited choices on how they can recuperate their losses from this natural disaster.

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A Tribute to the Only Bollywood Star My Indian Family Ever Agreed About

Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan (Credit: STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images) There are three things that power the nation of India: food cricket and cinema. Take away that holy trinity and no Indian would agree to get out of bed to a country filled with poverty partisan riots and corruption. I was born and raised in New Delhi and my family so besotted with movies that our modest flat boasted three televisions which lowered the odds of World War III breaking out between those who chose the news broadcast over the 1955 black-and-white Devdas or the primary colored Hindi musicals of the 1980s or Wimbledon. Only one man could unite a family: Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan . He's not a politician or a saint even though there's a temple that prays for him in Calcutta. But he's family to practically everyone I consider family. For someone so integral to India Bachchan struck out with his first nine films. He scored a major Indian film award for 1970's Anand but it wasn't his breakout role. Depending on who you ask Bachchan 's rise could be credited to 1972's action comedy Bombay to Goa or the decade-defining Zanjeer in 1973. Objectively the latter did spark the nexus of Bachchan 's fame: the "angry young man" struggling daily in a country rife with despair and unemployment who isn't afraid to fight back if necessary. India in the 70s was overflowing with young college graduate males who'd been told their dreams would come true in a country that was just turning 30. Instead they stared down arch societal expectations. Around this time there were also unwed mothers who'd been abandoned by the rotten male scoundrels in their life—young women repulsed by men leering at them on buses and in college corridors. There were dockworkers who dreamed of glamour and intrigue. Ordinary people everywhere wanted to be whisked away for three hours and 30 minutes. Bachchan was a handsome young man with his back to the wall in movies about surviving while staying true to faith and family; to millions he was life itself. Bachchan plays Jai a common yet wise criminal who along with his partner Veeru is recruited by an ex-cop who wishes revenge on a famous dacoit. I watched Sholay last week for the first time in almost a decade and it was such a warm and welcome experience that I wanted to dance in the streets and send everyone to Hindi classes so they could understand the dialogue. Indeed there are nuances in Bachchan 's delivery that risk being lost in translation; in Sholay his voice moves like oiled leather and his first line of dialogue translated is a hallmark of leftism: "All cops look the same to me ." While recently revisiting Bachchan 's filmography two films took me by surprise. I hadn't seen Abhimaan from 1973 since I was a teenager and was wary to revisit it; based on the marital troubles of Pandit Ravi Shankar and his first wife Annapurna Devi it's an dissection of the jealousy that consumes a famous singer after his new bride turns out to be more talented than him. The film's honest depiction of sexual desire and gratification and its death in the face of discord took me by surprise and that Bachchan plays the part of the disgruntled singer opposite his own wife Jaya Bhaduri adds layers to the film that I wouldn't have noticed as a child. On the other hand I've watched 1975's Chupke Chupke many times and have yet to tire of Bachchan 's portrayal of Sukumar Sinha an intelligent English literature professor who's hapless in playing an elaborate practical joke on his friend's brother-in-law. Bachchan has comedic potential that directors have often ignored in order to rack up the drama points; he's no less hilarious in Piku from 2015 in which he plays ornery Bengali father Bhashkor Banerjee consumed by constipation and all discussions thereof. Bhashkor lives with his adult daughter Piku (Deepika Padukone) an architect who's nearing her last nerve while taking care of her father; for the first time I saw myself in Bachchan in that I know what it is to be a stubborn Bengali daughter to a stubborn Bengali father. Water pooled in my eyes as I imagined future conversations about the color and consistency of stool with an ailing father—whether from mirth or sorrow I wasn't sure. Truffaut called Bachchan a "one-man industry"; a nation full of disheartened unemployed youths called him "the angry young man"; mothers called him their son. As for my aunt she didn't call him anything when she met him once after a premiere in New Delhi. She was a teenager and shook his hand. He smiled at her. That night she slept with that hand cupped neatly against one cheek. I am certain that if I am lucky enough to meet him before he passes I would do the same.

Amitabh Bachchan (Credit: STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images) There are three things that power the nation of India: food cricket and cinema. Take away that holy trinity and no Indian would agree to get out of bed to a country filled with poverty partisan riots and corruption. I was born and raised in New Delhi and my family so besotted with movies that our modest flat boasted three televisions which lowered the odds of World War III breaking out between those who chose the news broadcast over the 1955 black-and-white Devdas or the primary colored Hindi musicals of the 1980s or Wimbledon. Only one man could unite a family: [TGT] . [TGT] 's not a politician or a saint even though there's a temple that prays for [TGT] in Calcutta. But [TGT] 's family to practically everyone I consider family. For someone so integral to India Bachchan struck out with his first nine films. He scored a major Indian film award for 1970's Anand but it wasn't his breakout role. Depending on who you ask [TGT] 's rise could be credited to 1972's action comedy Bombay to Goa or the decade-defining Zanjeer in 1973. Objectively the latter did spark the nexus of Bachchan 's fame: the "angry young man" struggling daily in a country rife with despair and unemployment who isn't afraid to fight back if necessary. India in the 70s was overflowing with young college graduate males who'd been told their dreams would come true in a country that was just turning 30. Instead they stared down arch societal expectations. Around this time there were also unwed mothers who'd been abandoned by the rotten male scoundrels in their life—young women repulsed by men leering at them on buses and in college corridors. There were dockworkers who dreamed of glamour and intrigue. Ordinary people everywhere wanted to be whisked away for three hours and 30 minutes. [TGT] was a handsome young man with [TGT] back to the wall in movies about surviving while staying true to faith and family; to millions [TGT] was life itself. [TGT] plays Jai a common yet wise criminal who along with [TGT] partner Veeru is recruited by an ex-cop who wishes revenge on a famous dacoit. I watched Sholay last week for the first time in almost a decade and it was such a warm and welcome experience that I wanted to dance in the streets and send everyone to Hindi classes so they could understand the dialogue. Indeed there are nuances in [TGT] 's delivery that risk being lost in translation; in Sholay [TGT] voice moves like oiled leather and [TGT] first line of dialogue translated is a hallmark of leftism: "All cops look the same to me ." While recently revisiting [TGT] 's filmography two films took me by surprise. I hadn't seen Abhimaan from 1973 since I was a teenager and was wary to revisit it; based on the marital troubles of Pandit Ravi Shankar and his first wife Annapurna Devi it's an dissection of the jealousy that consumes a famous singer after his new bride turns out to be more talented than him. The film's honest depiction of sexual desire and gratification and its death in the face of discord took me by surprise and that Bachchan plays the part of the disgruntled singer opposite his own wife Jaya Bhaduri adds layers to the film that I wouldn't have noticed as a child. On the other hand I've watched 1975's Chupke Chupke many times and have yet to tire of Bachchan 's portrayal of Sukumar Sinha an intelligent English literature professor who's hapless in playing an elaborate practical joke on his friend's brother-in-law. Bachchan has comedic potential that directors have often ignored in order to rack up the drama points; he's no less hilarious in Piku from 2015 in which he plays ornery Bengali father Bhashkor Banerjee consumed by constipation and all discussions thereof. Bhashkor lives with his adult daughter Piku (Deepika Padukone) an architect who's nearing her last nerve while taking care of her father; for the first time I saw myself in Bachchan in that I know what it is to be a stubborn Bengali daughter to a stubborn Bengali father. Water pooled in my eyes as I imagined future conversations about the color and consistency of stool with an ailing father—whether from mirth or sorrow I wasn't sure. Truffaut called Bachchan a "one-man industry"; a nation full of disheartened unemployed youths called him "the angry young man"; mothers called him their son. As for my aunt she didn't call him anything when she met him once after a premiere in New Delhi. She was a teenager and shook his hand. He smiled at her. That night she slept with that hand cupped neatly against one cheek. I am certain that if I am lucky enough to meet him before he passes I would do the same.

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Aaron Rodgers was pretending to be the Cleveland Browns QB this week at practice

Aaron Rodgers

Dec. 10 (UPI) — The Cleveland Browns probably wish he was their real quarterback but Aaron Rodgers pretended to be the AFC North squad’s gunslinger this week at practice. Rodgers who is recovering from a broken collarbone is currently on injured reserve. He practiced in pads on Thursday and will undergo a CT scan this coming week according to the NFL Network. He is eligible to return to the Packers in Week 15. But in Week 14 the Packers are facing the Browns in Cleveland. That meant Rodgers took to the scout team pretending to be a Browns quarterback. Browns quarterbacks have combined to complete 53.7 percent of their passes for 2 681 yards 10 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 12 games. Rodgers completed 66.3 percent of his throws for 1 385 yards 13 scores and three interceptions in seven games before getting injured. “They wear red shirts so obviously scout-team work is something he will do ” Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters this week. “It’s important for him to feel the pass rush and get acclimated.” “We’ll be in pads on Thursday so we have to identify exactly what we want to get done there. That’s why we call it trial return. He ’s not cut loose to go full in practice where he ’s able to do everything.” Rodgers ’ wide receivers said the quarterback has looked like himself at practice. “ He looked great. He looked the same as his last practice ” Davante Adams said Wednesday according to the team website. “Just seeing him out there. I’ve been seeing him move around. Like I said before just having him in the building alone is good for this team. In the meeting rooms just having that mind and wisdom and experience around just picks everybody up.” Rodgers broke his collarbone on Oct. 15 while facing the Minnesota Vikings. He had surgery four days later and received 13 screws for the injury. “I rolled out to my right I threw the ball and I got tackled and kind of slammed on the ground. But I’m good now ” Rodgers revealed on Conon O’Brien. “Thirteen screws later and here I am.”

Dec. 10 (UPI) — The Cleveland Browns probably wish he was their real quarterback but [TGT] pretended to be the AFC North squad’s gunslinger this week at practice. [TGT] who is recovering from a broken collarbone is currently on injured reserve. [TGT] practiced in pads on Thursday and will undergo a CT scan this coming week according to the NFL Network. [TGT] is eligible to return to the Packers in Week 15. But in Week 14 the Packers are facing the Browns in Cleveland. That meant [TGT] took to the scout team pretending to be a Browns quarterback. Browns quarterbacks have combined to complete 53.7 percent of their passes for 2 681 yards 10 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 12 games. [TGT] completed 66.3 percent of [TGT] throws for 1 385 yards 13 scores and three interceptions in seven games before getting injured. “They wear red shirts so obviously scout-team work is something he will do ” Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters this week. “It’s important for him to feel the pass rush and get acclimated.” “We’ll be in pads on Thursday so we have to identify exactly what we want to get done there. That’s why we call it trial return. He ’s not cut loose to go full in practice where he ’s able to do everything.” [TGT] ’ wide receivers said the quarterback has looked like himself at practice. “ He looked great. He looked the same as his last practice ” Davante Adams said Wednesday according to the team website. “Just seeing him out there. I’ve been seeing him move around. Like I said before just having him in the building alone is good for this team. In the meeting rooms just having that mind and wisdom and experience around just picks everybody up.” Rodgers broke his collarbone on Oct. 15 while facing the Minnesota Vikings. He had surgery four days later and received 13 screws for the injury. “I rolled out to my right I threw the ball and I got tackled and kind of slammed on the ground. But I’m good now ” Rodgers revealed on Conon O’Brien. “Thirteen screws later and here I am.”

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Model who lost leg from tampon

Lauren Wasser

Five years ago at age 24 model Lauren Wasser nearly died from toxic shock after using a tampon which resulted in her losing her right leg and part of her left foot. Now she may lose her entire left leg as well. “Had I known toxic shock was real and had I seen someone that had either lost limbs or spoke about it publicly I would have never used tampons ” Wasser told People. The model who now appears on runways and ad campaigns with her gold prosthetic leg is still struggling with the damage left behind from TSS. At the time of the initial incident in 2012 Wasser told Vice that doctors wanted to amputate both legs but she fought to keep the left one. A post shared by Lauren Wasser (@theimpossiblemuse) on Oct 9 2017 at 10:11am PDT Now however she faces the possibility of becoming a double-amputee. “I'm in excruciating pain every day ” she told the Post. A post shared by Lauren Wasser (@theimpossiblemuse) on Aug 23 2016 at 6:29pm PDT Wasser has made it her mission to warn other women about the risks associated with using tampons as well as advocate for more transparency regarding feminine hygiene products. “I think this is my purpose and I wouldn't change it for the world ” she recently told The Washington Post. A post shared by Lauren Wasser (@theimpossiblemuse) on May 29 2017 at 9:30am PDT Besides being a public advocate and speaking out about the disease that changed her life Wasser is also working with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York to promote legislation that calls for the National Institutes of Health to help determine whether certain elements of feminine hygiene products are safe the Post reports. “Toxic Shock Syndrome cost me my leg but years later I have since dedicated myself to raising awareness about TSS prevention ” Wasser wrote in an Op-Ed for InStyle last month. “I want to educate women about the potential risks of using tampons. TSS has been killing and harming women for more than 30 years: let that sink in. How many lives is it going to take for something to change?”

Five years ago at age 24 model [TGT] nearly died from toxic shock after using a tampon which resulted in her losing her right leg and part of her left foot. Now she may lose her entire left leg as well. “Had I known toxic shock was real and had I seen someone that had either lost limbs or spoke about it publicly I would have never used tampons ” Wasser told People. The model who now appears on runways and ad campaigns with her gold prosthetic leg is still struggling with the damage left behind from TSS. At the time of the initial incident in 2012 Wasser told Vice that doctors wanted to amputate both legs but she fought to keep the left one. A post shared by [TGT] (@theimpossiblemuse) on Oct 9 2017 at 10:11am PDT Now however she faces the possibility of becoming a double-amputee. “I'm in excruciating pain every day ” she told the Post. A post shared by [TGT] (@theimpossiblemuse) on Aug 23 2016 at 6:29pm PDT Wasser has made it her mission to warn other women about the risks associated with using tampons as well as advocate for more transparency regarding feminine hygiene products. “I think this is my purpose and I wouldn't change it for the world ” she recently told The Washington Post. A post shared by [TGT] (@theimpossiblemuse) on May 29 2017 at 9:30am PDT Besides being a public advocate and speaking out about the disease that changed her life Wasser is also working with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York to promote legislation that calls for the National Institutes of Health to help determine whether certain elements of feminine hygiene products are safe the Post reports. “Toxic Shock Syndrome cost me my leg but years later I have since dedicated myself to raising awareness about TSS prevention ” Wasser wrote in an Op-Ed for InStyle last month. “I want to educate women about the potential risks of using tampons. TSS has been killing and harming women for more than 30 years: let that sink in. How many lives is it going to take for something to change?”

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Prince Harry is engaged to Meghan Markle Kensington Palace says

Meghan Markled

The statement said the couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. Harry and Markle âs upcoming wedding will be the first grand royal wedding since Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in 2011. William and Kate who is expecting her third child said in a statement they are excited for the couple adding that âit has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together." Markle best known for her role as an ambitious paralegal in the hit U.S. legal drama "Suits " surprised many when she shared her feelings for Harry in a September cover story for Vanity Fair. Asked about the media frenzy surrounding their courtship the 36-year-old said: "At the end of the day I think it's really simple ... we're two people who are really happy and in love." Describing Harry as her "boyfriend " Markle said that while she expected that she and Harry would have to "come forward" about their relationship at some point the two were just a couple enjoying time spent with each other. "Personally I love a great love story " she said. Markle 's Vanity Fair interview broke new ground. It is unusual for a royal love interest to speak so publicly -- and candidly -- before becoming engaged. Harry's past reported girlfriends all shied away from the media limelight and his sister-in-law formerly known as Kate Middleton stayed silent until she and Prince William gave a formal televised interview at Buckingham Palace after their engagement became public. But then unlike some other "commoners" romantically linked to Britain's royals Markle is no stranger to media exposure and the world of show business. The actress's most successful role is the feisty Rachel Zane in the TV legal show "Suits " now in its seventh season. Her career has included small parts on TV series including "Fringe " "CSI: Miami " "Knight Rider" and "Castle " as well as movies such as "Horrible Bosses." Outside of acting Markle founded a lifestyle blog called TheTig.com (which closed down in April without explanation) and has lent her celebrity status to humanitarian causes. She has campaigned with the United Nations on gender equality written in Time magazine about girls' education and the stigma surrounding menstruation and has traveled to Rwanda as global ambassador for the charity World Vision Canada. She has described how her mother took her to the slums of Jamaica to witness poverty first-hand saying experiences like that shaped her social consciousness and charity work. To some degree that mirrors the experience of Harry who was also inspired by his mother's humanitarian work and embraced the types of charities Diana favored in the final years of her life before her 1997 death in a Paris car crash. Harry and Markle held hands for their first official appearance together in September in Toronto at the Invictus Games a sporting event for wounded service personnel that Harry spearheaded. Both were dressed casually in jeans smiling and chatting as they arrived for a tennis match. Several days later Harry was photographed kissing Markle on the cheek as he joined the actress and her mother in a luxury box to watch the event's closing ceremony. Markle said she met Harry through friends in London in July 2016 and that they had been dating quietly for several months before the romance hit the headlines. Some tabloids had alluded to Markle 's mixed-race heritage pointing out she has an African-American mother and a white father. Markle herself has spoken out about coming to terms with being biracial -- both growing up and in her Hollywood career. In a March interview with Allure magazine she said studying race at college was "the first time I could put a name to feeling too light in the black community and too mixed in the white community.

The statement said the couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. Harry and [TGT] âs upcoming wedding will be the first grand royal wedding since Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in 2011. William and Kate who is expecting her third child said in a statement they are excited for the couple adding that âit has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together." [TGT] best known for [TGT] role as an ambitious paralegal in the hit U.S. legal drama "Suits " surprised many when [TGT] shared [TGT] feelings for Harry in a September cover story for Vanity Fair. Asked about the media frenzy surrounding their courtship the 36-year-old said: "At the end of the day I think it's really simple ... we're two people who are really happy and in love." Describing Harry as her "boyfriend " Markle said that while she expected that she and Harry would have to "come forward" about their relationship at some point the two were just a couple enjoying time spent with each other. "Personally I love a great love story " she said. Markle 's Vanity Fair interview broke new ground. It is unusual for a royal love interest to speak so publicly -- and candidly -- before becoming engaged. Harry's past reported girlfriends all shied away from the media limelight and his sister-in-law formerly known as Kate Middleton stayed silent until she and Prince William gave a formal televised interview at Buckingham Palace after their engagement became public. But then unlike some other "commoners" romantically linked to Britain's royals Markle is no stranger to media exposure and the world of show business. The actress's most successful role is the feisty Rachel Zane in the TV legal show "Suits " now in its seventh season. Her career has included small parts on TV series including "Fringe " "CSI: Miami " "Knight Rider" and "Castle " as well as movies such as "Horrible Bosses." Outside of acting Markle founded a lifestyle blog called TheTig.com (which closed down in April without explanation) and has lent her celebrity status to humanitarian causes. She has campaigned with the United Nations on gender equality written in Time magazine about girls' education and the stigma surrounding menstruation and has traveled to Rwanda as global ambassador for the charity World Vision Canada. She has described how her mother took her to the slums of Jamaica to witness poverty first-hand saying experiences like that shaped her social consciousness and charity work. To some degree that mirrors the experience of Harry who was also inspired by his mother's humanitarian work and embraced the types of charities Diana favored in the final years of her life before her 1997 death in a Paris car crash. Harry and Markle held hands for their first official appearance together in September in Toronto at the Invictus Games a sporting event for wounded service personnel that Harry spearheaded. Both were dressed casually in jeans smiling and chatting as they arrived for a tennis match. Several days later Harry was photographed kissing Markle on the cheek as he joined the actress and her mother in a luxury box to watch the event's closing ceremony. Markle said she met Harry through friends in London in July 2016 and that they had been dating quietly for several months before the romance hit the headlines. Some tabloids had alluded to [TGT] 's mixed-race heritage pointing out [TGT] has an African-American mother and a white father. Markle herself has spoken out about coming to terms with being biracial -- both growing up and in her Hollywood career. In a March interview with Allure magazine she said studying race at college was "the first time I could put a name to feeling too light in the black community and too mixed in the white community.

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Michelle Malkin on What She Wants to See in 2018: 'The Wall the Wall the Wall'

Michelle Malkin

Monday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends ” political commentator Michelle Malkin said President Donald Trump needed to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. When asked what she wants the Trump administration to accomplish in 2018 Malkin said “The wall the wall the wall.” She continued “In Congress guys now we’ve got this clamor from both parties for a so-called DACA fix. I am one of those unrepentant children of legal immigrants to this country who absolutely support everything this president is doing to put immigration enforcement and border security first period. She added “You know we have this clamor now for multi-billion dollar infrastructure deal. Right now President Trump until the end of his first term has one infrastructure priority – the wall the wall the wall.”

Monday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends ” political commentator [TGT] said President Donald Trump needed to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. When asked what [TGT] wants the Trump administration to accomplish in 2018 [TGT] said “The wall the wall the wall.” She continued “In Congress guys now we’ve got this clamor from both parties for a so-called DACA fix. I am one of those unrepentant children of legal immigrants to this country who absolutely support everything this president is doing to put immigration enforcement and border security first period. [TGT] added “You know we have this clamor now for multi-billion dollar infrastructure deal. Right now President Trump until the end of his first term has one infrastructure priority – the wall the wall the wall.”

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Immigrant Acquitted Of San Francisco Killing Sentenced On Lesser Gun Charge : The Two

Ines Garcia Zarate

Jose Ines Garcia Zarate a homeless undocumented immigrant who was acquitted of murder in the shooting death of San Francisco resident Kate Steinle on a city pier was sentenced to time already served for being a felon in possession of a gun. Zarate had faced a maximum sentence of three years for his conviction on the state charge of being a felon in possession of a gun. He 's been in custody for about 30 months since his arrest for killing Steinle as she was walking arm-in-arm with her father. Superior Court Judge Samuel Feng denied a defense motion for a new trial on the gun possession charge. Zarate 's public defenders had argued that the judge did not properly instruct the jury on the issue that the defendant may have had only "momentary" possession of the gun and therefore did not commit a crime. The jury of six men and six women decided in November that Zarate had not intentionally killed Steinle after hearing evidence that the single fatal shot fired had ricocheted off the ground and travelled about 78 feet before striking her. The defense had argued that Zarate found the gun in a cloth under his bench seat and the gun accidentally discharged. Zarate had been deported five times and was slated to be removed from the United States again in early 2015 when he was transferred by federal authorities to San Francisco to face a local 20-year-old marijuana charge. That charge eventually was dropped and local authorities released him in accordance with San Francisco's sanctuary-city policies. Steinle's death occurred several weeks later. A week after his acquittal Zarate was indicted on two federal charges of being a felon and undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm and ammunition. San Francisco authorities say they will turn Garcia Zarate over to federal immigration authorities although it is not immediately clear as to when. The federal gun charges carry a penalty of up to ten years in prison after which — if he were convicted — he presumably would be deported.

[TGT] a homeless undocumented immigrant who was acquitted of murder in the shooting death of San Francisco resident Kate Steinle on a city pier was sentenced to time already served for being a felon in possession of a gun. [TGT] had faced a maximum sentence of three years for [TGT] conviction on the state charge of being a felon in possession of a gun. [TGT] 's been in custody for about 30 months since [TGT] arrest for killing Steinle as she was walking arm-in-arm with her father. Superior Court Judge Samuel Feng denied a defense motion for a new trial on the gun possession charge. [TGT] 's public defenders had argued that the judge did not properly instruct the jury on the issue that the defendant may have had only "momentary" possession of the gun and therefore did not commit a crime. The jury of six men and six women decided in November that [TGT] had not intentionally killed Steinle after hearing evidence that the single fatal shot fired had ricocheted off the ground and travelled about 78 feet before striking her. The defense had argued that [TGT] found the gun in a cloth under [TGT] bench seat and the gun accidentally discharged. [TGT] had been deported five times and was slated to be removed from the United States again in early 2015 when [TGT] was transferred by federal authorities to San Francisco to face a local 20-year-old marijuana charge. That charge eventually was dropped and local authorities released [TGT] in accordance with San Francisco's sanctuary-city policies. Steinle's death occurred several weeks later. A week after his acquittal [TGT] was indicted on two federal charges of being a felon and undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm and ammunition. San Francisco authorities say they will turn Garcia Zarate over to federal immigration authorities although it is not immediately clear as to when. The federal gun charges carry a penalty of up to ten years in prison after which — if he were convicted — he presumably would be deported.

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Funeral home lost my sister’s body

Sandra Tufino

Funeral Director Sandra Tufino picked up Sanchez’ remains from the city Medical Examiner’s office according to the Bronx Supreme Court lawsuit Rodriguez and her brothers have filed against RG Ortiz. “I paid for the service. They told me seven to 10 days she would be ready after that and we would proceed and do a mass ” she said. “I waited 15 days. Nothing happened.” Each time she called the funeral home asked for her name and number but never offered an answer as to what happened to Sanchez’ remains claims Rodriguez who shelled out $600 to $700 for the cremation. “This is crazy ” she said. Her lawyer Jesse Minc called the situation “egregious.” “It’s January she died in September. There’s no reasonable explanation for this ” he said adding “How do you lose a body?”

[TGT] picked up Sanchez’ remains from the city Medical Examiner’s office according to the Bronx Supreme Court lawsuit Rodriguez and [TGT] brothers have filed against RG Ortiz. “I paid for the service. They told me seven to 10 days [TGT] would be ready after that and we would proceed and do a mass ” [TGT] said. “I waited 15 days. Nothing happened.” Each time [TGT] called the funeral home asked for [TGT] name and number but never offered an answer as to what happened to Sanchez’ remains claims Rodriguez who shelled out $600 to $700 for the cremation. “This is crazy ” she said. Her lawyer Jesse Minc called the situation “egregious.” “It’s January she died in September. There’s no reasonable explanation for this ” he said adding “How do you lose a body?”

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Syria says rare US strike an effort 'to support terrorism'

Thomas F. Veale

In an email Thursday to The Associated Press Col. Thomas F. Veale said the coalition reported to the Russians the buildup of the pro-government forces in the area before the attack and communicated with them during and after it. The Russian officials offered assurances that they would not engage the coalition forces in the area Veale said. “Pro-regime forces initiated hostilities with artillery pieces (howitzers). Additionally Syrian pro-regime forces maneuvered T-55 and T-72 main battle tanks with supporting mortar fire in what appears to be a coordinated attack on Syrian Democratic Forces approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of the Euphrates River de-confliction line in Khusham Syria ” Veale said. Asked if Russia was responsible for not stopping the attack Veale said: “The de-confliction effort has served its purpose. Just as the coalition does not direct the operations of the SDF the Russians do not direct operations of the Syrian regime.” Veale said they suspect the Syrian pro-government forces were trying to seize terrain from the U.S.-backed forces liberated from IS militants last year including major oil fields in the area.

In an email Thursday to [TGT] said the coalition reported to the Russians the buildup of the pro-government forces in the area before the attack and communicated with them during and after it. The Russian officials offered assurances that they would not engage the coalition forces in the area Veale said. “Pro-regime forces initiated hostilities with artillery pieces (howitzers). Additionally Syrian pro-regime forces maneuvered T-55 and T-72 main battle tanks with supporting mortar fire in what appears to be a coordinated attack on Syrian Democratic Forces approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of the Euphrates River de-confliction line in Khusham Syria ” [TGT] said. Asked if Russia was responsible for not stopping the attack Veale said: “The de-confliction effort has served its purpose. Just as the coalition does not direct the operations of the SDF the Russians do not direct operations of the Syrian regime.” [TGT] said they suspect the Syrian pro-government forces were trying to seize terrain from the U.S.-backed forces liberated from IS militants last year including major oil fields in the area.

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Democratic memo shows no wiretap scandal

Carter Page

FBI had an independent basis for investigating Carter Page : Our view Carter Page speaks in Moscow in December 2016. (Photo: Yuri Kochetkov/epa) That’s the backdrop to this weekend’s release of a Democratic memo countering what amounted to a Republican hit job on the FBI and the Justice Department for their handling of a wiretap of Carter Page a former adviser to the Donald Trump campaign. The Democrats’ memo neatly counters many of the Republican allegations of sinister doings behind the 2016 wiretap of Page . The release by the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee was as welcome as it was belated. True to form Trump’s focus was on himself. He railed against the Democratic memo tweeting that it “is a total political and legal BUST. Just confirms all of the terrible things that were done. SO ILLEGAL!” That memo put out more than three weeks ago accused the FBI of using an explosive dossier written by former British spy Christopher Steele to persuade a judge on the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court also known as the FISA court to grant a warrant for a wiretap in 2016 on Page . The key allegation: The FBI failed to inform the judge that Steele had been hired to do opposition research funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign. That’s quite a different picture than the one painted by Republicans who had hyped the Page wiretap as the scandal of the century.

FBI had an independent basis for investigating Carter Page : Our view Carter Page speaks in Moscow in December 2016. (Photo: Yuri Kochetkov/epa) That’s the backdrop to this weekend’s release of [TGT] . [TGT] neatly counters many of the Republican allegations of sinister doings behind the 2016 wiretap of [TGT] . The release by the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee was as welcome as it was belated. True to form Trump’s focus was on himself. He railed against [TGT] tweeting that [TGT] “is a total political and legal BUST. Just confirms all of the terrible things that were done. SO ILLEGAL!” [TGT] put out more than three weeks ago accused the FBI of using an explosive dossier written by former British spy Christopher Steele to persuade a judge on the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court also known as the FISA court to grant a warrant for a wiretap in 2016 on [TGT] . The key allegation: The FBI failed to inform the judge that Steele had been hired to do opposition research funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign. That’s quite a different picture than the one painted by Republicans who had hyped the [TGT] wiretap as the scandal of the century.

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Bomb wounds Hamas member in Lebanon

Mohamed Hamdan

The target Mohamed Hamdan was not a publicly known Hamas figure in Lebanon. A statement from Hamas the Islamist group that controls Gaza confirmed he was a member of the group without detailing his role and said “initial indications” suggested Israel was behind the bombing. Al-Manar television run by the Lebanese political and military group Hezbollah described Hamdan as an important figure in Hamas adding that he appeared to have a security role and was being tracked by Israel. A leader of the Palestinian Fatah movement in Lebanon said Hamdan was involved in operations in Israel. “The incident has Israeli fingerprints ” Mounir al-Maqdah the Fatah official told Reuters. Hamdan was “slightly wounded” in the attack a Hamas official in Sidon Ayman Shanaa told the Palestinian television station Paltoday.

The target [TGT] was not a publicly known Hamas figure in Lebanon. A statement from Hamas the Islamist group that controls Gaza confirmed he was a member of the group without detailing his role and said “initial indications” suggested Israel was behind the bombing. Al-Manar television run by the Lebanese political and military group Hezbollah described Hamdan as an important figure in Hamas adding that he appeared to have a security role and was being tracked by Israel. A leader of the Palestinian Fatah movement in Lebanon said Hamdan was involved in operations in Israel. “The incident has Israeli fingerprints ” Mounir al-Maqdah the Fatah official told Reuters. Hamdan was “slightly wounded” in the attack a Hamas official in Sidon Ayman Shanaa told the Palestinian television station Paltoday.

