Question:
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of InfoWars notoriety has been ordered by Texas Judge Scott Jenkins to pay $100,000 in court costs and legal fees as part of a defamation lawsuit. The suit charges that Jones’ peddling of a conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was a hoax created by the federal government defames the parents of the murdered children by calling them “crisis actors.” Not only is this claim morally repugnant, but the parents say it’s led to real-life threats and harassment.

On Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman shot and killed 20 children and six adults at the school in Newtown, Connecticut. Jones previously told the viewers of his show that the shooting was a hoax, though he has since said in a sworn deposition that he now believes the shooting was real. He says that a “form of psychosis” made him question whether the mass shooting was real.

Neil Heslin, the father of one of the children killed in Newtown, brought the defamation case against Jones and his website. Heslin says that he’s received numerous death threats from people who bought into Jones’ conspiracy theory. He sued Jones in April 2018, as did other families.

As reported by The New York Times, Judge Jenkins said Jones’ and his website’s lack of cooperation in the case “should be treated as contempt of court.” Jenkins also denied a motion from Jones and InfoWars to dismiss the case in a separate ruling. The Daily Beast reports that the fees break down to $65,825 for ignoring a court order to procure witnesses and documents and $34,323 to cover Heslin’s legal fees. Mind you, the case itself hasn’t even gone to trial yet.

A Texas judge has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $100,000 in another court setback over the Infowars host.

Jones is being sued for defamation in Texas by the parents of a 6-year-old who was among the 20 children and six adults killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

Jones used his show to promote falsehoods that the attack was a hoax. Judge Scott Jenkins ruled that Jones purposefully ignored previous orders to provide materials that would move along the lawsuit.

An attorney for Jones did not immediately comment Tuesday. Jenkins' orders were first reported by The Daily Beast.

Kolam in front of house against CAA, NRC (File photo)

CHENNAI: The city police commissioner on Wednesday said his officers were probing the alleged Pakistan links of a woman activist booked for anti-CAA kolam protests after one of her social media accounts mentioned her as being part of an organisation based in that country.A K Viswanathan told reporters the Facebook profile of Gayatri Kandhadai, one of those booked, says she is a researcher for Bytes For All (B4A), Pakistan, part of The Association of All Pakistan Citizen Journalists (AAPCJ) based in Pakistan. She was among eight people who held the innovative protest by drawing kolam (rangoli) before they were arrested and detained at a wedding hall on December 29. They were later released.A few organisations like the Welfare Party of India, Arappor Iyakkam and Campus Front of India support her. "We will probe the level of her links with Pakistan," the commissioner said.The website of Bytes for All (B4A), Pakistan says it is a human rights organisation and a research think tank with a focus on information and communication technologies. It organises discussions on relevant topics, presents findings, mobilises opinion.On the eight people being booked, Viswanathan said no permission was issued to them to protest against CAA and NRC. "Police did not interfere until an issue was created. A protester drew the anti-CAA messages despite opposition from a houseowner," he said and showed a video of a nonagenarian saying anti-CAA messages were drawn before his house without his permission.Later, incensed at the arrest of the protesters, DMK leaders and partymen drew similar kolams in front of their houses.Protests, meanwhile, continued across Tamil Nadu . At midnight on Tuesday, as many as 200 activists decided to go on a procession from Panagal Maligai to Raj Bhavan when police stopped them. They raised slogans for nearly an hour and dispersed. In Nagapattinam, more than 2,000 people took out a rally on Wednesday demanding that the Centre revoke CAA. The procession, led by Nagappattinam MLA Thamimun Ansari and Kilvelur DMK MLA U Mathivanan, got participation from others parties. In Trichy, police booked members of Makkal Adhikaram, who were also holding an anti-CAA protest, for unlawful assembly.

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment has called upon the animal farms to adhere to the regulations and to avoid all kind of violations.

The Ministry noted that its authorities concerned will implement inspection drives on the sites of animal farms during the coming period to ensure compliance with the terms of the contract. The inspectors will also monitor and remove all existing violations and take the necessary actions against the violators.

The Ministry asked animal farms to cooperate with its inspectors and rectify all violations in compliance with the laws, regulations and requirements regulating farming activities, so that whoever violates the norms will be subjected to legal accountability in accordance with the provisions of the laws applicable in this regard.

Police in Mississippi's capital city say two children have been hospitalized after being shot while riding in a vehicle.

A Jackson Police Department spokesman, Sam Brown, says the shootings happened Tuesday.

The 13-year-old and the 1-year-old were in a vehicle with their mother, their grandmother and another adult.

Shots came from another vehicle, hitting the children. None of the adults in the vehicle with the children was hurt. Police were searching for two suspects.

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New Year's resolutions come in all kinds of varieties, from working out more to learning new skills. You may not have, however, considered overhauling your oral hygiene. It shouldn't just be a New Year's resolution; taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do in your life. Make a permanent change for the better in 2020 by investing in the ProSonic Whitening Toothbrush.

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The Twins signed starting pitchers Homer Bailey and Rich Hill to one-year contracts Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Bailey is a 13-year major league veteran who split last season between Kansas City and Oakland, going 13-9 with a 4.57 ERA in 31 starts. In 243 major league games, all starts, the righthander is 80-86 with a 4.57 ERA.

His contract will be worth $7 million, with incentives if he reaches 180 innings, a major league source told the Star Tribune.

Bailey's best season came in 2013 when he was 11-12 with a 3.49 ERA for the Reds and had 199 strikeouts in 209 innings. Cincinnati gave him a six-year, $105 million contract extension at that point, but he had arm trouble in 2014 and had Tommy John surgery in 2015. More arm surgery followed; in 2018 he was 1-14 with a 6.09 ERA and the Reds traded him in a salary dump to the Dodgers, who released him.

After signing a minor league deal with Kansas City, Bailey was 7-6 for the Royals last season. They traded him to the A's at the deadline, and he was 6-3 for a playoff team.

Hill, a lefthander, will be 40 on Opening Day. He has pitched for eight teams in 15 seasons, and had only 13 starts for the Dodgers last season because of portion of the UCL in his left elbow detached. He had surgery in October and will be out until at least June. Hill was 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 48⅔ innings last season.

His contract is for $3 million, with incentives worth close to $10 million, a source confirmed.

In 2013, Hill made 63 appearances in relief for the Cleveland, but shortly thereafter turned his career around by adding a devastating curveball. The major problem with throwing his curve is that it tears the skin on the side of his middle finger, and that has limited him, although he made 25 starts in both 2017 and 2018 for the Dodgers' World Series teams.

He has also pitched for the Red Sox, Cubs, A's, Angels, Yankees and Orioles.

In 3½ seasons in Los Angeles, Hill started 68 games and had a 3.16 ERA and a 7.1 WAR. In 50 innings in the playoffs, his ERA was 2.70; his last contract with the Dodgers was for three years and $48 million.

Hill and his wife made headlines on Dec. 22 when they were detained by police at an NFL game between Buffalo and New England in Foxborough, Mass.

Caitlin Hill repeatedly tried to enter Gillette Stadium with an oversized bag, and as police took her into custody, Rich Hill was also arrested because he tried to stop them. On Dec. 23, they both were ordered to pay $500 fines for civil infractions. Hill released a statement where he said, "Seeing my wife handcuffed for a problem that started because of her fanny pack was extremely difficult for me to witness. This was all overblown and we are glad to have it behind us."

The Twins' starting rotation is not exactly set because neither Hill nor Michael Pineda, who is serving 39 more games of a suspension for using a banned diuretic, will be ready for the season opener on March 28.

Barring injuries, Jose Berrios, Jake Odorizzi and Bailey appear likely to be the top three coming out of spring training. Until Hill and Pineda are ready, it's likely Devin Smeltzer, Randy Dobnak and/or Lewis Thorpe will be in the starting mix. Unlike last season, when the first month of the season was marked by off-days and the Twins needed only four starters, in 2020 the team has only four off-days from the start of the schedule on March 26 until May 7.

The Twins, two major league sources confirmed, are still very much in the running for free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson.

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Question:
Viewers stunned after fake news anchor drops c-bomb on live television

(Infowars) – Viewers tuning in to CNN for New Year’s Eve coverage were treated to host Anderson Cooper grotesquely discussing the male anatomy with his co-host.

A drunk Cooper was conversing with co-host Andy Cohen during the live broadcast, when he clarified a comment by blurting out the question, “Who has the biggest cock in Hollywood?”

This is @CNN Anderson Cooper saying "cock" on live TV, while my child is awake. Shameful! #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/zVeLHJBZaP — Mike (@FuctupMike) January 1, 2020

“This is Anderson Cooper saying ‘cock’ on live TV, while my child is awake,” said Twitter user @FuctupMike, adding, “Shameful.”

One stunned viewer, who claimed his mother was visiting his home for the first time, said he was immediately embarrassed by Cooper’s remark and changed the channel.

So, CNN comes on in my house for the first time in … ever (or a really long time, at the very least.) And I’m welcomed to Anderson Cooper talking about his mom asking “Who has the biggest cock in Hollywood?” I’m no prude, folks, but the channel was changed immediately. — HAP (@hap317) January 1, 2020

CNN and Anderson Cooper have not yet released statements addressing the comment.

Cooper also nearly threw up on camera after taking a shot during the live broadcast.

