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Exploding Kittens is a highly strategic kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette. Players take turns drawing cards until someone draws an exploding kitten and loses the game. The deck is made up of cards that let you avoid exploding by peeking at cards before you draw, forcing your opponent to draw multiple cards, or shuffling the deck.
The game gets more and more intense with each card you draw because fewer cards left in the deck means a greater chance of drawing the kitten and exploding in a fiery ball of feline hyperbole.
The game was created by Elan Lee (Xbox, ARGs), Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal), and Shane Small (Xbox, Marvel). We think this game combines all the things we're best at creating, and and put together this Kickstarter campaign because we can't build this without you.
So if you're into card games or laser beams or weaponized enchiladas, please help us make this game a reality. We think you'll love it as much as we do.
Hugs and enchilada kisses,
-Elan, Matt, and Shane.
The Origin Story
Exploding Kittens started when Shane Small proposed a game to Elan Lee where a joker was inserted into a deck of cards and they took turns picking cards until the joker came up. It was called “Bomb Squad” and it wasn’t any fun at all.
Over the next few weeks, two important things happened: First, after neglecting work, family, and a social life, Shane and Elan developed a rule-set that started working and brought the game to life. Second, Matt Inman saw the game, thought it was super fun, and asked to join the team. (btw, if Matthew Inman ever asks you if he can join your team, the answer is “HELL YES”.)
We changed the name to "Exploding Kittens" and our little team was born.
BUT YOU'RE BLOWING UP KITTENS! NOT COOL, BUDDY.
We struggled with this a lot. We love the name Exploding Kittens, but we don't want to hurt kittens. We also don't want the kittens to be hurt by anyone else. Eventually we decided to explore the concept of the kittens blowing themselves up.
First, Matt tried drawing the kittens as the actual bombs:
But that felt too Angry Birds’ish.
Next, we tried making the kittens suicidal, but that felt terrible.
In the end, we realized that everyone understands feline shenanigans, and that could be our solution. Our kitties would not blow up out of malicious intent or negligence, but by doing the things that kittens do, like running across keyboards or chewing on things they shouldn't be chewing on.
From there, the rest of the cards fell into place, and the cards used to defuse the exploding kittens were items you'd use to defuse regular kittens.
HELP US BUILD THIS GAME
We wanted to put this project on Kickstarter because it's the fastest way for us to get the game into your hands and make improvements as a community. We think this game is great, but we need your help making it even better.
So, if a world full of weaponized pork missiles is a world you want to live in, please back this project and help us build this game.
With love and pork missiles,
-The Exploding Kittens Team (Matt, Elan, and Shane)
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For more information about the game: http://www.explodingkittens.com
Follow us: Facebook Twitter
Music: Royalty-free music from Bensound. ||||| All artwork and content on this site is Copyright © 2018 Matthew Inman. Please don't steal.
Thanks to Weberz for providing dedicated server hosting for this website. ||||| Matthew Inman, creator of quirky comic website The Oatmeal, just launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new card game, called Exploding Kittens.
In the vein of Russian roulette, players go around in a circle, drawing cards from a deck, until one of them picks up an exploding kitten. That player immediately "explodes" and loses. Players can strategically use other cards they've picked up to negate an exploding kitten, or make it more likely for other players to pick one up. All of the cards feature Inman's signature Oatmeal-style drawings, and many include drawings from his past comics.
Within minutes, Inman's Kickstarter campaign had raised its $10,000 goal, and an hour later, it had over $100,000. At the time of this writing, Exploding Kittens was rapidly closing in on $1 million. Inman created the game alongside partners Elan Lee and Shane Small.
WE JUST HIT OUR GOAL! $10k in 8 minutes — Matthew Inman (@Oatmeal) January 20, 2015
We can easily see this becoming Friday night's game of choice. Just don't invite any cat lovers. | – The creator of popular comic website The Oatmeal launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to make a card game, and let's just say things are going well for him. "Exploding Kittens," a Russian roulette-inspired game created by The Oatmeal's Matthew Inman along with Elan Lee and Shane Small, reached its $10,000 goal in eight minutes yesterday, Mashable reports, citing an Inman tweet. Within an hour, it had raised $100,000. And that was just the beginning: With 21 days to go in the campaign, it has so far raised more than $1.8 million. |
Portland police said they decided to reopen its investigation into sexual assault allegations against former Vice President Al Gore after finding "procedural" mistakes in how the bureau handled the case in 2009.
The bureau's command-level supervisors should have reviewed the case and should have made the decision on whether the investigation should move forward when the complainant came to them last year -- the second time she went to police, Portland Police Chief Michael Reese said in a statement.
Although Portland massage therapist Molly Hagerty read a statement to detectives detailing accusations that Gore groped and kissed her during an October 2006 late-night massage at the Hotel Lucia, police never contacted Gore. In addition, detectives failed to consult with the Multnomah County district attorney's office on the matter.
Reese said the decision to reopen the case was solely the bureau's.
"It is our responsibility to both parties involved to conduct a thorough, fair and timely investigation," Reese said in his statement, adding that the bureau will not be commenting on the case during the investigation. "We ask for the public’s patience as we let the facts of the investigation guide us and ensure the integrity of the investigation. I have asked Detectives to assign appropriate resources in the interest of conducting a complete investigation in an expedited manner."
The case began in 2006 when an attorney representing Hagerty contacted Portland police. At that time, detectives tried to meet with Hagerty on three separate occasions, but the meetings were all cancelled by her attorney. The lawyer then told detectives that Hagerty was pursuing a civil lawsuit, the police statement said. Although police consulted the District Attorney's office at that time, the case was cleared due to Hagerty's lack of cooperation.
-- Helen Jung
||||| Portland Police Chief Michael Reese just released a statement on the Al Gore sexual assault allegations saying there were “procedural issues” with the original investigation that merited re-opening the case.
“In reviewing this case, we have determined there were procedural issues with the 2009 investigation that merit re-opening the case,” Reese said. “There should have been command level review at the time on the specifics of this case and decisions on whether the investigation should go forward.”
Remember, the police declined to pursue an investigation of the 2006 incident after a 2009 interview with the woman who accused Gore of sexual assault, Molly Hagerty. At the time they cited “insufficient evidence.” But now Reese appears to be saying that call should have been made at a higher level of the department.
Here’s what Reese has to say about how the investigation will unfold:
“It is our responsibility to both parties involved to conduct a thorough, fair and timely investigation. As with any open investigation, it is inappropriate for the Police Bureau to comment on any specifics regarding the investigation. We ask for the public’s patience as we let the facts of the investigation guide us and ensure the integrity of the investigation. I have asked Detectives to assign appropriate resources in the interest of conducting a complete investigation in an expedited manner.”