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Trump’s Consumer Product Safety Nominee Defended Deadly Products

Dana Baiocco

Dana Baiocco President Donald Trump’s pick to sit on the Consumer Product Safety Commission made her name helping companies avoid responsibility for harmful products. A partner at law firm Jones Day Baiocco has represented big tobacco and fought in court against asbestos workers who developed mesothelioma. But the cases she ’s litigated that may conflict most directly with the CPSC’s mission of protecting the public from dangerous products involve all-terrain vehicles. While the CPSC was leading a campaign over ATV safety Baiocco was representing Yamaha in several suits over its two-person Rhino ATV. Baiocco ’s appointment would put Republican appointments in the majority of the five-person commission which could halt or reverse progress on a number of issues including restrictions on off-highway vehicles a category that includes ATVs. “Industry very much wants the agency to abandon that rule-making ” said Rachel Weintraub legislative director and general counsel for the Consumer Federation of America. “And once there is a Republican majority that may happen.” In a letter Baiocco sent to the CPSC special counsel last month she said she would recuse herself from “any particular matter in which I know that I have a financial interest directly” and issues that are of direct interest to her husband’s firm White and Williams. The letter didn’t specifically address ATVs or Ikea dressers. Remington A. Gregg counsel for civil justice and consumer rights at Public Citizen said Baiocco should “absolutely recuse herself” from those and “any products she’s worked on.” It’s unclear how many of those products she might encounter as a CPSC commissioner. In addition to Yamaha Baiocco who has worked at Jones Day since 1998 has defended R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a class-action suit filed on behalf of smokers in Florida. According to a financial disclosure form she submitted to the Senate Baiocco received at least $5 000 “in a year” from 13 clients including R.J. Reynolds Volkswagen AG and the chemical manufacturer Daikin Industries in addition to her more than $1.2 million salary from Jones Day. She also represented Honeywell Safety Products in a suit filed by the survivors of a worker who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at the World Trade Center site. Her client list also includes airplane parts manufacturer Parker Hannifin which she ’s represented in wrongful death cases involving 13 people including the late Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan. Baiocco and the White House did not respond to requests for comment. Consumer advocates will be closely watching Baiocco’s confirmation hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee which is scheduled for Wednesday. “We want to hear that she ’s actually concerned about health and safety and that she would work to protect our families ” said Gregg. “ Her career shows the opposite.”

[TGT] President Donald Trump’s pick to sit on the Consumer Product Safety Commission made [TGT] name helping companies avoid responsibility for harmful products. A partner at law firm Jones Day Baiocco has represented big tobacco and fought in court against asbestos workers who developed mesothelioma. But the cases she ’s litigated that may conflict most directly with the CPSC’s mission of protecting the public from dangerous products involve all-terrain vehicles. While the CPSC was leading a campaign over ATV safety Baiocco was representing Yamaha in several suits over its two-person Rhino ATV. [TGT] would put Republican appointments in the majority of the five-person commission which could halt or reverse progress on a number of issues including restrictions on off-highway vehicles a category that includes ATVs. “Industry very much wants [TGT] to abandon that rule-making ” said Rachel Weintraub legislative director and general counsel for the Consumer Federation of America. “And once there is a Republican majority that may happen.” In a letter [TGT] sent to the CPSC special counsel last month [TGT] said [TGT] would recuse [TGT] from “any particular matter in which I know that I have a financial interest directly” and issues that are of direct interest to [TGT] husband’s firm White and Williams. The letter didn’t specifically address ATVs or Ikea dressers. Remington A. Gregg counsel for civil justice and consumer rights at Public Citizen said [TGT] should “absolutely recuse herself” from those and “any products she’s worked on.” It’s unclear how many of those products [TGT] might encounter as a CPSC commissioner. In addition to Yamaha Baiocco who has worked at Jones Day since 1998 has defended R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a class-action suit filed on behalf of smokers in Florida. According to a financial disclosure form [TGT] submitted to [TGT] received at least $5 000 “in a year” from 13 clients including R.J. Reynolds Volkswagen AG and the chemical manufacturer Daikin Industries in addition to [TGT] more than $1.2 million salary from Jones Day. [TGT] also represented Honeywell Safety Products in a suit filed by the survivors of a worker who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at the World Trade Center site. [TGT] client list also includes airplane parts manufacturer Parker Hannifin which [TGT] ’s represented in wrongful death cases involving 13 people including the late Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan. Baiocco and the White House did not respond to requests for comment. Consumer advocates will be closely watching Baiocco’s confirmation hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee which is scheduled for Wednesday. “We want to hear that she ’s actually concerned about health and safety and that she would work to protect our families ” said Gregg. “ Her career shows the opposite.”

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Getty Images bans retouched images of models' body shapes to comply with new French law

Getty

Getty Images has announced that beginning Oct. 1 the agency will no longer accept photos of models' body shapes that have been retouched. Changes to hair color nose shape and retouching of skin or blemishes are still acceptable and are "outside the scope of this new law " according to Getty 's website. Getty Images The law will go into effect on Oct. 1 in France the same day Getty will stop accepting content that shows models' figures that have been altered. The company added in its statement that "any content submitted where this type of retouching has been carried out will be a breach of our submission requirements."

[TGT] has announced that beginning Oct. 1 the agency will no longer accept photos of models' body shapes that have been retouched. Changes to hair color nose shape and retouching of skin or blemishes are still acceptable and are "outside the scope of this new law " according to [TGT] . [TGT] The law will go into effect on Oct. 1 in France the same day [TGT] will stop accepting content that shows models' figures that have been altered. [TGT] added in [TGT] statement that "any content submitted where this type of retouching has been carried out will be a breach of our submission requirements."

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Missing in Michael Bennett altercation? Activated body cameras

Michael Bennett

Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE SportsPulse: USA TODAY's NFL insider Jarrett Bell explains why no one should be surprised by Michael Bennett 's encounter with police and that should embolden players and the league to take a stand. USA TODAY Sports Las Vegas police undersheriff Kevin McMahill shows body-camera footage from officers near where the Michael Bennett incident took place. However the officers involved in detaining Bennett did not have their cameras activated. (Photo: John Locher AP) Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett the Las Vegas police and the union that represents the officers have each given their version of what occurred when Bennett was detained in the early morning hours of Aug. 27. A device that could reconcile what happened was not activated as Bennett was confronted at gunpoint and handcuffed: body-worn cameras that are required to be used in such situations by officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. More: Michael Bennett under investigation for possible involvement in altercation before detention More: Roger Goodell's support for Michael Bennett might contain multiple messages Bennett who attended the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight earlier in the evening said he was among several hundred people who ran after hearing what they believed were gunshots fired nearby. USA TODAY Sports reported that police are investigating whether Bennett was involved in an altercation at the Cromwell Las Vegas Hotel & Casino before the false reports of gunfire. While Bennett said in a statement on Wednesday he was detained "for doing nothing more than simply being a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time ” Las Vegas police undersheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters an officer observed Bennett crouching behind a gaming machine before he ran out of the casino.

Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE SportsPulse: USA TODAY's NFL insider Jarrett Bell explains why no one should be surprised by Michael Bennett 's encounter with police and that should embolden players and the league to take a stand. USA TODAY Sports Las Vegas police undersheriff Kevin McMahill shows body-camera footage from officers near where the [TGT] incident took place. However the officers involved in detaining [TGT] did not have their cameras activated. (Photo: John Locher AP) [TGT] have each given [TGT] version of what occurred when [TGT] was detained in the early morning hours of Aug. 27. A device that could reconcile what happened was not activated as Bennett was confronted at gunpoint and handcuffed: body-worn cameras that are required to be used in such situations by officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. More: [TGT] under investigation for possible involvement in altercation before detention More: Roger Goodell's support for [TGT] might contain multiple messages Bennett who attended the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight earlier in the evening said [TGT] was among several hundred people who ran after hearing what they believed were gunshots fired nearby. USA TODAY Sports reported that police are investigating whether [TGT] was involved in an altercation at the Cromwell Las Vegas Hotel & Casino before the false reports of gunfire. While [TGT] said in a statement on Wednesday [TGT] was detained "for doing nothing more than simply being a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time ” Las Vegas police undersheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters an officer observed [TGT] crouching behind a gaming machine before [TGT] ran out of the casino.

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Roger Goodell's wife had anonymous twitter account to defend husband

Roger Goodell

An anonymous Twitter account that routinely criticized media coverage of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was being run by Goodell's wife according to Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal. The @forargument account which was deleted after the Wall Street Journal began investigating published under the name "Jones smith ." According to Beaton the account had no followers and no profile picture. However after the Wall Street Journal asked Jane Skinner Goodell the commissioner's wife about the account she admitted to being the owner in a written statement. The account was said to have specifically targeted media members who were critical of the commissioner. In one example provided by the Wall Street Journal the account replied to a tweet from Pro Football Talk saying the commissioner needs to solve the national anthem issue in the NFL. In another example Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal made a joke about a photo that showed Roger Goodell posing with New England Patriots fans. "Why is everyone so immature? (including you?) " the account wrote. "Let's celebrate the new season." You can see more examples of tweets from the account at the Wall Street Journal.

[TGT] was being run by Goodell's wife according to Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal. [TGT] ." According to Beaton [TGT] had no followers and no profile picture. However after the Wall Street Journal asked Jane Skinner Goodell the commissioner's wife about [TGT] she admitted to being the owner in a written statement. [TGT] was said to have specifically targeted media members who were critical of the commissioner. In one example provided by the Wall Street Journal [TGT] replied to a tweet from Pro Football Talk saying the commissioner needs to solve the national anthem issue in the NFL. In another example Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal made a joke about a photo that showed Roger Goodell posing with New England Patriots fans. "Why is everyone so immature? (including you?) " the account wrote. "Let's celebrate the new season." You can see more examples of tweets from the account at the Wall Street Journal.

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Director Cast Rose McGowan in 'Grindhouse' to Spite Weinstein

Rose McGowan

Grindhouse co-director Robert Rodriguez said in a statement Friday that he and ex-girlfriend Rose McGowan once schemed to get back at Harvey Weinstein in the most industry way possible: by working together on the 2007 cult flick. Related Rose McGowan on Sexual Harassment: 'Scarlet Letter Is Theirs Not Ours' "For all of us who have been grabbed by the motherfucking pussy no more " actress says. "Name it. Shame it. Call it out" Rodriguez who dated McGowan from 2006 to 2009 revealed that he knew about the 1997 Sundance Film Festival incident that McGowan made public earlier this month and that he intentionally cast the actress in a "bad ass" role as a way to spite the media mogul. The director recounted how he met McGowan at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 and the pair got to talking about Sin City which screened earlier that week. When the actress made mention that she was a fan of film noir Rodriguez commented that she should have auditioned to which she replied that she had been blacklisted from working on Weinstein movies. "When I asked what she meant by that and how could she possibly be blacklisted she told me the horrifying story of what Harvey did to her seven years earlier " Rodriguez said in the statement. ( McGowan alleged in a series of tweets earlier this month that Weinstein raped her). "My reaction was one of shock " Rodriguez continued. "I recall clearly what I said next 'My God why didn’t you say anything? People would have stood up for you! And where was your fiancé during all this? I would have at least beaten the crap out of Harvey if I had heard that.’ Rose said they didn’t know what to do. She confided that a female attorney had told her that because she had done nudity in movies that no jury would believe her and that it would turn into a he said/ she said case." McGowan explained to Rodriguez that she had been told to sign a non-disclosure agreement not to talk about the incident. Rodriguez said he then came up with a plan – to cast McGowan in an upcoming project he was working on with Quentin Tarantino for Dimension (a division of the Weinstein Company under Bob Weinstein) which turned out to be Grindhouse. "Just as I finished telling Rose this I saw Harvey walking around the party! I called Harvey over to our table and as soon as he got close enough to see that I was sitting with Rose his face dropped and went ghostly white. I said 'Hey Harvey this is Rose McGowan . I think she's amazing and really talented and I’m going to cast her in my next movie '" the director said. "Harvey then dribbled all over himself in the most over the top performance I'd ever seen as he gushed 'Oh she's wonderful oh she's amazing oh she's fantastic oh she's so talented… You two should definitely work together.' And then he skittered off. I knew right then that every word Rose told me was true you could see it all over his face." On Friday however McGowan spoke out about her alleged rape at the Women’s Convention in Detroit Michigan calling on other women to come forward. "I have been silenced for 20 years. I have been slut-shamed. I have been harassed. I have been maligned and you know what? I'm just like you " she said. "Because what happened to me behind the scenes happens to all of us in society and it cannot stand and it will not stand."

Grindhouse co-director Robert Rodriguez said in a statement Friday that he and [TGT] once schemed to get back at Harvey Weinstein in the most industry way possible: by working together on the 2007 cult flick. Related [TGT] on Sexual Harassment: 'Scarlet Letter Is Theirs Not Ours' "For all of us who have been grabbed by the motherfucking pussy no more " actress says. "Name it. Shame it. Call it out" Rodriguez who dated McGowan from 2006 to 2009 revealed that he knew about the 1997 Sundance Film Festival incident that [TGT] made public earlier this month and that he intentionally cast the actress in a "bad ass" role as a way to spite the media mogul. The director recounted how he met [TGT] at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 and the pair got to talking about Sin City which screened earlier that week. When the actress made mention that she was a fan of film noir Rodriguez commented that she should have auditioned to which she replied that she had been blacklisted from working on Weinstein movies. "When I asked what she meant by that and how could she possibly be blacklisted she told me the horrifying story of what Harvey did to her seven years earlier " Rodriguez said in the statement. ( [TGT] alleged in a series of tweets earlier this month that Weinstein raped her). "My reaction was one of shock " Rodriguez continued. "I recall clearly what I said next 'My God why didn’t you say anything? People would have stood up for you! And where was your fiancé during all this? I would have at least beaten the crap out of Harvey if I had heard that.’ Rose said they didn’t know what to do. She confided that a female attorney had told her that because she had done nudity in movies that no jury would believe her and that it would turn into a he said/ she said case." [TGT] explained to Rodriguez that she had been told to sign a non-disclosure agreement not to talk about the incident. Rodriguez said he then came up with a plan – to cast [TGT] in an upcoming project he was working on with Quentin Tarantino for Dimension (a division of the Weinstein Company under Bob Weinstein) which turned out to be Grindhouse. "Just as I finished telling Rose this I saw Harvey walking around the party! I called Harvey over to our table and as soon as he got close enough to see that I was sitting with Rose his face dropped and went ghostly white. I said 'Hey Harvey this is [TGT] . I think [TGT] 's amazing and really talented and I’m going to cast [TGT] in my next movie '" the director said. "Harvey then dribbled all over himself in the most over the top performance I'd ever seen as he gushed 'Oh [TGT] 's wonderful oh [TGT] 's amazing oh [TGT] 's fantastic oh [TGT] 's so talented… You two should definitely work together.' And then he skittered off. I knew right then that every word Rose told me was true you could see it all over his face." On Friday however McGowan spoke out about her alleged rape at the Women’s Convention in Detroit Michigan calling on other women to come forward. "I have been silenced for 20 years. I have been slut-shamed. I have been harassed. I have been maligned and you know what? I'm just like you " she said. "Because what happened to me behind the scenes happens to all of us in society and it cannot stand and it will not stand."

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'Devastated': NBA saddened by death of Rasual Butler

Rasual Butler

FILE - In this June 26 2017 file photo former NBA basketball player Rasual Butler and his wife Leah LaBelle whose given name is Leah LaBelle Vladowski arrive at the NBA Awards at Basketball City at Pier 36 in New York. Authorities say the couple died in a single-vehicle rollover traffic accident in the Studio City area of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley early Wednesday Jan. 31 2018. Coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter says both died at the scene. Autopsies are pending. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP File) (Photo: The Associated Press) So Rasual Butler jumped into action joining his teammate for the event solely to keep him calm. Tributes like that were offered all over the basketball landscape in honor of Butler a longtime NBA player who died Wednesday in what police said was a single-vehicle rollover crash in Los Angeles. Police said Butler and his wife R&B singer and former "American Idol" contestant Leah LaBelle Vladowski died at the scene and that autopsies were pending. Butler was 38. The NBA released a statement saying it was "devastated" by Butler 's death. Butler never played in the NBA Finals. He was never selected for an All-Star Game. More often than not when he played he finished the night with fewer than 10 points. That didn't matter. Teams often clamored to have him on their roster — a testament to the type of person he was. "Rasual was the consummate team player and a great role model for our younger players on how a professional should prepare and act while being a positive influence on everyone who associated with him " said Kevin Pritchard Indiana's president of basketball operations. Butler was the 53rd player out of 57 taken in the 2002 NBA Draft getting selected by Miami. He turned out to be a steal; of the 52 people taken ahead of him only eight appeared in more games. He and Heat forward Udonis Haslem were close even speaking recently about the possibility of Butler considering getting involved with his former Miami teammate on some business ventures. "I know I speak for everybody at the Heat " said an emotional Miami coach Erik Spoelstra an assistant when Butler was with the club. "He was one of our favorite guys." Heat President Pat Riley raved about Butler and his wife Wednesday and many in the organization still spoke very highly of Butler — even though he last wore a Miami uniform more than a decade ago. Butler played for eight NBA clubs — Miami New Orleans the Los Angeles Clippers Washington Indiana San Antonio Toronto and Chicago. He was also under contract with Minnesota in 2016 but was waived before the start of the regular season. He averaged 7.5 points with a career-high of 33 points on two occasions. Butler was from Philadelphia and played four years of college basketball at La Salle. There were no shortage of kids from Philadelphia who tried to emulate his game — one of them being Toronto guard Kyle Lowry who tried to show off for some friends at a basketball camp they were attending on the night Butler got drafted. Lowry then 16 boasted that he knew Butler and gave him a call — hoping the new pro would answer. Butler took the call and Lowry never forgot that gesture. "This is truly a sad day for me " Lowry said.

FILE - In this June 26 2017 file photo former NBA basketball player [TGT] and [TGT] wife Leah LaBelle whose given name is Leah LaBelle Vladowski arrive at the NBA Awards at Basketball City at Pier 36 in New York. Authorities say the couple died in a single-vehicle rollover traffic accident in the Studio City area of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley early Wednesday Jan. 31 2018. Coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter says both died at the scene. Autopsies are pending. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP File) (Photo: The Associated Press) So [TGT] jumped into action joining [TGT] teammate for the event solely to keep [TGT] calm. Tributes like that were offered all over the basketball landscape in honor of Butler a longtime NBA player who died Wednesday in what police said was a single-vehicle rollover crash in Los Angeles. Police said Butler and his wife R&B singer and former "American Idol" contestant Leah LaBelle Vladowski died at the scene and that autopsies were pending. [TGT] was 38. The NBA released a statement saying it was "devastated" by Butler 's death. [TGT] never played in the NBA Finals. [TGT] was never selected for an All-Star Game. More often than not when [TGT] played [TGT] finished the night with fewer than 10 points. That didn't matter. Teams often clamored to have [TGT] on their roster — a testament to the type of person [TGT] was. "Rasual was the consummate team player and a great role model for our younger players on how a professional should prepare and act while being a positive influence on everyone who associated with him " said Kevin Pritchard Indiana's president of basketball operations. [TGT] was the 53rd player out of 57 taken in the 2002 NBA Draft getting selected by Miami. [TGT] turned out to be a steal; of the 52 people taken ahead of [TGT] only eight appeared in more games. [TGT] and Heat forward Udonis Haslem were close even speaking recently about the possibility of [TGT] considering getting involved with [TGT] former Miami teammate on some business ventures. "I know I speak for everybody at the Heat " said an emotional Miami coach Erik Spoelstra an assistant when [TGT] was with the club. " [TGT] was one of our favorite guys." Heat President Pat Riley raved about Butler and his wife Wednesday and many in the organization still spoke very highly of [TGT] — even though [TGT] last wore a Miami uniform more than a decade ago. [TGT] played for eight NBA clubs — Miami New Orleans the Los Angeles Clippers Washington Indiana San Antonio Toronto and Chicago. He was also under contract with Minnesota in 2016 but was waived before the start of the regular season. He averaged 7.5 points with a career-high of 33 points on two occasions. [TGT] was from Philadelphia and played four years of college basketball at La Salle. There were no shortage of kids from Philadelphia who tried to emulate [TGT] game — one of them being Toronto guard Kyle Lowry who tried to show off for some friends at a basketball camp they were attending on the night [TGT] got drafted. Lowry then 16 boasted that he knew [TGT] and gave him a call — hoping the new pro would answer. [TGT] took the call and Lowry never forgot that gesture. "This is truly a sad day for me " Lowry said.

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Al Franken denies grabbing Kathie Lee's rear end to Stern in 1999

Al Franken

Sen. Al Franken who on Thursday admitted he had "crossed a line" with some women was questioned about his behavior 18 years ago — by shock jock Howard Stern. Stern asked Franken not yet a U.S. senator if he had grabbed TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford's rear end during his radio show in 1999. A caller had prompted the question. "She grabbed my ass " Franken responded. Sen. Al Franken issued an apology on Thursday for "making some women feel badly." (Craig Lassig/REUTERS) When Stern later said that the former "Saturday Night Live" star did actually grab Gifford's rear Franken said "You're not listening because I did not grab her ass." Grabby Al Franken admits he ‘crossed line’ with women "I certainly did not touch her in any way to arouse or gratify " Franken would add. Last week the Minnesota lawmaker was accused of sexual misconduct by radio host Leeann Tweeden who said he forcibly kissed and groped her in 2006. Another woman said Franken grabbed her rear end when they posed for a photo four years later and two women told the Huffington Post he touched their buttocks 10 years ago. "I feel terribly that I’ve made some women feel badly and for that I’m sorry " Franken said Thursday.

Sen. Al Franken who on Thursday admitted he had "crossed a line" with some women was questioned about his behavior 18 years ago — by shock jock Howard Stern. Stern asked Franken not yet a U.S. senator if he had grabbed TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford's rear end during his radio show in 1999. A caller had prompted the question. "She grabbed my ass " Franken responded. Sen. Al Franken issued an apology on Thursday for "making some women feel badly." (Craig Lassig/REUTERS) When Stern later said that the former "Saturday Night Live" star did actually grab Gifford's rear Franken said "You're not listening because I did not grab her ass. [TGT] admits [TGT] ‘crossed line’ with women "I certainly did not touch her in any way to arouse or gratify " Franken would add. Last week the Minnesota lawmaker was accused of sexual misconduct by radio host Leeann Tweeden who said he forcibly kissed and groped her in 2006. Another woman said Franken grabbed her rear end when they posed for a photo four years later and two women told the Huffington Post he touched their buttocks 10 years ago. "I feel terribly that I’ve made some women feel badly and for that I’m sorry " Franken said Thursday.

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' Morning Joe' co

Joe Scarborough

NEW YORK — MSNBC host and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough has made his departure from the GOP official. Scarborough announced that he would leave the party in July and accused Republicans of abandoning their fiscal principles. Scarborough has been a fierce critic of President Donald Trump who has targeted Scarborough and his fiancee and co-host Mika Brzezinski on Twitter. Scarborough was elected to four U.S. House terms from Florida starting in 1994. Scarborough : Ivanka Trump Jared Kushner should leave Washington

[TGT] has made [TGT] departure from the GOP official. [TGT] announced that [TGT] would leave the party in July and accused Republicans of abandoning their fiscal principles. [TGT] has been a fierce critic of President Donald Trump who has targeted [TGT] and [TGT] fiancee and co-host Mika Brzezinski on Twitter. [TGT] was elected to four U.S. House terms from Florida starting in 1994. [TGT] : Ivanka Trump Jared Kushner should leave Washington

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Lugo sharp Mets set team HR record in split with Braves

Lugo

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets starter Seth Lugo certainly likes pitching against the Braves. The 27-year-old right-hander turned in the best performance of his career pitching two-hit ball over six innings to improve to 3-0 against Atlanta as New York beat the Braves 3-2 to split a doubleheader Monday night. Lugo lowered his career ERA against Atlanta to 1.35. Pitching with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow Lugo (7-5) allowed just a pair of singles. He struck out seven didn't issue a walk and retired his final 12 batters as New York won for the third time in 15 games. "I think the fact that he knows he can pitch with this little injury that he 's got and now with some rest and some exercises to strengthen it up I think he knows he can avoid surgery " Mets manager Terry Collins said.

NEW YORK (AP) — [TGT] certainly likes pitching against the Braves. The 27-year-old right-hander turned in the best performance of [TGT] career pitching two-hit ball over six innings to improve to 3-0 against Atlanta as New York beat the Braves 3-2 to split a doubleheader Monday night. [TGT] lowered [TGT] career ERA against Atlanta to 1.35. Pitching with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in [TGT] elbow [TGT] (7-5) allowed just a pair of singles. [TGT] struck out seven didn't issue a walk and retired [TGT] final 12 batters as New York won for the third time in 15 games. "I think the fact that [TGT] knows [TGT] can pitch with this little injury that [TGT] 's got and now with some rest and some exercises to strengthen it up I think [TGT] knows [TGT] can avoid surgery " Mets manager Terry Collins said.

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Poll: Sen. Dianne Feinstein Leading in Primary

Dianne Feinstein

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is the favorite among voters over a Democratic challenger in a Public Policy Institute of California poll Politico reported. Feinstein 84 is running for a fifth term as U.S. senator. Two-thirds of likely voters said they had not heard of de León or did not know enough about him to have an opinion according to the poll. Feinstein won out over de León among Democrats independent voters men women and people of all racial and ethnic groups Politico reported. In California the top two vote-getters in a June primary will compete in the November primary no matter their party affiliation. No prominent Republican has announced a run for Feinstein 's position Politico noted.

[TGT] is the favorite among voters over a Democratic challenger in a Public Policy Institute of California poll Politico reported. Feinstein 84 is running for a fifth term as U.S. senator. Two-thirds of likely voters said they had not heard of de León or did not know enough about him to have an opinion according to the poll. [TGT] won out over de León among Democrats independent voters men women and people of all racial and ethnic groups Politico reported. In California the top two vote-getters in a June primary will compete in the November primary no matter their party affiliation. No prominent Republican has announced a run for Feinstein 's position Politico noted.

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Metro: We’re getting better give us another chance

Paul J. Wiedefeld

At Thursday’s Metro board meeting General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld citing the latest round of performance statistics said the transit agency has “moved the needle” on rail reliability and on-time performance. Board members generally agreed the glowing picture painted by Wiedefeld and his staff in the latest report which captures the system’s performance from July to September was a signal the state of the system is indeed improving. Wiedefeld disagreed with reporters who asked whether the flattering statistics painted an overly glowing picture of the state of the system. “You have to go back to where we were at first. We had an unsafe system where people were saying they were afraid to use it ” Wiedefeld said pointing out improvements in performance have also accompanied improvements in safety. “It’s not a matter of patting ourselves on the back ” Wiedefeld said. “I think there is a recognition in the community that people have to understand that we have moved the needle. Please come back and try us.” Wiedefeld said the agency is looking at the data to determine the cause of the decline though across-the-board fare increases may be related. Though both rail and bus fares increased in June bus riders tend to be more sensitive to price changes because as a group they have lower average incomes than rail riders.

At Thursday’s Metro board meeting [TGT] citing the latest round of performance statistics said the transit agency has “moved the needle” on rail reliability and on-time performance. Board members generally agreed the glowing picture painted by Wiedefeld and his staff in the latest report which captures the system’s performance from July to September was a signal the state of the system is indeed improving. [TGT] disagreed with reporters who asked whether the flattering statistics painted an overly glowing picture of the state of the system. “You have to go back to where we were at first. We had an unsafe system where people were saying they were afraid to use it ” [TGT] said pointing out improvements in performance have also accompanied improvements in safety. “It’s not a matter of patting ourselves on the back ” [TGT] said. “I think there is a recognition in the community that people have to understand that we have moved the needle. Please come back and try us.” [TGT] said the agency is looking at the data to determine the cause of the decline though across-the-board fare increases may be related. Though both rail and bus fares increased in June bus riders tend to be more sensitive to price changes because as a group they have lower average incomes than rail riders.

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Greta Gerwig Explores Mother

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig Explores Mother-Daughter Love (And Angst) In 'Lady Bird' Actress Greta Gerwig has made a career starring in movies about quirky women. She played a driftless dancer in Frances Ha and a punk photographer in 20th Century Women. Now she 's written and directed her first film an exploration of mother-daughter relationships called Lady Bird. "I don't know any woman who has a simple relationship with their mother or with their daughter " Gerwig says. "It has a tremendous amount of love — and a tremendous amount of angst." Gerwig felt Hollywood wasn't giving mothers and daughters the screen time they deserved so she set out to change that. Her new film stars Saoirse Ronan as a high school senior who renames herself "Lady Bird " in part as a rejection of the name her mother gave her. Though the main characters argue about everything from choosing a college to prom dresses neither is presented as the villain. Instead Gerwig says she wanted the audience leaving thinking "Oh man it's so hard to love people and to be in a family."

Greta Gerwig Explores Mother-Daughter Love (And Angst) In 'Lady Bird' [TGT] has made a career starring in movies about quirky women. [TGT] played a driftless dancer in Frances Ha and a punk photographer in 20th Century Women. Now [TGT] 's written and directed [TGT] first film an exploration of mother-daughter relationships called Lady Bird. "I don't know any woman who has a simple relationship with their mother or with their daughter " Gerwig says. "It has a tremendous amount of love — and a tremendous amount of angst." Gerwig felt Hollywood wasn't giving mothers and daughters the screen time they deserved so [TGT] set out to change that. [TGT] new film stars Saoirse Ronan as a high school senior who renames [TGT] "Lady Bird " in part as a rejection of the name her mother gave her. Though the main characters argue about everything from choosing a college to prom dresses neither is presented as the villain. Instead Gerwig says she wanted the audience leaving thinking "Oh man it's so hard to love people and to be in a family."

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Man Who Deactivated Trump's Twitter Account: 'I Didn't Break Any Rules' : The Two

Bahtiyar Duysak

TechCrunch the industry website owned by AOL has tracked down the ex-Twitter employee it says is responsible for the Nov. 2 incident: His name is Bahtiyar Duysak and he is described by the tech site as "a twenty-something with Turkish roots who was born and raised in Germany." Twitter has declined to confirm his identity. However Duysak says he was a contractor at management services company Pro Unlimited and had been assigned to Twitter's Trust and Safety division the department that sorts through alerts from users reporting abusive behavior or violations of the company's terms of service. On his last day at Twitter HQ in San Francisco Duysak says he received a report on the president's account. TechCrunch writes: "as a final throwaway gesture he put the wheels in motion to deactivate it. Then he closed his computer and left the building." He says he didn't think the account would actually be deactivated and in any case calls the whole thing a "mistake." However Duysak contends that he didn't do anything wrong either. "I didn't hack anyone " he tells the tech site. "I didn't break any rules." He said as a consequence of his actions he 's been hounded by reporters on social media and that he hopes by coming forward he can clear the air and "continue an ordinary life."

TechCrunch the industry website owned by AOL has tracked down the ex-Twitter employee it says is responsible for the Nov. 2 incident: His name is [TGT] and he is described by the tech site as "a twenty-something with Turkish roots who was born and raised in Germany." Twitter has declined to confirm his identity. However Duysak says he was a contractor at management services company Pro Unlimited and had been assigned to Twitter's Trust and Safety division the department that sorts through alerts from users reporting abusive behavior or violations of the company's terms of service. On his last day at Twitter HQ in San Francisco Duysak says he received a report on the president's account. TechCrunch writes: "as a final throwaway gesture he put the wheels in motion to deactivate it. Then he closed his computer and left the building." He says he didn't think the account would actually be deactivated and in any case calls the whole thing a "mistake." However Duysak contends that he didn't do anything wrong either. "I didn't hack anyone " he tells the tech site. "I didn't break any rules." He said as a consequence of his actions he 's been hounded by reporters on social media and that he hopes by coming forward he can clear the air and "continue an ordinary life."

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Blackrock's Schwarzman: US Education Cannot Keep Up With Govt. Funds Only

Steve Schwarzman

The changing U.S. economic and education structure has created a need for private funding for public schools according to Wall Street billionaire Steve Schwarzman . Schwarzman founder of private-equity firm Blackstone Group and worth $13 billion according to Forbes advised 3 000 superintendents that public schools need to start working to raise private funding in order to compete according to the report. "Part of it is if you've never done this type of work in terms of raising money it's preparing people psychologically for the difficulty of asking " Schwarzman told B.I. "You have to be psychologically prepared to just keep asking." And things will only get worse according to Schwarzman . "I think the roadblocks are basically just tradition " Schwarzman told B.I. "What I'm talking about is just typically not done.

