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The pieces of the Braves’ rebuild are starting to fall into place. Now that Albies is becoming an integral part of the Atlanta lineup, and with Swanson playing like he did when he first came up in 2016, this could be quite a combo moving forward.
“The Sopranos” clan has turned to killing each other with kindness, while agreeing to get back to work next month.
Both HBO topper Chris Albrecht and series star James Gandolfini issued statements Wednesday that were more reminiscent of endearments than any of the bitter epithets exchanged since the camps started duking it out over Gandolfini’s salary.
“We are delighted that the great Jim Gandolfini will be back at work in the role he has created with such distinction,” Albrecht’s statement read.
Since Brad Grey stepped in to unofficially mediate the brawl and both Gandolfini and HBO agreed to drop their lawsuits, plans are under way for Gandolfini, packing a sizable raise, to return to work on the fifth season of the mob hit during the first week of April.
The next hope for this now-happier family is to get series boss David Chase on board for a sixth season.
Wrestling was booted off the Olympic schedule for 2020 "It's not a case of what's wrong with wrestling, it is what's right with the 25 core sports," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said after the voting was revealed.
"It's not a case of what's wrong with wrestling, it is what's right with the 25 core sports," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said after the organization voted to remove the sport from the 2020 Olympic program.
To the contrary. It's not what's right with wrestling (the sport isn't as diverse as its supporter claim and both disciplines are nearly impossible for viewers to follow), but what's wrong with the other sports.
That's not to say there isn't a lot right with the sport. It brings more than 300 competitors to the Games, it's open to both men and women and it has roots in the first modern Olympics and the ancient Games in Greece. History, participation and a fervent passion among its supporters. What more is there?
But unless you're a wrestling lover, Olympic purist or CNBC viewer -- and that's not a strong constituency -- you won't fret over the decision. You'll see it today and forget about it for seven years until a 2020 Olympics that doesn't even have a host city yet. I'm a baseball fan who watched every waking hour of the 2012 Olympics and has covered the Games daily for the past four years and it took me until the middle of the second week to remember the sport had been booted off the schedule.
Chances are you didn't see much, if any, wrestling during London. It's hard to follow and relies on a scoring system that's complicated to all but the most dedicated fans.
The usual cries of anti-Americanism popped up after the vote, due mostly to the United States' lead in the all-time wrestling medal count. Though it's easy to accuse the IOC of Eurocentric views (rallies in Tehran have more support for the U.S.), this is a tough sell. It's far more damaging to Russia.
United States wrestlers hadn't finished in the top four of the wrestling medal count since 2000 and it's lead in the all-time medal count is only the result of the break up of the Soviet Union. Athletes competing under the Soviet flag have been in one Olympics since 1980 and none since 1988 and the USSR is still is only nine medals behind the United States. Combine the Soviet medal count with Russia and all the breakaway nations and it practically doubles the U.S. total.
1. Modern Pentathlon -- Hasn't been relevant since George Patton finished fifth in the first competition in 1912. Wrestling requires a mat and a singlet. Modern pentathlon needs a horse, gun, pool and swords. That sounds less like an Olympic sport and more like an afternoon at Phil Spector's house.
2. Ping pong -- Call it table tennis if you want. It's ping pong. And it's even less competitive than the American-dominated softball was in the past. China has won the past 11 gold medals dating back to 2004 and the silvers in London were either won by China, South Korea or Japan.
3. Race walking -- This isn't a "core sport." It falls under the track and field designation. Still ridiculous.
4. Trampoline -- This even is exactly like it sounds.
5. Taekwondo/Judo -- If you can name one difference between these sports other than the amount of letters in their name, then you have a leg up on 99% of Olympic viewers.
We have an update for those of you looking to pick up the Samsung Galaxy S4 handset on T-Mobile, with Samsung’s latest flagship expected to start showing up this week in the US after a long wait and after an initial launch in Europe. We previously told you that May 8 was the date for when the device will be available, but we’ve since heard that you may have to wait a week extra to be able to snap up a Galaxy S4 without any problems.