The full statement is below. | – Portland police say they reopened the Al Gore case because they found "procedural issues" with the 2009 investigation, reports the Oregonian. In a statement, the chief says detectives who dismissed the allegations should have consulted with higher-ups before doing so. "There should have been command level review at the time on the specifics of this case and decisions on whether the investigation should go forward." The full statement (read it at Talking Points Memo) notes that the masseuse first contacted police in 2006 but then called off three subsequent scheduled meetings. The department dropped the case, deeming it futile without her cooperation. The woman, Molly Hagerty, then contacted the department again in 2009, but police (apparently below "command level") opted not to pursue the case after questioning her. |
Make Sure Your College Tuition Pays You Back
Look Beyond College Costs, Check Your Return on Investment
Paying for college is more of a luxury than ever. Where can you get the most payback on your tuition dollars? PayScale reviewed nearly 700 colleges and universities to calculate your tuition return on investment (ROI) - what you get back for what you spend.
Highest College ROI
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) $1,713,000 Lowest College ROI
Shaw University $15,480
- 100K ||||| With the ever-rising cost of a college degree and the dearth of jobs for graduates, many have begun questioning the worth of higher education. Compensation data site PayScale has taken some uncertainty out of the equation by completing an in-depth tabulation of more than 850 colleges' ROI, or return on investment, scores. ROI takes the price of a school's degree and compares it to how much that school's graduates earn on average, producing perhaps the truest measure of a school's value. Using 1.4 million reports, they calculated which colleges give the most bang for their buck.
We've highlighted the 13 schools with the top ROI scores below. See Payscale's complete list here, including a breakdown of the public and private schools with the highest ROIs.
And over at BusinessWeek, there's a state-by-state breakdown of PayScale's data, with a slideshow featuring the best-value school in each state.
Is this list surprising to you? Has your college degree given you a worthy ROI? Let us know in the comments section. | – Which colleges pay off? PayScale crunched the numbers to compute the best returns on investment—by comparing the cost of a degree against what its students earn upon graduation—and Huffington Post rounds up the best of the bunch: Massachusetts Institute of Technology: annual ROI: 12.6%; 30-year ROI: $1.69 million California Institute of Technology: 12.6%; $1.64 million Harvard: 12.5%; $1.63 million Harvey Mudd College: 12.5%; $1.63 million Dartmouth: 12.4%; $1.59 million Stanford: 12.3%; $1.57 million Princeton: 12.3%; $1.52 million Yale: 11.9%; $1.39 million Notre Dame: 12.2%; $1.38 million University of Pennsylvania: 11.8%; $1.36 million See the Huffington Post slideshow here and PayScale's complete rankings here. |
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, meets with reporters at her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (Associated Press)
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, meets with reporters at her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (Associated Press)
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, meets with reporters at her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (Associated Press) House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, meets with reporters at her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday rejected the idea of paying for President Donald Trump's border wall in exchange for helping hundreds of thousands of young immigrants avoid deportation.
Funding for the wall — a top Trump priority — and legal protections for so-called Dreamers, a key Democratic goal, should not be linked, Pelosi said.
"They're two different subjects," she said.
Her comments came as the House and Senate approved a stopgap bill Thursday to keep the government funded through Dec. 21. The measure, approved by voice votes in near-empty chambers, now goes to the White House.
Trump has promised to sign the two-week extension to allow for ceremonies this week honoring former President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30. But he wants the next funding package to include at least $5 billion for his proposed wall, something Democrats have rejected. Trump is set to meet Tuesday at the White House with Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
In a tweet late Thursday, Trump warned of the potential for "Big danger" at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, demanding, "Nancy and Chuck must approve Boarder Security and the Wall!"
Pelosi, who is seeking to become House speaker in January, said the lame-duck Congress should now pass a half-dozen government funding bills that key committees have already agreed on, along with a separate measure funding the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the border. Funding for the homeland agency should address border security and does not necessarily include a wall, Pelosi said.
Most Democrats consider the wall "immoral, ineffective and expensive," Pelosi said, noting that Trump promised during the 2016 campaign that Mexico would pay for it, an idea Mexican leaders have repeatedly rejected.
Even if Mexico did pay for the wall, "it's immoral still," Pelosi said.
Protecting borders "is a responsibility we honor, but we do so by honoring our values as well," she added.
Schumer said Thursday that a bipartisan Senate plan for $1.6 billion in border security funding does not include money for the 30-foot-high (9-meter-high) concrete wall Trump has envisioned. The money "can only be used for fencing" and technology that experts say is appropriate and makes sense as a security feature, Schumer said.
If Republicans object to the proposal because of pressure from Trump, Schumer said lawmakers should follow Pelosi's advice and approve six appropriations bills and a separate measure extending current funding for Homeland Security.
Either option would avert a partial government shutdown, which lawmakers from both parties oppose, he said.
"The one and only way we approach a shutdown is if President Trump refuses both of our proposals and demands $5 billion or more for a border wall," Schumer said. He called the wall "a nonstarter" for Democrats, who face increasing pressure from outside groups and liberal lawmakers to resist Trump's continued push for the barrier, which Trump says is needed to stop an "invasion" of Central American migrants and others from crossing into the country illegally.
Schumer called the spat over the wall unnecessary, noting that the administration has not spent more than $1 billion approved for border security in the budget year that ended Sept. 30. "The idea that they haven't spent last year's money and they're demanding such a huge amount this year makes no sense at all," he said.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby said he prefers to include Homeland Security in an omnibus package containing seven unresolved spending bills for the current budget year.
"I believe the best route is to keep all seven together and pass them," the Alabama Republican told reporters Thursday. Lawmakers have "made a lot of progress" in recent weeks on the seven spending bills. "I'd like to conclude it,'" he said.
Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, a member of Republican leadership, said the key question is whether Trump will sign a bill without funding for the wall.
"It doesn't matter how much appetite there is for a shutdown anywhere else, if he is willing to have a shutdown over this issue," Blunt said. "He has given every indication that he would."
___
Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Padmananda Rama contributed to this story. ||||| Tweet with a location
You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more | – House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday rejected the idea of paying for President Trump's border wall in exchange for helping hundreds of thousands of young immigrants avoid deportation. Funding for the wall—a top Trump priority—and legal protections for so-called Dreamers, a key Democratic goal, should not be linked, Pelosi said. "They're two different subjects," and most Democrats consider the wall "immoral, ineffective, and expensive," Pelosi said. Her comments came as the House and Senate approved a stopgap bill Thursday to keep the government funded through Dec. 21, the AP reports. The measure, approved by voice votes in near-empty chambers, now goes to the White House. Trump has promised to sign the two-week extension to allow for ceremonies this week honoring former President George HW Bush, who died Nov. 30. But he wants the next funding package to include at least $5 billion for his proposed wall, something Democrats have rejected. Trump is set to meet Tuesday at the White House with Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer said Thursday that a bipartisan Senate plan for $1.6 billion in border security funding does not include money for the 30-foot-high concrete wall Trump has envisioned. In a tweet late Thursday, Trump warned of the potential for "Big danger" at the US-Mexico border in Arizona, demanding, "Nancy and Chuck must approve Boarder Security and the Wall!" (Trump says he is "totally willing" to shut down the government if funding for the wall is not approved.) |
Eight-year-old Chloe-May Kabealo, who swam to safety while her mother, sister and brother drowned when their car plunged into a northern NSW river, has said goodbye to her family at their funeral service this afternoon.