The changing U.S. economic and education structure has created a need for private funding for public schools according to [TGT] . [TGT] founder of private-equity firm Blackstone Group and worth $13 billion according to Forbes advised 3 000 superintendents that public schools need to start working to raise private funding in order to compete according to the report. "Part of it is if you've never done this type of work in terms of raising money it's preparing people psychologically for the difficulty of asking " Schwarzman told B.I. "You have to be psychologically prepared to just keep asking." And things will only get worse according to Schwarzman . "I think the roadblocks are basically just tradition " Schwarzman told B.I. "What I'm talking about is just typically not done.

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Roger Ailes secretly filmed women getting undressed: suit

Roger Ailes

A former Fox News anchor says ousted chairman Roger Ailes who died months after he was fired from the network secretly recorded female employees while they undressed. Andrea Tantaros had already claimed in a lawsuit that she was sexually harassed at the network. In an amended complaint Tantaros said Ailes had a closed circuit television system installed to watch women as they changed outfits. Tantaros said on-air women were required to attend a bi-annual trunk show held by the network’s wardrobe department and that Ailes used the event as an opportunity to secretly film female talent. Roger Ailes died at 77 after he was ousted from the Fox network over a build-up of sexual harassment cases. (Fred Prouser/REUTERS) Roger Ailes died in May 2017 at the age of 77.

A former Fox News anchor says ousted chairman [TGT] who died months after he was fired from the network secretly recorded female employees while they undressed. Andrea Tantaros had already claimed in a lawsuit that she was sexually harassed at the network. In an amended complaint Tantaros said Ailes had a closed circuit television system installed to watch women as they changed outfits. Tantaros said on-air women were required to attend a bi-annual trunk show held by the network’s wardrobe department and that Ailes used the event as an opportunity to secretly film female talent. [TGT] died at 77 after he was ousted from the Fox network over a build-up of sexual harassment cases. (Fred Prouser/REUTERS) [TGT] died in May 2017 at the age of 77.

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Border Patrol agent who died in mysterious incident mourned at funeral

Rogelio Martinez

Bagpipes played as Border Patrol pallbearers in green uniforms carried the U.S. flag-draped coffin of Rogelio Martinez 36 into Our Lady of Guadalupe Church for a private funeral Mass. He died in a hospital Sunday of head and other injuries. Martinez was found Nov. 18 in a culvert along with his seriously injured partner whose name has not been released in a rugged area near Van Horn about 30 miles from the border with Mexico and 110 miles southeast of El Paso. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was scheduled to attend the funeral but it was not clear if he was there. Following the funeral a graveside ceremony was held at Restlawn Cemetery in El Paso. Speculation about the cause of death has run rampant with several politicians saying the agent was attacked including President Trump who used the death to highlight his support for building a wall on the border with Mexico.

Bagpipes played as Border Patrol pallbearers in green uniforms carried the U.S. flag-draped coffin of [TGT] into Our Lady of Guadalupe Church for a private funeral Mass. [TGT] died in a hospital Sunday of head and other injuries. [TGT] was found Nov. 18 in a culvert along with [TGT] seriously injured partner whose name has not been released in a rugged area near Van Horn about 30 miles from the border with Mexico and 110 miles southeast of El Paso. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was scheduled to attend the funeral but it was not clear if [TGT] was there. Following the funeral a graveside ceremony was held at Restlawn Cemetery in El Paso. Speculation about the cause of death has run rampant with several politicians saying the agent was attacked including President Trump who used the death to highlight his support for building a wall on the border with Mexico.

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1491

Henry F. Dobyns

By the time my ancestor set sail on the Mayflower Europeans had been visiting New England for more than a hundred years. English French Italian Spanish and Portuguese mariners regularly plied the coastline trading what they could occasionally kidnapping the inhabitants for slaves. New England the Europeans saw was thickly settled and well defended. In 1605 and 1606 Samuel de Champlain visited Cape Cod hoping to establish a French base. He abandoned the idea. Too many people already lived there. A year later Sir Ferdinando Gorges—British despite his name—tried to establish an English community in southern Maine. It had more founders than Plymouth and seems to have been better organized. Confronted by numerous well-armed local Indians the settlers abandoned the project within months. The Indians at Plymouth would surely have been an equal obstacle to my ancestor and his ramshackle expedition had disease not intervened. Faced with such stories historians have long wondered how many people lived in the Americas at the time of contact. "Debated since Columbus attempted a partial census on Hispaniola in 1496 " William Denevan has written this "remains one of the great inquiries of history." (In 1976 Denevan assembled and edited an entire book on the subject The Native Population of the Americas in 1492.) The first scholarly estimate of the indigenous population was made in 1910 by James Mooney a distinguished ethnographer at the Smithsonian Institution. Combing through old documents he concluded that in 1491 North America had 1.15 million inhabitants. Mooney's glittering reputation ensured that most subsequent researchers accepted his figure uncritically. That changed in 1966 when Henry F. Dobyns published "Estimating Aboriginal American Population: An Appraisal of Techniques With a New Hemispheric Estimate " in the journal Current Anthropology. Despite the carefully neutral title his argument was thunderous its impact long-lasting. In the view of James Wilson the author of The Earth Shall Weep (1998) a history of indigenous Americans Dobyns 's colleagues "are still struggling to get out of the crater that paper left in anthropology." Not only anthropologists were affected. Dobyns 's estimate proved to be one of the opening rounds in today's culture wars. Dobyns began his exploration of pre-Columbian Indian demography in the early 1950s when he was a graduate student. At the invitation of a friend he spent a few months in northern Mexico which is full of Spanish-era missions. There he poked through the crumbling leather-bound ledgers in which Jesuits recorded local births and deaths. Right away he noticed how many more deaths there were. The Spaniards arrived and then Indians died—in huge numbers at incredible rates. It hit him Dobyns told me recently "like a club right between the eyes." It took Dobyns eleven years to obtain his Ph.D. Along the way he joined a rural-development project in Peru which until colonial times was the seat of the Incan empire. Remembering what he had seen at the northern fringe of the Spanish conquest Dobyns decided to compare it with figures for the south. He burrowed into the papers of the Lima cathedral and read apologetic Spanish histories. The Indians in Peru Dobyns concluded had faced plagues from the day the conquistadors showed up—in fact before then: smallpox arrived around 1525 seven years ahead of the Spanish. Brought to Mexico apparently by a single sick Spaniard it swept south and eliminated more than half the population of the Incan empire. Smallpox claimed the Incan dictator Huayna Capac and much of his family setting off a calamitous war of succession. So complete was the chaos that Francisco Pizarro was able to seize an empire the size of Spain and Italy combined with a force of 168 men. Smallpox was only the first epidemic. Typhus (probably) in 1546 influenza and smallpox together in 1558 smallpox again in 1589 diphtheria in 1614 measles in 1618—all ravaged the remains of Incan culture. Dobyns was the first social scientist to piece together this awful picture and he naturally rushed his findings into print. Hardly anyone paid attention. But Dobyns was already working on a second related question: If all those people died how many had been living there to begin with? Before Columbus Dobyns calculated the Western Hemisphere held ninety to 112 million people. Another way of saying this is that in 1491 more people lived in the Americas than in Europe. His argument was simple but horrific. It is well known that Native Americans had no experience with many European diseases and were therefore immunologically unprepared—"virgin soil " in the metaphor of epidemiologists. What Dobyns realized was that such diseases could have swept from the coastlines initially visited by Europeans to inland areas controlled by Indians who had never seen a white person. The first whites to explore many parts of the Americas may therefore have encountered places that were already depopulated. Indeed Dobyns argued they must have done so. Peru was one example the Pacific Northwest another. In 1792 the British navigator George Vancouver led the first European expedition to survey Puget Sound. He found a vast charnel house: human remains "promiscuously scattered about the beach in great numbers." Smallpox Vancouver's crew discovered had preceded them. Its few survivors second lieutenant Peter Puget noted were "most terribly pitted ... indeed many have lost their Eyes." In Pox Americana (2001) Elizabeth Fenn a historian at George Washington University contends that the disaster on the northwest coast was but a small part of a continental pandemic that erupted near Boston in 1774 and cut down Indians from Mexico to Alaska. Because smallpox was not endemic in the Americas colonials too had not acquired any immunity. The virus an equal-opportunity killer swept through the Continental Army and stopped the drive into Quebec. The American Revolution would be lost Washington and other rebel leaders feared if the contagion did to the colonists what it had done to the Indians. "The small Pox! The small Pox!" John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail. "What shall We do with it?" In retrospect Fenn says "One of George Washington's most brilliant moves was to inoculate the army against smallpox during the Valley Forge winter of '78." Without inoculation smallpox could easily have given the United States back to the British. So many epidemics occurred in the Americas Dobyns argued that the old data used by Mooney and his successors represented population nadirs. From the few cases in which before-and-after totals are known with relative certainty Dobyns estimated that in the first 130 years of contact about 95 percent of the people in the Americas died—the worst demographic calamity in recorded history. Dobyns's ideas were quickly attacked as politically motivated a push from the hate-America crowd to inflate the toll of imperialism. The attacks continue to this day. "No question about it some people want those higher numbers " says Shepard Krech III a Brown University anthropologist who is the author of The Ecological Indian (1999). These people he says were thrilled when Dobyns revisited the subject in a book Their Numbers Become Thinned (1983)—and revised his own estimates upward. Perhaps Dobyns 's most vehement critic is David Henige a bibliographer of Africana at the University of Wisconsin whose Numbers From Nowhere (1998) is a landmark in the literature of demographic fulmination. "Suspect in 1966 it is no less suspect nowadays " Henige wrote of Dobyns 's work. "If anything it is worse."

By the time my ancestor set sail on the Mayflower Europeans had been visiting New England for more than a hundred years. English French Italian Spanish and Portuguese mariners regularly plied the coastline trading what they could occasionally kidnapping the inhabitants for slaves. New England the Europeans saw was thickly settled and well defended. In 1605 and 1606 Samuel de Champlain visited Cape Cod hoping to establish a French base. He abandoned the idea. Too many people already lived there. A year later Sir Ferdinando Gorges—British despite his name—tried to establish an English community in southern Maine. It had more founders than Plymouth and seems to have been better organized. Confronted by numerous well-armed local Indians the settlers abandoned the project within months. The Indians at Plymouth would surely have been an equal obstacle to my ancestor and his ramshackle expedition had disease not intervened. Faced with such stories historians have long wondered how many people lived in the Americas at the time of contact. "Debated since Columbus attempted a partial census on Hispaniola in 1496 " William Denevan has written this "remains one of the great inquiries of history." (In 1976 Denevan assembled and edited an entire book on the subject The Native Population of the Americas in 1492.) The first scholarly estimate of the indigenous population was made in 1910 by James Mooney a distinguished ethnographer at the Smithsonian Institution. Combing through old documents he concluded that in 1491 North America had 1.15 million inhabitants. Mooney's glittering reputation ensured that most subsequent researchers accepted his figure uncritically. That changed in 1966 when [TGT] published "Estimating Aboriginal American Population: An Appraisal of Techniques With a New Hemispheric Estimate " in the journal Current Anthropology. Despite the carefully neutral title his argument was thunderous its impact long-lasting. In the view of James Wilson the author of The Earth Shall Weep (1998) a history of indigenous Americans Dobyns 's colleagues "are still struggling to get out of the crater that paper left in anthropology." Not only anthropologists were affected. Dobyns 's estimate proved to be one of the opening rounds in today's culture wars. Dobyns began his exploration of pre-Columbian Indian demography in the early 1950s when he was a graduate student. At the invitation of a friend he spent a few months in northern Mexico which is full of Spanish-era missions. There he poked through the crumbling leather-bound ledgers in which Jesuits recorded local births and deaths. Right away he noticed how many more deaths there were. The Spaniards arrived and then Indians died—in huge numbers at incredible rates. It hit him Dobyns told me recently "like a club right between the eyes." It took Dobyns eleven years to obtain his Ph.D. Along the way he joined a rural-development project in Peru which until colonial times was the seat of the Incan empire. Remembering what he had seen at the northern fringe of the Spanish conquest Dobyns decided to compare it with figures for the south. He burrowed into the papers of the Lima cathedral and read apologetic Spanish histories. The Indians in Peru Dobyns concluded had faced plagues from the day the conquistadors showed up—in fact before then: smallpox arrived around 1525 seven years ahead of the Spanish. Brought to Mexico apparently by a single sick Spaniard it swept south and eliminated more than half the population of the Incan empire. Smallpox claimed the Incan dictator Huayna Capac and much of his family setting off a calamitous war of succession. So complete was the chaos that Francisco Pizarro was able to seize an empire the size of Spain and Italy combined with a force of 168 men. Smallpox was only the first epidemic. Typhus (probably) in 1546 influenza and smallpox together in 1558 smallpox again in 1589 diphtheria in 1614 measles in 1618—all ravaged the remains of Incan culture. Dobyns was the first social scientist to piece together this awful picture and he naturally rushed his findings into print. Hardly anyone paid attention. But Dobyns was already working on a second related question: If all those people died how many had been living there to begin with? Before Columbus Dobyns calculated the Western Hemisphere held ninety to 112 million people. Another way of saying this is that in 1491 more people lived in the Americas than in Europe. His argument was simple but horrific. It is well known that Native Americans had no experience with many European diseases and were therefore immunologically unprepared—"virgin soil " in the metaphor of epidemiologists. What Dobyns realized was that such diseases could have swept from the coastlines initially visited by Europeans to inland areas controlled by Indians who had never seen a white person. The first whites to explore many parts of the Americas may therefore have encountered places that were already depopulated. Indeed Dobyns argued they must have done so. Peru was one example the Pacific Northwest another. In 1792 the British navigator George Vancouver led the first European expedition to survey Puget Sound. He found a vast charnel house: human remains "promiscuously scattered about the beach in great numbers." Smallpox Vancouver's crew discovered had preceded them. Its few survivors second lieutenant Peter Puget noted were "most terribly pitted ... indeed many have lost their Eyes." In Pox Americana (2001) Elizabeth Fenn a historian at George Washington University contends that the disaster on the northwest coast was but a small part of a continental pandemic that erupted near Boston in 1774 and cut down Indians from Mexico to Alaska. Because smallpox was not endemic in the Americas colonials too had not acquired any immunity. The virus an equal-opportunity killer swept through the Continental Army and stopped the drive into Quebec. The American Revolution would be lost Washington and other rebel leaders feared if the contagion did to the colonists what it had done to the Indians. "The small Pox! The small Pox!" John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail. "What shall We do with it?" In retrospect Fenn says "One of George Washington's most brilliant moves was to inoculate the army against smallpox during the Valley Forge winter of '78." Without inoculation smallpox could easily have given the United States back to the British. So many epidemics occurred in the Americas Dobyns argued that the old data used by Mooney and his successors represented population nadirs. From the few cases in which before-and-after totals are known with relative certainty Dobyns estimated that in the first 130 years of contact about 95 percent of the people in the Americas died—the worst demographic calamity in recorded history. Dobyns's ideas were quickly attacked as politically motivated a push from the hate-America crowd to inflate the toll of imperialism. The attacks continue to this day. "No question about it some people want those higher numbers " says Shepard Krech III a Brown University anthropologist who is the author of The Ecological Indian (1999). These people he says were thrilled when Dobyns revisited the subject in a book Their Numbers Become Thinned (1983)—and revised his own estimates upward. Perhaps Dobyns 's most vehement critic is David Henige a bibliographer of Africana at the University of Wisconsin whose Numbers From Nowhere (1998) is a landmark in the literature of demographic fulmination. "Suspect in 1966 it is no less suspect nowadays " Henige wrote of Dobyns 's work. "If anything it is worse."

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Transgender first for Australian football as Hannah Mouncey is accepted

Hannah Mouncey

Image copyright Hannah Mouncey YouTube Image caption Prior to her transition Hannah Mouncey was a member of the Australian men's handball team Hannah Mouncey 28 who previously played at local level in Canberra hopes to take to the field in the state of Victoria this season. Before she began her gender transition in 2015 Mouncey played for the Australian men's handball team. The AFL's decision means she can now partake in any of its affiliated state leagues during the 2018 season. In a statement uploaded to Twitter she thanked her supporters - but not the AFL itself. "I think it would be highly inappropriate for me to thank the AFL for allowing me to do something open to every other Australian which the science and research has supported all along " she said. Despite the decision made in Mouncey 's case the AFL has still to define its national framework for gender diversity.

Image copyright [TGT] YouTube Image caption Prior to her transition [TGT] was a member of the Australian men's handball team [TGT] 28 who previously played at local level in Canberra hopes to take to the field in the state of Victoria this season. Before she began her gender transition in 2015 Mouncey played for the Australian men's handball team. The AFL's decision means she can now partake in any of its affiliated state leagues during the 2018 season. In a statement uploaded to Twitter she thanked her supporters - but not the AFL itself. "I think it would be highly inappropriate for me to thank the AFL for allowing me to do something open to every other Australian which the science and research has supported all along " she said. Despite the decision made in Mouncey 's case the AFL has still to define its national framework for gender diversity.

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Guess co

Paul Marciano

(Reuters) - Guess Inc (GES.N) said on Tuesday its co-founder Paul Marciano will give up his day-to-day responsibilities at the company on an unpaid basis pending the completion of a probe into accusations of improper conduct. Earlier this month model and actress Kate Upton accused Marciano of using his power in the fashion industry to harass women. Marciano and the company have both denied the claims. Guess’ shares fell more than 17 percent in early February following Upton’s accusations against Marciano made on Twitter. “ He shouldn’t be allowed to use his power in the industry to sexually and emotionally harass women #metoo” Upton tweeted using a popular hashtag designed to highlight the wide spread of sexual harassment without elaborating. Shortly after the company’s board formed a special committee made up of two independent directors to oversee an investigation into accusations against Marciano .

(Reuters) - Guess Inc (GES.N) said on Tuesday [TGT] will give up [TGT] day-to-day responsibilities at the company on an unpaid basis pending the completion of a probe into accusations of improper conduct. Earlier this month model and actress Kate Upton accused Marciano of using his power in the fashion industry to harass women. Marciano and the company have both denied the claims. Guess’ shares fell more than 17 percent in early February following Upton’s accusations against Marciano made on Twitter. “ He shouldn’t be allowed to use his power in the industry to sexually and emotionally harass women #metoo” Upton tweeted using a popular hashtag designed to highlight the wide spread of sexual harassment without elaborating. Shortly after the company’s board formed a special committee made up of two independent directors to oversee an investigation into accusations against Marciano .

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Business Progressives Promote Visa Lottery After Jihad Attack

Saifullah Saipov

Progressives and business groups are defending the visa lottery program which invited Islamic believer Saifullah Saipov into the United States before he apparently murdered eight cyclists in New York on November 1. A native of Uzbekistan “ Saipov had been in the United States since 2010 and given that all green card categories are screened equally it is highly unlikely that the fact of his status as a green card holder under the Diversity Visa Lottery is related to his subsequent terrorist act ” said a statement from the business-first advocacy group the Bipartisan Policy Center. Polls show the public opposes the visa-lottery program because it provides green cards to unscreened unskilled foreigners who lower wages reduce social solidarity and reduce civic security. For example Saipov was picked by the lottery and then admitted in 2010 even though his first name means “Sword of Allah.” The visa lottery awards green cards to 50 000 people chosen at random from countries around the world. Winners are screened for health problems and criminal records but are otherwise accepted regardless of their character job skills or ideology. For example Saipov was accepted from Uzbekistan in 2010 despite his faith in Islam’s hostile ideology and his lack of skills. Once in the United States he worked as the trucking industry where wages for Americans and immigrants have been relentlessly pushed down by the huge wage of immigration since the 1990s.

Progressives and business groups are defending the visa lottery program which invited Islamic believer [TGT] into the United States before he apparently murdered eight cyclists in New York on November 1. A native of Uzbekistan “ Saipov had been in the United States since 2010 and given that all green card categories are screened equally it is highly unlikely that the fact of his status as a green card holder under the Diversity Visa Lottery is related to his subsequent terrorist act ” said a statement from the business-first advocacy group the Bipartisan Policy Center. Polls show the public opposes the visa-lottery program because it provides green cards to unscreened unskilled foreigners who lower wages reduce social solidarity and reduce civic security. For example Saipov was picked by the lottery and then admitted in 2010 even though his first name means “Sword of Allah.” The visa lottery awards green cards to 50 000 people chosen at random from countries around the world. Winners are screened for health problems and criminal records but are otherwise accepted regardless of their character job skills or ideology. For example Saipov was accepted from Uzbekistan in 2010 despite his faith in Islam’s hostile ideology and his lack of skills. Once in the United States he worked as the trucking industry where wages for Americans and immigrants have been relentlessly pushed down by the huge wage of immigration since the 1990s.

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The Miseducation of Frank Waln

Frank Waln

On and off the reservation American schools tend to whitewash the stories of Native Americans. Frank Waln a Lakota hip-hop artist from He Dog South Dakota is endeavoring to change that — with music that champions his heritage while demolishing Native American stereotypes. On and off the reservation American schools tend to whitewash the stories of Native Americans. Frank Waln a Lakota hip-hop artist from He Dog South Dakota is endeavoring to change that — with music that champions his heritage while demolishing Native American stereotypes. Frank Waln . (Photo: Tomas Karmelo Amaya) A young man walks onto an empty stage. The spotlight glares off of his white moccasins and crisp long-sleeved button-down which billows untucked over dark slacks. He cuts a slight figure against the venue’s deep black backdrop and his clean-shaven face framed by two long black braids makes him look younger than his 27 years. He speaks softly into the microphone first in his native Lakota then in English: “Hello relatives. My Lakota name is Walks With Young People. I also go by Frank Waln . And I welcome you with an open heart and an open handshake.” The enemy is ignorance which reveals itself plainly in Waln’s new song “What Makes the Red Man Red ” his send-up of the racist tune “What Made the Red Man Red” from Disney’s 1953 film Peter Pan. Waln’s song samples the tune’s chorus and the film’s offhand references to Native Americans as “aborigines” and “Indians.” That is before Waln drowns them out with a sharp verse. The crowd is on its feet now some singing along others bobbing in agreement with the beat. Waln’s frequent tours of reservations and his blunt firebrand style have made him well-known among his people (he’s a two-time Native American Music Award winner). Recently Waln has made a splash in the mainstream media too: He’s been featured on NPR and MTV’s Rebel Music: Native Americaand in Vibe and USA Today; he has performed at the South by Southwest festival in Austin and at concerts in France and Germany. The day before his Albuquerque concert he spoke at a Harvard University symposium on Native politics. Waln is an ascendant member of a Native American hip-hop vanguard that is taking its message of social justice off of the reservation. What separates Waln and other socially engaged artists like War Party Without Rezervation and Supaman from older generations of Native artists says Alan Lechusza Aquallo a professor of American Indian studies at Palomar College is their authenticity. Waln doesn’t play to Native stereotypes like a preaching elder or a fierce sports mascot — his performing persona is young charismatic believably real. “There are a number of Native hip-hop artists who play off the kitsch of what it is to be Indian because that’s what’s going to give them notoriety ” Aquallo says. “ [Waln] has his long braids but he ’s wearing street clothes. He ’s not playing Indian.” Waln’s overall message is plain: Americans — Native and non-Native alike — need to educate themselves about the real history and current politics of America’s indigenous people. And through his words and music on the reservation and off Waln plans on delivering the wake-up call. Frank Waln’s own education began on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation on the Great Plains of central South Dakota. He grew up in He Dog a small Sicangu Lakota community where his single mom and her sisters ran the family ranch. His father was abusive and mostly absent — the first of many scars he would learn to bear. Frank Waln . (Photo: Tomas Karmelo Amaya) He Dog is located in Todd County where the poverty rate approaches 50 percent a problem with deep and tangled roots. Studies of modern Native Americans have shown that “historical trauma ” the name that social workers give to the perception of historical loss passed down through generations has been linked to symptoms of emotional distress like anger anxiety substance abuse and even depression. Waln remembers grappling with these manifestations even as a child. “It was very confusing to me ” he says. “I was wondering why I was struggling with depression all the time why I had suicidal thoughts why the suicide rate was so high on our reservation. I was very insecure.” Waln says his confusion stemmed from the fact that beyond the traditions passed down through his family he didn’t know much about the political history of his people. And indeed with scant resources schools on American reservations have fallen behind. A 2011 National Indian Education Study found huge deficits in reading and math scores for schools heavily attended by Native American students. Schools controlled by the Bureau of Indian Education which are run by tribes fared even worse: Fourth graders’ reading scores averaged 182 on a 500-point scale compared to 204 in public schools. Only 43 percent of eighth-graders said that their teachers included any Native American culture or history in their curricula. Frank Waln . (Photo: Tomas Karmelo Amaya) “In my opinion the way history is taught in this country is colonial propaganda ” Waln says. “I was aware of the big atrocities like the Wounded Knee Massacre and the government giving us blankets with smallpox. But I didn’t know the details and how recent some of these discriminatory laws were.” If Waln didn’t see himself in textbooks growing up he did in music. He learned piano at age seven; he joined a Lakota drum group in middle school. When Waln was a teenager his older cousins started gathering in their basements to make music influenced by rappers like Nas Talib Kweli Dead Prez and Eminem. Waln started sampling beats and recording on his laptop. To his mother and most of the adults in his cowboy-and-rodeo community Waln’s sudden infatuation with hip-hop could be attributed to hip-hop’s popularity with kids his age. But to Waln his playlist wasn’t just about youth culture. “A lot of Native Americans are living in poverty ” he says. “Hip-hop was born in poor communities of color.” Frank Waln . (Photo: Tomas Karmelo Amaya)

On and off the reservation American schools tend to whitewash the stories of Native Americans. [TGT] a Lakota hip-hop artist from He Dog South Dakota is endeavoring to change that — with music that champions his heritage while demolishing Native American stereotypes. On and off the reservation American schools tend to whitewash the stories of Native Americans. [TGT] a Lakota hip-hop artist from He Dog South Dakota is endeavoring to change that — with music that champions his heritage while demolishing Native American stereotypes. [TGT] . (Photo: Tomas Karmelo Amaya) A young man walks onto an empty stage. The spotlight glares off of his white moccasins and crisp long-sleeved button-down which billows untucked over dark slacks. He cuts a slight figure against the venue’s deep black backdrop and his clean-shaven face framed by two long black braids makes him look younger than his 27 years. He speaks softly into the microphone first in his native Lakota then in English: “Hello relatives. My Lakota name is Walks With Young People. I also go by [TGT] . And I welcome you with an open heart and an open handshake.” The enemy is ignorance which reveals itself plainly in Waln’s new song “What Makes the Red Man Red ” his send-up of the racist tune “What Made the Red Man Red” from Disney’s 1953 film Peter Pan. Waln’s song samples the tune’s chorus and the film’s offhand references to Native Americans as “aborigines” and “Indians.” That is before Waln drowns them out with a sharp verse. The crowd is on its feet now some singing along others bobbing in agreement with the beat. Waln’s frequent tours of reservations and his blunt firebrand style have made him well-known among his people (he’s a two-time Native American Music Award winner). Recently Waln has made a splash in the mainstream media too: He’s been featured on NPR and MTV’s Rebel Music: Native Americaand in Vibe and USA Today; he has performed at the South by Southwest festival in Austin and at concerts in France and Germany. The day before his Albuquerque concert he spoke at a Harvard University symposium on Native politics. Waln is an ascendant member of a Native American hip-hop vanguard that is taking its message of social justice off of the reservation. What separates Waln and other socially engaged artists like War Party Without Rezervation and Supaman from older generations of Native artists says Alan Lechusza Aquallo a professor of American Indian studies at Palomar College is their authenticity. Waln doesn’t play to Native stereotypes like a preaching elder or a fierce sports mascot — his performing persona is young charismatic believably real. “There are a number of Native hip-hop artists who play off the kitsch of what it is to be Indian because that’s what’s going to give them notoriety ” Aquallo says. “ [Waln] has his long braids but he ’s wearing street clothes. He ’s not playing Indian.” Waln’s overall message is plain: Americans — Native and non-Native alike — need to educate themselves about the real history and current politics of America’s indigenous people. And through his words and music on the reservation and off Waln plans on delivering the wake-up call. Frank Waln’s own education began on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation on the Great Plains of central South Dakota. He grew up in He Dog a small Sicangu Lakota community where his single mom and her sisters ran the family ranch. His father was abusive and mostly absent — the first of many scars he would learn to bear. Frank Waln . (Photo: Tomas Karmelo Amaya) He Dog is located in Todd County where the poverty rate approaches 50 percent a problem with deep and tangled roots. Studies of modern Native Americans have shown that “historical trauma ” the name that social workers give to the perception of historical loss passed down through generations has been linked to symptoms of emotional distress like anger anxiety substance abuse and even depression. Waln remembers grappling with these manifestations even as a child. “It was very confusing to me ” he says. “I was wondering why I was struggling with depression all the time why I had suicidal thoughts why the suicide rate was so high on our reservation. I was very insecure.” Waln says his confusion stemmed from the fact that beyond the traditions passed down through his family he didn’t know much about the political history of his people. And indeed with scant resources schools on American reservations have fallen behind. A 2011 National Indian Education Study found huge deficits in reading and math scores for schools heavily attended by Native American students. Schools controlled by the Bureau of Indian Education which are run by tribes fared even worse: Fourth graders’ reading scores averaged 182 on a 500-point scale compared to 204 in public schools. Only 43 percent of eighth-graders said that their teachers included any Native American culture or history in their curricula. Frank Waln . (Photo: Tomas Karmelo Amaya) “In my opinion the way history is taught in this country is colonial propaganda ” Waln says. “I was aware of the big atrocities like the Wounded Knee Massacre and the government giving us blankets with smallpox. But I didn’t know the details and how recent some of these discriminatory laws were.” If Waln didn’t see himself in textbooks growing up he did in music. He learned piano at age seven; he joined a Lakota drum group in middle school. When Waln was a teenager his older cousins started gathering in their basements to make music influenced by rappers like Nas Talib Kweli Dead Prez and Eminem. Waln started sampling beats and recording on his laptop. To his mother and most of the adults in his cowboy-and-rodeo community Waln’s sudden infatuation with hip-hop could be attributed to hip-hop’s popularity with kids his age. But to Waln his playlist wasn’t just about youth culture. “A lot of Native Americans are living in poverty ” he says. “Hip-hop was born in poor communities of color.” Frank Waln . (Photo: Tomas Karmelo Amaya)

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LaVar Ball to Start Big Baller Basketball League for High School Players Who Reject College

LaVar Ball

Notorious basketball father LaVar Ball is attempting to grow his personal profile by creating a new basketball league for high school seniors who have decided not to bother going to college reports say. Ball claims the new league to be called the Junior Basketball Association (JBA) will pay the lowest-ranked players $3 000 a month while the stars would get $10 00 a month according to Sporting News. Logo of LaVar Ball âs league aimed at top high school players is a silhouette of Lonzo ready to dunk. pic.twitter.com/hBf9WHBdJG â Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 20 2017 âGetting these players is going to be easy â Ball said. âThis is giving guys a chance to get a jump start on their career to be seen by pro scouts and weâre going to pay them because someone has to pay these kids.â Ball also said the league will use NBA regulations but that all players will wear his Big Baller brand shoes and gear because his company is funding the league. âWeâll give it to them all. Theyâll be wearing our uniform our shoes our T-shirts and our hoodies â Ball insisted. Ball said he wants to assemble ten teams in cities such as Los Angeles Dallas Brooklyn and Atlanta. Ball recently made news with a feud with President Donald Trump over the assistance the president lent his son LiAngelo who was arrested for shoplifting by Chinese authorities when his college team was in that country in November. President Trump personally intervened with Chinaâs leadership to get LiAngelo and two other players released after the arrest but the senior Ball refused to give Trump any credit for helping his son out of the jam.