In a matter of hours, T-Mobile’s homepage should be changing to accomodate the glorious start of Samsung Galaxy S4 online sales. The price will be $149 as a down payment then $20 per month for 24 months, or $630 for those who are planning to buy the phone outright, unlocked and without being tied down to a contract.
For everyone else, the wait still continues to be able to snap up a Galaxy S4 from an actual T-Mobile store. We’re hear to tell you that T-Mobile has sent out word that only select T-Mobile stores will have Galaxy S4 stock on May 8. It means that you’ll have to check with your local store to see if you are lucky, but if not – May 15 is now the final date for when all other Galaxy S4 sales will begin.
That is perhaps a little disappointing to find out that the wait may now continue until the middle of May. Then again, it is still earlier than Verizon customers and let’s not forget that this is arguably Samsung’s most anticipated smartphone launch in their history.
The question is, are you holding on to pick up the device from T-Mobile, or have you already opted for Sprint, AT&T or Verizon instead?
This is strange. This release date is all over the internet, price too. But I just came from the Tmobile store in my city and they told me they’ll have the S4 in stock on the first of May, and I can get one for 100 dollars down payment.
dose anyone know when the 64GB comes out?
Been refreshing their website for hours, when is it going up?
Jesus. I’ve been working the night shift all night. Been waiting for tmobile to update their website. It’s definitely made work a long day. Lol, I just hope this excruciating wait was worth it!!!
and their site has already said $149 not $199…?
Analysis: While the Qatari money arrived in Gaza and helped calm tensions, the West Bank sees almost monthly terror attacks or attempted attacks that undermine the quiet in the area. To prevent a flare-up in the territories, the IDF must send troops trained to handle clashes, while at the same time ensure Palestinian daily lives are not disrupted.
Speaking at a Knesset discussion several months ago, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot warned there is high probability for escalation in the West Bank. Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman made a similar warning last week, saying the relative calm in the West Bank is "deceptive," as "Hamas is trying very hard to carry out terror attacks in and from Judea and Samaria."
Eisenkot's warnings seemed a bit exaggerated, especially in light of the fact there has been a drop in terror attacks in the West Bank over the first six months of 2018, despite President Donald Trump's decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem and other events with the potential to cause a flare-up.
Commentators invested a lot of time and effort in explaining why Gaza is going up in flames, while the Palestinians in the West Bank are demonstrating indifference. Now the tables have turned—it appears Gaza is calming down, whereas the shooting and stabbing attacks in the West Bank are becoming more commonplace.
The reasons for the apparent lull in Gaza are obvious: Hamas is slowly achieving the economic benefits it desires, and is attributing those successes to the "March of Return" campaign and the intense kite and balloon terrorism.
The persistent Egyptian mediation and the possibility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas are helping too, and last week the London-based Al Hayat reported that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had managed to convince Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to accept the ceasefire understandings reached between Hamas and Israel.
Abbas's approval means he will pay at least part of the government workers' salaries in Gaza, and mostly that he won't continue tightening the noose around Gazans' necks in an attempt to cause a Palestinian uprising against Hamas.
Gaza's residents, who were on the verge of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, did not rebel against Hamas, leading Abbas to understand his plan would not succeed anytime soon, and that he is no longer able to fend off the pressure from Egypt, Israel, and Europe.
It is impossible to know with the fickle Abbas, but at the moment it appears he will cooperate in the efforts to achieve calm in Gaza, maybe because he understands the volatile situation in the strip is spilling over into the West Bank.
Defense officials, who have been warning of possible escalation in the West Bank, estimate that the most dangerous option at the moment is mass rioting accompanied by shooting and stabbing attacks, which could erupt over a random incident.