INJECT ANDERSON COOPER DYING FROM SHOTS INTO MY VEINS. This is the best television. #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/XGlxFw1ovf — Corey Cohen (@CoreyECohen) January 1, 2020

And who can forget Cooper’s reaction last year after taking his first shot.

A reminder that we must protect Anderson Cooper at all cost. pic.twitter.com/sTzddZ85hg — The Demon of Savage Park 👹 (@binaryproblem) January 1, 2020

infowars.com/stay-classy-cnn-anderson-cooper-discusses-who-has-biggest-ck-in-hollywood-during-new-years-broadcast/

THIS IS CNN: Anderson Cooper turns the air blue with risque line about male Hollywood stars while downing tequila shots with Andy Cohen on live CNN coverage of New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Both Cooper and co-host Andy Cohen were “downing tequila, loosening up their commentary and spicing up the evening’s festivities…Cooper, who is listening to someone on an ear piece and appears to ask if the manhood reference can be said on live television verbatim, decided to clarify with the exact quote…’She [Cooper’s mom, the late Gloria Vanderbilt], turns to me out of the blue and goes, ‘He’s not going to ask me who’s got the biggest c–k in Hollywood, is he?’ That’s what she said’. Cohen waves his hands and responds, ‘Anderson just said it, ok.’”

I’m so old, I can remember September of 2017, when CNN’s Brooke Burke channeled her inner Margaret Dumont, and pretended to get the vapors over sportswriter Clay Travis saying that he believes in “the First Amendment and boobs.”

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A road in Leek is currently cordoned off as firefighters attend an incident.

Fire crews are at the scene on Southbank Street/Moorhouse Street in the Staffordshire Moorlands town this afternoon (January 1).

We now have an update on this incident.

The fire service have taped off a section of Southbank Street and police are also at the scene according to one witness who got in touch with StokeonTrentLive.

We are contacting Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for comment and will bring you further information when it becomes available.

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Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum

Late last year, actor Michael C. Hall announced a new supergroup called Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum. Formed alongside fellow musicians and former Broadway co-stars Peter Yanowitz (The Wallflowers) and Matt Katz-Bohen (Blondie), the trio previously shared its debut single with the slow burning “Ketamine”. Now, the band is back with a second offering.

Titled “Come and Talk to Me”, it’s a much more upbeat and colorful listen. Hall’s falsetto leads the way on the dance track, riding high above disco-style synths provided by his bandmates. “Come and talk to me, my lover,” the Dexter and Six Feet Under star lures in almost loop-like repetition. Hear it for yourself below.

These two singles will appear on Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum’s debut EP, reportedly out in April. Outside of music, Hall recently had a role in the Amazon political drama The Report starring Adam Driver and Annette Bening. Additionally, Hall, who previously starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and David Bowie’s Lazarus musical, appeared in a 2019 Broadway production actually called Skittles Commercial.

In a new interview with Billboard, Hall said that his past Broadway projects helped lead to the formation of the new band,

“Well, Hedwig was the first chance I had to front a band, albeit dressed in full drag and platform heels… and it gave me a good taste of what that feels like. But, I was playing a character and singing someone else’s songs with a bunch of musicians who were playing someone else’s songs, whereas in this case, it really belongs to all of us and emerges from us, so it’s a very different thing. But yeah, I think Hedwig was maybe what led me on the road to feeling what it was like to front a band, which led me to, in a way, doing the David Bowie musical, Lazarus. In hindsight, all roads seem like they were leading to this.”

As for 2020, unemployment is at its lowest point in more than 60 years. The S&P 500 has tripled in the past decade. Wage growth, while still somewhat disappointing, is rising fastest for full-time low-income workers. In a vacuum, this would augur a reelection landslide for the sitting president. According to Cembalest’s index of economic strength—combining data on unemployment levels, home prices, per capita GDP, stock-market growth, and inflation—“Trump as an incumbent benefits from the strongest tailwinds” since 1896. (Bill Clinton’s reelection year of 1996 comes close, but unemployment and inflation were higher, and home values and the stock market were only on the cusp of their late-’90s boom.)

Derek Thompson: The best economic news no one wants to talk about

But Trump isn’t the only force of unprecedented-ness. If he loses to the current front-runner, Joe Biden will violate another soft law of American politics: the Rule of 14.

As Jonathan Rauch wrote in The Atlantic: “No one gets elected president who needs longer than 14 years to get from his or her first gubernatorial or Senate victory to either the presidency or the vice presidency.” Zero political experience is just fine with Americans. But too much is not. In the past century, voters have subjected their candidates to a freshness test. And 14 years of political experience seems to be a kind of expiration date. Most impressive, the Rule of 14 predicted the narrow defeats of Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, both of whom lost elections 15 years and 10 months after their first days in the United States Senate.

Biden, who leads almost every national poll, served as the senator from Delaware for 36 years, from 1973 until 2009, when he left his seat for the vice presidency. His 44 years of consecutive public service in Washington constitute one of the longest national tenures of any politician in American history. If Biden defeats Trump, the Rule of 14 won’t just get an asterisk; it will get a sledgehammer.

Any of the other three top Democratic candidates would also represent historic firsts. If Trump loses, it is all but certain that we will elect either the oldest president ever or the youngest. Bernie Sanders (78), Biden (77), and Elizabeth Warren (70) would all be older on their first day in office than the current record-holder in the oldest-president-ever category, Donald Trump. At 70 years and 220 days old on his first inauguration day, Trump was the oldest president to be elected to a first term, although Reagan in his second term was the oldest sitting president. Pete Buttigieg, 37, would be younger on day one than either Teddy Roosevelt—who, at 42, became the youngest president, after William McKinley died—or John F. Kennedy, who, at 43, became our youngest president-elect.

It’s always possible to find some narrow vertical in which a new president qualifies as a “first.” But gender, sexuality, and religion are all significant demographic markers. Warren would be the first female president, Buttigieg would be the first openly gay president, and Sanders would be the first Jewish president.

Call it the changing face of recreational hockey.

The Whitehorse Women's Hockey Association has proven so popular this year, there's a waiting list to get on one of the league's eight teams. They were full 13 hours after registration opened.

And it's also proving to be a good family bonding activity — there are five mother-daughter pairs playing this year.

"I like to play with her, not against her, because someone's gotta keep an eye on this one! She gets a little feisty," said Jessica Pumphrey, laughing. She was talking about her mom, Nancy Pumphrey.

Jessica has been hitting the ice since she was a youngster, but Nancy only took up the sport at age 40.

"I decided that I'd give it a try," she said.

Registration to play on one of the league's eight teams this season was open just 13 hours before all spots were full. There's now a waiting list. (Wayne Vallevand/CBC)

"I've had kids stop me on my way into the rink and look at me and say, 'Aren't you too old to play hockey?' I said: 'Of course not!'"

"Never too old, never too young," Jessica added.

"That's it," said Nancy.

'You know, you should play hockey'

Helen Christiansen is also relatively new to hockey. She's playing her fifth season in the Whitehorse league, along with her daughter, Danica Christiansen, who's been playing since she was a kid.

Helen decided to take it up when she first moved up to Yukon from B.C. At the time, she didn't even know how to skate.

"I was up at the Canada Games Centre on the elliptical, and the lady beside me said, 'You know, you should play hockey.' And I'm thinking, well why not," she recalled.

"It was a leap of faith."

'I wish I had taken it up sooner in life,' said Helen Christiansen, seen here with her daughter Danica. (Wayne Vallevand/CBC)

Helen's first hockey game was her first time on the ice, she says — but she feels it was the best way to learn to skate. When she scored her first goal she knew exactly what her kids felt, when they had scored their first goals.

"Very cool experience, and I wish I had taken it up sooner in life," Helen said.

Danica said it's been great for everybody.

"It's a good family affair, twice a week. So our husbands come to the game and cheer us on. So it's kind of nice for my husband and father-in-law to bond."

Cheryl Rivest and her daughter Chantelle Rivest have been lacing up their skates together for years now. Chantelle recalled first facing off against her mom when she was 11 years old.

A few years later, mother and daughter were playing on the same team, as they are now, in the women's league.

Playing hockey with family can be 'like reading somebody's mind, if you know them really well,' said Cheryl Rivest, seen here with her daughter Chantelle. (Wayne Vallevand/CBC)

"It's so much fun. It's like reading somebody's mind, if you know them really well," Cheryl said.

"You're able to know how the plays are going to work, you kind of know where they're gonna go in certain situations. It just makes it smoother, faster."

'A very encouraging league'

Cheryl said the Whitehorse league has done an amazing job in attracting more players, of all different skill levels.

"It's a very encouraging league. I think that that has made the difference," she said.

'It's a very encouraging league,' said Cheryl Rivest. (Wayne Vallevand/CBC)

Jessica Pumphrey agrees. She said this year's waiting list to register shows there's a palpable spirit of camaraderie and community in the league.

"It invites more women to come play, right? Because they hear that it's so much fun, so welcoming and accepting, and everyone just wants to come out and hang, and it's cool," Pumphrey said.

"I love it."

St John's [Antigua], Jan 2 (ANI): West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder has been rested for the first two games of their three-match series against Ireland.

Holder is the only player to miss out from the ODI side that lost to India 2-1 recently.

Windies will face Ireland in three ODIs - the first two to be played at Kensington Oval, Barbados while the last will be played at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada. The two sides will then contest in three T20Is scheduled for a later date.

"The decision was taken to rest Jason due to the heavy workload he has had over the last year," International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted West Indies' selector Roger Harper as saying.

