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Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater described the tactics as “foolish” and potentially criminal. He vowed an aggressive prosecution if evidence suggests someone was trying to intimidate Rep. Mark McBride, who found the device on his truck.
McBride says he found the experience “unsettling” and believes it is connected to his legislative work.
Prater says four other GOP legislators approached him last year with concerns that they were being followed.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 and two new books have arrived to commemorate the event. Indeed, all of these recent releases by Bay Area authors take a look back — at historical events, literary milestones, works of art or natural disasters.
“San Francisco’s Jewel City: The Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915” by Laura Ackley (Heyday Books and the California Historical Society, $40, 392 pages). There’s considerable drama — and a wealth of dazzling detail — in Laura Ackley’s account of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Ackley, an...
“Panorama: Tales from San Francisco’s 1915 Pan-Pacific International Exposition” by Lee Bruno (Cameron + Company, $29.95, 193 pages). San Francisco author Lee Bruno offers another view of the 1915 exhibition in this attractive volume. “Panorama” is essentially a picture book — history hounds won’t find the kind of dept...
“River of Ink: Literature, History, Art” by Thomas Christensen (Counterpoint Press, $35, 320 pages). The title of Thomas Christensen’s wide-ranging new history of literacy refers to the Mongol siege of Baghdad in 1258, when the invading hordes killed hundreds of thousands and destroyed the city’s Grand Library, describ...
“Table Talk: From the Threepenny Review” edited by Wendy Lesser (Counterpoint, $28, 320 pages). The Threepenny Review, founded in January 1980 by Berkeley author-publisher Wendy Lesser, celebrates its 35th anniversary this month with a collection of 99 essays drawn from its pages. Over the years, the literary magazine ...
“Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye” by Marie Mutsuki Mockett (W.W. Norton, $26.95, 352 pages). The search for an end to grief propels this affecting memoir by San Francisco author Marie Mutsuki Mockett. In 2011, mourning the deaths of her Japanese grandparents and her American father, Mockett traveled t...
Have archaeologists found the legendary lost city of gold?
Researchers using a high tech technique known as "laser mapping" have uncovered an ancient hidden city beneath the dense of jungles of Honduras.
During his conquest of the Americas, Hernan Cortes learned of a mysterious lost city adorned with golden statues and vast riches. Cuidad Blanco, known as the birthplace of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, was said to lie hidden somewhere amidst the dense jungle of Honduras' Mosquito Coast. And as the legend grew, many explo...
The way laser mapping works is similar to the way doctors use x-rays to peer inside a patient's body. In this case, archaeologists from the University of Houston used a technology called Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) in which a laser-equipped plane is flown over a specified region to scan for surface objects hidd...
So even though none of the researchers have yet to excavate the site or even set foot in the city, all this probing from afar has already revealed "a large central plaza with a major pyramid at one end, smaller pyramids nearby and the remains of other structures around the plaza," the Los Angeles Times reports.
While a full excavation is still needed to determine whether the features of these ruins actually do resemble what's been described as the land where residents "ate from plates made of gold," the finding is significant in that it's just the latest example of how smarter technologies are revolutionizing the field of arc...
Had they been forced to go about about their work using more traditional means, archaeologists would have faced some seriously tough obstacles that range from getting around strict political and religious sanctions to having to hack their way through a seemingly endless dense jungle with nothing more than machetes.
Will the world really end in 2012?
Engineers at Stanford University have invented a new technology that would give broadband customers more control over their pipes and, they say, possibly put an end to a stale net neutrality debate in the U.S.
The new technology, called Network Cookies, would allow broadband customers to decide which parts of their network traffic get priority delivery and which parts are less time sensitive. A broadband customer could then decide video from Netflix should get preferential treatment over email messages, for example.
The technology could put an end to the current net neutrality debate focused on whether broadband providers are allowed to prioritize some network traffic and block or degrade other traffic, said the researchers, Professors Nick McKeown and Sachin Katti and electrical engineering grad student Yiannis Yiakoumis.
Network Cookies, first described at a conference in Brazil in August, would put broadband carriers and web content providers on a level playing field when catering to user preferences, they said.
The technology puts the control in the hands of broadband users, Yiakoumis said by email. "Giving users choice is both feasible and beneficial," he said.
The technology adds transparency and "audit-ability" to network management processes, he added.