Hundreds of people farewelled the "heroic" mother Stephanie King, 43, and two of her children: Ella Jane, 11, and seven-year-old Jacob, at Tweed Heads Elevation Church this afternoon.
Chloe miraculously escaped the submerged car after it slid off a muddy Tumbulgum road into the Tweed River last Monday, when the region was hit by heavy rains that followed Cyclone Debbie.
A mother and her two children who drowned after their car plunged into a northern NSW river have been farewelled at a funeral at Tweed Heads. Picture: 7 News
Stephanie King, with Ella Jane (top right), Chloe, and Jacob. Picture: Supplied
Local Tumbulgum pastor Rob Stuttle who conducted the service, earlier said the close-knit community were rallying together as the clean-up of the devastated area continued.
He said Chloe and her father Matt Kabealo are "coping as best as they can".
Pastor Rob Stuttle said Chloe and her father Matt Kabealo are "coping as best as they can". Picture: 7 News
Police last week hailed Ms King a hero.
"The mother was trying to get one of her children out of the car when she passed away ... she was with the child, holding the child," Superintendent Wayne Starling told reporters last week.
“I have no doubt she would still be alive if she wasn’t trying to save her children.”
Police believe Ms King lost consciousness trying to free two of her three children from the crash.
Supt Starling said Chloe's miraculous escape was possibly a result of her mother’s desperate efforts.
Stephanie King, 43, from Bilambil, died in the accident with two of her children. Photo: Supplied
Former police officer Matt Grinham and his family pulled up moments after the accident at Dulguigan Road and tried to help.
Mr Grinham dove in to try to find the car, but could not.
"Just the helplessness of not being able to find the car. The bubbles were there but we just couldn't get to the car."
His son Thomas Grinham said the little girl who swam free was "really upset".
"She couldn't say much she just said my mum and little sister and my brother have gone in the river in a car."
A photo from the scene. Picture: Peter Fegan 7 News.
Emergency services were called after Chloe escaped from the river and ran to a nearby property to raise the alarm.
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson told 7 News Online the survivor was taken to Tweed Heads District Hospital.
Chloe was treated for multiple lacerations to her legs, abrasions and neck pain. ||||| Video
Image Chloe-May talks about terrifying ordeal 0:31 THE young girl who was the sole survivor of a horror crash at Tumbulgum three weeks ago has broken her silence. Courtesy: 9 News
AN eight-year-old girl who was the sole survivor of a horror crash that killed her mother and two siblings in northern New South Wales has spoken of how she escaped the sinking car.
Only three weeks ago, Chloe-May Kabealo’s world changed when she managed to get out of the van her mother, Stephanie King, was driving.
The vehicle has plunged into the swollen Tweed River at Tumbulgum, which had flooded following a lashing from Cyclone Debbie.
Speaking at a fundraiser for the remaining members of the family — Chloe-May and her dad Matt Kabealo — the eight-year-old told of her miraculous escape.
“I unbuckled my seatbelt and I tried to go up for air, and then I just kept floating up out of something and then I got out,” she said.
The girl managed to climb out of the river’s bank and run to a nearby farmhouse where she was assisted by locals.
“They just took me in and let me get into clean clothes and cleaned up all my cuts on my feet,” she said.
Chloe-May said the family had been supported over the past three weeks.
“We’ve been having heaps of people saying we’re there for you and all that,” she said.
Her father was not holding up so well.
“I’m shattered buddy, I’m not holding up,” he told a news reporter at the Tweed Heads fundraiser.
“(I’m) just being strong for my daughter. We’re just going to get through it the best we can.”
Tweed Byron police co-ordinated the fundraiser which raised more than $10,000 for the grieving family.
“Nothing that we do could ever replace Chloe’s two siblings, younger brother and sister, but anything we can do to make their life a little bit better we can,” Senior Constable Brad Foster said.
Chloe-May said of her mum and siblings: “They were all loved and they’ll never be forgotten.” ||||| Image copyright facebook Image caption Chloe (bottom left) survived when the car sank, but her mother, brother and sister did not
A girl of eight who survived when the car she was in sank in Australia, killing three family members, has described her desperate struggle to raise the alarm.
Chloe Kabealo said she had unbuckled her seatbelt and tried to "go up for air", then "just kept floating up out".
She said of her lost family members: "They were all loved and they'll never be forgotten."
Her father, who was not in the car, said he was "shattered" by the loss.
"I'm not holding up," Matt Kabealo said. "I'm just being strong for my daughter."
Chloe and her mother, sister and brother were in a car in the small town of Tumbulgum in New South Wales when it slid off a muddy road into a flooded river earlier this month.
Chloe escaped and ran to a farmhouse to raise the alarm.
Stephanie King, 43, died trying to save her children.
Local police superintendent Wayne Starling told reporters from 7 News at the time: "The mother was trying to get one of her children out of the car when she passed away.
"She was with the child, holding the child. I have no doubt she would still be alive if she wasn't trying to save her children."
Ella Jane, 11, and seven-year-old Jacob also died.
Chloe and Mr Kabealo were speaking at an event raising funds for them. So far efforts have gathered tens of thousands of Australian dollars.
"Anything we can do to make their lives a little bit better, we'll try anything we can," local policeman Constable Brad Foster told 7 News.
In March last year, a four-month old baby was the sole survivor when a car sank off the coast of Donegal in the Republic Ireland.
Advice for escaping a sinking car
If a car you are in starts to sink, get out as fast as possible. Do not phone for help or try to retrieve possessions. There is very little time.
Open the windows straightaway before contact with water makes the electric system fail or water pressure stops you winding the windows down.
If that doesn't work, get the door open, undo your seatbelt and get out.
The third option, in last resort, is to pull a headrest out and use the metal part of it to hit the window, hard, in the corner and hopefully break it open.
If you are underwater when you leave the car, push away from it, and if you don't know for sure which way is up, check what direction bubbles are floating in and swim that way.
sources: Popular Mechanics, The Art of Manliness and Top Gear | – Chloe Kabealo unbuckled her seatbelt after the car her mother was driving slid off a muddy Australia road into a flooded river and tried to "go up for air," then "just kept floating up out." That's how the 8-year-old survived the crash as the car sank, a harrowing experience she relived at a fundraising event this week, the BBC reports—but her mother, 11-year-old sister, and 7-year-old brother all drowned. "I'm not holding up," Chloe's dad, Matt, who was not in the car, said at the event. "I'm just being strong for my daughter." Chloe ran to a nearby farmhouse to get help, but rescuers couldn't save Stephanie King, 43, who was found to have died while trying in vain to save her other two children. "The mother was trying to get one of her children out of the car when she passed away," the local police superintendent told 7 News after the crash three weeks ago. "She was with the child, holding the child. I have no doubt she would still be alive if she wasn't trying to save her children." The fundraising event raised more than $10,000 for the family, news.com.au reports. |
Chris Brown will return to jail for a month after being arrested on Friday for violating his probation. On Monday (March 17), a judge cited his "inability to stay out of trouble" as grounds to keep him locked up until April 23.
