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http://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/08/new-china-stock-connect-to-follow-in-old-footsteps.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151010185626id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/08/new-china-stock-connect-to-follow-in-old-footsteps.html | New China stock connect to follow in old footsteps | 20151010185626 | A trading link between Shenzhen and Hong Kong may look good on paper, but it's likely to suffer the same fate as the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect unless Beijing changes the rules, analysts say.
This week, Chinese premier Li Keqiang hinted at a widely-anticipated cross-border trading program between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, but investors aren't overly excited. The program would likely be based on the existing Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, which met lukewarm success following its debut late last year.
For the first twenty trading days, average northbound quota usage on the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect – investors buying Shanghai-listed A-shares – was 25.3 percent of the daily quota, lower-than-expected. Meanwhile, southbound quota usage was just 4.5 percent of the daily quota.
Read MoreChina's stock market is not in a bubble
"Investors have too many issues regarding the technicality of the existing Stock Connect, in particular custodial platforms," said Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist and strategist at Credit Agricole, referring to a practice where stocks are kept in brokers' names rather than clients' names.
Europe's principal fund regulator, Luxembourg's Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), prevented large funds from participating due to concerns that the system doesn't protect investors in the event the custodian bank goes bust.
Another major factor keeping foreign investors away is the requirement for investors selling A-shares in Hong Kong to deliver shares to brokers the day before the trade, a settlement cycle called 'T plus zero.'
"Unless there's a change in technical procedures for foreign investors, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connect won't be any more successful than the first," Kowalczyk said. | A trading link between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is likely to suffer the same fate as the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, analysts say. | 12.555556 | 1 | 10.259259 | low | high | extractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/28/reuters-america-update-12-us-crude-jumps-6-pct-in-second-day-of-short-covering-frenzy.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151011092210id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/28/reuters-america-update-12-us-crude-jumps-6-pct-in-second-day-of-short-covering-frenzy.html | UPDATE 12-U.S. crude jumps 6 pct in second day of short-covering frenzy | 20151011092210 | * Refinery outages, Yemen tensions and storm watch fuel gains
* Second-largest 2-day rally in U.S. crude in 25 years
* U.S. crude up 7 pct, extending Monday's 10 pct gain
* Brent up 5 pct, back above $50 a barrel
(New throughout, updates prices and market activity to settlement)
NEW YORK, Aug 28 (Reuters) - U.S. crude rose 6 percent on Friday, notching its first weekly gain in two months, after a rally in gasoline from refinery outages and concerns about strife in Yemen fed a second frenzied day of short-covering in oil.
Market players also kept an eye on a storm that appeared to be approaching the oil-rich U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
U.S. crude gained nearly 17 percent over two sessions, ending eight straight weeks of losses. It was also the second largest two-day rise for the market in 25 years, Reuters data showed.
"A severely oversold and shorted oil market is creating a bid for covering in U.S. crude," said Chris Jarvis, analyst at Caprock Risk Management in Frederick, Maryland.
U.S. crude's front-month contract settled up $2.66, or 6.3 percent, at $45.22 a barrel. At its session high, it was up more than $3, or 7 percent at nearly $46. For the week, it rose 12 percent.
Brent, the global benchmark, closed up $2.49, or 5 percent, at $50.05 a barrel, after hitting a session peak at $50.98. It gained 10 percent on the week.
Gasoline prices rose about 5 percent after Phillips 66 unexpectedly shut down a 150,000-barrel-per-day fluid catalytic cracker at its 238,000 bpd refinery in Linden, New Jersey, due to a leak.
A chemical leak reported on Friday at PBF Energy Inc's 182,200-barrel-per-day refinery in Delaware City, Delaware, brought renewed focus to that plant also.
Adding to the refinery watch, industry monitor Genscape said Shell's 404,000 bpd crude distillation unit in Pernis, Rotterdam, was offline, a day after experiencing a brief shutdown. Europe's largest refinery had been flaring during the day, typically a sign of production issues or planned maintenance work.
Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition killed 10 people in air raids over Yemen, local officials said.
Some analysts said U.S. crude also got a boost from concerns that Tropical Storm Erika was headed toward oil and gas installations in the U.S. Gulf.
A global glut of fuel and sluggish demand have cut oil prices in half from a year ago. Worries over China's economy have weighed on in recent weeks. Some analysts said the two-month slump of nearly 30 percent meant a rebound was due.
The rally on Thursday was fed by a stock market rise, strong U.S. growth data and a pipeline outage in Nigeria.
Some traders remained convinced the rally would fizzle and oil prices would head lower again.
Spreads between spot and one-year forward U.S. crude <CLc1-CLc12> were little changed on Friday, suggesting little improvement in fundamentals of oil.
"This confirms that the spread market doesn't buy this rally," Tariq Zahir, an oil bear at Tyche Caspital Advisors in Laurel Hollow, New York, said.
The oil market shrugged off the weekly reading for the U.S. oil rig count which showed an addition of one rig this week.
(Additional reporting by Christopher Johnson in London and Meeyoung Cho and Aaron Sheldrick in Seoul; Editing by Alden Bentley and David Gregorio) | *Refinery outages, Yemen tensions and storm watch fuel gains. NEW YORK, Aug 28- U.S. crude rose 6 percent on Friday, notching its first weekly gain in two months, after a rally in gasoline from refinery outages and concerns about strife in Yemen fed a second frenzied day of short-covering in oil. "A severely oversold and shorted oil market is creating a bid for covering... | 9.013158 | 0.960526 | 28.723684 | low | high | extractive |
http://fortune.com/2012/05/02/republicans-and-ayn-rand-a-love-hate-affair/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20151012005708id_/http://fortune.com/2012/05/02/republicans-and-ayn-rand-a-love-hate-affair/ | Republicans and Ayn Rand, a love-hate affair | 20151012005708 | FORTUNE — Paul Ryan is trying very hard to put daylight between himself and Ayn Rand, the right’s leading advocate of selfishness, greed and laissez-faire capitalism. It’s not working, but it’s illuminating to explore why he’s making such a fuss about Rand — and why we all should do so.
The House Budget Committee chairman, whose soak-the-poor, cut-taxes-for-the-rich budget plan has drawn attention to his fealty to Rand, gave an interview to The National Review last week in which he made Rand seem like a casual reading experience and not the cornerstone of his belief system. “You know you’ve arrived in politics when you have an urban legend about you, and this one is mine,” Ryan said of the foul calumny that he is a follower of Ayn Rand.
“I reject her philosophy,” said Ryan. It is, he pointed out, “an atheistic philosophy.”
That much is true. Her Objectivism certainly is atheistic, and that seems to be the reason Ryan is suddenly saying — after years in which he has been publicly identified with Rand — that he is shocked, shocked, that anyone would reach that conclusion.
Atheism is a crucial part of the teachings of the Russian-born philosopher, who died in 1982, and whose extremist writings have exploded in popularity in recent years. Her books and essays, especially her 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged, reject pretty much every major aspect of Judeo-Christian morality, especially its teachings on altruism (which she despised) and selfishness and greed (which she worshipped).
MORE: Tim Geithner’s “taxmageddon” plan
Ryan’s denial seemed to work for a few days. Or at least it did until an audio recording of remarks made by Ryan was published on the Internet on Monday by The Atlas Society, an organization devoted to the propagation of Rand’s views. Ryan was taped while he was speaking to an Atlas Society gathering in 2005. The Randians, it seems, were peeved by Ryan’s efforts to repudiate the goddess of capitalism, and they had in their possession the best possible refutation of his denials — his own words.
“. . . But the reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand. And the fight we are in here, make no mistake about it, is a fight of individualism versus collectivism,” said Ryan in 2005, utilizing some favorite Objectivist catchphrases.
“It’s so important that we go back to our roots to look at Ayn Rand’s vision, her writings, to see what our girding, under-grounding [sic] principles are. I always go back to, you know, Francisco d’Anconia’s speech (at Bill Taggart’s wedding) on money when I think about monetary policy,” he said. And on he went, sounding very much like the Rand devotee that he has been accurately described as being in press accounts.
MORE: How to cut Social Security mercifully
Then, gilding the lily, Atlas Society CEO David Kelley told an interviewer on Tuesday that Ryan’s “general approach to the budget — especially the budget — is very much in line with the direction that we stand for and would like to see the government go.”
This is more than just another Marx Brothers moment (as in the line from Duck Soup: “Who are you going to believe, me or your own two eyes?”) It’s actually a very real case of déjà vu. In recent years, another Rand acolyte — Alan Greenspan — has gone through even more violent gyrations to separate himself from Rand.
Greenspan had an even more difficult job than Ryan, because he was a member of Rand’s inner circle, known as the “Collective,” during the early 1950s. He wrote essays for Rand’s newsletters, including one in which he espoused an extremist vision of capitalism, in which all forms of regulation, even building codes, would become a thing of the past. That essay, written in 1963, was published in an anthology called Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, which is still in print.
MORE: Large layoffs loom on Wall Street
Greenspan’s lengthy record of attachment to Rand went ignored for years. But when the markets collapsed in 2008, Greenspan’s links to Rand became an embarrassment. In a famous appearance before the House Government Reform committee in October 2008, Greenspan said he had found a “flaw in the model that I perceived is the critical functioning structure that defines how the world works, so to speak.” He said that “those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself included, are in a state of shocked disbelief.”
This came to be known as the “flaw speech,” and it was one of the seminal moments of the financial crisis. An architect of deregulation, Greenspan, partly responsible for both the repeal of Glass-Steagall and the failure to regulate derivatives, had actually admitted that he was wrong. Or had he?
When I combed through Greenspan’s testimony and his other public statements, in researching my recent book Ayn Rand Nation, I found that the “flaw speech” was less a mea culpa than it was a public relations exercise. He backtracked on his “flaw” remarks almost as soon as he made them, and he contradicted them at every opportunity. In one broadcast appearance in April 2010, he was asked if the market crisis had repudiated laissez-faire capitalism or Ayn Rand’s belief that the markets can be trusted to police themselves. His response: “Not at all.” Greenspan made a similar flip-flop in an appearance before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, saying that “the flaw in the system that I acknowledged [in 2008] was inability to fully understand the state and extent of potential risks that were as yet untested.” It was another Marx Brothers moment, and it went by virtually unnoticed.
MORE: Paul Ryan: Republicans need a real agenda
Ryan has an even more urgent reason to distance himself from Rand. He stands a reasonable chance of getting the Republican vice-presidential nomination, and possibly running for president himself in the future. And that is where Rand can be as much a curse as a blessing. Although her philosophy has a strong appeal to the Republican right, her atheism — and her support of abortion rights — puts her at odds with the Christian right. My interviews for the book with Tea Party activists found that Rand’s atheism remains a serious obstacle in acceptance of her views by the rank-and-file, despite the “Ayn Rand is right” signs at Tea Party rallies.
This presents an opportunity for those of us who don’t share Rand’s extremist vision of capitalism. Her philosophy cannot be disentangled from atheism, no matter how strenuously followers like Ryan may try to do so, because her support of greed and selfishness could not exist in a worldview that cherishes Judeo-Christian values. It is a “flaw,” as Alan Greenspan would put it. And no amount of flip-flopping and insincere denials can make it go away.
Gary Weiss’s most recent book is Ayn Rand Nation: The Hidden Struggle for America’s Soul, published by St. Martin’s Press. | House budget chairman Paul Ryan once credited the philosopher Ayn Rand for guiding him to public service. Now he’s realizing she can be as much a curse as a blessing. | 43.666667 | 0.818182 | 3.848485 | high | medium | mixed |
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/08/reuters-america-china-economy-weakening-further-oecd-leading-indicator-says.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151012153842id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/08/reuters-america-china-economy-weakening-further-oecd-leading-indicator-says.html | China economy weakening further, OECD leading indicator says | 20151012153842 | PARIS, Sept 8 (Reuters) - China's economy is losing steam and other big emerging market economies such as Brazil and Russia are also showing signs of weakness, the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said on Tuesday.
While growth in the euro zone looks stable, it seems to be tapering in the U.S., UK and Canadian economies, albeit from relatively high levels for mature economies of their kind, the OECD said in its latest report on a forward-looking indicator it compiles monthly.
The leading indicator, a synthetic index designed to detect turning points, dipped to 97.6 from 97.9, retreating further from the 100 mark that represents the long-term average.
In advanced economies, the think tank reported slips of a tenth of a point for the U.S., UK and Canadian economies, to 99.5, 99.7 and 99.4 respectively.
"Growth momentum is anticipated to moderate in Canada as well as in the United Kingdom and the United States, albeit from relatively high levels," it said.
"On the other hand, the outlook continues to deteriorate for China, with the CLI (leading indicator) pointing more strongly to a loss of growth momentum. Signs of slowing growth momentum are also re-emerging in Russia. In Brazil, weak growth momentum is anticipated."
While the reading for the euro zone edged back to 100.0 from 100.1, the OECD described the climate as one of "stable growth momentum". It said likewise for Japan, with an index that remained at 100.0.
Among the large euro zone economies, the OECD said growth momentum was stable in Germany and Italy, while it singled out France, saying its index of 100.7 signalled "firming growth" even though 100.7 was an unchanged reading. (Reporting by Brian Love; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | PARIS, Sept 8- China's economy is losing steam and other big emerging market economies such as Brazil and Russia are also showing signs of weakness, the Paris- based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said on Tuesday. While growth in the euro zone looks stable, it seems to be tapering in the U.S., UK and Canadian economies, albeit from relatively... | 5.042857 | 0.957143 | 21.128571 | low | high | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/all-that-cast-reunites-new-york-comic-con-saturday-night-live | http://web.archive.org/web/20151012200527id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/all-that-cast-reunites-new-york-comic-con-saturday-night-live | All That Cast Reunites at New York Comic Con and Saturday Night Live : People.com | 20151012200527 | Kel Mitchell, Lori Beth Denberg, Danny Tamberelli and Josh Server at New York Comic-Con 2015
10/11/2015 AT 06:05 PM EDT
Has New York Comic Con replaced the SNICK couch as the hottest '90s hangout spot?
Nickelodeon fans received a major blast from the past when former
cast members Kel Mitchell, Danny Tamberelli, Josh Server and Lori Beth Denberg met up at New York Comic Con on Saturday.
The fab four made a day of their hangout, moving from Comic Con in the afternoon to the
studio later in the day, where they met up with fellow
At Comic Con, the funny friends hammed it up in plenty of pictures before hosting a panel, during which they gave attendees a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the
aired from 1994 to 2005 and inspired several spinoffs, including
, which starred Amanda Bynes.
The Comic Con appearance was intended to promote Nickelodeon's new "The Splat," programming block featuring episodes of beloved classic TV series. The Splat starts every night at 10 p.m. (ET) on Teen Nick and includes six straight hours of shows like
, when they revisited Good Burger – home of the Good Burger – in a silly sketch with Jimmy Fallon on | Four cast members of the hit Nickelodeon show met up at New York Comic Con on Saturday | 13.941176 | 0.882353 | 5.352941 | low | medium | mixed |
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/23/after-qe-europe-still-has-a-lot-of-work-to-do.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151013080515id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/23/after-qe-europe-still-has-a-lot-of-work-to-do.html | After QE, Europe still has a lot of work to do | 20151013080515 | Jaime Caruana, General Manager at the Bank for International Settlements, told CNBC in Davos that monetary stimulus by the ECB needed to be complemented by reforms.
"The most important thing when we take a long-term perspective is that this (ECB stimulus) should be an incentive to do more reform in Europe and then there is a possibility that Europe starts to grow again," he said, adding weak oil prices also provide a favorable back drop for reforms.
In addition to last year's 50 percent tumble in oil prices, the euro is down about 14 percent in the past six months – providing euro zone exporters with a competitive edge abroad.
Others attending the WEF in Davos pointed to the progress some countries have made in restructuring their economies.
"(In Italy), labor reform is good and banking reform is going in the right direction," said Generali CIO Nikhil Srinivasan
"People who are skeptics of QE (quantitative easing) that say if there is QE there is no reform are wrong. If you want to create jobs in the euro zone you have to have reform. The Spanish have done it for the last two years and the jobless rate is falling," he added.
Spain's unemployment rate is still very high at just under 24 percent, but that is down from almost 27 percent in 2013. | European politicians hoping never to hear the words "structure reform" again following ECB bond-buying are about to get a shock. | 10.48 | 0.52 | 0.52 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/18/european-markets-to-open-lower-post-fed.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151013083515id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/18/european-markets-to-open-lower-post-fed.html | Grim day for European stocks, as FTSE 100 tanks on 'Fat finger' error; DAX, CAC tank | 20151013083515 | Oil prices suffered on Friday following the Fed's warning on the health of the global economy. Brent crude and WTI crude oil were both down well over $1 around the close of European markets, hitting energy stocks.
Insurance stocks were among the worst performers on Friday after the Fed's decision. Insurance companies benefit from higher interest rates because it means they get higher yields on the government bonds they invest in.
Dutch life insurance company Aegon closed near the bottom of indices, down more than 6 percent. Britain's Aviva and Prudential both finished more than 2.5 percent lower.
Banking stocks - another sector that benefits from higher interest rates - also took a hit on Friday. Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas were among the worst affected, both closing more than 4.5 percent lower. Italian and Swiss lenders, including Credit Suisse and Intesa Sanpaolo, also closed sharply in negative territory.
Auto stocks were also lower after the Fed's dovish tone. The worst hit included France's Renault, down 4.2 percent, and German carmaker Daimler, down 4.3 percent.
Gold rose to a near three-week high, gaining around 0.5 percent to trade at $1,137, boosting mining stocks.
Asian shares were mixed on Friday, but Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled on the back of renewed strength in the yen.
The Nikkei index on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the broader Topix index were among the hardest-hit in Asia, down 2 percent ahead of an extended weekend. Markets in Japan will be shuttered until next Wednesday. | European markets suffered a tumultuous day on Friday, after the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates fanned investor worries. | 12.826087 | 0.652174 | 1.26087 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/sep/13/booker-prize-bbc-culture-nostalgia | http://web.archive.org/web/20151013090306id_/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/sep/13/booker-prize-bbc-culture-nostalgia | From the Booker to the BBC: why our culture is escaping into the past | 20151013090306 | It should come as no surprise that the six novels shortlisted for the Booker Prize are all in different ways rooted in the past (the hot favourite is Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, which conjures up the court of Henry VIII). To judge from almost any aspect of our culture, history is where we currently feel most comfortable. It is not just "literary" writing that reflects this trend – the fiction bestseller list is topped by Philippa Gregory's The White Queen (what is it with the Tudors?) and contains, among other time travels, two novels set in ancient Rome.
Writers have always mined the past for stories that will illuminate the present, but the current appetite for historical fiction, and historical drama and anniversary-based TV and journalism, seems like something different – a flight from the here and now. (The future, of course, has for a little while been something we would rather not think about, or hoped might go away.)
There was a time when British novels did what they said on the tin. They were, in Ezra Pound's definition of literature, "news that stayed news"; they took on the present and found new ways to understand it (this is still what the best American novelists, by and large, attempt – it is hard to imagine Richard Ford or Jonathan Franzen, to take two examples, having too much to say about the Pilgrim Fathers or Abraham Lincoln).
For a while now, though, the detail of the British present, the texture of society, has seemed too unwieldy and dislocated for writers and dramatists to get a grip on it (except in the partial views of crime stories or chick lit), too mired in class, caricature and cliché. When a major writer does attempt it in a serious way – Ian McEwan in Saturday, for example – his book is widely disparaged as not up to the period-costume heights of Atonement. Looking back over the past decade of Booker shortlists – a decade in which Britain has been engaged in two major wars and a financial meltdown and has undergone the biggest growth in inequality since Victorian times – there is not a single book that has had any use for the words "Iraq", or "hedge fund" or "Blair" or "Asbo" (let alone "Tesco", "Premiership" or "chatroom"). Imagine trying to explain that to George Eliot or Charles Dickens.
James Kelman, a former Booker winner, had some of this in mind, no doubt, when he pursued his intemperate line at the Edinburgh Book Festival about Scottish writing being sold as a kind of heritage industry, the home of "books about some upper middle-class young magician or some crap". And this inclination to escape the present is endemic. The cult of retro, of inhabiting any other decade but our own, is everywhere (how else could we contemplate the vagaries of the current recession without the comfort blanket of restyled wartime thrift, complete with Keep Calm memorabilia and Dad's Army graphics)?
I sat through some of the BBC's latest Beatles-fest last week with a sense of curious disbelief. I was, for a start, no longer sure which anniversary this excuse to raid the archives represented – 30 years since the death of John? Forty since the destructive arrival of Yoko? Fifty since Paul strummed his first chords? George Martin and the rest have become doomy Ancient Mariners fated forever to retell the tale of the discovery of the four boys in their underground Cavern every time there is a feasible "peg" and a TV researcher in the vicinity. And there is always a "peg" and a TV researcher.
Is there really anyone on the planet with a flicker of interest in this tale who does not know it by heart? Perhaps it is a source of solace to hear it again every year, like the Queen's Speech. In due course, we are no doubt about to celebrate another Monty Python anniversary (it being at least a year since the last) and you can bet that we will soon be revisiting the 1966 World Cup and the emergence of punk. Isn't anything happening now?
In Julian Barnes's prophetic novel England, England (which failed to win the Booker in 1998), he imagined a future that was all about the past. In a coup for the tourist board, the highlights of English cultural history have been reconfigured on the Isle of Wight, a one-stop venue containing "in a single 155-square mile zone, everything the visitor might want to see of what we used to think of as England". This blessed plot included thatched cottages and Big Ben; the graves of Shakespeare and Princess Di; Stonehenge, Robin Hood and his Merry Men; London taxis; the National Gallery; Brontë Country; Henry VIII and his wives (naturally); Dr Johnson and his dictionary; marmalade; mazes; Sherlock Holmes; Nell Gwyn; the Beatles and the royal family (in person). Ten years on, you could be forgiven for believing this place has now come to pass in the TV schedules – those endless nostalgia evenings in which some stand-up comedian recalls his first Chopper bicycle and packet of Spangles, or the latest Andrew Davies attempt to sex up Victoriana – and in the bestseller lists.
English Heritage was the invention of the Thatcher government, high on bunting and patriotism and announced in the "Falklands election" of 1983. It replaced the old Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission with something a bit more puffed up and PR-friendly to the tourist industry. It sought to remind us of all we had achieved – the stately homes built with the wealth of the empire and the slave trade and so on – in the hope that the British might be inspired to revisit those imperial glories (at least within the realm of the financial services industry).
English Heritage was meant to represent a break with the 50s and 60s, when the drive had been to dismantle symbols of the establishment, put faith in the young; to demolish some of the old and to make the world new. After 1983, the here and now was to be viewed with suspicion.
The reconstituted urge for preservation, which neatly allowed Thatcher to pay her dues to the landed wing of her party while consigning industrial tradition to heritage sites, has lately reached a kind of high-water mark. The latest impetus is not only to create a heritage trail in every high street, but to rebuild monuments that were destroyed by previous generations. Thus the vocal campaign to resurrect the Euston Arch, the neo-classical edifice that was destroyed for the brutalist station back in the 60s. Or, more bizarrely, the likely decision to create a replica of the Skylon – that hopeful symbol of a nation's hi-tech future, built in 1951 for the Festival of Britain – at the Olympics venue in east London. Might there be an irony in rehashing a 60-year-old vision of what the future might represent (one that humourists of the time prophetically likened to the British economy as "having no visible means of support")? If so, it is lost on the organising committee of the Games.
These initiatives are footnotes to the symbolic emptiness of the Dome, now home to pop bands of previous eras: official admissions that when we look at the present as a culture we seem to have little to say, and as a consequence have no coherent imagination of how the future might look at all. With this in mind, it was perhaps no surprise that the political response to the financial crisis was not to think how society might be rebuilt on different foundations, but to try to put it back together exactly as it looked before.
Does this disinclination to provide telling depictions of the here and now of how people live in Britain really matter? It does to the extent that an obsession with the past could be seen to go hand in hand with a loss of faith in the young, who have been insistently trivialised by two generations nostalgic for their own youth.
The government launched a strategy this summer called Backing Young Britain, a desperate sort of job creation scheme – "give a graduate an internship, (please!)" – but there is little evidence that Young Britain feels anything other than overlooked and under-cared for by a generation that has often been more engaged with where it came from than where it is going, and whose best efforts at recycling have been cultural rather than environmental. The most recent attitude survey of 25,000 undergraduates for the Future Leaders organisation suggested that while more than three-quarters believed society "needed to change radically" if humanity was even to survive the next century, only 16% had any faith in politicians to effect that change.
With the future apparently felt to be so bleak, it is perhaps no surprise that we prefer to relive the past. But that escapism has consequences. Three years ago the Department of Culture, Media and Sport launched an initiative called History Matters. No one would disagree, but the present is where we live.
Key text: Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
Major players: Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyn, David Starkey
How we relive it: Political backstabbing, dysfunctional families, lavish expenses, obesity
Key texts: Endless versions of Pride and Prejudice
Major players: Jane Austen, Bridget Jones, Emma Thompson
How we relive it: Chick lit, Location, Location, Location
Fashion statement: World of Interiors
Key texts: Desperate Romantics (BBC2), The Quickening Maze, by Adam Foulds
Major players: John Clare, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Lizzie Siddal
How we relive it: Self- obsession, bed-hopping, panic attacks, drugs
Key text: The Little Stranger, by Sarah Waters
How we relive it: Thrift, allotments, financial ruin
Key texts: Life on Mars (BBC),
The Damned Utd, by David Peace
How we relive it: Fuel cuts, football hooligans, eternal adolescence | Historical novels dominate the Booker prize shortlist, old buildings are back in vogue and you simply can't avoid the Beatles revival. In all fields of the arts, we now feel more comfortable when turn our backs on the present | 45.325581 | 0.744186 | 1.302326 | high | low | abstractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/26/us-can-help-homeowners-manage-risk-hud-secretary.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151013090859id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/26/us-can-help-homeowners-manage-risk-hud-secretary.html | US can help homeowners manage risk: HUD secretary | 20151013090859 | The government can bring more Americans into the housing market while managing risks that contributed to the country's housing and financial crisis, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development told CNBC.
The Federal Housing Administration lowered its insurance premiums by half a percentage point on Monday. The move follows Fannie Mae's decision to back loans for which borrowers have made low 3 percent down payments.
While the new FHA policy lowers a financial hurdle for first-time homebuyers, the government has also introduced a series of safeguards, Julian Castro told "Squawk Box" on Monday. Those include a credit score floor of 500 and a mandatory 10 percent down payment for borrowers with suboptimal credit scores.
"These safeguards that are in place are making sure that we don't slide back to where we were when the housing crisis came upon us," he said. "At the same time we also don't want to be at the other extreme, where nobody can get credit."
He further noted that the announcement today is not about who qualifies for a home loan, but making loans more affordable for those who would have qualified prior to the change in policy.
Under the new policy, the average homeowner with a $200,000 loan can expect to save $84 a month. Asked whether that is enough to get first-time homebuyers off the fence, he said it helps and that it is part of a confluence of currents, including low mortgage rates and gas prices and moderating home prices. | The government can help homeowners while also managing risks that contributed to the country's housing crisis, Julian Castro told CNBC. | 12.521739 | 0.913043 | 4.73913 | low | medium | mixed |
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/John-Harbaugh-on-parting-between-brother-and-6570402.php | http://web.archive.org/web/20151015135537id_/http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/John-Harbaugh-on-parting-between-brother-and-6570402.php | John Harbaugh on parting between brother and 49ers: ‘Hey, life moves on’ | 20151015135537 | Photo: Patrick Semansky / Associated Press
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (left) speaks with his brother, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, on the sideline in the second half of the Wolverines’ 28-0 win at Maryland on Oct. 3.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (left) speaks with his brother, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, on the sideline in the second half of the Wolverines’ 28-0 win at Maryland on Oct. 3.
John Harbaugh on parting between brother and 49ers: ‘Hey, life moves on’
Of course, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was ready for it.
“I knew it would be a question,” he said this morning on a conference call. “It’s a good question. Fair question.”
The question: Will Harbaugh have any extra motivation to beat the 49ers on Sunday given the team’s parting with his younger brother, Jim, after the 2014 season?
Harbaugh insisted he was too focused on his 1-4 team getting a win to consume himself with a peripheral issue.
“There’s just too much to worry about,” Harbaugh said. “And too much to prepare for, and too many things that we’re dealing with to even deal with that stuff. That really is very much irrelevant to what we’re trying to accomplish. We’ve got our hands full with what we’re trying to do as a football team right now to even think about that stuff.”
Harbaugh obviously wants to downplay the dynamic. And Jim is doing a fair job getting in the last word on the parting given his start at the University of Michigan. The Wolverines, who went 5-7 last year, are 5-1, ranked No. 12 and have overwhelmed their last three opponents, 97-0. That three-game stretch includes wins over two ranked teams and John Harbaugh admits he didn’t expect Michigan to bury then-No. 13 Northwestern, 38-0, on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the 49ers, who went 44-19-1 under Harbaugh, are 1-4 and enter Sunday’s meeting on a four-game losing streak.
Harbaugh was more interested in discussing Michigan - he attended the Wolverines 28-0 win at Maryland on Oct. 3 - than his brother’s old job.
“Hey, life moves on,” Harbaugh said. “I’ve said this before, many times: Jim loved his time there, loved the players, loved the fans, loved being a 49er. They had four great years and everyone moves on to the next thing in life. I think once you realize all that - it’s bigger than worrying about anything besides that. That’s how he feels about it. He’s great about it. If he’s great about it, I feel great about it for him. Other than that, I’m not involved in that at all and never was.”
In late December, when it was evident Jim Harbaugh’s four-season run with the 49ers was nearing its end, John Harbaugh was asked about the imminent divorce.
“I think they had a great coach there for the last four years, and they were blessed and fortunate to have him,” he said at the time. “I know the fans realize that and the players realize that, and that's really what counts." | John Harbaugh on parting between brother and 49ers: ‘Hey, life moves on’ [...] Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was ready for it. Will Harbaugh have any extra motivation to beat the 49ers on Sunday given the team’s parting with his younger brother, Jim, after the 2014 season? [...] Jim is doing a fair job getting in the last word on the parting given his start at the University of Michigan. [...] the 49ers, who went 44-19-1 under Harbaugh, are 1-4 and enter Sunday’s meeting on a four-game losing streak. Harbaugh was more interested in discussing Michigan - he attended the Wolverines 28-0 win at Maryland on Oct. 3 - than his brother’s old job. In late December, when it was evident Jim Harbaugh’s four-season run with the 49ers was nearing its end, John Harbaugh was asked about the imminent divorce. | 3.590164 | 0.918033 | 24.371585 | low | medium | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/johnny-depp-oscars-i-dont-want-win-one-ever | http://web.archive.org/web/20151015202654id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/johnny-depp-oscars-i-dont-want-win-one-ever | Johnny Depp on the Oscars: 'I Don't Want to Win One of Those Things Ever' | 20151015202654 | 10/13/2015 AT 12:55 AM EDT
It's not uncommon for actors to publicly downplay their Oscar hopes, but
is taking things a step further.
"I don't want to win one of those things ever, you know?" he told
at the London Film Festival Sunday night.
After receiving Oscar buzz for his role as White Bulger in
, Depp explained that he doesn't want to win because, "I don't want to have to talk."
He added, "They gave me one of those things, like a nomination, two or three times. A nomination is plenty."
Depp's had three Oscar nominations for his roles in
"The idea of winning means that you're in competition with someone and I'm not in competition with anybody," he explained.
"I just stick to my guns and do what I want to do. Sometimes people don't like it but that's alright."
The actor also addressed critics who have called his performance in
"What did I come back from? The dead" he said with a laugh. "I haven't done anything different in this than I have in any other film."
The official list of Academy Award nominees will be revealed in January. | "The idea of winning means that you're in competition with someone and I'm not in competition with anybody," Depp said at the London Film Festival | 8.3 | 1 | 18.533333 | low | high | extractive |
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/mar/03/ruin-lust-tate-britain-review-art-building/amp | http://web.archive.org/web/20151015203934id_/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/mar/03/ruin-lust-tate-britain-review-art-building/amp | Ruin Lust at Tate Britain review - 'a brilliant but bonkers exhibition' | 20151015203934 | When the visionary architect Sir John Soane built the Bank of England he commissioned an artist to picture it as it might look hundreds of years in the future when time had laid it waste. Joseph Michael Gandy's 1830 drawing of this fantastic labyrinth of broken columns and honeycombs of brick is a bizarre testimony to the seduction of ruins. Soane's architectural style was inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, and what he most wanted was to see his own building ruined like the temples of the ancient world.
The pleasure the human mind takes in ruins is not easy to explain. It has something to do with time. In JMW Turner's sketches of decayed abbeys that come like Soane's broodings from the Romantic age, the artist lingers over the details of each crumbly, broken stone. Looking at his studies you get a powerful sense of the time he spent on them and the escape from daily care this involved. A ruin, in other words, is a time machine that releases the mind to wander in nooks and crannies of lost ages – and ages to come. That is why John Constable finds the ruins of Hadleigh Castle so grimly consoling in his painting of this medieval heap quietly decaying, the wars and oppressions it once embodied long forgotten.
Ruin Lust at Tate Britain is a clever essay of an exhibition, which makes such a brilliant argument that it doesn't matter if some of its claims are nonsense. It juxtaposes the mental wanderings of the Romantic age with modern meanderings like Jane and Louise Wilson's photographs of decayed concrete Nazi bunkers in Normandy to uneasy, thought-provoking effect. Yet it takes the idea of what it calls a "lust" for ruins to teasing extremes. Is it really true, as the exhibition claims, that when John Piper painted buildings destroyed by bombing in the second world war he was taking delight in these new ruins? Surely he was mourning the lost churches.
In reality the rich thoughts inspired by ruins go beyond pleasure, let alone "lust" – artists who linger over broken stones may be pondering mortality and coming to terms with grief, and generally having emotions for which "lust" is a completely misleading word.
Leon Kossoff's painting Demolition of the Old House, Dalston Junction, Summer 1974 churns mixed feelings into tangles of colour. Little men clamber through a morass of thick paint, pulling apart a building that seems as vast as Soane's ruined Bank of England. Who lived in this "Old House"? What stories are being consigned to oblivion as it is dismantled? In Rachel Whiteread's photographs of a London tower block being blown up, those same questions hang suspended in a cloud of silvery dust.
So many things vanish. Yet ruins remain in the landscape, reassuring the mind that death might not be the end. Is it "lust" to linger in those places? The joy this exhibition insists on may in reality be more of a sweet sorrow. Sometimes, though, a bold idea opens doors – even when it's a bit bonkers. | This show of artists' obsessions with broken stones, Nazi bunkers and decaying castles is bold and clever. But its name is misleading – the 'lust' Tate insists on is actually sweet sorrow, writes Jonathan Jones | 14.219512 | 0.707317 | 0.902439 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/10/13/cardinals-manager-matheny-trying-mlb-approved-ipad-dugout/tWnFU76B9XoDpFipRIoi1O/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151016014128id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/business/2015/10/13/cardinals-manager-matheny-trying-mlb-approved-ipad-dugout/tWnFU76B9XoDpFipRIoi1O/story.html | Cardinals manager Matheny trying MLB-approved iPad in dugout | 20151016014128 | CHICAGO – When St. Louis manager Mike Matheny has to make a pivotal decision in the playoffs, he can pull a scouting report from his pocket. He can ask a coach to look at notes the Cardinals brought to the bench.