It's unclear whether broadband providers would support the new technology, however, given that Network Cookies would take some network management authority away from them. A spokeswoman for USTelecom, a broadband provider trade group, declined to comment on the proposal.
Yiakoumis defended the technology, saying it would be useful for broadband providers. "ISPs can differentiate from competition and better engage with their customers, in a way that is compatible with net neutrality principles," he said.
In addition, broadband providers would still control their infrastructure, and they could decide to provide a low-latency service, a high-bandwidth service, or free data with lower bandwidth, as some options, he said.
"They decide what network services to provide, with what guarantees, and how to implement these services within their network," he added. "But users can decide for themselves how to use these services and with what traffic. I believe this approach is easier for ISPs as well: Instead of trying to guess what users want t...
But what if some broadband customers designate all traffic as high priority?
Some users may need incentives for proper use or be required to pick among applications, Yiakoumis said. ISPs could also use monthly quotas on high-speed connections or charge extra for low-latency services, he said.
"This is not very different from we what we have today," he said. "You can buy a 10Mbps or a 50Mbps connection plan. All we say is that it's OK to have both of them at the same time and decide what traffic to send where."
The researchers field-tested Network Cookies in home settings by working with Google. Users in 161 homes were given access to an application called Boost, and they decided to give priority to websites related to news, video, voice, and sports.
The company analyzed a quarter million devices across a variety of customer environments and industry verticals, and found that 83 percent of companies have printers in their default configuration, with default passwords, and unencrypted WiFi.
In addition, 69 percent of companies had unencrypted wireless access points on their networks.
Vulnerable, unencrypted mobile hotspots were present in 42 percent of companies.
"Virtually every organization has some sort of rogue wireless access point or printer," Paget said.
Worst of all, many companies don't know what devices are on their networks because employees can easily go out and buy them and install them themselves -- or bring them from home as part of corporate Bring Your Own Device programs.
More than 100 people interested in contracts for shops at Hartsfield-Jackson International gathered Thursday to learn about the airport’s plan to revamp retail locations, with some raising concerns that the city is rushing the contracting process as Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s term nears its end.
The airport has more than 80 retail spots available around the domestic terminal and concourses.
But it was also evident at Thursday’s meeting that concerns about the politics of airport contracts are intensifying.
Although a number of airport contracts have gone through months-long or even years-long delays recently, officials say they aim for a “very aggressive” schedule to award the contracts in October and execute leases in December — just before Reed’s term ends in January 2018.
Concerns about the schedule came up during a question-and-answer session, when some concessionaires said they need more time to prepare proposals, and raised questions about a new regime coming into City Hall that could introduce political uncertainty into the airport contracts.
The locations are split up among 10 different contract packages, with the number of locations in each package varying from two to 22 in a single contract. The contracts are for seven years with a potential three-year renewal.
Retail locations at the airport last year brought in $153 million in revenue, not including duty free shops, according to the airport’s year-end concessions report. That was up 5.8 percent from the prior year.
A federal judge responded to an advocacy group's flyers' rights request by calling on the FAA to take a closer look at the amount of space passengers have on commercial planes.
Chinese electronics manufacturer Huawei decided to withdraw from U.S. business last year amid accusations that it built backdoors into American government and business systems. But while the U.S. government was publicly accusing the company of espionage, the NSA had already established its own backdoors into Huawei's n...
Newly revealed NSA documents show that NSA project "Shotgiant" had access to the company's main office network in Shenzhen since January 2009. The agency was able to eavesdrop on internal email communications, including those from company CEO Ren Zhengfei and Chairwoman Sun Yafang, and access the source code of numerou...
"Many of our targets communicate over Huawei-produced products [...] We want to make sure that we know how to exploit these products, [to] gain access to networks of interest" around the world.
"We currently have good access and so much data that we don't know what to do with it," states an internal document quoted by Der Spiegel.
Eligibility: Entrants must be legal US residents, at least 18 years old or above, as determined by KTVI FOX 2 and reside in the St. Louis, Missouri Designated Market Area as defined by The Nielsen Company. Entrants must have a valid Facebook account as of October 1, 2017. Void where prohibited. Employees of KTVI, LLC, ...
Sweepstakes Period: The Sweepstakes begins on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 6:00 PM CST and ends on Monday, October 16, 2017 at 10:00 AM CST (the “Entry Period”). Sponsor reserves the right to shorten or extend the Sweepstakes Period due to events beyond its control or for reasons set forth herein.