Brown, 25, was arrested on Friday based on a warrant issued by probation officials and held without bail until Monday. Though authorities have not yet revealed the cause of the alleged probation violation, TMZ has reported that the singer was kicked out of a Malibu rehab center for violating unspecified "internal rules."
Brown was ordered to spend 90 days in a residential facility in November for anger-management issues after an incident in which he threw a rock through his mother's car window before being discharged from a rehab facility. Brown spent two weeks in a rehab facility in early October after he was arrested in Washington, D.C., for allegedly assaulting a 20-year-old man. He's due back in court on April 17, when a judge will determine whether he committed criminal assault in that incident.
Late last month, the Malibu rehab facility revealed in court documents that the singer suffered from PTSD and bi-polar disorder.
According to TMZ, Brown was thrown out of the Malibu rehab facility for breaking three rules, including one which allegedly applied only to him and which required him to stay at least two feet away from other women at the rehab.
Brown allegedly violated that rule by touching the elbows and hands of a woman, as well as leaving the facility last week on an unauthorized outing and initially refusing to take a random drug test upon his return. (The tests were reportedly negative, but the initial refusal violated the rehab's rules.) He also reportedly acted out during a rehab group session by making harsh comments.
The judge in Brown's probation violation case, Superior Court James R. Brandlin, revoked Brown's probation in December, but turned down a prosecutor's request in February to jail the singer again because of the D.C. assault case. Brandlin said at the time that Brown appeared to be making progress in rehab and a probation officer seconded that emotion during by presenting a favorable report during a court hearing on February 28.
Brown was slated to finish his probation in August, but with a reported 750 hours of community labor left to complete and possible additional penalties for not completing rehab it's likely his probation could be extended once again. ||||| Chris Brown You Got Too Close to Our Women So We Booted You from Rehab
EXCLUSIVE
was thrown out of the Malibu rehab facility Friday for violating 3 internal rules ... including a special rule imposed specifically on him --Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the rehab facility imposed the 2-foot rule because of thecase -- specifically, that he beat her. The people who run the facility imposed the highly unusual rule, and we're told Chris violated it by touching elbows and hands with a woman.As for the 2 other violations, we're told Chris left the facility last week on an authorized outing, but when he returned he was told to submit to a random drug test and he refused. Our sources say he later took the test and the results were negative, but the initial refusal was a violation of rules.And the third violation ... the facility claims Chris made a mockery of rehab during a group session with some harsh comments.Our sources say Chris was also in some sort of sexual encounter with a woman at the facility at the beginning of the month, but for some reason that is not part of the basis for booting him.TMZ broke the story ... Chris was arrested Friday because he violated the order of the judge in thecase ... the judge required him to stay in rehab for anger management until mid-April, when his Washington D.C. assault case ran its course.He's currently being held in jail without bail. His lawyer,, will appear in court Monday with Brown in an attempt to get him freed. We're guessing Geragos will ask for house arrest until the D.C. trial. | – Chris Brown was kicked out of a Malibu rehab facility last week, and TMZ says it knows why. First off, he violated a rule specifically imposed on him because he assaulted Rihanna: to keep at least two feet away from all women (he touched a woman's hands and elbows). The other violations? He went on an unauthorized outing last week and refused a drug test when he returned, and disrespected a group-rehab session by making "harsh comments." Now, because rehab was a mandatory part of his probation in the Rihanna case, the singer is back in jail—and MTV reports that a judge today ordered him to stay there for a month due to his "inability to stay out of trouble." |
What was supposed to be a nice outing off the coast of Noank when Clare Shaw and her family were boating along the Connecticut shoreline turned into a grievous one.
On June 26, their 8-month-old Shiba Inu puppy got out of his harness and fell into the ocean.
“After turning around and back tracking for hours, having the coast guard involved, and everyone on shore looking we weren’t able to find our puppy who we thought didn’t know how to swim,” Shaw told WTIC.
Therefore, the only thing Shaw could think was that her pup lost his life.
“My family came home and we felt defeated, we packed up his things and lit a candle in his cage and assumed our boy lost his life drowning,” she said.
Still, trying to be a little hopeful, Shaw took to Facebook, asking if anyone had seen her dog, Ryder.
Her post was shared over 100 times.
And then suddenly …
Phil Q. Bigelow and his pal, Patrick Jullarine, were the ones who rescued the long lost pup.
Bigelow recalls Sunday’s event:
So, it started off as a normal day. Myself and my friend, Patrick, were headed out on my boat to fish. We then got a call from our friend, Tommy Nahornick, who was home from the army—also wanting to join in on the fishing trip. We picked him up at a local dock and the three of us who have been friends since 9 years old then headed out from bushy point and pine island for some fishing. About a half mile out, we came to a stop as Patrick and Tom both stood up and asked me ‘Is this a good spot?’ I replied ‘yes’ they asked ‘Are we going to fish here?’ I said ‘no’ and they asked ‘why?’ and I said we have to go rescue this dog first. As we approached the little guy, Tommy, with one first swipe, pulled the little guy in the boat. We dried him off and immediately gave him water. He was shaking and scared. He stayed on the boat with us for the day and warmed up to us in no time. Not knowing his name we quickly decided Nemo was what we will call him considering he was lost and now found. We brought him to the dock then the real work started trying to get him home. Contacted all local agencies and posted to Facebook. My girlfriend and I took a trip to Walmart and bought him some food a collar and toys to make him feel loved until we found his owners.
Bigelow quickly added that he and his pals are not heroes, instead they did what anyone else would have done. “We were in the right place at the right time,” he said.
“So happy you got him back!” wrote a Facebook user on the picture of Shaw hugging Ryder, after the two were reunited.
Bigelow added, “I have seen a lot of crazy things while being out on the boat, but this was #1 so far.”
As far as Shaw is concerned, she couldn’t be happier. “We are so thankful for his safe return and are so overwhelmed with how many caring people there are in the community,” she told Epoch Times ||||| The pup disappeared without a trace — in the scariest place possible.
According to FOX 61, who reported the story, a family was boating with their the dog off the coast of Noank, Connecticut, on Sunday when the 8-month-old Shiba Inu slipped out of his harness and into the ocean.
“After turning around and back tracking for hours, having the Coast Guard involved, and everyone on shore looking we weren't able to find our puppy who we thought didn't know how to swim,” owner Clare Shaw told the station.
The family feared the worst for Ryder but nevertheless looked to Facebook for a glimmer of hope, sharing a message on the Groton Animals Lost and Found page about the pooch. Meanwhile, as luck would have it, another boater found Ryder and pulled him to safety.