"With an important year ahead for West Indies cricket, we saw this as the best opportunity to give him a break to recharge his batteries and refresh his mind so he could be ready to perform at his best as our Test captain throughout 2020, as the number one ranked all-rounder in Test cricket and an important member of the team in the white-ball formats", the statement read.

"This series against Ireland offers us the opportunity to build on the performances in India, build confidence as a team and for individual players. Just like the series against Afghanistan, the Ireland series is an important one for us, one we must win," Harper added.

Squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

The first ODI between Windies and Ireland will be played in Barbados on January 7. (ANI)

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Question:
× ‘Not a dry eye’: Child invites entire kindergarten class to watch him get adopted

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — One child in Kent County, Michigan invited his entire kindergarten class to his adoption hearing Thursday, WZZM reports.

Michael Orlando Clark Jr. celebrated joining a new family with his kindergarten class.

“We began the school year as a family,” Michael’s teacher said. “Family doesn’t have to be DNA, because family is support and love.”

Michael’s classmates expressed their love for him and introduced themselves to the judge.

When Michael and his new parents made the adoption official by banging the gavel, the courtroom burst into applause.

“Sometimes their journeys have been very long, they’ve included miracle and change for the children and family and incredible community support as you’re able to see today in Michael’s adoption hearing,” Honorable Judge Patricia Gardner said.

Thirty-six other children found their forever homes the same day as Michael.

In a Facebook post, Kent County officials said “There is not a dry eye” in the courtroom.

KENT COUNTY, Mich. (WXMI/CNN) - Thursday was adoption day for a Michigan boy, but it was not just him and his new family celebrating. The child had his entire class cheering them on.

Boy brings classmates to adoption ceremony (Source: CNN)

There is no doubt that 5-year-old Michael Orlando Clark Jr. will never forget this day. He was dressed to the nines and so excited he could hardly sit still as his adoption was just moments from being finalized.

Michael wanted everyone to see it, so he invited his entire kindergarten class who waved hearts and cheered him on during the ceremony.

After fostering for about a year, his parents Andrea Melvin and David Eaton knew they had found the right fit for their family.

“He brings us a lot of joy. He's just so full of energy and so full of love. It's just been great for everybody,” said Melvin.

There was no shortage of love all around them in the courtroom.

"It is a great tribute to Michael that he had so many of his classmates here and so many said he was their best friend too,” Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stephen Markman said.

"Never have I experienced that before, and it was loads of fun. The kids were into it and supporting their best friend, and the family of Michael,” said Judge Patricia Gardner.

Michael already has everything he wants this holiday season:

“Giving a kid a permanent home, a forever family, is just the best gift you can give anybody,” said Melvin.

“We've been really fortunate and just hopefully other families get to enjoy similar moments,” said Eaton.

Thirty-six kids were also adopted Thursday as part of the 23rd annual adoption day in Kent County.

Copyright 2019 WXMI via CNN. All rights reserved.

Global stocks have surged in their best year for a decade after being given new life by interest rate cuts and signs that turmoil over Brexit is coming to an end.

More than $10 trillion (£7.6 trillion) was added to the value of shares around the world as central banks slashed rates and restarted money-printing schemes to battle an economic slowdown.

The MSCI World Index of global stocks has gained 25pc this year, bouncing back from its worst performance in a decade in 2018. This year was the best annual performance for stocks since 2009 and one of the strongest in decades.

In Britain, the FTSE 100 is up nearly 14pc and the mid-cap FTSE 250 has risen 26pc into new record territory, boosted by...

Every change begins with a leadership decision. Making the decision to institute changes is not always easy. Being prepared, planning well, and being surrounded by a good team will make that decision a lot easier. Begin by putting yourself in a positive frame of mind. You are likely to experience higher than normal levels of stress and knowing this beforehand will give you the ability to be prepared mentally and physically. You will be the anchorperson and foundation, and with your steady hand will guide your team through the stressful events. Be a reassuring and active force throughout the whole process.

It is impossible to prepare for every contingency, but planning for the known is a must. Add time or extra room to the schedule for the unknowns. When you encounter an unexpected event, your schedule should not be put off by much if you have built in some leeway. It will provide that buffer that gives you and your team the ability to deal with the unknowns and keep rolling with the change process

Surround yourself with people that you can delegate to and be confident in their abilities and skills. Be precise and specific with your directions as when the change process begins you will be depending on these individuals and their talents. Communicating and providing feedback are the keys to successful delegation; make sure your team understands this. If communication fails or there is not accurate feedback the chances of a success are lessened.

An issue that sometimes arises when delegating is micro managing. Keep an eye out to not micro-manage as you can quickly lose track of events and it will take time away from your main duties. Delegating is a skill that takes time as you must first learn the strengths and weakness of your team and know what tasks you can and cannot hand out. It may not be possible to always delegate, but when it can be done it will provide a great resource.

Always be available during the change process. Before the change prepare your friends and family that you may not be available for social events. Reassure your team that you are there for them and you are here to provide them with the necessary resources to lead them through the change. Stress to them that you are available and focused on keeping the communications lines open.

Always be aware of rumors, they will happen before during and after the change. Do not ignore any rumor, put out honest and clear communication as soon as possible. Reassure your team that if they hear a rumor to seek out more information from a reliable source. Remind them that spreading rumors helps no one and will cause more harm than good.

Not everyone will agree on the change. Keep in mind that these types of feelings are normal, as people generally do not enjoy change and are sometimes made nervous by it. You will likely encounter pushback and resistance by a number of team members. Provide facts and data to show why the change is happening and reassure them the need and benefits of the change. These types of individuals are best suited to be educated about the change with information.

If you are encountering an extreme case of pushback, provide them with some choices that still fall within the spectrum of the intended change. They should then feel more involved in the process and it will help alleviate the negative mindset they may be experiencing.It is vitally important to make sure that all stakeholders and employees are on board with a change.

In order to continue increasing awareness and to build desire to support the upcoming change; the change management team must reach out to the organization at large. The force field analysis, developed by German social psychologist Kurt Lewin helps a change management team to:

• Identify pros and cons of an option prior to making a decision

• Explore what is going right — and what is going wrong

• Analyse any two opposing positions.

If concerns or issues arise, then steps must be taken to ensure awareness is continually raised and that desire to support the change is increased. Strategies that can help the change management team responsively address employees’ concerns include:

• Engaging employees, providing forums for people to express their questions and concerns

• Equipping managers & supervisors to be effective change leaders and managers of resistance

• Orchestrating opportunities for advocates of the change to contact those not yet on board

• Aligning incentive and performance management systems to support the change.

Change is not exempt from Murphy’s Law. And even if something isn’t going wrong, change management team members must constantly be observing, listening, and evaluating the progress and process during a change. Below are several tools to help the team accomplish this.

A feedback form is used to gather information from those involved in a change to help shape the remaining course of the change project. Instead of a paper form, feedback can be obtained through online surveys (Zoomerang.com or Survey Monkey.com), an in-house questionnaire on the intranet, a few questions sent by email, or a focus group. The questions will vary depending upon the subject being queried.

Open Feedback include asking participants for suggestions and comments. The compiled results of the feedback forms can be used by the change management team members to modify the project plan and/or the communication plan or to work with specific individuals or groups that may be providing roadblocks to success.

Once a change initiative is underway, it is critical to sustain the change with reinforcement. The leader must make sure that the project and communication plan remain on track. They need to identify, and explore any issues from employees or stakeholders that have emerged, and review and consider any feedback gathered to date.

Acting as a facilitator, the leader helps to bring about learning and productivity. Communication will be a byproduct of this by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, and supervision.He or she listens actively, asks questions, encourages diverse viewpoints, organizes information, helps the group reach consensus, and understands that the individual needs of team members will affect teamwork.

The LEAD model provides a simple methodology for facilitating a participative meeting:

• Lead with objectives: When clear objectives are stated up front, group energy is channeled toward achieving an outcome. The objectives shape the content of the meeting.

• Empower to participate: In the Lead model, the facilitator is empowered to encourage active participation.

• Aim for consensus: Getting the team to consensus will have members more likely to support and carry out the decisions of the team.

• Direct the process: How the meeting progresses will influence the quality of the decisions of the team, and influences the commitment of team members.

Leaders must differentiate between process and content. Content includes the topics, subjects, or issues; process is about how the topics, subjects, or issues are addressed.

Because communications from managers and supervisors have been shown to have a significant impact on employees during a change initiative, it is appropriate that they be actively involved in celebrating success with employees as a result of positive performance. Celebrations can occur on three levels:

1. One on one conversation: In a private meeting, a supervisor should attest to the fact that due to the employee’s effort, a change was made, and how it is succeeding. He or she should extend verbal thanks to the employee.

2. Public recognition: Public recognition officially acknowledges outstanding performance and points out a role model that helped make a successful change happen. Supervisors should carefully consider who receives recognition, and not alienate group members who participated in the change but who many not have distinguished themselves as significantly.

3. Group celebrations: Fun or engaging activities are used to celebrate key milestones by a group. They include buffet or restaurant lunches, dinner events, or can include group outings to sports, amusement, or cultural events. It is important that these types of celebrations try to include the involvement of the primary change sponsor in some way.

Professor Akindotun Merino

Email: Info@africamentalhealth.net

Twitter: @drakinmerino

Fb: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Africamentalhealth/

Phone: 08118048229

Seattle Seahawks vs. Philadelphia Eagles wild-card playoff preview: Can Russell Wilson win again on road?

Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: How to bet on Sunday's wild card games SportsPulse: The two best games of the weekend may come out of the NFC slate on Sunday. Lorenzo provides the best bets you can make on each. USA TODAY

A preview of the NFC wild-card matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles

When: Sunday, Jan. 5, 4:40 p.m. ET

Where: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia

Channel: NBC

Line: Seahawks by 1½

Injuries: Both teams are relatively banged up entering this one, with several key players who may or may not be able to play.

The Eagles recently lost starting right guard Brandon Brooks to a season-ending shoulder injury, while tight end Zach Ertz (ribs/back), running back Miles Sanders (ankle), wide receiver Nelson Agholor (knee) and right tackle Lane Johnson (ankle) missed all or part of the regular-season finale. Coach Doug Pederson said Monday the team would monitor their statuses throughout the week.

Seattle, meanwhile, had 14 players on its injury report entering last week's game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks will be without starting linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees, but hope to get safety Quandre Diggs back for Sunday's game, according to coach Pete Carroll. They could also be thin at wide receiver with Jaron Brown (knee) out and Malik Turner questionable this week after suffering a concussion.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Carries to be had: Few teams in the NFL embraced the run this season like the Seahawks and Eagles, who ranked third and seventh, respectively, in rushing attempts on the year. But injuries have put them in a similar predicament, trying to figure out who's going to get the carries. Philadelphia will hope for a healthy Sanders, lest they want to rely on Boston Scott for a second consecutive week. The Seahawks split carries between Marshawn Lynch (fresh out of retirement) and Travis Homer. With the cast of characters changing, it will be interesting to see if either team can establish consistent production on the ground.

2. What's home worth? The Eagles (9-7) earned home-field advantage in this game by virtue of winning the lowly NFC East, even though the Seahawks finished with a better record (11-5, including a 7-1 mark on the road) and have generally played like the better team this year. (They also beat the Eagles, in Philadelphia, in Week 12.) If the Eagles manage to pull off the upset and win this one, it would illustrate the value of home-field advantage in the playoffs — and help fuel critics who say playoff seeding should be determined by record, regardless of division.

3. All eyes on tight ends: One of the key matchups in this game will be Seattle's defense against Philadelphia's tight ends. The Seahawks ranked 31st in the NFL this year in catches (97) and receiving yards (1,099) surrendered to opposing tight ends, and Carson Wentz's top two targets are Ertz and Dallas Goedert. That pair combined for 146 catches, 1,523 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season. All of this makes the health of Ertz that much more important in the days leading up to kickoff.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

Kelowna City Council endorsed budget carryover requests on Monday.

They include $126-million in operating and capital carryover expenditures, which will be used for a number of projects due to be completed over the next two years.

“As these projects were previously approved by Council, they do not add to the taxation demand for 2020,” said Melanie Antunes, Acting Financial Planning Manager.

“The majority, 56%, will be funded through the City’s general fund sources and the remaining 44% come from self-funding sources such as the water utility, wastewater and the Airport funds.”

Carryovers for 2020 include:

The process to secure and outfit an RCMP Mobile Command Centre to enhance tactical support, search operations, communication needs and community outreach.

Several items relating to the SEKID (South East Kelowna Irrigation District) integration project, supporting a resilient and high-quality water supply across the City Water Utility.

Continuing to support our Healthy Housing Strategy through additional affordable housing land acquisition

This is the second of three stages in the City’s annual budget process.

The first was the provisional budget in December, followed by the carryovers this month and the final budget being presented on April 27.

The final taxation demand increase will come in April, but Council approved a provisional taxation increase of 4.15% in December.

A new installment of Deadpool is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Merc with a Mouth, played by Ryan Reynolds, will get a third film and (possibly) an all-new universe to play in as Deadpool 3 is currently in development at Marvel Studios. The movie is an incredibly exciting development for both comic and movie fans. So, which villains from the comics should Wade Wilson take on in the third film?

Deadpool landing in the MCU is still somewhat surprising. The R-rated hero was one of the few Marvel characters acquired in the Fox-Disney merger that will seemingly survive without major changes or being recast - which isn't all that surprising considering the reception for Reynolds in the role and the box office returns of the first two Deadpool films. Deadpool's popularity kept the franchise alive. Joining the MCU means Deadpool's villain roster will significantly expand. Here are five villains who could appear in Deadpool 3.

Related: Deadpool 2’s Zazie Beetz Expects to Play Domino Again in Future Marvel Film

Daken

While it would be fantastic to see Reynold's Deadpool take on Hugh Jackman's Wolverine and see their feud/bromance further explored, the ship seems to have long sailed on that possibility following Wolvie's perfect end in Logan. So, if they can't do Wolverine, they might as well do the next best thing: Daken.

Daken is the son of Wolverine and Itsu. He's got similar abilities to his pops, including retractable claws, an accelerated healing factor, and superhuman physical attributes. Deadpool would surely be disappointed to see Logan's son and not Wolverine himself as his main adversary. There's tons of potential for comedy and action with Daken taking on Deadpool. Although, if Marvel wanted to do a new version of Wolverine, introducing Daken would probably create more questions than answers.

Related: Deadpool 3: 10 Ways To Set It In The MCU

Evil Deadpool

Evil Deadpool might seem like a gimmick villain at first glance, but he's the Frankenstein's monster of the Deadpool universe.

In the comics, when Deadpool is institutionalized, he's treated by Dr. Ella Whitby, who soon falls in love with him. The feelings aren't reciprocated which is probably for the best after Wade discovers Whitby had been collecting his body parts in her freezer from the hero's various battles. So, how does Evil Deadpool come into all of this? Well, after Deadpool discovers her body parts in the freezer, he throws them into a dumpster. In the trash, Deadpool's healing factor fused each part into a new being: Evil Deadpool.

A scientific freakshow, Evil Deadpool's body is completely mismatched. He's got two right arms and is able to maneuver his body in unusual, disgusting ways. Deadpool hunting down himself could be played comedically or somewhat tragically. Wade Wilson trying to figure out what the hell Evil Deadpool is would be worth the price of admission. Even as a minor villain, Evil Deadpool could work.

Related: Black Panther is Finally Getting Revenge on Deadpool

Mister Sinister

If Marvel really wants to swing for the fences, having Deadpool face off against Mister Sinister, one of the biggest X-Men villains around, would be one heck of a way to introduce Wade Wilson and mutants to the MCU.

Mister Sinister is obsessed with genetics and isn't afraid to do a little mad science in order to test his queries. The character is telepathic and has a slew of physical and mental abilities. Bringing in Mister Sinister could lay the groundwork for the X-Men in the MCU. Plus, he's been teased in Deadpool 2, so bringing him into the fold would pay off both the past and future of the franchise.

Related: Celebrate The Development of Deadpool 3 With These Comics And Collectibles!

Stryfe

Cable and the X-Force were brought into the fold in Deadpool 2, so bringing in Stryfe would make a lot of sense. Stryfe is an evil clone of Cable. When the original Cable was a child, he became infected with a techno-organic virus. He gets sent to the future, where he's cloned and cured of the disease. However, Apocalypse eventually gets his hands on the clone and raises him as his own. Stryfe becomes an anarchist and terrorist.

Stryfe along with Evil Deadpool would create an interesting duality between the evil counterparts and Cable and Deadpool. The two heroes taking on evil versions of themselves would be a lot of fun to watch.

Related: If Deadpool Was Cut in Half... Would TWO Grow Back?

Death

The biggest swing for the fences Marvel could take is introducing Lady Death as the main villain in Deadpool 3. In the comics, Thanos' motivations are driven by the living embodiment of death who wants nothing to do with the Mad Titan. However, Deadpool has much better luck with her. In the comics, Death and Deadpool develop feelings for each other. With Thanos out of the way, there are endless possibilities to take Death's character. Plus, Deadpool could joke about Josh Brolin playing Thanos and his lust for Death not making it into the MCU.

She can be the villain who Deadpool can't kick despite literally representing death and chaos. It would be a bold decision to include her in Deadpool 3 considering she wasn't present in Avengers: End Game or the MCU to date. Perhaps, a more comedic role is the right way to take the character. Regardless, Death seems ripe to show up in the MCU and Deadpool 3 would be a welcome curveball for her to appear.

What makes Deadpool 3 so exciting is the almost limitless characters and storylines that could be used to bring Wade Wilson to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead of having a handful of villains to play with, Marvel can really go any way they want - small, big or insanely huge. No matter who is chosen for Deadpool 3's villain, it's exciting to see the character come to the MCU. There's tons of potential for him and the X-Force to grow alongside the rest of The Avengers. Who would you like to see as the main villain in Deadpool 3?

Next: 10 Superhero Comedies To Watch If You Like Deadpool

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The King of Marvel's Universe is Finally Claiming His Throne

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Question:
Ajay Devgn’s first look from Bhuj The Pride of India as IAF pilot Sq Ld Vijay Karnik is impressive, see pic

bollywood

Updated: Jan 02, 2020 09:59 IST

Ajay Devgn will be seen as an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot in one of his upcoming films, Bhuj: The Pride Of India. Director Abhishek Dudhaiya shared the first look of the film on Twitter on the first day of the new year.