Such mass rioting might lead to casualties and fatalities on both sides, and will require extensive military and intelligence efforts to restore calm. Hence, it is important to understand what is causing the current outburst of violence in the West Bank, 90 percent of which is not getting media coverage, while the other 10 percent are only the tip of the iceberg.
The Shin Bet director told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that over the past year, security forces have thwarted 480 terror attacks, including 219 Hamas cells and 590 lone attackers.
The great majority of these efforts were done quietly, thanks to the monitoring of social media and classic thwarting efforts that prevented the lone attackers and the cells from getting to the point where they were on the verge of carrying out the attack. But the sheer number of them indicates the volcano in the West Bank is close to erupting.
The main reason for the unrest is probably despair and the lack of hope young people feel over the freeze in social, economic and diplomatic processes across the West Bank. The economic situation is of course much better than in the Gaza Strip, but the unemployment rate is still in the two digits range, while the diplomatic process is nonexistent due to the rift with the United States. The overall situation, which was not good to begin with, has gotten worse in light of the Trump administration's cuts in aid money to the Palestinian Authority and to UNRWA (the Palestinian refugee aid organization).
Other reasons for unrest include the dead and wounded on the Gaza border, and mostly Hamas's incitement and the terror group's attempts to launch murderous attacks in the area, to make up for what it can't do in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is using all of the channels at its disposal from Gaza, Lebanon and Turkey to send money and instructions as well as encourage dissent on the ground in the West Bank. Most of the work is done by former Palestinian prisoners released in the Shalit deal.
All of this helps inflame passions and encourage popular terrorism in the West Bank, as do the events in Khan al-Ahmar, the anger over the sale of lands to Jews in Jerusalem, the death of the Palestinian woman whose car was allegedly hit with stones thrown by Jewish settlers, and the endless clashes over the olive harvest.
When these things don't cause bloodshed, they're not reported in the media. But the Palestinians in the West Bank and the settlers know all about these incidents, and this creates an accumulation of anger and hatred that is looking for a way out.
Recently, almost every month saw three stabbing attacks or attempted stabbing attacks that point to the link between the accumulating nationalistic anger and the personal motives that eventually lead to a drawn knife or a vehicular attack, not to mention the dozens of cases of stone- and Molotov cocktail-throwing. Abbas's inciting and provocative speeches against Israel, the US, Hamas and almost the entire world also create a bad climate.
Abbas is not very popular, and he has probably lost the trust of the young Palestinian generation long ago, but the bad climate he creates still seeps into the ranks of Fatah and into Palestinian politics, and from there onto the Palestinian street.
In addition, the terror attack at the Barkan industrial area—in which Kim Levengrond Yehezkel and Ziv Hagbi were murdered—serves as an inspiration and encouragement among young Palestinians. This attack is considered a success not just because of the murder of two Jews, but also in light of the fact the terrorist remains at large, armed with the weapon he used to murder the victims.
It's important to understand all of these reasons. There is no one reason that, if handled, can settle the unrest. There's an accumulation of reasons that cause rage and anger among the hopeless young Palestinians, who want to do something to vent their anger. At some point, the Shin Bet might miss a would-be assailant, who will then go out and commit a terror attack.
There are some elements that curb the violence on the Palestinian street: The Shin Bet's effective thwarting of attacks and the activity of the Palestinian security services. Without these two, we would've long been in the midst of a third and perhaps even a fourth intifada.
But just as important in curbing the violence is the understanding among the Palestinian public—as a result of lessons learned from the second intifada—that a large-scale escalation could exact a steep price from the Palestinians in both casualties and economic damages. Defense officials believe this is the main curbing factor that is not the result of active efforts to thwart attacks.
It's important to note that the hostility and lack of trust toward Abbas on the Palestinian street also creates the feeling that there is no purpose to a popular rising the likes of which Abbas is pushing for.
And finally, the lack of a religious reason is important in curbing the violence, just as the introduction of a religious reason could be the spark that lights up the biggest escalation. But right now this hasn't happened. At least so far.