Sweepstakes Entry: To enter the Sweepstakes, participants go to www.Facebook.com/FOX2Now. If participants do not have a Facebook account, they may visit www.facebook.com to create one (it is free). Once participants clicks “Like” on FOX2 Now’s Facebook page, they must search the Newsfeed for the “Jim Gaffigan” post. Cl...
Prize: Two (2) winners will receive two (2) tickets to Jim Gaffigan Noble Ape Tour on . Retail value: $136.00.
Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the Official Rules and decisions of Sponsor, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless FOX 2, KTVI, LLC, Feld Entertainment, Facebook, and their respective affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, advertising and ...
Official Rules: To request a copy of the Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Jim Gaffigan, FOX 2, 2250 Ball Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146, by October 19, 2017. Written copies of these Rules are also available during normal business hours 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST at FOX 2’s business offices or online at http://ww...
Names of Winners: For a list of prize winners, send a separate, self-addressed, stamped envelope to Jim Gaffigan, FOX 2, located at 2250 Ball Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146, or appear in person at that location between normal business hours 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST after October 19, 2017.
Re: Wildlife group, developer clash over city’s rules for tree-cutting, Jan. 31.
As the protocol recognizes, hibernating animals and others in underground burrows can be crushed to death by heavy equipment. Other species that are less active during cold weather risk being killed when their tree is felled.
But the real mortality comes when animals are displaced during winter. The idea that animals are able to just move on to other habitat in the middle of winter is ridiculous. How can wildlife construct new nests or dreys when there are no leaves on the trees to make these nests? Finding a cavity in another tree will be ...
The city had an opportunity to use this development, which everyone agrees is going ahead, in a humane and environmentally respectful way, living up to its statement that Ottawa is a “green and environmentally sensitive city.” It’s failing to do so.
The groups requesting a delay in tree-cutting on KNL lands have been informed as to why the work had to occur this winter. A wildlife protection plan is being followed.
Last November, the Ministry of Natural Environment provided a permit to KNL with respect to protection of Blanding Turtles, an endangered species, requiring their entire property be enclosed by turtle fences by March 15, 2017 as well as realigning Shirley’s Brook by July 1 and installing new turtle habitats. This 45-pa...
I met with the city forester and environmental planner, as I share concerns about wildlife, and they included in the tree-cutting permit requirements for wildlife protection, based on the city’s Wildlife Protocol. I helped get that protocol approved by council specifically with the need to have it for these lands. It i...
One issue raised by the public relates to this clause in the Wildlife Protocol: “displaced wildlife may benefit from the provision of additional nesting sites, shelter and food supplies.” City staff did consider this requirement, but concluded that it was not necessary, due to the large amount of retained habitat in th...
Re: Now the fun part: Designing a new ‘iconic’ library for Ottawa, Feb 1.
How will the Ottawa Public Library board ensure our new main library on LeBreton Flats achieves design excellence? The board wants a design-build contract. Such comprehensive contracts by developers concentrate on building cost, not design.
A better way is through an open architectural design competition. Such competitions produced the much-praised new downtown Halifax library and also our earlier fine city hall on Green Island.
Our new library will fulfil a vital community function. It can foster our civic pride. Let’s do it right.
Today's letters: Betrayal on promises and what's good for taxpayers Today's letters: Does abandoning electoral reform really matter?
Tax exemptions on municipal bonds are hardly the sexiest political issue surrounding Donald Trump's transition. But a group of mayors, meeting with the president-elect at Trump Tower on Thursday, were surprised with welcome news when they pressed Trump to keep the exemptions.
"He's the president-elect, and he said he would keep it," said Tom Cochran, the CEO and executive director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "My lobbyist has been up on the Hill, and they said to us everything is on the table. We didn't know what would happen."
He added: "As soon as the sun comes up, I will be contacting the authorities in Speaker Ryan's office and others on the Democratic side that we were encouraged by the president-elect."
A spokesman for Trump, who convened the mayors in Trump Tower for about 30 minutes, didn't respond to a request for comment. Trump has vowed to overhaul the country's tax code when taking office, and mayors have feared the exemption could be in jeopardy. It has been targeted by some Republicans as too pricey, particula...