Or he can go to an iPad.
Matheny is one of the first managers to take advantage of a decision by Major League Baseball to allow the computer tablets in the dugout.
The experiment started with a month left in the season, and could lead to the end of the thick binders that have grown more popular with the overflow of data in the sport.
“We haven’t really figured out how to truly maximize having that technology in there, but we’re always open to figuring out a way to see if there is something we can gain, so we have all the data loaded and available to us,” Matheny said.
“Usually the majority of what we need, we already have kind of on paper anyhow, but we just don’t want to get caught not being open to where we could get better,” he said.
Matheny and the Cardinals trail the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in the NL Division Series, with Game 4 Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
It’s unclear exactly who is using the iPads just yet, but the option has sparked conversation in the ultra-competitive fraternity of managers. Joe Maddon is one of the most innovative skippers in baseball, but he said he is sticking to his usual habits for now.
“I’m trying to figure out why it would be advantageous,” said Maddon, who led the Cubs to a wild-card spot in his first year in Chicago and keeps a personalized lineup card with him during games.
“Everything in the dugout has to be dugout-friendly and pretty much instantaneous. You know that little thing I keep in my back pocket? That’s like instant iPad.”
Allowing iPads in the dugout was discussed within the sport for much of the year before MLB issued a memo outlining the parameters for the new program. It also offered training sessions to major league personnel.
The pre-loaded iPads cannot be used with wireless networks, preventing teams from using them for communication. They also come in a protective case, eliminating the possibility of doctoring the device.
“I think in general the clubs that have utilized it like it and feel like they’re able to get information perhaps quicker than going through notebooks,” MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said, “and obviously it’s easier to use. It’s all pre-loaded and ready to go.”
The decision also strengthens the connection between MLB and Apple, a key relationship for the league. An executive from Major League Baseball Advanced Media was one of the speakers at a special event for the Cupertino, California-based company last month, highlighting an app for watching major league games on Apple TV.
“You can imagine what it’s going to look like in the dugout five years from now. You probably won’t see too many binders, I would imagine,” said Theo Epstein, the president of baseball operations for the Cubs. “It’s just a nice step by MLB to help teams go in that direction and involve a good sponsor.”
It remains to be seen how far the league is willing to go with the tablets in the dugout, but one of the most intriguing possibilities is video.
Instead of pinch hitters rushing back to the clubhouse to check out a reliever, they could stay on the bench while they take a closer look at the new pitcher.
Matheny also thinks the iPads might be able to help speed up the replay system.
“If there’s something that is good for the game as a whole and for our fans and pace of play, maybe something that they’ll look into,” he said. “But right now we just use it as a tool for — so we don’t have a full binder out there.
“We’ll take some of the things that we don’t necessarily need right in front of us on the cards, but we might go address. We’ll keep it on the iPad and we can go over and grab it,” he said. | Matheny is one of the first managers to take advantage of MLB’s approval of tablets in the dugout. | 41.35 | 0.95 | 7.45 | high | high | mixed |
http://www.people.com/article/blackish-halloween-michael-strahan-guest-stars-anthony-anderson | http://web.archive.org/web/20151017044037id_/http://www.people.com/article/blackish-halloween-michael-strahan-guest-stars-anthony-anderson | Michael Strahan Guest-Stars : People.com | 20151017044037 | Michael Strahan and the cast of black-ish
10/16/2015 AT 09:00 AM EDT
is surprising the Johnson family with visit on Halloween – and PEOPLE has an exclusive First Look.
In the Halloween-themed episode of
co-host plays June Bug, Andre "Dre" Johnson's (
) cousin. Surprising Dre on one of his favorite holidays, June Bug arrives dressed as "In Da Club" 50 Cent.
Michael Strahan and the cast of black-ish
Dre and June Bug definitely have a rough history. According to an ABC description, June Bug used to torment Dre when they were little. And based on the photos, it seems as though not much has changed in the intervening years.
Michael Strahan (as June Bug) and Anthony Anderson (as Dre) on black-ish
The Johnson children probably aren't having much fun either, as they too receive visits from their cousins, who like to roughhouse. Dre insists on the cousins spending time together because he thinks his children – unlike him – need to toughen up.
Looks like this year will be more trick than treat for Dre.
airs Wednesdays (9:30 p.m. ET), with the Halloween episode arriving on Oct. 28 on ABC. | Meanwhile, Dre (Anthony Anderson) and the family are dressed as the Obamas – Bo included | 13.388889 | 0.777778 | 1.111111 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.people.com/article/family-of-5-dies-after-crashing-arizona-lake | http://web.archive.org/web/20151020135927id_/http://www.people.com/article/family-of-5-dies-after-crashing-arizona-lake | Family of 5 Dies After Crashing into Arizona Lake | 20151020135927 | 10/19/2015 AT 11:40 AM EDT
A family of five, including three children, died Sunday after crashing into an Arizona lake, PEOPLE confirms.
Witnesses saw the SUV crash into Tempe Town Lake at around 12:15 a.m., the
reports. "Officers got on scene pretty quick," Tempe police spokesman Michael Pooley said. "When they got on scene, three jumped into the water immediately. One of the fishermen [who saw the car crash into the lake] also jumped into the water."
Together, they were able to pull 1-year-old Zariyah Baxter and 2-year-old Nazyiah Baxter from the car. They then got the children's parents, Glenn Edward Baxter, 27, and Danica Baxter, 25. All four were taken to a nearby hospital immediately, where the parents and Zariyah were pronounced dead.
Nazyiah was initially hospitalized in critical condition, but later died from his injuries.
Police divers were able to locate the Baxters' third child, 3-year-old Reighn Baxter, later in the day. He was strapped to a car seat, still in the car – officials had not seen him when they first went into the lake to try to rescue the family.
Investigators do not know what caused the crash, though they are awaiting the results of toxicology tests on Glenn Baxter's body. Police said he was allegedly driving the car when it went into the water.
"It's just a horrific scene, a horrific incident," Pooley told reporters, according to
. "These are the types of things our officers are going to carry with them for some time."
He added: "There's no way you can't feel anything but heartbreak when you hear this. These are three little kids completely innocent with no way to save themselves."
The investigation is ongoing. Pooley did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. | The investigation into the incident is ongoing, police tell PEOPLE | 33.363636 | 0.909091 | 1.454545 | medium | medium | abstractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2014/09/17/this-app-promises-to-keep-your-pictures-safe-from-hackers.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151024211746id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2014/09/17/this-app-promises-to-keep-your-pictures-safe-from-hackers.html | This app promises to keep your pictures safe from hackers | 20151024211746 | Read MoreCramer's cybersecurity stock play
To solve this problem Seecrypt architected a secure platform that does two things: It authenticates end-points, so somebody can't spoof being you, and it encrypts every message with a new key that is wrapped in a double layer of cryptographic protection, Boulter said.
Seecrypt, whose technology was originally developed for military use, also allows users to make voice calls over a VoIP connection. And in a few weeks, the company plans to roll-out secure conference calling as well as enable its users to send secure videos in messages.
The app is free to download and is $3 a month for premium services.
The app is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play, Blackberry World and Microsoft Market Place. | If the recent celebrity iPhone hacks have you on edge about your own privacy, then you may want to try this app. | 6.208333 | 0.375 | 0.375 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.people.com/article/leah-remini-talks-scientology-on-2020 | http://web.archive.org/web/20151026221929id_/http://www.people.com/article/leah-remini-talks-scientology-on-2020 | Leah Remini Talks Scientology, Losing Touch With Reality : People.com | 20151026221929 | 10/26/2015 AT 01:25 PM EDT
interview about her new tell-all
– the actress opened up about the
with Scientology in 2013 after years of membership, told
that she wants people to get a look at what life is like as a member of the religion.
"The decision to leave is your giving up everything you've worked for your whole life," Remini, 45, said in the clip. "I feel that people need to understand this has been my whole life."
The star said she wants her fans to "understand how it happens."
"As time goes on, you start to lose touch with the real world. The mindset becomes us against them," Remini said.
The actress, who currently has her own reality series on TLC called
, hasn't been afraid to speak out against the church, which is the main subject of her book, due Nov. 3.
Remini has a 30-year association to Scientology and was initially brought into the religion by her mother.
"I don't think people know the amount of dedication it takes to be in this organization," she said during an
earlier this year. "It was every day, three and a half hours minimum, seven days a week usually."
The star's own youth in the church ("We went from a middle-class lifestyle [in Brooklyn] to living in a roach-infested motel with six other girls off a freeway in Clearwater," she
) was what pushed her to leave – she didn't want to subject her own daughter to the lifestyle.
"I decided I didn't want to raise my daughter in the church because from what I've experienced and what I saw, the church becomes your everything," she
Church International Spokesperson Karin Pouw told PEOPLE in a statement that Remini's claims are an effort to drum up attention for herself.
"It comes as no surprise that someone as self-absorbed as Leah Remini with an insatiable craving for attention would exploit her former faith as a publicity stunt by rewriting her history with it," Pouw said, "including omitting that she was participating in a program to remain a Scientologist by her own choice, as she was on the verge of being expelled for her ethical lapses."
interview will air Friday night at 10 p.m. on ABC. | "I want them to understand how it happens," Remini tells ABC News' Dan Harris in an upcoming interview | 21.045455 | 0.727273 | 1.454545 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.9news.com.au/world/2015/10/29/04/08/cairns-in-debt-amid-fixing-claims | http://web.archive.org/web/20151029103524id_/http://www.9news.com.au/world/2015/10/29/04/08/cairns-in-debt-amid-fixing-claims | Cairns in debt amid fixing claims | 20151029103524 | Chris Cairns's massive money troubles in the wake of match-fixing allegations have been made clear at his London trial.
The former New Zealand cricketing star's inability to pay bills, rent and child support were raised in a police interview recording played at the Southwark Crown Court trial on Wednesday.
In the 2014 interview with British officers, Cairns also spoke of "conspiracy theories" and described how he had been "f***ed over".
In the audio, the police told Cairns his former teammate Lou Vincent, as well as Vincent's ex-wife, had claimed he was involved in fixing.
Cairns appeared exasperated as he questioned whether the allegations that had been circulating were based on those accounts.
"Do you know how much shit I'm in financially? I can't pay my bills, I have got rent backed up for two months," he told the officers.
"Why didn't someone speak to me when it broke? If you wanted clarity, I will give you clarity.
"Seriously, these are the accusations? This is why I can't get money. This is why I can't make a living. This is it?"
When the police revealed that Brendon McCullum had also accused him, Cairns appeared to grow increasingly distressed.
He told officers he might have discussed the topic of fixing with McCullum, but not in the context of trying to get him to do it.
"Brendon is misconstruing the fact that we're discussing theories," Cairns told police.
Asked why people would be making such claims about him, Cairns said he didn't "want to seem like a whack job" or "get into conspiracy theories".
"People have f***ed me over," he said.
A recording of an interview with Cairns's co-defendant, barrister Andrew Fitch-Holland, also in 2014, was also played to the court and detailed Cairns's finances.
Fitch-Holland told officers Cairns had struggled to pay child support, to the point that Fitch-Holland had questioned the cricketer's decision to start another family with his new wife.
"Chris has struggled financially over the last few years," Fitch-Holland told police.
With reference to Cairns's 2012 libel case against former Indian Premier League chairman
Lalit Modi, Fitch-Holland agreed "the money would have helped bail him out", but said what Cairns had really wanted was an apology.
Cairns faces a charge of perjury in relation to the libel trial, in which he stated that he "never, ever cheated at cricket".
He also faces a joint charge with Fitch-Holland of perverting the course of justice by allegedly trying to get Vincent to provide a false statement for the libel case. | Former cricketing great Chris Cairns told police that match-fixing allegations against him had left him in financial strife. | 25.714286 | 0.809524 | 1.571429 | medium | medium | mixed |
http://www.people.com/article/hillary-clinton-appearance-late-night-with-stephen-colbert | http://web.archive.org/web/20151029145713id_/http://www.people.com/article/hillary-clinton-appearance-late-night-with-stephen-colbert | Hillary Clinton Gets Flirty With Colbert : People.com | 20151029145713 | 10/28/2015 AT 12:10 AM EDT
made her first appearance on the
and the two got a little flirty when talking about the democratic presidential candidate's plan for the country.
While outlining her goals, Clinton referenced her husbands' years in the oval, prompting Colbert to ask if that means, "we get the 90s back."
"Do I have to wear parachute pants, slap bracelets?" he joked. "Are we going to have to get jiggy with it?"
Of course, a little flattery and flirtation never hurt anyone.
"You look good in parachute pants," Clinton said; to which Colbert quipped, "I have the hips for it."
After joking and teasing, the former Secretary of State got serious, noting that although she admires what her husband did in office she is not running to finish what he – on anyone else – started.
"We're not going back. I'm not running for my husband's third presidency, or Obama's third term," Clinton said. "I'm running for my first term."
Clinton expanded on her plans, adding that she wants to bring the middle class back to America and calling for the wealthy to pay more in taxes and a higher minimum wage, saying we need to "get back to making the economy work for everyone."
"We've got to get back to putting the middle class at the center of our politics," she said. "Cutting taxes doesn't create broad based prosperity, it creates inequality."
Clinton ended her appearance with more jokes as Colbert pulled out vintage pictures of the candidate, saying that her style would make for great Halloween costumes for anyone who wanted to scare their Republican friends.
"Dress up like Hillary Clinton and scare your Democratic friends," Clinton chimed in, laughing at herself and insisting no one told her photos would be supplied.
But, it was Colbert who had the last laugh, adding before the presidential hopeful left the stage, "Go dressed up any way they want but they have to stay for | Clinton relives the nineties on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert | 37.181818 | 0.545455 | 0.727273 | high | low | abstractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/10/29/state-lottery-must-innovate-the-last-big-idea-was/0lfHTkJtN2iCRxk9TBJb4I/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151031122753id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/10/29/state-lottery-must-innovate-the-last-big-idea-was/0lfHTkJtN2iCRxk9TBJb4I/story.html | State lottery must innovate. The last big idea was in 1993. | 20151031122753 | Our state lottery is a juggernaut, but the last true innovation took place in 1993, when the agency rolled out Keno.
We can’t afford to wait another two decades for the next big thing — and we already know what that is: Internet gaming.
I’m not suggesting that the lottery launch an app tomorrow, but with the explosive growth of fantasy sports websites like DraftKings, the future is here.
State Treasurer Deb Goldberg gets it, but nearly got her head taken off when she suggested earlier this month that the lottery, which she oversees, study the idea of offering online fantasy sports games.
Instead of backing down, she’s doubling down, and when the lottery commission meets Monday, it will begin its first discussions on putting lottery games online and expanding into games of skill such as fantasy sports.
Lawmakers in a state known for technology and public policy are falling behind in efforts to regulate fast-moving industries and innovations.
“The world is changing so quickly,” Goldberg said. “If we are complacent, we will ultimately be obsolete.”
Now let me remind everyone that we’ve been here before. Three years ago, her predecessor, Steve Grossman, saw how the Web and new interpretations of Internet gaming law could reshape the lottery business. He commissioned a study that concluded the “threat is imminent.”
That spurred a couple of bills in the Legislature, including one from the treasurer’s office, to create Web-based lottery games. They went nowhere.
But they’ve all been refiled, and State Senator Michael Rush introduced another one in January to allow the lottery to legalize online games of skills like fantasy sports and poker.
So we now have another shot at having a real debate on whether the lottery should get into the digital age. Being Massachusetts, there is going to be a Yankee aversion to expanding another form of gambling so soon after letting in casinos.
This isn’t about unbridled expansion. It’s about the lottery staying relevant.
The reality is this: The lottery’s core customers are aging — 40 years old and up. These patrons don’t mind driving to convenience stores, plunking down cash, and walking away with a wad of scratch tickets.
But that’s not how the millennials roll. These twenty- and thirtysomethings are digital natives who live on their smartphones. The idea of going somewhere to buy something with paper money is so 2002.
We can sit here and pretend that the lottery is just fine as is — the most successful in the country, the source of nearly $1 billion in aid to Massachusetts cities and towns last fiscal year. Or we can look ahead — and try to stay ahead.
Some lotteries have started to go digital. In 2012, Illinois became the first US lottery operator to sell tickets over the Internet. Today, about 315,000 people have downloaded the Illinois lottery’s app. In New York, customers can go online to place recurring orders on three games. The Michigan lottery, which went online last year, offers a batch of instant tickets and Keno games. About 168,000 players have already registered with accounts.
One of the big fears about online gaming is that it’s making it too easy for people to get into financial trouble with accounts linked to a credit card or bank. But states can set up safeguards. In Illinois, for example, there is a daily Internet purchase limit of $150 and a monthly maximum of $3,500. At registration, the Michigan lottery sets a weekly default limit of $500 that can be deposited into accounts.
Another concern is whether online sales would cannibalize the brick-and-mortar business of tickets sold through convenience stores and other retailers. Michigan thinks it can grow the market, and in the first year, online sales generated about $15 million in profit, a tiny fraction of the overall lottery’s take. The state projects that by 2022 or so, online sales will bring in, on average, an extra $60 million in profit a year. The proceeds from Michigan’s lottery go into a state school fund.
“There is zero indication that the online games have taken away sales from others,” said lottery spokesman Jeff Holyfield. “The indication is that it’s exactly the opposite.”
As for fantasy sports games, that seems to be newer territory for lotteries. Montana has offered a weekly game for years, but it can be played only at terminals at licensed gaming sites.
State Senator Jennifer Flanagan, the Leominster Democrat who is sponsoring a bill to let the lottery go online, called it a “responsible thing to do” as gaming evolves.
Still, she doesn’t see the state betting big right away. She, like the treasurer, has concerns about the impact on retailers who sell lottery tickets and wants to find a way to keep them involved. One idea is to sell prepaid cards at retailers, which customers would then go online to redeem.
“Starting small is responsible,” Flanagan told me.
I asked Treasurer Goldberg what she thought a modern lottery could look like in Massachusetts. She didn’t want to predict the future.
“This lottery is like none other in the world,” she said. “The way we move it forward will be different from anyone else.”
It’s OK to break the mold. The sooner the better.
Correction: An earlier version of this column misstated the time period for the $3,500 limit for online orders with the Illinois Lottery. It is one month. | Our state lottery can’t afford to wait another two decades for the next big thing – and we already know what that is: Internet gaming. | 38.642857 | 0.964286 | 10.678571 | high | high | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/khloe-kardashian-support-lamar-odom-emotionally-draining | http://web.archive.org/web/20151105041349id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/khloe-kardashian-support-lamar-odom-emotionally-draining | Visits to the ICU 'Emotionally Draining' : People.com | 20151105041349 | 11/02/2015 AT 09:00 PM EST
After weeks spent by his bedside,
is scaling back on her hospital visits to
"Since Lamar stabilized and moved from the ICU to the inpatient rehabilitation unit, Khloé has visited less," a source tells PEOPLE. "After being by his side 24/7 during his stay in the ICU, it's not strange that she is visiting less. Khloé has behaved like most people do."
Kardashian, 31, remained by Odom's side in the weeks after he was
in a Nevada brothel Oct. 13. The former NBA star is currently being treated at
"It's extremely emotionally draining to have a loved one in the ICU. She gave up her life to make sure that Lamar had everything that he needed," says the source. "Now when he is better, she is smart to allow herself a break."
proceedings as Odom, 35, recovers. The source says Kardashian's visits have helped improve Odom's spirits.
"Lamar continues to fight and does very well with his therapies," says the source. "He is making slow progress and sometimes is frustrated. Khloé always seem to cheer him up. She made
that Odom's kidneys are functioning properly and he is off dialysis.
"There is a very long road ahead of [Lamar]," Kardashian says in
. "He has to walk that road by himself, and, most importantly, he has to want to walk that road. I will be there supporting him every step of the way." | "After being by his side 24/7 during his stay in the ICU, it's not strange that she is visiting less," a source tells PEOPLE | 10.413793 | 1 | 19.482759 | low | high | extractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/11/03/globe-owner-launches-stat-national-health-and-life-sciences-news-site/jxObvL2S78o9qNWcvFq7lN/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151106204506id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/business/2015/11/03/globe-owner-launches-stat-national-health-and-life-sciences-news-site/jxObvL2S78o9qNWcvFq7lN/story.html | Globe owner launches STAT, a national health and life-sciences news site | 20151106204506 | Boston Globe owner John W. Henry on Wednesday will formally launch STAT, an online health and life-sciences publication that will cover stories across the country.
The site, Statnews.com, will focus on science research and development, as well as medicine, biotechnology, and political stories related to science. STAT is run independently from the Globe’s newsroom, though some of its stories will appear in the print version of the newspaper.
“Over the next 20 years, some of the most important stories in the world are going to emerge in the life-sciences arena,” Henry, who is also principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, said in a statement. The news outlet’s goal is to be “the country’s go-to news source for the life-sciences,” he said.
STAT is based in Boston, at the Globe’s headquarters, with additional reporters in New York, San Francisco, and Washington. It has plans to hire others in cities around the world, Henry said.
The venture is run by executive editor Rick Berke, a former assistant managing editor at the New York Times and executive editor at Politico, who is overseeing about 33 journalists, editors, and multimedia specialists, in addition to outside contributors.
Over the coming decades, many of the most important stories in the world will come out of life sciences.
“We view Boston as the epicenter of life-sciences, health, and medicine with the institutions and biotech companies here,’’ Berke said in an interview Tuesday.
The goal is to appeal to a wide range of readers nationally, from consumers to professionals in health and life-sciences, he said, with stories that focus in depth on science and discovery, health and patient issues, national politics, and the money trail in science and medicine.
He said the news site is meant to complement the Globe, rather than duplicating beat coverage in such areas as hospitals and biotechnology.
The site will be free to users initially, Berke said, and will probably adopt paid elements in the future. STAT will compete with science coverage at outlets such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Berke said, but has ambitions to reach readers nationally on a daily basis.
Rick Edmonds, media business analyst for the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., said the concept of creating news “verticals” that specialize in certain subjects is becoming more popular among media companies.
Some newspapers and magazines are asking, “Is there something we have editorial competence in that takes place in our back yard and might gather a sizeable audience if we did it well?” he said.
Edmonds said the STAT model is somewhat unusual because it is a separate enterprise from the Globe. However, other newspapers have topic-specific verticals, like the New York Times’s “Well” blog, designed to have an independent appearance.
Boston Globe Media Partners LLC previously launched Crux, a website dedicated to news on the Catholic Church. The Globe also runs BetaBoston, which covers technology.
More than 60 STAT stories have already run in the Globe as the site has ramped up. Going forward, certain STAT stories will still run in the print edition of the Globe, and Globe stories could be published on the STAT site, Berke said.
Henry, in a statement, said STAT was created as a separate company from the Globe on the belief that “a news organization can be most nimble when it is built organically for the digital age.”
But, he said, “STAT also benefits tremendously from being a sister publication to The Boston Globe, one of the most vital and respected news organizations in the country.” | The new online publication will focus on science research and development, as well as hospitals, biotechnology, and political stories related to science and medicine. | 25.714286 | 1 | 7.785714 | medium | high | mixed |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/11/03/google-express-sued-over-employee-contractor-distinction/ZODjC5g2nZphkSqMmeXnsI/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151106210745id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/business/2015/11/03/google-express-sued-over-employee-contractor-distinction/ZODjC5g2nZphkSqMmeXnsI/story.html | Google Express sued over employee-contractor distinction | 20151106210745 | A client represented by Boston lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan last week sued Google for allegedly misclassifying workers for its Google Express service as independent contractors.
Anna Coorey, a Haverhill resident who said she worked as a courier for Google Express for nearly a year, accused Google Inc. and the courier company Beavex Inc. of depriving her and other couriers of wages. It’s the latest of a string of lawsuits Liss-Riordan has filed against companies that use independent contractors to provide their services, including the car service Uber.
In her lawsuit filed Friday in Suffolk Superior Court, Coorey alleged she was “subject to control by Google,” which required her to wear a uniform with Google logos, work in four-hour shifts, assent to GPS monitoring, and follow Google-approved scripts when interacting with customers. Those factors chip away at her assigned status as an “independent” contractor, the case argues.
Coorey said in the suit that she and other drivers were paid a flat rate of $50 for each shift that didn’t vary depending on how far she drove or how many packages she delivered. She was responsible for paying for the upkeep on her own car.
“The employers are shifting the expenses of running a business onto the workers,” Liss-Riordan said.
Google and Beavex didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment. | A client represented by Boston class action lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan has sued Google for allegedly misclassifying workers for its Google Express service as independent contractors. | 9.321429 | 0.928571 | 9.857143 | low | medium | extractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/11/04/thursday-business-agenda/pOtyOpe9BXFrbc8QQJ37vJ/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151109105256id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/business/2015/11/04/thursday-business-agenda/pOtyOpe9BXFrbc8QQJ37vJ/story.html | Thursday’s business agenda | 20151109105256 | Woburn-based Skyworks Solutions Inc., Cambridge’s Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., Waltham’s PerkinElmer Inc., and Needham-based TripAdvisor Inc. (mascot above) are expected to release their quarterly earnings reports on Thursday.
Last week, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.76 percent from 3.79 percent the week before. New numbers will be released Thursday.
The Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce is organizing its 100th annual Achievement Breakfast and the keynote speaker is John Harthorne, founder and chief executive of startup accelerator MassChallenge. Thursday, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., Boston Marriott Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Ave., Newton. $50 for Chamber members, $60 for non-members.
The Quincy Center for Innovation is holding a startup showcase, which will feature Steve Papa, the founder of software company Endeca. Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m., Quincy Center for Innovation, 180 Old Colony Ave., Quincy. Free.
The Digital Revolution Conference, hosted by 451 Marketing, includes networking, workshops, and keynote speakers aimed at marketers. Lunch and afternoon cocktails are included. Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Space 57 at The Revere Hotel, 200 Stuart St., Boston. $275. | Earnings reports, breakfast, and more notable events and things to know. | 16.857143 | 0.642857 | 0.928571 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.people.com/article/jessa-duggar-seewald-ben-seewald-baby-portrait | http://web.archive.org/web/20151109210212id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/jessa-duggar-seewald-ben-seewald-baby-portrait | Jessa (Duggar) Seewald and Ben Seewald Share First Family Portrait with New Son : People.com | 20151109210212 | 11/06/2015 AT 11:55 PM EST
have unveiled the first family portrait with their newborn son on
The portrait features the beaming parents holding their son, who is swaddled in a blanket. TLC used the portrait in a message of congratulations the network aired Friday night.
PICTURE PROPERTY OF THESEEWALDFAMILY.COM, USED WITH PERMISSION
Baby Seewald was born Thursday evening, weighing 9 lbs. 11 oz. and 21 ½ inches long.
Jessa, 23, and Ben, 20,
 with PEOPLE exclusively Friday morning. The family posted more photos of their baby, including one of grandfather
holding his sixth grandchild, on their website,
The new parents are not quite ready to reveal the name they've chosen for their son, but they've received congratulations
, already mother to baby Israel, wrote on Instagram that she was "so excited for @jessaseewald and @ben_seewald."
The birth of the new baby will be a focal point in
's upcoming series of specials featuring Jessa and sister Jill's lives now. | The couple welcomed their newborn Thursday evening | 28 | 0.714286 | 1.285714 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.people.com/article/ellen-degeneres-celebrates-2000th-episode-jennifer-aniston-justin-timberlake | http://web.archive.org/web/20151112215754id_/http://www.people.com/article/ellen-degeneres-celebrates-2000th-episode-jennifer-aniston-justin-timberlake | Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates Show with Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Aniston : People.com | 20151112215754 | 11/12/2015 AT 11:05 AM EST
's A-list pals turned out to celebrate her milestone
"I'll tell you something, if someone had told me I was gonna make 2,000 shows, first of all, I would've asked for a lot more money," DeGeneres joked. "I would have said, 'You're crazy.' 2,000 is a lot."
DeGeneres was surprised by both
– who came bearing a welcome mat (the same one she gifted DeGeneres as her first-ever guest) – and the always-charming
, who was her second-ever guest.
"I think it's time to bring sexy back," said Aniston, 46, as Timberlake, 34, surprised DeGeneres on the set.
Both stars were proud of their ability to keep a secret from DeGeneres and shared a toast of tequila with the 57-year-old.
"I thought for sure you knew or you'd find out," Timberlake said of the surprise.
DeGeneres called the guests two of her "favorite people," to which Timberlake challenged her to "pick one."
"We have a lot of similarities," he joked of
Aniston. "We're both fun-loving women."
The comedian was also honored by the president and CCO of Warner Bros. Television Group, Peter Roth, who announced that for only the fourth time in the studio's history, a stage is being renamed in her honor.
From left: Ellen DeGeneres, Peter Roth, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Timberlake
Michael Rozman / Warner Bros
"I officially dedicate Stage 1, which forever more will be now known as The Ellen Stage," Roth said, presenting a misty-eyed DeGeneres with a new plaque.
The host was also visited by
a sparkling rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on a tuba to win money for her charities, the Purple Purse Initiative and Turnaround Arts.
Kerry Washington and Ellen DeGeneres
Michael Rozman / Warner Bros
Washington also brought DeGeneres some special Olivia Pope-style
wine glasses and a bottle of red, saying, "You really have changed the landscape of how we love each other in the world." | Kerry Washington also stopped by for a special musical performance | 43 | 0.7 | 1.1 | high | low | abstractive |
http://www.thepostgame.com/men-action/201511/meet-nfls-only-active-duty-serviceman-joe-cardona-navy-patriots | http://web.archive.org/web/20151113015155id_/http://www.thepostgame.com/men-action/201511/meet-nfls-only-active-duty-serviceman-joe-cardona-navy-patriots | Meet The NFL's Only Active-Duty Serviceman | 20151113015155 | Most Tuesdays are off days for the New England Patriots, but for Joe Cardona they're anything but. While his teammates rest, the team's long-snapper drives south to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he performs a 24-hour shift involving all manner of tasks: Answering phones, monitoring classrooms, overseeing mess hall meals, and making sure students get the academic guidance they need.
Cardona wakes up at 5 a.m. to arrive in time for his 8 a.m. shift. If he's lucky, he can snag a few hours of sleep at night. But then he's up again at five in the morning and off at eight, at which time he drives north to face a team practice with the Patriots.
This is the life of the NFL's only active-duty serviceman. A former Navy standout, Cardona has found a way to juggle the demands of two extremely taxing careers -- and at the same time, no less.
"Your body is tired, but when it comes down to it, I've got a job to do, Cardona told VICE Sports last month. "Just like anything else. If you're standing watch on a ship late at night, you still have to do your job the next day. I just show up, do my best, and be a professional not only in the Navy but as a long snapper."
Cardona is able to meet these challenges thanks to a confluence of favorable circumstances. One is his Naval Academy training, which taught the work ethic necessary to undertake such a difficult career path in the first place.
There's also the matter of the Navy's willingness to provide some accommodation for football. Cardona is lucky to be stationed so close to the Patriots' practice facilities, and to have an on-duty assignment that fits so well into the Patriots' practice and game schedules. Keep in mind, Cardona could be stationed many places -- he could be deployed, biding his time on a Naval craft, or working at any other Naval bases across the U.S. or around the world.
But even with all that, Cardona needed not only NFL-caliber talent, but a football coach who was willing to accommodate his unique situation. He found that in Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
The Patriots selected Cardona in the fifth round of the 2015 draft -- higher than most long-snappers typically go. Cardona had an impressive career with the Midshipmen, starting as the long-snapper all four years and never earning a bad snap to his record. But New England's interest in him may have more to do with Belichick's history than anything else.
Belichick, after all, is a big fan of the Navy and studies Naval history as a hobby. His father, Steve Belichick, was a veteran of the Navy who later went on to be the head coach of the Midshipman. Belichick's formative years were spent adoring Navy's football team.
He has maintained that fondness as Patriots' head coach, and there's good reason to think he had a soft spot for Cardona -- especially since the long-snapper could make meaningful contributions to the team.
So far, Belichick is pleased with what he's seen.
"I think Joe has done a real good job of [balancing his obligations]," Belichick said at a press conference Wednesday. "He's here when he can be here and when he's not here we know where he is."
Meanwhile, Cardona's job involves more than merely serving his time to both parties. As a rookie, Cardona is tasked with acclimating to the increased speed and strength of the professional game. His long-term NFL career is far from guaranteed, so his rookie season needs to demonstrate growth from start to finish.
According to Belichick, those markers of success are starting to come.
"I think he's done a good job of managing his time and working as hard as he can on the things he needs to improve on, which again, it's a big jump from what he did last year [at Navy] to what he's doing this year and the precision, the execution and the timing and so forth," Belichick said.
There's also a risk that a re-assignment -- or a deployment -- could interfere with Cardona's Patriots tenure, and possibly jeopardize his NFL career entirely. But that's a concern that's out of both his and the Patriots' hands.
In the meantime, Cardona is busy living two dreams at once -- serving the Navy and playing in the NFL. He won't complain about his fortune.
Bill Belichick, College Football, Football, Joe Cardona, Navy Midshipman, NCAAF, New England Patriots, NFL, Veteran's Day | Most Tuesdays are off days for the New England Patriots, but for Joe Cardona they're anything but. While his teammates rest, the team's long-snapper d... | 28.121212 | 0.939394 | 29.121212 | medium | medium | extractive |
http://fortune.com/2013/02/28/henry-kravis-environmentally-friendly-fracker/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20151121180149id_/http://fortune.com/2013/02/28/henry-kravis-environmentally-friendly-fracker/ | Henry Kravis: Environmentally-friendly fracker? | 20151121180149 | FORTUNE — Henry Kravis, co-founding CEO of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. KKR , says that his firm is focused on both shale gas investments and environmental issues — and doesn’t see any conflict between the two.
KKR has invested heavily in fracking, a natural gas and petroleum extraction technique that uses highly-pressurized liquid to create fractures in sedimentary rock layers (i.e., shale) that sometimes can be found more than one mile below the ground. Not only does KKR create and support exploration and drilling companies for both proven and unproven shale fields, but also invests in related service providers and even is developing housing for a fracking boomtown called Williston, North Dakota.
Fracking has revolutionized the U.S. energy sector, to the extent that many predict energy independence within the next decade. But some people also worry that the process creates dangerous chemical byproducts that could seep into local water tables. In fact, shale-heavy New York State still does not permit fracking within its borders — a moratorium that is unlikely to be lifted anytime soon.
Kravis acknowledges the concerns, but finds them to be mostly unfounded. Speaking this morning at the SuperReturns International conference in Berlin, Kravis said: “There will be some minor mishaps in that industry, but a large amount of study has gone into it and there is no proof yet that it’s something that’s going to hurt the water tables… The facts are that there has not been widespread pollution or widespread contamination, because this gets done so far below the water tables.”
What makes this issue a bit thorny for KKR is that the firm has spent the past seven years trying to establish its environmental bona fides. It was among the first private equity firms to formalize an ESG (environmental, social and governance) policy, and one year later worked hard to secure environmental group endorsements for its record-breaking buyout of Texas energy company TXU (a deal which, ironically, has suffered from fracking’s impact on natural gas prices). For KKR’s latest ESG report, go here.
“We didn’t focus on ESG nutl 2006, and it was a huge mistake as I look back on it,” Kravis said. “We now have a green portfolio program with 24 of our portfolio companies signed on… It helps the environment, and also helps the companies. The 16 U.S. companies using the program saved $644 million over the past two years, which means they are doing well by doing good.”