[TGT] is attempting to grow [TGT] personal profile by creating a new basketball league for high school seniors who have decided not to bother going to college reports say. [TGT] claims the new league to be called the Junior Basketball Association (JBA) will pay the lowest-ranked players $3 000 a month while the stars would get $10 00 a month according to Sporting News. Logo of LaVar Ball âs league aimed at top high school players is a silhouette of Lonzo ready to dunk. pic.twitter.com/hBf9WHBdJG â Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 20 2017 âGetting these players is going to be easy â [TGT] said. âThis is giving guys a chance to get a jump start on their career to be seen by pro scouts and weâre going to pay them because someone has to pay these kids.â Ball also said the league will use NBA regulations but that all players will wear his Big Baller brand shoes and gear because his company is funding the league. âWeâll give it to them all. Theyâll be wearing our uniform our shoes our T-shirts and our hoodies â [TGT] insisted. [TGT] said [TGT] wants to assemble ten teams in cities such as Los Angeles Dallas Brooklyn and Atlanta. [TGT] recently made news with a feud with President Donald Trump over the assistance the president lent his son LiAngelo who was arrested for shoplifting by Chinese authorities when his college team was in that country in November. President Trump personally intervened with Chinaâs leadership to get LiAngelo and two other players released after the arrest but [TGT] refused to give Trump any credit for helping his son out of the jam.

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Reporting a broken cash machine

Cuomo

This is more or less the situation faced by Gov. Cuomo with the Essential Plan a form of Obamacare that since 2016 has been providing free or low-cost health coverage to low-income New Yorkers. It currently has 710 000 enrollees. Team Cuomo has chosen not to refuse the money or warn Washington about what’s happening. Instead they’ve gone with option C: sue the feds to keep the broken ATM running until someone gets it fixed or turns it off. The surprising truth emerged last week when the Empire Center obtained a state Department of Health memo being shared with insiders. It showed the Essential Plan running a hefty surplus which Cuomo intends to use for plugging holes elsewhere in the state budget. The situation is all the more surprising because the plan recently took a $1 billion cut to its federal funding courtesy of a constitutional flaw in President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Plus the memo says the state has been overpaying the insurance companies who manage the benefit under contract with the state. Worse is the Cuomo administration’s plan to spend the surplus on other programs such as subsidizing financially weak hospitals. Once the feds wake up to that diversion they’re liable to demand repayment — as state Senate Health Chairman Kemp Hannon (R-L.I.) warned last week at a budget hearing. If New York somehow wins its suit and claims another billion-plus dollars it will be digging the hole even deeper. Cuomo and his aides see New York as being under attack from Washington — on tax policy immigration and other issues — and may feel that all is fair in political warfare. But the money they’re trying to grab comes from taxpayers not the President or Congress. Their gamesmanship with public funds gives the whole enterprise of government-funded health care a bad name. Better Cuomo should drop the lawsuit urge Congress to rewrite the funding formula and come fully clean about the Essential Plan’s finances: Did it run a surplus before now? If so what happened to the extra money? And why wasn’t any of this made clear to the taxpaying public?

This is more or less the situation faced by Gov. Cuomo with the Essential Plan a form of Obamacare that since 2016 has been providing free or low-cost health coverage to low-income New Yorkers. It currently has 710 000 enrollees. [TGT] has chosen not to refuse the money or warn Washington about what’s happening. Instead they’ve gone with option C: sue the feds to keep the broken ATM running until someone gets it fixed or turns it off. The surprising truth emerged last week when the Empire Center obtained a state Department of Health memo being shared with insiders. It showed the Essential Plan running a hefty surplus which [TGT] intends to use for plugging holes elsewhere in the state budget. The situation is all the more surprising because the plan recently took a $1 billion cut to its federal funding courtesy of a constitutional flaw in President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Plus the memo says the state has been overpaying the insurance companies who manage the benefit under contract with the state. Worse is [TGT] administration’s plan to spend the surplus on other programs such as subsidizing financially weak hospitals. Once the feds wake up to that diversion they’re liable to demand repayment — as state Senate Health Chairman Kemp Hannon (R-L.I.) warned last week at a budget hearing. If New York somehow wins its suit and claims another billion-plus dollars it will be digging the hole even deeper. Cuomo and his aides see New York as being under attack from Washington — on tax policy immigration and other issues — and may feel that all is fair in political warfare. But the money they’re trying to grab comes from taxpayers not the President or Congress. Their gamesmanship with public funds gives the whole enterprise of government-funded health care a bad name. [TGT] should drop the lawsuit urge Congress to rewrite the funding formula and come fully clean about the Essential Plan’s finances: Did it run a surplus before now? If so what happened to the extra money? And why wasn’t any of this made clear to the taxpaying public?

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Volkan Oezdemir Predicts Fast Finish Of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier At UFC 220

Volkan Oezdemir

Volkan Oezdemir had a quick rise up the ranks of the UFC light heavyweight division. Originally signed as a late injury replacement for the injured Jan Blachowicz Oezdemir earned a split decision win over Ovince Saint Preux in February. Oezdemir followed that victory with first-round knockouts of Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa. He disposed of those fighters in a combined 70 seconds. On January 20 Oezdemir will face UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in the co-main event of UFC 220. “I once said that if I’m hanging around and fighting guys like Volkan Oezdemir I’ve done something terribly wrong with my money and my time. ” Cormier said at the recent UFC 220 press conference. “I just never expected him to do what he did so fast. He’s put himself in this position because he’s been impressive.” “I wanted to fight for the belt as fast as I can because I know I’m capable of anything ” said Oezdemir . “I’m there to win. In the UFC I wanted to fight the top (fighters) right away. It’s the place for the top guys in the world. I fought my first fight against the No. 6 in the world on two weeks’ notice and I just kept on going. I fought two months later and six weeks after that I was fighting for the third time. Always against a ranked opponent and I’m ready for the champion now.” While Oezdemir is confident he can pull off the upset victory over Cormier the champion had some words of warning for his younger opponent. “They turn over they present their neck and they tap out. That’s about to happen to Volkan Oezdemir .” Oezdemir doesn’t think he will become the seventh submission win on Cormier’s record. “I got a heart man. It’s not going to be that easy ” Oezdemir said. “You saw my fight you saw everything I did. I don’t think you’ve seen everything I’m capable of. All fights were so fast and you’re not gonna be different.”

[TGT] had a quick rise up the ranks of the UFC light heavyweight division. Originally signed as a late injury replacement for the injured Jan Blachowicz Oezdemir earned a split decision win over Ovince Saint Preux in February. [TGT] followed that victory with first-round knockouts of Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa. [TGT] disposed of those fighters in a combined 70 seconds. On January 20 Oezdemir will face UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in the co-main event of UFC 220. “I once said that if I’m hanging around and fighting guys like [TGT] I’ve done something terribly wrong with my money and my time. ” Cormier said at the recent UFC 220 press conference. “I just never expected him to do what he did so fast. He’s put himself in this position because he’s been impressive.” “I wanted to fight for the belt as fast as I can because I know I’m capable of anything ” said Oezdemir . “I’m there to win. In the UFC I wanted to fight the top (fighters) right away. It’s the place for the top guys in the world. I fought my first fight against the No. 6 in the world on two weeks’ notice and I just kept on going. I fought two months later and six weeks after that I was fighting for the third time. Always against a ranked opponent and I’m ready for the champion now.” While Oezdemir is confident he can pull off the upset victory over Cormier the champion had some words of warning for his younger opponent. “They turn over they present their neck and they tap out. That’s about to happen to Volkan Oezdemir .” Oezdemir doesn’t think he will become the seventh submission win on Cormier’s record. “I got a heart man. It’s not going to be that easy ” Oezdemir said. “You saw my fight you saw everything I did. I don’t think you’ve seen everything I’m capable of. All fights were so fast and you’re not gonna be different.”

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Steve Bannon: Catholic Church Supports DACA to Fill Pews

Steve Bannon

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon argued that Catholic bishops in the United States only support undocumented immigrants because they need them to fill the pews. In an interview with CBS News’ Charlie Rose Bannon who is Catholic criticized bishops’ support for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program which President Trump recently moved to end in six months. The interview is Bannon’s first televised one since he left the White House in August following months of reported controversy with his West Wing colleagues. After he left the White House Bannon resumed his position as Chairman of Breitbart News. However he told Rose he and Trump are still on good terms and he is prepared to fight for his legislative agenda. “I’m going to be his wing man outside for the entire time ” he said. “Our purpose is to support Donald Trump.”

[TGT] argued that Catholic bishops in the United States only support undocumented immigrants because they need them to fill the pews. In an interview with CBS News’ Charlie Rose [TGT] criticized bishops’ support for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program which President Trump recently moved to end in six months. The interview is Bannon’s first televised one since [TGT] left the White House in August following months of reported controversy with [TGT] West Wing colleagues. After [TGT] left the White House Bannon resumed [TGT] position as Chairman of Breitbart News. However [TGT] told Rose [TGT] and Trump are still on good terms and [TGT] is prepared to fight for [TGT] legislative agenda. “I’m going to be his wing man outside for the entire time ” he said. “Our purpose is to support Donald Trump.”

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Trump Jr. avoids questions about talks with father

Donald Trump Jr.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump Jr. refused to tell lawmakers about conversations he had with his father regarding a 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer after emails detailing the meeting had become public according to the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee. Speaking to the committee behind closed doors on Wednesday as part of its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election Trump Jr. said he didn't tell the president about the meeting between Trump campaign officials and Russians when it happened and he declined to elaborate on what he ultimately told him after the meeting became public. California Rep. Adam Schiff said that Trump Jr. said he couldn't speak about the conversations with his father this summer because of attorney-client privilege telling the committee a lawyer was present when he spoke to his father about the June 2016 meeting and the emails that led up to it. The Trump Tower meeting is a matter of keen interest to special counsel Robert Mueller who is also investigating the meddling and whether there was any obstruction of justice. Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner Trump's son-in-law attended the meeting with several Russian operatives under the impression that they might receive damaging information about the Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Mueller is also interested in the White House response to the meeting once it became public. The White House has said the president was involved in drafting an early statement saying the meeting primarily concerned a Russian adoption program but emails later released by Trump Jr. showed he enthusiastically agreed to the sit-down with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and others after he was promised dirt on his father's rival. Trump Jr. later said the promised material never materialized. Trump Jr. said during Wednesday's eight-hour interview that he spoke with President Donald Trump's communications aide Hope Hicks as early reports of the meeting emerged according to one person familiar with the interview. The New York Times was first to report the existence of the meeting last July and Trump Jr. released the emails detailing the planning for it several days later. Rep. Adam Schiff D-Calif. ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee speaks to media after a House Intelligence Committee meeting where President Donald Trump's oldest son Donald Trump Jr. was interviewed behind closed doors on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday Dec. 6 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Trump Jr. also told the intelligence panel that he didn't tell his father about the 2016 meeting at the time that it happened according to the person familiar with his interview. The person was not authorized to speak about the testimony and asked not to be identified. Both the House and the Senate intelligence committees have been interested in the Trump Tower meeting and have interviewed several participants. The Senate Judiciary Committee is also investigating the meeting and interviewed Trump Jr. behind closed doors in September. In that interview Trump Jr. cast the 2016 meeting as simply an opportunity to learn about Clinton's "fitness character or qualifications " insisting to investigators that he did not collude with Russia to hurt Clinton's campaign. The Senate intelligence committee also hopes to interview Trump Jr. before the end of the year. Kushner has spoken to both intelligence committees. The panels have also interviewed Ike Kaveladze who was at the meeting as a representative of a Russian developer who once partnered with Trump to bring the Miss Universe pageant to Moscow and Rinat Akhmetshin a Russian-American lobbyist. A translator who was in attendance has also spoken to congressional investigators. Rep. Trey Gowdy R-S.C. a member of the House Intelligence Committee heads to a closed-door session with the president's oldest son Donald Trump Jr. on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday Dec. 6 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Lawmakers were also expected to ask Trump Jr. about his communications with WikiLeaks during and after the campaign. Trump Jr. released messages last month that showed him responding to the WikiLeaks' Twitter account three times at one point agreeing to "ask around" about a political action committee WikiLeaks had mentioned. He also asked the site about a rumor about an upcoming leak and tweeted a link that the account sent him . Also Wednesday the House intelligence panel released a transcript of an interview last week with Erik Prince the founder of the security firm Blackwater and a prominent Trump supporter. According to the transcript which was partially redacted Prince told the panel he met a Russian with ties to President Vladimir Putin in the Seychelles islands earlier this year but he denies he was representing Trump in the exchange.

WASHINGTON (AP) [TGT] refused to tell lawmakers about conversations [TGT] had with [TGT] father regarding a 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer after emails detailing the meeting had become public according to the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee. Speaking to the committee behind closed doors on Wednesday as part of its investigation into Russian meddling in [TGT] said [TGT] didn't tell the president about the meeting between Trump campaign officials and Russians when it happened and [TGT] declined to elaborate on what [TGT] ultimately told [TGT] after the meeting became public. California Rep. Adam Schiff said that [TGT] said he couldn't speak about the conversations with his father this summer because of attorney-client privilege telling the committee a lawyer was present when he spoke to his father about the June 2016 meeting and the emails that led up to it. The Trump Tower meeting is a matter of keen interest to special counsel Robert Mueller who is also investigating the meddling and whether there was any obstruction of justice. Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner Trump's son-in-law attended the meeting with several Russian operatives under the impression that they might receive damaging information about the Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Mueller is also interested in the White House response to the meeting once it became public. The White House has said the president was involved in drafting an early statement saying the meeting primarily concerned a Russian adoption program but emails later released by Trump Jr. showed he enthusiastically agreed to the sit-down with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and others after he was promised dirt on his father's rival. Trump Jr. later said the promised material never materialized. Trump Jr. said during Wednesday's eight-hour interview that he spoke with President Donald Trump's communications aide Hope Hicks as early reports of the meeting emerged according to one person familiar with the interview. The New York Times was first to report the existence of the meeting last July and Trump Jr. released the emails detailing the planning for it several days later. Rep. Adam Schiff D-Calif. ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee speaks to media after [TGT] . (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Trump Jr. also told the intelligence panel that he didn't tell his father about the 2016 meeting at the time that it happened according to the person familiar with his interview. The person was not authorized to speak about the testimony and asked not to be identified. Both the House and the Senate intelligence committees have been interested in [TGT] and have interviewed several participants. The Senate Judiciary Committee is also investigating [TGT] and interviewed Trump Jr. behind closed doors in September. In that interview Trump Jr. cast [TGT] as simply an opportunity to learn about Clinton's "fitness character or qualifications " insisting to investigators that he did not collude with Russia to hurt Clinton's campaign. The Senate intelligence committee also hopes to interview Trump Jr. before the end of the year. Kushner has spoken to both intelligence committees. The panels have also interviewed Ike Kaveladze who was at [TGT] as a representative of a Russian developer who once partnered with Trump to bring the Miss Universe pageant to Moscow and Rinat Akhmetshin a Russian-American lobbyist. A translator who was in attendance has also spoken to congressional investigators. Rep. Trey Gowdy R-S.C. a member of the House Intelligence Committee heads to a closed-door session with [TGT] on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday Dec. 6 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Lawmakers were also expected to ask [TGT] about his communications with WikiLeaks during and after the campaign. Trump Jr. released messages last month that showed him responding to the WikiLeaks' Twitter account three times at one point agreeing to "ask around" about a political action committee WikiLeaks had mentioned. He also asked the site about a rumor about an upcoming leak and tweeted a link that the account sent him . Also Wednesday the House intelligence panel released a transcript of an interview last week with Erik Prince the founder of the security firm Blackwater and a prominent Trump supporter. According to the transcript which was partially redacted Prince told the panel he met a Russian with ties to President Vladimir Putin in the Seychelles islands earlier this year but he denies he was representing Trump in the exchange.

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Al Franken Continues His Apology Tour

Al Franken

Show of hands of everybody who thinks Senator Al Franken should be drummed out of his Senate seat due to his horrendous behavior with women… “I’m embarrassed and ashamed. I’ve let a lot of people down and I’m hoping I can make it up to them and gradually regain their trust ” Franken told The Star-Tribune in a Sunday phone interview. “I’m looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow ” Franken said. I’ll give it to Franken . While others who have been charged with being the absolute cads they are get all defensive and stumble all over themselves in the process Franken is mewling and subdued hoping that offering up his belly will be enough to get him off the hook. Then he ’s playing turtle and hiding his head in his shell. Of those who said he grabbed their bottoms during photo-ops (at least one being at an event to honor women… gee whiz) you must know that you were just another butt in the crowd. “I don’t remember these photographs I don’t ” Franken told the paper. “This is not something I would intentionally do.” We can expect Franken to continue on with this pathetic display of faulty memory and fake remorse at least until the next crop of women hit the news. Until then what happens to him could be up to the Minnesota voters and the next election.

Show of hands of everybody who thinks [TGT] should be drummed out of [TGT] Senate seat due to [TGT] horrendous behavior with women… “I’m embarrassed and ashamed. I’ve let a lot of people down and I’m hoping I can make it up to them and gradually regain their trust ” [TGT] told The Star-Tribune in a Sunday phone interview. “I’m looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow ” [TGT] said. I’ll give it to [TGT] . While others who have been charged with being the absolute cads they are get all defensive and stumble all over themselves in the process [TGT] is mewling and subdued hoping that offering up his belly will be enough to get him off the hook. Then he ’s playing turtle and hiding his head in his shell. Of those who said he grabbed their bottoms during photo-ops (at least one being at an event to honor women… gee whiz) you must know that you were just another butt in the crowd. “I don’t remember these photographs I don’t ” [TGT] told the paper. “This is not something I would intentionally do.” We can expect Franken to continue on with this pathetic display of faulty memory and fake remorse at least until the next crop of women hit the news. Until then what happens to him could be up to the Minnesota voters and the next election.

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The dark side of your $5 Footlong: Business owners say it could bankrupt them

Keith Miller

A Subway sandwich is far more than the sum of its fillings franchisee Keith Miller says. Those ingredients cost roughly $2. Then he pays labor. Electricity. Gas. Royalties. Credit card transaction fees. Rent. All told Miller who owns three Subway franchises in northern California says it costs him well over $4 to produce one of Subway's foot-long subs. And that is why when the chain announced plans to drop the price of the sandwich to $4.99 starting in January he and hundreds of Subway's other 10 000 U.S. franchisees sent a strongly worded letter warning that the promotion could force some stores to close. "The numbers don't work for us " said Miller who also chairs an industry group the Coalition of Franchisee Associations. "Ten years ago they might have worked. But now they don't in my opinion." Miller said that when he bought his first Subway 28 years ago his margins could swell as high as 18 percent. But since then he said competition has grown far more fierce and costs have risen dramatically for labor utilities and rent. In California where the minimum wage will be $11 per hour starting Jan. 1 Miller 's labor costs are up 50 percent from 10 years ago he said. The cost of a full-price sub has risen only 20 percent. "It's a hard cost per sandwich " Miller said. "People can only make so many sandwiches per hour. We find it's about seven."

A Subway sandwich is far more than the sum of its fillings franchisee [TGT] says. Those ingredients cost roughly $2. Then he pays labor. Electricity. Gas. Royalties. Credit card transaction fees. Rent. All told Miller who owns three Subway franchises in northern California says it costs him well over $4 to produce one of Subway's foot-long subs. And that is why when the chain announced plans to drop the price of the sandwich to $4.99 starting in January he and hundreds of Subway's other 10 000 U.S. franchisees sent a strongly worded letter warning that the promotion could force some stores to close. "The numbers don't work for us " said Miller who also chairs an industry group the Coalition of Franchisee Associations. "Ten years ago they might have worked. But now they don't in my opinion." Miller said that when he bought his first Subway 28 years ago his margins could swell as high as 18 percent. But since then he said competition has grown far more fierce and costs have risen dramatically for labor utilities and rent. In California where the minimum wage will be $11 per hour starting Jan. 1 Miller 's labor costs are up 50 percent from 10 years ago he said. The cost of a full-price sub has risen only 20 percent. "It's a hard cost per sandwich " Miller said. "People can only make so many sandwiches per hour. We find it's about seven."

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North Korea preparing long

Anton Morozov

Anton Morozov a member of the Russian lower house of parliament’s international affairs committee and two other Russian lawmakers visited Pyongyang on Oct. 2-6 Russia’s RIA news agency reported. “They are preparing for new tests of a long-range missile. They even gave us mathematical calculations that they believe prove that their missile can hit the west coast of the United States ” RIA quoted Morozov as saying. Morozov ’s comments drove up the price of U.S. Treasury bonds as investors worried about the prospect of new North Korean missile tests moved into assets the market views as a safe haven in times of uncertainty. Morozov is a member of the LDPR a right-wing populist party. It casts itself as an opposition party but hews close to the Kremlin line on matters of international affairs. Describing meetings with North Korean officials Morozov said they “displayed serious determination and bellicose rhetoric ” RIA reported. “The situation of course demands the swiftest intervention of all interested states particularly those represented in the region in order to prevent wide-scale military action ” the agency quoted him as saying.

[TGT] a member of the Russian lower house of parliament’s international affairs committee and two other Russian lawmakers visited Pyongyang on Oct. 2-6 Russia’s RIA news agency reported. “They are preparing for new tests of a long-range missile. They even gave us mathematical calculations that they believe prove that their missile can hit the west coast of the United States ” RIA quoted Morozov as saying. Morozov ’s comments drove up the price of U.S. Treasury bonds as investors worried about the prospect of new North Korean missile tests moved into assets the market views as a safe haven in times of uncertainty. Morozov is a member of the LDPR a right-wing populist party. It casts itself as an opposition party but hews close to the Kremlin line on matters of international affairs. Describing meetings with North Korean officials Morozov said they “displayed serious determination and bellicose rhetoric ” RIA reported. “The situation of course demands the swiftest intervention of all interested states particularly those represented in the region in order to prevent wide-scale military action ” the agency quoted him as saying.

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Henry Walker says he shattered his hip buying a watermelon at Walmart. An Alabama jury awarded him $7.5 million.

Henry Walker

A worker pushes shopping carts in front of a Walmart store in La Habra Calif. ( Jae C. Hong/AP) Army veteran Henry Walker was trying to buy a watermelon at a Walmart in Alabama when his foot got stuck in a wooden pallet. When he turned the 59-year-old fell breaking his hip. Walker sued Walmart over the 2015 incident and an Alabama jury has ruled that he should be awarded $7.5 million. The incident unfolded June 25 2015 when Walker went to a Walmart store in Phenix City Ala. according to court documents. Walker reached to pick a melon from a display and his foot became lodged in the pallet under the watermelon container. He turned unaware that the pallet was there and fell and shattered his hip court documents state. He sued the retail giant on claims of negligence and wantonness. Attorneys presented the case Tuesday and Wednesday in Russell County Circuit Court. The jury deliberated for about two hours late Wednesday before ruling in favor of Walker awarding him $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. âI think this jury appreciated what Mr. Walker went through and they compensated him accordingly â another one of his attorneys David Rayfield told the Ledger-Enquirer. âThis is a great verdict for the community because this jury wanted to make sure it was safe for shoppers.â Jurors reviewed security footage from the store and saw that Walker wasnât the only person to get his foot stuck in the side openings of a wooden pallet on the floor OâHara said. OâHara told AL.com that the incident âcompletely changed Henry Walker âs life.â Among other things the Army veteran who used to play basketball three days a week now needs to use a walker he said.

A worker pushes shopping carts in front of a Walmart store in La Habra Calif. ( [TGT] was trying to buy a watermelon at a Walmart in Alabama when [TGT] foot got stuck in a wooden pallet. When [TGT] turned the 59-year-old fell breaking [TGT] hip. [TGT] sued Walmart over the 2015 incident and an Alabama jury has ruled that [TGT] should be awarded $7.5 million. The incident unfolded June 25 2015 when [TGT] went to a Walmart store in Phenix City Ala. according to court documents. [TGT] reached to pick a melon from a display and [TGT] foot became lodged in the pallet under the watermelon container. [TGT] turned unaware that the pallet was there and fell and shattered [TGT] hip court documents state. [TGT] sued the retail giant on claims of negligence and wantonness. Attorneys presented the case Tuesday and Wednesday in Russell County Circuit Court. The jury deliberated for about two hours late Wednesday before ruling in favor of [TGT] Walker awarding [TGT] $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. âI think this jury appreciated what [TGT] went through and they compensated [TGT] accordingly â another one of [TGT] attorneys David Rayfield told the Ledger-Enquirer. âThis is a great verdict for the community because this jury wanted to make sure it was safe for shoppers.â Jurors reviewed security footage from the store and saw that [TGT] wasnât the only person to get his foot stuck in the side openings of a wooden pallet on the floor OâHara said. OâHara told AL.com that the incident âcompletely changed [TGT] âs life.â Among other things the Army veteran who used to play basketball three days a week now needs to use a walker [TGT] said.

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Las Vegas shooting: Difficult protecting crowds from attack

Joe Lombardo

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said Monday that the Mandalay Bay did a great job hiring police as security for the concert and “had sufficient staffing for the concert.” Firefighters joined police in responding quickly after the shooting started Lombardo said. “This is an individual that is described as a lone wolf ” Lombardo told a news conference as the investigation continued. “I don’t know how it could have been prevented if we didn’t have any prior knowledge as to this individual.” Police planned to review the hotel’s surveillance videos of gunman Stephen Paddock 64 of Mesquite Nev. who checked into the hotel on Thursday. Paddock who killed himself when officers closed in brought the guns into the hotel himself and the weapons weren’t obvious when workers visited the room Lombardo said. “We do know that he brought these weapons in on his own ” Lombardo said. “Nothing nefarious was noticed.”

[TGT] said Monday that the Mandalay Bay did a great job hiring police as security for the concert and “had sufficient staffing for the concert.” Firefighters joined police in responding quickly after the shooting started [TGT] said. “This is an individual that is described as a lone wolf ” [TGT] told a news conference as the investigation continued. “I don’t know how it could have been prevented if we didn’t have any prior knowledge as to this individual.” Police planned to review the hotel’s surveillance videos of gunman Stephen Paddock 64 of Mesquite Nev. who checked into the hotel on Thursday. Paddock who killed himself when officers closed in brought the guns into the hotel himself and the weapons weren’t obvious when workers visited the room [TGT] said. “We do know that he brought these weapons in on his own ” [TGT] said. “Nothing nefarious was noticed.”

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'The Hazel Wood' Has Few Uses For Enchantment : NPR

Alice

Alice has spent her whole life on the run with her mother almost as if something terrible is chasing them. They can't ever seem to escape their family legacy: Alice 's grandmother is a famous author who wrote a book of dark fairy tales set in a mythical world called the Hinterland. It's a book so rare and compelling that it has die-hard fans who've never even read it — including Alice . Alice doesn't know her grandmother who shut herself away in an estate called the Hazel Wood before Alice was even born but she is secretly obsessed with her and the elusive world that she created. When the news comes that her grandmother has died it seems like maybe Alice and her mother can finally catch their breath. They settle into a life in New York but Alice keeps waiting for the darkness to find them . Sure enough one day Alice goes home to find that her mother has been kidnapped by terrifying creatures who may be the denizens of the Hinterland come to life. The only clue is a torn page from her grandmother's book and a dire message from her mother: Stay away from the Hazel Wood. Alice enlists the help of her classmate Ellery Finch a Hinterland fanboy who just seems happy that Alice has finally noticed him . But soon their fantasy adventure turns into a horror story as the ruthless citizens of the Hinterland creep further and further into reality seeking to terrorize Alice and use her for their own means. For the Hazel Wood is a doorway and Alice has to decide if she 's willing to go through it and find out the truth about her mysterious family.

[TGT] has spent [TGT] whole life on the run with [TGT] mother almost as if something terrible is chasing them. They can't ever seem to escape their family legacy: [TGT] 's grandmother is a famous author who wrote a book of dark fairy tales set in a mythical world called the Hinterland. It's a book so rare and compelling that it has die-hard fans who've never even read it — including Alice . [TGT] doesn't know [TGT] grandmother who shut [TGT] away in an estate called the Hazel Wood before [TGT] was even born but [TGT] is secretly obsessed with [TGT] and the elusive world that [TGT] created. When the news comes that [TGT] grandmother has died it seems like maybe Alice and her mother can finally catch their breath. They settle into a life in New York but [TGT] keeps waiting for the darkness to find them . Sure enough one day [TGT] goes home to find that [TGT] mother has been kidnapped by terrifying creatures who may be the denizens of the Hinterland come to life. The only clue is a torn page from [TGT] grandmother's book and a dire message from [TGT] mother: Stay away from the Hazel Wood. [TGT] enlists the help of [TGT] classmate Ellery Finch a Hinterland fanboy who just seems happy that [TGT] has finally noticed him . But soon their fantasy adventure turns into a horror story as the ruthless citizens of the Hinterland creep further and further into reality seeking to terrorize [TGT] and use [TGT] for their own means. For the Hazel Wood is a doorway and [TGT] has to decide if [TGT] 's willing to go through it and find out the truth about [TGT] mysterious family.

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Chiefs defense leads charge as Kansas City ends two

Justin Houston

Chiefs OLB Justin Houston (50) and DL Chris Jones sack Broncos QB Trevor Siemian on Monday night. (Photo: Ed Zurga AP) KANSAS CITY Mo. — Justin Houston ’s once-perfect team had lost consecutive games after a pair of uncharacteristic showings. The Kansas City Chiefs defense couldn’t stop anybody and the offense suddenly lost its effectiveness in the rushing department which had served as a calling card during the team's 5-0 start. Houston a seventh-year veteran and one of the longest-tenured Chiefs looked around the locker room diagnosed the problem and decided he had to speak up. “I’m from a big family so I understand there are times to follow and there are times to lead. There are times to speak up ” Houston told USA TODAY Sports after Monday night's 29-19 defeat of the Denver Broncos. “We just weren’t having fun. And most importantly to Houston and his teammates the Chiefs had fun in the process.

Chiefs OLB Justin Houston (50) and DL Chris Jones sack Broncos QB Trevor Siemian on Monday night. (Photo: Ed Zurga AP) KANSAS CITY Mo. — [TGT] ’s once-perfect team had lost consecutive games after a pair of uncharacteristic showings. The Kansas City Chiefs defense couldn’t stop anybody and the offense suddenly lost its effectiveness in the rushing department which had served as a calling card during the team's 5-0 start. [TGT] a seventh-year veteran and one of the longest-tenured Chiefs looked around the locker room diagnosed the problem and decided he had to speak up. “I’m from a big family so I understand there are times to follow and there are times to lead. There are times to speak up ” [TGT] told USA TODAY Sports after Monday night's 29-19 defeat of the Denver Broncos. “We just weren’t having fun. And most importantly to Houston and his teammates the Chiefs had fun in the process.

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Yes it’s OK to date across the political spectrum

James Myers

One New York couple who have taken that approach are James Myers 33 and Corinne Fisher 32 both professional comedians from Harlem. Myers is vocal about his support for Trump; Fisher who was a staunch Hillary Clinton supporter is just as vocal about her opposition. Fisher said she defends Myers ’ freedom to choose. “I stick up for his right to think something even if I totally disagree ” she says. She also respects Myers ’ courage. “He gets private messages from other people who aren’t courageous enough to be out about their views ” she said. “My love for Corinne is based on deep respect ” said Myers . “If you respect someone you don’t have to agree with them on everything. She’s been pretty brave about this whole thing.” Myers added that passion can trump (pun intended) disagreement. “Mingle with those with whom you disagree ” he said. “It can be hot.”

One New York couple who have taken that approach are [TGT] 33 and Corinne Fisher 32 both professional comedians from Harlem. [TGT] is vocal about [TGT] support for Trump; Fisher who was a staunch Hillary Clinton supporter is just as vocal about her opposition. Fisher said she defends [TGT] ’ freedom to choose. “I stick up for his right to think something even if I totally disagree ” she says. She also respects Myers ’ courage. “He gets private messages from other people who aren’t courageous enough to be out about their views ” she said. “My love for Corinne is based on deep respect ” said [TGT] . “If you respect someone you don’t have to agree with them on everything. She’s been pretty brave about this whole thing.” [TGT] added that passion can trump (pun intended) disagreement. “Mingle with those with whom you disagree ” [TGT] said. “It can be hot.”