In a 2009 report, the Congressional Budget Office called the tax-exempt bonds a "costly mechanism." A 2015 report from the Joint Committee on Taxation said the tax-exempt bonds will cost the government more than $180 billion between that year and 2019.
The exemptions are vitally important to mayors, they say, because they enable cities and counties to build roads, schools and other projects without paying the burden of taxes on the borrowing. Between 2003 and 2012, states and local governments financed $3.2 trillion in projects, according to the National Association ...
Two other mayors in the room said they were also surprised with Trump's declaration. "I didn't necessarily think we'd hear an opinion back," said Mick Cornett, the Republican mayor of Oklahoma City. "I was very encouraged."
"He definitely said he would keep the exemptions," said Steve Benjamin, the Democratic mayor of Columbia, S.C. A spokesman for New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, a Democrat also present at the meeting, said he wasn't available for comment.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors, had struggled to secure Trump's attention during the presidential race. And a number of liberal mayors have vowed to oppose many of Trump's proposals, like on immigration.
On Thursday the mayors present said he seemed interested in attending their next meeting and sending members of his Cabinet.
The mayors said they discussed a number of other municipal issues, like community block grants for cities. Trump seemed interested in how cities received money, the mayors said, and how they spent it.
Benjamin said that while he vociferously opposed Trump's candidacy, he was trying to be "optimistic" after the meeting. Cornett said "because Trump has lived in cities, I think he has a good understanding."
"You didn't know what to expect going in," Cochran, the CEO and executive director said. "We're in uncharted waters with this president-elect. We felt like that he was listening to us. We're trying to get to know him. He's the president. We got to get to know him."
The completion date for work on a new temporary long stay car park for Sleaford has been put back to the New Year.
Work has been ongoing during the autumn on the project on the site of a derelict warehouse south of the railway station, off Grantham Road.
The new car park will offer 88 standard and six disabled spaces and was predicted to be ready for Christmas shoppers.
Now North Kesteven District Council officials say it will be open early in the new year, opening from 8am to 6pm with a barrier allowing exit only outside those hours.
It is mainly intended for shop and office workers, freeing up more town centre spaces for shoppers and short-stay users.
The Sleaford Masterplan aims to reduce the dominance of cars by providing a low-cost, long-stay option without the hassle of crossing the railway line.
Missouri Democratic State Representative Stacy Newman sent an open letter to Governor-elect Eric Geitens Sunday.
In it, she references the gunpoint robbery recently experienced by Greitens’ wife. Newman called on the incoming Republican governor to talk to law enforcement agencies which opposed a new law allowing concealed carry of firearms without a permit or training.
She says she hopes the incident involving his wife will force Geitens to acknowledge problems with gun laws in Missouri.
In her letter, Newman said the “stand your ground” defense included in the new law has been shown to greatly increase gun deaths, especially among African Americans. She claims 80 percent of Missourians favor mandatory background checks and notes the state does not require private sellers to initiate them.
The letter says gun violence is not just connected to robberies and homicides, but also suicides, domestic violence and kids. Newman claims Missouri was “#1 in 2015 toddler shootings across the country”, a statistic connected to research by The Washington Post published in October of last year.
Greitens’ transitional operation did not respond to Missourinet’s request for comment on Newman’s letter.
The measure that took effect this year and will be fully implemented in the new year, is known as Senate Bill 656, which does away with sheriff-issued permits in order to carry concealed weapons, and eliminates the requirement for eight hours of gun training.
It also is the first legislation since the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman for the murder of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida, to include ‘Stand Your Ground’ language to allow use of deadly force in public without imposing a requirement to retreat.
For all you Sun Devils who either don’t know what Reddit is or don’t need any more websites to enable your procrastination, it’s a message board forum that allows users to subscribe to “subreddits” that cater to their interests. Much like Twitter, you can customize Reddit to deliver content that piques your interests o...
For instance, you can follow a subreddit titled “AMA," where someone with a notable story allows users to ask them any question they like.
Celebrities frequently do AMAs, but can be inconsistent about their participation.
So, who is Neil deGrasse Tyson, and why is he so awesome?
Tyson is an accomplished astrophysicist and is currently director of Hayden Planetarium, which is a subset of the American Museum of Natural History. Tyson is a frequent patron of Reddit and makes himself available to speak with whomever wants to talk.

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