When asked what would happen to KKR’s fortunes if a fracking accident caused a broader crackdown on the process by U.S. regulators, Kravis suggested that the answer is portfolio diversification. “The first thing you need to differentiate is if you’re fracking on federal lands or on private lands,” he explained. “And then you make sure that you also have assets in multiple states, since regulation on this is more likely on the state level than on the federal level. And you also don’t put all of your money into fracking. Instead, you make it a part of a more diversified energy investment strategy.”
Sign up for Dan’s daily email newsletter on deals and deal-makers: GetTermSheet.com | KKR threads the needle on controversial environmental issue. | 68.333333 | 0.666667 | 0.666667 | high | low | abstractive |
http://www.people.com/article/celine-dion-tribute-to-paris-american-music-awards | http://web.archive.org/web/20151123111705id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/celine-dion-tribute-to-paris-american-music-awards | Céline Dion Will Perform a Tribute to the Victims of the Paris Attacks at the American Music Awards | 20151123111705 | 11/20/2015 AT 12:00 PM EST
will perform a special rendition of Édith Piaf's
in French at the American Music Awards on Sunday, as a tribute to those affected by the terrorist attacks in Paris.
"We felt it was important to show our solidarity in light of the recent events in Paris and all around the world," AMA producer Larry Klein said in a statement. "Céline's performance will help us express our feelings through song, when words do not suffice."
and host of the night,
will air live on Nov. 22 at 8:00pm ET on ABC. | "We felt it was important to show our solidarity in light of the recent events in Paris and all around the world," says a producer | 4.071429 | 0.964286 | 22.392857 | low | high | extractive |
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-looking-at-re-signing-McLeod-6653357.php | http://web.archive.org/web/20151125000729id_/http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-looking-at-re-signing-McLeod-6653357.php | 49ers looking at re-signing McLeod Bethel-Thompson as backup QB | 20151125000729 | Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
S.F. native McLeod Bethel- Thompson could return for another stint with the 49ers.
S.F. native McLeod Bethel- Thompson could return for another stint with the 49ers.
49ers looking at re-signing McLeod Bethel-Thompson as backup QB
With Colin Kaepernick preparing for shoulder surgery in Colorado, the 49ers are expected to bolster their quarterback corps by signing McLeod Bethel-Thompson to their practice squad, a league source said.
Bethel-Thompson, 27, who worked out for the team Monday, had stints with the 49ers in 2011 and 2013-14. During those previous stops, offensive coordinator Geep Chryst was the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach. Blaine Gabbert and Dylan Thompson, an undrafted rookie, are the only quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
Bethel-Thompson, who attended Balboa High in San Francisco, also has been with the Dolphins, Vikings and Patriots, but he has not thrown a pass in a regular-season game. He hasn’t been in the NFL since the Dolphins released him from their practice squad Sept. 9. In the preseason, Bethel-Thompson completed 21 of 34 passes for 244 yards with four interceptions and no touchdowns (43.9 passer rating).
In the 2014 preseason with the 49ers, Bethel-Thompson completed 11 of 18 passes for 113 yards and threw two interceptions (39.6 passer rating).
Meanwhile, Kaepernick will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder Tuesday morning in Vail, Colo., a source said. He is expected to be fully recovered in four to six months.
49ers’ fear realized: Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey sustained a torn ACL in the 29-13 loss in Seattle on Sunday, the team announced.
Dorsey had an MRI exam at Stanford on Monday that confirmed what head coach Jim Tomsula acknowledged was a possibility after the game. Dorsey was carted off the field after he sustained the non-contact injury on the Seahawks’ first play.
With Dorsey sidelined, first-round pick Arik Armstead had personal highs in snaps (46) and tackles (six). Armstead did well as a pass rusher, collecting a quarterback hit and four hurries, according to Pro Football Focus.
However, safety Eric Reid acknowledged the 49ers missed the run-stuffing ability of Dorsey, who missed the 2014 season with a torn biceps.
“It’s tough,” Reid said. “Glenn is the two-gap king. You can ask that guy to be in two gaps and he’ll handle both gaps. You can put emphasis somewhere else because you trust him to be there. So it definitely hurt us.”
Offensively challenged: The 49ers rank last in the NFL in points (139) and are on pace to score 222 points, which would be the fewest since the 2012 Chiefs (211).
It also would be the third-fewest points the 49ers have scored in a non-strike season since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. They scored 219 points in 1978 and 2007.
Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. | With Colin Kaepernick preparing for shoulder surgery in Colorado, the 49ers are expected to bolster their quarterback corps by signing McLeod Bethel-Thompson to their practice squad, a league source said. During those previous stops, offensive coordinator Geep Chryst was the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach. Bethel-Thompson, who attended Balboa High in San Francisco, also has been with the Dolphins, Vikings and Patriots, but he has not thrown a pass in a regular-season game. In the preseason, Bethel-Thompson completed 21 of 34 passes for 244 yards with four interceptions and no touchdowns (43.9 passer rating). In the 2014 preseason with the 49ers, Bethel-Thompson completed 11 of 18 passes for 113 yards and threw two interceptions (39.6 passer rating). [...] Kaepernick will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder Tuesday morning in Vail, Colo., a source said. Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey sustained a torn ACL in the 29-13 loss in Seattle on Sunday, the team announced. | 2.960396 | 0.950495 | 24.663366 | low | high | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/chrissy-teigen-tyra-banks-not-leaving-fablife-because-feud | http://web.archive.org/web/20151127031945id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/chrissy-teigen-tyra-banks-not-leaving-fablife-because-feud | Chrissy Teigen Says Tyra Banks Isn't Leaving FABLife Because of Her : People.com | 20151127031945 | Chrissy Teigen (left) and Tyra Banks
11/24/2015 AT 09:40 AM EST
There's no drama between these top models!
After rumors arose saying that
after just one season, Teigen took to Twitter to shut down the incorrect speculation.
"I dunno if you guys know how bosses work but if Tyra and I were fighting as hard as you're saying, I would be the one off the show," Teigen, 29,
Banks, 41, announced Friday that she is be
to focus on her makeup line.
I dunno if you guys know how bosses work but if Tyra and I were fighting as hard as you're saying, I would be the one off the show.
"I will be devoting more time to my new, growing cosmetics company, TYRA Beauty, which is expanding faster than anticipated, as well as overseeing my company's other entertainment ventures," she said in a statement. "I will, however, continue to support the growth and success of FABLife and greatly admire my fellow co-hosts and the talented production team behind the show."
A source revealed to PEOPLE that "the show wasn't what Tyra wanted," and that "she hopes it will be successful for the other cast members but she has to move on."
airs weekdays (check local listings). | "If Tyra and I were fighting as hard as you're saying, I would be the one off the show," the model says | 9.740741 | 0.925926 | 19.666667 | low | medium | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/adele-hot-new-bodyguard-twitter | http://web.archive.org/web/20151201034932id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/adele-hot-new-bodyguard-twitter | Adele's Hot New Bodyguard Peter Van der Veen : People.com | 20151201034932 | Adele and Peter Van der Veen
11/28/2015 AT 01:10 PM EST
Hello from the other side ... of
The man recently photographed protectively walking behind the "When We Were Young" singer, 27, has developed his own obsessive fan base overnight.
Adele's new bodyguard Peter Van der Veen is setting fire to the rain on Twitter, inspiring dozens of steamy posts with his shaved head, sharp style and sexy stare.
, Van der Veen was employed to provide extra protection for the songstress, who is increasing her public appearances to
If Van der Veen's face looks familiar (and not just from your dreams) you may recognize him from his years looking out for
, or his apparent 2005 beefy Mr. Europe bodybuilding win (probably the former).
Omfg Peter is Adele's bodyguard now...Adele ft. Gaga confirmed!!!! pic.twitter.com/YXZ32TfxGt
Whether this is your first time laying eyes upon on Van der Veen or a welcomed reunion, expect to see him a lot more, for the Internet has knighted him as their new hot dude idol.
Read just a sampling of Van der Veen's online praises below. | Peter Van der Veen could set fire to the rain, according to Twitter | 15.785714 | 0.785714 | 2.5 | medium | medium | mixed |
http://www.people.com/article/daisy-ridley-star-wars-force-awakens | http://web.archive.org/web/20151202224040id_/http://www.people.com/article/daisy-ridley-star-wars-force-awakens | Daisy Ridley Had 'Overwhelming Fear' on Shoot : People.com | 20151202224040 | Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
12/02/2015 AT 03:30 PM EST
did not give in to her fear playing new hero Rey in
. Fear, of course, is the path to the Dark Side.
"Because I hadn't made a film before, the whole thing was scary," Ridley says in PEOPLE's
special issue. "I had to get over the overwhelming fear of it. That was the hardest thing."
After all, the 23-year-old British actress went from a 15-second character in one episode of a little-seen PBS TV show,
, to a central character in the globally anticipated
Ridley has since been prominent in
and more. Fan speculation is rampant that her character, whom Ridley has described as "solitary" but "not a princess," is connected to the Skywalker family tree.
director J.J. Abrams has deliberately kept Rey's full name secret until the movie's Dec. 18 premiere.
What is known, as reported by
, is that Rey was abandoned by her family on the junkyard planet Jakku when she was only 5 years old. That's of course much different from Ridley's childhood.
Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
"I actually wanted to be a zookeeper when I was 5," she says. "I was somewhat naughty as a child. My parents found a performing-arts school, and it kept me really busy. I loved the drama classes."
Ridley will become a galactic star when the movie premieres on Dec. 18, and she's not afraid of that or what comes next. "I don't have a dream role after this," she says. "I'm just going to plod through life and see what comes my way." | The 23-year-old Brit has gone from a bit player in a little-seen PBS TV show to a central character in a globally anticipated sequel | 12.464286 | 0.821429 | 3.607143 | low | medium | mixed |
http://www.people.com/article/kris-jenner-corey-gamble-step-out-lunch-date | http://web.archive.org/web/20151203041213id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/kris-jenner-corey-gamble-step-out-lunch-date | Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble Step Out for Chic Lunch Date : People.com | 20151203041213 | Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble
M A N I K (NYC)/Splash News Online
11/30/2015 AT 04:30 PM EST
knows how to work a winter-chic look.
matriarch stepped out with her boyfriend Corey Gamble for lunch Sunday at Century City Mall in Los Angeles.
Jenner, 60, was decked out for the colder weather in a cozy sweater, leggings, lace-up booties and a floppy grey hat, while Gamble, 35, went more a more laid-back look in sweatpants, sneakers and a long-sleeved shirt.
Jenner and Gamble, who is a tour manager with Scooter Braun/SB Projects, have been dating for over a year. They first
in October 2014, after Jenner divorced
, spending time with Jenner's daughters and even
, 36, with her kids.
Gamble was by Jenner's side as she rang in her 60th birthday with a
earlier this month, and he also
"It's been so much fun just to see my mom happy,"
. "My mom has had such a hard year and I think it's been refreshing to see her have a good time."
"He's such a nice person," Kardashian West added. "She can connect with him and go to the movies with him, work out with him. It's the little things." | Kris Jenner has been dating tour manager Corey Gamble for over a year | 20.384615 | 1 | 2.384615 | medium | high | mixed |
http://www.cnbc.com/2014/02/28/team-buffett-stepping-into-the-light.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151205091325id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2014/02/28/team-buffett-stepping-into-the-light.html | Team Buffett stepping into the light | 20151205091325 | Everyone knows Warren Buffett, but three other people who have been making major decisions at Berkshire Hathaway have kept a low profile.
Todd Combs and Ted Weschler manage chunks of Berkshire's stock portfolio and Tracy Britt Cool is Buffett's "financial assistant."
Since being hired in the past four years, the trio, referred to by Buffett as the "Three Ts," have made virtually no public appearances. | Everyone knows Warren Buffett, but there are three other people making major decisions at Berkshire Hathaway who had kept a low profile. Until now. | 2.962963 | 0.814815 | 4 | low | medium | mixed |
http://fortune.com/2015/12/04/oil-market-2016/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20151206020017id_/http://fortune.com/2015/12/04/oil-market-2016/?xid=yahoo_fortune | Why Time is Running Out for the Oil Giants | 20151206020017 | Time may be almost up for America’s beleaguered and highly-leveraged energy industry.
Consolidation, hostile takeovers, bankruptcies, decreased production, MLP implosions, massive layoffs, and crashing asset prices are all on the agenda for 2016 now that Opec failed to agree to any meaningful production cuts at the oil cartel’s semi-annual meeting in Vienna on Friday. Talk of a possible cut in Saudi oil production yesterday turned out to be nothing more than a bullish fantasy. The Kingdom has neither the need nor the desire to cut its production and will continue with the so-called “lower for longer” strategy until it achieves its ultimate goal of securing oil’s future in the world energy mix.
It’s been over a year now since Saudi Arabia started flooding the international oil markets with cheap crude, sending oil prices crashing across the globe. Despite that, the US energy industry held up in 2015. The thanks most goes to Wall Street. Unlike in the 1980s, producers in the past decade or so have had access to an array of financing and hedging options designed to keep them pumping in times of trouble.
For example, many energy companies this time around hedged, or sold forward, a large amount of their future production back when oil prices were much higher. They did this by entering into swap agreements with the big banks, like JPMorgan, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, which took the other side of the bet. This has provided a cushion to lower revenues, allowing oil companies to continue producing even in a low oil price environment. Another big change is the availability of capital. Energy companies have access to a gusher of yield-hungry private capital that simply wasn’t available to them thirty years ago. Securitization and junk bonds have opened the energy market to many new investors, making them less reliant on bank funding.
But Wall Street can’t save the energy industry all on its own. It has bought it some time, but bankers can’t force the Saudis to pump less oil or push the Chinese to import more of it. Eventually, all the easy private equity cash will dry up and the hedges will roll off, leaving the industry totally exposed to market prices.
Indeed, oil companies have hedged only 11% of next year’s production, according to a recent study of 48 firms published by IHS Energy, a consultancy. That’s down from the current five-year average of around 60%. Those companies buying hedges for next year are currently locking in prices in and around $50 a barrel, a trader with knowledge of the market told Fortune. That stands in stark contrast to the $80 to $100 a barrel hedges that protected oil companies earlier this year.
We are also seeing some desperate cost cutting moves in the oil patch. For example, last week, Schlumberger SLB , the largest oilfield service provider, told oilfield equipment makers they were retroactively applying a 10% discount to all invoices received after October 1st, according to an email sent to a supplier, which was reviewed by Fortune. It is one thing to renegotiate the terms of a contract for future services, but it’s quite another to unilaterally change payment terms for services already rendered. Schlumberger offered their suppliers a couple of other options, but the theme was the same – less money for the same work.
The letter implies that Schlumberger has come under intense pressure from its customers (the oil companies) to cut its prices. That makes sense when you start to crack open the financials for some of these companies. What will strike you first off the bat is their cash flow–or the lack of it. At the end of the second quarter of this year, some 44 producers with heavy exposure to the shale industry, spent an average of 83 cents out of every dollar they took in on debt repayment, according to a recent analysis conducted by the Energy Information Agency, the statistical arm of the US Department of Energy. That compares to 58 cents of every dollar spent during the same time last year and about 44 cents in early 2012.
Ultimately, it will be debt that does the industry in–there is simply too much of it out there. In the last five years, oil producers have issued more than $250 billion worth of risky junk bonds to fuel its ambitions. That money is now helping to keep the industry on life support but things aren’t looking good. The number of energy companies filing for bankruptcy has grown every quarter in 2015 and will continue to grow through 2016.
So what will this debt-fueled apocalypse look like? Take Samson Resources, an oil producer backed by private equity giant KKR. Samson filed for bankruptcy in September looking to restructure some $3.25 billion worth of debt. Much of that debt originates from the $7.2 billion leverage buyout of the company, which was led by KKR back in 2011. KKR’s valuation models clearly didn’t take into account oil prices falling in to the $30s.
But Samson was able to work out a deal with its junior bondholders, whereby they would swap their debt for equity, thus avoiding liquidation. In exchange, these bondholders, which include large investment firms like Silver Point Capital, Cerberus Capital Management, and Anschutz Investment, agreed to forgive $1 billion in debt and promised to recapitalize the company with a cash injection of around half a billion dollars. Equity holders, namely KKR, and unsecured creditors, those who bought Samson’s junk bonds, get nothing.
Samson will probably go down as one of the lucky ones when all is said and done. The company’s management somehow convinced bondholders that Samson was not only worth saving but that it was also worth double-downing on. This shows that there are still investors out there who believe the industry can make it through the current Saudi oil storm in one piece. So while we will undoubtedly see a lot of bankruptcies in the energy space next year, it doesn’t mean that all is lost.
This takes us back to the oil price. If oil beats expectations, and trades between $60 and $80 a barrel throughout the year, we will still see some bankruptcies, but they’ll look more like Samson and less like Lehman Brothers. The December 2016 WTI oil futures contract is currently trading around $49 a barrel, with the near in months trading at a discount. While that is stronger than today’s market price of around $40 a barrel, it’s still pretty weak. With the Saudi’s refusing to budge and Iran set to renter the market sometime this spring, we will just see more, not less, supply. So energy investors need to brace themselves–2016 is going to be rough. | Here's what may happen after the OPEC talks. | 130 | 0.6 | 0.6 | high | low | abstractive |
http://www.people.com/article/michael-douglas-glenn-close-reunite-prove-not-so-fatal-attraction-strong | http://web.archive.org/web/20151206054600id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/michael-douglas-glenn-close-reunite-prove-not-so-fatal-attraction-strong | Michael Douglas and Glenn Close Reunite, Remember Fatal Attraction : People.com | 20151206054600 | Michael Douglas and Glenn Close
Larry Busacca / Getty Images
12/04/2015 AT 11:55 PM EST
, who starred in the iconic 1987 blockbuster
together, reunited on Thursday and reflected on the film's impact on them and their friendship.
Douglas accepted a 2016 AARP Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award at a luncheon at Le Bernardin in New York City, but it was his longtime friend and costar who paid tribute to him at the end.
During a Q&A at the luncheon, Douglas acknowledged Close while the small audience, which included such stars as his wife
, Blythe Danner, Joel Schumacher, and Paul Rudd, applauded.
"Sitting next to me is Glenn Close, and Glenn and I did a little movie in [the 1980s] which stood a lot of people on their heads, called
," Douglas said to more clapping. "It was a brave film ⦠it's part of the memory of those films that keeps us all together and our friendships [thriving] ... and I'm so happy to hear she's doing
now in London, which is going to be very very exciting."
He added that it is
and one other movie people remember him for. "I want to acknowledge Joel Schumacher, who directed
," Douglas said. "Both of them are [movies] I get singled out with."
Close and Douglas spent time chatting over lunch, after which she rose to pay tribute to the legendary star.
There were a bunch of memorable scenes in what
," including the horrific bunny boiling, the "I'm not gonna be ignored" speech, and the
. Then, recalled Close, there's that sex scene.
"My question is, how do you define a grownup?" Close began. "Laurence Olivier said, 'If you scratch an actor, you'll find an actor.' But wonderful Richard Eyre, who for ten years headed up the National Theater, said, 'If you scratch an actor you'll find a child.' And he said, not somebody who is child
, but somebody who is childlike in their ability to play."
"And my God, Michael and I played," Close, who wore her hair close-cropped and virtually white, roared, recalling a sex scene the pair did in her character's New York building. "I think of the elevator scene!"
She added, "I love Michael so much that I stopped coloring my hair so I could look like him. When I first started working with Michael those years ago ⦠he was such Hollywood royalty and I had done mostly theater."
Douglas, 71, told PEOPLE before the lunch began that he was happy to be recognized, and joked, "Thank you! It's for adult films." But really, he added, "I wasn't quite sure ⦠but I think it's great. It reminds me now that our group, 50 and over, is the largest movie going audience in the world. It's nice – it's nice to see some old friends." | Michael Douglas and Glenn Close reunited on Thursday, when the actor accepted the 2016 AARP Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award | 27.818182 | 1 | 4.727273 | medium | high | mixed |
http://www.cnbc.com/2014/07/01/twitter-replaces-cfo-with-former-goldman-manager.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151210220436id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2014/07/01/twitter-replaces-cfo-with-former-goldman-manager.html | Twitter replaces CFO with former Goldman manager | 20151210220436 | Last month, Twitter Chief Operating Officer Ali Rowghani departed after clashing with Chief Executive Dick Costolo over whether he should continue to oversee product innovation, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Chloe Sladden, vice president of media, also departed recently.
With Noto in the CFO seat, Twitter hopes to better explain its business opportunities to Wall Street, a person familiar with the matter said.
"Anthony has got a pretty good finger on the pulse of the Street," the person said.
A former Army ranger and National Football League executive, Noto, 46, started as an analyst at Goldman and later became a managing director in the investment firm's technology, media and telecom investment banking group.
Noto, who was among a number of analysts who touted stocks like Webvan and eToys that collapsed during the 2000 dotcom bust, won plaudits for netting Twitter's coveted IPO in 2013 and handling its smooth market debut. He was crowned the top-rated Internet analyst for five years in a row by Institutional Investor magazine in the mid-2000s.
Read MoreMorgan Stanley gives tweeting brokers some leeway
Noto's move to Twitter comes roughly six weeks after reports that he was leaving Goldman Sachs to join hedge fund Coatue Management. Instead, Noto began working at Twitter's San Francisco headquarters on Tuesday.
Hudson Square analyst Daniel Ernst said Noto's experience as CFO at the NFL should help Twitter gain more ground in television and advertising.
"He just brings a different skill set. A set that really has very high level view of the competitive landscape, he understands very well what the investment community is looking for given his previous role,'' Macquarie Research analyst Ben Schachter said. | Twitter said Chief Financial Officer Mike Gupta will become senior vice president of strategic investments and named Anthony Noto as his replacement. | 14.173913 | 0.565217 | 0.826087 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/bill-murray-ghostbusters-reboot-report-article-1.2319699 | http://web.archive.org/web/20151219152149id_/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/bill-murray-ghostbusters-reboot-report-article-1.2319699 | Bill Murray to appear in ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot: report | 20151219152149 | Sunday, August 9, 2015, 11:52 AM
When you want to excite fans about the upcoming “Ghostbusters” reboot, who you gonna call?
The film’s original star Bill Murray.
The Oscar nominee, who played Dr. Peter Venkman in the 1984 hit comedy and its sequel, will appear in the highly anticipated reboot, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
There are no details available yet on whom the actor will portray, or how large a role he will have in the film.
The movie, which is currently filming in Boston, stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.
According to the website SuperHero Hype, Murray was spotted heading to the film's set Friday.
Director Paul Feig, who is known for taking to Twitter to make major reveals such as the film’s costumes and props, has yet to comment on the report.
While it has yet to be confirmed whether Murray will appear in the flick, his former co-star Dan Aykroyd is also making a cameo in the reboot.
The “Ghostbusters” reboot is scheduled to hit theaters July 22, 2016. | When you want to excite fans about the “Ghostbusters” reboot, who you gonna call? | 11.684211 | 1 | 9.736842 | low | high | extractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2015/12/17/fey-and-poehler-party-down-sisters/S4DIyfVAKkxCqs8tWQZ7vK/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20151220074406id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/arts/movies/2015/12/17/fey-and-poehler-party-down-sisters/S4DIyfVAKkxCqs8tWQZ7vK/story.html | Fey and Poehler party down in ‘Sisters’ | 20151220074406 | “Sisters” is a reminder that we generally love Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for everything except their movies. A sloppy, raunchy, underwritten, poorly assembled mishmash of sentiment and gross-out gags strung along an insultingly thin premise, the comedy still has a few moments that can make you laugh hard enough to shoot soda out your nose. Those moments are largely improvisational, and they reflect not only the stars’ roots in “Saturday Night Live” sketch comedy and half-hour TV shows but the comfort zone of screenwriter Paula Pell — a 20-year “SNL” veteran — and most of the supporting cast. When the new movie wings it, it sputters but clears the runway. When it sticks to the script, it crashes and burns.
The chief novelty lies in letting the stars switch hats, with Fey playing Kate Ellis, a former wild child whose grown-up life is a disaster, and Poehler as Maura, Kate’s uptight nerd of a kid sister. Maura is divorced and closer to her rescue dogs than to other humans, and Kate is living on a friend’s couch, a jobless embarrassment to her levelheaded teen daughter (Madison Davenport).
The two fly to Orlando after learning that their aging parents are selling the childhood home; Dianne Wiest and James Brolin are pretty marvelous as retirees ecstatically divesting themselves of clutter, including their daughters. With mom and dad already in a condo, Kate and Maura decide to have one last shindig before the house passes to its smarmy new owners, so they load up on the booze and send out invitations to all their old high school friends on Facebook.
The bash is the high point of “Sisters” in every sense, and it feels like director Jason Moore (“Pitch Perfect”) told Fey and Poehler to ask everyone in their Contacts app to come over. Bobby Moynihan and Kate McKinnon are on hand from the current iteration of “SNL,” former cast-mates Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph play weepy and mean, respectively, and Ike Barinholtz is on loan from “The Mindy Project” as a doughy romantic interest for Maura. John Leguizamo is cast as a sort of walking STD, while muscleman John Cena, so sweetly abused in last summer’s “Trainwreck,” turns out to be this movie’s comic secret weapon as a deadpan drug dealer named Pazuzu.
You’ll find more thought and entertainment in one of Fey and Poehler’s hosting gigs, but when it clicks, “Sisters” feels like a throwback to the early Tom Hanks hit “Bachelor Party,” stopping just short of the cocaine-snorting donkey. The movie does score a few sharp points about how adulthood can dull the edges of even the most relentless teenage party rat, and it staves off the inevitable sisterly argument and sentimental wrap-up as long as possible. Mostly, it’s content to let the stars cuss up a storm and talk in cringe-y “ghetto” slang in a lame attempt to appeal to “the kids” — who will probably go nowhere near this movie except in a pirated version on their laptops.
There is that one scene, though, in which Barinholtz gets a music box playing “Fur Elise” stuck in a most embarrassing place, a bit so filthy and so funny that even Beethoven would have to laugh. With a little more effort, the rest of “Sisters” might meet that high/low bar and live up to the expectations and affection we have for the two comic actresses. But the people responsible for this movie — including Tina Fey and Amy Poehler — clearly believe they only have to show up and schpritz to have a hit on their hands.
The depressing part is that they’re probably right.
Directed by Jason Moore. Written by Paula Pell. Starring Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, John Cena, Ike Barenholtz. At Boston Common, Fenway, suburbs. 118 minutes. R (crude sexual content and language throughout, drug use). | “Sisters” review: A reminder that we love Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for everything except their movies. A sloppy, raunchy, underwritten, poorly assembled mishmash of sentiment and gross-out gags strung along an insultingly thin premise. | 17.266667 | 0.955556 | 27.8 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/jul/20/fourth-plinth-art | http://web.archive.org/web/20151226220552id_/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/jul/20/fourth-plinth-art | Who's who on the fourth plinth: day 15 | 20151226220552 | 00.00John from the west Midlands. He said: "I shall be trying to re-enact a number of scouting practices, such as cooking a bacon sandwich. I will also change into my Father Christmas outfit and have an impromptu carol concert in the square, hopefully with crowd participation."
01.00No details for this plinther.
02.00Twiddy, a student from Yorkshire. She said: "I will hopefully be doing something creative on the plinth, unless perhaps there is a torrential downpour, in which case I will probably be hiding under an umbrella!"
03.00Steve, an Ultimate player and IT analyst from Devon.
04.00Abigail from Northern Ireland. She said: "I am planning on dressing as a butterfly while dancing to wildlife themed songs, on a not-very-wide lump of rock for the world to see!"
05.00Jane from Scotland. She said: "I thought I would highlight the plight of the bee and show the world that we have to act now, or the future growth of mankind will suffer the consequences. Everyone knows about pandas and whales, but not many speak of the bees."
06.00Shells from Northern Ireland. She said: "I think this will be a wonderful opportunity to become a living piece of art in the 21st century."
08.00No details for this plinther.
09.00AJW1984 is an archaeology and history graduate from Dundee. He said: "It will be amazing to set foot on a landmark that only works of art have graced, but I have not yet decided what I will do with my hour."
10.00Otts, an English teacher from London. She said: "It is possible that I may use the time to write while I am on the plinth, but as an (aspiring) artist maybe I should paint. My work is abstract so whatever I produce will be shapes, colours and textures rather than a true representation of what I see before me."
11.00Alice from the north-west. She said: "I just think it is a unique opportunity to be a part of history. No idea yet what I am going to do up there."
12.00Rachael from London. She said: "I am sticking with my idea of cleaning the plinth. First of all, I'm getting quite good at it, I seem to spend a lot of time cleaning up around my kids, husband, cats. Also, I wanted to actually engage with the plinth itself. And finally, when all those men, George IV, Henry Havelock and Sir Charles Napier were out doing important things, surely there was a woman at home, doing the cleaning."
13.00Rob from the south-west. He said: "I think I'll sit quietly and read a book: Gregory Bateson's Steps to an Ecology of Mind; Part V, Form, Substance, and Difference. It's all about relational determinism. Who knows, I might help save us from ourselves."
14.00Ben from the West Midlands. He said: "How will I grasp my proverbial 15 minutes of fame? I might take a little time out to ponder on this ... "
15.00Maitland, a trainee tour guide from London. She said: "I might just take my inflatable chair, a couple of guidebooks and tell some interesting stories and facts. Or I might just soak up the atmosphere."
17.00Ruth, a producer and artistic director from London. She said: "I am not planning to be dramatic, but think I will write a blog or a letter to Antony while I stand on the plinth."
18.00No details for this plinther.
19.00Sylvia-Agnes, an education worker from the north-west. "I am taking with me the token of a prayer flag given to me by Greenpeace to fly on the plinth in honour and memory of a dear friend and tireless and enthusiastic Greenpeace worker, Richard Watson, who died much too young and is still missed by all those who loved and knew him. I also plan to start my dissertation for my final exams next year while I am on the plinth.
20.00Bill from London. He said: "I plan to regulate my time and spend some of it representing the use of time for work and rest, but also the way this project is part about being looked at and also looking out at the world."
21.00Kevin, education worker from the West Midlands. He said: "I have no idea what to do with my hour and will be enlisting the ideas of the school kids I lead. They were partly the inspiration behind putting myself up for this thang anyway."
22.00No details for this plinther.
Stuart from London. He said: "I plan on singing - for a full hour - the classic song, Without You. I will be doing the Mariah Carey version." | Who's participating in Antony Gormley's One and Other in Trafalgar Square today? Here's our 24-hour guideClick here for the lowdown on everyone who's taken part so farFull coverage of the fourth plinth | 25.459459 | 0.567568 | 0.675676 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/01/14/world-economic-forum-warns-growing-array-global-risks/HBeWBlJ6QGLcIinXeX6QNN/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160116115348id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/business/2016/01/14/world-economic-forum-warns-growing-array-global-risks/HBeWBlJ6QGLcIinXeX6QNN/story.html | World Economic Forum warns of growing array of global risks | 20160116115348 | LONDON — The global economy faces an array of risks, from natural disasters related to climate change to the rise of the Islamic State and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, according to experts polled by the World Economic Forum, which organizes the annual gathering of political and business leaders in the Swiss resort of Davos.
In a bleak assessment published Thursday ahead of next week’s meeting in Davos, the WEF said its survey found that a failure to deal with and prepare for climate change is potentially the most costly risk over the next ten years, ahead of weapons of mass destruction, water crises, large-scale migration flows, and severe energy price shocks.
That’s the first time that an environmental concern has topped the WEF’s Global Risks Report list and comes after what meteorologists say was the hottest year on record.
‘‘Climate change is exacerbating more risks than ever before in terms of water crises, food shortages, constrained economic growth, weaker social cohesion, and increased security risks,’’ said Cecilia Reyes, chief risk officer at Zurich Insurance, which helped develop the annual Global Risks Report.
The survey of almost 750 experts and decision-makers from a variety of fields, locations, and ages was conducted in the autumn of 2015 before the global warming targets agreed on in Paris in December.
John Drzik, president of global risk at insurance broker Marsh, which also helped develop the report, conceded that climate change might not have topped the list if the poll had been conducted after the Paris Agreement. The deal saw nearly 200 countries agree to keep global temperatures from rising another degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) between now and 2100.
Drzik said the 2016 report, overall, has the ‘‘broadest array’’ of risks facing the global economy in the survey’s history. However, he noted that the 2008 financial crisis, which saw the collapse of numerous banks and caused the deepest global recession since World War II, may have prompted more immediate damage from a purely economic point of view.
‘‘Events such as Europe’s refugee crisis and terrorist attacks have raised global political instability to its highest level since the Cold War,’’ Drzik said.
A major concern identified by all involved in the report is the interconnectedness of all the risks.
‘‘We know climate change is exacerbating other risks such as migration and security, but these are by no means the only interconnections that are rapidly evolving to impact societies, often in unpredictable ways,’’ said Margareta Drzeniek-Hanouz, the WEF’s head of global competitiveness and risks.
In its survey, the WEF found that large-scale involuntary migration — not just in Europe but within regions, including the Middle East — was the most likely risk to emerge, as opposed to the biggest in terms of potential impact.
With nearly 60 million involuntary migrants last year — almost 50 percent more than in 1940 — participants at the report’s launch in London warned about the potential for social unrest.
One potential effect of the refugee crisis is the call by many in Europe to restrict the freedom of movement of labor within the 28-country European Union, one of the symbols of the post-war unity push. The restrictions would harm growth and employment and potentially dent cooperation efforts in other fields.
Purely economic factors remained high on the list of concerns, too, including the scale of the slowdown in China, the world’s number-two economy, high unemployment levels in many countries, and the impact of low oil prices on the budgets of oil exporters.
Marsh’s Drzik said the confluence of worrying economic signals, which has seen global stock markets suffer sharp losses so far in 2016, is ‘‘creating a very difficult environment to navigate for business.’’
Despite the worrying backdrop, all involved in the report sought to sound a note of optimism and stressed the opportunities that come with challenges. Dealing with climate change can stimulate technological innovation, for example.
‘‘Let’s not forget the risks and the rewards,’’ said Zurich’s Reyes. ‘‘They’re two sides of the same coin.’’ | The global economy faces an array of risks, from natural disasters related to climate change. | 46.647059 | 1 | 15.117647 | high | high | extractive |
http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/01/18/18/03/site-of-salem-witch-trials-found | http://web.archive.org/web/20160119083904id_/http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/01/18/18/03/site-of-salem-witch-trials-found | Site of Salem Witch Trials discovered three hundred years later | 20160119083904 | Professor Emerson Baker stands on the site where it is believed the Salem Witch Trials took place. (Salem News)
A group of American researchers claim to have uncovered the location where victims of the notorious Salem Witch Trials were killed over 300 years ago.
Using historical eyewitness documents and sonar technology, a team of researchers from Salem State University have been able to locate a site in Salem, Massachusetts, where accused “witches” were once executed by hanging.
The site in question, christened “Proctor’s Ledge”, is located in a small plot of woods between two residential streets, behind a pharmacy in the town’s east.
Researchers believe they have also managed to unearth a number of other tantalising details about the trials in the course of their search.
According to the evidence, victims were most likely hung from a rope tossed over a large tree, as opposed to from a gallows.
They also believe the victims were not buried at Proctor’s Ledge – where the soil is too shallow and rocky to make it a suitable place for internment – but at another location altogether.