Sharing the picture, Abhishek wrote: “It’s a privilege to present @ajaydevgn sir’s first look as Sq. Ld. Vijay Karnik from my upcoming directorial film #BhujThePrideOfIndia . #14Aug2020.” He also revealed that the film will open in theatres a day before Independence Day this year. Ajay plays the lead role and will be seen as Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik.

It’s a privilege to present @ajaydevgn sir’s first look as Sq. Ld. Vijay Karnik from my upcoming directorial film #BhujThePrideOfIndia . #14Aug2020. pic.twitter.com/5pZiORdXjs — Abhishekdudhaiya (@AbhishekDudhai6) January 1, 2020

Ajay has worked in number of patriotic films, with another of his upcoming films, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, also showcasing similar sentiments.

Bhuj: The Pride Of India tells one of the many stories of bravery, selflessness and commitment, shown by ordinary people apart from the armed forces during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. The period drama looks back into the journey of 300 women from Madhapar village of Gujarat’s Kutch district, who played a pivotal role in helping India win the war. The women came together to rebuild and repair the only runway in Bhuj, which was crucial for the war.

Also read: Ananya Panday equates struggle to not appearing on Koffee With Karan, Siddhant Chaturvedi has a savage reply

The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Hate Story 4 actor Ihana Dhillon, singer-actor Ammy Virk and South Indian actor Pranitha Subhash. For Pranitha, who has starred in a number of movies such Porki, Saguni and Dynamite, Bhuj: The Pride of India will also mark her Bollywood debut.

Speaking about working with Ajay Devgn, she had earlier told IANS: “Ajay sir is so disciplined on sets. He is so natural when it comes to acting and the best thing about him is that as soon as the director says action, he gets into the character and gets out of it as soon as the director says cut. There was so much to learn from him and I feel blessed to have worked with him in my first Bollywood film.” The film is slated to hit theatres on August 14.

(With IANS inputs)

Follow @htshowbiz for more

Ajay Devgn is all set to essay the role of a real-life hero on the big screen in Bhuj: The Pride Of India. Based on the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the film has the Tanhaji actor playing Indian Air Force officer Vijay Karnik in the film.

For those who don't know, squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, was in charge of the Bhuj airport during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. It was he and his team, with the help of the local women, who reconstructed the destroyed Indian Air Force airstrip at Bhuj in Gujarat, in what could be termed as India's 'Pearl Harbour' moment.

Director-writer Abhishek Dudhaiya took to Twitter to drop Ajay's first look from the film. He wrote, "It's a privilege to present @ajaydevgn sir's first look as Sq. Ld. Vijay Karnik from my upcoming directorial film #BhujThePrideOfIndia . #14Aug2020."

Speaking about casting Ajay in the film, Dudhaiya earlier said, "We were fighting a war and if there had been any casualties of any of these women, it would have been a great loss. But I took the decision and it worked out. I had briefed them where they could take shelter if attacked and they followed it bravely. Also, I could only see Ajay Devgn essaying my character and I'm glad that he's on board."

Producer Bhushan Kumar added, "This courageous tale needs to be told because we want the current and the coming generation to know about this brave soldier, Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who played a significant role in India's victory in the 1971 war. He was heroic enough to take this bold step of involving civilians in a war."

Bhuj: The Pride Of India also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Rana Daggubati, Ammy Virk and Ihana Dhillion. The film is slated for a box office clash with John Abraham's Attack and Priyadarshan's Hungama 2 on August 14, 2020.

Ajay Devgn On CAA Protests: Violence Is Not The Way; Through Violence We Harm Our Own Country!

Kajol Trolls Ajay Devgn Over Her Casting In Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

(CNN) Instead of throwing down the gauntlet, Post Malone put it on his face.

The singer/rapper has debuted a new face tattoo to add to his collection.

The medieval gauntlet is featured prominently in photo posted Tuesday on tattoo artist Kyle Hediger's Instagram account.

"Last tattoo of 2019," the caption reads. "Gauntlet on the baby boy @postmalone love u. 2020 is going to be next level. Love you all."

Malone also shared a photo in which a portion of the new tat can be seen.

Read More

web Joey Cavino AP19353858195657.jpg Joey Covino poses for a photo Dec. 18, 2019, at his home in Saugus, Massachusetts, with a photo of himself as a 9-year-old boy. Covino was abused by Fr. Richard J. McCormick at a summer camp in Massachusetts in 1981. (AP/Elise Amendola)

Richard J. Poster served time for possessing child pornography, violated his probation by having contact with children, admitted masturbating in the bushes near a church school and in 2005 was put on a sex offender registry. And yet the former Catholic priest was only just this month added to a list of clergy members credibly accused of child sexual abuse — after The Associated Press asked why he was not included.

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Victims' advocates had long criticized the Roman Catholic Church for not making public the names of credibly accused priests. Now, despite the dioceses' release of nearly 5,300 names, most in the last two years, critics say the lists are far from complete. An AP analysis found more than 900 clergy members accused of child sexual abuse who were missing from lists released by the dioceses and religious orders where they served. The AP reached that number by matching those public diocesan lists against a database of accused priests tracked by the group BishopAccountability.org and then scouring bankruptcy documents, lawsuits, settlement information, grand jury reports and media accounts. More than a hundred of the former clergy members not listed by dioceses or religious orders had been charged with sexual crimes, including rape, solicitation and receiving or viewing child pornography. On top of that, the AP found another nearly 400 priests and clergy members who were accused of abuse while serving in dioceses that have not yet released any names. "No one should think, 'Oh, the bishops are releasing their lists, there's nothing left to do,'" said Terence McKiernan, co-founder of BishopAccountability.org, who has been tracking the abuse crisis and cataloging accused priests for almost two decades, accumulating a database of thousands of priests. "There are a lot of holes in these lists," he said. "There's still a lot to do to get to actual, true transparency."

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Church officials say that absent an admission of guilt, they have to weigh releasing a name against harming the reputation of priests who may have been falsely accused. By naming accused priests, they note, they also open themselves to lawsuits from those who maintain their innocence. Earlier this month, former priest John Tormey sued the Providence, Rhode Island, diocese, saying his reputation was irreparably harmed by his inclusion on the diocese's credibly accused list. After the list was made public, he said he was asked to retire by the community college where he had worked for over a decade. Some dioceses have excluded entire classes of clergy members from their lists — priests in religious orders, deceased priests who had only one allegation against them, priests ordained in foreign countries and, sometimes, deacons or seminarians ousted before they were ordained. Others, like Poster, were excluded because of technicalities. Poster's name was not included when the Davenport, Iowa, diocese issued its first list of two dozen credibly accused priests in 2008. The diocese said his crime of possessing more than 270 videos and images of child pornography on his work laptop was not originally a qualifying offense in the church's landmark charter on child abuse because there wasn't a direct victim.

web Poster AP19358566573793.jpg This undated photo obtained from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in December 2019 shows Richard J. Poster. (AP/Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services)

After he was released from prison, the diocese found Poster a job as a maintenance man at its office, but he was fired less than a year later after admitting to masturbating in the bushes on the property, which abuts a Catholic high school. Still, the diocese did not list him. Poster went on to violate the terms of his probation, admitting he had contact with minors at a bookstore and near an elementary school, federal court records unsealed at the AP's request show. A judge sent him back to jail for two months and imposed several other monitoring conditions. Child pornography was added to the church's child abuse charter in 2011 and, though the diocese promised it would update its list of perpetrators as required under a court-approved bankruptcy plan, it never included Poster. "It was an oversight," diocese spokesman Deacon David Montgomery told the AP. He said the public had been kept informed about the case through press releases issued from Poster's arrest until his removal from the priesthood in 2007. Poster, now 54, lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, near a school and two parks. He hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing for more than a decade and declined to comment when reached by the AP, saying he preferred to stay out of the spotlight. Of the 900 unlisted accused clergy members, more than a tenth had been charged with a sex-related crime — a higher percentage than those named publicly by dioceses and orders, the AP found. Dioceses varied widely in what they considered a credible accusation. Like Poster, some of the priests criminally charged with child pornography weren't listed because some dioceses said a victim needed to report a complaint. In addition to Poster, the AP review found 15 other priests charged with possessing, distributing or creating child pornography who were not included on any list. Other dioceses created exceptions for a host of other reasons, ranging from cases being deemed not credible by a board of lay church people to the clergy members in question having since died and thus being unable to defend themselves. "If your goal is protecting kids and healing victims, your lists will be as broad and detailed as possible. If your goal is protecting your reputation and institution, it will be narrow and vague. And that's the choice most bishops are making," said David Clohessy, the former executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, who now heads the group's St. Louis chapter. The largest exceptions were made for the nearly 400 priests in religious orders who, while they serve in diocesan schools and parishes, don't report to the bishops.

web McCormick AP19358694910405.jpg Judge Timothy Feeley, left, addresses former Fr. Richard J. McCormick, 74, Aug. 10, 2015, in Salem Superior Court in Boston. (AP Pool/The Boston Herald/Faith Ninivaggi)