The current unrest could lead people to go out and carry terror attacks, and so we can and should prevent this. Experience teaches us that the most important and effective measure is the reinforcement of IDF troops in the West Bank and their open presence on the ground, to allow them to quickly respond to every incident. It's important to make sure, however, that the reinforcement troops are well briefed and trained for clashes and are equipped with crowd dispersal measures.
In addition to the reinforcements, which in the current situation could be gradually deployed, the IDF must ensure the daily lives of the Palestinians who are not involved in terror activities are allowed to continue uninterrupted.
These two steps—reinforcing the troops while not disrupting the daily lives of the Palestinians—have proven to be the most effective measures of control and prevention of large-scale escalation.
Another important step that should be taken is curbing the Jewish outlaws. The Hilltop Youth harass the residents of the Palestinian villages on an almost daily basis, and thus raise the level of friction, tensions and anger on the ground. Curbing the Jewish outlaws by the Shin Bet and the police, and particularly by the settler leaders, is vitally important in preventing escalation.
The public, meanwhile, must remain alert and take precautions. Jewish parents picking up their children from after school activities and social activities in the West Bank must avoid doing so late at night. Every Jewish resident of the West Bank knows exactly what he must avoid and when.
Finally, launching diplomatic negotiations or any kind of discourse between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority—over economic projects and investment in the territories, for example—will undoubtedly contribute to calming the tensions as well. It won't bring to a solution, but it could contribute to calm, at least temporarily.
It's important to remember in this context that the Trump administration will presumably release its "deal of the century" peace plan in the coming months. It's unclear what this plan entails, but its very release has an explosive potential, and we must prepare for the possibility it will indeed lead to a flare-up.
The West Bank is like a minefield one must avoid entering. But if you're already inside, take every precaution to minimize the damage.
See all talkbacks "Calm in Gaza, unrest in the West Bank"
Les Stees of Geneseo was surprised with the GIFT Community?Caring Award during a ceremony at the?Geneseo Historical Museum on Sept. 16. Presented by the Geneseo Is For?Tomorrow (GIFT) Foundation, the award honors individuals who have given back to their community.
In a nomination letter, museum curator Angie Snook credits Stees with the vision for the new educational addition to the museum.
“He had the foresight to look toward the future for the museum’s educational and genealogical needs,” she wrote.
Stees has supported the museum for a number of years and designed and built the brick wall that displays bricks and medallions from the old Geneseo High?School and the Geneseo Armory.
Stees also has fixed day care playground and classroom equipment, served as a shuttle driver at Hammond-Henry Hospital and taken friends and family members to doctors’ appointments in the area and at Mayo Clinic.
In addition to the GIFT?Community Caring Award, a $500 donation was made to the museum on Stees’ behalf by?Lohman?Companies Insurance Foundation’s fund with GIFT.
, the ex Eagle and current Washington Redskins wide receiver criticizes the Eagles, saying the organization "tried to blow me up" with a "smear campaign" after cutting him in 2014.
"When I was released by the Eagles, I feel they tried to paint a picture that definitely wasn't true. It was a slap in the face, coming off one of my best seasons in the NFL," Jackson said on the show, speaking of rumored reports that Philadelphia cut him due to alleged gang ties back home in California. "The Eagles tried to blow me up. That's cold how they did it."
During one sequence, Jackson's friend says: "Like they tried to persecute you from where you come from, bro."
Jackson agrees, offering: "That's why I think they fired me. Have I went to jail? I ain't done none of that.
"I was at the top of the top. And then I got released. It was a smear campaign," he continued. Things media said about me, I bet you could say that about the majority of people in the NFL. I got a second chance to play in the NFL and I'm proving I'm one of the best receivers in the game."
Jackson caught 56 passes for 1,169 yards and six touchdowns last season. And he promises a bigger 2015 season, especially against some of his NFC East division competition, including the Eagles.