The location has been determined through sonar technology and old eye-witness testimony. (CBS Boston)
Salem State University professor Emerson Baker believes their discovery will at last bring years of debate and conspiracy theories regarding the execution site to an end.
A memorial is expected to be built on Proctor’s Ledge, in memory of those lives lost during the trials.
Nineteen innocent people accused of witchcraft were hanged during the trials which occurred in 1692 and 1693.
One man, accused of sorcery, was crushed to death by rocks. | A group of American researchers claim to have uncovered the location where victims of the notorious Salem Witch Trials were killed over 300 years ago. | 15.142857 | 0.857143 | 5.904762 | low | medium | mixed |
http://www.thepostgame.com/balancing-act/201601/spike-lee-hollywood-needs-version-nfls-rooney-rule | http://web.archive.org/web/20160122090156id_/http://www.thepostgame.com/balancing-act/201601/spike-lee-hollywood-needs-version-nfls-rooney-rule | Spike Lee: Hollywood Needs Version Of NFL's 'Rooney Rule' | 20160122090156 | Director and Knicks superfan Spike Lee has a suggestion for the Academy Awards' problem with race: Look at how the NFL's addressed its issues.
Speaking on "Good Morning America," Lee said that the NFL's Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for coach and general manager positions, has led to a much improved concentration of minorities in team leadership positions.
He suggested Hollywood needs to revamp its system in a similar way -- and that the lack of deserving minority actors is not a good reason for shutting them out of the Academy Awards.
"We can't go to that old tired well -- 'Well, we can't find any qualified candidates' -- that's B.S," he added.
He also says the Academy Awards aren't the only problem in Hollywood -- a culture that doesn't support minorities runs throughout the industry.
"This goes further than the Academy Awards," he said. "It has to go back to the gatekeepers."
Lee's comments came after the individual Oscars nominations featured no minority actors and actresses for the second year in a row. Other minority performers have said they will boycott the Academy Awards this year. Lee won't say he's boycotting, but he won't be in attendance.
He'll be watching the Knicks game.
Watch the whole GMA segment here:
Academy Awards, Football, Hollywood, New York Knicks, NFL, Rooney Rule, Spike Lee | Director and Knicks superfan Spike Lee has a suggestion for the Academy Awards' problem with race: Look at how the NFL's addressed its issues. Speakin... | 9.566667 | 0.933333 | 26.133333 | low | medium | extractive |
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/19/arts/art-in-review-antoni-milkowski-set-in-steel.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160123064456id_/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/19/arts/art-in-review-antoni-milkowski-set-in-steel.html | ART IN REVIEW - Antoni Milkowski -- 'Set in Steel' - NYTimes.com | 20160123064456 | Minimalism rules the precise geometry of Antoni Milkowski's steel sculptures, which have progressed from relatively simple forms in the 1960's to complex works today that demand more eye and legwork.
This show of sculptures, prints, drawings and maquettes for public works is a mini-retrospective, stretching from the early 1960's, when Mr. Milkowski first became associated with Hunter College (where he taught from 1966 until his retirement last year), to the early 1990's.
His debt to Tony Smith, a colleague at Hunter, is evident, yet at best the work has a snap and animation that is very much Mr. Milkowski's own.
In general, these pieces -- with few exceptions painted black -- are composed of modular units arranged in combinations that get trickier as the work matures, with attention paid to interior as well as exterior space.
The earliest works are from the ''Con Edison'' series, a group of 10 sculptures from 1963-64 that include wall reliefs and columnar forms. They were fabricated from the bent plates used for flag stands at Con Edison work sites and originally painted bright orange.
In ''Swiatowid,'' named for a pagan Polish god, the plates, stripped to rusted steel and embellished with diagonally drilled holes and protruding dowels, are vertically stacked in an eccentric but perfectly balanced two-part column, one shaft set at a right angle to the other.
The playful ''Swiatowid'' is a far cry from the later work, like the dramatic and ambitious ''Windigo'' of 1979-80. A steel hexagon eight and a half feet high, ''Windigo,'' named for an Indian spirit, is composed of six rectangular modules welded end to end to form what at one glance could be loosely described as a diamond.
But as you walk around the piece, its shape shifts with every angle of view, here suggesting a rectangular interior, there a pair of triangles as the modules seem to cross, then again an angled tower that claws into the air.
A paradoxical tension attends its defiance of definite shape. ''Getting it'' is a challenge that makes the work and in fact the whole show worth close attention. GRACE GLUECK | Hunter College/Times Square Gallery 450 West 41st Street Manhattan Through Nov. 27 Minimalism rules the precise geometry of Antoni Milkowski's steel sculptures, which have progressed from relatively simple forms in the 1960's to complex works today that demand more eye and legwork. | 8.25 | 0.692308 | 22.307692 | low | low | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/gillian-anderson-talks-tension-mulder-scully-x-files | http://web.archive.org/web/20160126003307id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/gillian-anderson-talks-tension-mulder-scully-x-files | Gillian Anderson Talks Tension Between Mulder and Scully : People.com | 20160126003307 | David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in The X-Files
01/24/2016 AT 06:25 PM EST
The truth about Dana Scully and Fox Mulder's relationship is out there – but viewers will have to wait until the
miniseries premieres Sunday night to find out what's driven a wedge between the FBI's spooky duo.
It took seven seasons and two movies for
's characters to move beyond a platonic partnership. When the new show picks up, Scully and Mulder aren't together anymore, though their chemistry crackles as hot as ever.
"In the first episode, they're no longer a couple. They're living apart. They have not had that much contact with each other," Anderson, 47, tells PEOPLE. "Obviously there is a child between them, and so they're always going to be connected in that way. But it feels a little estranged at the very beginning, which is kind of how it always was. It was this tension between the two of them which is part of what worked with the series and which drove the series, so it's actually an interesting way I think for us to begin again."
That child, of course, is William, their son born in season 8 who possessed supernatural abilities. Ultimately, the couple gave him up for adoption for his own protection.
Snippets from the miniseries show Scully and Mulder discussing the pain of losing him, but could William, now a teenager, show up on screen?
"Sort of," Anderson says simply. "Sort of."
, Duchovny, 55, said he'd be "open" to more
after these six episodes wrap up: "Certainly, we didnât bring it back with the idea of ending it.â
It turns out Anderson – who's currently shooting season 3 of the BBC and Netflix's addictive serial killer drama
– is also a believer.
"It depends on many different factors. Scheduling is a big thing," she says. "Iâm open to the discussion."
airs Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on Fox. | Plus: How will their son play into the new miniseries? | 33.666667 | 0.75 | 1.083333 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.9news.com.au/wild-weather/2016/01/25/13/25/severe-storms-rolling-through-perth-after-two-homes-earlier-struck-by-lightning | http://web.archive.org/web/20160127094711id_/http://www.9news.com.au/wild-weather/2016/01/25/13/25/severe-storms-rolling-through-perth-after-two-homes-earlier-struck-by-lightning | Severe storm warning issued for Perth after two homes earlier struck by lightning | 20160127094711 | Storms are predicted to continue for much of the day in Perth. (Bureau of Meteorology/Twitter)
A severe storm warning has been issued for Perth and surrounds, after an earlier storm cell hit the city this morning.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for metropolitan Perth, saying storms are “most likely over the eastern suburbs and the hills”.
The warning is also current for people in or near the towns of Dalwallinu, Southern Cross, York and Narrogin.
The storms as the moved over Perth. (Bureau of Meteorology)
Do you have photos of the storms? Email them to contact@9news.com.au but please stay safe.
The Bureau warns the storms may bring damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding.
“People are advised that there is a risk of severe thunderstorms developing this morning and continuing into this evening,” the Bureau said at 9.30am (WST).
“At 9:20am satellite and radar imagery showed a broad area of thunderstorm activity approximately 130 kilometres east-southeast of Perth, moving in an east-southeasterly direction.
“Isolated thunderstorms are currently developing approximately 100 kilometres to the northwest of Perth, also moving in an east-southeasterly direction.”
The storms follow wild weather this morning and are set to continue into this evening.
WA Today reports two homes in Swan View were struck by lightning this morning between 6.30am and 7.30am.
One of the homes reportedly suffered an estimated $70,000 in damage. | Further severe thunderstorms have rolled through Perth, hours after a storm cell swept through the city. | 14 | 0.571429 | 0.952381 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/01/27/13/01/spanish-matador-under-fire-for-fighting-bull-with-baby | http://web.archive.org/web/20160128093000id_/http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/01/27/13/01/spanish-matador-under-fire-for-fighting-bull-with-baby | Spanish Matador under fire for fighting bull with baby | 20160128093000 | Francisco Rivera Ordóñez posted this image to Instagram with the caption: " Carmen's debut, it is the 5th generation of bullfighting in our family. My grandfather bullfighting with my father. My father bullfighting with me, and I have done it with my daughter Cayetana and now with Carmen."(Instagram/f.r.paquirri)
A bullfighter has attracted criticism after posting an image of himself fighting a bull, while holding his five-month-old daughter, to Instagram.
The image, captioned “Carmen’s debut”, has sparked debate on the matter in Spain and the Andalucian child protection agency has said it’s investigating whether matador Francisco Rivera Ordóñez has broken any laws.
But Rivera claims he did not put his daughter at risk.
“There is no safer place for her to be than in my arms,” he said.
Ironically the bullfighter was forced to undergo lifesaving surgery last year after being gored by a bull.
He also pointed to his family’s history of bullfighting in the image’s caption.
“This is Carmen’s debut, the fifth bullfighting generation in my family. My grandfather did the same with my father, my father with me and me with my daughter Cayetana, and now Carmen,” Rivera said.
His father, Francisco Rivera Pérez, was killed after being gored by a bull in 1984.
However, his image has drawn criticism from the government and animal activists.
“It isn’t right in any circumstances to put a child at risk,” Spanish Minister of Social Security Alfonso Alonso said.
Comedian Ricky Gervais, who is well known for his animal rights activism, said the image was “dangerous and cruel. With or without the baby”.
Animal rights group PACMA has said the actions are not the way to teach children to respect animals.
But other bullfighters have come to Rivera’s defence, posting images of themselves holding children in the ring, including Manuel Diaz who posted a photo of himself carrying his daughter.
Torero Manuel Díaz, known as “El Cordobés”, posted this image to Twitter in support of Rivera. (Twitter/@mdelcordobes)
“What’s the problem in showing our children a profession that we love and is filled with values?” Diaz said.
Defenders of the actual act of bullfighting have pointed to the increased quality of life for fighting bulls, who generally roam free on pastures and live longer when compared to cattle raised in factory conditions and killed in abattoirs.
However opponents say the extended mental and physical suffering of the bull in the lead-up and duration of the fight is barbaric. | A bullfighter has attracted criticism after posting an image of himself fighting a bull, while holding his five-month-old daughter, to Instagram. | 20.08 | 0.92 | 10.04 | medium | medium | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/gigi-hadid-taylor-swift-sing-along-grease-live-at-home | http://web.archive.org/web/20160203213440id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/gigi-hadid-taylor-swift-sing-along-grease-live-at-home | Gigi Hadid and Taylor Swift Sing Along on Snapchat : People.com | 20160203213440 | 02/01/2016 AT 09:15 AM EST
watched the show together Sunday night, and Hadid, 20, took to Snapchat to document the duo singing along to Sandy's famous ballad.
"We're also performing Grease Live in the living room," Hadid captioned the video as she filmed Swift, 26, and her crooning away.
"Hopelessly Devoted to You," made famous by Olivia Newton-John in the 1978 film version of the classic musical, wasn't actually part of the 1973 Broadway production – but Fox's
, moving it to later in the production.
As it happened, Hadid and Swift's mutual ex-boyfriend
, taking the stage at Rydell High's school dance with his
as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers (portrayed by the group
in November after five months together, while Swift and the former Jonas Brothers singer
for a few months in 2008 until he broke up with her in what she described as a
. (At the time, Swift said Jonas was the only guy to ever hurt her "deeply.")
During Hadid's relationship with Jonas, however, all seemed be to well between them: Hadid and Jonas even
In the months since, Hadid has moved on with a new musician: She's now
, 23, and appeared in his | The famous besties' mutual ex Joe Jonas starred in the show as the band leader at Rydell High's school dance | 11.590909 | 0.727273 | 2.272727 | low | low | mixed |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/02/04/martin-shkreli-invokes-fifth-amendment-house-appearance/GaFkeJtOEfdLn5VixzEReP/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160205092434id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/02/04/martin-shkreli-invokes-fifth-amendment-house-appearance/GaFkeJtOEfdLn5VixzEReP/story.html | Martin Shkreli Invokes the Fifth Amendment in House Appearance | 20160205092434 | WASHINGTON — Martin Shkreli, the former drug executive who became the poster boy for extreme drug price increases, held his tongue as members of Congress blasted him at a hearing Thursday — but he managed to enrage the lawmakers even more as he smirked his way through the hearing.
“It’s not funny, Mr. Shkreli. People are dying, and they’re getting sicker and sicker,” Representative Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat, told Shkreli as he grinned during the congressman’s opening statement.
Shkreli’s lawyer later called him a “hero” — and insisted he would be judged that way by history.
The appearance by Shkreli, who garnered nationwide attention after raising the price of a decades-old drug known as Daraprim by more than 5,000 percent, was the highlight of a congressional hearing that managed to explore the complicated reality of drug pricing in the United States.
The session also dealt with the latest efforts to reduce the backlog of unapproved generic drugs — which Republicans hope to reduce as a way to provide patients with cheaper options.
As expected, though, Shkreli stole the show.
Shkreli — who stepped down late last year as chief executive officer of Turing Pharmaceuticals — stuck to his script, invoking the Fifth Amendment when the questioning turned to him.
“On the advice of counsel, I invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and respectfully decline to answer your question,” Shkreli said, over and over.
Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform, tried to ask Shkreli what he would say to “that single, pregnant woman with AIDS … who might need Daraprim to survive.”
Again, Shkreli took the Fifth.
Chaffetz eventually dismissed Shkreli after he and other lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to get him to respond to questions. The one question he did answer: He acknowledged that a committee member had pronounced his name correctly.
Shkreli had to take the Fifth because of an unrelated securities fraud charge he’s facing, his new lawyer, New York defense attorney Benjamin Brafman, said — not because of contempt for the committee.
And his smirks, Brafman said, were a result of “nervous energy by an individual who would very much like to explain what happened, but has agreed to listen to his lawyer.”
Minutes later, however, Shkreli couldn’t resist one last shot at the committee, firing off a tweet calling lawmakers “imbeciles.”
Shkreli was indicted in December on securities fraud charges — allegedly using stock from Retrophin, a drug company he founded, to pay off debts in a financially troubled hedge fund. He resigned as Turing’s chief executive officer after his arrest.
At the hearing, Chaffetz pointed to newly released documents from a committee investigation that showed that Turing approved raises for its officers at a board meeting and spent thousands of dollars on chartered yachts, celebrity performances, and a “fireworks package.”
One employee — whose name was redacted — was given a raise of 400 percent, from $160,000 per year to $800,000, according to minutes from a 2015 meeting. Two others saw their salaries hiked to $600,000. One had previously made $275,000 and the other $250,000.
Nancy Retzlaff, Turing’s chief commercial officer, insisted that “we invest 60 percent of our net revenues” in research and development, more than most drug companies spend.
But Chaffetz accused Turing of “lying” about what he suspected was its real motive: profit.
He played a video of Shkreli saying, in a local television interview: “We take all of our cash, all of our profits, and spend it on research for these patients.”
Spending 60 percent of the revenues on research is “not all the cash,” Chaffetz told Retzlaff.
Retzlaff allowed that “of course we expect to make a profit” — but insisted that Turing provided enough financial assistance to vulnerable patients, especially those who were uninsured, that many only paid “pennies” for Daraprim. | In a testy exchange with lawmakers, Martin Shkreli declined to testify before a House committee Thursday about increasing the price of a decades-old drug fiftyfold overnight. | 25.966667 | 0.733333 | 2.733333 | medium | low | mixed |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2016/02/04/coen-brothers-hail-caesar-fizzy-fun-farce/OwUnifLBD0Vaa5amwbvmfI/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160205092727id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2016/02/04/coen-brothers-hail-caesar-fizzy-fun-farce/OwUnifLBD0Vaa5amwbvmfI/story.html | Coen brothers’ ‘Hail, Caesar!’ is a fizzy, fun farce | 20160205092727 | There are the serious Coen brothers movies, like “No Country for Old Men” and, um, “A Serious Man,” and there are the not-so-serious ones. “Hail, Caesar!” is the opposite of their serious ones, and it is delightful.
It’s a Hollywood farce set in the Golden Age, circa 1950-something or other, but it lacks the acrid fire and brimstone of 1991’s “Barton Fink,” their last visit to these parts. That was 25 years ago, and the brothers have mellowed. Now the hero is a studio “fixer” named Eddie Mannix, and he’s played by the increasingly wonderful Josh Brolin with a neat little moustache and exasperated expression that render him a ringer for the 1940s comedy director Preston Sturges. Since it was a movie within a Sturges movie that provided the Coens with a title for “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” this hardly counts as a coincidence.
Eddie’s life is a mess, horrible for him, happy for us. DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johansson), the swimming star of aquatic musicals, is pregnant by who knows whom, and a solution has to be found. (“Can a woman adopt her own baby?” Eddie asks a studio lawyer, and if you happen to know that Loretta Young did just that with her love child by Clark Gable, you’re allowed an extra chortle into your popcorn.)
The head office in New York has decided to remake the studio’s singing cowboy, Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich), into a tuxedoed star of drawing-room dramas, to the shock of everyone including Hobie and his new director, who’s named Laurence Laurentz and who is played by Ralph Fiennes as a distant cousin of M. Gustave of the Grand Budapest Hotel.
Oh, and Capitol Studios’ biggest star, a dim second-tier Gable named Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), has been kidnapped from the set of the religious epic — called “Hail, Caesar!,” which means as little as anything here — in which he plays a Roman centurion who falls under the sway of Jesus Christ.
If I tell you that one of the kidnappers is played by Wayne Knight (Newman!) in full Roman extra regalia (or “extry,” as Hobie would say), you’ll have a vague sense of the gamesmanship in which this movie blissfully indulges. “Hail, Caesar!” finds the Coens in complete control of their shared gift with no aim in sight but to spoof and celebrate the classic studio era of which they were never a part. If you get the historical Hollywood in-jokes, so much the better. (A conference room where every photo on the wall is of Wallace Beery, the John C. Reilly of the 1930s? Sign me up.) If you don’t, no matter — the sight gags, throwaway lines, and surprise appearances are calibrated to land with lunatic precision.
Most importantly, this one movie allows the bros to make all the other movies they’ve never had a chance to. There’s a parody western in “Hail, Caesar!,” and a watery Busby Berkeley ballet. There’s that full-color religious epic and a B&W drawing-room romance, and there’s an absolute showstopper of an MGM musical number that allows a particular young movie star to show off his dance chops in a way the “Step Up” and “Magic Mike” movies rarely do.
I think “Hail, Caesar!” is what the Coen brothers do for vacation.
Added benefits: Tilda Swinton as rival twin gossip columnists, Jonah Hill as a studio functionary who helpfully meets the legal definition of personhood, Frances McDormand as a film editor with a homicidal Moviola, and a room full of Communist screenwriters who patiently explain to the kidnapped Baird the link between Capitol Pictures and Marx’s “Das Kapital.”
In the end, and despite the script’s flirtations with notions of faith, “Hail, Caesar!” doesn’t go anywhere profound. It doesn’t really want to. Knowing the back story of the real Eddie Mannix, as recently detailed in Episode 63 of Karina Longworth’s indispensable Hollywood-history podcast “You Must Remember This,” reveals an MGM “fixer” who cut a much darker figure than the one in the film. Proceed with caution and be glad he never crossed your path.
What the Coens are about, instead, is enjoying a long, luxurious soak in the pleasures of craft, both as they were perfected in the inhuman factories of the studio system and as they are practiced today in the hands of cinematographers (Roger Deakins), production designers (Jess Gonchor), soundtrack composers (Carter Burwell), costume designers (Mary Zophres), and on and on, everyone humming along at the top of their games.
“Hail, Caesar!” is nothing more and nothing less than a profession of the Coens’ faith in movies, as snarky and sincere as they can make it. It don’t mean a thing, but it sure has that swing.
Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Tilda Swinton. Boston Common, Fenway, Coolidge Corner, suburbs. 106 minutes. PG-13 (suggestive content, smoking). | The Coen brothers’ “Hail, Caesar!” is a delightful Hollywood farce set in the Golden Age. | 52.2 | 0.95 | 5.25 | high | high | mixed |
http://fortune.com/2011/06/27/the-privatization-of-californias-b-schools/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20160213075605id_/http://fortune.com/2011/06/27/the-privatization-of-californias-b-schools/ | The privatization of California’s B-schools | 20160213075605 | ( poetsandquants.com ) — In the past few years, billions of dollars have been slashed from California’s higher education budget. Some have warned that the cutbacks are impacting the quality of a state university system that has long been considered the crown jewel of public higher education.
What has been the impact on the state’s premier public business schools?
Surprisingly, there’s been little to no impact, according to the B-school deans. A year ago, faculty and staff endured a “furlough” that led to a one-time average pay cut of 8%. But the prestige and quality of the full-time MBA programs has been protected as state support of the schools has diminished.
What has occurred is a quiet privatization of business education. The B-schools have pushed through dramatic increases in MBA tuition and fees, stepped up efforts to increase endowments, and added more non-degree executive programs that produce “revenue surpluses” to offset the cuts.
“Basically, all of us have been phasing out our reliance on state funding for many years,” says Steven C. Currall, dean of UC-Davis’ Graduate School of Management. But Currall winces at the notion that he and his fellow deans have “privatized” the business schools.
“Some in the UC system see privatization as radioactive,” he concedes. “I prefer the words financial sustainability. We’re reducing our reliance on state funds, which makes our business model much more akin to a private university….”
Tuition spikes on the left coast
Students have borne much of the brunt of these changes. Over the past 10 years, the largest increases in MBA tuition have occurred at California’s public programs. Berkeley’s Haas School, the highest ranked of the full-time MBA programs in the state, boosted the price of its two-year MBA to state residents by 301% to $86,396 this year from $19,996 in 2001. Non-resident tuition jumped by 142% to $100,356 from $41,404 in the same timeframe. In comparison, the two-year tuition bill at Stanford rose 72.5%, while the price of a Harvard Business School MBA increased by 79.6%.
Ten years ago, a California resident who went to Berkeley paid only 31% of what a graduate student paid at Stanford for the MBA degree. Today, state residents who go to Berkeley pay 78% of what Stanford students pay. The differences are similar at UCLA’s Anderson School and other University of California business schools.
More shocking, perhaps, is how these increases — along with a sluggish economy — have dramatically altered the payback of the MBA degree. Graduates of Berkeley’s Class of 2000 earned median starting base salaries of $85,000. Last year, Haas MBAs earned median salaries of $110,000 each. So while the non-resident tuition bill has risen by 301%, median starting salaries have increased by just 29%.
The public universities in California, of course, have plenty of company. The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and the University of Virginia’s Darden School effectively “privatized” their full-time programs long ago.
“Berkeley MBA graduate salaries are among the most competitive, while tuition is still below our private counterparts — and, in the case of California residents, significantly below,” says Richard Lyons, dean of the Haas School.
Lyons argues that for California residents the MBA program at Haas is still a bargain at $86,396 because it’s roughly $20,000 less than tuition for Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and $27,000 below the price tag of a Wharton MBA.
Besides, adds Lyons, “our increase in MBA fees has allowed us to make a lot of investments in new faculty, curriculum and student services. The MBA education we are offering is a much stronger product than it was 10 years ago.”
A play for independence amid the budget woes
Some deans also take an optimistic view of the cutbacks in state support. “I’m not thrilled with the cuts, but I am thrilled with the reflection they are causing,” says Currall. “People are having to … accept the fact that we have to have a new business model.”
Still, there’s no question that much has been at risk due to the state’s budget crisis. The B-schools at four of the 10 University of California campuses are among the top 60 MBA programs in the U.S., as ranked by Poets&Quants: Berkeley (No. 9), UCLA (No. 17), UC-Irvine (No. 56), and UC-Davis (No. 58).
To Judy Olian, dean of UCLA’s Anderson School, previous state budget crisis had already put the school on a road toward financial self-sufficiency. “The big hit was in the bust of 2001-2002. That’s when we were cut dramatically in terms of state support,” she says.
Currently, roughly 17% of the Anderson School’s budget comes from state support, but the school also pays to the state a portion of the tuition fees it collects. Olian has proposed a plan to reduce Anderson’s state support to zero. Some $9.5 million would then be redirected to the university to benefit its under-funded programs. In return, Anderson would keep all the tuition it receives from students. Donors, she believes, would then be more likely to give money to Anderson if they knew their tax dollars weren’t supporting the school.“What we’re suggesting as a model is to walk completely away from state support,” Olian says. “In return, we would have flexibility and predictability.”
“Our objective through this has been that our students would not feel that they are in a budget environment,” adds Olian. “We’ve invested in the places that matter–in student career services, in program innovations, curriculum renewal and admissions. ”
Unlike UCLA, which does not have an undergraduate business program, Berkeley annually graduates 350 undergraduates in addition to 240 full-time MBA students. “Our undergraduate business majors pay the same as English majors at Berkeley,” says Lyons. “Roughly 25% of the business slots go to junior college transfers as part of the California Master Plan. It’s a social mobility machine, and it’s an important anchor to our public mission.”
At UC-Davis, about 27% of the school’s revenue comes from the State of California, down from roughly 44% in the 2003-2004 academic year. Currall is of much the same mind as Olian at Anderson. He has submitted a plan to the campus leadership to completely phase out the school’s reliance on state funds over the next 10 years.
“We are not talking about seceding from the university, but our business model has to fit with today’s circumstances,” Currall says.
Over the next three years. Currall hopes to increase his open enrollment programs in executive education to five from one and aggressively increase his custom education programs (from just one at Genentech to several).
Currall says he has had no faculty defections and that cutbacks have not been a factor in recruitment, despite the furlough that resulted in a one-time cut in pay in the 2009-2010 academic year.
In fact, the UC-Davis dean is currently investing an extra $350,000 in faculty salaries because the school’s compensation to professors had fallen below others. “It’s better to be preemptive as opposed to nickel-and-diming them and waiting until they get an alternative offer from another school,” Currall says.
“My job is to insulate my students and faculty from this budget challenge,” says Currall. “If that means I have to spend some of my reserve money to do that, I’m going to do that. My job is to raise new sources of revenue to at least break even. So far we’ve done that. I’m still holding 10 to 12% of my total budget in reserve. This is for the rainy day.” | As California slashes billions from its higher education budget, the state’s premier public business schools have quietly focused its efforts on raising private dollars. | 58.111111 | 0.851852 | 2.259259 | high | medium | mixed |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/02/10/album-review-lissie-wild-west/O8TiYzAHsQH0j0hSBU7qtN/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160216052001id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/arts/music/2016/02/10/album-review-lissie-wild-west/O8TiYzAHsQH0j0hSBU7qtN/story.html | Album review: Lissie, ‘My Wild West’ | 20160216052001 | Sometimes getting far away from the pop-making machine frees an artist to create the music closest to her heart. That seems to be the case on Lissie’s third record: independently released, deeply felt, and cloaked in melancholy. Edging back toward her singer-songwriter roots, she relies on a leaner guitar-driven sound. The heartache built into her bluesy voice adds plenty of soul to the clear-eyed songs about relationships and searching for one’s place in the world. The Illinois native’s experience living in the Los Angeles area (she’s moved away) informs a number of tracks; she sings of dislocation in “Wild West” (“Slip and fall if I take one more step”), while “Hollywood” is burdened with disillusion from broken dreams (who knew?). As a songwriter, she continues to have a feel for big, hooky choruses (“Don’t You Give Up on Me”), as well as a tendency to go too broad (“Daughters”). The most sharply etched songs, like “Go for a Walk” (“I want to feel my life”), reveal a singer finding herself. | Stepping away from the pop-making industry, singer-songwriter Lissie reveals her personal voice anew on a lean, nervy album about finding her way. | 7.862069 | 0.689655 | 2 | low | low | mixed |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/02/14/five-things-you-may-have-missed-business-sunday/W1DqQfXbSM26wt9GINkrXP/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160218171450id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/business/2016/02/14/five-things-you-may-have-missed-business-sunday/W1DqQfXbSM26wt9GINkrXP/story.html | What you might have missed from the weekend in business | 20160218171450 | US stock and bond markets will be closed Monday in observance of Presidents’ Day, reopening on Tuesday. In mainland China, markets reopen Monday after the weeklong New Year holiday, with questions about the nation’s growth path and its currency. China’s central bank governor, Zhou Xiaochuan, stepped up efforts to restore stability to the yuan over the weekend, saying there’s no basis for continued depreciation.
FRANKFURT — It used to be that dropping a hint of imminent stimulus was all Mario Draghi needed to move financial markets. Investors will find out Monday if that’s still his game. After a week when bank stocks pulled global equities to their lowest since 2013, the European Central Bank president’s testimony before lawmakers may signal his next policy move. At the same time the specter of a global recession gives the US Federal Reserve reason to rethink its 2016 rate-hike path, Draghi and his colleagues are grappling with a strengthening currency and falling oil prices that once more threaten to tip the euro area toward deflation. “It’s a very disjointed situation for central banks right now,” said Gilles Moec, chief European economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London. “The market seems to be asking a lot from them, demanding action, and at the same time not believing that action will be decisive.” The ECB’s strategy currently rests on quantitative easing — $67 billion in stimulus per month — and a deposit rate of minus 0.3 percent. The goal is to drive inflation from its current level of 0.4 percent to just under 2 percent.
LONDON — The international bank HSBC said Sunday that it has decided to keep its headquarters in London after considering a move to Hong Kong in response to tougher UK banking regulations. The bank said London, a global financial center, is “home to a large pool of highly skilled, international talent. It remains therefore ideally positioned to be the home base for a global financial institution such as HSBC.’’ A move would have been a blow to Britain’s Conservative government, which wants to retain London’s status as a global financial power. CEO Stuart Gulliver said ‘‘having our headquarters in the UK and our significant business in Asia Pacific delivers the best of both worlds to our stakeholders.’’ Europe’s largest bank by market value, HSBC has been shifting its center of gravity toward the fast-growing Asian economies. It has suffered a series of fines and crackdowns in Europe and the United States and wants to capitalize on Asia’s rapidly expanding class of newly wealthy. It also has warned of the economic risks facing Britain if the country opts to leave the European Union and complained about a levy the British government put on banks after the 2008 financial crisis. Treasury chief George Osborne has said that the bank levy will gradually be reduced. Britain’s Treasury said HSBC’s decision was ‘‘a vote of confidence in the government’s economic plan, and a boost to our goal of making the UK a great place to do more business with China and the rest of Asia.’’
TEHRAN — Iran has exported its first crude oil shipment to Europe since it reached a landmark nuclear deal with world powers, the official IRNA news agency reported Sunday. IRNA quoted deputy oil minister Rokneddin Javadi as saying the shipment was the first in five years and marked ‘‘a new chapter’’ in Iran’s oil industry. He did not elaborate but IRNA said several western tankers have loaded Iran’s oil in recent days. Iran plans to add 1 million barrels to its oil production following implementation of the nuclear deal, which lifted international sanctions in exchange for Iran restricting its nuclear activities. Iran expects an economic bonanza after the lifting of sanctions, which will allow it to access overseas assets and sell crude oil more freely. Javadi said Iran has agreements to export oil to France, Russia, and Spain. The country used to export 2.3 million barrels per day but its crude exports fell to 1 million in 2012. Iran’s total production currently stands at 3.1 million barrels per day. In order to retake its market share, Iran said in January that it will add to its production despite the drop in prices and should not be blamed for further price drops. Iran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia is OPEC’s largest producer.
TOKYO — Japan’s economy contracted at a 1.4 percent annual pace in the last quarter as weak consumer demand and slower exports battered the economic recovery. The preliminary data, which may be revised, were slightly worse than expected and were a setback from the 1.3 percent expansion in the previous quarter. The economy shrank 0.4 percent in October through December from the previous quarter. The report by the Cabinet office showed that for the full year, the economy eked out a 0.4 percent pace of growth in inflation-adjusted terms in 2015. | STOCKS AND BONDS
Markets closed for holiday
US stock and bond markets will be closed Monday in observance of Presidents’ Day, reopening on Tuesday. In mainland China, markets reopen Monday after the weeklong New Year holiday, with questions about the nation’s growth path and its currency. | 17.055556 | 0.981481 | 37.648148 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/erica-rosello-charged-child-neglect-florida-arrest-daughter | http://web.archive.org/web/20160225094839id_/http://www.people.com/article/erica-rosello-charged-child-neglect-florida-arrest-daughter | Arrested for Allegdly Leaving Daughter in Burning Apartment : People.com | 20160225094839 | 02/23/2016 AT 09:00 PM EST
A Florida woman has been arrested and charged with child neglect after she allegedly left her daughter in her burning apartment, PEOPLE confirms.
On Thursday, Miami-Dade County authorities responded to a fire coming from the apartment of Erica Rosello, police tell PEOPLE.
Rosello tearfully made her first court appearance on Saturday, PEOPLE confirms.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Carlos M. Guzman read Rosello her charge and granted custody of the six-year-old girl to her grandmother,
According to arresting documents obtained by PEOPLE, a neighbor called authorities after he bumped into Rosello in her apartment complex's hallway, on Feb. 18. The neighbor told authorities that as she was exiting the apartment he saw smoke coming out from under the door.
The witness told police that when he asked Rosello if there was a fire, she allegedly said, "No it's not a fire," the arresting documents state.
He then asked Rosello if anyone was inside the apartment. She allegedly said that the only person inside was her daughter. That's when the witness pulled the fire alarm and called 911, the arresting documents report.
When Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene, the defendant allegedly fled the area.
Authorities saved the six-year-old girl through a bedroom window and transported her to Nicklaus Children's Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, the documents state.
After her daughter was rescued, Rosello called her mother, Angelica Tabio, who asked her to come to the hospital to see her daughter. When she arrived, Rosello was arrested.
After Rosello's bond court hearing on Saturday, Tabio told local media that her daughter suffered from postpartum depression. She said that Rosello decided to try and self-medicate using herbal teas and remedies.
"She decided on her own that the medication was not going to help her, that she was going to start with natural herbs, so she started taking natural tea, taking natural supplements," she said. "She thought she was able to handle it by herself."
Rosello's daughter is expected to recover. | Rosello appeared in bond court on Saturday | 59 | 0.857143 | 1.428571 | high | medium | abstractive |
http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2005/09/2008410121816312186.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160226040715id_/http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2005/09/2008410121816312186.html | EU still stuck on Turkey-Cyprus issue | 20160226040715 | Despite a flurry of diplomatic activity over the weekend, the British EU presidency has failed to find a suitable response to Turkey's stance, which could harm its long-held membership ambitions.
Tensions mounted in July when, while signing a protocol extending a customs accord with the EU to the bloc's 10 newest states - including Cyprus - Turkey declared this did not amount to a recognition of the Nicosia government.
The EU ministers are seeking agreement on a "counter-declaration", but differences over how strongly it should press Ankara to endorse the divided island have so far prevented an accord.
Erdogan says the EUÂ is placing new conditions on AnkaraFew new opportunities are likely before 3Â October, when Turkey's membership negotiations are to begin, and Britain concedes it may be forced to call a special meeting of EU foreign ministers, possibly on 26Â September.