Richard J. McCormick, a Salesian priest who worked at parishes, schools and religious camps in dioceses in Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Indiana and Louisiana, has been accused of molesting or having inappropriate contact with children from three states. In 2009, his order settled the first three civil claims against him. Yet he does not appear on any list of credibly accused clergy members. McCormick finally faced criminal charges after one of his victims spotted the priest's name on a very different list — one posted in 2011 by a Boston lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian, who represents church sexual abuse victims. Thirty years had gone by, but Joey Covino said he immediately recognized a photo of McCormick as the priest who had molested him over two summers at a Salesian camp, a woodsy retreat for underprivileged boys in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Covino's boyhood had revolved around church, where he served as an altar boy, played in a Catholic Little League and where his mother — raising four children on her own — gratefully accepted assistance from friendly priests. When she sent Covino and his brothers back to the free camp for a second year, "I was petrified — petrified — and I couldn't say anything. I couldn't even ask my brothers to see if it had happened to them," said Covino, now 49 and a police officer in Revere, Massachusetts. "I've always told myself I should have done something. I should have fought back." Covino said the entirety of his adult life had been altered by McCormick's abuse — failed relationships, his decisions to join the military and later the police, nightmares that plagued him. His decision to come forward led to McCormick being convicted of rape in 2014 and sentenced to up to 10 years. The priest since has pleaded guilty to assaulting another boy. The Salesians, based in New Rochelle, New York, have never posted a list of credibly accused priests. "Our men who have been credibly accused and have had accusations have been listed in the various dioceses that we serve," said Father Steve Ryan, vice provincial of the order. Ryan said he was certain McCormick's name appeared on several lists, including Boston's.

web O'Malley AP19358633674567.jpg Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley arrives to the Santa Maria alla Vittoria church March 10, 2013, in Rome to celebrate Mass. (AP/Domenico Stinellis)

But when Boston posted its list in 2011, Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley wrote that he was not including priests from religious orders or visiting clerics because the diocese "does not determine the outcome in such cases; that is the responsibility of the priest's order or diocese." O'Malley since has called on religious orders to post their own lists, spokesman Terry Donilon said. The AP found the Boston archdiocese has the most accused priests left off its list, with almost 80 not included. Nearly three-quarters, like McCormick, were priests from religious orders. Another dozen died before allegations were received — another exclusion cited by the archdiocese. McCormick also is not on the New York archdiocese's list or lists posted by the Archdiocese of Gary, Indiana, and the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida — both places where he faced accusations. The archdiocese in New Orleans, where McCormick served in 1991, added his name to its list of credibly accused priests only after an inquiry from the AP. Priests named on any list were excluded from the AP's undercount analysis, even if they were not named on lists in the other dioceses where they served. Because the AP counted only priests left off all lists, critics say the number of 900 unnamed priests represents just a tiny portion of the true scope of the underreporting problem. Other priests excluded from the credibly accused lists were left off because of findings from the diocesan investigations process. Review boards — independent panels in each diocese staffed with lay people to review allegations of abuse — make the initial recommendation on whether an allegation is credible. The standards those boards use to investigate claims and the process itself often is so shrouded from public view that some victims say they weren't allowed to attend when their allegations were discussed. Dozens of priests whose accusers received payouts or legal settlements were left off credibly accused lists because review boards deemed the accusations not substantiated or because bishops or even the Vatican later overturned the board's findings on appeal. The standards for Vatican appeals are even more secretive.

"You can't put much stock in the lists that the church voluntarily provides because they cannot be trusted to police themselves." — Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro Tweet this

In 2006, the Chicago Archdiocese's review board investigated a claim from two brothers who alleged a priest named Robert Stepek had abused them. The board found "reasonable cause to suspect that sexual abuse of minors occurred," but Stepek was restored to good standing in 2013 after a Vatican court said it was "unable to find evidence strong enough." The court found Stepek engaged in inappropriate behavior for a priest, however, and he remained without an assignment under restrictions until his death in 2016. The AP found about 45 accused clergy members who did not appear on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's list of credibly accused priests. The archdiocese said they were excluded for a variety of reasons, including deciding that about a dozen priests found unsuitable for ministry by a review board due to conduct involving minors did not do anything that rose to the level of abuse. A spokesman said the archdiocese has a thorough and transparent investigation process, but declined to comment on any of the individual cases of priests not named on its list. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro told the AP that he had to fight church leaders to release a groundbreaking 2018 grand jury report that named more than 300 predator priests and cataloged clergy abuse over seven decades in six of the state's dioceses, not including Philadelphia. Several bishops played a direct role in covering up the abuse in Pennsylvania, Shapiro said. "You can't put much stock in the lists that the church voluntarily provides because they cannot be trusted to police themselves," he said.

web Malone AP19358633697153.jpg Bishop Richard Malone speaks to Catholics on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo, New York. (AP/File/David Duprey)

In Buffalo, New York, Bishop Richard Malone resigned under pressure earlier this month after his executive assistant leaked internal church documents to a reporter after becoming concerned the bishop had intentionally omitted dozens of names from its list of credibly accused priests. Buffalo's list has more than doubled to 105 clergy members since those documents were released. Still, the AP found nearly three dozen accused priests who remain unnamed by the diocese. The number of new claims being reported to law enforcement and church officials over the last two years has increased, spurred in part by revelations of abuse from high-ranking church officials such as former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and by the Pennsylvania grand jury report and the more than 20 other state investigations launched in its wake. The AP found more than 130 priests who were accused in the last two years whose names do not appear on any lists. Another 37 unlisted priests were accused under New York's Child Victims Act, which recently opened a window for victims to file civil lawsuits regardless of the statute of limitations, a trend being echoed across the country. Anne Burke, now chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, was part of the Catholic Church's inaugural National Review Board, a commission formed to help implement the church's 2002 child abuse charter. "We gave our report and recommendations over 15 years ago. They never followed through. That was the final nail in the coffin as far as we were concerned in terms of the bishops ever being able to pull themselves away … from the bureaucracy and be transparent," Burke said. "That is why we are here again today, and it's worse." Many advocates say the church has a long way to go toward being transparent and are determined to see that it becomes far more open about problem priests.

web Jeff Anderson AP19358633675323.jpg Attorney Jeff Anderson, left, points to a chart of sexual abuse perpetrators during a Aug. 14, 2019, news conference in New York, accompanied by sexual abuse victims Birdie Farrell, center, and Joseph Carramano. (AP/Richard Drew)

Attorney Jeff Anderson, known for suing dioceses for information on accused clergy, has released almost 30 various rosters of clergy he has received allegations against or whose names appear in church documents. "We feel a fierce public imperative to continue to release our lists because those released by dioceses contain only a fraction of the true report," Anderson said. "And they lead people to believe they are coming clean when they are not." It was a list that Anderson's law firm released in the Archdiocese of New York that led 34-year-old Joe Caramanno to file a complaint, decades after he said he was abused. Caramanno had been hospitalized for an anxiety disorder when he was a teenager and part of his return to high school involved mandated meetings with a priest who controlled his medication. It was during those sessions that Caramanno said Monsignor John Paddack fondled him. Caramanno, now a teacher, said it wasn't until he saw Paddack's name on Anderson's list that he felt he could come forward. "I needed the validation that it wasn't just me. It made it more real," he said. The archdiocese's official list of credibly accused priests, released a few months after Anderson's, contains only half the names and does not include Paddack, who has stepped down during the ongoing investigation. "It makes me wonder if I hadn't come forward … would he still be an active priest?" said Caramanno, who has filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese under New York's Child Victims Act.

"What matters is one question: Did or does this credibly accused predator have access to my flock ever? Even for a few hours. If the answer is yes, then that bishop needs to put that predator on his list." — David Clohessy Tweet this

North Carolina is poised to gain a new congressional seat in 2020, giving the state more clout in Congress and presidential elections.

It also raises the stakes in this year races for the state legislature, which draws the districts.

North Carolina would be one of seven states to gain at least one House seat, according to an analysis of new census numbers by Election Data Services.

That would give the state 14 House members -- and 16 electoral votes. That's as many as Georgia and more than all but six states.

"Every election is critical, but this one is even more so," said political scientist Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University. "There's a lot at stake in 2020 because even more will be at stake in 2022 and 2024."

U.S. Census Bureau estimates released this week show the state's population grew 10% since 2010, to 10.5 million. That's part of a pattern that saw the South grow faster than any region in the country.

North Carolina added 106,000 people in the decade, about the population of High Point and more than all but Texas, Florida and Arizona. According to EDS, those states also are expected to gain congressional seats along with Colorado, Montana and Oregon.

Ten states including New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan are each projected to lose a seat.

Final population numbers will be determined by the 2020 Census, which officially kicks off this spring. N.C. state and local officials have urged people to make sure they're counted.

'Ground zero'

North Carolina last added a congressional seat — the 13th — in 2002 following the 2000 census.

A new seat now would mean a new round of reapportionment, or dividing the state into 14 districts, not 13. It would happen in 2021 along with the redistricting of congressional and legislative districts that normally occurs after every census. (In North Carolina, court rulings, including two in 2019, have made it a more regular occurrence.)

After Republicans won the General Assembly in 2010 for the first time in more than a century and with it the right to draw voting districts, they passed redistrictings that for a time gave them veto-proof super-majorities in both chambers.

"The redistricting puts added emphasis and importance on (the election) for both sides," said Democratic consultant Thomas Mills. "After 2010 people in North Carolina see the census year as the most important election year we've got going."

Reapportionment and redistricting are just one reason both parties will fight hard for the state in 2020.

North Carolina will feature a race that will help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. It also has races for governor, Council of State and Supreme Court. A closely divided state, it's a presidential battleground that will host the 2020 Republican convention.

"It's safe to say North Carolina is ground zero for national politics in 2020," said Dee Stewart, a Republican strategist. "(And) it makes the stakes much higher for the legislative races."