“Almost 100 shares later, an equine vet saw my post and a post in a Groton lost and found pet group,” Shaw said. The Connecticut veterinarian linked the two Facebook posts and realized someone found the dog missing at sea.
“We are so incredibly thankful for every single person who has sent prayers and shared my post,” Shaw wrote on Facebook on Sunday. “The power of social media is out of this world. I am happy to say that Ryder has been found in the water at Fisher Island and kindly saved! We are on our way to Mystic right now to get him! Thank you Stacey Golub for making the connection and everyone for bringing our boy home! It is a true miracle.” | – Facebook isn't always used for good, but a Connecticut woman whose puppy fell overboard is now giving the social media site a giant "like" after what happened over the weekend. Clare Shaw and her family were out on their boat Sunday outside of Noank when Ryder, their 8-month-old Shiba Inu, somehow broke free of his harness and plunged into the water, per Fox 61. The panicked family, which was under the impression Ryder couldn't swim, called the Coast Guard and backtracked for hours looking for their pup, to no avail. "We felt defeated," Shaw says. "We packed up his things and lit a candle in his cage and assumed our boy lost his life drowning." But Shaw obviously didn't give up hope completely, because she decided to put up a now-deleted post on her Facebook page asking if anyone had seen her precious pup, the Epoch Times reports—and it was after 100 shares or so of that post that the best news ever came her way. A horse vet saw her post, as well as a post in a local lost-and-found group, and put two and two together. Phil Bigelow and Patrick Jullarine, friends since they were 9 years old, had been out boating themselves on Sunday and spotted a "shaking and scared" Ryder in the sea, scooped him out, and nicknamed him Nemo. Bigelow says once he got home, he and his girlfriend picked up some snacks, a collar, and toys for their newfound furry friend "to make him feel loved" until his owners could be tracked down. Shaw calls Ryder's save a "true miracle" and expressed her gratitude on Facebook, via People. "The power of social media is out of this world," she says. (A mom found her long-lost son thanks to Facebook.) |
Resources Thank the PFMC for Protecting the West Coast Ecosystem
The Pacific coast of North America supports one of the most vibrant and diverse marine ecosystems on Earth, largely because of the presence of thick schools of small prey fish such as Pacific sardines. Unfortunately, this crucial forage fish appears to be in the midst of a severe population decline. Its absence will be felt by dozens of species of West Coast seabirds, whales, sharks, dolphins, and commercially important fish such as salmon and tuna that depend on sardines as a major food source. In addition, because sardines have been a staple of commercial purse-seine fishing on the West Coast, their decline raises the potential for fishing pressure to shift to similar, but more abundant, schooling species of forage fish.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages fishing in federal waters off California, Oregon, and Washington, should do two things to help maintain a healthy Pacific Ocean:
Set conservative catch limits on sardines when the population is so low.
Fulfill its September 2013 commitment to prohibit unregulated fishing on forage fish species such as sand lance, saury, and lanternfish that are not currently managed or monitored.
Cause for concern
Populations of forage fish along the West Coast fluctuate widely, so a species can be abundant one year and dwindle unexpectedly the next. That’s because forage fish are highly dependent on the upwelling of cold nutrient- rich waters to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton, their primary food source.
The Pacific sardine fishery, immortalized in John Steinbeck’s novel Cannery Row, collapsed notoriously the 1950s. The November 2013 population estimate of 378,000 tons is the lowest in more than a decade, far below the peak of 1.5 million tons estimated in 2000 and a major decline by historical standards. Geological records of fish scales deposited off Southern California indicate that the unfished sardine population fluctuated naturally between a low of 400,000 tons to as much as 16 million tons.
Keeping an eye on the big picture
Forage fish account for more than one-third of the global catch of marine fish and are mostly used for industrial purposes such as feed for livestock, poultry, and farmed fish rather than being directly eaten by people. Most forage fish landed on the West Coast are exported for purposes such as bait in tuna longlining in Asia or as feed for farmed fish. In 2012, the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force, a group of eminent scientists from around the world, calculated that forage fish worldwide are worth twice as much when left in the water—about $11.3 billion—as they are when caught because of their value as food for commercially important predators.
For further information, please visit: pewenvironment.org/pacificfish
Write the Pacific Fishery Management Council at: pfmc.comments@noaa.gov ||||| The sardine fishing boat Eileen motored slowly through moonlit waters from San Pedro to Santa Catalina Island, its weary-eyed captain growing more desperate as the night wore on. After 12 hours and $1,000 worth of fuel, Corbin Hanson and his crew returned to port without a single fish.
"Tonight's pretty reflective of how things have been going," Hanson said. "Not very well."
To blame is the biggest sardine crash in generations, which has made schools of the small, silvery fish a rarity on the West Coast. The decline has prompted steep cuts in the amount fishermen are allowed to catch, and scientists say the effects are probably radiating throughout the ecosystem, starving brown pelicans, sea lions and other predators that rely on the oily, energy-rich fish for food.
If sardines don't recover soon, experts warn, the West Coast's marine mammals, seabirds and fishermen could suffer for years.
The reason for the drop is unclear. Sardine populations are famously volatile, but the decline is the steepest since the collapse of the sardine fishery in the mid-20th century. And their numbers are projected to keep sliding.
One factor is a naturally occurring climate cycle known as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, which in recent years has brought cold, nutrient-rich water to the West Coast. While those conditions have brought a boom in some species, such as market squid, they have repelled sardines.
If nature is responsible for the decline, history shows the fish will bounce back when ocean conditions improve. But without a full understanding of the causes, the crash is raising alarm.
An assessment last fall found the population had dropped 72% since its last peak in 2006. Spawning has taken a dive too.
In November, federal fishery managers slashed harvest limits by more than two-thirds, but some environmental groups have argued the catch should be halted outright.
"We shouldn't be harvesting sardines any time the population is this low," said Geoff Shester, California program director for the conservation group Oceana, which contends that continuing to fish for them could speed their decline and arrest any recovery.
The Pacific sardine is the ocean's quintessential boom-bust fish. It is short-lived and prolific, and its numbers are wildly unpredictable, surging up and down in decades-long cycles in response to natural shifts in the ocean environment. When conditions are poor, sardine populations plunge. When seas are favorable, they flourish in massive schools.
It was one of those seemingly inexhaustible swells that propelled California's sardine fishery to a zenith in the 1940s. Aggressive pursuit of the species transformed Monterey into one of the world's top fishing ports.
And then it collapsed.
By mid-century sardines had practically vanished, and in the 1960s California established a moratorium on sardine fishing that lasted 18 years. The population rebounded in the 1980s and fishing resumed, but never at the level of its heyday.
Since the 1940s scientists have debated how much of the collapse was caused by ocean conditions and how much by overfishing. Now, researchers are posing the same question.