Erdogan says the EUÂ is placing new conditions on Ankara
"We remain hopeful that we won't have to drag the ministers to Brussels," a spokesman for the presidency said.Â
Last week, Britain and France sought support for a compromise stating that Turkey should recognise Cyprus before joining, but that failed to win enough backing in two meetings of EU ambassadors.
Cyprus, which gained independence from Britain in 1960, has been split since 1974 when the Turkish military occupied its northern third in response to a Greek-inspired coup.
The island has never emerged from its division into predominantly Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot sectors, although some travel restrictions between them have eased.
"To raise certain questions that have no pertinence is not worthy of international diplomatic ethics. It is rude" Recep Tayyip Erdogan,Turkish prime minister As far as Cyprus is concerned, Turkey has stifled its economy by banning Cypriot-flagged vessels, which make up the EU's third largest fleet, from entering its ports.
"To raise certain questions that have no pertinence is not worthy of international diplomatic ethics. It is rude" Recep Tayyip Erdogan,Turkish prime minister
In the latest draft of their "counter-declaration", EU ministers would stress that any failure by Turkey to respect customs "obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the [accession] negotiations".
All 25 EU members accept that clause, one EU diplomat says, but some disagree on a passage reading: "Prior recognition of all member states is a necessary component of accession."
The EU diplomat said Cyprus, its key ally Greece and the Czech Republic had refused to accept the wording of the draft, but he gave no further details.
Cyprus maintains that it has strong support for its own draft, which calls for Turkey to recognise it during the membership process and not just before it joins, possibly in 10 to 15 years.Â
"Support for the Cyprus government's position was encouraging and it obliges the EU presidency to take these views on board and come back with a more positive document," said a Cypriot government spokesman.
While the Union debates what position to take, Ankara has grown increasingly impatient, with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing the bloc of placing new conditions on its membership.
"After everything we have done, they are still asking whether accession talks should begin or not," he said.
"To raise certain questions that have no pertinence is not worthy of international diplomatic ethics. It is rude." | The European Union is still struggling to end an embarrassing impasse over Turkey's refusal to recognise member state Cyprus, just two weeks before accession talks are due to start. | 20.625 | 0.6875 | 0.9375 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Report-Kaepernick-s-agents-requested-6854938.php | http://web.archive.org/web/20160226132221id_/http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Report-Kaepernick-s-agents-requested-6854938.php | Report: Kaepernick’s agents request permission to seek trade | 20160226132221 | Photo: Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Colin Kaepernick (7) walks off the field toward the locker room as the San Francisco 49ers played the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, November 8, 2015.
Colin Kaepernick (7) walks off the field toward the locker room as the San Francisco 49ers played the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, November 8, 2015.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in St. Louis. The Rams won 27-6. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in St. Louis. The Rams won 27-6. (AP Photo/Billy
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben
Colin Kaepernick (7) smiled as the last seconds ticked off for a 49er victory Sunday January 12, 2014. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Carolina Panthers 23-10 in Charlotte, North Carolina to advance to the NFC title game against Seattle.
Colin Kaepernick (7) smiled as the last seconds ticked off for a 49er victory Sunday January 12, 2014. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Carolina Panthers 23-10 in Charlotte, North Carolina to advance to the NFC
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) tries to get away from Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas (54) and defensive tackle Peria Jerry (94) during the first quarter at Candlestick Park on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) tries to get away from Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas (54) and defensive tackle Peria Jerry (94) during the first quarter at Candlestick
49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick, (7) warming up before the start of the game as the San Francisco 49ers prepare to take on the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Ca., on Sunday Dec. 1, 2013.
49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick, (7) warming up before the start of the game as the San Francisco 49ers prepare to take on the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Ca., on Sunday Dec. 1, 2013.
Colin Kaepernick completed a short pass to Frank Gore in the second half. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the St. Louis Rams 23-13 at Candlestick Park Sunday December 1, 2013.
Colin Kaepernick completed a short pass to Frank Gore in the second half. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the St. Louis Rams 23-13 at Candlestick Park Sunday December 1, 2013.
Colin Kaepernick shows off his many tattoos at the 49ers practice facility.
Colin Kaepernick shows off his many tattoos at the 49ers practice facility.
Colin Kaepernick (7) congratulates Vernon Davis in the endzone after his touchdown. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the St. Louis Rams 23-13 at Candlestick Park Sunday December 1, 2013.
Colin Kaepernick (7) congratulates Vernon Davis in the endzone after his touchdown. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the St. Louis Rams 23-13 at Candlestick Park Sunday December 1, 2013.
Seattle's Ricardo Lockette, (left) and 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick, exchange uniforns at the end of the game, as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 19-17, at Candlestick Park on Sunday Dec. 8, 2013, in San Francisco, Ca.
Seattle's Ricardo Lockette, (left) and 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick, exchange uniforns at the end of the game, as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 19-17, at Candlestick Park on Sunday
San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick, (7) reacts after further review of a catch by the 49ers Vernon Davis, was ruled a touchdown, during the second quarter as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Carolina Panthers in the NFC divisional playoffs in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday Jan. 12, 2014, at Bank of America stadium.
San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick, (7) reacts after further review of a catch by the 49ers Vernon Davis, was ruled a touchdown, during the second quarter as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Carolina Panthers
Colin Kaepernick (7) ran over the goal line for a touchdown early in the third quarter Sunday January 12, 2014. Luke Kuechly (59) tried to defend. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Carolina Panthers 23-10 in Charlotte, North Carolina to advance to the NFC title game against Seattle.
Colin Kaepernick (7) ran over the goal line for a touchdown early in the third quarter Sunday January 12, 2014. Luke Kuechly (59) tried to defend. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Carolina Panthers 23-10 in
Colin Kaepernick (7) took off for a first down run in the second half Sunday January 19, 2014. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 to win the NFC championship and a trip to the Super Bowl at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington.
Colin Kaepernick (7) took off for a first down run in the second half Sunday January 19, 2014. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 to win the NFC championship and a trip to the Super
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks off the field after the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park on Monday December 23, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. It is the last home game the 49ers will have at Candlestick Park before the stadium is demolished.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks off the field after the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park on Monday December 23, 2013 in San Francisco, Calif. It is the last
49ers qb Colin Kaepernick The San Francisco 49ers play the Jacksonville Jaguars in game two, of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, October 27. 27/10/13, photo: Sean Ryan /NFL
49ers qb Colin Kaepernick The San Francisco 49ers play the Jacksonville Jaguars in game two, of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, October 27. 27/10/13, photo: Sean Ryan
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick puts on his helmet on Nov. 19, 2012, the day of his first NFL start.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick puts on his helmet on Nov. 19, 2012, the day of his first NFL start.
Kaepernick relaxing at home in Turlock with his 100-pound pet tortoise Sammy.
Kaepernick relaxing at home in Turlock with his 100-pound pet tortoise Sammy.
Colin Kaepernick celebrates a touchdown with Alex Boone and Joe Staley during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 30, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Colin Kaepernick celebrates a touchdown with Alex Boone and Joe Staley during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 30, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
From his college days: Kaepernick of the Nevada Wolf Pack looks to pass against the UNLV Rebels in the third quarter of their game at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From his college days: Kaepernick of the Nevada Wolf Pack looks to pass against the UNLV Rebels in the third quarter of their game at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Colin Kaepernick was congratulated by the Dolphins Cameron Wake at the end of the game. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-13 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. Sunday December 9, 2012.
Colin Kaepernick was congratulated by the Dolphins Cameron Wake at the end of the game. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-13 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. Sunday December 9,
Kaepernick, seen here when he was a pitcher for the Pitman High School baseball team. He once threw a seven-inning no-hitter while sick with pneumonia.
Kaepernick, seen here when he was a pitcher for the Pitman High School baseball team. He once threw a seven-inning no-hitter while sick with pneumonia.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick for a gain in the second quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday November 19, 2012.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick for a gain in the second quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday November 19, 2012.
Little Colin's now-famous fourth grade essay in which he proclaimed he planned on someday playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
Little Colin's now-famous fourth grade essay in which he proclaimed he planned on someday playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) celebrates with coach Jim Harbaugh after a touchdown in the third quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday January 12, 2013.
San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) celebrates with coach Jim Harbaugh after a touchdown in the third quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional
Kaepernick in San Francisco: the college QB looks to pass the ball against Boston College during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California.
Kaepernick in San Francisco: the college QB looks to pass the ball against Boston College during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California.
Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack throws the ball against Boston College during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California.
Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack throws the ball against Boston College during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California.
Kaepernick "Kaepernicks" after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers.
Kaepernick "Kaepernicks" after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers.
Colin Kaepernick calls out to his teammates at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the Seahawks and 49ers game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA.
Colin Kaepernick calls out to his teammates at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the Seahawks and 49ers game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA.
Frank Gore and Colin Kaepernick celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on November 25, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Frank Gore and Colin Kaepernick celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on November 25, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick speaks at an NFL football media availability in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. The 49ers will face the Falcons in the NFC championship game on Sunday.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick speaks at an NFL football media availability in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. The 49ers will face the Falcons in the NFC championship game on
Colin Kaepernick shares a light moment with Michael Crabtree and Carlos Rogers.
Colin Kaepernick shares a light moment with Michael Crabtree and Carlos Rogers.
Kap walks off the field after defeating the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Candlestick Park.
Kap walks off the field after defeating the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Candlestick Park.
Kaepernick tries to leap away from St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar and defensive end William Hayes, right, during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, in St. Louis.
Kaepernick tries to leap away from St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar and defensive end William Hayes, right, during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, in St. Louis.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stands on the sideline in Seattle.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stands on the sideline in Seattle.
More tattoos, mostly of the religious variety.
More tattoos, mostly of the religious variety.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 23, 2012.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 23, 2012.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others gather for prayer following the San Francisco 49ers game against the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday December 9, 2012.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others gather for prayer following the San Francisco 49ers game against the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday December 9, 2012.
Kaepernick runs in for a touchdown in the third quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick.
Kaepernick runs in for a touchdown in the third quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick runs in a touchdown in the first quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday January 12, 2013.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick runs in a touchdown in the first quarter of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.,
Kap celebrates at the end of his first postseason start: a resounding victory over the Packers.
Kap celebrates at the end of his first postseason start: a resounding victory over the Packers.
Colin Kaepernick scrambles in the fourth quarter under pressure from Israel Idonije. The San Francisco 49ers played the Chicago Bears on November 19 and won 32-7.
Colin Kaepernick scrambles in the fourth quarter under pressure from Israel Idonije. The San Francisco 49ers played the Chicago Bears on November 19 and won 32-7.
Remember these guys? San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Jeremiah Masoli, Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and McLeod Bethel-Thompson practice during training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., back in 2011.
Remember these guys? San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Jeremiah Masoli, Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and McLeod Bethel-Thompson practice during training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., back in 2011.
Kaepernick calls the play against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 12, 2011.
Kaepernick calls the play against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 12, 2011.
Kaepernick throws against the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday December 30, 2012.
Kaepernick throws against the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday December 30, 2012.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) is tackled by Green Bay Packers free safety M.D. Jennings (43) and outside linebacker Erik Walden (93) during the second quarter of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) is tackled by Green Bay Packers free safety M.D. Jennings (43) and outside linebacker Erik Walden (93) during the second quarter of an NFC divisional playoff
Kap warms up before his first NFL start. The 49ers beat the Chicago Bears 32-7.
Kap warms up before his first NFL start. The 49ers beat the Chicago Bears 32-7.
Colin Kaepernick was 27th in the NFL in completion percentage and 29th in passer rating when he was benched at midseason.
Colin Kaepernick was 27th in the NFL in completion percentage and 29th in passer rating when he was benched at midseason.
Report: Kaepernick’s agents request permission to seek trade
INDIANAPOLIS — On Thursday morning, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly echoed what general manager Trent Baalke had said a day earlier.
That is, the 49ers are eager to have Colin Kaepernick on the team in 2016 and the embattled quarterback shares their excitement.
One minor issue with the feel-good story: It apparently isn’t accurate.
On Thursday evening, about seven hours after Kelly had painted a rosy picture, the NFL Network reported that Kaepernick’s agents have requested permission from the 49ers to seek a trade. One of Kaepernick’s agents, Jason Bernstein, was not immediately available for comment.
The news came after Kelly said he’d had multiple conversations with Kaepernick since he was hired last month and believed the quarterback was eager to start a sixth season with the 49ers based on those talks.
“He wants to be here,” Kelly said. “He has never expressed to me that he didn’t want to be here. He expressed to me that he’s excited about getting healthy and getting going. And we’re excited about him getting healthy and getting going.
“…I don’t know what the narrative is: ‘Is he on the team? Is he not on the team?’ I’m excited to work with Colin. I’ve never thought, ‘Hey, I’m going to go to San Francisco and he’s not going to be there.’ I don’t know why everyone else looks it at that way either.”
Kelly was reminded that Kaepernick has undergone three surgeries since late November and each was performed at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., where he has been rehabbing this offseason. That was viewed as a sign of his displeasure with the team, but Kelly responded by saying it’s not unusual for NFL players to seek second opinions and get treatment at outside facilities.
It was also noted to Kelly that Kaepernick wasn’t thrilled to be the subject of several unflattering national reports provided by anonymous sources last year.
“I understand where you’re coming from,” Kelly said, “but for me it’s a blank slate. And I’m excited.”
It evidently isn’t a blank slate for Kaepernick, who might be difficult to trade, given his career nosedive and hefty salary. He is scheduled to earn an $11.9 million base salary after he ranked 27th in the NFL in completion percentage and 29th in passer rating when he was benched after eight starts. It’s possible Kaepernick would agree to a lesser salary if he was traded.
On Wednesday, Baalke said Kaepernick is “definitely” in the team’s plans for 2016, but acknowledged that he couldn’t guarantee Kaepernick would remain on the roster. It was noted it would behoove the 49ers to publicly praise Kaepernick if they wanted to boost his trade value.
“Guys, you keep going back to the same old s—,” Baalke said. “And the bottom line is all these guys — right now that are under contract — are under contract. And the expectation is to move forward with them. I can’t predict tomorrow, with anybody. The expectation is that (Kaepernick’s) on our roster. I’ve stated that multiple times.”
On Thursday, Kelly said he wants to keep Kaepernick because he is a “really good” quarterback.
“He had the ball on the 5-yard line taking the team in to win the Super Bowl” in 2013, Kelly said. “You can just turn on the tape and know how talented he is. Our job is acquiring talent, not getting rid of talent.”
Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch | Kaepernick’s agents request permission to seek trade INDIANAPOLIS — On Thursday morning, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly echoed what general manager Trent Baalke had said a day earlier. On Thursday evening, about seven hours after Kelly had painted a rosy picture, the NFL Network reported that Kaepernick’s agents have requested permission from the 49ers to seek a trade. The news came after Kelly said he’d had multiple conversations with Kaepernick since he was hired last month and believed the quarterback was eager to start a sixth season with the 49ers based on those talks. He expressed to me that he’s excited about getting healthy and getting going. Kelly was reminded that Kaepernick has undergone three surgeries since late November and each was performed at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., where he has been rehabbing this offseason. [...] the bottom line is all these guys — right now that are under contract — are under contract. On Thursday, Kelly said he wants to keep Kaepernick because he is a “really good” quarterback. Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. | 18.668246 | 0.947867 | 25.440758 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/06/200841010150537697.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160226231622id_/http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/06/200841010150537697.html | Martin Luther King papers on display | 20160226231622 | The collection, including a draft of the 1963 I Have a Dream speech, will be sold in a single lot. Organisers say they hope it will go to a museum or university where scholars and the public will be able the items.
The June 30 sale is the latest attempt by the family of the murdered civil rights leader to sell the collection. In 1999 the US Library of Congress was close to buying it until the sale was blocked over concerns about the $20 million price.
Congress voted to authorise the money, but the sale fell apart in committee hearings as questions were raised over whether the decision would discourage future public donations to the library.
Sotheby's, which has valued the collection at $15 million to $30 million, tried to arrange a private sale to an institution in 2003, but there were no acceptable bids.
The sale follows the death of Kingâs widow, Coretta Scott King, in January but the family has not said why the papers are being sold now.
The King estate runs the King Centre in Atlanta, which includes his crypt and a museum. The centre has seen financial and management disputes among the King children.
Telegrams, suitcases and planetickets on display in New York
"The family has decided some time ago that they really did want to pass this on to other ownership, and there have been discussions with a number of institutions," said David Redden, Sotheby's vice chairman.
"I think since Mrs King's death, there is a bit of urgency."
The family has kept close guard on King's legacy, causing occasional controversy, such as when its lawyers challenged USA Today's right to print the text of King's famous I Have a Dream speech in 1994.
Among the more than 10,000 manuscripts and books in the collection are his Letter from Birmingham Jail, and a telegram inviting King to Lyndon Johnson's signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the crowning achievements of the civil rights movement.   John Lewis, Democratic House member from George and a veteran of the civil rights movement, said he believed King would "be surprised that people are going to bid on papers and books for such a high price. He saw himself as an ordinary human being". | Speeches, sermons, books and notes by civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr have gone on display in advance of an auction that is expected to raise up to $30 million. | 11.684211 | 0.605263 | 1.131579 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2003/11/200849164235728308.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160227045129id_/http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2003/11/200849164235728308.html | Crushing defeat for Rios Montt | 20160227045129 | The Guatemalan Republican Front accepted defeat on Tuesday ending Rios Montt's hopes of regaining power through the ballot box.
It was a crushing defeat for the fiery 77-year-old former general, who spent the past few years planning a return to power at the ballot box.
The ruling party, known by its Spanish initials FRG, had remained quiet since Sunday's vote, only Guatemala's second presidential election since the end of its 36-year civil war.
That had raised fears its supporters might protest results showing Rios Montt finishing third, out of next month's run-off between the top two candidates.
Edin Barrientos, who was Rios Montt's vice presidential running mate, said on Tuesday the party accepted defeat.
"Of course we accept the results. The election is an expression of the people and the people didn't vote for us," Barrientos told Reuters.
"For the United States, it is important I state clearly that support for military forces and intelligence units which engaged in violence and widespread repression was wrong and the United States must not repeat that mistake"US President Bill ClintonMarch 1999
"We know the people are the judges and if they say no, it's no. What are we going to do? We go back to the opposition," he said. "The people did not vote for us because the media spoke badly of us throughout the campaign."
With 85% of votes counted, conservative businessman and landowner Oscar Berger led with 35% support.
A former Guatemala City mayor backed by the country's wealthy elite and the main newspapers, Berger fell short of an outright majority.
He now faces a runoff on 28 December against leftist politician Alvaro Colom, who won about 26% of the vote.
Rios Montt, who ruled the impoverished Central American nation with an iron fist in the early 1980s, trailed with 17%. His share was expected to rise only slightly as returns came in from Guatemala's most remote rural areas.
The FRG also lost its control of Congress. Rios Montt's 1982-1983 dictatorship was the bloodiest period of Guatemala's 36-year civil war.
Survivors and rights groups accuse him of ordering massacres of civilians in Maya Indian villages as part of a "scorched-earth" campaign against leftist rebels.
In March 1999, campaigners were staggered when US President Bill Clinton apologised for America's support for brutal right-wing governments in Guatemala during the civil war in which 200,000 people died.
Making admissions that the campaigners never thought they would hear, Clinton announced: "For the United States, it is important I state clearly that support for military forces and intelligence units which engaged in violence and widespread repression was wrong and the United States must not repeat that mistake."
No American president had ever before so directly admitted the US role in the atrocities.
A forensic anthropologist checksa mass grave in August 2003
At the time, newly declassified intelligence documents added graphic details of the massacres, kidnapping and torture committed by Guatemalan security forces who were trained and equipped by the CIA and US forces.Â
Now campaigners say they are building a genocide case against those allegedly responsible, including Rios Montt, who is the FRG's secretary-general and leads it in Congress.
He could face trial once his parliamentary immunity ends at the end of his legislative term in January.
Analysts said Guatemalan voters rejected Rios Montt because of his civil war legacy and because the outgoing FRG government of President Alfonso Portillo had been plagued with corruption allegations and a rise in organised crime.
Portillo was barred from seeking a second four-year term.
Although Berger came in first on Sunday, he is linked to a traditional elite many poor Guatemalans despise, and some analysts say Colom could pull ahead in the run-off by winning smaller parties' support.
Berger has accused Colom of seeking an alliance with Rios Montt's FRG, but Colom said on Monday he had no plans to meet with Rios Montt. "We're not interested in that," he said. | Former dictator Efrain Rios Montt was dealt a hammer blow when his Guatemalan Republican Front party was defeated in the country's presidential elections. | 30.153846 | 0.692308 | 1.153846 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/02/200849154616808501.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160227104434id_/http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/02/200849154616808501.html | Muhammad cartoon row goes global | 20160227104434 | The cartoons were originally published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten then reprinted by several European papers.
In the Palestinian territories armed groups have threatened to attack Danish, French and Norwegian nationals in retaliation for what they view as an insult to Islam.
In Lebanon Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Shia movement Hizb Allah, said that few people would dare to insult Islam if an Iranian religious edict to kill British novelist Salman Rushdie in the late 1980s had been followed through.
"If there had been a Muslim to carry out Imam Khomeini's fatwa against the renegade Salman Rushdie, this rabble who insult our Prophet Muhammad in Denmark, Norway and France would not have dared to do so," he said.
In 1989 Ayat Allah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran's revolutionary leader issued a fatwa (religious edict) demanding Rushdie's execution over his best-selling novel the Satanic Verses.
Khomeini had deemed the novel blasphemous and insulting to the Prophet Muhammad.
In Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah condemned the publication of the sketches and said it would only give ammunition to those intent on disrupting international relations.
"Printing this is an affront for ... hundreds of millions of people," he said.Â
Civilisations of the world needed dialogue, he added, warning that "extremists from all sides" would exploit the controversy to damage that.
The cartoons have sparked a growing tide of angerIn Turkey foreign ministry spokesman described the decision to publish the cartoons as "unfortunate", and urged the press in other countries to exercise caution over what it publishes.
The cartoons have sparked a growing tide of anger
In Pakistan, hundreds of students set fire to French and Danish flags in protest at the drawings.
Indonesian Muslims too expressed their anger over the caricatures to a visiting Danish Red Cross official. Dozens of people picketed the governor's office in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, during a visit by Jorgen Paulsen, the Danish Red Cross secretary-general. The Indonesian state news agency Antara quoted Paulsen telling the protestors that the publication of the 12 sketches was a "stupid action".
However, he added: "Our government cannot stop the press from publishing materials that could offend people because the press is extremely free there."
Paulsen was in Makassar to discuss assistance related to the handling of floods in the province.
Indonesian tabloid Rakyat Merdeka took the controversial step of republishing several of the cartoons on its website, with at least one altered to be less offensive, although it still prompted criticism from a Muslim legislator.
Yuri Thamrin, the Indonesian spokesman for the foreign ministry, said freedom of expression could not justify indignity towards a religion. | <P>Muslims in Asia and Europe have joined a growing chorus of anger across the Muslim world over a series of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad. </P> | 16.806452 | 0.612903 | 0.935484 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/after-a-close-shave-the-beardless-status-quo-returns-to-politics-1452460870 | http://web.archive.org/web/20160227172149id_/http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/after-a-close-shave-the-beardless-status-quo-returns-to-politics-1452460870 | After a Close Shave, the Beardless Status Quo Returns to Politics | 20160227172149 | America’s highest-ranking facial hair has fallen to the razor. In November Paul Ryan made headlines when he quit shaving, becoming the first House speaker with a beard since the appropriately named Frederick Gillett in the 1920s. But last week, as Congress came back into session, Mr. Ryan once again banished the bristles, saying that he would begin the new year with a fresh start and a fresh shave.
Mr. Ryan’s flirtation with whiskers is emblematic of a recent resurgence of beards in nearly every sector of American life. One can find them on blue-collar workers, elite athletes, Hollywood stars and Silicon Valley CEOs. Observers may brush this off as a fickle fashion, but there’s more to facial hair than meets the eye.
Most Americans are not aware, for example, that in 1976 the Supreme Court upheld the right of employers to regulate their workers’ facial hair. The justices recognized that mustaches and beards carried social significance that might undermine the esprit de corps in police departments, corrode discipline in schools, and threaten businesses’ bottom line. Walt Disney banned facial hair on amusement park workers until 2012, and McDonald’s still tolerates beards only for religious reasons.
A shaved face, since the early years of the 20th century, has signified the right sort of manliness: modern, orderly, professional. These norms are enshrined in prejudice, custom and law. Now, however, this definition of manhood is being challenged from both the left and right.
We can glean insight into what is afoot—or, rather, aface—from the last time beards achieved cultural dominance: the era stretching from the 1850s to the 1880s. The shift to beards then was impelled by a combination of male pride and anxiety. Men, in the vein of Teddy Roosevelt, sought to prove themselves by climbing mountains and hunting elephants. The beard became a symbol of masculinity, a solace as women claimed new rights and authority.
The unshaven today are likewise compelled by pride and worry. As in the late 19th century, our era extols competition and celebrates self-reliance. Traditional views of gender identity, marriage and family are undergoing profound renovation. Men are again seeking the tangible assurance that a beard or mustache offers.
However, there are powerful forces acting against this movement. Political leaders especially are held to an exacting standard, because they must win the public trust. In a study at Oklahoma State University last year, students were presented with paired photos of bearded politicians and their clean-shaven counterparts. Female students perceived the hirsute men as less feminist, and said they were less likely to vote for them.
The Republican presidential nominee in 1948, Thomas Dewey, may very well have lost that close election because he flouted convention with a tightly cropped mustache. Women, regardless of party, seemed to disapprove. In 1944, during Dewey’s first presidential run, the conservative journalist Edith Efron wrote about his mustache—and about the mustache in general: “It perplexes. It fascinates. It amuses. And it repels.”
A letter to the editor a month later agreed: “The man who decides to sport lip adornment asserts his masculinity and desire to tyrannize over the home,” wrote Cornelia Von Hessert, a prominent model. “No matter how prettily he waxes it, droops it, shingles it, at heart he’s the Man’s Man and ruler of his own roost.”
Mr. Ryan received a similar tongue-lashing from radio talk-show host Laura Ingraham, who sarcastically referred to him as “the bearded wonder” and said, “he’s got to lose that beard; it makes him look ridiculous.” Chalk one up for conservative feminism: Women feel entitled to criticize the way a man looks, and shame him into changing his style.
Which will it be: men regulated or unleashed? Mr. Ryan’s return to the razor indicates that we may soon witness “peak beard.” We live in uncertain and restless times, to be sure. But the history of Western civilization has conditioned us, rightly or wrongly, to read a well-shaved face as the mark of a responsible and reliable man.
Mr. Oldstone-Moore teaches history at Wright State University. His book “Of Beards and Men: The Revealing History of Facial Hair” is just out from the University of Chicago Press. | Christopher Oldstone-Moore writes that after a close shave for Paul Ryan, the beardless status quo returns to politics. | 38.272727 | 0.636364 | 1.090909 | high | low | abstractive |
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/24/obituaries/24KOWA.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160229193207id_/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/24/obituaries/24KOWA.html | Peter Kowald, 58, Jazz Bassist and Traveler, Dies | 20160229193207 | Peter Kowald, the German bassist who worked in the realm of free improvisation and brought to his musicianship a lifetime of wide traveling and study and an admiration of interdisciplinary art, died early Saturday morning after a performance in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He was 58 years old, and died of a heart attack at the home of his friends and colleagues, the bassist William Parker and the dancer Patricia Nicholson.
Mr. Kowald, always based in Wuppertal, Germany, had been visiting New York periodically for a year and a half. There was great power and concentration in his improvising: he had a broad, strong sound, impeccable intonation and could spend long periods investigating a single pitch and its overtones. At certain moments, he would bend his torso so that his bald head pointed toward the audience, aim his mouth at the resonating chamber within the bass and perform the low subharmonic growls of Mongolian throat-singing, which he had learned while staying a Buddhist monastery in Japan during the early 1980's.
He was an early associate of the saxophonist and European free-jazz patriarch Peter Brötzmann, also from Wuppertal; they first played together in Mr. Kowald's late teens, and he took part in Mr. Brotzmann's raw and epochal "Machine Gun" album in 1968.
By 1966 he was also performing with Alexander von Schlippenbach's Globe Unity Orchestra. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he performed in a trio with the American trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and the drummer Gunter Sommer; he played in endless duo and trio formats with an international cast of improvisers.
With Mr. Parker and Ms. Nicholson, he helped organize the Sound Unity festivals of improvised music in New York City in 1984 and 1988; in 2000, he drove a station wagon around America for three months, playing solo concerts and small concerts with local musicians.
He is survived by a sister, Cornelia Tsirigotis, of Aachen, Germany; a brother, Bernd Kowald of Bonn, Germany; two daughters, Maruta Kowald-Abdelhadi of Antwerp, Belgium, and Sytske Kowald of Doetinchem, the Netherlands; and three grandchildren.
Doing research? Search the archive for more than 500,000 articles: Today's News Past Week Past 30 Days Past 90 Days Past Year Since 1996 | Peter Kowald, a German bassist who worked in the realm of free improvisation, brought to his musicianship a lifetime of wide traveling and an admiration of interdisciplinary art. | 13.83871 | 1 | 7.645161 | low | high | mixed |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/02/29/mit-scraps-dorms-for-met-storage-building/NcruBqzPvO9mKYQ5t6YhsK/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160301095646id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/02/29/mit-scraps-dorms-for-met-storage-building/NcruBqzPvO9mKYQ5t6YhsK/story.html | MIT scraps dorms for Met Storage building | 20160301095646 | Apparently turning a block-long, century-old brick fortress of a storage facility into student housing is too hard to pull off, even for some of the most brilliant engineers and architects in the world.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has decided to scrap its plan to convert the recently closed Metropolitan Storage warehouse into dorms, saying the project was just too technically challenging. The school will build dorms elsewhere and find another use for the castle-like structure that looms over Massachusetts Avenue near the heart of the MIT campus.
“We had hoped that the Met Warehouse might be repurposed as fun and functional student housing,” Karen Gleason, an engineering professor leading efforts to reuse the building, said in a post on the MIT News website in February. “The building’s age and style makes this a vexing undertaking for a September 2018 opening, even for our solutions-oriented community.”
Rehabbing the 250,000-square-foot building — which stretches for a block along Albany Street — was bound to be a challenge.
Storage customers returned to Cambridge from many corners of the earth last fall to collect their belongings.
It was built in phases starting in 1894 and is a vast floorplate of interior hallways and storage lockers wrapped in thick brick walls. MIT last year proposed a series of light wells that would light interior rooms — the building’s historic status limits what can be done with its small windows. But after further study and talks with students about their ideal dorm design, it became clear it would be hard to turn the warehouse into a residence hall.
Metropolitan Storage’s closing is a sign of the times in growing Cambridge, where housing is in short supply.
“While the building’s beautiful and complex structure present enticing opportunities for creative reuse, these same features also present unique architectural and design challenges,” MIT wrote.
The place was built as a storage facility and housed Metropolitan since it opened in 1894. MIT bought the building in 1966 and leased it back to Metropolitan. After announcing the rehab plans last year, storage customers returned to Cambridge from many corners of the earth to collect their belongings.
The closing prompted a brief civic kerfuffle last summer, when the Cambridge City Council passed a resolution urging MIT to delay taking over Metropolitan to give storage customers more time to relocate. Nothing came of that measure, though. Mayor Denise Simmons, who proposed the delay, didn’t respond to a request for comment Monday.
Metropolitan shut its doors for good at the end of January, and as of mid-February, the building was empty and in MIT’s hands, Metropolitan owner Neal Mizner said. The business had been in his wife’s family for generations, but he said that once he began notifying customers last August that Metropolitan was closing, Mizner, too, began to move on.
“There was no turning back for me after that point,” Mizner wrote in an e-mail.
As for the building’s future, MIT had hoped to open more than 400 dorm rooms there by the fall of 2018.
Now MIT says it will “develop a quick study” of dorm sites on its campus west of Mass. Ave. and consider using the Metropolitan Storage building for research and innovation, study areas, and so-called “maker spaces.”
It will take longer than planned, but Gleason, in the news release, said she was optimistic the old warehouse will see new life eventually.
“As we proceed with our plans for the creative reuse of the Met Warehouse, we are as confident as ever that our work will make this building far more of a distinctive asset to our community than it has ever been before,” she said. | Massachusetts Institute of Technology has decided to scrap its plan to convert the recently-closed Metropolitan Storage warehouse into dorms, saying the project was just too technically challenging. | 23.16129 | 1 | 14.612903 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.nytimes.com/1865/09/20/news/jefferson-market-before-justice-dodge.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160303183633id_/http://www.nytimes.com/1865/09/20/news/jefferson-market-before-justice-dodge.html | Jefferson Market Before Justice Dodge. | 20160303183633 | shouted GEORGE H. WILLIAMSON and GEORGE MERRIWETHER, on Monday evening, while under lock and key in the West Thirty-fifth-street Police-station, whither they had been taken by Policeman HAWKINS, of the Twentieth Precinct. At court, yesterday morning, SAMUEL MANDO, head-waiter of the steamer Chauncey Vibbard, entered complaint against MERRIWETHER, for felonious assault, in stabbing him in the breast with a sword-cane, and on this complaint, in default of $1,000 bail, the accused was committed for trial at the Court of General Sessions. It appears that on the trip down from Albany, on Monday afternoon, WILLIAMSON and MERRIWETHER, who are Kentuckians who have not rid themselves of secession sentiment, drank to excess, and in their bacchanalian revelry gave offence to their fellow-passengers, by avowing themselves rebels, singing the "Bonnie Blue Flag," and cheering for the "eminent Christian gentleman and General, ROBERT E. LEE." Nobody, however, kicked the "Kentucky gentlemen," and having been unable to create a riot, and thus enable their confederates to pick the passengers' pockets, one of the dunces engaged in a quarrel with MANDO, the chief colored waiter, and stabbed him, as above, in the breast. WILLIAMSON, who is not accused of assault, was committed for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. It is Justice DODGE's desire that these fine sprigs of the Southern chivalry shall have a taste of Northern prisons, and have as companion.
provided the police can capture that pink of Eighth Ward propriety. GEOGHEGAN, who is known, in Yorkville, the Eighteenth Ward, and several other sections of the city, whence he has been expelled, as a politician and pugilist, has opened a den in Watts-street, and fully prepared himself for the pending political canvass. The present charge against him is preferred by Mr. MOSES DE LEEUW, of No. 121 Seventh-avenue, tobacconist, and the allegation is false pretence, under which he purchased $150 worth of cigars, for which he has since declined to pay. Mr. CHARLES ENGEL, also a tobacconist, makes a like complaint, alleging that on the 14th instant GEOGHEGAN and one WILLIAM H. PINDER, his barkeeper, purchased $120 worth of cigars and refused to pay therefor. Officer O'BYRNE, of the court, apprehended PINDER, and he was required to find bail in $500, to answer at the Court of General Sessions. GEOGHEGAN is at large. | REMEMBER ANDERSONVILLE!" shouted GEORGE H. WILLIAMSON AND GEORGE MERRIWETHER, on Monday evening, while under lock and key in the West Thirty-fifth-street Police-station, whither they had been taken by Policeman HAWKINS, of the Twentieth Precinct. At court, yesterday morning, SAMUEL MANDO, head-waiter of the steamer... | 7.4375 | 0.921875 | 52.578125 | low | medium | extractive |
http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/a-cane-for-the-blind-that-senses-tall-obstacles-1457025921 | http://web.archive.org/web/20160304041058id_/http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/a-cane-for-the-blind-that-senses-tall-obstacles-1457025921 | A Cane for the Blind that Senses Tall Obstacles | 20160304041058 | As an undergraduate studying computer science and engineering in New Delhi, Rohan Paul, the son of two doctors, took on a class project working with the blind. He learned that the white cane, which many visually impaired people depend on for mobility, has a major shortcoming: It doesn’t allow users to detect obstacles at or above knee level, such as tree branches, road barriers, car doors and clotheslines.