"I don't care too much about the [Dallas] Cowboys. I'm called a Cowboy killer," Jackson said. "They call me the Cowboy killer. I'm a [New York] Giants killer, I'm a Cowboys killer, now I'm an Eagles killer, too."
The trial of the Bangladeshi Brooklynite charged with trying to blow himself up in a Port Authority passageway began Tuesday with a chilling description of the bungled blast.
Akayed Ullah faces up to life in prison for the attempted suicide bombing allegedly carried out in the name of ISIS. No one died in the Dec. 11 attack — but straphanger David Wall, 65, testified that it caused him lasting damage.
“It was the loudest explosion I’ve ever heard in my life,” said Wall, who was on his daily commute from Hewitt, NJ to the 7 train station at the Port Authority.
He thought a steam pipe had burst, but then smelled gunpowder.
“I felt the force from the explosion, and my leg was on fire,” he testified in Manhattan Federal Court.
Remarkably, Wall continued to his job as a project manager in Long Island City, Queens.
He made it to work, then got dizzy and collapsed in a bathroom. He called 911 and was taken to Mt. SInai Hospital.
“The pain I felt in my right calf was actually metal lodged in it from the bomb,” Wall testified.
The trauma of the experience remains. Wall now uses a hearing aid and is afraid to ride the subway.
In opening remarks to the jury, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebekah Donaleski emphasized that Ullah, 28, planned when to blow himself up.
“The defendant chose Monday morning rush hour... to terrorize as many people as possible,” Donaleski said.
The prosecutor said the jury would see ample evidence against Ullah, including footage of the blast, ISIS progaganda from his laptop and his own words.
Before Ullah set off the bomb, he posted to Facebook, “Oh Trump you failed to protect your nation,” Donaleski said.
Ullah’s attorney, Julia Gatto, conceded he did commit some crimes — but argued her client was not guilty of providing material support to ISIS.
“The case is about a young man. A deeply troubled isolated young man who wanted to take his own life,” Gatto said.
Anyone who has ever watched one of those air disaster programs on television can be forgiven for believing that there is always an “ah hah” moment, the penultimate step to discovering what went wrong.
From the disappearance of aviatrix Amelia Earhart in 1937 to the still-missing flight of Malaysia 370, accident probes are never easy and rarely are they independent. They are clouded with complications; The biases of the investigators, the agendas of interested parties and the pressures from industry and government.
In his new book, Scapegoat, A Flight Crews’ Journey From Heroes, to Villains, to Redemption, author and airline pilot Emilio Corsetti III tells the incredible story of the near-disaster of TWA Flight 841 nearly 40 years ago.
On April 4, 1979, Captain Harvey “Hoot” Gibson, first officer, Scott Kennedy and flight engineer Gary Banks were flying a Boeing 727 to Minneapolis from New York with 89 people on board. While cruising at 39 thousand feet, the plane suddenly rolled right and plummeted. How close the plane got to the ground before the pilots regained control could be 8 thousand feet, or it could have been much lower. And that is just one of many facts in dispute in the National Transportation Safety Board’s official report.
What is known is that the three-man crew got the airplane safely to an emergency landing in Detroit with just 8 injuries. Briefly, the pilots were heroes. Then they were not.
The flight crews’ reversal of fate was triggered by an inexplicable absence of 21 minutes of audio on the 30-minute cockpit voice recorder tape. Within days of the near-catastrophe, news stories quoted anonymous sources saying that the pilots intentionally erased the CVR. And a premise like that could only mean the crew was in some way culpable for the upset.
Mark Twain once said, “A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on.” In TWA 841, this nugget of innuendo set the course of the entire investigation.
Corsetti’s Scapegoat explains point by point how the missing CVR data colored every phase of the probe. All accounts from the flight crew were discarded except what fit the pre-conceived idea the pilots were hiding something.
In addition to casting a critical eye on the NTSB and Boeing, Corsetti’s book also details the long-term effect of the narrowly-focused investigation on the lives and careers of Gibson, Kennedy and Banks.