"It's a terribly difficult scientific problem," said Russ Vetter, director of the Fisheries Resources Division at NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
Separate sardine populations off Japan, Peru and Chile fluctuate in the same 50- to 70-year climate cycle but have been more heavily exploited, Vetter said. West Coast sardines are considered one of the most cautiously fished stocks in the world, a practice that could explain why their latest rebound lasted as long as it did. The West Coast's last sardine decline began in 1999, but the population shot back up by the mid-2000s.
In recent years scientists have gained a deeper understanding of sardines' value as "forage fish," small but nutrition-packed species such as herring and market squid that form the core of the ocean food web, funneling energy upward by eating tiny plankton and being preyed on by big fish, seabirds, seals and whales.
Now, they say, there is evidence some ocean predators are starving without sardines. Scarcity of prey is the leading theory behind the 1,600 malnourished sea lion pups that washed up along beaches from Santa Barbara to San Diego in early 2013, said Sharon Melin, a wildlife biologist at the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Melin's research indicates that nursing sea lion mothers could not find fatty sardines, so they fed on less nutritious market squid, rockfish and hake and produced less milk for their young in 2012. The following year their pups showed up on the coast in overwhelming numbers, stranded and emaciated. | – The West Coast sardine population was down 72% since 2006 per a fall assessment—the worst crash since the mid-20th century, and one with far-reaching implications, particularly since the steep decline is expected to continue. One of those implications: Ocean predators that depend on sardines may be starving, the Los Angeles Times reports: Researchers think 1,600 malnourished sea lion pups that washed up onshore in Southern California last year were born to nursing mothers whose milk quality was compromised after they had to turn from fatty sardines to other fish; brown pelicans—which also depend on sardines for food—are also suffering. Neither species can turn to anchovies as an alternative food source, as they normally would, because their numbers are also down. Fishermen, too, are affected; they're not allowed to catch as many sardines (harvest maximums have been dramatically cut)—and they often can't find any to catch (the LA Times follows one boat that caught zero fish in a 12-hour outing). So what's going on? Sardine populations often experience wild swings, booming when conditions are good and then dropping sharply when conditions shift. After the last bad collapse, which happened after a massive boom in the 1940s, sardine fishing was halted for 18 years beginning in the 1960s, and though the population bounced back in the 1980s, it was never the same. Scientists now, as then, aren't sure how to divide the blame between ocean conditions (the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, a climate cycle, has brought cold, sardine-unfriendly water to the area) and overfishing. Last month, Pew Charitable Trusts warned that dozens of species, including whales, sharks, dolphins, salmon, and tuna, could feel an impact. |
Add a location to your Tweets
When you tweet with a location, Twitter stores that location. You can switch location on/off before each Tweet and always have the option to delete your location history. Learn more ||||| Former US army analyst turned whistleblower appears in red one-piece swimsuit, tweeting: ‘guess this is what freedom looks like’
Chelsea Manning, the former US Army analyst turned whistleblower, has graced the pages of Vogue magazine’s September issue.
Manning was photographed in a red swimsuit on a beach by acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz for the magazine’s 125th anniversary September issue.
'Here I am!' Chelsea Manning shares first photo after prison Read more
The 29-year-old was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 after one of the most high-profile intelligence leaks in modern times. In 2007, while on leave from service in Iraq, Manning sent hundreds of thousands of classified and sensitive documents to WikiLeaks, including the video known as Collateral Murder that showed US military killing dozens of unarmed Iraqi citizens.
Manning came out as transgender the day after she was sentenced. Lawyers successfully advocated for her to undergo hormone therapy while in prison. After six years behind bars, she was released from Fort Leavenworth prison on 17 May when, in one of his final acts as US president, Barack Obama commuted her sentence, saying “justice has been served.” Manning has been living in New York since her release.
Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) guess this is what freedom looks like 😊👙💋🏊♀️🚣♀️⛴️🌅🏖️🏙️ @voguemagazine https://t.co/g7YYNkcd9l 😎🌈💕 https://t.co/nyAUje52bE pic.twitter.com/n4ixFkIdVn
In an interview with Vogue’s Nathan Heller, Manning spoke about her childhood in Oklahoma, her parents’ separation, her growing awareness and confusion around her sexuality and gender identity, and her decision to enter the military in 2007 in the hope that it would help her “figure [herself] out”.
She told Heller she accepted responsibility for her whistleblowing actions: “I think it’s important to remember that when somebody sees government wrongdoing – whether it’s illegal or immoral or unethical – there isn’t the means available to do something about it ... Everyone keeps saying: ‘You should have gone through the proper channels!’ But the proper channels don’t work.”
She also spoke about her time in prison, the psychological toll of which involved her making multiple suicide attempts and being shut away in solitary confinement.
Since her release from prison, however, Manning’s online persona has been a font of joy and positivity. In spite of relentless targeting by trolls and detractors, her tweets are frequently peppered with rainbows, hearts and smile emojis.
Manning is not the first trans woman to feature in Vogue’s pages, with models and trans women such as Hari Nef and Andreja Pejic having previously featuring in the fashion magazine. Earlier this year, French Vogue made headlines when Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio was revealed on the cover of their March issue – the first time the magazine had featured a transwoman on the cover. ||||| One hot, humid early-summer evening in New York, a hired car slows on Bleecker Street, and a young woman inside prepares for her first party out in years. She is wearing a midnight-colored semiformal dress by Altuzarra and Everlane ankle boots with heels. Her hair is trimmed into a pixie cut; her makeup softens, but won’t hide, a dust of freckles. “I don’t know if I’ll know anybody,” she fretted earlier, but she seems to have quelled what nerves remain. She is accompanied by a couple of men who surround her like guards. For the first time in a long time, that’s a welcome thing.
Chelsea Manning—graceful, blue-eyed, trans—smiles and prepares herself. Since her release from the Fort Leavenworth prison, on May 17, Manning has been living in New York, with a low profile. Tonight she will make her social debut in her own skin. From February to April 2010, while living as Bradley, an Army intelligence analyst stationed in Iraq, Manning sent three-quarters of a million classified or sensitive documents to WikiLeaks. The breach’s breadth was startling, as were its contents, ranging from the so-called Collateral Murder video, showing a U.S. helicopter killing a group of Baghdad pedestrians that included children and press, to hundreds of thousands of “Cablegate” documents, disclosing 44 years of State Department messaging. When Manning’s role became clear, she turned into a polarizing figure—celebrated as a whistle-blower by some, condemned as a traitor by others. In August 2013, after pleading guilty to ten charges and being found guilty of 20, she was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The day after the sentencing, Manning came out publicly as trans.
Tonight, a summer Monday, is a different kind of coming-out. To honor the occasion, she has picked an event with a celebratory turn: the after-party for the Lambda Literary Awards, which each year honor books by members of the LGBTQ community. The evening is glamorous; the guest list is varied. Here Manning will reintroduce herself to a community in which she seeks acceptance for more than her heavy past.