“Each person had a story of how they were hit on the head,” he says. Parents of blind children “were scared of sending their children to school because they were afraid they’d smack their heads.”
So back in 2005, Dr. Paul and his classmates developed a prototype device to help blind people detect such obstacles. In the years since, he says, “this extracurricular class project became a mission.”
After a Rhodes scholarship at Oxford, where he earned a Ph.D. in mobile robotics, Dr. Paul returned to India and worked on refining the device. It is a small, handle-shaped attachment for the top of a cane, with an ultrasonic sensor that perceives taller obstacles that the cane alone would miss. The polycarbonate, battery-powered attachment vibrates when a user approaches an obstacle—the closer the object, the faster the vibrations. At a distance of up to 8 feet, it can detect an object as small as just over an inch across.
When potential users told Dr. Paul, 31, and his colleagues what they ideally wanted, they cited ease of use, safety and affordability. They also sought to avoid stigma. “People wanted something so subtle,” he says. Men wanted to avoid bumping into women on the street—and the resulting humiliation. Women wanted something small and light. The goal, Dr. Paul says, was “safe, independent mobility with dignity.”
When he tested the device from 2012 to 2014 with nearly 200 people in six cities, users reported 90% fewer upper-body collisions than with an ordinary cane.
With support from Britain’s Wellcome Trust, Dr. Paul and his team completed the device and brought it to market in 2014. More than 10,000 people in India, many helped by a government subsidy, now use the SmartCane. It is manufactured and distributed via a partnership between the Saksham Trust, a Delhi-based nonprofit, manufacturer Phoenix Medical Systems and the Indian Institute of Technology, where Dr. Paul, now a postdoctoral fellow at MIT, co-founded the Assistive Technologies Laboratory.
Similar devices exist but cost more than the SmartCane’s price of $50. “People have been trying to put sensors on canes for a very long time, but there was still an unmet need for a low-cost, effective, usable device,” Dr. Paul says—not a small consideration in India, which is home to at least eight million blind people, according to the World Health Organization in 2010.
Dr. Paul notes that improving mobility for blind people helps lead to less social isolation and better access to education and jobs. “Mobility is not an end in itself,” he says. “It’s a means to an end.” | A class project to help the blind turned into a mission for Rohan Paul | 43.857143 | 0.928571 | 1.928571 | high | medium | mixed |
http://www.people.com/article/jane-virgin-exclusive-first-look-petra-twins | http://web.archive.org/web/20160304094247id_/http://www.people.com/article/jane-virgin-exclusive-first-look-petra-twins | Petra Delivers Twins! : People.com | 20160304094247 | 03/03/2016 AT 04:50 PM EST
just got a little cuter.
Petra (Yael Grobglas) will give birth to twins on the March 7 episode of the CW dramedy – and PEOPLE has the First Look at the happy occasion.
"Rafael is late so Jane steps in and is really there for Petra while she is giving birth," Grobglas – who is featured in the current issue of PEOPLE – says of how her character welcomes her twins into the world. "Petra has worked really hard to have a guard up because of what she's gone through and becoming a mom is forcing her to be real and accept help from Jane."
Gina Rodriguez (as Jane) and Yael Grobglas (as Petra) on Jane the Virgin
Scott Everett White / The CW
Fans of the show have watched as Petra and Jane (
) have transformed from nemeses in love with the same man (
) to two young mothers with an almost sisterly bond.
"It's been amazing to see Jane and Petra's relationship grow," Grobglas, 31, says of the characters' developing kinship. "And as an actress, it was great having Gina in my corner that day."
Yael Grobglas (as Petra) and Justin Baldoni (as Rafael) on Jane the Virgin
Scott Everett White / The CW
Groblas has enjoyed watching her character grow and develop over the past two seasons and is thrilled fans will be given the opportunity to see Petra as a mom.
has been such a gift for me. The show has been an incredible opportunity to grow and learn and the cast has become like family to me," she says. "Petra has grown from being just a villain to being a really nuanced character. And now that Petra is going to be a mom, the viewers are going to get to see a completely new side of her."
And although she wasn't giving birth for real, Grobglas says she has a new-found respect for the birthing process.
"I prepared by watching birthing videos, which was terrifying but beautiful," she says. "And on the day of filming, I had to breathe heavy for about 12 hours and almost passed out. I was so glad to have a great crew member there watching out for me and making sure I had water and rested when I needed to. If that was what it was like giving fake birth, I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to actually give birth one day."
airs Mondays (9 p.m. ET) on the CW. | Star Yael Grobglas takes PEOPLE inside the moment that Petra gives birth to twins on The CW dramedy's March 7 episode | 22.863636 | 0.772727 | 2.227273 | medium | low | mixed |
http://www.people.com/article/high-school-musical-4-dream-cast | http://web.archive.org/web/20160304095704id_/http://www.people.com/article/high-school-musical-4-dream-cast | Dream Cast : People.com | 20160304095704 | 03/03/2016 AT 09:00 AM EST
Minds are spinning at the news that
is making a comeback – mostly because this time, it'll be with an entirely new cast.
It's an understandable (although heartbreaking) decision. After all, the first movie premiered a decade ago, so it would be a tough sell to convince audiences that Zac Efron and co. are still high school age.
But even though the East High originals may be moving on, there's lots to look forward to – and here are a few suggestions of
, we know Palmer can handle high school – and she's got the vocal chops to take on the Gabriella-esque role. We'd also like to see Palmer bring her signature attitude (that we saw in both
) to the role, giving it a decidedly different-than-Gabriella spin.
Zac Efron brought two major things to his role in
: good vocals and killer abs. The Biebs has already proved he has
He's only released a few singles, but that's been more than enough to prove he's got his head in the game when it comes to music. Also, he's adorable – just like Corbin Bleu.
– but she definitely knows how to stir up a controversy. And after
, we know the girl's got moves.
Just like high school theater vet Ryan Evans, Styles is used to being on stage. Not to mention, he takes extra care with
She's wise beyond her years, just like East High's resident intellectual, Taylor McKessie. Plus, it's about time the BFF character got a solo of her own. | They better learn how to stick to the status quo | 32 | 0.4 | 0.8 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://fortune.com/2012/08/08/businesss-real-problem-uncertainty-uncertainty-uncertainty/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20160310025300id_/http://fortune.com:80/2012/08/08/businesss-real-problem-uncertainty-uncertainty-uncertainty/ | Business’s real problem: Uncertainty, uncertainty, uncertainty | 20160310025300 | FORTUNE — When CEOs tell me that their No. 1 concern is uncertainty, as a great many do, my first reaction is skepticism. Please. Life is uncertain. Is this moment really different?
Actually it is: Economic uncertainty, especially policy uncertainty, is greater than it has been in many years. And if you’re wondering why the U.S. economy is barely moving or why millions of workers can’t find jobs, extraordinary uncertainty is a major part — maybe the largest part — of the answer.
High uncertainty creates a loop of paralysis, and that’s what we’re in right now. Policymakers have no idea what’s going to happen, so they sit on their hands, as the Federal Reserve did recently. “Nearly all participants” in the latest Federal Open Market Committee meeting said that the economic outlook was more uncertain than it had been over the past 20 years, according to the minutes; the committee took no action, and the Dow dropped. The minutes also reported that business leaders were telling committee members that “heightened uncertainty” had led them “to put potential investment projects on hold until the uncertainty is resolved.” And what were those business leaders uncertain about? Government policy. An index of policy uncertainty created by economists at Stanford and the University of Chicago backs their view, showing that policy uncertainty has been much higher in recent months than during the previous 25 years.
More: Why this month’s good jobs news won’t last
The business leaders were most uncertain about tax and regulatory issues. Those things are always changeable, but the potential swings could make you dizzy. After the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare in June, Mitt Romney and Republican congressional leaders promised to repeal it if they win the election in November. So the biggest-ever regulation of the largest sector of the world’s largest economy, affecting every employer and individual in the country, either will continue as the law of the land or will disappear. Who can even think about planning in those circumstances?
It’s similar with the fiscal cliff at year-end: the killer combination of mandatory cuts in federal spending and the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Even assuming that Congress averts a plunge over the edge, no one knows how it will happen. A short-term fix, by far the likeliest outcome, will do nothing to get the economy moving because it leaves businesspeople wondering what comes next. Investment and hiring decisions are not short-term. Research by Abdiweli M. Ali of Harvard concluded, “Lack of confidence and skepticism about the stability of economic policies force investors to postpone capital investment … They cannot undo decisions about fixed capital every time the government reverses its economic policy.”
This isn’t just economic theory. Uncertainty is creating real suffering. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that uncertainty about the fiscal cliff alone could reduce U.S. economic growth by 0.5% in the second half. In an economy growing at less than 2%, that’s a lot, representing billions of dollars that won’t be available to hire people.
More: The dollar is now corporate America’s worst enemy
Who’s to blame? A hyperpolarized Congress is an uncertainty-generating machine. Obamacare was enacted without a single Republican vote in either chamber; when the House voted recently to repeal the law, only five Democrats voted with 239 Republicans. The message to businesspeople: Don’t count on anything that passes without substantial bipartisan support. And little of significance seems to be enacted that way anymore.
Another thing CEOs often tell me is that the precise content of policy may be less important than its predictability. If they know the rules, they’ll play to win. It’s when they don’t know the rules, like now, that they get stuck. Give the election’s winners, whoever they are, until March to show that they’re leaders rather than kids throwing tantrums. Until then — and who knows, maybe beyond — we’re going nowhere fast.
This story is from the August 13, 2012 issue of Fortune. | It's hard for corporate chiefs to plan for the future when they're waiting for a closetful of shoes to drop. | 34.130435 | 0.434783 | 0.521739 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.people.com/article/padma-lakshmi-top-chef-weight-diet-new-book | http://web.archive.org/web/20160310101313id_/http://www.people.com/article/padma-lakshmi-top-chef-weight-diet-new-book | How Padma Lakshmi Keeps Her Figure During | 20160310101313 | 03/09/2016 AT 02:05 PM EST
If there's one enduring mystery about
, the show's host and executive producer, stay so slender?
"I'm the only person on
who consumes every single thing that's made," says Lakshmi, who sat down with PEOPLE and
editorial director Jess Cagle to talk about her revealing new memoir,
And when she gets to the point where she has to take action, she uses her own home remedy: Cranberry Drano.
She describes the drink as "revolting." Still, she adds, "it is very useful for me."
often I'm consuming thousands of calories a day," she tells Cagle. "And I'm doing this every day, for weeks on end. And so, you feel just drunk and full of food."
Michael Stewart / Getty Images
The recipe for "Cranberry Drano," which is included in her book, requires pure unsweetened cranberry juice, green tea brewed with honey, fiber powder, a vitamin C packet and water.
"It all gets stirred up and handed to me two or three times a day before I go on set or right after I come off set to keep the pipes clean," she says.
Then once a season wraps, she goes into what she calls "food detox." "That means after Top Chef, I cut out alcohol, sweets, all dairy, except non-fat yogurt and cottage cheese, red meat, all things fried and all sugar," she notes. "What's left is vegetables, lentils, fish, chicken and rice. And no flour." It's always been hard, she says, however, "It's harder now with a child at the house because I can't throw away her goldfish!" | Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi invents a drink called Cranberry Drano to "clean out the pipes" | 19.611111 | 0.833333 | 1.166667 | medium | medium | abstractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/03/10/ecb-takes-bold-steps-stimulate-eurozone-economy/Sm6cC68EWLZdFgMZ1e4q8O/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160312094740id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/03/10/ecb-takes-bold-steps-stimulate-eurozone-economy/Sm6cC68EWLZdFgMZ1e4q8O/story.html | ECB takes bold steps to stimulate eurozone economy | 20160312094740 | FRANKFURT — Faced with a eurozone economy stubbornly resistant to revival, the European Central Bank on Thursday went where no central bank — at least no major one — had gone before.
It said it would effectively pay commercial banks money to borrow central bank funds.
The offer, one of a half-dozen measures the central bank announced Thursday, means banks that participate would pay back less at the end of the four-year loan than they borrowed. It’s the same as if your bank offered you a no-interest loan, plus a free toaster as a bonus.
Banks will qualify for the money only if they lend it on to consumers and businesses. And there are other conditions. The money cannot be used for mortgages, for example.
The step represented a significant escalation of the ECB’s efforts to get banks to lend more money, apply a jolt to the eurozone economy, and head off the threat of a destructive decline in prices known as deflation.
Many economists now believed that the Federal Reserve will raise its benchmark interest rate only two times this year, instead of the four projected.
The barrage of other measures included an increase in the purchases of government bonds and other assets. The purchases will rise to 80 billion euros, or about $88 billion, a month, up from the current level of 60 billion euros. In another unprecedented step for the eurozone, the central bank will begin buying corporate bonds as part of the monthly asset purchases.
The spending is meant to pump more money into the laggardly eurozone economy.
The central bank also cut its benchmark interest rate, the main refinancing rate, to zero, from 0.05 percent.
And it lowered its deposit rate — the interest commercial banks receive for their holdings at the ECB — to minus 0.4 percent, from minus 0.3 percent. By charging banks more to keep deposits at the central bank and less to borrow from it, Mario Draghi, the ECB president, and his colleagues hope to make it less attractive for commercial banks to hoard cash.
Whether the broad and even radical set of measures will have an effect, only time can tell. But their sheer scope underscores the challenges that Draghi is up against in trying to formulate monetary policy with so many forces working against sustained economic growth in Europe.
Those negative forces include a drop in demand for eurozone exports from emerging countries like China, unstable financial markets, and a decline in confidence among consumers and business managers.
Together, those drags on the economy of the 19-country eurozone are a reason the bloc’s unemployment rate is more than double that of the United States, and why eurozone growth has lagged the US rebound in recent years.
The whiff of desperation in Thursday’s moves helped explain why stocks gave up initial gains after Draghi’s remarks. And the euro rose against the dollar — a potential drag on eurozone exports — after he said that rates would not be cut further.
In normal times, commercial banks earn interest on money parked at the central bank, and pay money to borrow. That convention will now be reversed, at least in some cases.
The new approach, being paid to lend, will apply to a special program that allows banks to borrow money for four years, provided they lend the money on to consumers and businesses.
Initially banks will pay zero percent interest, the new main benchmark rate. But if the commercial banks meet certain criteria, they will get a bonus of 0.4 percent annually on the value of the loan after two years, applied retroactively.
Theoretically, banks would be able to refinance up to 30 percent of their loan books under this new arrangement.
There has been considerable debate among economists about whether the central bank measures have done any good. There are also risks. For example, negative interest rates on central bank deposits could hurt bank profits even as many lenders are struggling with bad loans or other troubled assets.
The new, extraordinarily favorable terms announced Thursday on money borrowed from the central bank may help to counteract the drag on lenders’ profits, though Draghi said that was not the goal. | Faced with a eurozone economy stubbornly resistant to revival, the European Central Bank on Thursday went where no central bank had gone before. | 32 | 1 | 18.28 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2014/02/11/a-lot-on-hollandes-plate-as-he-dines-with-obama.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160313205207id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2014/02/11/a-lot-on-hollandes-plate-as-he-dines-with-obama.html | A lot on Hollande's plate as he dines with Obama | 20160313205207 | The European Union has set a deficit target for its 28 members of 3 percent to ensure there is no repeat of the 2010 debt crisis which brought the euro zone to breaking-point. Last May 2013, France, whose 2012 deficit stood at 4.8 percent, negotiated a two-year extension with the EU to reach the 3 percent mark, agreeing a 3.9 percent target for 2013. Later on that year, it was forced to revise that figure higher to 4.1 percent.
All the while, growth forecasts were going in the opposite direction. The government which had originally banked on a 0.8 percent GDP number for 2013 had to cut it to 0.1 percent in April.
"Despite a considerable structural effort, which essentially results from a rise in taxations, the cyclical and structural deficits should therefore remain more elevated than the average of the other members of the euro zone and European Union," the report warned.
The Court highlights that the uncertainty over achieving the target is due to the combination of lower-than-expected revenues and faster-than-expected spending, caused in part by slow growth and stubbornly high unemployment.
"I don't think it's a surprise to anyone" Nicholas Spiro, managing director at Spiro Sovereign Strategy, told CNBC by telephone, adding that it put the "uncertainty about the French government's plans to cut public spending into sharper relief."
"There's been countless warnings from the Court of Auditors and other multinational bodies about the urgency of fiscal and structural economic reforms."
(Read more: Hollande avoids personal life as he unveils reforms)
In a push to kick-start the French economy, Hollande announced back in January that the government would implement labor reforms through a "Responsibility Pact" and endeavor to cut 50 billion euros ($68 billion) out of its spending by 2017.
Hollande's "rhetoric is admirable and the diagnosis is spot on", explains Spiro, but "it's all very foggy", especially as it will be "very difficult" for the President who is in a "very weak position politically and in an extremely weak position economically."
Taxes from both households and businesses, the Court report says, might not fill the country's coffers and it estimates that even though the government foresees a 3.0 percent rise in fiscal revenues, a 1.5 percent increase would be more likely.
Furthermore, it describes France's savings targets as "overestimated" and "notes the absence of any margin of security to face unforeseen expenditures."
"France is sinking in excessive debt, excessive regulations and excessive taxes" warns Spiro and this is "crunch time" for the Gallic economy. What it needs is fiscal and public finance reforms, and in order to lower payroll taxes, the government would need to "aggressively attack the public spending side."
(Read more: Hollande suffers further blow as French unemployment worsens)
Follow us on Twitter: @CNBCWorld | France's President sits down to caviar, quail eggs and rib-eye beef at the White House. But he has to deal with unpalatable news back home. | 18.451613 | 0.548387 | 0.612903 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://fortune.com/2012/08/02/as-facebook-loses-value-so-does-instagram/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20160315054350id_/http://fortune.com/2012/08/02/as-facebook-loses-value-so-does-instagram/ | As Facebook loses value, so does Instagram | 20160315054350 | FORTUNE — “You never know, it could be the next Instagram.”
I have heard that line, or some variation thereof, from venture capitalists more than a dozen times since Facebook FB agreed to acquire the mobile-sharing site back in April for “$1 billion.” It’s supposed to mean that overpaying can sometimes pay off, and that big returns aren’t always predicated on helping to build large, sustainable businesses.
But as Facebook shares continue to slide, the fairy tale is beginning to darken.
For the uninitiated, Instagram raised $50 million in venture capital funding at a $500 million valuation on April 4 or 5. That weekend, Facebook offered to buy the company for $1 billion. The deal was announced on Monday. Sure there had been bigger multiples and dollar amounts than 2x and $50 million, respectively, but usually those results took years on the calendar and countless hours in the boardroom. This was settled in just a matter of days, without the VCs having to do any actual operational work with the company. The internal-rate-of-return (IRR), which takes time into account, was extraordinary.
Unfortunately, the deal didn’t actually close on April 9. In fact, it still hasn’t closed.
Facebook originally said Instagram would be in-house by the end of Q2, but has since extended the timeline to sometime before the end of 2012. Each day that goes by eats gently into the IRR.
More importantly, only $300 million of the purchase price was in cash. The rest was in Facebook stock, which today closed trading down around 4% to just $20.04 per share. That puts the total deal value at $760 million. Still a hell of a return on an April valuation of $500 million, but much less impressive than it had originally appeared. And, for context, the cash-on-cash return is now down to just around $26 million.
Break-even would be around $8.69 per Facebook share.
To be sure, there’s a very good chance that Facebook’s value will rebound and carry Instagram’s venture backers along for the ride. But at some point the VC market is going to realize that Instagram is not its gold standard. Right now, it’s staring at the bronze.
Sign up for Dan’s daily email newsletter on deals and deal-makers: GetTermSheet.com | Staring way up at $1 billion. | 59.25 | 0.875 | 1.875 | high | medium | mixed |
http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/03/15/07/41/vatican-set-to-approve-mother-teresa-elevation-to-sainthood | http://web.archive.org/web/20160316071941id_/http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/03/15/07/41/vatican-set-to-approve-mother-teresa-elevation-to-sainthood | Vatican set to approve Mother Teresa elevation to sainthood | 20160316071941 | Mother Teresa with Pope John Paul II in 1997. (AAP)
The Vatican committee that approves elevations to sainthood will meet this week to consider a recommendation that Mother Teresa of Calcutta becomes Saint Teresa.
With the long-awaited decision seen as a formality, Pope Francis is expected to sign a decree approving the canonisation of the 1979 Nobel peace prize winner and set a date and venue for it to happen.
The Albanian nun and missionary will be one of five candidates for sainthood considered by the Vatican panel on Tuesday but by far the most high-profile.
The canonisation is widely expected to take place on September 4, the eve of a previously-scheduled celebration of her memory.
What is unclear is whether the pope will bow to appeals from the Catholic Church in India and travel to Calcutta for the ceremony or, as Vatican sources say is more likely, preside over one in Rome.
More than 300,000 pilgrims came to Rome in 2003 for Teresa's beatification - the first step towards sainthood.
Known across the world, Teresa was awarded the Nobel for her work with the poor, sick, old and lonely in the slums of the Calcutta, one of India's biggest cities, now known as Kolkata.
She is revered by many Catholics but has also been attacked as a "religious imperialist" who attempted to foist her beliefs on a community in which they had no indigenous roots. | The Vatican committee that approves elevations to sainthood will meet Tuesday to consider a recommendation that Mother Teresa of Calcutta becomes Saint Teresa, the Holy See announced on Monday. | 8.83871 | 0.870968 | 8.096774 | low | medium | mixed |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/03/16/federal-reserve-keeps-key-interest-rates-steady/KhBLMPQMgLkaw5CHeTfHPI/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160317200632id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/business/2016/03/16/federal-reserve-keeps-key-interest-rates-steady/KhBLMPQMgLkaw5CHeTfHPI/story.html | Federal Reserve keeps key interest rates steady | 20160317200632 | WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is keeping a key interest rate unchanged in light of global pressures that risk slowing the US economy.
As a result, Fed officials are forecasting that they will raise rates more gradually this year than they had envisioned in December. The officials now foresee two, rather than four, modest increases in their benchmark short-term rate during 2016.
The Fed said Wednesday that the economy has continued to grow at a moderate pace but that the global economy and financial markets still pose risks. Offsetting the threats, the Fed said in a statement after a policy meeting that it foresees a further strengthening in the US job market. It also expects inflation, which has stayed persistently low, to reach the Fed’s 2 percent target in two to three years.
Stock investors seemed pleased by the Fed’s expectation of a more gradual pace of rate increases. The Dow Jones industrial average, which had been up modestly before the Fed’s statement was issued, gained more than 100 points soon after.
Since raising its key rate from a record low in December, the Fed has held off on raising rates again given market jitters and a sharp slowdown in China.
Resuming its rate hikes too soon could slow growth or rattle investors again. This week, the government said that retail sales slipped in February and that Americans spent less in January than it had previously estimated. The report suggested that consumers remained cautious about spending despite a solid job market and lower gas prices.
The Fed’s decision was approved 9-1, with Esther George, president of the Fed’s Kansas City regional branch, dissenting. The statement said George favored a quarter-point rate hike now.
In its updated forecasts, the Fed revised its outlook to show two rate hikes this year. The forecast is based on responses from all 17 Fed officials who participate in the discussions, not just the 10 officials who vote at each meeting.
In a nod to the financial market turbulence that hit in the beginning of the year over concerns about falling oil prices and weakness in China, the Fed statement said, ‘‘Global economic and financial developments continue to pose risks.’’
It noted that ‘‘inflation picked up in recent months’’ but remained below the Fed’s desired 2 percent target. It said prices were being kept low by the ‘‘transitory effects’’ of lower prices for energy prices and imports, which are cheaper because of a strong dollar.
The Fed has two mandates: To maximize employment and to keep prices stable. It has essentially met just one: In February, the United States added a robust 242,000 jobs — roughly the monthly average for the past six months. And the unemployment rate is a low 4.9 percent, close to the rate the Fed associates with full employment.
But inflation has been stuck below the Fed’s 2 percent target rate for nearly four years. Too-low inflation tends to lead people to postpone purchases, which slows consumer spending, the economy’s main fuel. Subpar inflation also makes the inflation-adjusted cost of loans more expensive.
Before further raising rates, the Fed wants to see more evidence that inflation is picking up. Its preferred inflation gauge did rise in January to a 12-month increase of 1.3 percent, faster than the scant 0.7 rise over the 12-month period that ended in December. But that’s still well below the Fed’s target.
The government reported Wednesday that core consumer prices — which exclude volatile food and energy costs — ticked up for a second straight month. Over the past 12 months, while overall consumer inflation has risen only 1 percent, core inflation has increased 2.3 percent, the sharpest 12-month increase since 2012.
Recent comments from Fed officials indicate that they differ on how to interpret inflation prospects.
Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said last week that the Fed may ‘‘be seeing the first stirrings of an increase in the inflation rate — something that we would like to see.’’
Fischer suggested that two factors that have been depressing inflation — lower oil prices and a strong dollar, which reduces import prices — may be starting to wane.
But another Fed board member, Lael Brainard, said last week that she saw ‘‘troubling indications’’ that inflation could dip again. She also said she worried that weakness in China, Japan and other places could slow the US economy. | Fed officials also see just two rate hikes this year, according to their latest projections, down from a previous estimate in December of four increases. | 30.321429 | 0.785714 | 1.785714 | medium | medium | mixed |
http://www.cnbc.com/2014/08/12/vimeo-draws-youtube-stars-with-promise-of-money.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160325090701id_/http://www.cnbc.com:80/2014/08/12/vimeo-draws-youtube-stars-with-promise-of-money.html | Vimeo draws YouTube stars with promise of money | 20160325090701 | "There are a lot of people who have built a tremendous audience on YouTube, been very successful but it is a behemoth, there's a ton of content being uploaded by users and personalities so it's hard to stand out and be heard amidst all of the video," Southern said.
Read MoreHot trends in LA's startup scene
"So when you want to put out something premium I think it's really exciting for YouTube creators to be able to look elsewhere for a different type of experience for their viewers to have," she said.
Activity like this helped fuel Vimeo's 45 percent revenue growth in the second quarter. Now the company has 11,000 on-demand videos, 170 million monthly unique visitors, and nearly half a million paid subscribers to its platform.
Vimeo may have a only a fraction of YouTube's traffic, but the appeal is that it can enable creators to make more money, Trainor said.
"When a creator attracting hundreds of thousands or millions of subscribers tries to monetize through advertising you're looking at as little as a dollar per one thousand views, meaning I have to stream something a million times to make a $1,000, so even before YouTube takes their cut," Trainor said. "We have creators who are earning tens of thousands of dollars selling things single-digit-thousands of times."
Watch: Cashing in on YouTube
Vimeo isn't the only one trying to cash in on YouTube fans. Maker Studios has its own video hub, Maker.TV. And Fullscreen and Defy Media, both of which work with YouTube stars, are also trying to help talent find more profitable distribution channels.
But Trainor stresses that he's not trying to compete directly with YouTube, but create a complementary service, for both consumers and content creators, drawing an analogy HBO and broadcast television. "If YouTube is the broadcast experience on Internet steroids we believe that Vimeo can be the same premium cable experience with the same open global approach that the Internet empowers. | YouTube stars can draw millions of followers, but now a rival wants to steal some of its marquee names—and attract more viewers. | 15.076923 | 0.615385 | 0.846154 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2014/10/29/roku-thrives-despite-amazon-apple-google-pressure.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160328115651id_/http://www.cnbc.com:80/2014/10/29/roku-thrives-despite-amazon-apple-google-pressure.html | Roku thrives despite Amazon, Apple, Google pressure | 20160328115651 | "Our sales have never been better," Wood said in an interview. "Every time these things happen, the market grows and sales accelerate."
Amazon jumped into the hardware side of the market earlier this year with a $99 streaming box, joining a crowded field that includes Apple, Google and TiVo. They all allow customers of Netflix, Hulu and HBO Go to watch shows and movies on demand along with an assortment of sports, news and music channels.
With HBO and CBS rolling out streaming-only options, there's a land grab for consumers seeking alternatives to traditional pay TV.
Wood says that Roku has several advantages over its deep-pocketed rivals. In addition to being first to market and having over a half decade of experience, Roku's singular mission is to sell boxes and promote the services on top.
Amazon, Apple and Google, meanwhile, compete elsewhere, and are inclined to promote their own products over others. Neither Chromecast nor Apple TV, for instance, includes Amazon's Instant Video service.
"We have more content, it's simpler to use, and we're neutral," Wood said. "Everyone else has an agenda."
Read MoreI could kick myself over Netflix
And because streaming is the heart of Roku's business, it has the attention of the entire 300-person company.
But Roku is no longer just about selling end-to-end devices with its own hardware. The company is licensing its software to serve as the operating system for Web TVs. Asian manufacturers Hisense and TCL are selling Roku-powered TVs that have all the capabilities of streaming along with connecting to whatever cable box, game console or Blu-ray player a consumer uses. It's similar to a model that Google and Yahoo have unsuccessfully tested.
Growing faster than its hardware or licensing business, Wood said, is the company's advertising unit. Roku is showing display ads on its main menu, promoting films like "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" or "The Lego Movie." Some channels offer free ad-supported content, where the commercials come from Roku's stable of advertising partners.
That all adds up to a higher margin business than one that relies solely on selling boxes and sticks. Better profitability has made it easier to attract investors, which was historically a challenge for Roku. | Amazon's deeper dive into the streaming TV market is little more than a calendar item for Roku. | 24.157895 | 0.736842 | 1.263158 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.people.com/article/jay-pharoah-saturday-night-live-star-talks-barack-obama-impression | http://web.archive.org/web/20160329223659id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/jay-pharoah-saturday-night-live-star-talks-barack-obama-impression | Jay Pharoah on Showing Off His Barack Obama Impression : People.com | 20160329223659 | 03/28/2016 AT 09:40 AM EDT
cast member and master impersonator
has certainly lived through some awkward moments – like when one of
's friends made Pharoah do his famous Jay-Z impression in front of the rapper – but none were as scary as doing his
in front of the President himself.
"It was the most petrifying experiences," Pharoah, 28, tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "I met him in 2013 and had to do it right in front of his face. And you don't want to tick off Barack Obama! He's got access to the military. I'm sure he know where I live! You might never hear from me again!"
Luckily Obama had a great sense of humor about it. "He thought it was great," Pharoah says, diving into his best POTUS. "He said, 'You did ⦠good.'
As for his run in with Jay-Z, Pharoah says he didn't realize Jay was standing right behind him when he dove into his hilarious mimic.
"He was like, 'Oh, snap!' and then gave me a handshake and said, 'What up, fake Jay-Z!' " recalls Pharoah, adding, "He's a legend." | The Saturday Night Live comedian says the experience was "petrifying" | 20.916667 | 0.666667 | 0.666667 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20160328-expat-life-in-the-land-of-hobbits | http://web.archive.org/web/20160401045033id_/http://www.bbc.com:80/capital/story/20160328-expat-life-in-the-land-of-hobbits | Expat life in the land of hobbits | 20160401045033 | When Lizzie Brandon first arrived in Auckland, New Zealand in 2008, she used to write down things about her new home that were different to life in Bedford, England, more than 11,000 miles away.
Some items on that list? “Nobody wears shoes… you don’t have to tip.”
While not everyone in Auckland walks around barefoot, it’s true that tipping is relatively unheard of. But for a newcomer these relative oddities say a lot about the city’s laid-back, egalitarian vibe.
With 1.4 million people, Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, a remote country in the South Pacific known more for hobbits, rugby and sheep than being a draw for foreign workers. But with 39% of its population born abroad, it’s one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities — even more so than London or New York.
Kiwis (a nickname for New Zealanders based on their national bird) are fond of the outdoors, and Aucklanders are no different. The city is built on an isthmus between two harbours, and with rugged hills and black-sand beaches to the west and golden bays to the north, it’s a haven for fishing, sailing, hiking, cycling and most other leisure activities that involve getting out of the house.
We feel genuinely privileged and grateful to live here.
The city’s outdoorsy nature and cosmopolitan makeup are two reasons why it often ranks high on annual global liveability lists – recruitment consulting firm Mercer last month listed it third in its annual Quality of Living Rankings for the third year running and Auckland is ninth on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s list of the world's most liveable cities. Overall, the country rates highly as a place to live for foreign workers — HSBC listed New Zealand as the second-best place to live for expats in its latest Expat Explorer survey.
Brandon agrees it’s a great place for foreigners. “We love it. We really, really love it,” said the 45-year-old, who moved to Auckland after her husband Sean got a job offer as a roofing contracts manager. The couple live in Browns Bay, a quiet suburb on the city’s north shore. Coming from flat, landlocked Bedford, it’s a luxury for Brandon to have the beach at her doorstep.
“We still have to pinch ourselves when coming over the hill to our home in Browns Bay and seeing the ocean. The view is stunning,” she said. “We feel genuinely privileged and grateful to live here.”
Generally, people wanting to work in New Zealand will be granted a visa if they either have a job offer from an accredited employer, have specialist skills or work in fields that are in demand, such as biotechnology and creative industries. The New Zealand government has a list of some 700 in-demand skilled occupations on its website.
Some people apply for permanent residency straight away through a points system, which rewards applicants for qualifications and needed skills.
They’re entitled to all of our healthcare benefits and education, and are treated just like a New Zealander.
Those with a job offer can get a two-year Work to Residence (Talent) visa which allows expats to upgrade from a temporary to resident visa. Libby Svensen, director of New Zealand-based relocation company Relocations International, said most of her expatriate clients arrive on a two-year working visa, which has benefits on its own.
“They’re entitled to all of our healthcare benefits and education, and are treated just like a New Zealander,” she said. “All that has to happen on top of that is that their kids have a student visa, so they don’t have to pay international fees [for schooling].”
White-collar professionals are the most common type of employee in the city, which is positioning itself as a high-tech hub for information communications technology (ICT). Auckland mayor Len Brown said the ICT sector is growing at about 15% every year. “It’s about 14% of the entire regional economy at the moment.”
He said there is strong investment from China and the US “in particular Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego — there’s a number of businesses that are looking to invest and establish themselves in Auckland.”
Many multinational tech companies have bases there, such as Vodafone, Cisco and Microsoft. There are also opportunities in the financial services, engineering and construction, tourism and life sciences industries.
Auckland’s time zones mean the work day overlaps with the US (there is currently a four-hour time difference between Los Angeles and Auckland) and parts of Asia.
Auckland’s housing market is notoriously overcooked. The average house price jumped almost 18% last year — the average value in the Auckland region is now NZ$926,000 ($623,000), although prices have cooled somewhat in recent months.
Svensen said rent is “inappropriately expensive”.