Impact in Congress

When North Carolina does gain a new seat, it's hard to say exactly where it would be.

Wake and Mecklenburg are the largest counties. But suburban areas and retirement destinations like coastal Brunswick County were among the fastest growing in 2017, according to the University of North Carolina's Carolina Demography.

Gerry Cohen, a former longtime legislative official, said while it's unclear where a new district would be created, a likely scenario would be that the 12th and 2nd Districts— now comprising large parts of Mecklenburg and Wake counties — to shrink within their respective counties. That would mean parts of those counties would be added to other districts, and potentially a new one in the Piedmont between the population centers.

"So there isn't a particular place where a new seat would be added," he said. "It's likely in that corridor."

Even without a new seat, North Carolina's new court-ordered congressional districts already are already expected to have an impact on Congress.

Republicans, who currently have 10 of the state's 13 House seats, are only expected to gain eight under the maps that will be in effect in 2020.

"The changes in North Carolina should give Democrats a couple of extra seats in their pocket as they defend their House majority," wrote analyst J. Miles Coleman of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.

VINEMONT, Ala. (AP) — Pay raises are in the future for an Alabama town's council and mayor as long as they attend the council's monthly meetings.

The South Vinemont Town Council passed an ordinance to raise members' pay this November. The raise is the first for the council since February 2008, said Mayor Radginal Dodson.

The town’s five council members previously received $300 per month with the mayor being paid $1,000 per month, The Cullman Times reported. The new ordinance keeps council members’ pay at $300 per month but with an additional $100 per month if the members attend the council’s meetings, and raises the mayor’s pay to $1,400 per month with an additional $100 per month if he, too, attends the council’s meetings, the newspaper reported.

The vice-mayor’s pay would stay at $550 per month with the additional $100 per month if he attends the meetings, the newspaper said.

The changes will take effect after the town’s municipal elections are held and new terms begin in November.

The UN Is Hiring English-Speaking DISARMAMENT OFFICERS in New York

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by Daisy Luther

As the Second Amendment conflict heats up across the United States, here’s another “crazy conspiracy theory” that has turned out to be true.

The United Nations is hiring in New York. What positions are they trying to fill?

English-speaking DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION, AND REINTEGRATION OFFICERS.

This job was posted the day after Christmas. So for all the folks who have been saying “nobody is trying to take your guns” you might want to read this job listing and reconsider your opinion.

Is this in response to the Virginia crisis?

You may recall that citizens of Virginia have become outraged recently by new laws that are likely to pass this month, effectively banning all semi-automatic weapons. Sanctuary counties, cities, and municipalities now cover all but the most urban parts of the state. These sanctuaries have vowed to support the Second Amendment and are refusing to enforce unconstitutional gun laws.

In response, a member of the state congress suggested that Governor Northam could call up the National Guard to disarm residents of Virginia despite the wishes of local governments. In response to that, at least one county has formed a militia and others are expected to spring up. The state’s Attorney General says that these sanctuaries carry no legal weight.

Despite the AG’s opinion and threats from the state government, Virginians appear to have no plans to give up their guns or register them. Many members of law enforcement entities and the National Guard have said that they will not act on unconstitutional orders.

One has to wonder if this is why the UN is hiring “disarmament officers?”

What is the job description?

Here are the responsibilities for the new hires, as per the United Nations job listing.

Within delegated authority, the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Acts as a Focal Point for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) components for two to three missions, responsible for planning, support to implementation and evaluation;

• Participates in DPO and Integrated Task Force planning meetings for the establishment of a new peacekeeping mission with a potential DDR component;

• Provides technical assistance to peace negotiations;

• Participates in technical assessment missions;

• Advises, develops and reviews (as appropriate) initial DDR functional strategy and concept of operations for further development into a full programme by the DDR component and the National DDR Commission;

• Drafts and reviews DDR inputs to SG report, code cables, and talking points;

• Develops initial result-based framework and budget for new DDR components in new mission;

• Liaises with UNDP and donor community to raise voluntary contributions for DDR programmes;

• Presents and/or defends new and subsequent DDR budgetary requirements in the ACABQ and the 5th Committee of the General Assembly;

• Develops staffing structure and terms of reference for a DDR component, including terms of integration with other UN agencies, funds and programmes;

• Provides technical clearance for applicants to DDR units in new and ongoing missions;

• Provides Headquarters support in planning the civilian and military logistics support for DDR;

• Continually reviews DDR programme strategy and implementation through relevant documents, reports and code cables;

• Conducts field missions to assess implementation of established DDR programmes;

• Identifies potential problems and issues to be addressed and suggests remedies to DDR units in the field;

• Liaises with Member States, UN actors and other DDR interested partners to represent the mission’s DDR component at the Headquarters level;

• Establishes and maintains an outreach network with CSOs and IGOs active in the area of DDR.

• Supports the doctrine development work in the area of DDR in the department, with the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on DDR and other relevant national and international actors working on DDR issues;

• Contributes to Department-level or Policy Committee-level policy development work on DDR and related issues;

• Maintains and further develops the Integrated DDR Standards – a set of inter-agency policies, guidelines and procedures on DDR;

• On behalf of the Chief of the DDR Section, co-chairs the IAWG on DDR, contributes to bringing coherence to the interaction of the UN system and its partners on DDR;

• Supervises the Associate Expert (Junior Professional Officer) in the development and maintenance of the web-based United Nations DDR Resource Centre;

• Liaises with others (UN, regional organisations and Member States) providing DDR.

Other duties as required. (source)

Also notable is the required language fluency – English – and the desired experience.

Seven years of relevant experience in disarmament affairs, political analysis or in national military or paramilitary service, preferably related to the design, implementation or review of DDR. (source)

Employees would answer to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

As per the UN, here are some specifics about this job description. Of special note:

Disarmament is the collection, documentation, control and disposal of small arms, ammunition, explosives and light and heavy weapons of combatants and often also of the civilian population. Disarmament also includes the development of responsible arms management programmes. (source)

As well, the UN especially wants women to apply for this job, citing gender equality. But is it possible they think that a gun owner might have more ethical difficulty firing on a woman trying to take their weapons than a man?

The US is no longer part of the UN Arms Trade Treaty.

You may recall back in 2013, the United Nations convinced then-Secretary of State John Kerry to sign a treaty that “unequivocally bans arms transfers that are in violation of a U.N. arms embargo or that exporters have reason to know will be used to commit genocide and other grievous war crimes.”

In 2013, the US signed the UN Arms Trade Treaty but that signature was never ratified. Last April, President Trump officially withdrew from the international gun control treaty.

However noble that may sound, anti-gun control activists were concerned this would lead to the UN being able to disarm Americans on US soil.

So why is the UN looking for English-speaking disarmament experts?

Don’t be silly, “no one is coming to take your guns.”

How many times has someone told you not to worry – that nobody is coming to take your guns away? That all they want is “common-sense gun laws?”

In light of the current political climate and this job listing, I’d say that is an outright a lie.

What do you think about this job listing? Alarming or not? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

About Daisy

Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, globe-trotting blogger who writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com. Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and runs a small digital publishing company. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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David Stern, the longtime NBA commissioner who transformed the league through television deals and other media partnerships, died Wednesday, three weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was 77.

“For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action,” current NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals – preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.”

Silver credited Stern with modernizing the league after taking over in 1984 when the game was at a crossroads.

“But over the course of 30 years as commissioner, he ushered in the modern global NBA. He launched groundbreaking media and marketing partnerships, digital assets and social responsibility programs that have brought the game to billions of people around the world,” Silver said.

Stern retired as NBA commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014 after a 30-year tenure. In recent years, Stern worked as a sports and media consultant under his DJS Global Advisors banner, with clients that included the NBA. Stern also worked with private investment firm PJT Partners and venture capital firm Greycroft Partners. He was a frequent speaker on the business and media conference circuit.

On Nov. 15, Stern and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman swapped stories and insights about brand-building during a lively session at the Paley Center for Media’s International Council Summit in New York. Bettman worked with Stern at the NBA before moving to the NHL.

Bettman hailed Stern as his mentor and long-time friend in a statement.

“He was a man of great vision and energy who was responsible for the operational and business advancements that created the modern sports industry,” Bettman said. “David taught me how to be a commissioner and, more importantly, how to try to be a good person.”

More to come…

David Stern, the former NBA commissioner who turned the league into a powerhouse over three decades, died Wednesday at the age of 77, the league announced.

Stern had been hospitalized since undergoing surgery in December after he suffered a brain hemorrhage at a Manhattan restaurant.

The Hall of Famer served as commissioner for 30 years, growing the game exponentially into a multibillion dollar business, before stepping down in 2014 and being replaced by Adam Silver.

“For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action,” Silver said. “He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends.

“Because of David, the NBA is a truly global brand — making him not only one of the greatest sports commissioners of all time but also one of the most influential business leaders of his generation,” Silver said.

The NBA was lagging behind the MLB and NFL when Stern took over in 1984, but became a global juggernaut behind his leadership that expertly marketed superstars Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson among others.

“Without David Stern, the NBA would not be what it is today,” Jordan, now the Charlotte Hornets owner, said in a statement. “He guided the league through turbulent times and grew the league into an international phenomenon, creating opportunities that few could have imagined before.”

Stern also founded the WNBA in 1997 and introduced seven NBA franchises during his tenure, which was not always smooth.

He oversaw two work stoppages, which resulted in the 1998-99 and 2011-12 seasons being shortened to 50 and 66 games, respectively.