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Fraud

Nirav Modi

PNB has lost 90 billion Indian rupees ($1.41 billion) 23.4 percent of its market value since its disclosure on Wednesday that a investigation was underway into suspected fraud as a result of two junior officials at a branch in Mumbai steering unauthorized loans to customer accounts including some firms e linked to Nirav Modi a billionaire jeweler and diamond merchant. Federal investigators have raided Nirav Modi’s Mumbai home and offices though the jeweler is outside the country and his whereabouts is unknown. Modi launched an eponymous jewelry business branded NIRAV MODI in capitals with a chain of boutiques stretching from New York to London to Beijing. As recently as last month he was at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Indian media carried a group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the foreground and Nirav Modi who is no relation grinning between rows of Indian business leaders behind him . Companies related to Nirav Modi had used the fraudulent credit guarantees from PNB to get loans from overseas branches of Indian banks including Allahabad and Axis according to a previous police complaint from PNB.

PNB has lost 90 billion Indian rupees ($1.41 billion) 23.4 percent of its market value since its disclosure on Wednesday that a investigation was underway into suspected fraud as a result of two junior officials at a branch in Mumbai steering unauthorized loans to customer accounts including some firms e linked to [TGT] a billionaire jeweler and diamond merchant. Federal investigators have raided Nirav Modi’s Mumbai home and offices though the jeweler is outside the country and his whereabouts is unknown. [TGT] launched an eponymous jewelry business branded NIRAV MODI in capitals with a chain of boutiques stretching from New York to London to Beijing. As recently as last month [TGT] was at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Indian media carried a group photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the foreground and Nirav Modi who is no relation grinning between rows of Indian business leaders behind him . Companies related to Nirav Modi had used the fraudulent credit guarantees from PNB to get loans from overseas branches of Indian banks including Allahabad and Axis according to a previous police complaint from PNB.

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Former security chief says he rejected offer of women for Trump during Moscow trip

Keith Schiller

Then-director of Oval Office Operations Keith Schiller stands in the Red Room before President Trump speaks at an event at the White House in July. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Keith Schiller told the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that he rejected the offer from the man who appeared to be Russian or Ukranian according to two people familiar with the discussion. He quickly dismissed what appeared to be a suggestion of procuring prostitutes for Trump they said. “No man we’re not interested in that ” Schiller told the man the people said. The offer came at the end of a late-morning planning meeting that Schiller attended when he accompanied Trump to Moscow for the annual Miss Universe pageant which was produced by a company that Trump owned. Schiller Trump’s longtime bodyguard who frequently accompanied him on trips told congressional investigators that he saw no compromising illicit or illegal behavior by Trump while in Moscow according to the people. The offer to send women to Trump’s room came after Schiller said he attended a meeting in Moscow with about 15 people to discuss details of the pageant. Among those in attendance were Russian pop star Emin Agalarov and his father Aras Agalarov a business magnate with close ties to the government of President Vladimir Putin according to the people familiar with his interview. As the meeting broke up Schiller said a man he did not know approached him and asked if he would like five women to visit Trump at his hotel room later that night he told investigators. Schiller told the committee that he joked about the offer with Trump later that evening as they headed back to their hotel the people said. “Can you believe one of these guys wanted to send some women up to your room?” Schiller recalled saying. An attorney for the Agalarovs said they had no knowledge of the offer to Schiller . “Categorically neither one of them has any knowledge of that happening ” said Scott Balber a lawyer for Emin and Aras Agalarov. “They didn’t do it they didn’t hear it and they have no reason to believe it ’s true.” A White House attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An attorney for Schiller declined to comment on the details of his interview. NBC News first reported that the House Intelligence Committee asked Schiller for details about the episode. Schiller ’s long and close relationship with Trump makes him a potentially valuable witness to investigators examining Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. The former director of security at the Trump Organization joined Trump at the White House serving as director of Oval Office Operations until September. In his House interview Schiller said he traveled as many as five and six days a week with Trump when the businessman ran the Trump Organization adding that he could not remember the precise details of all their trips. Schiller told investigators that he and Trump stayed at a luxury hotel during their 2013 Moscow trip although he said he could not recall its name. He said he was not certain if he stayed on the same floor as Trump although he acknowledged that they usually had adjoining rooms.

[TGT] stands in the Red Room before President Trump speaks at an event at the White House in July. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) [TGT] told the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that [TGT] rejected the offer from the man who appeared to be Russian or Ukranian according to two people familiar with the discussion. [TGT] quickly dismissed what appeared to be a suggestion of procuring prostitutes for Trump they said. “No man we’re not interested in that ” [TGT] told the man the people said. The offer came at the end of a late-morning planning meeting that [TGT] attended when [TGT] accompanied Trump to Moscow for the annual Miss Universe pageant which was produced by a company that Trump owned. [TGT] Trump’s longtime bodyguard who frequently accompanied him on trips told congressional investigators that he saw no compromising illicit or illegal behavior by Trump while in Moscow according to the people. The offer to send women to Trump’s room came after [TGT] said [TGT] attended a meeting in Moscow with about 15 people to discuss details of the pageant. Among those in attendance were Russian pop star Emin Agalarov and his father Aras Agalarov a business magnate with close ties to the government of President Vladimir Putin according to the people familiar with his interview. As the meeting broke up [TGT] said a man [TGT] did not know approached him and asked if he would like five women to visit Trump at his hotel room later that night he told investigators. [TGT] told the committee that [TGT] joked about the offer with Trump later that evening as they headed back to their hotel the people said. “Can you believe one of these guys wanted to send some women up to [TGT] recalled saying. An attorney for the Agalarovs said they had no knowledge of the offer to [TGT] . “Categorically neither one of them has any knowledge of that happening ” said Scott Balber a lawyer for Emin and Aras Agalarov. “They didn’t do [TGT] they didn’t hear [TGT] and they have no reason to believe it ’s true.” A White House attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An attorney for [TGT] declined to comment on the details of [TGT] interview. NBC News first reported that the House Intelligence Committee asked [TGT] for details about the episode. [TGT] ’s long and close relationship with Trump makes [TGT] a potentially valuable witness to investigators examining Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. The former director of security at the Trump Organization joined Trump at the White House serving as director of Oval Office Operations until September. In his House interview [TGT] said he traveled as many as five and six days a week with Trump when the businessman ran the Trump Organization adding that he could not remember the precise details of all their trips. [TGT] told investigators that [TGT] and Trump stayed at a luxury hotel during their 2013 Moscow trip although [TGT] said [TGT] could not recall its name. [TGT] said [TGT] was not certain if [TGT] stayed on the same floor as Trump although [TGT] acknowledged that they usually had adjoining rooms.

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Zinke backs shrinking more national monuments and shifting management of 10

Ryan Zinke

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Tuesday called on President Trump to shrink a total of four national monuments and change the way six other land and marine sites are managed a sweeping overhaul of how protected areas are maintained in the United States. Zinke ’s final report comes a day after Trump signed proclamations in Utah that downsized two massive national monuments there — Bears Ears by 85 percent and Grand Staircase-Escalante by 46 percent. The president had directed Zinke in April to review 27 national monuments established since 1996 under the Antiquities Act which gives the president broad authority to safeguard federal lands and waters under threat. In addition to the Utah sites Zinke supports cutting Nevada’s Gold Butte and Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou though the exact reductions are still being determined. He also would revise the proclamations for those and the others to clarify that activities such as grazing motorized vehicle use and commercial fishing should be allowed. “The Antiquities Act over time has done great things for our country and it has protected some of our greatest treasures ” he said in a call with reporters. But its power had been “abused ” he said with monument designations extending far beyond the objects they were designed to protect. Zinke criticized the federal government’s past action halting motorized vehicle traffic in Cascade-Siskiyou until a transportation plan could be finalized arguing that it interfered with local cross-country ski operators’ ability to maintain trails. “It should have been the other way around ” he said. For several sites Zinke recommended amending monuments’ proclamation language to ensure that activities such as grazing hunting and fishing can continue. While these practices often go on even after a presidential designation Zinke said he wants to make that legality clear because ranchers have felt marginalized and fear they will face future restrictions. In the case of New Mexico’s national monuments Zinke said he listened to the state’s two Democratic senators and others in deciding not to modify their boundaries. Still he wanted “to make sure that the proclamation protects the long-standing grazing [in parts] of those monuments” and that management of Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks does not interfere with U.S. Customs and Border Control operations in the area. Sen. Martin Heinrich wasn’t buying the explanation. He blasted Zinke in a statement saying the “report is based on hearsay and erroneous data” and that the secretary and Trump “have turned a deaf ear to the overwhelming consensus to protect New Mexico’s conservation legacy.” More litigation could be coming. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum warned Zinke in a letter in July the state was “ready to take appropriate legal action” if Trump rescinds or reduces the size of Cascade-Siskiyou. Interior received more than 2.5 million comments on the review and they “overwhelmingly” said all of the monuments should remain unchanged Zinke wrote in his report. But he attributed the extreme tilt to “a well-orchestrated national campaign organized by multiple groups.” “I don’t yield to public pressure ” Zinke said Tuesday. “Sound public policy is not based on threats of lawsuit it’s doing what’s right.” The final document is almost identical to the draft Zinke submitted to the White House this summer and much of the language is vague. For example it appears open the door to commercial fishing in three marine monuments where this practice is either being phased out or is already banned. Yet the report calls for amending the sites’ proclamations to allow regional councils “to make fishery-management decisions as authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.” Zinke also finalized his recommendations to create three new national monuments: at Kentucky’s Camp Nelson a Civil War training site for African American soldiers; at Medgar Evers’ home in Jackson Miss.; and at the Badger-Two Medicine area in his home state of Montana. The secretary said he was “fairly confident” Trump would accept all of his recommendations and he intends to brief him “multiple times” in coming weeks to get his sign-off. Zinke also rejected the idea that any of these alterations of existing monuments would amount to relinquishing control of federal land describing such criticism as “nefarious false and a lie.” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) commended Zinke on Tuesday for “actually listening to the people on the local level” and Trump for showing “ some real courage against well-funded litigation machines.”

[TGT] on Tuesday called on President Trump to shrink a total of four national monuments and change the way six other land and marine sites are managed a sweeping overhaul of how protected areas are maintained in the United States. [TGT] ’s final report comes a day after Trump signed proclamations in Utah that downsized two massive national monuments there — Bears Ears by 85 percent and Grand Staircase-Escalante by 46 percent. The president had directed Zinke in April to review 27 national monuments established since 1996 under the Antiquities Act which gives the president broad authority to safeguard federal lands and waters under threat. In addition to the Utah sites Zinke supports cutting Nevada’s Gold Butte and Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou though the exact reductions are still being determined. He also would revise the proclamations for those and the others to clarify that activities such as grazing motorized vehicle use and commercial fishing should be allowed. “The Antiquities Act over time has done great things for our country and it has protected some of our greatest treasures ” he said in a call with reporters. But its power had been “abused ” he said with monument designations extending far beyond the objects they were designed to protect. Zinke criticized the federal government’s past action halting motorized vehicle traffic in Cascade-Siskiyou until a transportation plan could be finalized arguing that it interfered with local cross-country ski operators’ ability to maintain trails. “It should have been the other way around ” he said. For several sites Zinke recommended amending monuments’ proclamation language to ensure that activities such as grazing hunting and fishing can continue. While these practices often go on even after a presidential designation Zinke said he wants to make that legality clear because ranchers have felt marginalized and fear they will face future restrictions. In the case of New Mexico’s national monuments Zinke said he listened to the state’s two Democratic senators and others in deciding not to modify their boundaries. Still he wanted “to make sure that the proclamation protects the long-standing grazing [in parts] of those monuments” and that management of Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks does not interfere with U.S. Customs and Border Control operations in the area. Sen. Martin Heinrich wasn’t buying the explanation. He blasted Zinke in a statement saying the “report is based on hearsay and erroneous data” and that the secretary and Trump “have turned a deaf ear to the overwhelming consensus to protect New Mexico’s conservation legacy.” More litigation could be coming. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum warned Zinke in a letter in July the state was “ready to take appropriate legal action” if Trump rescinds or reduces the size of Cascade-Siskiyou. Interior received more than 2.5 million comments on the review and they “overwhelmingly” said all of the monuments should remain unchanged Zinke wrote in his report. But he attributed the extreme tilt to “a well-orchestrated national campaign organized by multiple groups.” “I don’t yield to public pressure ” Zinke said Tuesday. “Sound public policy is not based on threats of lawsuit it’s doing what’s right.” The final document is almost identical to the draft Zinke submitted to the White House this summer and much of the language is vague. For example it appears open the door to commercial fishing in three marine monuments where this practice is either being phased out or is already banned. Yet the report calls for amending the sites’ proclamations to allow regional councils “to make fishery-management decisions as authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.” Zinke also finalized his recommendations to create three new national monuments: at Kentucky’s Camp Nelson a Civil War training site for African American soldiers; at Medgar Evers’ home in Jackson Miss.; and at the Badger-Two Medicine area in his home state of Montana. The secretary said he was “fairly confident” Trump would accept all of his recommendations and he intends to brief him “multiple times” in coming weeks to get his sign-off. Zinke also rejected the idea that any of these alterations of existing monuments would amount to relinquishing control of federal land describing such criticism as “nefarious false and a lie.” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) commended Zinke on Tuesday for “actually listening to the people on the local level” and Trump for showing “ some real courage against well-funded litigation machines.”

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‘Pepper X’ said to be world’s hottest chili burns with twice the heat of Carolina Reaper

Ed Currie

“We’re playing with fire ” said pepper breeder Ed Currie when announcing his new pepper on a recent episode of First We Feast’s “Hot Ones” web series. “Pepper X is three times hotter than any other peppers that are out there available commercially ” he claimed. “It’s twice as hot as the Reaper at 1.6 million so this is a dangerous pepper.” Measuring in at an alleged 3.18 Scoville units Pepper X would be hotter than Carolina Reaper by a margin of more than 1 million Scoville units. (The Carolina Reaper measures an average of 1.9 million on the Scoville scale Currie says. However when it was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2013 it was listed at around 1.56 million Scoville units reports Food & Wine.) Currie’s claims would also make Pepper X effectively hotter than the Dragon’s Breath which was recently reported to be hotter than the Carolina Reaper when it debuted in May boasting a Scoville score of 2.4 million. Currie says his new Pepper X peppers have not yet been officially recognized as the world’s hottest by the Guinness Book of World Records though he’s hopeful the results will come through in November. Furthermore Currie is confident that a Pepper X sauce he made for "Hot Ones " which is exclusively available at a site called Heatonist will be found to be “the hottest natural sauce on the planet” when more lab test results come in. Meanwhile the first 1 000 already sold out within two minutes according to First We Feast. Currie later revealed on Twitter that “Pepper X” is only a “temporary” name for his new pepper. He also says he has no official plans to make the peppers or the seeds themselves available for purchase at least until “the record is secured.”

“We’re playing with fire ” said [TGT] when announcing [TGT] new pepper on a recent episode of First We Feast’s “Hot Ones” web series. “Pepper X is three times hotter than any other peppers that are out there available commercially ” he claimed. “It’s twice as hot as the Reaper at 1.6 million so this is a dangerous pepper.” Measuring in at an alleged 3.18 Scoville units Pepper X would be hotter than Carolina Reaper by a margin of more than 1 million Scoville units. (The Carolina Reaper measures an average of 1.9 million on the Scoville scale [TGT] says. However when it was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2013 it was listed at around 1.56 million Scoville units reports Food & Wine.) Currie’s claims would also make Pepper X effectively hotter than the Dragon’s Breath which was recently reported to be hotter than the Carolina Reaper when it debuted in May boasting a Scoville score of 2.4 million. [TGT] says [TGT] new Pepper X peppers have not yet been officially recognized as the world’s hottest by the Guinness Book of World Records though [TGT] hopeful the results will come through in November. Furthermore [TGT] is confident that a Pepper X sauce he made for "Hot Ones " which is exclusively available at a site called Heatonist will be found to be “the hottest natural sauce on the planet” when more lab test results come in. Meanwhile the first 1 000 already sold out within two minutes according to First We Feast. [TGT] later revealed on Twitter that “Pepper X” is only a “temporary” name for [TGT] new pepper. [TGT] also says [TGT] has no official plans to make the peppers or the seeds themselves available for purchase at least until “the record is secured.”

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Morning Spin: Mendoza says Rauner can't take criticism 'from a 5

Susana Mendoza

Democratic Comptroller Susana Mendoza blasted Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner for calling her a "puppet" of House Speaker Michael Madigan saying the governor won’t accept responsibility for problems he’s created for Illinois. “To always say first of all that a strong independent outspoken woman who holds him accountable is a puppet of someone else which is exactly what he did call me ... is just a condescending acknowledgment frankly that he cannot take criticism from anybody — much less than from a 5-foot-3 woman from Chicago ” Mendoza said on WGN 720-AM. Mendoza defeated Rauner’s hand-picked appointee for the comptroller's office in a special election last year that was a proxy war for Rauner and Madigan. She is seeking a full four-year term next year and is being challenged by Republican Darlene Senger a top aide in the governor's administration. On Sunday Mendoza likened herself to holding a lifeline keeping Illinois’ finances from plummeting over a cliff while Rauner “is sitting there kicking me while I’m trying to hold on to the rope.” “When you screw up the state of Illinois to the extent that you have take ownership of it. Act like a grown man and a grown adult. Don’t blame everybody else but yourself for your colossal failures ” Mendoza said. “ This governor has a gene in his DNA code that does not allow him to take accountability or responsibility for any of the failures that he has imposed upon this state.” (Rick Pearson)

[TGT] blasted Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner for calling her a "puppet" of House Speaker Michael Madigan saying the governor won’t accept responsibility for problems he’s created for Illinois. “To always say first of all that a strong independent outspoken woman who holds him accountable is a puppet of someone else which is exactly what he did call me ... is just a condescending acknowledgment frankly that he cannot take criticism from anybody — much less than from a 5-foot-3 woman from Chicago ” [TGT] said on WGN 720-AM. [TGT] defeated Rauner’s hand-picked appointee for the comptroller's office in a special election last year that was a proxy war for Rauner and Madigan. [TGT] is seeking a full four-year term next year and is being challenged by Republican Darlene Senger a top aide in the governor's administration. On Sunday [TGT] likened [TGT] to holding a lifeline keeping Illinois’ finances from plummeting over a cliff while Rauner “is sitting there kicking me while I’m trying to hold on to the rope.” “When you screw up the state of Illinois to the extent that you have take ownership of it. Act like a grown man and a grown adult. Don’t blame everybody else but yourself for your colossal failures ” [TGT] said. “ This governor has a gene in his DNA code that does not allow him to take accountability or responsibility for any of the failures that he has imposed upon this state.” (Rick Pearson)

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Dem Rep. Adam Schiff rips Trump after the president claims FISA memo ‘vindicates’ him – TheBlaze

Adam Schiff

Ranking House Intelligence Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) fired back at President Donald Trump on Saturday after the president claimed the FISA memo âvindicatesâ him. How did Schiff respond? In fact Schiff claimed the âmost important factâ in the memo was the FBIâs counterintelligence investigation into Trumpâs campaign began in the summer of 2016. Quite the opposite Mr. President. The most important fact disclosed in this otherwise shoddy memo was that FBI investigation began July 2016 with your advisor Papadopoulos who was secretly discussing stolen Clinton emails with the Russians. https://t.co/2rGOE1jGg2 â Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 3 2018 Previously Schiff warned of the alleged dangers releasing the memo would have on national security. His rhetoric went so far as to claim its release would trigger a âconstitutional crisis.â Schiff and other House Democrats are pushing for a counter-memo they compiled to be released. Their memo allegedly refutes much of the FISA memo which was compiled by House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and Rep. Trey Gwody (R-S.C.). Republicans have signaled they believe the Schiff memo should be released.

[TGT] fired back at President Donald Trump on Saturday after the president claimed the FISA memo âvindicatesâ [TGT] . How did [TGT] respond? In fact [TGT] claimed the âmost important factâ in the memo was the FBIâs counterintelligence investigation into Trumpâs campaign began in the summer of 2016. Quite the opposite Mr. President. The most important fact disclosed in this otherwise shoddy memo was that FBI investigation began July 2016 with your advisor Papadopoulos who was secretly discussing stolen Clinton emails with the Russians. https://t.co/2rGOE1jGg2 â Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 3 2018 Previously [TGT] warned of the alleged dangers releasing the memo would have on national security. [TGT] rhetoric went so far as to claim its release would trigger a âconstitutional crisis.â [TGT] and other House Democrats are pushing for a counter-memo they compiled to be released. Their memo allegedly refutes much of the FISA memo which was compiled by House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and Rep. Trey Gwody (R-S.C.). Republicans have signaled they believe the [TGT] memo should be released.

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Lincoln opens its Experience Center in California

Lincoln

When you think of Lincoln you don't think of Southern California. But Lincoln is in the midst of a major comeback copiously funded by Ford with the goal of reinventing the luxury brand which has been around since 1917. Now the brand has undertaken one of its most brash moves to date by opening a sumptuous "Experience Center" at an upscale mall in Newport Beach. Not that it was always so. In the 1950s and '60s Lincoln and Cadillac were huge in SoCal. But the '70s and '80s changed all that. Lincoln wants to restore that vanished glory. In the latest chapter of the comeback the brand has authored what it 's calling the " Lincoln Way " a unified set of services and values that it hopes will change hearts and minds. The Lincoln Way enhances and extends the brand's "Black Label" offering which provides personalized shopping with dedicated personnel. "In North America Lincoln Black Label offers the ultimate expression of Lincoln style and substance " the automaker said in a statement. " The Lincoln Way builds off the success of Lincoln Black Label with outstanding levels of personalized effortless solutions delivered with a human touch " Ford said.

When you think of [TGT] you don't think of Southern California. But [TGT] is in the midst of a major comeback copiously funded by Ford with the goal of reinventing the luxury brand which has been around since 1917. Now the brand has undertaken one of its most brash moves to date by opening a sumptuous "Experience Center" at an upscale mall in Newport Beach. Not that it was always so. In the 1950s and '60s [TGT] and Cadillac were huge in SoCal. But the '70s and '80s changed all that. [TGT] wants to restore that vanished glory. In the latest chapter of the comeback the brand has authored what it 's calling the " [TGT] Way " a unified set of services and values that [TGT] hopes will change hearts and minds. The [TGT] Way enhances and extends the brand's "Black Label" offering which provides personalized shopping with dedicated personnel. "In North America Lincoln Black Label offers the ultimate expression of [TGT] style and substance " the automaker said in a statement. " The Lincoln Way builds off the success of Lincoln Black Label with outstanding levels of personalized effortless solutions delivered with a human touch " Ford said.

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Escape from the asylum

Tatijana Ilic

The doctor said to my husband 'She's not crazy she's just rude' Tatijana Ilic Former resident Tatijana Ilic who works in the laundry and sewing department was first forced into a psychiatric hospital by her husband when she was in her 20s. Even so Tatijana spent more than two decades on heavy medication in and out of residential homes and psychiatric hospital. She has seen and experienced some terrible things. In one institution women were tied to the staircase if they stepped out of line. In another none of the residents were allowed underwear and they were forced to line up naked in the hall to queue for the shower. Tatijana lived in Cepin for seven years until she moved into a flat in Osijek as part of the de-institutionalisation process. She and her flatmates are independent now - a household no longer needing an assistant to come in daily to help and support them. That says Ladislav Lamza means a financial saving. Image caption Tatijana dreams of having her own flat where her daughter and granddaughter can come to stay Tatijana dreams of having her own flat - somewhere her daughter and granddaughter can come and stay. That is unlikely unless she secures employment outside the centre. Meanwhile life is pretty good. Marta Gasparovic Tatijana 's psychiatrist has noticed significant changes in her patients since they moved to flats in the city.

The doctor said to my husband 'She's not crazy she's just rude' [TGT] Former resident [TGT] who works in the laundry and sewing department was first forced into a psychiatric hospital by her husband when she was in her 20s. Even so Tatijana spent more than two decades on heavy medication in and out of residential homes and psychiatric hospital. She has seen and experienced some terrible things. In one institution women were tied to the staircase if they stepped out of line. In another none of the residents were allowed underwear and they were forced to line up naked in the hall to queue for the shower. Tatijana lived in Cepin for seven years until she moved into a flat in Osijek as part of the de-institutionalisation process. She and her flatmates are independent now - a household no longer needing an assistant to come in daily to help and support them. That says Ladislav Lamza means a financial saving. Image caption Tatijana dreams of having her own flat where her daughter and granddaughter can come to stay Tatijana dreams of having her own flat - somewhere her daughter and granddaughter can come and stay. That is unlikely unless she secures employment outside the centre. Meanwhile life is pretty good. Marta Gasparovic Tatijana 's psychiatrist has noticed significant changes in her patients since they moved to flats in the city.

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Israeli PM Netanyahu to Iran: Don't test Israel's resolve

Benjamin Netanyahu

MUNICH (AP) — The nuclear deal with Iran has emboldened Tehran to become increasingly aggressive in the Middle East Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday warning that Iran should "not test Israel's resolve" as he showed off what he said was part of a downed Iranian drone. Netanyahu said of Iran that if the U.S. decides to scrap the 2015 nuclear deal which he has long opposed "I think they'll do nothing." But Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif appearing two hours later at the same Munich Security Conference fired back that Netanyahu 's comment was "delusional thinking." Kerry dismissed Netanyahu 's contention that Iran would be on its way to having a nuclear arsenal in 10 years saying "that's fundamentally not accurate." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during the International Security Conference in Munich Germany Sunday Feb. 18 2018. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP) Netanyahu told world leaders diplomats and defense officials at the conference that the deal was similar to the infamous 1938 "Munich Agreement" that Western powers signed with Adolf Hitler in an attempt to stave off war in Europe which became synonymous with appeasement. "The concessions to Hitler only emboldened the Nazi regime " he said. "Rather than choosing a path that might have prevented war... those well-intentioned leaders made a wider war inevitable and far more costly." Similarly he said the Iranian nuclear agreement has "unleashed a dangerous Iranian tiger in our region and beyond." Declaring that Iran's "brazenness hit new highs " he theatrically held up a fragment of what he said was an Iranian drone shot down last week by Israel in Israeli airspace and challenged Zarif. "Mr. Zarif do you recognize this? You should it's yours " Netanyahu said. "You can take back with you a message to the tyrants of Tehran — do not test Israel's resolve!" Tehran has denied that the drone belonged to Iran. Zarif on Sunday dismissed Netanyahu 's stunt as "a cartoonish circus... which does not even deserve the dignity of a response." Iranian troops along with Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed Shiite forces have aided Syrian President Bashar Assad in his war against rebel groups. Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that he will not accept a permanent Iranian military presence in postwar Syria fearing that Iran and its Shiite allies would turn their attention to Israel. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during the International Security Conference in Munich Germany Sunday Feb. 18 2018. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP) Netanyahu has been projecting a business-as-usual approach on his visit to Germany amid uproar at home after police on Tuesday said was sufficient evidence to indict him for bribery fraud and breach of trust in two cases. The Israeli leader has angrily rejected the accusations and denounced what he describes as an overzealous police investigation. He has also dismissed the accusations as a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media. Zarif suggested Netanyahu might be escalating tensions with Iran simply to distract from his domestic problems. Denouncing what he said were Israel's "almost daily illegal incursions into Syrian airspace " Zarif said Israel was trying "to create these cartoonish images to blame others for its own strategic blunders or maybe to evade the domestic crisis they're facing."

MUNICH (AP) — The nuclear deal with Iran has emboldened Tehran to become increasingly aggressive in [TGT] said Sunday warning that Iran should "not test Israel's resolve" as he showed off what he said was part of a downed Iranian drone. [TGT] said of Iran that if the U.S. decides to scrap the 2015 nuclear deal which [TGT] has long opposed "I think they'll do nothing." But Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif appearing two hours later at the same Munich Security Conference fired back that [TGT] 's comment was "delusional thinking." Kerry dismissed [TGT] 's contention that Iran would be on its way to having a nuclear arsenal in 10 years saying "that's fundamentally not accurate." [TGT] delivers a speech during the International Security Conference in Munich Germany Sunday Feb. 18 2018. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP) [TGT] told world leaders diplomats and defense officials at the conference that the deal was similar to the infamous 1938 "Munich Agreement" that Western powers signed with Adolf Hitler in an attempt to stave off war in Europe which became synonymous with appeasement. "The concessions to Hitler only emboldened the Nazi regime " [TGT] said. "Rather than choosing a path that might have prevented war... those well-intentioned leaders made a wider war inevitable and far more costly." Similarly [TGT] said the Iranian nuclear agreement has "unleashed a dangerous Iranian tiger in our region and beyond." Declaring that Iran's "brazenness hit new highs " he theatrically held up a fragment of what he said was an Iranian drone shot down last week by Israel in Israeli airspace and challenged Zarif. "Mr. Zarif do you recognize this? You should it's yours " Netanyahu said. "You can take back with you a message to the tyrants of Tehran — do not test Israel's resolve!" Tehran has denied that the drone belonged to Iran. Zarif on Sunday dismissed Netanyahu 's stunt as "a cartoonish circus... which does not even deserve the dignity of a response." Iranian troops along with Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed Shiite forces have aided Syrian President Bashar Assad in his war against rebel groups. Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that he will not accept a permanent Iranian military presence in postwar Syria fearing that Iran and its Shiite allies would turn their attention to Israel. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during the International Security Conference in Munich Germany Sunday Feb. 18 2018. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP) Netanyahu has been projecting a business-as-usual approach on his visit to Germany amid uproar at home after police on Tuesday said was sufficient evidence to indict him for bribery fraud and breach of trust in two cases. The Israeli leader has angrily rejected the accusations and denounced what he describes as an overzealous police investigation. He has also dismissed the accusations as a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media. Zarif suggested Netanyahu might be escalating tensions with Iran simply to distract from his domestic problems. Denouncing what he said were Israel's "almost daily illegal incursions into Syrian airspace " Zarif said Israel was trying "to create these cartoonish images to blame others for its own strategic blunders or maybe to evade the domestic crisis they're facing."

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Woman who spent hours shaving finally embraces her excessive body hair

Leah Jorgensen

Leah Jorgensen 33 has polycystic ovary syndrome a hormonal disorder which can cause hirsutism or abnormal male-pattern hair growth. Jorgensen feared people getting close to her and seeing the hair on her face which resulted in her not having her first kiss until age 27 and avoiding the dentist for 12 years. But since ditching the razor and showing her hair off in public Jorgensen says she feels “empowered” — and hopes her story will give other women courage. Jorgensen a behavioral health technician from Madison Wisconsin said: “I had never seen women who looked like me. I was so ashamed that I didn’t want to talk about it.” In December 2015 Jorgensen was hit by a car as she crossed a road and she had to be taken to a hospital by ambulance. Paramedics cut her clothes off and she underwent surgery and therapy so people saw the extent of her hair growth up close for the first time. “I realized no one cared what I looked like they just saw me as a person. It really helped me to get over it ” she said. Around that time Jorgensen also connected with a man who found her attractive body hair and all. She is no longer in a relationship but said the fact that he embraced her for who she is helped give her the push she needed. “I realized that I never really disliked how the hair looked. The problem was not with the hair it was with people’s perception of it ” she said. Since she stopped removing her body hair just over a year ago Jorgensen says she feels empowered. She also wears low-cut sleeveless tops and shows her legs in public. She bravely wore a bikini for the first time last summer and shares photos of her hair with her 2 500-plus followers on Instagram. The mindset shift also prompted her to quit her job in insurance and return to college where she is studying social work and recently got a job working with autistic children. Jorgensen said: “People definitely stare or try to take photos but I expect that because you don’t really see women who look like me .”