“It’s not a New York or a London, but it’s very poor value for money. In New Zealand dollars you’re paying NZ$450 a week ($303) for a basic two-bedroom apartment and paying NZ$900 ($605) a week for a nice, tidy but simple three-bedroom townhouse in the suburbs.”
Although there are some apartments in the city centre, the vast majority of families live in houses in the suburbs. “Generally families orient towards the suburbs because that’s where the schools are,” Svensen said.
Suburbs near the central business district, such as Ponsonby, Herne Bay and Parnell contain beautiful villas and leafy streets, but can be very expensive — the average three-bedroom home costs around $1.2 million ($807,000).
It’s not a New York or a London, but it’s very poor value for money.
Many people, priced out of the central suburbs look further west, north or south. But living further out comes with its own challenges — it’s not uncommon for Aucklanders to have an hour-long commute each way.
Auckland is a large, spread-out city and most people drive — those coming from other international cities may be surprised at the relative lack of public transport. The city’s rail network is patchy, with no underground rail network. Buses do run to most places but can be sparse on the weekends.
When the traffic’s bad, it’s absolutely appalling. If one thing goes wrong, everything is gridlocked.
Because of the reliance on cars, traffic can get pretty bad during the daily commute. Brandon agrees — she drives over the Auckland Harbour Bridge to get to her home from the city. “When the traffic’s bad, it’s absolutely appalling. If one thing goes wrong, everything is gridlocked.”
But things are slowly improving — public transport patronage is growing by about 10% each year, and earlier this year authorities approved the construction of the City Rail Link, an underground rail system due in 2018-19 which should ease pressure on the network.
New Zealand is known as an outdoorsy nation, and Auckland is no different. Some of the city’s beaches, such as Mission Bay and Takapuna Beach, are very close to the city’s main centres. Further west, the Waitakere Ranges offer excellent hiking and the rugged black-sand beaches of Piha and Muriwai attract surfers from all over the world.
It’s so lovely that everyone has boats and goes fishing on the weekends.
Being perched right on the Hauraki Gulf, many Aucklanders take to the water to relax — whether it’s sailing in weekend regattas or taking a trailer boat out early to catch fish. It’s one thing that Brandon noticed when she arrived. “It’s so lovely that everyone has boats and goes fishing on the weekends.”
Those who prefer staying indoors with a meal aren’t out of luck either. Auckland has a thriving restaurant scene and when it comes to café culture, it fancies itself as at least equal, if not superior to its Australian neighbours Sydney and Melbourne. Locals ask for a flat white — smaller than a latte, it consists of velvety microfoam poured over a double ristretto shot — that any Auckland barista should be able to make.
New Zealand has a good reputation as a quality producer of New World wines, and there are some excellent vineyards on the city’s doorstep. Waiheke Island, a 35-minute ferry ride from the CBD, is a great spot to tour the vineyards and sample the wares afterwards.
For the most part, the people of New Zealand, and Auckland, have a laid-back, egalitarian approach to life and generally are friendly, welcoming and approachable. Tipping is not expected or part of the culture.
Most Aucklanders take their sport very seriously — rugby is something of a national obsession, so those who want to break the ice quickly may want to familiarise themselves with the game. Kiwis enjoy a good-natured rivalry with their Australian neighbours, in everything from sport to coffee to breakfast spreads.
“Hobbiton is two hours south of where we live,” Brandon said. “That still blows my mind.”
To comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Capital, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter. | With a laid-back, outdoorsy vibe, New Zealand’s largest city is often called one of the world’s best places to live. Here’s how to land a job there | 51.771429 | 0.914286 | 2.228571 | high | medium | mixed |
http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/maloney-fielding-numerous-offers-as-nhl-draft-approaches-062515 | http://web.archive.org/web/20160404155531id_/http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/maloney-fielding-numerous-offers-as-nhl-draft-approaches-062515 | Maloney fielding numerous offers as NHL Draft approaches | 20160404155531 | GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The NHL's most candid general manager was a locked vault on Wednesday evening. As the Coyotes prepared for the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday in Sunrise, Florida, Don Maloney wasn't giving away his game plan.
That's normal this time of year. Smoke screens and misdirection play as large a role as real possibilities in a GM's pre-draft tactics. Maloney, however, is also dealing with some unexpected dilemmas.
By Wednesday evening, he said he had four or five "legitimate offers" for the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, with three to four more "tire-kickers" whose offers made him believe they weren't all that serious.
"I guess I am surprised at the type of names being presented for trades, outright," Maloney said. "These are people that would fit into our future plans; existing NHL players. It speeds up your development timeline a little bit, so they are offers you really have to stop and consider."
Maloney said there is also interest in trading down in the draft, with additional players the team might be able to acquire out of that scenario. One team offered him a pair of mid-first round picks and a player. He did not specify the years of those picks.
Winnipeg has the 17th and 25th picks in this year's draft. Ottawa has the 18th and 21st picks. Toronto has two picks, but one is early (No. 4), one is No. 24. Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reported that one of the teams believed to be in the mix for that No. 3 pick is Columbus, which owns the No. 8 overall selection.
"There's one team that has been very aggressive in different scenarios, and if they pay us what we want, we will trade the No. 3 pick," Maloney said. "The only way we're going to trade down is to get a young player who can be a part of that (Max) Domi, (Anthony) Duclair, (Brendan) Perlini group of players going forward."
Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida
When: First round on Friday, 4 p.m.; Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, 7 a.m.
TV: Friday, NBC Sports Network; Saturday, NHL Network
Locally: The Coyotes will hold a rally for fans at the team's viewing party on Friday from 3-7 p.m. at Gila River Arena. Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers will perform live. Coyotes' first-round draft picks Brendan Perlini (2014), Max Domi (2013) and Connor Murphy (2011) along with second-round draft choice Christian Dvorak (2014) will be at Gila River Arena to introduce the Coyotes' new home and away uniforms. The uniform unveiling will take place on the arena floor from 3:30-4 p.m.
Maloney reiterated a trend that many executives have noticed: There is an appettite for trades before and during the draft.
"What's happening right now is I think teams are trying to move contracts out; even younger players," he said. "You've got these future contracts where maybe a second-year pro is going to make a major leap forward a year from now and maybe the team sees the need to move someone out sooner rather than later.
"At some point these teams are going to realize that to move this money, you're not going to get the return you wanted. When that happens, then we can talk. Right now, the price is really high."
If the Coyotes do stay put at No. 3, the choice boils down to the same four players whose names have been bandied about the local media since the Coyotes' season turned irreversibly south: centers Dylan Strome and Mitchell Marner and defensemen Ivan Provorov and Noah Hanifin.
"The best thing about this pick is it's not something that was sprung on us at the last minute," Maloney said. "We've had five months to evaluate the pick. I think we know what we want to do, but there are different things being discussed because of these offers."
As is normally the case, any deal the Coyotes make will come on the draft floor -- perhaps even when they are on the clock.
Maloney has said several times that this draft class goes about a dozen player deep, so moving down to acquire an extra piece could benefit the team's rebuilding process. The Coyotes also need top-end talent, particularly at the center position. The team is pleased with OHL center Christian Dvorak's progress, and there is hope that Laurent Dauphin and Ryan MacInnis can help down the road, but stockpiling players at this vital position -- in a conference rich in centers -- is still a priority.
"I would expect there will be even more activity between now and the draft," Maloney said. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I've said it before, the draft really starts with our pick at No. 3."
Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter
Round 1: No. 3 Round 1: No. 30 (from Chicago) Round 2: No. 32 Round 2: No. 60 (from New York) Round 3: No. 63 Round 3: No. 81 (from Minnesota) Round 5: No. 123 Round 7: No. 183 | Coyotes GM Don Maloney said he has received four or five legitimate offers for the team's No. 3 overall selection in the NHL Draft. | 39 | 0.962963 | 2.148148 | high | high | mixed |
http://www.people.com/article/chris-young-acm-awards-vegas | http://web.archive.org/web/20160404163450id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/chris-young-acm-awards-vegas | Chris Young Interview : People.com | 20160404163450 | updated 04/03/2016 AT 08:30 PM EDT
•originally published 03/31/2016 AT 08:15 PM EDT
No matter what happens at
on Sunday, it's already a record-breaking night for
"It's the first time I've ever had multiple nominations at one awards show before!" Young tells PEOPLE of being nominated for album and single of the year. "I was pretty shocked. On top of everything else, getting a nomination for producer on the first record I've produced is freaking cool. It's obviously going to be a crazy time in Vegas."
Though Young, 30, says Vegas doesn't get as wild as you might think it would when Nashville's hottest stars descend on it.
"There's definitely some gambling, but we don't ever really get too crazy because we don't have time to do that," he says. "You're working and you've always got something to do the next day that you can't stay up late for or wear sunglasses to. I try to keep it in check most of the time."
In addition to his two nominations, Young is also looking forward to seeing his pal
"I've actually specifically not bothered him too much about it because I don't want to make him more nervous," says Young. "He's really looking forward to it, I've talked to him a couple times. He'll be awesome at it, I'm sure. I'm definitely pumped for him." | "You're working and you've always got something to do the next day that you can't stay up late for or wear sunglasses to," Young tells PEOPLE | 9.0625 | 1 | 23.1875 | low | high | extractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2013/12/19/enterprise-technology-trends-for-2014commentary.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160405094323id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2013/12/19/enterprise-technology-trends-for-2014commentary.html | Enterprise-technology trends for 2014 | 20160405094323 | (Read more: Gas below $3?! The boldest predictions for 2014)
Software applications and business tools get smarter
In addition to progress with enterprise applications, traditional analog business tools are becoming increasingly smart and digitized. Machine to machine communication will change the way enterprises plan logistics, maintain security, and even conduct human resources.
Splunk, a $190 million San Francisco based corporation that went public last year, offers web applications for analyzing massive sets of machine generated data. This year also saw a flurry of robot and smart machine oriented acquisitions and investments (Boston Dynamics by Google, and Amazon's automated delivery drones to name a few).
(Read more: Robots, self-driving cars—what's Google doing?)
But in 2014, expect smart machines and embedded sensors to transform the way the enterprise perceives and manages operational health and productivity.
Enterprise applications with real-time operational data feeds from factory machines, truck fleets, and facility sensors will be a godsend for executives. But from an IT perspective they will require enhanced security to manage access and protect information.
Regardless of the industry, disruptive technologies will transform the way enterprises manage, augment, and analyze operations. From our biased perspective, we believe that innovative software development will be the catalyst for such growth in 2014.
Enterprises will use HTML5 as an economical way to build cross-platform apps for employees. Individual departments from HR to Finance will start churning out their own exclusive apps for relevant employees. And as 2014 emerges and progresses, software development trends will continue to evolve alongside smart devices and sensor embedded industrial equipment.
Throughout 2014, enterprises will continue to assert control over the real-time data that is central to their growth, while providing pervasive and secure access to employees who put such data to work.
Himanshu Sareen is the founder and CEO of mobile-app and web-development company Icreon Tech in New York City. Follow Icreon on Twitter @icreontech. | There's a lot of disruption on the way for enterprise technology. Here are predictions for 2014 from the founder and CEO of Icreon Tech. | 14.185185 | 0.814815 | 1.925926 | low | medium | mixed |
http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/a-chefs-new-starting-point-1459894498 | http://web.archive.org/web/20160406030807id_/http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/a-chefs-new-starting-point-1459894498 | A Chef’s New Starting Point | 20160406030807 | Scott Conant had his eye on a career in plumbing, but ended up on the culinary track at his vocational high school.
Now he is a regular fixture on the Food Network and last month opened Impero Caffé, a casual Italian restaurant at the Innside New York NoMad Hotel. He previously helped open New York City restaurants L’Impero, Alto and Scarpetta.
Mr. Conant, 45 years old, lives with his family near the new cafe, making for an easy commute, but he sees it as the first in a constellation of Impero restaurants across the U.S. He spoke with the Journal about celebrating with tequila, why he won’t eat crickets, and the street food he secretly eats. Edited excerpts follow.
How did you get into cooking?
At 15 I started working full time. I went to a vocational school in Connecticut. I couldn’t get into the plumbing program, so I took culinary. True story.
I was later asked to go into the program, and I said, I kind of like this cooking thing.
So plumbing was your top choice?
Yeah. I still wear my pants like that sometimes.
Your new restaurant invokes your first big New York success, L’Impero. Why?
I love the idea of kind of taking that brand, so to speak, as a new starting point. I changed everything. Everything is fresher, and I like to think it’s evolved. This is a casual cafe with no pretense and not a lot of luxury ingredients on the menu.
After leaving Scarpetta, you talked about starting a high-end restaurant called Conant. Is that still on?
Conant will be the signature brand beacon, so to speak, and everything—Impero Caffé, Impero Bistro, Impero Steak—those restaurants will be under Conant. Conant will happen in New York. Not in this hotel.
This is more of a cafe feel—not in a negative way. It’s just not a Conant.
What’s a food you love that you wish you hated?
Skippy extra-chunky, reduced-fat peanut butter. I can’t keep the stuff in the house. I will eat half a container.
What’s a food you hate that you wish you loved?
I don’t eat insects. I know that’s a trend a lot of people are talking about, cricket flour and stuff like that as an alternative protein in the future. I have a really hard time. Crickets look too much like cockroaches, and cockroaches freak me out.
What’s the food you console yourself with?
Probably tequila, which is also a celebratory thing. I like tequila because it makes me happy. It’s not a depressant. I don’t drink as much as I used to. I really enjoy drinking. Not in a creepy way.
I really enjoy the process of sitting down, relaxing, and you know when you take the first sip of something in the evening and then you’re just like [exhales deeply]? That moment.
Cooking with my daughters [ages 3½ and 6] is one of the best things in the world…I cook pasta, I’ll make ragus, I’ll make soups. Like on a Sunday, especially in the winter time, trying to just fill the home with stewed chicken and things like that, so they’ll recognize those things for the rest of their lives.
Where do you go to celebrate?
Café Boulud is just, like, for me, the epitome of elegance. I love it.
I just had a birthday party with a bunch of friends and we went to Uncle Boons. That was wonderful, and I could see myself spending a lot of special evenings there.
What’s the next restaurant on your list to try?
Vandal. I always say [to Chris Santos, the chef] your food is 10 times better than what it needs to be. Thank God he thinks it’s funny because most chefs would, like, throw something at me.
When was the last time you waited in line?
I don’t do lines. I’m so bad at that. Probably waiting for a coffee online at an airport is the last thing I did.
What’s the city’s most overrated food trend?
A lot of times what happens: you know serving things on wood, right? All of a sudden it’s like a firestorm. Everyone is serving everything on wood, slabs of wood, slices of wood, and it looks great, it’s wonderful. But then it just becomes so overdone and overwrought.
What’s the first thing you remember eating in New York City?
Fondue with my parents. It was a completely random spot that was a little bit cozy in Midtown. We just happened upon it. It was freezing outside. They happened to be serving fondue. I was 18 and I had just moved to the city.
Will you eat street food in NYC?
I have been known, when I’m starving, to get that chicken over rice with the white sauce that no one can ever really tell what that white sauce is. Extra spicy. Yeah, I’m guilty. I’ll give the guy $5, tip him and say don’t tell anybody I was here.
Where can you get the best pasta in New York?
What’s something everyone who visits New York should try?
You gotta have Katz’s pastrami on rye. I mean, you have to. Otherwise what the hell are you doing here?
Write to Sophia Hollander at sophia.hollander@wsj.com | Chef Scott Conant, who last month opened Impero Caffé, on celebrating with tequila, why he won’t eat crickets, and the street food he secretly eats. | 35.322581 | 1 | 13.064516 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/hulk-hogan-sex-tape-gawker-appeals-jury-decision-140-million | http://web.archive.org/web/20160406211536id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/hulk-hogan-sex-tape-gawker-appeals-jury-decision-140-million | Gawker Appeals Jury's Decision to Award $140 Million : People.com | 20160406211536 | Dirk Shadd/The Tampa Bay Times/AP
04/05/2016 AT 05:25 PM EDT
Gawker media has filed two motions appealing a jury's decision
$140 million last month to
after the website posted portions of a sex tape involving the wrestler.
"There is substantial evidence that, in reaching its verdict as to both liability and damages, the jury was guided by passion and prejudice, rather than the pertinent facts and the law," states Gawker's court papers, which were obtained by PEOPLE.
A St. Petersburg, Florida, jury awarded Hogan $115 in compensatory damages plus
Hogan, 62, whose real name is Terry Bollea, claimed
when Gawker posted a portion of a video in 2012 showing him having sex with Heather Clem, the former wife of his then-friend Todd Clem, a.k.a. Bubba the Love Sponge, a radio shock jock, who filmed the encounter.
Gawker had argued that posting the sex tape was
, and that Hogan's complaint was undermined because he has publicly discussed his sex life.
, juror Kevin Kennedy said, "It's just amazing, everything that I listened to. They have no heart, no soul, it's all about the almighty dollar to them and it's sick."
Juror Robin Young, when asked about a possible appeal, said, "We drew a line and we hope that others draw a line."
A statement to PEOPLE from Gawker Media read: "Gawker is now beginning the process of challenging the jury's verdict in a trial where key evidence was wrongly withheld and the jury was not properly instructed on the Constitutional standards for newsworthiness. So we expect to be fully vindicated. And even if the verdict were to stand, there is no justification for awarding tens of millions of dollars never seen by victims of death and serious injuries."
Hogan's attorney, David Houston, wrote, "Gawker has made no secret of the fact that they were planning to file a motion for a new trial and an appeal based on arguments that are meaningless to the case at hand. We emerged victorious once and we plan to do so again. Of note it is apparent Gawker is unable to accept responsibility for their actions or demonstrate any intention of correcting their behavior." | "Gawker is now beginning the process of challenging the jury's verdict," Gawker's statement reads | 23.157895 | 0.947368 | 9.473684 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2013/10/22/how-chinas-one-child-policy-hurts-the-elderly.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160412233147id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2013/10/22/how-chinas-one-child-policy-hurts-the-elderly.html | How China's one-child policy hurts the elderly | 20160412233147 | Former restaurant owner Wang Yun invested more than a million dollars to open two private nursing homes.
"Young people need to take care of their parents and their own child. We will help ease the burden," she said of her business YYN Senior Care.
For her most recent retirement home, Wang converted a 3-star hotel, offering room, board, and group activities to senior citizens for roughly $800 a month. Residents also have access to medical care 24/7, as well as a pharmacy and massage area.
(Read more: China's solution to elderly neglect: Sue your kids)
Resident Zhang believes nursing homes are good alternatives for China's grey population.
His son and daughter work, are married and live life as middle class Chinese. "My children go to work early at 6am and come back home at 6pm. It can get very lonely," he said. "They like to eat at McDonalds, KFC, and other fast food but I don't."
He feels lucky to be able to afford to stay at the home. "There are a lot of social problems for the elderly. No one has the time to look after us," he said.
In July, the government introduced the Elderly Rights Law to allow seniors to take their children to court for neglect.
(Read more: Retirement homes are no longer taboo in Asia)
Nursing home owner Wang said despite growing competition, she hopes to expand the business and open another home next year.
The biggest hurdle for the industry, she says, is changing the mindset of Chinese people to find retirement homes culturally acceptable.
"Many senior citizens are not too open-minded [about nursing homes] compared with the West," she said. "Our challenge comes from the family."
— By CNBC's Eunice Yoon. Follow her on Twitter: @eyoonCNBC | A growing number of elderly Chinese are spending their golden years in retirement communities rather than with their families. | 18.55 | 0.65 | 0.65 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/04/11/setting-agenda-drug-prices/zYfuJtsMRKLjnijIiuH2AN/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160413212649id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/04/11/setting-agenda-drug-prices/zYfuJtsMRKLjnijIiuH2AN/story.html | Setting the agenda on drug prices | 20160413212649 | A small nonprofit group that assesses the value of medicines — and proposes a fair price — is quickly gaining value itself.
For the past two years, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review has issued high-profile reports assessing the worth of pricey new drugs for treating hepatitis C and high cholesterol, among other conditions. It argued last fall, for instance, that a pair of new cholesterol drugs would be more cost-effective at about $2,100 a year, not $14,100.
The Boston organization, funded by foundations as well as drug makers and insurance companies, has no power to actually drive down costs, but it is influential nonetheless. Notably, insurers are citing its reports in price negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry.
No one else, not even including the federal government, provides this kind of in-depth information for so many different types of medicines.
Consequently, ICER is becoming a de facto arbiter for the nation’s medicine chest.
Drug developers said the measure is burdensome, but health care advocates said price relief is needed.
“ICER is an innovative but important experiment,” said Lou Garrison, a University of Washington health professor who specializes in pharmaceutical economics.
“But it’s too early to tell if it’s a good thing. For the most part, they adhere to [accepted research] standards. But it’s a private organization. So what kind of accountability will it have to the public, payers, and manufacturers?”
This is a fair point, but like it or not, ICER is, for now, filling a void that needs to be filled.
Unlike the United Kingdom, for instance, the United States has no government agency that assesses whether a medicine is cost-effective. And while some drug makers and insurers run their own models to determine value, ICER moves quickly, and its results can pack more punch.
“They have a Johnny-on-the-spot approach just when drugs are about to reach the market,” said Craig Mattson, senior director of formulary development at Prime Therapeutics, a large pharmacy benefits manager that negotiates prices for drugs on behalf of companies, unions, and others.
There is grumbling in the pharmaceutical industry, though, that ICER is doing the bidding of insurers by trying to drive down prices.
ICER “cherry picks data” and is “cooking the numbers . . . to get the desired outcome,” policy analyst Robert Goldberg wrote in a blog post last week. He’s cofounder of the Center for the Public Interest, a think tank that is backed, in part, by drug makers.
Late last month, one drug maker took the unusual step of publicly chastising ICER. In advance of an ICER meeting to review bone cancer drugs, Amgen issued a statement that accused the group of using “opaque methods” to review and assess medicines.
Others complain ICER’s findings are not easily replicated and that its reports are not peer-reviewed.
The criticism doesn’t surprise Dr. Steve Pearson, who heads the nonprofit. He said ICER tries to be transparent.
“Whenever an independent entity takes a hard look at data, there’s going to be tension,” he said. “But this isn’t about trying to kill or punish the drug industry. We want to ring an alarm bell if we think short-term budget costs are going to rise and it would harm the national economy.”
ICER received $3 million this year from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, which is funding several ambitious projects to examine drug pricing. That’s about 60 percent of ICER’s $5 million budget. Most of the rest comes from drug makers, insurers, and government grants.
ICER has actually been assessing health care costs for about a decade, but only began evaluating drugs two years ago, when new hepatitis C treatments suddenly emerged. The nonprofit quickly made a splash with a draft report that declared Sovaldi, a Gilead Sciences medicine, wasn’t worth the list price of about $84,000 a year.
Ever since that episode, some of its methodology has been questioned. Assessing cost-effectiveness and the impact that new drugs can have on payer budgets is standard stuff in health economics, but ICER has been criticized for also emphasizing economic assumptions about the extent to which medicines may be affordable to consumers.
Whether ICER can placate disgruntled drug makers and other naysayers remains an open question.
ICER will have to prove its model is an acceptable go-to standard for assessing value before it can become a pharmaceutical version of Underwriters Laboratories, which seeks to validate all sorts of products.
Nonetheless, there is certainly demand for a credible and transparent group to produce estimates that everyone can consider valid. And government involvement may not be an effective alternative, given that any commission set up to deal with drug costs would be buffeted by political pressure.
ICER may not offer the best way to determine what a medicine is worth, but there is certainly value in testing its approach. | Even without any official power, a small nonprofit based in Boston is helping to drive new discussion around drug pricing. | 44.363636 | 0.727273 | 1.272727 | high | low | abstractive |
http://fortune.com/2010/09/24/google-checkout-becomes-important-again-for-chrome-store/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20160414150458id_/http://fortune.com/2010/09/24/google-checkout-becomes-important-again-for-chrome-store/ | Google Checkout becomes important again for Chrome Store | 20160414150458 | Google’s monetary exchange service, temporary sidelined, is poised to make a comeback as the exchange for the Chrome Web Store.
Google’s Chrome project(s) are about getting people to do things on the web in a browser (as opposed to say an app). One of the bigger aspects of this strategy is Google’s intent to create a kind of App Store for Web developers, which allows them to both make some money and promote their products.
That is what the Chrome store is all about. Google’s ChromeOS will leverage the websites in the Chrome Web Store to make a more fulfilling experience (since it is entirely web based). Although you’ll only be able to make purchases in the Chrome browser, the Apps should work in any HTML5-compliant browser.
Here’s a refresher on the Chrome Store from Google I/O earlier this year:
So how will developers and Google make money on these applications? It appears that Google has implemented their Checkout payment processing system as the only way developers can accept payments from customers.
Starting today, you can sign up for a Google Checkout merchant account via your developer dashboard. If you’re planning to use Chrome Web Store Payments to charge for apps, you’ll need to complete this setup before you can accept payments. If you already have a merchant account with Google Checkout, you’ll be able to associate it with your items in the store. Signing up for Chrome Web Store Payments is currently available to developers based in the US who have a US bank account. We’re working hard to also enable payments for international developers and will update you with a blog post once we have more details. If you have more questions about setting up your merchant account, see this help article we created.
Google Checkout hasn’t really gotten the traction that eBay’s (EBAY) Paypal has generated and questions have been raised whether Google was going to remain dedicated to having a Checkout Service. However, it is a perfect service for collecting funds for small disparate groups of independent developers, so it gets another lease on life. Maybe the Chrome Store can make Checkout accounts more ubiquitous.
Google also announced preview and customization features for developers to the Chrome Web Store:
We also added the ability to see how your app will appear in the store. When you preview an uploaded app, you’ll see our new design of the app’s landing page. As before, your apps are only visible to you during the developer preview until the store launches later this year.
We added several options to help you customize this page with your own header image and a larger icon. You can also upload promotional images for your app now, which will appear as banners whenever your app is featured in the store. To learn more about these new options, we encourage you to read our guidelines about creating good images and icons for apps in the store. | Google's monetary exchange service, temporary sidelined, is poised to make a comeback as the exchange for the Chrome Web Store. Google's Chrome project(s) are about getting people to do things on the web in a browser (as opposed to say an app). One of the bigger aspects of this strategy is Google's intent to create… | 8.38806 | 0.925373 | 18.208955 | low | medium | extractive |
http://www.people.com/article/barack-obama-mtv-movie-awards-psa-video | http://web.archive.org/web/20160414170759id_/http://www.people.com:80/article/barack-obama-mtv-movie-awards-psa-video | President Obama Appears in Video for Youth Initiative : People.com | 20160414170759 | 04/10/2016 AT 09:35 PM EDT
The president stopped by the event via video to deliver a message.
He appeared in the video at the award show for the
initiative, launched in 2014 to "address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color," according to a White House announcement.
"If we believe in their futures, they will believe in them too," the President said at the end of the one-minute video.
Join @POTUS in ensuring a brighter future for America's young boys and men of color: https://t.co/h4MtVJ4UFq #IamMBK
The video showed a slew of photos of smiling young boys from several races, with a voice announcing a series of awards – to be won in the year 2024.
The voice also announced the boys as valedictorians, Supreme Court justices, Nobel Prize winners and more.
The MTV Movie Awards aired Sunday at 8 p.m. E.T. on MTV. | President Barack Obama appeared in a video to promote the My Brother's Keeper initiative | 11.866667 | 0.6 | 0.866667 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2013/12/06/dylan-guitar-sale-rocks-christies-auction.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160416024407id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2013/12/06/dylan-guitar-sale-rocks-christies-auction.html | Dylan guitar sale rocks Christie's auction | 20160416024407 | But Dylan's ''going electric changed the structure of folk music,'' said Newport Folk Festival founder George Wein, 88. ''The minute Dylan went electric, all these young people said, 'Bobby's going electric. We're going electric, too.'''
Christie's had expected the guitar, which was sold with its original black leather strap and Fender hard shell case, to go for far less: $300,000 to $500,000.
(Read more: Hopper painting sells for record $40.5 million)
The previous record for a guitar sold at auction was held by Eric Clapton's Fender, nicknamed ''Blackie,'' which sold at Christie's for $959,500 in 2004.
Dylan's guitar had been in the possession of a New Jersey family for nearly 50 years after the singer left it on a private plane.
The pilot's daughter, Dawn Peterson of Morris County, N.J., said that her father asked Dylan's management what to do with the instrument, but nobody ever got back to him.
Last year, she took it to the PBS show ''History Detectives'' to have it authenticated, and rock-memorabilia experts matched its telltale wood grain to close-up color photos of Dylan's instrument taken during the 1965 festival.
Dylan's attorney and his publicist didn't respond to email and phone requests for comment. Dylan and Peterson, who declined to be interviewed, recently settled a legal dispute over the items. The terms weren't disclosed. | Bob Dylan's historical Fender Stratocaster guitar sold for nearly $1 million at Christie's: the highest price ever paid for a guitar at auction. | 10.464286 | 0.75 | 1.464286 | low | low | abstractive |
http://www.cnbc.com/2013/10/03/cramer-the-curtain-has-closed-on-samsungs-smartwatch.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160416030621id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2013/10/03/cramer-the-curtain-has-closed-on-samsungs-smartwatch.html | Cramer: 'The curtain has closed' on Samsung's smartwatch | 20160416030621 | After a scathing review of Samsung's Gear smartwatch by New York Times columnist David Pogue, CNBC's Jim Cramer said that the game is up for the Korean company's attempt at wearable technology and that's great news for Apple.
"This is one of those reviews ... compare Apple, what he had to say about the [iPhone] 5C—where he basically just said 'this is the Mona Lisa' ... I mean, this [Samsung smartwatch] is not even a paint-by-numbers."
(Related: Why an iWatch may not be as big as the iPhone)
"This is it. This thing, the curtain closed on this. The curtain closed on this device," Cramer said, although he acknowledged that wearable technology is still a growing trend.
(Related: Look out Samsung! Is this the next big smartwatch?)
In Pogue's review, he described Samsung's smartwatch as " a human-interface train wreck" and that "nobody will buy this watch, and nobody should." Pogue explains that the device underdelivers because of an incompatibility with non-Samsung phones and that it has a "hodgepodge" of seemingly random features.
Although Samsung's smartwatch seems underwhelming, one company in particular that has the potential to make waves in the wearable tech market is Under Armour, Cramer predicted. He expects that the company will have "a wearable that's killer" in the form of a shirt that tracks biometric data, along with other accessories.
Don't expect to see a negative David Pogue article on wearable tech from Under Armour, Cramer said. On Samsung, "This was one of those reviews, where it's like, 'holy cow.' "
"Don't you feel that shift in favor of Apple?" Cramer asked. "It's changed. I think that Samsung suddenly becomes what we used to think of Samsung, and Apple has become what we used to think of Apple." | Following a scathing New York Times review, the game is up for Samsung's smartwatch, said Jim Cramer. | 18.333333 | 0.952381 | 2.761905 | medium | high | mixed |
http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/04/13/19/41/rolf-harris-to-front-london-court | http://web.archive.org/web/20160416143128id_/http://www.9news.com.au:80/world/2016/04/13/19/41/rolf-harris-to-front-london-court | Rolf Harris to front London court over new charges | 20160416143128 | Convicted sex offender Rolf Harris is to face a London court again, to find out when he faces trial on a further seven charges of indecent assault against women and girls and one alternative charge of sexual touching.
The 86-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges when he appeared in the Westminster Magistrates Court on March 18 by video link from Stafford Prison where he's serving a term of nearly six years on similar charges.
The charges relate to seven female complainants aged between 12 and 27 at the time of the alleged offences between 1971 and 2004, one of them a disabled woman at a hospital.
Harris's case was referred to the Crown Court in Southwark, London, for a preliminary hearing on Thursday before trial. | Rolf Harris is expected to find out when he faces trial on further indecent assault charges when he fronts a London court. | 6.130435 | 0.913043 | 4.217391 | low | medium | mixed |
http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/a-way-of-life-drowned-by-greeces-crisis-1440051334 | http://web.archive.org/web/20160416161300id_/http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/a-way-of-life-drowned-by-greeces-crisis-1440051334 | A Way of Life Drowned by Greece’s Crisis | 20160416161300 | Dimitris Stathakis, 75 years old and wearing no shoes, is at work on the aft deck of the North Aegean, a fishing boat docked in the Greek port of Nea Michaniona.
The boat’s 14-man crew is prepping for a night at sea. Bags of ice are tossed aboard. Someone brings a delivery of white Styrofoam boxes.
It is baking hot. Mr. Stathakis has his shirt on his head to keep the sun off. He is mending nets with flicks of a plastic shuttle and assessing the state of a profession he took up in his teens.
“This is the end,” he says. “This is the worst. There is no life anymore.”
The fisherman’s lament is as old as the seas. And Greeks have earned a living from fish for eons. It is the country’s second-largest agricultural export, behind fruit and nuts but ahead of olive oil and cheese. Six years of economic crisis, however, have left this way of life in a shambles.
A collapse in household buying power has demolished demand for fish, and with it fishermen’s income. Aquaculture companies, once a shining star in the marine economy, are drowning in debts. Fish processors are struggling with high costs for finance and relentless price pressure among strapped shoppers.
Few think the woes will end soon. The Greek government has signed up to a new bailout, with more years of belt-tightening ahead. The first notches came last month, in laws rushed through parliament at the behest of Greece’s creditors: Fishermen face higher pension contributions, while fish processors face new, higher taxes on processed food. Meantime, Greek banks are only dribbling out cash to customers—further strangling already weak demand.
Sales at North Aegean Sea Canneries SA, one of Greece’s largest fish processors, dropped 20% at the beginning of the crisis. The company is facing a long recovery. Nikolaos Tzikas, an owner, says he had hoped to crawl back to 2011 levels this year. “Now,” he says, “I don’t know.”
The travails of Greece’s fish industry show how years of crisis and bailouts have left the country’s economy in worse shape than before—and why the next episode may well meet the same fate.
In a way, economic pain was designed into the Greek rescue. Unable to devalue Greece’s currency, the bailouts’ architects—other eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund—tried to push down prices and wages in a process called “internal devaluation.” The hope was that lower costs would make Greek industries nimbler and more competitive, juicing a sustained economic recovery.
Instead, the loss of income has killed consumption. People are too poor to buy stuff and the banks too weak to give them credit, and the effects ripple up the economic chain. “Internal devaluation did not do any good for the Greek fishing, aquaculture and processing sector,” says Lamprakis Avdelas, a fishing expert at a government-affiliated institute in Athens.
The North Aegean motors southwest out of Nea Michaniona, clears a neck in the Thermaic Gulf and pulls south along the coast through a gentle, orange-fringed twilight.
Its captain is Giannis Alexiadis. His forebears had fishing boats in Asia Minor, what is now part of Turkey, but left along with many ethnic Greeks in the 1920s. His grandfather established himself as a fisherman near Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city.
Mr. Alexiadis’s father fished, and when Mr. Alexiadis was a teenager he started, too. In 1995, his father sold an older boat and used the money to help his son build the North Aegean. Mr. Alexiadis says he is tempted by a European Union program aimed at excess capacity in the fleet that essentially pays owners to stop fishing by buying their boats for scrap.
If he got an offer under the program, he says, “I would give it up.” Then he reconsiders. “But I can’t do it as long as my father is alive.”
Mr. Alexiadis steers south by southeast, heading for shallow waters where several rivers empty into the gulf. Sardines like to congregate there, he says.