The car stops in front of Le Poisson Rouge, a Washington Square art space. “I’m not sure how to do this,” Chase Strangio, an ACLU lawyer, murmurs in the front seat. A gregarious young man with a trim Clark Gable mustache, Strangio has emerged as one of the nation’s leading trans-rights lawyers, helping represent Gavin Grimm, the trans student in Virginia who challenged his exclusion from the boys’ bathroom at his high school, and successfully advocating for Manning’s hormone therapy in prison. With Manning now out in the world, however, he faces a new challenge: remaining alert to unwelcome attention.
“I think that looks pretty discreet,” Tim Travers Hawkins, a filmmaker who’s making a documentary on Manning, says, judging the entry. When his project, executive-produced by Laura Poitras, started two years back, he intended to use Manning’s prison diaries to shape a documentary with an invisible hero. Then, in the final days of his term, President Obama commuted Manning’s sentence. “It was kind of unbelievable,” Poitras says. “All the news had been so, so bad.” For Hawkins, Manning’s release introduced new imperatives. “It was a radical shift in the way the film existed,” Hawkins says. Tonight, he’s brought a compact camera along.
Manning, Strangio, and Hawkins clamber rapidly inside. A Lambda host guides Manning down a flight of steps. The party is just starting. At one end of the space, a platform, slightly raised above the dance floor, is marked off with velvet rope. A plate of crudités awaits; Manning orders a gimlet. She’s extroverted, she says: “I love being around people.” While living as a man, she often went to clubs and parties, even in stodgy Washington, D.C. “People are a lot more open and outgoing in New York,” Manning explains. “In D.C., you really had to, like, know someone.”
Music pounds through the room, which is dim and bathed in blue and fuchsia light. As the space fills, a few brave souls approach Manning, then a few more. Soon the platform is packed with people hoping to take a flash-bleached selfie.
“I just wanted to say hello. You’re, like, a perfect hero.”
“I’m going to give you this card. We’d love to throw a party for your return.”
Manning seems startled by the attention. “Thank you!” she keeps saying. She is 29 now, with a confidence that, even in a novel city, hits like sunlight at high altitude. Though she’s petite—just a few inches over five feet—she speaks with a clarion directness, as if constantly projecting toward an unseen back row. In prison, she read the fashion press (“I missed seven years of fashion, but I went through every season in a magazine!”), and while she’s embraced her femininity, she eschews what she calls “fertility style”—“bunnies and hearts and stuff”—for more current, gender-neutral garments. While serving out her sentence, she got her hands on photos from Barneys’ 2014 trans campaign, shot by Bruce Weber. “That was a really important thing for me to see,” she says.
From the stage, the DJ mixes sharpen: “Uptown Funk,” “I Feel It Coming.” But there isn’t time to dance. She’s standing, greeting new faces from all sides, thanking, thanking some more. Her left arm is crossed over her belly, cradling her opposite elbow, which is straight. When Beyoncé’s “Love on Top” begins its climbing modulations, she uncrosses her arms and begins fidgeting—mindlessly, flirtatiously—with the charm on her gold necklace, drawing it back and forth between her thumb and forefinger. She sways. She lets herself lean forward, laughing at a joke. When her newest friend wanders away, she turns around and smiles.
“I’m starting to loosen up!” she says.
When Manning was growing up in Crescent, a town of some 1,400 north of Oklahoma City, she struggled to pinpoint a reason she felt so awkward. “I knew that I was different,” she says. “I gravitated more toward playing house, but the teachers were always pushing me toward playing the more competitive games with the boys.” She recalls, “I spent so much time wondering, What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I fit in?” Sometimes she felt left behind; at other times, she leaped out in front. Once, she and a group of other kids were allowed to take a field trip to Frontier City, an amusement park known for its loopy, soaring Silver Bullet roller coaster. Other students were petrified. Manning couldn’t wait to get on and boarded the ride all alone: “I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie, I think it’s safe to say.”
It’s a June afternoon, and we are sitting in a park along the Hudson River, a short walk from the sleek Tribeca building where Manning has been living since arriving in New York. Today she is dressed with a mixture of straightforward elegance and function: a casual black sleeveless Marc Jacobs dress with playful paisley lining, a small purse from The Row, Borderline boots by Vetements x Dr. Martens, and—the cinching touch—a black utility belt from 5.11 Tactical, a gear company that supplies law enforcement and the military. “I’ve been a huge fan of Marc Jacobs for many, many years, even going back to when I was wearing men’s clothing,” she explains. “He captures a kind of simplicity and a kind of beauty that I like—projecting strength through femininity.”
In Manning’s telling, strength was a necessity before it was a choice. When she was eleven, her father, a computer engineer who’d gotten his start in the Navy, announced that he was moving out, effectively ending his marriage. That night, her mother swallowed a bottle of pills, then told Chelsea’s older sister, Casey, what she’d done. On the hurried drive to emergency room, the journalist Denver Nicks reports in Private, his book on Manning’s early life, it was Chelsea’s job to sit with her mother in the backseat and make sure that she did not stop breathing.
Over the months that followed, Casey and Chelsea, then still known as Bradley, struggled to manage their mother’s alcoholism while also learning to navigate basic domestic chores. Nicks reports that their mother, who’d grown up in Wales and married early, didn’t know how to write a check, let alone pay bills or seek alimony. “I had to learn how to do all of this stuff with my mother and also deal with the friction between my parents,” says Manning. “I loved them both, but they were angry at each other. I always felt like I was doing something wrong and I had caused it.” (Manning’s family members have declined interviews since her release.)
From twelve to thirteen, Manning grew up quickly. She realized that she was attracted to boys, and considered herself gay. Her father had introduced Manning to computers and programming at a young age, and Manning began to see the Internet—vast, anonymous, and full of answers—as an escape. “I learned that I wasn’t alone. I learned about all these different life possibilities and options,” she explains. She began to find her first natural identity. “Because I would actually be anonymous online, I could be more myself.”
The Web also held constant through a series of displacements. In November 2001, when Manning was just shy of fourteen, her mother decided to return to Wales and took Manning with her. (Casey had moved away; their father had remarried.) Her responsibilities increased as her mother’s health declined. In 2005, after a fluky brush with the July 7 London bombings—Manning says she was near King’s Cross station at the moment of the Tube explosions—she moved in with her father, his wife, and his stepson. That arrangement didn’t end well: Mounting tension ended with Manning allegedly brandishing a knife and her stepmother calling 911. Manning lived for a spell with a friend in Tulsa, then drifted to Chicago. In increasingly dire straits, she was taken in by her aunt Debbie, in suburban Maryland. She worked at Starbucks and Abercrombie & Fitch; she explored the LGBTQ scene of greater D.C.; she enrolled, briefly, in community college. At nineteen, she started seeing a psychologist for the first time.
“That’s the part of my life I replay the most: whether or not, living in Maryland and seeing a therapist, I could have finally been able to say, ‘This is who I am; this is what I want to do.’ It was the first time in my life when I really considered transitioning. But I got scared,” she tells me. “I really regret the fact that I didn’t know or realize I already had the love I needed, especially from my aunt and sister—just to seek support.”