[TGT] 33 has polycystic ovary syndrome a hormonal disorder which can cause hirsutism or abnormal male-pattern hair growth. Jorgensen feared people getting close to her and seeing the hair on her face which resulted in her not having her first kiss until age 27 and avoiding the dentist for 12 years. But since ditching the razor and showing her hair off in public Jorgensen says she feels “empowered” — and hopes her story will give other women courage. Jorgensen a behavioral health technician from Madison Wisconsin said: “I had never seen women who looked like me. I was so ashamed that I didn’t want to talk about it.” In December 2015 Jorgensen was hit by a car as she crossed a road and she had to be taken to a hospital by ambulance. Paramedics cut her clothes off and she underwent surgery and therapy so people saw the extent of her hair growth up close for the first time. “I realized no one cared what I looked like they just saw me as a person. It really helped me to get over it ” she said. Around that time Jorgensen also connected with a man who found her attractive body hair and all. She is no longer in a relationship but said the fact that he embraced her for who she is helped give her the push she needed. “I realized that I never really disliked how the hair looked. The problem was not with the hair it was with people’s perception of it ” she said. Since she stopped removing her body hair just over a year ago Jorgensen says she feels empowered. She also wears low-cut sleeveless tops and shows her legs in public. She bravely wore a bikini for the first time last summer and shares photos of her hair with her 2 500-plus followers on Instagram. The mindset shift also prompted her to quit her job in insurance and return to college where she is studying social work and recently got a job working with autistic children. Jorgensen said: “People definitely stare or try to take photos but I expect that because you don’t really see women who look like me .”

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Teachers Across The Country Are Thinking About Active Shooter Situations : NPR

Joshua Grubbs

JOSHUA GRUBBS: Yes. My name is Joshua Grubbs and I am an assistant professor of psychology at Bowling Green State University. SHAPIRO: For Joshua Grubbs thinking about school shootings is a reflex as soon as he walks into a classroom. He came to teaching in this era of school shootings. He was in college near Virginia Tech at the time of the 2007 massacre there in which 32 people died. GRUBBS : Now walking into a new classroom as a professor for the semester just kind of looking OK does the door open in or out? What kind of desks do we have in the room? Is there a locking mechanism in the door? Can I lock it reasonably during class and just keep the door locked for the classroom? Are there large windows? Do they face the inside or the outside - those kind of things. KELLY: That is an argument that Joshua Grubbs does not buy. He grew up in rural North Carolina. GRUBBS : I've been around guns my whole life. I'm very comfortable around them. I'm a pretty decent shot. And if you placed me in a situation in a crowded classroom with people screaming and crying and people dying and someone standing with an assault rifle I would bet my money on the assault rifle every time. SHAPIRO: The voices of teachers from around the United States reflecting on last week's shooting in Florida - we heard from Stephanie Jones Joshua Grubbs Ricky Stephens and Carrie Martin.

JOSHUA GRUBBS: Yes. My name is [TGT] and I am an assistant professor of psychology at Bowling Green State University. SHAPIRO: For [TGT] thinking about school shootings is a reflex as soon as [TGT] walks into a classroom. [TGT] came to teaching in this era of school shootings. [TGT] was in college near Virginia Tech at the time of the 2007 massacre there in which 32 people died. GRUBBS : Now walking into a new classroom as a professor for the semester just kind of looking OK does the door open in or out? What kind of desks do we have in the room? Is there a locking mechanism in the door? Can I lock it reasonably during class and just keep the door locked for the classroom? Are there large windows? Do they face the inside or the outside - those kind of things. KELLY: That is an argument that [TGT] does not buy. [TGT] grew up in rural North Carolina. [TGT] : I've been around guns my whole life. I'm very comfortable around them. I'm a pretty decent shot. And if you placed me in a situation in a crowded classroom with people screaming and crying and people dying and someone standing with an assault rifle I would bet my money on the assault rifle every time. SHAPIRO: The voices of teachers from around the United States reflecting on last week's shooting in Florida - we heard from Stephanie Jones [TGT] Ricky Stephens and Carrie Martin.

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Why All Kehinde Wiley Wants Is the World

Kehinde Wiley

When does an artist become a phenomenon? It’s a rare moment on the scale of seeing a new star emerge in the night sky. Already a rising art world star American artist Kehinde Wiley seems poised now at the age of 35 and after just a little over a decade of work to take the next step and really heat things up. With not one but two big New York City exhibitions a featured appearance on a hot new album cover and the kind of retrospective lavishly illustrated critically evaluative monograph that seals the deal Kehinde Wiley has the whole world in the palm of his hand and that’s exactly what he wants. Born in 1977 as the youngest of six children to a single mother Wiley grew up facing hard economic times but also enjoying the intellectual stimulation of having a mother in academia. Looking for a way to keep Kehinde occupied his mother enrolled him in art classes including some at the Huntington Library where he could study portraits such as Thomas Gainsborough’s famous Blue Boy. After graduating with an MFA from Yale in 2001 Wiley became artist-in-residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem where he witnessed a steady stream of young African-American men walk past in full hip hop regalia. Joining the old school world of portraiture with this new school of personal style Wiley developed the unique subject matter and approach that has been a popular and critical success since. In Kehinde Wiley the first monograph dedicated to Wiley’s career as a whole (published by Rizzoli USA) Thelma Golden chief curator and director of the Studio Museum in Harlem introduces the volume by remarking that she “was in conversation with Wiley before I ever spoke to him .” Wiley’s work touches on “the politics of representation; the power of art history; the veracity of images; notions of authorship identity and culture; the critical nexus of race and gender in contemporary art ” Golden lists—all things that she and nearly all contemporary art critics think deeply about. This combination of Wiley’s thought provoking practice and stunningly beautiful paintings makes him irresistible to both the high brows and those simply wanting to enjoy the show. In addition to capturing visually Wiley ’s bravura brushwork and vast range of visual inventiveness in 275 color illustrations (including some gatefolds) the contributors Kehinde Wiley dig their critical teeth deep into Wiley’s art and come away with a mouthful. Art historian Robert Hobbs provides a detailed biography not just of Wiley’s life but of his thought mapping mental landmarks ranging from W.E.B. DuBois and Henry Louis Gates Jr. to Michel Foucault and Jacques Lacan. Hobbs sees a kind of “conceptual realism” at the heart of Wiley’s portraiture that is “coercive rather than simply mimetic.” More than just capturing a likeness Wiley’s portraits capture your mind and make you think about the power relations embedded in imagery of all kinds throughout history. Wiley ’s standard procedure has been to “street cast” individuals who catch his eye invite them to his studio allow them to browse art history books and pick a pose and then photograph the subjects in full regalia to use for painting later. Wiley’s 2008 painting The Virgin Martyr St. Cecilia (shown above) riffs on Renaissance sculptor Stefano Maderno’s The Virgin Martyr St. Cecilia from 1600. From one perspective the prone African-American male seems as powerless as the martyred saint. From another the young man takes on the gravitas of Cecilia as a modern victim of thoughtless violence. From yet another knowing that the young man chose this pose for himself he takes on the role of provocateur consciously drawing all those associations and more—paradoxically in control even when prone. This alchemical approach to art history is at the center of the “conceptual realism” Hobbs suggests. The Jewish Museum New York is currently showing the latest installment of The World Stage paintings—Kehinde Wiley/The World Stage: Israel. The exhibition features 14 large-scale portraits of young Israeli men of different ethnic backgrounds and religions. A video on the museum’s website shows Wiley in Tel Aviv “street casting” and finding individuals such as Ethopian Jewish hip hop performer Kalkidan. Wiley finds hip hop in the unlikeliest places in Israel proving the global reach of the art form that began in the Bronx as a means of “black” expression. The title of Sean Kelly Gallery’s current Wiley exhibition Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace could be an emblem for everything Wiley’s been doing for the past decade both locally and globally. “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right ” Wiley explains. Wiley’s trying to turn his personal economy of grace into a global economy with his portraits as the new gold standard. As technology brings us closer and closer the friction between individuals countries ideologies religions and everything else heats up faster than ever. Grace may be the only currency that can pull us out of the global spiritual debt crisis. If Kehinde Wiley seems to have the world in his hands right now it’s because he wants to save it one image at a time by showing us the grace and beauty of black men and by extension the grace and beauty of us all. [Image: Kehinde Wiley. The Virgin Martyr St. Cecilia 2008. Oil on canvas. 101.5 x 226.5 in. © Kehinde Wiley.] [Many thanks to Rizzoli USA for providing me with the image above and a review copy of the monograph Kehinde Wiley by Thelma Golden Sarah Lewis Robert Hobbs and Brian Keith Jackson. Many thanks also to Sean Kelly Gallery (whose exhibition Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace runs through June 16 2012) and to The Jewish Museum New York (whose exhibition Kehinde Wiley/The World Stage: Israel runs through July 29 2012) for press materials.]

When does an artist become a phenomenon? It’s a rare moment on the scale of seeing a new star emerge in the night sky. Already a rising art world star American artist Kehinde Wiley seems poised now at the age of 35 and after just a little over a decade of work to take the next step and really heat things up. With not one but two big New York City exhibitions a featured appearance on a hot new album cover and the kind of retrospective lavishly illustrated critically evaluative monograph that seals [TGT] has the whole world in the palm of [TGT] hand and that’s exactly what [TGT] wants. Born in 1977 as the youngest of six children to a single mother [TGT] grew up facing hard economic times but also enjoying the intellectual stimulation of having a mother in academia. Looking for a way to keep Kehinde occupied his mother enrolled him in art classes including some at the Huntington Library where he could study portraits such as Thomas Gainsborough’s famous Blue Boy. After graduating with an MFA from Yale in 2001 [TGT] became artist-in-residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem where he witnessed a steady stream of young African-American men walk past in full hip hop regalia. Joining the old school world of portraiture with this new school of personal style [TGT] developed the unique subject matter and approach that has been a popular and critical success since. In Kehinde Wiley the first monograph dedicated to Wiley’s career as a whole (published by Rizzoli USA) Thelma Golden chief curator and director of the Studio Museum in Harlem introduces the volume by remarking that she “was in conversation with [TGT] before I ever spoke to [TGT] .” Wiley’s work touches on “the politics of representation; the power of art history; the veracity of images; notions of authorship identity and culture; the critical nexus of race and gender in contemporary art ” Golden lists—all things that she and nearly all contemporary art critics think deeply about. This combination of Wiley’s thought provoking practice and stunningly beautiful paintings makes him irresistible to both the high brows and those simply wanting to enjoy the show. In addition to capturing visually [TGT] ’s bravura brushwork and vast range of visual inventiveness in 275 color illustrations (including some gatefolds) the contributors Kehinde Wiley dig their critical teeth deep into Wiley’s art and come away with a mouthful. Art historian Robert Hobbs provides a detailed biography not just of Wiley’s life but of his thought mapping mental landmarks ranging from W.E.B. DuBois and Henry Louis Gates Jr. to Michel Foucault and Jacques Lacan. Hobbs sees a kind of “conceptual realism” at the heart of Wiley’s portraiture that is “coercive rather than simply mimetic.” More than just capturing a likeness Wiley’s portraits capture your mind and make you think about the power relations embedded in imagery of all kinds throughout history. Wiley ’s standard procedure has been to “street cast” individuals who catch his eye invite them to his studio allow them to browse art history books and pick a pose and then photograph the subjects in full regalia to use for painting later. Wiley’s 2008 painting The Virgin Martyr St. Cecilia (shown above) riffs on Renaissance sculptor Stefano Maderno’s The Virgin Martyr St. Cecilia from 1600. From one perspective the prone African-American male seems as powerless as the martyred saint. From another the young man takes on the gravitas of Cecilia as a modern victim of thoughtless violence. From yet another knowing that the young man chose this pose for himself he takes on the role of provocateur consciously drawing all those associations and more—paradoxically in control even when prone. This alchemical approach to art history is at the center of the “conceptual realism” Hobbs suggests. The Jewish Museum New York is currently showing the latest installment of The World Stage paintings—Kehinde Wiley/The World Stage: Israel. The exhibition features 14 large-scale portraits of young Israeli men of different ethnic backgrounds and religions. A video on the museum’s website shows Wiley in Tel Aviv “street casting” and finding individuals such as Ethopian Jewish hip hop performer Kalkidan. Wiley finds hip hop in the unlikeliest places in Israel proving the global reach of the art form that began in the Bronx as a means of “black” expression. The title of Sean Kelly Gallery’s current Wiley exhibition Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace could be an emblem for everything Wiley’s been doing for the past decade both locally and globally. “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor the people that we choose to bestow that honor upon and the ways in which grace is at once an ideal that we strive for and something that is considered to be a natural human right ” Wiley explains. Wiley’s trying to turn his personal economy of grace into a global economy with his portraits as the new gold standard. As technology brings us closer and closer the friction between individuals countries ideologies religions and everything else heats up faster than ever. Grace may be the only currency that can pull us out of the global spiritual debt crisis. If Kehinde Wiley seems to have the world in his hands right now it’s because he wants to save it one image at a time by showing us the grace and beauty of black men and by extension the grace and beauty of us all. [Image: Kehinde Wiley. The Virgin Martyr St. Cecilia 2008. Oil on canvas. 101.5 x 226.5 in. © Kehinde Wiley.] [Many thanks to Rizzoli USA for providing me with the image above and a review copy of the monograph Kehinde Wiley by Thelma Golden Sarah Lewis Robert Hobbs and Brian Keith Jackson. Many thanks also to Sean Kelly Gallery (whose exhibition Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace runs through June 16 2012) and to The Jewish Museum New York (whose exhibition Kehinde Wiley/The World Stage: Israel runs through July 29 2012) for press materials.]

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Six

Emma McVey

"It's the same principle for when doctors advise moms not to overeat and gain too much weight during the pregnancy. The bottom line is a healthy weight gain gives pregnant moms an easier time during the birth as well as recovering after birth. " British model Emma McVey has been slammed in recent weeks by people criticizing her tiny baby bump. She is due in January with her first child. Recently she posted a photo of herself in a bikini to mark her sixth month. According to The Mirror she was flooded with nasty comments from people who said the picture was "depressing" and "wrong in so many ways." "How is she 6 months pregnant I look like that after thinking about bread " joked one commenter. Stage hit back at the people who criticized her for working out late into her pregnancy. "As I'm nearing #8months I've wanted to share what's been on my mind. Since I've announced my second pregnancy I've had certain 'Instagram medical experts' tell me what I should and shouldn't do " she wrote in the caption of a workout video she posted. Stage kept up her workouts at a lower intensity throughout her pregnancy.

"It's the same principle for when doctors advise moms not to overeat and gain too much weight during the pregnancy. The bottom line is a healthy weight gain gives pregnant moms an easier time during the birth as well as recovering after birth. [TGT] has been slammed in recent weeks by people criticizing [TGT] tiny baby bump. [TGT] is due in January with [TGT] first child. Recently [TGT] posted a photo of [TGT] in a bikini to mark her sixth month. According to The Mirror [TGT] was flooded with nasty comments from people who said the picture was "depressing" and "wrong in so many ways." "How is she 6 months pregnant I look like that after thinking about bread " joked one commenter. Stage hit back at the people who criticized her for working out late into her pregnancy. "As I'm nearing #8months I've wanted to share what's been on my mind. Since I've announced my second pregnancy I've had certain 'Instagram medical experts' tell me what I should and shouldn't do " she wrote in the caption of a workout video she posted. Stage kept up her workouts at a lower intensity throughout her pregnancy.

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Long Island Woman Charged With Using Bitcoin To Launder Money To Support ISIS : The Two

Zoobia Shahnaz

Zoobia Shahnaz 27 is charged with bank fraud conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of money laundering according to a statement from the Department of Justice. She pleaded not guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Central Islip N.Y. Shahnaz is a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan. She lives in the town of Brentwood N.Y. where she was working as a lab technician in a Manhattan hospital until June when she quit her job. The government says Shahnaz was detained on July 31 at John F. Kennedy airport as she was headed to Pakistan by way of Istanbul from where they believe she intended to enter Syria and join ISIS. "As a health care professional in 2016 Ms. Shahnaz was a volunteer with the Syrian American Medical Society assisting other health care providers in delivering lifesaving medical care to Syrian refugees " her attorney Steve Zissou tells NPR. " She witnessed the suffering of the refugees firsthand. Her humanitarian efforts then and since were motivated by her commitment to helping alleviate the plight of the people in the Middle East." According to Justice Department court filings the defendant used more than a dozen credit cards — six of which allegedly were fraudulently obtained — to buy approximately $62 700 in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The government says Shahnaz converted the cryptocurrencies back to U.S. dollars and deposited the funds into a checking account in her name. She also allegedly obtained a $22 500 loan from a Manhattan bank. The Justice Department says Shahnaz then began transferring money abroad to support ISIS while taking measures to disguise the nature and purpose of the funds and avoid transaction reporting requirements. If convicted of bank fraud Shahnaz faces up to 30 years in prison. The other charges each carry possible penalties of up to 20 years.

[TGT] is charged with bank fraud conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of money laundering according to a statement from the Department of Justice. [TGT] pleaded not guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Central Islip [TGT] is a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan. [TGT] lives in the town of Brentwood N.Y. where [TGT] was working as a lab technician in a Manhattan hospital until June when [TGT] quit [TGT] job. The government says [TGT] was detained on July 31 at John F. Kennedy airport as [TGT] was headed to Pakistan by way of Istanbul from where they believe [TGT] intended to enter Syria and join ISIS. "As a health care professional in 2016 Ms. Shahnaz was a volunteer with the Syrian American Medical Society assisting other health care providers in delivering lifesaving medical care to Syrian refugees " her attorney Steve Zissou tells NPR. " [TGT] witnessed the suffering of the refugees firsthand. [TGT] humanitarian efforts then and since were motivated by [TGT] commitment to helping alleviate the plight of the people in the Middle East." According to Justice Department court filings the defendant used more than a dozen credit cards — six of which allegedly were fraudulently obtained — to buy approximately $62 700 in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The government says Shahnaz converted the cryptocurrencies back to U.S. dollars and deposited the funds into a checking account in her name. She also allegedly obtained a $22 500 loan from a Manhattan bank. The Justice Department says Shahnaz then began transferring money abroad to support ISIS while taking measures to disguise the nature and purpose of the funds and avoid transaction reporting requirements. If convicted of bank fraud Shahnaz faces up to 30 years in prison. The other charges each carry possible penalties of up to 20 years.

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CFTC to Take 'Do No Harm' Approach to Cryptocurrency Regulation

J. Christopher Giancarlo

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo has announced that he will take a “do no harm” approach to cryptocurrency regulation. In a written testimony that was published ahead of a Tuesday hearing Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Christopher Giancarlo explained his regulatory plans for the cryptocurrency space. Speaking about blockchain systems broadly Chairman Giancarlo argued that the emerging technology will have a lasting impact on global financial markets. During Tuesday’s hearing Giancarlo expanded upon the prepared testimony. “We owe it to this new generation to respect their interest in this new technology with a thoughtful regulatory approach ” he said.

[TGT] has announced that [TGT] will take a “do no harm” approach to cryptocurrency regulation. In a written testimony that was published ahead of a Tuesday hearing [TGT] explained [TGT] regulatory plans for the cryptocurrency space. Speaking about blockchain systems broadly [TGT] argued that the emerging technology will have a lasting impact on global financial markets. During Tuesday’s hearing [TGT] expanded upon the prepared testimony. “We owe it to this new generation to respect their interest in this new technology with a thoughtful regulatory approach ” he said.

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Christie Says He Tackled Problems No Other Politicians Would

Chris Christie

Outgoing Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that New Jersey needed "tough and plain-spoken leadership" when he took office eight years ago and he delivered it pulling the state from "the brink of financial ruin" by confronting problems leaders of both parties had ignored for decades. Christie hands over state government to Democrat Phil Murphy in a week. Christie said he was the first governor in America to try to tackle the huge and escalating burden of state pension costs saying previous governors from both parties and Legislatures "virtually ignored the growing menace of increased costs and no real contributions." Among the steps taken during his administration was dedicating lottery proceeds to the pension system for the next 30 years. When he took office Christie said New Jersey was "on the brink of financial ruin as a state." "We needed tough and plain-spoken leadership to deal with these problems " he said. He said he vetoed more than $7 billion in spending helped cut the state workforce pushed through a cap on property tax increases and at the same time made sure the state invested heavily to help protect the New Jersey Shore from the kind of devastation it suffered during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The prepared text of his remarks didn't show him invoking the name of his friend President Donald Trump. But he called it an "honor" to chair the White House's opioid commission. Christie 's speech caps his stint as one of America's best-known governors. He was on the cover of Time magazine under the headline "The Boss" and a periodic guest on late-night television where he memorably appeared in a skit about "dad dancing" with Jimmy Fallon and poked fun at his weight by eating a doughnut on David Letterman's show. At least in the beginning he won acclaim for his forthrightness like when he told beachcombers to "get the hell off the beach" in 2011 during Hurricane Irene. He told it like it was before Trump brought the practice to the White House. He also was exceedingly popular and widely praised for guiding the state in its recovery from Superstorm Sandy which ravaged the coastline. He was briefly seen as a top GOP contender for president. But he was also criticized for testy exchanges with the public during town hall meetings and other encounters. His popularity and job approval fell sharply particularly after the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal in which three of his allies were convicted in a political retribution scheme. He also lost the home crowd after spending much of 2015 and early 2016 campaigning for president out of state a contest he dropped out of after failing to emerge from the back of the pack. He returned to New Jersey and focused on the state's — and country's — opioid addiction crisis after failing to get a top job in the Trump administration. A regular theme in his remarks around the state included "second chances " and the idea that people can make a comeback.

[TGT] said Tuesday that New Jersey needed "tough and plain-spoken leadership" when [TGT] took office eight years ago and [TGT] delivered it pulling the state from "the brink of financial ruin" by confronting problems leaders of both parties had ignored for decades. [TGT] hands over state government to Democrat Phil Murphy in a week. [TGT] said [TGT] was the first governor in America to try to tackle the huge and escalating burden of state pension costs saying previous governors from both parties and Legislatures "virtually ignored the growing menace of increased costs and no real contributions." Among the steps taken during his administration was dedicating lottery proceeds to the pension system for the next 30 years. When he took office [TGT] said New Jersey was "on the brink of financial ruin as a state." "We needed tough and plain-spoken leadership to deal with these problems " he said. He said he vetoed more than $7 billion in spending helped cut the state workforce pushed through a cap on property tax increases and at the same time made sure the state invested heavily to help protect the New Jersey Shore from the kind of devastation it suffered during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The prepared text of his remarks didn't show him invoking the name of his friend President Donald Trump. But he called it an "honor" to chair the White House's opioid commission. [TGT] 's speech caps [TGT] stint as one of America's best-known governors. [TGT] was on the cover of Time magazine under the headline "The Boss" and a periodic guest on late-night television where [TGT] memorably appeared in a skit about "dad dancing" with Jimmy Fallon and poked fun at his weight by eating a doughnut on David Letterman's show. At least in the beginning he won acclaim for his forthrightness like when he told beachcombers to "get the hell off the beach" in 2011 during Hurricane Irene. He told it like it was before Trump brought the practice to the White House. He also was exceedingly popular and widely praised for guiding the state in its recovery from Superstorm Sandy which ravaged the coastline. He was briefly seen as a top GOP contender for president. But he was also criticized for testy exchanges with the public during town hall meetings and other encounters. His popularity and job approval fell sharply particularly after the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal in which three of his allies were convicted in a political retribution scheme. He also lost the home crowd after spending much of 2015 and early 2016 campaigning for president out of state a contest he dropped out of after failing to emerge from the back of the pack. He returned to New Jersey and focused on the state's — and country's — opioid addiction crisis after failing to get a top job in the Trump administration. A regular theme in his remarks around the state included "second chances " and the idea that people can make a comeback.

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North Korea has brought America and China closer

Kim Jong Un

MURDEROUS thin-skinned and in possession of nuclear weapons the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has one good deed to his name: he has united America and China. Max Baucus America’s ambassador to Beijing until January 2017 recalls the Chinese president Xi Jinping privately expressing “disgust” at Mr Kim’s reckless pursuit of nukes and missiles to carry them to other continents. Mr Xi’s frustration with North Korea’s hereditary despot stands out as “the strongest statement that I have ever heard Xi make” says Mr Baucus. China has never sounded as closely aligned with America when it comes to using sanctions and diplomatic pressure in a last-ditch bid to change how Mr Kim calculates his regime’s interests. Unfortunately for relations between the world’s two biggest economies China will hate the next steps that America is likely to take on North Korea. Evan Medeiros until 2015 the senior director for Asia in Barack Obama’s National Security Council says that when the Chinese accuse America of refusing to engage in talks with the regime this is largely “posturing”. But behind it lies a truth that “sanctions won’t stop North Korea”. When battling the proliferation of the deadliest weapons sanctions are always in a race with technology says Mr Medeiros now with the Eurasia Group a consultancy. “Kim Jong Un is close to grasping the brass ring. We have probably lost the race and need to think about deterrence.” This could include deploying new missiles and missile-defence systems in South Korea and Japan and perhaps another aircraft-carrier in the region. Still cold-war theories of deterrence are being dusted off with such jargon as “second-strike capability”—the certainty that a country attacked with nuclear weapons can retaliate massively. Douglas Paal a senior Asia hand in the Reagan White House and both Bush administrations approves of the Senate plan to place more interceptors in Alaska in part to gain leverage over China. “We need to layer up more missile defence. China needs to see that their second-strike capacity is really deteriorating which hurts them.” Mr Paal who runs the Asia programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace a think-tank is in frequent contact with envoys of governments including China’s and recently North Korea’s. He concedes the need for talks with the Kim regime alongside containment and deterrence but notes that in previous negotiations North Korea wanted an end to American defence alliances in Asia and to America’s troop presence in South Korea: “So we can’t get there.” A policy of containment would not just strain relations with China as new American weapons bristled in Asia. Global non-proliferation regimes would be tested not least because a North Korea facing crippling sanctions might see selling nuclear technology as a lifeline. Perhaps China’s greatest nightmare involves Japan feeling compelled to build nuclear weapons (it could quickly develop the technology). A Chinese build-up of warheads in response could result in India and then Pakistan increasing their stockpiles. The unity fostered by Mr Kim may thus prove short-lived. If he builds the arsenal he wants China and America will be sincere in their shared dismay. But if America then prepares to contain him a whole new Sino-American stand-off may begin.

MURDEROUS thin-skinned and in possession of nuclear weapons [TGT] has one good deed to [TGT] name: [TGT] has united America and China. Max Baucus America’s ambassador to Beijing until January 2017 recalls the Chinese president Xi Jinping privately expressing “disgust” at Mr Kim’s reckless pursuit of nukes and missiles to carry them to other continents. Mr Xi’s frustration with North Korea’s hereditary despot stands out as “the strongest statement that I have ever heard Xi make” says Mr Baucus. China has never sounded as closely aligned with America when it comes to using sanctions and diplomatic pressure in a last-ditch bid to change how Mr Kim calculates his regime’s interests. Unfortunately for relations between the world’s two biggest economies China will hate the next steps that America is likely to take on North Korea. Evan Medeiros until 2015 the senior director for Asia in Barack Obama’s National Security Council says that when the Chinese accuse America of refusing to engage in talks with the regime this is largely “posturing”. But behind it lies a truth that “sanctions won’t stop North Korea”. When battling the proliferation of the deadliest weapons sanctions are always in a race with technology says Mr Medeiros now with the Eurasia Group a consultancy. “Kim Jong Un is close to grasping the brass ring. We have probably lost the race and need to think about deterrence.” This could include deploying new missiles and missile-defence systems in South Korea and Japan and perhaps another aircraft-carrier in the region. Still cold-war theories of deterrence are being dusted off with such jargon as “second-strike capability”—the certainty that a country attacked with nuclear weapons can retaliate massively. Douglas Paal a senior Asia hand in the Reagan White House and both Bush administrations approves of the Senate plan to place more interceptors in Alaska in part to gain leverage over China. “We need to layer up more missile defence. China needs to see that their second-strike capacity is really deteriorating which hurts them.” Mr Paal who runs the Asia programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace a think-tank is in frequent contact with envoys of governments including China’s and recently North Korea’s. He concedes the need for talks with the Kim regime alongside containment and deterrence but notes that in previous negotiations North Korea wanted an end to American defence alliances in Asia and to America’s troop presence in South Korea: “So we can’t get there.” A policy of containment would not just strain relations with China as new American weapons bristled in Asia. Global non-proliferation regimes would be tested not least because a North Korea facing crippling sanctions might see selling nuclear technology as a lifeline. Perhaps China’s greatest nightmare involves Japan feeling compelled to build nuclear weapons (it could quickly develop the technology). A Chinese build-up of warheads in response could result in India and then Pakistan increasing their stockpiles. The unity fostered by Mr Kim may thus prove short-lived. If he builds the arsenal he wants China and America will be sincere in their shared dismay. But if America then prepares to contain him a whole new Sino-American stand-off may begin.

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Ryan Zinke spent $6 250 on a helicopter so he could ride a horse with Mike Pence

Ryan Zinke

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke spent more than $14 000 on government helicopter rides for himself and staff to travel to and from Washington D.C. events over the summer — including one time so he could ride horses with Vice President Mike Pence a new investigation unveiled. Through a Freedom of Information Act request Zinke 's travel logs revealed he had used "taxpayer-funded vehicles from the U.S. Park Police to help accommodate his political events schedule " the Politico investigation reported. On June 21 Zinke ordered a Park Police helicopter for him and his chief of staff Scott Hommel in order to attend and emergency management exercise in Shepherdstown West Virginia Politico reported. The flight cost $8 000 and was justified by the Interior Department because it said Zinke wouldn't have been able to make the event in time otherwise. "Secretary Zinke’s last engagement in Washington D.C. is at 2 p.m. " and Interior staffer explained as a defense for Zinke 's helicopter use. "Driving to [the West Virginia event] would not enable him to be on time and fully participate as scheduled." Zinke's prior engagement was a ceremony for Rep. Greg Gianforte R-Mont. who filled Zinke 's former seat with a special election victory in May. Gianforte and his wife also donated $15 800 to Zinke 's previous congressional campaigns Politico reported.

[TGT] spent more than $14 000 on government helicopter rides for [TGT] and staff to travel to and from Washington D.C. events over the summer — including one time so [TGT] could ride horses with Vice President Mike Pence a new investigation unveiled. Through a Freedom of Information Act request Zinke 's travel logs revealed [TGT] had used "taxpayer-funded vehicles from the U.S. Park Police to help accommodate [TGT] political events schedule " the Politico investigation reported. On June 21 Zinke ordered a Park Police helicopter for him and his chief of staff Scott Hommel in order to attend and emergency management exercise in Shepherdstown West Virginia Politico reported. The flight cost $8 000 and was justified by the Interior Department because it said Zinke wouldn't have been able to make the event in time otherwise. "Secretary Zinke’s last engagement in Washington D.C. is at 2 p.m. " and Interior staffer explained as a defense for Zinke 's helicopter use. "Driving to [the West Virginia event] would not enable him to be on time and fully participate as scheduled." Zinke's prior engagement was a ceremony for Rep. Greg Gianforte R-Mont. who filled Zinke 's former seat with a special election victory in May. Gianforte and his wife also donated $15 800 to Zinke 's previous congressional campaigns Politico reported.

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Uber faces fresh heat after covering up data breach

Dara Khosrowshahi

Discovery of Uber’s cover-up of the incident resulted in the firing of two employees responsible for its response to the hack said Dara Khosrowshahi who replaced co-founder Travis Kalanick as chief executive in August . “None of this should have happened and I will not make excuses for it ” Khosrowshahi said in a blog post. The stolen information included names email addresses and mobile phone numbers of Uber users around the world and the names and license numbers of 600 000 US drivers Khosrowshahi said. Uber declined to say what other countries may be affected. Khosrowshahi also said Uber had begun notifying regulators. The New York attorney general has opened an investigation a spokeswoman said. Regulators in Australia and the Philippines said on Wednesday they would also look into the matter. The breach occurred in October 2016 but Khosrowshahi said he had only recently found out about it. Kalanick through a spokesman declined to comment. The former CEO remains on the Uber board of directors and Khosrowshahi has said he consults with him regularly. Khosrowshahi said on Tuesday he had hired Matt Olsen former general counsel of the US National Security Agency to restructure the company’s security teams and processes. The company also hired Mandiant a cyber security firm owned by FireEye to investigate the breach.