In 2005-06, he instituted a dress code policy for players before and after games that former 76ers star Allen Iverson said targeted “guys who dress like me — guys who dress hip-hop.”

Stern was born in New York and raised in Teaneck, N.J. He is survived by his wife, Dianne Bock Stern, and their two sons, Eric and Andrew.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A no-swim advisory has been lifted at the Deerfield Beach Pier.

The Florida Department of Health in Broward County issued the advisory on Friday after waters by the pier did not meet state requirements.

Officials lifted the advisory Tuesday after water samples they tested met state requirements.

Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

WASHINGTON, DC-MAY 18: A piece of police tape on the ground at a crime the scene. (Photo by Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

One of three men authorities said robbed a Bethesda jewelry store at gunpoint and escaped with an estimated $60,000 in merchandise is in custody in in Virginia, according to Montgomery County police.

The robbery occurred about 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Jewelry Exchange in the 7700 block of Old Georgetown Road. Police said one of the robbers was armed with a gun.

Police released surveillance video on Dec. 17 and charged a suspect with robbery in an arrest warrant the next day. He was identified as Derrick Lamont Graham, 42, of an undetermined address.

Graham was being sought in the jewelry store case when police said he was charged on Monday with robbing a bank in Arlington County. Police there alleged he passed a note to a bank teller in the 2200 block of Wilson Boulevard demanding money and implying he was armed. He escaped with an undisclosed amount of money.

Arlington police said Graham was arrested a short time later at the Court House Metro station platform, about one-third of a mile from the bank. Ashley Savage, a spokeswoman for that department, said Graham was also wanted in connection with the jewelry store robbery in Bethesda.

Montgomery County police said Graham is awaiting extradition to Maryland. In a statement, police said they believe Graham was the person with the gun. Two others are being sought.

Authorities said three men entered the store and demanded jewelry. Police released surveillance video on Dec. 17 seeking help from the public.

The video shows the men wearing winter coats and hoods entering the store, walking past a Christmas tree, and two of them getting the jewelry from salespeople and putting it into a bag. Another man was acting as a lookout at the front door, according to a police statement.

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(MENAFN - Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY, Dec 31, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Tuesday exchanged cables of congratulations with heads of Arab and friendly countries on the advent of 2020, wishing them stability, peace and prosperity.

His Highness the Amir also exchanged cables with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States to greet them on the New Year.

In his cables, His Highness the Amir wished them and all Gulf peoples a happy New Year, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow more progress, welfare and prosperity on all GCC states.

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MENAFN3112201900960000ID1099493600

Q: I’m a woman, age 36, who married a man from another country five years ago. I moved there and we bought a house together.

But we both found that we just weren’t compatible. He’s very laid-back; I’m hyperactive by comparison.

Since we had no children, we agreed to part in an amicable divorce.

I decided to go home for a visit, and scout the chances for work.

By luck, I was offered a terrific job and decided to stay. But I’d only brought one small suitcase along for the trip.

When I informed my ex that I’d like him to ship the rest of my things, and finalize splitting the proceeds from our house sale, his normally easygoing manner changed completely.

He became angry, said I’d have to do my own packing and shipping which had nothing to do with him. He added that the money wasn’t easily available.

I’m shocked at his meanness. Now I have to wait for my new job to allow early “vacation time” for me to travel overseas, retrieve my own things, and deal with this now-difficult ex about money that’s rightfully mine.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN...

How can I manage everything in two weeks of so-called “vacation” time?

Difficult Ex

A: Start preparations now. Reach out to your contacts where you lived for five years, and ask them to refer you to a reliable shipping company. Get informed from that company as to what proof of ownership or other papers may be required.

But before addressing the money issue with your ex, try a non-combative phone conversation with him asking if there’s anything you need to know about the house proceeds.

Then, communicate with the lawyer involved in the sale, and have him/her or another lawyer inform your ex that you require your share to re-settle back home.

Have as many conversations as possible to prepare yourself to be ready to proceed when you travel to complete the move.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN...

Invite a local friend there to help you with the packing, especially if it’s in the presence of your ex-husband.

Q: I work in an open-concept office where my co-workers and I are respectful of each other’s sound space. Most conversations on the phone or in person are kept to reasonable decibels.

Unfortunately, we received a newcomer to our space who laughs like a hyena. I’m not exaggerating. She’ll say a name aloud, then laugh in hysterical bursts.

Get some good advice in your inbox Get expert advice on life and relationships with the Star's Advice email newsletter. Sign Up Now

It’s very annoying and interferes with my concentration. What do I do/say that won’t be turned back on me as workplace harassment?

Earplugs Not Enough

A: Start with a plan of accommodation, rather than annoyance. She has an ingrained habit, you have a concentration problem.

Hers may be a nervous habit which gets exaggerated in new situation. Yours is a reaction. Neither of you are affecting or interfering with the other, on purpose.

You do have to be careful in a workplace atmosphere about how you proceed. Talk first to your supervisor who’ll likely ask a human resources representative as to the best plan (if there is an HR department).

But if left on your own, speak to this co-worker aside from others, and gently tell her that her exuberant laugh is too loud for an open-concept workplace.

Ask her to please try to tone it down. To show that you’re demonstrating goodwill, you could say that you’re willing to use earplugs when you need to concentrate more.

If she reacts badly, write a note detailing who said what, and then take it higher up.

Ellie’s tip of the day

An “amicable” divorce still requires being legally informed and aware of any financial complications.

EXPERT ADVICE. IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for the Star’s advice newsletter, get the latest on relationships, etiquette and more.

Danish actor Claes Bang is poised to become TV's newest sex symbol when he makes his debut as Dracula tonight.

Bang, 52, best known as The Affair's Sasha Mann, plays the world's most famous vampire in the BBC's new three-part adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic.

Fans are already impressed with what they've seen, with one declaring the tall, dark and handsome leading man to be 'very sexy'. Another tweeted cheekily: 'Claes Bang as the Dark Prince would have my neck anytime he wanted...'

Meanwhile early reviews of the mini series, which will air on three consecutive nights from today, suggest Bang ditches his signature cloak to appear in the nude on more than one occasion.

Claes Bang (left), 52, best known as The Affair's Sasha Mann, plays the world's most famous vampire in the BBC's new three-part adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic (right)

Early reviews suggest Bang ditches his signature cloak to appear in the nude on more than one occasion. Pictured, Bang strips off in a convent in a promotional shot from Dracula

Fans are already impressed with what they've seen, with one declaring the tall, dark and handsome leading man to be 'very sexy'. Another shared this cheeky tweet above

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, journalist Michael Hogan noted Bang spends 'an eyebrow-raising amount of screen-time naked'.

Dracula marks Bang's most high-profile English-language role to date and marks the culmination of an exciting few years.

The actor, who is married to artist and photographer Lis Kasper Bang, had his breakout role in the 2017 Ruben Östlund film The Square, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for best foreign language film.

It has been followed by turns in The Girl in the Spider's Web and The Burnt Orange Heresy, in which he starred opposite Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Debicki and Donald Sutherland.

The BBC adaptation follows lawyer Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan) as he travels to Transylvania to meet a new client, which turns out to be Dracula (pictured together)

One review noted Bang spends 'an eyebrow-raising amount of screen-time naked'. Pictured, the actor, topless and covered in blood, in a scene with nun Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells)

Bang's Dracula performance has made headlines already, prompting fans who were shown a preview to take to Twitter to share their excitement. Pictured, wiping blood from his mouth

But to British TV viewers he is likely to be best known as Sasha Mann, the charismatic, A-list movie star who played Helen's (Maura Tierney) love interest in the fifth and final season of The Affair.

Bang's Dracula performance has made headlines already, prompting fans who were shown a preview to take to Twitter to share their excitement.

One viewer who attended a preview screening in London this week tweeted: 'Claes Bang is an INCREDIBLE Dracula! I love Claes a Person, and as an Actor SO much! His interpretation of the Transylvanian Count was witty, devious and, (also), very sexy.'

Another agreed: 'Holy Transylvania, #Dracula is incredible. #StevenMoffat and @Markgatiss have done it again. This is a Dracula redefined for a new era - suave and cool, intimate and sexy, deliciously funny and horrifyingly grotesque. #ClaesBang is the Count of a generation. @BBCOne #BFI.'

To British TV viewers he is likely to be best known as Sasha Mann, the charismatic, A-list movie star who played Helen's (Maura Tierney) love interest in the fifth and final season of The Affair. Pictured, in a scene with Noah (Dominic West) and Whitney (Julia Goldani Telles)

The show's overtly sexual nature was also noted by Matthew Moore of The Times, who revealed the series includes a 'sex scene between Dracula and Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan), the [British] solicitor dispatched to his Romanian lair'.

He wrote: 'The sexual tone is clear from the outset. Even before the opening credits roll a character is asked plainly: "Did you have sex with Count Dracula?"'

But Moffat, 58, insisted the sex in the show should be seen as an act of destruction, rather than an act of romance.

Speaking at a screening, he said: 'He’s bi-homicidal, it’s not the same thing. He’s killing them, not dating them.'

The BBC adaptation follows Harker as he travels to Transylvania to meet a new client.

It is only once he is in the castle of Count Dracula that he realises he is a prisoner, rather than a guest. Dracula also stars Dolly Wells as nun Sister Agatha.

Dracula begins on BBC One at 9pm tonight

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