“But they don’t get sold,” says Mr. Stathakis, the 75-year-old crewman, who has plopped down in a chair.
“Lights!” shouts Mr. Alexiadis. The crew readies floating beacons, each with a sphere of bright lights attached. They lower them on a winch into the water. The lights shine into the sea, attracting fish.
The North Aegean pulls away into the dark waters. Dimitris Kariolakis, 59, sits on the stern. He is himself a captain of another fishing boat, a trawler, and owns a share of it. He joined the crew of the North Aegean to make some extra cash. “This shows how bad the economic situation is,” he says. He has applied to the EU program that buys boats and is waiting for approval to come. “If it does,” he says, “that boat will be scrapped.”
Greece has Europe’s largest fishing fleet. But its boats are small and inefficient. Since 2007, the EU program has paid €63 million in “permanent cessation aid” to take 988 fishing vessels off the water. The Greek government pays about 20%; the EU the rest.
By midnight, the North Aegean returns to its floating lights. The crew sets the anchor and shuts the engine down. The sky is wide and clear. The star cloud of the Milky Way runs into the sea. Most of the men head off for a nap.
At 3:23 a.m., the boat springs back to life. The engine restarts, and the North Aegean swings around, dropping a weighted net to encircle the fish the lights attracted.
This is called purse seining. A winch pulls tight ropes at the bottom of the nets, like a drawstring, creating a purse that traps the fish. The men then winch in the sides of the purse, shrinking it.
When the purse is small enough, they start pulling it in furiously by hand. The sea surface crackles with panicked fish. A crewman drops a large metal sieve on a pulley into the purse and hauls up a seething bundle, and three men dump them into an icy tub. They scoop more fish out of the purse, again and again.
By 5 a.m., the North Aegean is headed back to Nea Michaniona. The men are sorting fish by size and species into Styrofoam boxes. Mr. Alexiadis maneuvers into the harbor. Dawn is breaking. How good was the catch? “Like all the rest,” Mr. Alexiadis says. “Medium. Medium to worse.”
The catch is unloaded at the port. The men spend hours more picking tiny dead fish from nets and cleaning the decks.
Fishermen on boats like these are paid out of the profits of the catch. Years into the Greek crisis, the math is devastating. The North Aegean this night has pulled in 520 kilograms of sardines, which sell for €556, or about $610—half the price, the fishermen say, they would get in better times. Fifty kilograms of mackerel add €78. Subtract costs for fuel, insurance, the fish seller’s commission, the ice and the boxes and the captain’s share, and the 14 crewmen net perhaps €20 each.
Much of the region’s fish selling happens at Nea Michaniona’s port. There is a dusty auction room and a wide, white-walled sales hall where fishermen lay out their catches and importers show off their wares.
Around dawn, when the sales hall would once have been hopping, it is calm. Most fishing boats consign their catches to agents, who hustle deals with buyers. By morning, amid the boxes of sardines, bags of mussels and stacks of squid, there are many agents but few buyers.
The North Aegean’s agent, Kostas Karadoulamas, works his cellphone while a few people poke around the sardines.
“Why aren’t you buying!” he shouts at the room, half joking. “There is no one here.”
Mr. Karadoulamas says sales are half what they were last year, when the hall might have had 1,000 people. The turmoil brought by the referendum Greece held this year and the bailout made matters worse, he says. “People are only buying cheap fish.”
Thodoris Georgiadis, who supplies retail markets and has been in the business for 30 years, says recent sales are the worst he has seen. Low prices might be an opportunity for a buyer like him, but there is scant demand for what he sells, and little margin. “We buy cheap, we sell cheap,” Mr. Georgiadis says. He picks up about 20 boxes of sardines and other inexpensive fish.
Just outside, Manolis Kechagias tries to unload some product. He is an importer. He used to bring fish from all over the world to this market: Sole from the Netherlands, snapper from Spain and Morocco. They would be flown to Athens, then trucked north to Thessaloniki.
A few years ago, he stopped bringing in sole and snapper. They were too expensive for Greeks. “This year is awful,” he says. “People cannot buy.”
On his trolley are a dozen boxes of small red mullet, a cheap fish. It came by car from Bulgaria. Mullet sells for a couple of euros a kilogram. “I’ll start with three, and we’ll go to two,” Mr. Kechagias says with a laugh.
Along the road from the port to the town center is a row of fish shops that date back to the 1950s. Labros Christidis, one of two brothers running a shop at the end of the row, says the crisis started to bite three years ago. Customers cut back—still coming for fish, but buying less of it. “This last year,” he says, “we can really feel the change.”
He is embittered by the seemingly endless cycle of crisis and bailout: more cuts and more taxes. “All the same, year after year, again and again,” he says. “Five years now!” He laments the cycle of politicians, left and right, and then left again. A man who bought a bag of fish gets back into his car. “They should all be killed,” he chimes in, before driving off.
The latest bailout augurs more of the same. Among the laws hurriedly passed was a sales-tax increase for processed fish products. They had previously been classified as a basic food item and taxed at 13%. Now it is 23%.
Mr. Christidis picks up a bag of preshelled mussels, now at the higher tax rate. “Luxury,” he says.
The sardines that don’t sell to small outfits go to big processors, which buy cheap and in bulk. The largest is North Aegean Sea Canneries, known as Konva in Greek, situated an hour’s drive north through piney hills in the city of Kilkis.
Konva’s crown jewel is a robotic sardine-processing line—the first of its kind in the world, says Mr. Tzikas, the owner—built by a Danish company and fine-tuned here.
Fish whiz past on a conveyor belt. Software determines which are sardines and, by measuring the distance from eye to nose, how much they weigh. Down the belt, seven robotic arms suck up the fish, lop off heads, pull out guts and deposit the right quantity of sardines in each waiting can, rotating them in the air so the fish lie head-tail-head-tail-head-tail.
The robot does the job of a half dozen workers.
Mr. Tzikas is the third generation of his family in the business. His daughter, Gianna Tzika, is the fourth, serving as Konva’s managing director. Konva sells canned anchovies, sardines, squid, octopus, tuna, herring and mackerel. Greece accounts for around 85% of sales. With Greeks’ incomes depressed, this is a problem.
A more complex one is that credit to Greek companies has all but evaporated. Konva must pay cash up front for fish. But the supermarkets that sell its products don’t pay Konva for as long as six months.
“In a way, we sell money,” says Mr. Tzikas. “We are banks. Credit is expensive. It’s a lose-lose situation.”
Konva is trying to turn to exports, which Mr. Tzikas expects will rise to offset at least some of the fall in Greek sales. He has a budding relationship with discount retailer Lidl, which he says could be a passport to more foreign sales. But it isn’t an easy task—other Mediterranean countries process sardines, too.
One aspect of the “internal devaluation” helps: The wages Greek fish processors pay are lower. The average annual pay of fish processors’ employees tumbled to €10,900 in 2012 from €13,200 in 2011, according to an analysis by an EU fish committee.
But other costs the processors face remain high, among them gas and electricity. The worst may be the cost of credit. Because of the crisis, it costs Greek companies more to borrow. Konva pays around 6.5% on €28 million in debt. Elsewhere in the EU, it might be closer to 2%.
It is tough times for Greek processors. Their total revenue fell 13% to €233 million in 2012 from the prior year, the most recent for which data are available, according to the fish committee’s analysis. Investment fell to nearly nothing on a net basis, and the sector posted a slight loss.
For his part, Mr. Tzikas would like a machine to seal cans faster, but he won’t invest in it anytime soon. “I want to make some money now,” he says.
In the fishing chain, none have it worse than the fishermen who sail in ones and twos on small boats from harbors across the country.
Fishing is an ancient trade on Crete, Greece’s largest island. The Minoans, whose civilization flourished here from 3,500 B.C. to 1,500 B.C., controlled the trade in the Aegean Sea and made fishing a main industry.
These days, it is a mess. “This is the worst crisis since I started fishing,” says Aris Tsalikis, who has been fishing since 1984. His father was a fisherman, too, in the days when fishermen tossed dynamite into the sea for an easier catch.
Mr. Tsalikis is untangling his nets on a breezy Sunday evening in the old harbor of Heraklion, the island’s capital. Around him rises the fortress of Koules, built when Venice ruled Crete. He says his income has fallen by half since the crisis began. He points to the fortress walls. “I fear we’ll soon be history, too,” he says.
Overfishing has made catches harder across the Mediterranean, and Greek fishermen have the added problem that few people want expensive fish. Thus they all chase sardines, anchovies and mackerel—a circle that pushes prices even lower.
Despina Dialina, who works in the Heraklion tourist office, used to buy fish at the local market once a week. Now it is once a month. “I need two kilograms of fresh fish for my family, which would cost about €50 to €60,” she calculates. “That’s the daily limit at my bank right now.”
Instead, she buys low-cost varieties. Sardines and anchovies can be had for €4 a kilogram, mackerel a little more.
“We Greeks are a fish-loving nation, and we are used to good, fresh fish,” Ms. Dialina says. “But our habits have changed.”
Nearby in the harbor, Anastasios Kaiserlis, a fisherman for 30 years, has hung up his nets. He can’t afford to fix the motor on his boat, and so he now relies on a little stand where he sells sea sponges and shells. In better times, he says, his customers even bought lobster, for €40 each. In 2005, he took out a €25,000 bank loan to upgrade his boat and buy new nets. His monthly installments are €200. This month he managed to pay €50.
North across the Aegean, at a small harbor in the city of Kavala on the Greek mainland, a half-dozen fisherman have motored in around dawn with their catches. A herd of wharf cats scamper around looking for scraps.
Giorgos Tsiligkoudis, 50, landed 10 kilograms of mackerel on his solo boat, the Captain Themis. He sold half of it. Two years ago, he says, local shoppers would crowd to the harbor to buy fish off the boats. “It was fresh fish and the prices were approachable,” he says. Today, there are more cats than customers.
Mr. Tsiligkoudis set out the day before at 5 p.m., set his nets at 5:30 p.m., pulled them in around midnight, returned to the harbor at 2 a.m., was home at 3 a.m. and came back to the harbor at 6 a.m. to sell the fish. He still has to clean his nets. “It’s a lot of hours of work,” he says.
The take for his five kilograms of mackerel was €50. Fuel alone will eat up perhaps half of that.
“We chose this work as children because we love the sea. Our families could live off of this,” says his friend Nikos Prendas, 48, who captains a 25-foot boat called Eleftheria, or “Freedom.” His wife is his only crew member. Mr. Prendas frets about new costs coming with the new bailout: higher contributions for his state pension, new taxes on boats.
“Right now, we are literally in a state of desperation,” he says. He and his wife had set out the afternoon before for Thasos, a nearby island, in the hopes of better fishing. They caught bad weather and turned back. They found some mackerel on the way in. “I was talking to my wife” on the trip back, Mr. Prendas says. “We were so sad. We were asking each other, ‘How are we going to get enough money to live? How are we going to survive?’”
He has considered selling the Eleftheria but figures there is no point. “Right now, they are worth zero,” he says.
The marine sector’s greatest hope is growing fish, not catching them. Greek companies have long raised sea bass and sea bream in giant pens. It is straightforward: Take fish eggs, add fish feed, seawater and time. Sell fish.
But it takes two years for an egg to become a salable fish, and farmers must also build pens, which means borrowing.
The three biggest players have all had to restructure debts. One, Selonda Aquaculture SA, reached a deal in September to convert some loans to equity, leaving banks owning 82% of its shares. It plans to acquire a competitor that has spent the past year under bankruptcy protection.
Greek fish farmers are technologically advanced, internationally competitive and focused on exports—just the sort of business many say the country needs. But like many other exporters in Greece, the fish farmers need imports. Fish meal comes from Norway, for instance, and fish oil from Chile.
When capital controls restricting the wiring of money abroad were imposed in late June, it became extremely difficult to pay for imports. A firm called Kefalonia Fisheries scrambled for weeks to find a find a way to feed the fish in its pens, says its managing director, Lara Barazi.
“This will be a difficult year for the Greek aquaculture sector,” says Audun Lem, deputy director of the fisheries department at the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. “Every day the capital controls remain in place, the worse it gets.” Mr. Lem says Greece, the world’s largest producer of sea bass and sea bream, might be overtaken soon by Turkey.
Kefalonia was planning to add a new production site in September, says Ms. Barazi. Now that is uncertain. Greece’s prime minister on Thursday will call for new elections, probably that month, government officials said. And “anytime we have elections, we have months of governmental inertia before and after,” Ms. Barazi says.
Kefalonia has been able to adapt, she says, but at a heavy cost: “Instead of focusing on building your business, all your energy is spent trying to anticipate the next crisis.”
—Vania B. Turner contributed to this article. Charts by Pat Minczeski. Art direction and development by Elliot Bentley.
Write to Charles Forelle at charles.forelle@wsj.com and Georgi Kantchev at georgi.kantchev@wsj.com | Greeks have earned a living from fish for eons, but six years of crisis has left this way of life in a shambles. Few think the woes will end soon. | 123.30303 | 1 | 7.30303 | high | high | mixed |
http://fortune.com/2015/07/22/home-depot-interline-brands-deal/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20160419215156id_/http://fortune.com:80/2015/07/22/home-depot-interline-brands-deal/ | Home Depot Acquires Interline Brands For $1.63 billion | 20160419215156 | Home Depot HD said it agreed to buy home repair and maintenance products seller Interline Brands Inc for about $1.63 billion in cash to expand its Pro division, which caters to professional contractors and builders.
Interline offers facilities maintenance as well as repair services and products to home and commercial customers through brands such as SupplyWorks, HardwareExpress and Barnett.
The Wall Street Journal called the deal Home Depot’s biggest in nearly a decade and a bid to capitalize on rising rates of renters amid declining homeownership.
Interline is owned by Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, P2 Capital Partners LLC and management.
Home Depot’s Pro customers are mostly professional remodelers, contractors and repairmen looking for services such as delivery, expanded credit and bulk pricing. The Pro portfolio of brands include DeWalt and Makita.
Home Depot said Bill Lennie, president of its Canada operations, will oversee the integration and then lead the Pro, MRO and installation services business in a newly created role.
Lennie will also continue to head the Canadian operations until his successor is appointed, the company said.
Home Depot said it expects the deal to add to its earnings in the current financial year. The deal is expected to close in the quarter ending Nov. 1.
Home Depot’s financial adviser is Bank of America Merrill Lynch, while Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP gave legal advice. | The acquisition is Home Depot’s biggest in nearly a decade. | 21.583333 | 0.916667 | 5.583333 | medium | medium | mixed |
http://fortune.com/2016/02/19/people-are-accusing-uber-of-stealing-this-startups-logo/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20160419220416id_/http://fortune.com:80/2016/02/19/people-are-accusing-uber-of-stealing-this-startups-logo/ | Uber Accused of Stealing Fellow San Francisco Startup CircleCI's Logo | 20160419220416 | When Uber released a new logo for its ride-hailing app earlier this month, the updated look received mixed reviews. Some people even noted that the “bits and atoms” icon resembled the logo of other companies including J.P. Morgan Chase jpm .
Lately, a growing chorus of people on Twitter twtr are accusing Uber of copying the logo of another startup: CircleCI, a company that makes container software for computer programmers at Spotify, GoPro gpro and Instacart, among other customers.
CircleCI’s logo features a white backwards letter “C” on a dark blue background. Uber’s new icon, meanwhile, has a white circle with a dark blue square “bit” in the middle—but the left side of the circle is bisected by a blue line so that it also resembles a backwards “C.” “I’m not the only one who finds Uber’s new logo eerily reminiscent of CircleCI’s, right?” Wilson Lee, an engineer at travel startup Urbandoor wrote on Twitter.
Fueling the logo conspiracy theories is the fact that Uber recently moved some of its employees into the same building as CircleCI’s headquarters at 555 Market St. in San Francisco. One Twitter user suggested that the close proximity of the companies might have created a “chameleon effect,” a psychological phenomenon in which people unconsciously mimic those around them:
. @Uber's new logo looks a lot like @CircleCI's. I can see myself waking up with a hangover and a few hundred unintentional builds.
— Tom Elliott (@theotherelliott) February 4, 2016
So, should we all just assume that someone at @Uber uses @circleci for their testing and thought “hey, that’s an awesome logo to rip off!”?
— Michael Bueti (@mbueti) February 3, 2016
CircleCI responded to the similarities between the logos with good humor, saying it wasn’t worried about customer confusion because of the low overlap between its target market and Uber’s—but that it would gladly provide a free trial of its product to Uber’s software developers. It’s also hoping to benefit in other ways from the coincidence: “We do expect to be able to wear our CircleCI t-shirts and gain access to the Uber cafeteria on the seventh floor, no questions asked,” says Laura Franzese, the company’s head of communications.
For its part, Uber says that it designed its new app icon to represent its business symbolically—the circle stands for movement, while the square “bit” at its center is “the symbol of our technology.” And the blue bar interrupting the circle that makes it look (sort of) like a “C?” That’s a “grid line” to “convey the rider story of a trip in progress or the arrival at a destination.”
In response to a request from Fortune, an Uber spokesperson also referred to comments the company’s CEO Travis Kalanick made during a TED talk earlier this week. Explaining why Uber changed its icon design from its former version featuring a black “U,” Kalanick said that the company intended the new “patterns and colors” to better convey a sense of the cities in which it operates. “And to be more iconic, because a U doesn’t mean anything in Sanskrit and a U doesn’t mean anything in Mandarin,” he said. | They're in the same offices too. | 80.25 | 0.5 | 0.75 | high | low | abstractive |
http://fortune.com/2015/11/17/best-entrepreneurs-one-common-quality/ | http://web.archive.org/web/20160419223038id_/http://fortune.com:80/2015/11/17/best-entrepreneurs-one-common-quality/ | The Best Entrepreneurs Have This One Quality In Common | 20160419223038 | The Leadership Insider network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in business contribute answers to timely questions about careers and leadership. Today’s answer to the question: What advice would you give your 22-year-old self today? is written by Ryan Smith, CEO and founder of Qualtrics.
Every time I visit New York City, I think back to the early days of Qualtrics. I was 25 years old, had no money, and was on my way to my first trade show. I remember packing a borrowed trade show booth through the subway, because I didn’t have enough money for a cab. I had even bartered with the event organizers to give me the booth space for free. I had nothing to give out so I got creative. The tradeshow floor was really hot so I went across the street and bought a few hundred Vitamin Waters at a nearby CVS pharmacy to hand out.
If I could go back and tell my 25-year-old self one thing, it would be to trust your gut, keep being scrappy, and tune out all the noise. It’s all going to pay off someday.
Tune out the noise Time is the ultimate equalizer, so play the long game and don’t be distracted by what seems like a big deal today. If I were starting a tech company today, it would be hard to tune out all the noise. I imagine it would be easy to feel like you weren’t valuable if you weren’t talked about as a unicorn or if you didn’t have a super high valuation. But if you look at it, most of the unicorns in the enterprise space started over five years ago, many of them closer to 10.
So forget the noise, keep your head down, and work. Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you are going to build something great, it’s probably going to take awhile and that’s not a bad thing because it means it will take another company just as long — if not longer — to come after you. We started Qualtrics in the shadow of the dot com-era in 2002 and then lived through the recession from 2007 to 2009. Sometimes it’s a good thing not to peak too early.
See also: Nine things this CEO wishes she knew at 22
Trust your gut There will always be people who will question your abilities. Negative people aren’t worth your time so don’t let them slow you down. On the other hand, it’s really important to surround yourself with honest people who tell you the truth — reward that. But in either case, at the end of the day the best entrepreneurs I know are the ones who learn to trust their gut. So don’t be afraid to try things that may seem crazy to other people. To be the best, you have to get comfortable taking risks, which means you have to learn to trust your gut. If you’re not comfortable going against the world, it might be time to think about a different career.
Keep being scrappy We bootstrapped for 10 years so we had to be scrappy. But no matter how successful you get or how big the company grows, always keep that mentality. Restraint fosters creativity and that’s one of the most important things in business. Qualtrics started out in my parents’ basement. Back in the early days it was really tough. I had a t-shirt back then that said “Built to Grind.” It was a reminder to me that if you’re willing to work hard and be creative, there is almost nothing you can’t do. At the beginning, we were forced to be scrappy. Now we’ve made it a huge part of our culture and we are scrappy by choice.
Every time I go to New York City and pass a certain subway stop near Times Square, I can almost see that younger version of myself struggling up the stairs carrying my bag and a large, borrowed trade show booth. I genuinely could not have imagined where Qualtrics would be today, but it’s been an incredible journey. Looking back, I’d also tell myself that it’s not just about grinding and doing hard things — though that’ll always be part of it — but more importantly, keep having fun and enjoy all the ups and downs. And always remember to be grateful. At the end of the day, I do something I love, work with amazing people, and to have the greatest wife and kids by my side, and there’s nothing more important than that.
Read all answers to the Leadership Insider question: What advice would you give your 22-year-old self today?
Best advice for a 22-year–old: quit bragging about your accomplishments by Ryan Harwood, CEO of PureWow.
A nobody can still make a memorable first impression by Shahrzad Rafati, founder and CEO of Broadband TV.
Even this CEO knows it’s okay to fail by Kyle Wong, CEO of Pixlee.
How starting at the bottom gets you to the top — quicker by Frederic Kerrest, co-founder and COO of Okta.
What entrepreneurs get wrong about success by Lynn LeBlanc, CEO and founder of HotLink.
Why you should never get promoted too quickly by David Kong, CEO of Best Western. | If you're not comfortable with this, it might be time to think about a different career. | 54.052632 | 0.947368 | 8.105263 | high | high | mixed |
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/04/19/northeastern-lands-state-grant-boost-nanoscale-manufacturing-project/Gy8PgRDBAYyaerHMiIefpI/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160420094414id_/https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/04/19/northeastern-lands-state-grant-boost-nanoscale-manufacturing-project/Gy8PgRDBAYyaerHMiIefpI/story.html | Northeastern lands $3M state grant to boost ‘nanoscale’ manufacturing project | 20160420094414 | The Baker administration has awarded a $3 million grant to a Northeastern University program that would focus on making tiny components for “smart” sensors and materials.
The state’s investment, unveiled Tuesday at Northeastern’s Kostas Research Institute in Burlington, would be matched by nearly $11 million in private funds from a combination of industry and university investments, including from Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts Boston, state officials said.
Ahmed Busnaina, an engineering professor at Northeastern, said the $3 million grant primarily will be used to buy and build more equipment for the institute. The institute has already built a sophisticated three-dimensional printer that can make items on a particularly small scale, but those jobs all have to use plastics as a base material, Busnaina said. The machine is known as the Nanoscale Offset Printing System, or NanoOPS.
About half of the new state grant, or about $1.5 million, will go toward building a second nanoscale printing system that can print on any surface, Busnaina said.
Among the items Busnaina sees being produced with the new system: biometric sensors that can be worn by people, and sensors that detect pathogens or other pollutants in water.
Manufacturers will be able to use the new printer to develop their own prototypes, Busnaina said.
Governor Charlie Baker and Northeastern president Joseph Aoun joined Busnaina in Burlington to announce the grant.
Baker said Massachusetts has the potential to be a leader in the emerging nanotechnology field. He said he’s particularly interested in the next generation of “nanoscale devices” that will dispense medication to patients.
Baker said machines like the 3-D printer the institute uses have the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing sector — and bring more work here.
“If you can really start to make super-small and super-smart devices here in Massachusetts, the price of making those devices drops dramatically, which makes it possible to bring to the US, and hopefully back to Massachusetts, manufacturing that historically had been done [overseas],” Baker said. “The applications of this over the course of the next decade are going to be profound.”
The state money comes from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Collaborative Research Matching Grant Program. So far, $15 million of $50 million in that program has been awarded, according to an administration spokesman, and Baker is pursuing an economic development bill before the Legislature that would add another $25 million to the program. | The $3 million grant will help a Northeastern University program focus on making tiny components for “smart” sensors and materials. | 19.708333 | 0.958333 | 8.791667 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/technology/2016/04/15/uber-for-mbas-worrying-sign-for-knowledge-workers-everywhere/BJqxdFyeoM4f4giMzmSZSO/story.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160420122038id_/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/business/technology/2016/04/15/uber-for-mbas-worrying-sign-for-knowledge-workers-everywhere/BJqxdFyeoM4f4giMzmSZSO/story.html?event=event25 | Uber for MBAs is a worrying sign | 20160420122038 | In a brick-and-beam former warehouse in Boston’s Fort Point Channel neighborhood, Rob Biederman and Patrick Petitti are building an online network that could change how white-collar work gets done.
In the same way Uber built a network of drivers, and Craigslist can help you find someone willing to paint your back porch tomorrow, the company that Biederman and Petitti cofounded, HourlyNerd, has attracted 22,000 independent consultants with MBA degrees from 45 top universities, all willing to do projects for clients that range from the corner clothing boutique to conglomerates like General Electric.
Business owners can understand the allure of paying someone a few thousand bucks to analyze three different locations for a new shop. But anyone who sits in front of a computer every day, analyzing data and assembling PowerPoint presentations, is probably justified in fretting about what this could mean for their job.
And these online expert networks could evolve into potent competition for some of the best-known management consulting firms, like McKinsey & Co. and Boston Consulting Group. The traditional consultants are a bit like the livery companies that were the only game in town before Uber arrived: high-touch and expensive, but don’t try to call them 10 minutes before you need them to show up.
HourlyNerd was born as a class project at Harvard Business School in early 2013 with the theory that business school students and alumni might want to earn some extra cash by taking on consulting projects. By the end of 2013, the company had raised $750,000, the majority of it from Mark Cuban, the “Shark Tank” investor and owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, who had responded to an e-mail pitch from the founders. HourlyNerd has since raised another $9 million, and it employs about 55 people.
When you post a project on the site, you describe what you’re trying to get done, a start date, and a ballpark estimate of what you’re willing to pay. Consultants seeking work can review the project, ask for more details, and submit a bid. And before you hire someone, you can look at their star rating (one to five), along with comments from past clients.
Marisa Goldenberg signed on with the site in 2014 and says HourlyNerd is now her sole source of work. Goldenberg, a former operations executive at computer maker Dell, says she began proving her ability on the site with smaller projects, “then hit the big leagues with a Fortune 20 industrial company last year.” And when she needs more assistance on a big project, she uses the site to assemble a team of “nerds.”
One recent project for Goldenberg involved a large company that wanted to rethink its leadership development program. Goldenberg identified “best in breed” programs in place at other companies, conducted interviews with those companies, and produced a report with recommendations.
Goldenberg says she doesn’t mind being reviewed on the site like a pizzeria would be reviewed on yelp.com. “There’s nothing that helps you more to get future clients than to have previous clients sing your praises,” she says.
Daniel Callaghan, the founder of London-based MBA & Co., an HourlyNerd rival, says the costs of getting work done through his site can be 70 percent less than hiring a traditional consultancy. But another part of the allure is the speed and flexibility. Callaghan says a project can get rolling within days, which is often faster than a consulting firm can show up to have an initial “let’s discuss the scope of the project” meeting.
Kevin Dawson, an IT engineering leader at GE’s oil and gas division, says the combination of speed and the range of skills available on HourlyNerd makes him regard the site as “Uber for expertise.”
How do the big consulting firms view these startups? Miles Everson, US vice chairman at PwC, notes that the country’s workforce is tilting toward more freelancers, and consultants like PwC need to be able to “tap into that labor pool to get the best and brightest talent.” In mid-February, the firm launched a site called PwC Talent Exchange, which allows freelance consultants to participate in PwC projects, but it doesn’t yet allow clients to post projects they need done.
Nav Singh, the managing partner at McKinsey & Co.’s Boston office, says he sees the new marketplaces as “part of the constant innovation going on in the industry,” but that most of his firm’s work involves “sitting down with the CEO and other leaders to figure out what is useful. That journey itself sometimes takes us six or nine months.” That’s very different from a client posting a description of a specific issue with which they need help.
Biederman at HourlyNerd acknowledges that many clients in the midst of major decisions might want the “rubber stamp” of advice from a well-known firm. But he says there are plenty of opportunities to do other kinds of work for companies.
Surf through the websites of companies like MBA & Co., and you’ll see a growing number of tasks that their experts are willing to take on — from market research to supply chain streamlining. We’re at the beginning of what I believe will be an inexorable shift to more and more knowledge work being done outside of a company’s borders.
Gary Swart is a partner at the Boston investment firm Polaris Partners, and former CEO of a talent marketplace that is now known as Upwork. “In the early days of e-commerce, we were comfortable buying a book from Amazon and a PEZ dispenser with eBay, but as e-commerce has evolved, now we’re now comfortable transacting automobiles, real estate, Rolex watches,” he says. “I think the world of work is not dissimilar. In the early days, we’re comfortable with someone designing a logo, writing some copy, or doing some website coding. But why not a lawyer, an accountant, a strategic consultant?”
You can ignore it. You can hope it won’t happen. But unlike Uber or Airbnb, there’s no question about the legality of these online marketplaces for consulting. So perhaps it’s time to start thinking about how you make yourself indispensable to your current employer, or how you might craft a life as a brain-for-hire. | In a brick-and-beam former warehouse in Boston’s Fort Point Channel neighborhood, Rob Biederman and Patrick Petitti are building an online network that could change how white-collar work gets done. | 32.236842 | 1 | 38 | medium | high | extractive |
http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/arizona-rattlers-announce-local-tv-deal-with-fox-sports-arizona-031715 | http://web.archive.org/web/20160421155434id_/http://www.foxsports.com:80/arizona/story/arizona-rattlers-announce-local-tv-deal-with-fox-sports-arizona-031715 | Arizona Rattlers announce local TV deal with FOX Sports Arizona | 20160421155434 | PHOENIX -- The defending Arena Football League champion Arizona Rattlers announced that three 2015 home games are set to be televised in Arizona and New Mexico on FOX Sports Arizona Plus.
The FOX Sports Arizona Plus broadcast schedule includes two matchups against recently added Las Vegas Outlaws on May 16 and July 11. The network will also air the June 6 contest against the Tampa Bay Storm. Kickoff for all three games is set for 6 p.m. at US Airways Center. FOX Sports Arizona Plus is aired on the following cable outlets:
The Rattlers broadcast schedule also features nine games on national television, including ESPN News and CBS Sports Network. The full 2015 broadcast schedule will be available on azrattlers.com.
The Rattlers open their season at 6 p.m. on March 28 with a home game against the Spokane Shock at US Airways Center. | Three Arizona Rattlers games will be televised locally on FOX Sports Arizona Plus. | 11.071429 | 0.928571 | 3.357143 | low | medium | mixed |
http://www.cnbc.com/2014/06/06/us-oil-expert-ban-the-case-against-allowing-us-crude-exports.html | http://web.archive.org/web/20160424083507id_/http://www.cnbc.com/2014/06/06/us-oil-expert-ban-the-case-against-allowing-us-crude-exports.html | The case against allowing US crude exports | 20160424083507 | "The fundamental flaw is that [a lifting of the export ban] assumes there is no response from Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries," said Jeff Peck, a partner at Peck Madigan & Jones, which is spearheading an effort by refiners to push back against an end to the export ban.
"History suggests that Saudis will not sit on their hands—if there is an increase in supply, they will decrease theirs," said Peck. "That means the prices of gas will not go down as advocates suggest."
The anti-export lobbying effort, comprising an ad-hoc group of refiners that include PBF Energy, Monroe Energy and Philadelphia Energy Services, is called Consumers and Refiners United for Domestic Energy (CRUDE).
"We are on the same side of consumers, because prices will go up," Peck said. "It defies common sense that the Saudis will sit there and do nothing" if the U.S. pumps world markets with its oil.
Read MoreOil will stay above $100, say big oil investors
Still, some say lifting the export moratorium and shipping crude abroad is more of a necessity than a luxury. In an exhaustive study of the U.S. shale boom last month, RBC Capital Markets said the U.S. will be glutted with an oversupply of shale-derived oil within the next few years—and will need to send at least some of it overseas.
"The most efficient way to alleviate a glut of U.S. onshore crude is to allow crude exports," the bank wrote. "We think that either U.S. oil production growth will need to begin slowing down in late 2015, or the U.S. will need to have light oil exports to keep the refining system from being overwhelmed in 2016." | Advocates for more oil exports say it will lower U.S. energy costs. Not so fast, say their opponents. | 16.142857 | 0.761905 | 0.952381 | medium | low | abstractive |
http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/04/23/12/46/dutch-cops-shut-down-encryption-network | http://web.archive.org/web/20160424111428id_/http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/04/23/12/46/dutch-cops-shut-down-encryption-network | Dutch cops shut down encryption network | 20160424111428 | Dutch police say they have arrested the owner of Ennetcom, a provider of encrypted communications for a network of 19,000 customers, on suspicion of using the business for organised crime and shut it down.
Rotterdam judges ordered that Danny Manupassa, 36, be held for 14 days during an ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors said he is suspected of money laundering and illegal weapons possession.
"Police and prosecutors believe that they have captured the largest encrypted network used by organised crime in the Netherlands," prosecutors said in a statement.
Although using encrypted communications is legal, many of the network's users are believed to have been engaged in "serious criminal activity," said spokesman Wim de Bruin of the national prosecutor's office.
Ennetcom said in a statement on its website that the company had been forced to "suspend all operations and services for the time being".
"Ennetcom regrets this course of events and insinuations towards Ennetcom. It should be clear that Ennetcom stands for freedom of privacy," the company said.
While Ennetcom and most of its users are in the Netherlands, the bulk of the company's servers were in Canada. Prosecutors said information on the servers in Canada has been copied in co-operation with Toronto police.
De Bruin said the information gathered would be used in the investigation against Manupassa, and potentially in other ongoing criminal investigations.
De Bruin declined to comment on whether and how police would be able to decrypt information kept on the servers.
"The company sold modified telephones for about 1500 euros each and used its own servers for the encrypted data traffic," the prosecutors said.
"The phones had been modified so that they could not be used to make calls or use the internet."
The phones had turned up repeatedly in investigations into drug cases, criminal motorcycle gangs and gangland killings, prosecutors said.
All 19,000 of the network's users were sent a message on Tuesday notifying them that the system was being investigated by police. | Police in the Netherlands have arrested Danny Manupassa, the head of encrypted communications network Ennetcom. | 22.647059 | 0.941176 | 2.235294 | medium | medium | mixed |
http://www.people.com/article/hugh-jackman-x-men-trailer-wolverine-return | http://web.archive.org/web/20160426183700id_/http://www.people.com/article/hugh-jackman-x-men-trailer-wolverine-return | Apocalypse Trailer : People.com | 20160426183700 | 04/25/2016 AT 11:00 AM EDT
was released on Monday – and it appears that
is back in his Wolverine claws for the highly anticipated film.
Featured at the tail end of the film's action-packed trailer,
's Mystique comes across Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) after they've defeated a group of adversaries.
"Well you've been busy," says Mystique after seeing the wreckage.
"We had a little help," responds Cyclops.
And that help seems to have come from Jackman's Wolverine. In the final seconds, the superhero's infamous claws are seen jetting out of his hands as he approaches his opponents.
Just hours ahead of the debut of the trailer's debut, Jackman took to Instagram to share the sneak peak.
A video posted by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) on Apr 25, 2016 at 4:59am PDT
as Betsy Braddock, or Psylocke, and | In the final seconds of the clip, the X-Men's infamous claws are seen jetting out of his hands as he approaches his opponents | 6.777778 | 0.888889 | 9.259259 | low | medium | extractive |
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