Discovery of Uber’s cover-up of the incident resulted in the firing of two employees responsible for its response to the hack said [TGT] “None of this should have happened and I will not make excuses for it ” [TGT] said in a blog post. The stolen information included names email addresses and mobile phone numbers of Uber users around the world and the names and license numbers of 600 000 US drivers [TGT] said. Uber declined to say what other countries may be affected. [TGT] also said Uber had begun notifying regulators. The New York attorney general has opened an investigation a spokeswoman said. Regulators in Australia and the Philippines said on Wednesday they would also look into the matter. The breach occurred in October 2016 but [TGT] said [TGT] had only recently found out about [TGT] . Kalanick through a spokesman declined to comment. The former CEO remains on the Uber board of directors and [TGT] has said [TGT] consults with [TGT] regularly. [TGT] said on Tuesday [TGT] had hired Matt Olsen former general counsel of the US National Security Agency to restructure the company’s security teams and processes. [TGT] also hired Mandiant a cyber security firm owned by FireEye to investigate the breach.

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Newt Gingrich: State Dept. Has Listened to Iran More Than to 'The Resistance'

Newt Gingrich

WASHINGTON DC – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) spoke to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) on Friday about the danger posed by Iran and accused the U.S. State Department of listening to that dictatorship more than to those who seek a free and democratic Iran. Gingrich said he has lobbied for the Iranian resistance movement in the U.S. and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) since he was the top Republican in the House. Gingrich said: Gingrich acknowledged that Iranians have suffered in exile in Iraq at Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf where thousands of members and sympathizers of MEK have been living for the past 25 years: Gingrich said “And I hope that this administration will now be part of this process of beginning to unravel both the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and then ultimately the dictatorship.” That unraveling should include the U.S. designating the IRGC a terrorist organization which would have a direct impact on the Iranian economy according to Gingrich . Gingrich said in his remarks that the extent of the danger posed by Iran cannot be understated. “As long as that dictatorship is in power as long as it’s able to spend money as long as it is able to project terrorism around the world it is ultimately a mortal danger to the United States ” Gingrich said. “And of course it was a terrible thing for the Iranian people.” “A dictatorship which in 1988 killed 30 000 people something which for some reason The New York Times and The Washington Post don’t find to be horrifying ” Gingrich said. Gingrich detailed the Iran’s aspirations in a chilling laundry list: Gingrich also praised President Donald Trump on his decision to decertify the JCPOA nuclear deal calling it “just about exactly the right path” and said that the president’s public remarks about Iran have been bold. That includes Trump’s speech to the United Nations which Gingrich said was “probably the strongest condemnation of Iran of the Iranian dictatorship ever uttered in the United Nations.”

WASHINGTON DC – [TGT] spoke to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) on Friday about the danger posed by Iran and accused the U.S. State Department of listening to that dictatorship more than to those who seek a free and democratic Iran. [TGT] said [TGT] has lobbied for the Iranian resistance movement in the U.S. and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) since [TGT] was the top Republican in the House. [TGT] said: [TGT] acknowledged that Iranians have suffered in exile in Iraq at Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf where thousands of members and sympathizers of MEK have been living for the past 25 years: [TGT] said “And I hope that this administration will now be part of this process of beginning to unravel both the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and then ultimately the dictatorship.” That unraveling should include the U.S. designating the IRGC a terrorist organization which would have a direct impact on the Iranian economy according to Gingrich . [TGT] said in [TGT] remarks that the extent of the danger posed by Iran cannot be understated. “As long as that dictatorship is in power as long as it’s able to spend money as long as it is able to project terrorism around the world it is ultimately a mortal danger to the United States ” [TGT] said. “And of course it was a terrible thing for the Iranian people.” “A dictatorship which in 1988 killed 30 000 people something which for some reason The New York Times and The Washington Post don’t find to be horrifying ” [TGT] said. [TGT] detailed the Iran’s aspirations in a chilling laundry list: [TGT] also praised President Donald Trump on [TGT] decision to decertify the JCPOA nuclear deal calling it “just about exactly the right path” and said that the president’s public remarks about Iran have been bold. That includes Trump’s speech to the United Nations which [TGT] said was “probably the strongest condemnation of Iran of the Iranian dictatorship ever uttered in the United Nations.”

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Dustin Johnson credits Wayne Gretzky his mentor for rise in world rankings

Dustin Johnson

Dustin Johnson left and Wayne Gretzky right walk to the second tee of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. (Photo: Eric Risberg AP) In front of a large mobile gallery on a spectacular day on the Monterey Peninsula during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Dustin Johnson and Wayne Gretzky joked their way through 18 holes and played superbly as a team on the historically toughest golf course of the three layouts used in this event. Gretzky who plays fast and clutches a cigar as much as he takes hold of a golf club got things going by making a birdie for the first time in his golf career on the par-5 first at Spyglass and getting a stroke because of his handicap the team was 2-under-par after one hole. While Gretzky added another birdie on the par-5 seventh and a clutch par on 16 for birdie Johnson was overpowering the seaside and tree-lined course with six birdies en route to a 5-under-par 67. As a team they shot 65. Johnson who kicked off the year with a win in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii is on the first page of the leaderboard and in position to win for the third time here. Johnson and Gretzky have had a visible bond since Johnson started dating Gretzky’s daughter Paulina in 2012. Back then Johnson was ranked in the 20s – a freak of talent and power who while winning a tournament a year fell short of joining the elite class as he struggled with his short game and course management and didn’t buy in 100% to preparation. A shift to Butch Harmon as his swing coach paid dividends as Johnson has become one of the most feared in the game from 150 yards and in. Johnson became a gym rat and severely cut down the times he painted the town red at night. Johnson also became a father as he and Paulina (they are engaged) are the parents of two young boys – Tatum and River Jones. And Johnson has credited Gretzky’s guidance and advice for his ascension up the world rankings. Johnson often picked the NHL icon’s brain and said Gretzky’s support and belief did wonders for his confidence. The two quickly became regular golf partners and talked for hours about how to handle sports fame pressure and expectations with Gretzky in his mentoring ways always stressing to never settle. As Johnson changed his habits his world ranking changed. He was 23rd in the world at the end of 2012 16th at the end of 2013 19th at the end of 2014 eighth at the end of 2015 and third at the end of 2016 when he won three of his 17 PGA Tour titles including his first major championship at the U.S. Open. He became No. 1 when he won at Riviera Country Club in February of last year and has stayed there for 51 weeks as he ’s piled up four more wins. He has no intentions of leaving. “There are a lot of really good players that are playing really well right now so it's going to be tough for me to keep it ” Johnson said. “But if I keep playing like I am and how I should I'll be there at the end of the year.”

[TGT] left and Wayne Gretzky right walk to the second tee of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. (Photo: Eric Risberg AP) In front of a large mobile gallery on a spectacular day on the Monterey Peninsula during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am [TGT] and Wayne Gretzky joked their way through 18 holes and played superbly as a team on the historically toughest golf course of the three layouts used in this event. Gretzky who plays fast and clutches a cigar as much as he takes hold of a golf club got things going by making a birdie for the first time in his golf career on the par-5 first at Spyglass and getting a stroke because of his handicap the team was 2-under-par after one hole. While Gretzky added another birdie on the par-5 seventh and a clutch par on 16 for birdie Johnson was overpowering the seaside and tree-lined course with six birdies en route to a 5-under-par 67. As a team they shot 65. [TGT] who kicked off the year with a win in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii is on the first page of the leaderboard and in position to win for the third time here. Johnson and Gretzky have had a visible bond since Johnson started dating Gretzky’s daughter Paulina in 2012. Back then Johnson was ranked in the 20s – a freak of talent and power who while winning a tournament a year fell short of joining the elite class as he struggled with his short game and course management and didn’t buy in 100% to preparation. A shift to Butch Harmon as his swing coach paid dividends as Johnson has become one of the most feared in the game from 150 yards and in. Johnson became a gym rat and severely cut down the times he painted the town red at night. Johnson also became a father as he and Paulina (they are engaged) are the parents of two young boys – Tatum and River Jones. And Johnson has credited Gretzky’s guidance and advice for his ascension up the world rankings. Johnson often picked the NHL icon’s brain and said Gretzky’s support and belief did wonders for his confidence. The two quickly became regular golf partners and talked for hours about how to handle sports fame pressure and expectations with Gretzky in his mentoring ways always stressing to never settle. As Johnson changed his habits his world ranking changed. He was 23rd in the world at the end of 2012 16th at the end of 2013 19th at the end of 2014 eighth at the end of 2015 and third at the end of 2016 when he won three of his 17 PGA Tour titles including his first major championship at the U.S. Open. He became No. 1 when he won at Riviera Country Club in February of last year and has stayed there for 51 weeks as he ’s piled up four more wins. He has no intentions of leaving. “There are a lot of really good players that are playing really well right now so it's going to be tough for me to keep it ” Johnson said. “But if I keep playing like I am and how I should I'll be there at the end of the year.”

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LaVar Ball Insists Lakers Don't Want to Play for Coach Luke Walton Because He's 'Too Young'

LaVar Ball

LaVar Ball thinks he knows exactly why the Los Angeles Lakers are doing so poorly this year: He says it is because the players don’t want to play for a young coach. In an interview with ESPN Ball claimed he has it all figured out. You can see they’re not playing for Luke no more ” Ball said from a spa resort in Birstonas where he is staying while his two youngest sons LiAngelo and LaMelo get ready to make their professional debuts with Lithuanian team Prienu Vytautas. “Luke doesn’t have control of the team no more. They don’t want to play for him. Despite that even Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has admitted that the team is “playing like garbage ” LaVar Ball thinks the Lakers are “a good team.” Instead of blaming the players though Ball is blaming the coach: As evidence of this Ball cites the fact that the Lakers don’t high-five on the court. Ball doubled-down on his belief that Walton is too young and even said that if Walton had top players such as LeBron James on his team he wouldn’t be able to coach them either. “Even if you bring in a LeBron or a [Paul] George he can’t coach them guys ” Ball said. “What is he gonna tell them? He’s too young. He has no control.”

[TGT] thinks [TGT] knows exactly why the Los Angeles Lakers are doing so poorly this year: [TGT] says it is because the players don’t want to play for a young coach. In an interview with ESPN Ball claimed he has it all figured out. You can see they’re not playing for Luke no more ” [TGT] said from a spa resort in Birstonas where [TGT] is staying while [TGT] two youngest sons LiAngelo and LaMelo get ready to make their professional debuts with Lithuanian team Prienu Vytautas. “Luke doesn’t have control of the team no more. They don’t want to play for him. Despite that even Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has admitted that the team is “playing like garbage ” [TGT] thinks the Lakers are “a good team.” Instead of blaming the players though [TGT] is blaming the coach: As evidence of [TGT] cites the fact that the Lakers don’t high-five on the court. Ball doubled-down on [TGT] belief that Walton is too young and even said that if Walton had top players such as LeBron James on his team [TGT] wouldn’t be able to coach them either. “Even if you bring in a LeBron or a [Paul] George he can’t coach them guys ” [TGT] said. “What is he gonna tell them? He’s too young. He has no control.”

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Video: Live Stream of Final 2017 Virginia Gubernatorial Debate

RalphNortham

Iâm watching the Nats-Cubs game (go Nats!) but I figured Iâd post this live video stream of the final 2017 Virginia gubernatorial debate. Go Ralph ! .@RalphNortham shows up for VA â as lt. governor and in our military in Desert Storm. Ed Gillespie is busy lobbying in DC. #VAGovDebate â Don Beyer (@DonBeyerVA) October 9 2017 A study in contrasts: The @NRA is spending $1 million on Ed Gillespie's behalf. Meanwhile Ralph is proud of his F-rating. #VAGovDebate â Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) October 9 2017 As an Army doctor and pediatric neurologist Ralph âs been serving VA for years. Ed shows up for whoever pays him . #VAGovDebate â Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) October 9 2017 BOOM: "I think a child neurologist is more qualified to deal with the opioid crisis than a DC lobbyist." @RalphNortham #VAGovDebate â Kevin Donohoe (@ksidonohoe) October 9 2017 With tonightâs final #VAGovDebate @RalphNortham once again showed why he âs ready to be our next governor & fight for our values. 29 days! â Tim Kaine (@timkaine) October 10 2017 des·per·ate: @EdWGillespie attacking @RalphNortham for working as a pediatric neurologist while also serving as LG (a part-time role in VA) https://t.co/0aMyCoBM6X â Jarrod Nagurka (@JNagurka) October 10 2017

Iâm watching the Nats-Cubs game (go Nats!) but I figured Iâd post this live video stream of the final 2017 Virginia gubernatorial debate. Go Ralph ! .@RalphNortham shows up for VA â as lt. governor and in our military in Desert Storm. Ed Gillespie is busy lobbying in DC. #VAGovDebate â Don Beyer (@DonBeyerVA) October 9 2017 A study in contrasts: The @NRA is spending $1 million on Ed Gillespie's behalf. Meanwhile Ralph is proud of his F-rating. #VAGovDebate â Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) October 9 2017 As an Army doctor and pediatric neurologist Ralph âs been serving VA for years. Ed shows up for whoever pays him . #VAGovDebate â Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) October 9 2017 BOOM: "I think a child neurologist is more qualified to deal with the opioid crisis than a DC lobbyist." @RalphNortham #VAGovDebate â Kevin Donohoe (@ksidonohoe) October 9 2017 With tonightâs final #VAGovDebate [TGT] once again showed why [TGT] âs ready to be our next governor & fight for our values. 29 days! â Tim Kaine (@timkaine) October 10 2017 des·per·ate: @EdWGillespie attacking @RalphNortham for working as a pediatric neurologist while also serving as LG (a part-time role in VA) https://t.co/0aMyCoBM6X â Jarrod Nagurka (@JNagurka) October 10 2017

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The GOP’s Unpredictable Path to Health Care Repeal in 2018

Graham

Even after Senate Republicans scrapped the vote on the Graham-Cassidy bill this week lead sponsor Sen. Lindsey Graham R-S.C. said he remains optimistic about the legislation eventually passing because the missing votes were “actually more about process than substance.” “With more hearings with regular order we’re going to get 50 votes ” Graham said during a press conference Tuesday. “We’re going to fulfill our promise.” Former Sen. Rick Santorum who has for some reason or another partnered with Graham in this effort told The Intercept on Tuesday afternoon that he is confident Sen. Lisa Murkowski a key Republican holdout from Alaska will come around next year if the bill goes through the normal committee process. “I know having talked to Lisa just a couple hours ago she thinks it’s a good idea and she thinks the idea will stand up under public scrutiny and it makes it an easier vote for everybody ” he said. Graham and his co-conspirators previously said they would demand that tax cuts and health care reform be lumped together if they failed to make headway on health care in September. But on Tuesday Graham changed course saying he is now willing to let tax reform go ahead on its own because he had been unaware how complex tying the two together would be. Then in the spring Graham said he will insist on a new budget resolution that allows for another crack at repeal using a 50-vote threshold — what is called budget reconciliation in the Senate. In her statement released after the bill was officially yanked from the floor Murkowski did indeed express openness to the framework Graham and co-sponsor Sen. Bill Cassidy had constructed. “I recognize the status quo with health care in this country is unacceptable. Giving control back to the states and flexibility are ideas I can get behind ” she said. “But substance matters and the ability to validate data matters.” This is where it gets macabre. McCain a key “no” vote is living with a brain cancer diagnosis that is nearly always fatal. The same cancer took the life of his good friend Sen. Ted Kennedy and almost upended the push to pass the Affordable Care Act after Scott Brown filled his seat. Were McCain to lose his battle with cancer Arizona’s GOP governor would appoint a Republican rubber stamp. Depending on the circumstances some Republicans such as McCain’s best friend Graham may oppose rushing forward with repeal on pure human decency grounds.

[TGT] said [TGT] remains optimistic about the legislation eventually passing because the missing votes were “actually more about process than substance.” “With more hearings with regular order we’re going to get 50 votes ” [TGT] said during a press conference Tuesday. “We’re going to fulfill our promise.” Former Sen. Rick Santorum who has for some reason or another partnered with [TGT] in this effort told The Intercept on Tuesday afternoon that [TGT] is confident Sen. Lisa Murkowski a key Republican holdout from Alaska will come around next year if [TGT] goes through the normal committee process. “I know having talked to Lisa just a couple hours ago she thinks it’s a good idea and she thinks the idea will stand up under public scrutiny and it makes it an easier vote for everybody ” he said. [TGT] and [TGT] co-conspirators previously said they would demand that tax cuts and health care reform be lumped together if they failed to make headway on health care in September. But on Tuesday [TGT] changed course saying [TGT] is now willing to let tax reform go ahead on its own because [TGT] had been unaware how complex tying the two together would be. Then in the spring [TGT] said [TGT] will insist on a new budget resolution that allows for another crack at repeal using a 50-vote threshold — what is called budget reconciliation in the Senate. In her statement released after the bill was officially yanked from the floor Murkowski did indeed express openness to the framework [TGT] and co-sponsor Sen. Bill Cassidy had constructed. “I recognize the status quo with health care in this country is unacceptable. Giving control back to the states and flexibility are ideas I can get behind ” she said. “But substance matters and the ability to validate data matters.” This is where it gets macabre. McCain a key “no” vote is living with a brain cancer diagnosis that is nearly always fatal. The same cancer took the life of his good friend Sen. Ted Kennedy and almost upended the push to pass the Affordable Care Act after Scott Brown filled his seat. Were McCain to lose his battle with cancer Arizona’s GOP governor would appoint a Republican rubber stamp. Depending on the circumstances some Republicans such as McCain’s best friend Graham may oppose rushing forward with repeal on pure human decency grounds.

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Simone Biles to return to training with eye on 2020 Olympics

Simone Biles

Simone Biles has largely spent the past year working with different charities. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis) It’s a great time for Team USA gymnastics. Less than a week after 16-year-old American Morgan Hurd upset the international favorites to win the all-around title at worlds in Montreal 2016 Olympic phenom Simone Biles announced she will return to full-time training on Nov. 1 after just over a year off. Her ultimate goal is to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. “It’s going to be rough ” the 20-year-old told NBC Sports on Thursday noting she ’ll also be employing a new coach who she ’ll name later. “But the muscle memory is there because I’ve come and I’ve played in the gym. All of my skills are basically still there. There are a couple of skills like on [balance] beam that I haven’t done yet like a dismount because why would I just chuck that? There’s no way. And I haven’t vaulted since the Olympics.” [Simone Biles not ‘ ashamed’ to say she has ADHD after anti-doping database hack] Biles is giving herself plenty of time to get back into top form compared to previous Olympians including 2016 teammates Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman who took more than two years off after the 2012 Olympics in London to begin training for last summer’s Games in Rio de Janeiro. Biles whose combined total of 19 world championships and Olympic medals make her the most decorated American gymnast ever said her immediate goal is to begin competing on some apparatuses by mid-July but by the P&G Championships in August to start competing in the all-around category again. As for up-and-comers like Hurd Biles is complimentary. “[Hurd] is still fairly young and she handled the pressure because she ’s never been on a stage like that ” Biles said. Hurd won’t be the only competition that has emerged while Biles has spent the last year traveling and promoting several charities. Olympic alternate Ragan Smith 17 has stepped up her game as well winning the U.S. championship to assert herself as a favorite going into worlds. Smith was unable to compete however due to a last-minute ankle injury she sustained while warming up on the vault. Biles may get a chance to mingle with both if she chooses to participate in a U.S. national team camp in January. Right now she said she ’ll “probably” attend but she won’t be doing anything intensive if she goes. “[I’d go] just to get back in the swing of things ” Biles told NBC Sports. “At least I’ll be back in the rhythm to just go in there and do whatever I need to do. And be with the national team coaches so they can get me up to date on all the new rules and everything.”

[TGT] has largely spent the past year working with different charities. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis) It’s a great time for Team USA gymnastics. Less than a week after 16-year-old American Morgan Hurd upset the international favorites to win the all-around title at worlds in Montreal 2016 Olympic phenom [TGT] announced [TGT] will return to full-time training on Nov. 1 after just over a year off. [TGT] ultimate goal is to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. “It’s going to be rough ” the 20-year-old told NBC Sports on Thursday noting [TGT] ’ll also be employing a new coach who [TGT] ’ll name later. “But the muscle memory is there because I’ve come and I’ve played in the gym. All of my skills are basically still there. There are a couple of skills like on [balance] beam that I haven’t done yet like a dismount because why would I just chuck that? There’s no way. And I haven’t vaulted since the Olympics.” [Simone Biles not ‘ ashamed’ to say she has ADHD after anti-doping database hack] [TGT] is giving herself plenty of time to get back into top form compared to previous Olympians including 2016 teammates Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman who took more than two years off after the 2012 Olympics in London to begin training for last summer’s Games in Rio de Janeiro. Biles whose combined total of 19 world championships and Olympic medals make her the most decorated American gymnast ever said her immediate goal is to begin competing on some apparatuses by mid-July but by the P&G Championships in August to start competing in the all-around category again. As for up-and-comers like Hurd Biles is complimentary. “[Hurd] is still fairly young and she handled the pressure because she ’s never been on a stage like that ” Biles said. Hurd won’t be the only competition that has emerged while Biles has spent the last year traveling and promoting several charities. Olympic alternate Ragan Smith 17 has stepped up her game as well winning the U.S. championship to assert herself as a favorite going into worlds. Smith was unable to compete however due to a last-minute ankle injury she sustained while warming up on the vault. Biles may get a chance to mingle with both if she chooses to participate in a U.S. national team camp in January. Right now she said she ’ll “probably” attend but she won’t be doing anything intensive if she goes. “[I’d go] just to get back in the swing of things ” Biles told NBC Sports. “At least I’ll be back in the rhythm to just go in there and do whatever I need to do. And be with the national team coaches so they can get me up to date on all the new rules and everything.”

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Fox News: Federal Charges May Come in Assault on Sen. Paul

Rand Paul

Sen. Rand Paul R-Ky. recovering from broken ribs and lung bruising he sustained in an alleged assault by a neighbor is being told to expect federal charges in the case — indicating a possible alleged political motive Fox News reported Thursday. Judge Andrew Napolitano told Fox News' Shepard Smith that unnamed sources inside the Kentucky Republican's Senate office say Paul has been told of expected federal charges against neighbor Rene Boucher. "If they're considering federal charges that obviously goes way beyond a simple assault charge — he 's currently charged with a low level assault " Napolitano told Smith. "If it remains at the state level with broken ribs and water in the lungs may very well be elevated to a felony and go to the county attorney " he added. "If they're looking at federal charges it sounds like this was politically motivated." Paul 's injuries were initially reported as five broken ribs but Wednesday the senator tweeted he had six broken ribs and a pleural effusion — where fluid collects inside the membranes of the lung and chest wall outside the lung. Boucher pleaded not guilty Thursday to fourth-degree assault for the attack on Paul on the lawn of his Bowling Green home last Friday a charge that carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail if convicted.

Sen. [TGT] R-Ky. recovering from broken ribs and lung bruising he sustained in an alleged assault by a neighbor is being told to expect federal charges in the case — indicating a possible alleged political motive Fox News reported Thursday. Judge Andrew Napolitano told Fox News' Shepard Smith that unnamed sources inside the Kentucky Republican's Senate office say Paul has been told of expected federal charges against neighbor Rene Boucher. "If they're considering federal charges that obviously goes way beyond a simple assault charge — he 's currently charged with a low level assault " Napolitano told Smith. "If it remains at the state level with broken ribs and water in the lungs may very well be elevated to a felony and go to the county attorney " he added. "If they're looking at federal charges it sounds like this was politically motivated." Paul 's injuries were initially reported as five broken ribs but Wednesday the senator tweeted he had six broken ribs and a pleural effusion — where fluid collects inside the membranes of the lung and chest wall outside the lung. Boucher pleaded not guilty Thursday to fourth-degree assault for the attack on Paul on the lawn of his Bowling Green home last Friday a charge that carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail if convicted.

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'The world' visited Sinatra's Rancho Mirage compound

Frank Sinatra

Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Frank Sinatra makes a deal with known mobster Sam Giancana on the golf course at the Tamarisk Country Club. Marilyn Chung and Brett Kelman/The Desert Sun Frank Sinatra's home in Rancho Mirage designed by William Cody shortly after its completion. (Photo: Courtesy of Palm Springs Historical Society) Sinatra ’s ‘Twin Palms’ home in Palm Springs by famed architect E. Stewart Williams (1947) is well-known but it was his base for only five years. It can be hired for events photo shoots vacation rentals and tours e.g. during Modernism Week. By contrast his home in Rancho Mirage is as much a private residence today as it was when Sinatra lived there from 1954 – 1995. The reason usually given for Sinatra’s move a few miles away was because “Palm Springs was getting too crowded.” It wasn’t quite that simple. He and Ava Gardner were calling it quits in 1953 – she filed for divorce in 1954 – and Sinatra ’s career was in trouble. The ‘Twin Palms’ home was a regular reminder of his recent personal and professional problems so he sold the house in April 1953. He then stayed at songwriter friend Jimmy Van Heusen’s home in Thunderbird Heights ‘hiding from reporters’ when he was in town. Van Heusen had introduced Sinatra to the desert in the 1940s. Sinatra ’s career was about to reignite with the film From Here to Eternity for which Sinatra won an Oscar in 1954. February 1954 also saw the launch of his first successful album for Capitol Records Songs for Young Lovers. Around the same time Sinatra purchased a couple of lots including a modest home at Tamarisk Country Club beside the 17th fairway on Wonder Palms Road now Frank Sinatra Drive. Having a quieter place to escape to for Sinatra was vital as his career rebounded. Like many entertainment figures in the desert Sinatra enjoyed golf. He became a member of Tamarisk Country Club in 1954 and although he didn’t play often he signed up for Pro-Am fundraisers along with Danny Kaye and Groucho Marx. The house Sinatra bought with the land was even smaller than his Twin Palms home. Architectural Digest (1998) described it thus: William F. Cody designed the original home (similar in style to the Cody Cottages at Thunderbird) in 1952 for client Austin H. Peterson but Sinatra saw fell in love with and purchased the home before Peterson ever moved in. Records show that Cody designed the house’s expansion and remodel for Sinatra . In November 1955 Palm Springs Villager magazine ran a full-page ad for Tony Burke Realtors featuring a photo of Frank Sinatra and announcing the sale of the Tamarisk Country Club home. Was Sinatra having buyer’s remorse? Or was this a favor for the realtor? The ad read: “ Mr Frank Sinatra said … 'Tony find a bigger house for me .' We did. He bought the handsome estate once owned by Al Jolson. So now he has entrusted us with the disposal of his elegant home on the golf course at Tamarisk Country Club. Pictured above Frank and Jimmy Van Heusen are relaxing musically in the living room.” Sinatra had a change of heart. Maybe he was just too busy to move. Earl Wilson’s society column observed (Desert Sun May 10 1956): “ Frank Sinatra nearly washed up two years ago will have six films in release in ’56.” In 1956 another room and bathroom were added then over the next few years according to Architectural Digest (1998) he added a pair of two bedroom cottages one off either end of the pool. “Each bedroom had its own separate his -and-her baths. Sinatra also expanded the main house adding a dining room for twenty-four and a restaurant-size kitchen with a commercial range a walk-in refrigerator and freezer and a wine closet.” He bought adjoining lots so that he eventually owned two-and-a-half acres. Sinatra also moved to Tamarisk because it was unrestricted. He couldn’t stand bigotry on any level. Frank’s best friend and Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. was unwelcome most places unless he was performing. The two singers became friends in 1941. It was at Sinatra ’s Tamarisk home that Sammy Davis recuperated following the 1954 car accident that nearly killed him in which Davis lost his left eye. Davis normally wore a good luck charm around his neck a mezuzah given to him by Eddie Cantor. The night of the accident he wasn’t wearing it. Davis converted to Judaism in 1961. “[ Sinatra ’s] various defenses of civil rights causes and his friendship with (Sammy) Davis have hurt him commercially in the South while his contributions to Israeli charities have gotten him his records and movies banned in the Arab countries.”

Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE [TGT] makes a deal with known mobster Sam Giancana on the golf course at the Tamarisk Country Club. Marilyn Chung and Brett Kelman/The Desert Sun Frank Sinatra's home in Rancho Mirage designed by William Cody shortly after its completion. (Photo: Courtesy of Palm Springs Historical Society) [TGT] ’s ‘Twin Palms’ home in Palm Springs by famed architect E. Stewart Williams (1947) is well-known but it was his base for only five years. It can be hired for events photo shoots vacation rentals and tours e.g. during Modernism Week. By contrast his home in Rancho Mirage is as much a private residence today as it was when Sinatra lived there from 1954 – 1995. The reason usually given for Sinatra’s move a few miles away was because “Palm Springs was getting too crowded.” It wasn’t quite that simple. He and Ava Gardner were calling it quits in 1953 – she filed for divorce in 1954 – and [TGT] ’s career was in trouble. The ‘Twin Palms’ home was a regular reminder of his recent personal and professional problems so he sold the house in April 1953. He then stayed at songwriter friend Jimmy Van Heusen’s home in Thunderbird Heights ‘hiding from reporters’ when he was in town. Van Heusen had introduced Sinatra to the desert in the 1940s. Sinatra ’s career was about to reignite with the film From Here to Eternity for which Sinatra won an Oscar in 1954. February 1954 also saw the launch of his first successful album for Capitol Records Songs for Young Lovers. Around the same time Sinatra purchased a couple of lots including a modest home at Tamarisk Country Club beside the 17th fairway on Wonder Palms Road now Frank Sinatra Drive. Having a quieter place to escape to for Sinatra was vital as his career rebounded. Like many entertainment figures in the desert Sinatra enjoyed golf. He became a member of Tamarisk Country Club in 1954 and although he didn’t play often he signed up for Pro-Am fundraisers along with Danny Kaye and Groucho Marx. The house Sinatra bought with the land was even smaller than his Twin Palms home. Architectural Digest (1998) described it thus: William F. Cody designed the original home (similar in style to the Cody Cottages at Thunderbird) in 1952 for client Austin H. Peterson but Sinatra saw fell in love with and purchased the home before Peterson ever moved in. Records show that Cody designed the house’s expansion and remodel for Sinatra . In November 1955 Palm Springs Villager magazine ran a full-page ad for Tony Burke Realtors featuring a photo of Frank Sinatra and announcing the sale of the Tamarisk Country Club home. Was Sinatra having buyer’s remorse? Or was this a favor for the realtor? The ad read: “ Mr Frank Sinatra said … 'Tony find a bigger house for me .' We did. He bought the handsome estate once owned by Al Jolson. So now he has entrusted us with the disposal of his elegant home on the golf course at Tamarisk Country Club. Pictured above Frank and Jimmy Van Heusen are relaxing musically in the living room.” Sinatra had a change of heart. Maybe he was just too busy to move. Earl Wilson’s society column observed (Desert Sun May 10 1956): “ Frank Sinatra nearly washed up two years ago will have six films in release in ’56.” In 1956 another room and bathroom were added then over the next few years according to Architectural Digest (1998) he added a pair of two bedroom cottages one off either end of the pool. “Each bedroom had its own separate his -and-her baths. Sinatra also expanded the main house adding a dining room for twenty-four and a restaurant-size kitchen with a commercial range a walk-in refrigerator and freezer and a wine closet.” He bought adjoining lots so that he eventually owned two-and-a-half acres. Sinatra also moved to Tamarisk because it was unrestricted. He couldn’t stand bigotry on any level. Frank’s best friend and Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. was unwelcome most places unless he was performing. The two singers became friends in 1941. It was at Sinatra ’s Tamarisk home that Sammy Davis recuperated following the 1954 car accident that nearly killed him in which Davis lost his left eye. Davis normally wore a good luck charm around his neck a mezuzah given to him by Eddie Cantor. The night of the accident he wasn’t wearing it. Davis converted to Judaism in 1961. “[ Sinatra ’s] various defenses of civil rights causes and his friendship with (Sammy) Davis have hurt him commercially in the South while his contributions to Israeli charities have gotten him his records and movies banned in the Arab countries.”

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White House Lawyer Represented Arrested Saudi Billionaire Trump Called "Dopey"

Alwaleed bin Talal

WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump’s Russia probe lawyer Ty Cobb previously represented billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal according to previously overlooked media reports and emails shared with HuffPost. The kingdom unexpectedly arrested the prince along with more than a dozen other prominent Saudis over the weekend in a move observers interpreted as a power play by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump has close ties to Saudi Arabia and Prince Mohammed the Saudi crown prince said to be behind the arrests including Alwaleed’s. Several weeks ago White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner paid a secret visit to the kingdom and spent significant time with Prince Mohammed according to Politico and the Washington Post. The president pushed the kingdom to use the New York Stock Exchange for the upcoming IPO of a portion of its national oil company Aramco in a tweet Saturday just hours before the crackdown. He also praised the kingdom’s policies in a call with Saudi King Salman the crown prince’s father the same day. Cobb spent more than three decades working on white-collar cases before joining Trump’s team. He resigned from his longtime firm Hogan Lovells in July. At the time business news service ALM Media reported that Cobb had previously worked for members of the Saudi royal family citing a Hogan Lovells page that now appears to have been taken down. A 2012 Business Insider story by reporter Nicholas Carlson was more specific. The story said that Cobb had threatened to sue an American who had attempted a lawsuit against Alwaleed for allegedly threatening him with beheading and having him detained at gunpoint while he worked for the prince’s son. Emails from Mark Mazo another partner at Hogan Lovells to Toronto-based businessman Alan Bender who was representing a woman who claimed she had a secret marriage with Alwaleed provide further evidence of Cobb ’s connection to the prince.

WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump’s Russia probe lawyer Ty Cobb previously represented billionaire Saudi Prince [TGT] according to previously overlooked media reports and emails shared with HuffPost. The kingdom unexpectedly arrested the prince along with more than a dozen other prominent Saudis over the weekend in a move observers interpreted as a power play by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump has close ties to Saudi Arabia and Prince Mohammed the Saudi crown prince said to be behind the arrests including Alwaleed’s. Several weeks ago White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner paid a secret visit to the kingdom and spent significant time with Prince Mohammed according to Politico and the Washington Post. The president pushed the kingdom to use the New York Stock Exchange for the upcoming IPO of a portion of its national oil company Aramco in a tweet Saturday just hours before the crackdown. He also praised the kingdom’s policies in a call with Saudi King Salman the crown prince’s father the same day. Cobb spent more than three decades working on white-collar cases before joining Trump’s team. He resigned from his longtime firm Hogan Lovells in July. At the time business news service ALM Media reported that Cobb had previously worked for members of the Saudi royal family citing a Hogan Lovells page that now appears to have been taken down. A 2012 Business Insider story by reporter Nicholas Carlson was more specific. The story said that Cobb had threatened to sue an American who had attempted a lawsuit against Alwaleed for allegedly threatening him with beheading and having him detained at gunpoint while he worked for the prince’s son. Emails from Mark Mazo another partner at Hogan Lovells to Toronto-based businessman Alan Bender who was representing a woman who claimed she had a secret marriage with Alwaleed provide further evidence of Cobb ’s connection to the prince.

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ESPN has hired its new president

John Skipper

Pitaro previously Disney’s head of consumer products and interactive has long been considered one of the front-runners for the position previously occupied by John Skipper . Skipper abruptly resigned from ESPN in December citing substance abuse issues. “I also want to extend my utmost thanks to George Bodenheimer for serving as Acting Chair of ESPN these past few months; he is a true industry pioneer and helped make ESPN the undisputed leader in sports.” Bodenheimer had stepped in for Skipper in an interim role but was not seen as the long-term replacement.

Pitaro previously Disney’s head of consumer products and interactive has long been considered one of the front-runners for the position previously occupied by [TGT] . [TGT] abruptly resigned from ESPN in December citing substance abuse issues. “I also want to extend my utmost thanks to George Bodenheimer for serving as Acting Chair of ESPN these past few months; [TGT] is a true industry pioneer and helped make ESPN the undisputed leader in sports.” Bodenheimer had stepped in for Skipper in an interim role but was not seen as the long-term replacement.

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Susan Collins had senators use talking stick in bipartisan meetings

Susan Collins

A senator forcefully delivered the stick and chipping Collins' glass elephant Washington (CNN) During bipartisan talks between senators to discuss passing a funding bill to end the government shutdown Sen. Susan Collins whose office was being used for the negotiations figured out a civil way to create discussion. One Republican senator describing the incident told CNN the stick was successful but on one occasion one of the other senators was speaking while another asked a question and then turned with another quick longer louder question. The member who was holding the stick "forcefully delivered" the stick across the room -- but it missed its mark and caused damage to a shelf in Collins ' office. A glass elephant sitting on a shelf owned by Collins became the casualty with the stick chipping it a little bit.

A senator forcefully delivered the stick and chipping Collins' glass elephant Washington (CNN) During bipartisan talks between senators to discuss passing a funding bill to end the government shutdown [TGT] figured out a civil way to create discussion. One Republican senator describing the incident told CNN the stick was successful but on one occasion one of the other senators was speaking while another asked a question and then turned with another quick longer louder question. The member who was holding the stick "forcefully delivered" the stick across the room -- but it missed its mark and caused damage to a shelf in Collins ' office. A glass elephant sitting on a shelf owned by [TGT] became the casualty with the stick chipping it a little bit.

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Westbrook 's 3

Westbrook

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook hit a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to cap a 30-point 15-assist outing and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Atlanta Hawks 120-117 on Friday night. The Hawks led 92-88 with 8:49 left after a basket by Kent Bazemore. Westbrook re-entered the game and led the Thunder on a 16-5 run. Anthony’s 3-pointer with 5:34 left gave Oklahoma City a 104-97 lead. The Hawks came back again eventually tying the game at 117 on two free throws by Ersan Ilyasova with 11.1 seconds left. After a timeout George inbounded to Westbrook who made the final shot over Atlanta’s Taurean Prince. Without a timeout the Hawks could manage only a desperation heave at the buzzer. Thunder: Westbrook was called for an unsportsmanlike technical foul with 3:24 left in the second quarter for shoving Malcolm Delaney after Delaney had fouled him. … Steven Adams had 16 points and 10 rebounds. … The Thunder now trail only 66-65 in their all-time series with the Hawks including the franchise’s time in Seattle. … George and Westbrook entered the game ranked first and second respectively in the NBA in steals at 2.45 and 2.10. George had three steals against the Hawks and Westbrook had two.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — [TGT] hit a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to cap a 30-point 15-assist outing and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Atlanta Hawks 120-117 on Friday night. The Hawks led 92-88 with 8:49 left after a basket by Kent Bazemore. [TGT] re-entered the game and led the Thunder on a 16-5 run. Anthony’s 3-pointer with 5:34 left gave Oklahoma City a 104-97 lead. The Hawks came back again eventually tying the game at 117 on two free throws by Ersan Ilyasova with 11.1 seconds left. After a timeout George inbounded to [TGT] . Without a timeout the Hawks could manage only a desperation heave at the buzzer. Thunder: [TGT] was called for an unsportsmanlike technical foul with 3:24 left in the second quarter for shoving Malcolm Delaney after Delaney had fouled him. … Steven Adams had 16 points and 10 rebounds. … The Thunder now trail only 66-65 in their all-time series with the Hawks including the franchise’s time in Seattle. … George and [TGT] entered the game ranked first and second respectively in the NBA in steals at 2.45 and 2.10. George had three steals against the Hawks and [TGT] had two.

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From Cockpit To Controller: Former Pilot Finds A New Way To Fly : NPR

Tony Zimlich

On a recent sunny afternoon at a solar farm outside Philadelphia Pa. commercial drone pilots Tony Zimlich and Gunner Goldie are preparing for flight. Dressed in hard hats and matching yellow vests they run through a series of safety and equipment checks and survey the surrounding terrain and airspace before picking up what looks like a pair of oversized video game controllers. Then with a streak of beeps and whirs their drone — about the size of a milk crate — rises steadily into the sky above. Their mission: to carefully sweep the skyline above the solar farm taking photographs and gathering data to help their client identify defective solar panels and guide repairs. Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Tony Zimlich /Tony Zimlich Courtesy of Tony Zimlich /Tony Zimlich Tony Zimlich didn't expect to be a part of that transition. Unlike many of his younger colleagues who got their start playing video games and flying remote control aircraft Zimlich cut his teeth in the cockpit of a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Part of his military tenure was spent flying medical evacuation missions above the deserts and valleys of Afghanistan.

On a recent sunny afternoon at a solar farm outside Philadelphia Pa. commercial drone pilots [TGT] and Gunner Goldie are preparing for flight. Dressed in hard hats and matching yellow vests they run through a series of safety and equipment checks and survey the surrounding terrain and airspace before picking up what looks like a pair of oversized video game controllers. Then with a streak of beeps and whirs their drone — about the size of a milk crate — rises steadily into the sky above. Their mission: to carefully sweep the skyline above the solar farm taking photographs and gathering data to help their client identify defective solar panels and guide repairs. Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of [TGT] /Tony Zimlich Courtesy of [TGT] /Tony [TGT] [TGT] didn't expect to be a part of that transition. Unlike many of [TGT] younger colleagues who got their start playing video games and flying remote control aircraft [TGT] cut [TGT] teeth in the cockpit of a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Part of [TGT] military tenure was spent flying medical evacuation missions above the deserts and valleys of Afghanistan.

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Gaming the College Rankings

Claremont McKenna

Claremont McKenna part of the Claremont Colleges cluster outside Los Angeles acknowledged Monday that a senior officer had resigned after admitting that he had inflated the average SAT scores given to U.S. News since 2005. SAT score averages are also reported to credit rating firms and the Department of Education which is looking into Claremont McKenna’s actions said Justin Hamilton the agency’s press secretary. He said the department could impose fines and other penalties for supplying misinformation but rarely did particularly if the college brought the problem to light on its own. Iona’s case was extreme; U.S. News ranked its undergraduate college 30th among “regional universities” in the Northeast but estimated that with correct data it would have dropped to 50th. Also last year the law schools of Villanova University and the University of Illinois acknowledged that they had misreported some statistics; Villanova conceded that its deception was intentional while Illinois did not say. And at the United States Naval Academy famous for its honor code a professor recently accused administrators of inflating the number of applicants which the academy has denied. In 2009 a number of institutions were found to be inflating their percentages of full-time professors — another criterion used in ranking systems. The impact and extent of Claremont McKenna’s cheating remains unclear. In a statement to the college staff and students the president Pamela B. Gann wrote “Although the degree of inaccuracies varied over time we understand that the reported critical reading and/or math SAT scores were generally inflated by an average of 10-20 points each.” Mr. Morse said that without more precise information he could not measure how such a change might have altered the college’s ranking but it might have made the difference in cracking the top 10 of liberal arts colleges a bragging right that Claremont McKenna reached this year for only the third time. Claremont McKenna’s reputation has risen over the years; as recently as 1990 it was not in the U.S. News top 20. But it is often conscious of the comparison with its neighbor Pomona College which U.S. News rated fourth among liberal arts colleges. Mr. Vos had been dean of admissions at Claremont McKenna since 1987. “He was always one of the people that I considered one of the good guys in the profession ” said Ralph Figueroa director of college guidance at Albuquerque Academy a private day school in New Mexico. In her Monday statement Ms. Gann the college president said Claremont McKenna discovered the discrepancy in reported SAT scores and conducted an internal review during which one senior administrator stepped forward to take sole responsibility.

Claremont McKenna part of the Claremont Colleges cluster outside Los Angeles acknowledged Monday that a senior officer had resigned after admitting that he had inflated the average SAT scores given to U.S. News since 2005. SAT score averages are also reported to credit rating firms and the Department of Education which is looking into [TGT] said Justin Hamilton the agency’s press secretary. [TGT] said the department could impose fines and other penalties for supplying misinformation but rarely did particularly if the college brought the problem to light on its own. Iona’s case was extreme; U.S. News ranked its undergraduate college 30th among “regional universities” in the Northeast but estimated that with correct data it would have dropped to 50th. Also last year the law schools of Villanova University and the University of Illinois acknowledged that they had misreported some statistics; Villanova conceded that its deception was intentional while Illinois did not say. And at the United States Naval Academy famous for its honor code a professor recently accused administrators of inflating the number of applicants which the academy has denied. In 2009 a number of institutions were found to be inflating their percentages of full-time professors — another criterion used in ranking systems. The impact and extent of [TGT] cheating remains unclear. In a statement to the college staff and students the president Pamela B. Gann wrote “Although the degree of inaccuracies varied over time we understand that the reported critical reading and/or math SAT scores were generally inflated by an average of 10-20 points each.” Mr. Morse said that without more precise information he could not measure how such a change might have altered the college’s ranking but it might have made the difference in cracking the top 10 of liberal arts colleges a bragging right that [TGT] reached this year for only the third time. [TGT] reputation has risen over the years; as recently as 1990 [TGT] was not in the U.S. News top 20. But [TGT] is often conscious of the comparison with its neighbor Pomona College which U.S. News rated fourth among liberal arts colleges. Mr. Vos had been dean of admissions at [TGT] since 1987. “He was always one of the people that I considered one of the good guys in the profession ” said Ralph Figueroa director of college guidance at Albuquerque Academy a private day school in New Mexico. In her Monday statement Ms. Gann the college president said [TGT] discovered the discrepancy in reported SAT scores and conducted an internal review during which one senior administrator stepped forward to take sole responsibility.

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Clippers edge Wizards on Willaims' late three

Lou Williams

Los Angeles (AFP) – Lou Williams’ three-pointer was the final dagger in the Los Angeles Clippers’ wild 113-112 NBA triumph over the Washington Wizards on Saturday. A frenetic finish saw the lead change hands three times in the final 13 seconds but Williams had the last word with a 30-foot jump shot made over the outstretched arms of Washington’s Bradley Beal. Williams scored 35 points for the Clippers who snapped a three-game losing streak. He leads the league in points off the bench at 17.8 per game and after becoming the 96th player to amass 1 000 three-pointers in his career on Thursday added four more to take his tally to 1 007.

Los Angeles (AFP) – [TGT] ’ three-pointer was the final dagger in the Los Angeles Clippers’ wild 113-112 NBA triumph over the Washington Wizards on Saturday. A frenetic finish saw the lead change hands three times in the final 13 seconds but Williams had the last word with a 30-foot jump shot made over the outstretched arms of Washington’s Bradley Beal. Williams scored 35 points for the Clippers who snapped a three-game losing streak. He leads the league in points off the bench at 17.8 per game and after becoming the 96th player to amass 1 000 three-pointers in his career on Thursday added four more to take his tally to 1 007.

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Artist turns vintage Louis Vuitton luggage into marvelous Star Wars sculptures / Boing Boing

Gabriel Dishaw

To make them artist Gabriel Dishaw of Indianapolis Indiana marries junk with upcycled 1970s Louis Vuitton luggage. Dishaw was recently featured in the Indy Star about his SW/LV pieces: One time while he was vacationing in northern Michigan a pile of vintage Louis Vuitton luggage in a store called out to Gabriel Dishaw. He spotted junk-art potential in the suitcases' every detail: the golden emblems that dance across the chocolate background the zippers the handles the drawstring from the dust bag. So he purchased one took it apart when he arrived back home in Fishers and began building Darth Vader helmet sculptures. After he posted his progress on Instagram @gabrieljunkart people began asking to buy them. "People were like 'Oh my God these are my two passions — Louis Vuitton and Star Wars '" Dishaw said. He had no idea people who were fans of both brands even existed. Keep tabs on Mr. Dishaw 's latest work on his Instagram.

To make them artist [TGT] of Indianapolis Indiana marries junk with upcycled 1970s Louis Vuitton luggage. Dishaw was recently featured in the Indy Star about his SW/LV pieces: One time while he was vacationing in northern Michigan a pile of vintage Louis Vuitton luggage in a store called out to [TGT] . He spotted junk-art potential in the suitcases' every detail: the golden emblems that dance across the chocolate background the zippers the handles the drawstring from the dust bag. So he purchased one took it apart when he arrived back home in Fishers and began building Darth Vader helmet sculptures. After he posted his progress on Instagram @gabrieljunkart people began asking to buy them. "People were like 'Oh my God these are my two passions — Louis Vuitton and Star Wars '" Dishaw said. He had no idea people who were fans of both brands even existed. Keep tabs on Mr. Dishaw 's latest work on his Instagram.

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JPMorgan sees more Saudi firms looking at overseas listings after Aramco

Daniel Pinto

“If you want these companies to grow they must have access to international capital markets ” Daniel Pinto chief executive of JPMorgan’s investment bank told Reuters about the possibility of other Saudi international listings. Pinto declined to comment on the bank’s role in the Aramco deal or to name other firms considering international listings. Pinto said the bank was also in talks with other Gulf companies to list their assets overseas. He said listings in New York London Hong Kong or Singapore might help increase the liquidity of these companies and make them attractive for international investors he said. Daniel Pinto chief executive of JPMorgan's investment bank gestures during an interview with Reuters in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates November 6 2017. REUTERS/Tom Arnold “When you have this type of momentum people will see the benefit of having a stock that is very liquid. Other companies in the region will probably follow ” Pinto said. JPMorgan was considering raising its headcount by 30 percent in Saudi Arabia over the next two to three years from 70 now as business opportunities expand Pinto said. “Saudi Arabia is going through a massive transformation as they diversify their economy ” Pinto said. “Over the past year investors have reacted positively to this news.” “The need to issue will still exist but be smaller next year because of higher oil prices and lower deficits and simply because so much refinancing was done this year ” Pinto said. Commenting on the anti-corruption drive Pinto said: “If it is done in the right way and for the right reasons it is good to do for the future of the kingdom.” “Brazil went through a similar process. In the long-run tackling these issues is very important ” he said.

“If you want these companies to grow they must have access to international capital markets ” [TGT] chief executive of JPMorgan’s investment bank told Reuters about the possibility of other Saudi international listings. [TGT] declined to comment on the bank’s role in the Aramco deal or to name other firms considering international listings. [TGT] said the bank was also in talks with other Gulf companies to list their assets overseas. [TGT] said listings in New York London Hong Kong or Singapore might help increase the liquidity of these companies and make them attractive for international investors [TGT] said. [TGT] chief executive of JPMorgan's investment bank gestures during an interview with Reuters in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates November 6 2017. REUTERS/Tom Arnold “When you have this type of momentum people will see the benefit of having a stock that is very liquid. Other companies in the region will probably follow ” [TGT] said. JPMorgan was considering raising its headcount by 30 percent in Saudi Arabia over the next two to three years from 70 now as business opportunities expand [TGT] said. “Saudi Arabia is going through a massive transformation as they diversify their economy ” [TGT] said. “Over the past year investors have reacted positively to this news.” “The need to issue will still exist but be smaller next year because of higher oil prices and lower deficits and simply because so much refinancing was done this year ” [TGT] said. Commenting on the anti-corruption drive [TGT] said: “If it is done in the right way and for the right reasons it is good to do for the future of the kingdom.” “Brazil went through a similar process. In the long-run tackling these issues is very important ” he said.

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Callaway’s intimate meeting with ones who’ll make or break Mets

Mickey Callaway

Because of space limitations in the minor-league clubhouse of the Mets’ spring-training complex meetings are often held in the weight room at the start of camp. Now as major league players on the opposite side of the complex pitchers and catchers gathered in the weight room at First Data Field on Wednesday to receive instructions from new manager Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland before the first spring workout. The 42-year-old Callaway who is running a spring camp for the first time in his major league career — his previous experience came as Indians pitching coach for five seasons — called the session a discussion about “routines” and “processes.” Among them ensuring each pitcher understands how many bullpen and live batting practice sessions he must throw before getting to pitch in the Grapefruit League. Callaway will convene his entire team for a meeting Monday that will precede the initial full-squad workout. “It will be a little different ” Callaway said. “We are going to get more in depth about the things we want to see out of our team and the expectations that we have so I am really excited about that meeting. It’s my chance to address everybody in the organization basically and for guys to get a chance to see everybody in the organization and not just the guys on the field. ” “They become an integral part of what we’re trying to do and they help us in our routines and processes ” Callaway said. “So [players] have got to make sure they are on top of their games because there’s a lot of responsibilities throughout the day and it’s not always about come here do your prep work and go out on the field and perform.” Jacob deGrom was asked if he expects Callaway to run a tight ship. The fact Callaway has such a deep pitching background is something Lugo already has come to appreciate. The right-hander mentioned a recent bullpen session Callaway was watching that turned into an instructional moment. But Callaway is quick to point out that any instruction he provides to pitchers will be coordinated with Eiland to ensure both are sending the same message. “[ Callaway ] and Dave have a lot of knowledge so Mickey told us if we have a question for him we can ask him but Dave is going to know about it ” Zack Wheeler said. “They are working together. I think they both accept each other and work well.”

Because of space limitations in the minor-league clubhouse of the Mets’ spring-training complex meetings are often held in the weight room at the start of camp. Now as major league players on the opposite side of the complex pitchers and catchers gathered in the weight room at First Data Field on Wednesday to receive instructions from [TGT] and pitching coach Dave Eiland before the first spring workout. [TGT] — his previous experience came as Indians pitching coach for five seasons — called the session a discussion about “routines” and “processes.” Among them ensuring each pitcher understands how many bullpen and live batting practice sessions he must throw before getting to pitch in the Grapefruit League. [TGT] will convene his entire team for a meeting Monday that will precede the initial full-squad workout. “It will be a little different ” [TGT] said. “We are going to get more in depth about the things we want to see out of our team and the expectations that we have so I am really excited about that meeting. It’s my chance to address everybody in the organization basically and for guys to get a chance to see everybody in the organization and not just the guys on the field. ” “They become an integral part of what we’re trying to do and they help us in our routines and processes ” [TGT] said. “So [players] have got to make sure they are on top of their games because there’s a lot of responsibilities throughout the day and it’s not always about come here do your prep work and go out on the field and perform.” Jacob deGrom was asked if he expects [TGT] to run a tight ship. The fact [TGT] has such a deep pitching background is something Lugo already has come to appreciate. The right-hander mentioned a recent bullpen session [TGT] was watching that turned into an instructional moment. But [TGT] is quick to point out that any instruction [TGT] provides to pitchers will be coordinated with Eiland to ensure both are sending the same message. “[ [TGT] ] and Dave have a lot of knowledge so Mickey told us if we have a question for him we can ask him but Dave is going to know about it ” Zack Wheeler said. “They are working together. I think they both accept each other and work well.”

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A Cub Scout pressed a lawmaker about gun control. Then his den kicked him out his mother said.

Ames Mayfield

When Ames Mayfield's Cub Scout den met with a Colorado state senator last week the 11-year-old came prepared with a long list of typed-up questions. He excitedly raised his hand to ask his first one. Ames pressed the Republican state senator Vicki Marble on an issue he knew was important to her: gun legislation. The Cub Scout in Broomfield about 20 miles north of Denver asked her a slew of questions about previous bills she had sponsored in support of the right to bear arms and he wasn't shy about inserting his opinion. "I was shocked that you co-sponsored a bill to allow domestic violence offenders to continue to own a gun " Ames said according to a video posted to YouTube by his mother. "Why on earth would you want someone who beats their wife to have access to a gun?" After Ames 's questions went on for more than two minutes a leader in his group cut him off to allow the state senator to answer. Both the senator and the leader commended him for his "thorough" list of questions. But after the meeting the leader of Ames 's Cub Scout pack which oversees various dens requested a meeting with his mother. The leader told Ames 's mother Lori Mayfield that her son was kicked out of his Cub Scout den the mother said in an email to The Washington Post. The son's den leader was apparently upset over Ames 's questions particularly the one on gun control Mayfield said. The mother was told her son's question was disrespectful and too political. "I had to go home and tell my son he was kicked out " Mayfield said. "My son was heartbroken because he really liked this den leader and couldn't understand why his question was inappropriate." Ames was less than four months away from transitioning from the Cub Scouts to the Boy Scouts his mother said. The Scouts did not explicitly say he was kicked out of the den. In a statement to The Post and local media outlets the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts said only that he remains a member of the larger pack and that the organization is working with the family to offer him options that will "allow him to continue his Scouting experience in a way that fits his and his family's needs." But local news reports of Ames 's apparent removal from his den drew anger across social media with many arguing that Ames was punished for asking tough questions of a state lawmaker. After all the den had specifically assigned the scouts to prepare questions for the senator. Ames 's story drew the attention of gun control advocate and former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona who was shot in the head by an assailant in 2011 suffering a severe brain injury. "This is exactly the kind of courage we need in Congress " Giffords tweeted Thursday. " Ames call me in 14 years. I'll campaign for you." Giffords's husband astronaut Mark Kelly called Ames and his mother Thursday night to talk about what happened according to Fox 31. The focus of the Cub Scouts' assignment Mayfield said was to meet with a government leader and discuss an important issue facing the community. Cub Scouts were instructed to decide on one or two questions and to be prepared to ask the official about an issue in the local news. Ames researched the senator before the meeting and decided he would focus his questions on gun control his mother said. After all the majority of the videos on Marble's site deal with gun rights legislation. "Given that the Las Vegas shooting happened I felt that it should be a reasonable thing to ask " Ames told a Denver Fox affiliate. "I don't feel like I did anything wrong."

When Ames Mayfield's Cub Scout den met with a Colorado state senator last week the 11-year-old came prepared with a long list of typed-up questions. He excitedly raised his hand to ask his first one. Ames pressed the Republican state senator Vicki Marble on an issue he knew was important to her: gun legislation. The Cub Scout in Broomfield about 20 miles north of Denver asked her a slew of questions about previous bills she had sponsored in support of the right to bear arms and he wasn't shy about inserting his opinion. "I was shocked that you co-sponsored a bill to allow domestic violence offenders to continue to own a gun " Ames said according to a video posted to YouTube by his mother. "Why on earth would you want someone who beats their wife to have access to a gun?" After [TGT] 's questions went on for more than two minutes a leader in his group cut him off to allow the state senator to answer. Both the senator and the leader commended him for his "thorough" list of questions. But after the meeting the leader of [TGT] 's Cub Scout pack which oversees various dens requested a meeting with his mother. The leader told Ames 's mother Lori Mayfield that her son was kicked out of his Cub Scout den the mother said in an email to The Washington Post. The son's den leader was apparently upset over [TGT] 's questions particularly the one on gun control Mayfield said. The mother was told her son's question was disrespectful and too political. "I had to go home and tell my son he was kicked out " Mayfield said. "My son was heartbroken because he really liked this den leader and couldn't understand why his question was inappropriate." Ames was less than four months away from transitioning from the Cub Scouts to the Boy Scouts his mother said. The Scouts did not explicitly say he was kicked out of the den. In a statement to The Post and local media outlets the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts said only that he remains a member of the larger pack and that the organization is working with the family to offer him options that will "allow him to continue his Scouting experience in a way that fits his and his family's needs." But local news reports of Ames 's apparent removal from his den drew anger across social media with many arguing that Ames was punished for asking tough questions of a state lawmaker. After all the den had specifically assigned the scouts to prepare questions for the senator. Ames 's story drew the attention of gun control advocate and former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona who was shot in the head by an assailant in 2011 suffering a severe brain injury. "This is exactly the kind of courage we need in Congress " Giffords tweeted Thursday. " Ames call me in 14 years. I'll campaign for you." Giffords's husband astronaut Mark Kelly called Ames and his mother Thursday night to talk about what happened according to Fox 31. The focus of the Cub Scouts' assignment Mayfield said was to meet with a government leader and discuss an important issue facing the community. Cub Scouts were instructed to decide on one or two questions and to be prepared to ask the official about an issue in the local news. Ames researched the senator before the meeting and decided he would focus his questions on gun control his mother said. After all the majority of the videos on Marble's site deal with gun rights legislation. "Given that the Las Vegas shooting happened I felt that it should be a reasonable thing to ask " Ames told a Denver Fox affiliate. "I don't feel like I did anything wrong."

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South Africa's President Jacob Zuma resigns

Jacob Zuma

JOHANNESBURG -- South African President Jacob Zuma said he has resigned "with immediate effect." The scandal-tainted leader made the announcement late Wednesday in a televised address to the nation avoiding his almost certain ouster in a parliamentary vote scheduled for Thursday after years of corruption scandals. Zuma 's resignation came after the ruling African National Congress party instructed him to leave office by the end of Wednesday or face the motion of no confidence in parliament. His departure ended a leadership crisis in one of Africa's biggest economies and set the stage for ruling party lawmakers to elect acting president Cyril Ramaphosa previously deputy president as Zuma 's successor. "I have served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability " Zuma said AFP reported. "I am forever grateful that they trusted me with the highest office in the land." "I don't fear exiting political office however I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions and the reason for its instructions that I vacate office " he said. Zuma 's tenure has been marred by years of corruption scandals. He has been in a vulnerable position since December when his rival Ramaphosa was chosen to lead the party the BBC reports. South Africa's ruling party welcomed Zuma 's resignation after months of growing public anger over multiple corruption allegations. The ANC expressed gratitude for Zuma 's "loyal service" and issued a statement saying his resignation provided "certainty to the people of South Africa." The former president was defiant in a television interview earlier Wednesday saying he had done nothing wrong. "I'm being victimized here " Zuma told state broadcaster SABC. He complained that Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders had not given him clear reasons about why he should go. On Wednesday morning police raided the home of prominent business associates of Zuma who are accused of being at the center of corruption scandals that have infuriated the country hurt the ANC's popularity and weakened the economy. An elite police unit entered the compound of the Gupta family which has been accused of using its connections to the president to influence Cabinet appointments and win state contracts. The Guptas deny any wrongdoing. The ANC which has led South Africa since the end of white minority rule in 1994 had wanted Zuma to end his second five-year term early so that it could build up support ahead of 2019 elections. Zuma had been in power since 2009.

JOHANNESBURG -- [TGT] said [TGT] has resigned "with immediate effect." The scandal-tainted leader made the announcement late Wednesday in a televised address to the nation avoiding his almost certain ouster in a parliamentary vote scheduled for Thursday after years of corruption scandals. [TGT] 's resignation came after the ruling African National Congress party instructed [TGT] to leave office by the end of Wednesday or face the motion of no confidence in parliament. [TGT] departure ended a leadership crisis in one of Africa's biggest economies and set the stage for ruling party lawmakers to elect acting president Cyril Ramaphosa previously deputy president as Zuma 's successor. "I have served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability " Zuma said AFP reported. "I am forever grateful that they trusted me with the highest office in the land." "I don't fear exiting political office however I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions and the reason for its instructions that I vacate office " he said. [TGT] 's tenure has been marred by years of corruption scandals. [TGT] has been in a vulnerable position since December when [TGT] rival Ramaphosa was chosen to lead the party the BBC reports. South Africa's ruling party welcomed [TGT] 's resignation after months of growing public anger over multiple corruption allegations. The ANC expressed gratitude for [TGT] 's "loyal service" and issued a statement saying [TGT] resignation provided "certainty to the people of South Africa." The former president was defiant in a television interview earlier Wednesday saying [TGT] had done nothing wrong. "I'm being victimized here " Zuma told state broadcaster SABC. He complained that Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders had not given him clear reasons about why he should go. On Wednesday morning police raided the home of prominent business associates of Zuma who are accused of being at the center of corruption scandals that have infuriated the country hurt the ANC's popularity and weakened the economy. An elite police unit entered the compound of the Gupta family which has been accused of using its connections to the president to influence Cabinet appointments and win state contracts. The Guptas deny any wrongdoing. The ANC which has led South Africa since the end of white minority rule in 1994 had wanted Zuma to end his second five-year term early so that it could build up support ahead of 2019 elections. Zuma had been in power since 2009.

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