Rather, she made a defiantly different choice. It was the moment of the so-called surge in Iraq. The news on TV was grim. “I don’t know who I am,” she recalls in the park. “Maybe the military will allow me to figure that out.” She looks out toward the river. “It was a naive thought, but it was very real to me in 2007.”
On the grass behind us, teenage girls are putting together a dance routine: “Five, six, seven, eight!” Not far away, upriver, are the piers where, for years, LGBTQ teens have congregated at the witching hour to vogue under the stars. If Manning had remained in Maryland and been a little braver, she now believes, her 20s could have been quite different.
Instead, she traveled as a new Army enlistee to Fort Leonard Wood, in Missouri; trained as an intelligence analyst at Fort Huachuca, in Arizona; and worked for about a year at Fort Drum, in New York, as an analyst with a top-secret clearance. In October 2009, she was shipped to a base outside Baghdad, where she became Specialist Manning: an anguished 22-year-old in a harsh environment, with access to some of the military’s darkest secrets.
The clock has barely struck midnight at Le Poisson Rouge when Manning’s first night at the ball seems to end. The music stops; fluorescent lights flicker on overhead. There will be a small after-after-party—a loose, laid-back affair—at Julius, a tavern in the Village that is sometimes called the oldest extant gay bar in New York. Strangio has peeled off—he has a family to return to—but Manning decides to continue: The world is new again, and she’s not ready to go home.
About a dozen people walk the half-mile to the tavern. It is 12:45 a.m. and quiet on the streets; sprinklers stutter softly over the Minetta Green. Manning has no I.D. yet, for arcane reasons—she lost her old one with her old life—but the doorman at Julius is expecting her. For weeks after coming to New York, she wandered all around the city, unrecognized. “It’s not like I’m living in fear or anything,” she tells me. “I’m so glad to be out and about and walking around.”
Julius’s interior creaks with landmark artifacts: black-and-white photos checkering the walls, posters commemorating the gay-rights Mattachine Society’s 1966 “sip-in” at the bar. Manning alights on a bench underneath an American flag whose stripes are replaced with the bars of the pride banner. Conversation foams around her while the jukebox plays. They are deep into drinks; people are sitting on laps. Manning falls into conversation with January Hunt, a writer, musician, and artist who is also a young trans woman. Manning is describing her trip into Brooklyn for a tech “meet-up” in a derelict building; it struck her, she explains, as “very New York.”
Manning publicly came out in a written statement, sent to and read aloud on the Today show, in which she asked to be called by female pronouns and expressed interest in hormone therapy. She had thought of making an announcement earlier, she says—she had taken her first outing in women’s dress in February 2010 and had told guards at the detention center where she was first imprisoned that she was a woman—but had been advised that it would complicate the trial. “The opportunity to do it on the Today show popped up, so it happened a little bit sooner and a little faster than I hoped it would,” she told me. Still, she says, she was taken aback by the response. “I was honestly a bit surprised by the outpouring of love and support that I got,” she says. If there was backlash, too (and there was), she doesn’t seem to have registered it—a tellingly upbeat response from a woman who now sprinkles her tweets with hearts and rainbows.
Prison bureaucracy was another story. Almost immediately after coming to the ACLU in 2013, Strangio—a trans man himself—began work on Manning’s civil case, fighting for her to begin receiving hormone therapy. “Our goal was to get her the health care that she needed,” he explained. “Even when there are legal principles that are pretty unambiguously on our side, there’s so much cultural bias we’re confronting in the courts and in other systems.” Meanwhile, behind bars, Manning sought equilibrium in other ways. “The first thing I learned to do was avoid television,” she says. She took out subscriptions to “50 or 60” periodicals, she says—news and global-affairs publications, science magazines, technical journals, and, of course, fashion glossies. She describes it to me as “like having a printed version of the Internet.” And she read books: literary classics, fantasy series, contemporary histories. She liked biographies: Queen Isabella, Joan of Arc. She read Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, Wild, three times. Many of Manning’s favorites seemed to emphasize personal strength or bureaucratic disaffection. She read Catch-22, she says, more than once. “I was institutionalized to such a point where my expectations were limited to, I’m going to eat the next meal. I’m going to go to sleep. I’m going to be here the next day,” Manning says. Before commutation, this outlook had psychological costs; as recently as last October, she tried to kill herself for the second time. Then, in January 2017, the White House phoned the office of one of her lawyers.
In his statement announcing the commutation, President Obama emphasized that it was not a pardon for her crime. “Let’s be clear: Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence,” he said in a press conference. “I feel very comfortable that justice has been served.”
On the day of Manning’s release, things happened quickly. She picked her first outfit for life as a woman: a black-and-white striped blouse, with matching sneakers. She stopped at a roadside pizza joint, got a pepperoni slice, and posted a photo of it to Instagram. (“Freest pizza ever!” she tells me.) She had the lawyers who picked her up drive her to the countryside. “I think I spent, like, five or six hours sitting outside.”
A day after leaving Fort Leavenworth, she posted a new photo (“OK, so here I am everyone!!”) with the coder-inspired hashtag #HelloWorld. She had on a trim black dress by one of her favorite designers, Gabriela Hearst. Her hair was crisply coiffed; she wore a vibrant lip. In a Guardian column, written while in prison, Manning had discussed her nervousness about moving through the world as a woman. Now that she’s no longer worried about being “found out” by the military, she says, the fear is gone. “It feels natural. It feels like it’s how it’s supposed to be, instead of this anxiety, this uncertainty, this ball of self-consciousness that comes with pretending to be male,” she says. “It didn’t feel right. I didn’t know what it was. I couldn’t describe it. Now that’s gone.”
Poitras, who met Manning for the first time after her release, says she was startled by the young woman’s focus. “There are people who have really put their lives on the line for something, and they come out on the other side of it. You can feel that with her,” Poitras tells me. “Now that she’s free, what is she going to do with her freedom?” She adds, “When I first met Ed Snowden in Hong Kong, he had the same sort of eerie power.”
Twice during our conversations, and in slightly different ways, I ask Manning what she regrets from the period when she was living as Specialist Bradley Manning. Her leaking of state secrets doesn’t appear on the list, although that decision remains the most publicly controversial of her life, earning her accusations of treason and reckless endangerment. “I’ve accepted responsibility for my own decisions and my own actions,” she says. When we speak, Reality Winner, the 25-year-old intelligence contractor, has recently been arrested on suspicion of leaking information about Russian hacking in the 2016 U.S. election, adding to a list of leakers who, like Snowden, have become household names. Manning tells me that she has nothing to say about Winner (“All I know is what I see in the media reports”) but speaks about what she refers to as “the larger issue.” “I think it’s important to remember that when somebody sees government wrongdoing—whether it’s illegal or immoral or unethical—there isn’t the means available to do something about it,” she says. “Everyone keeps saying, You should have gone through the proper channels! But the proper channels don’t work.”
Manning describes trying to release information to the press before WikiLeaks. “In 2010, I was literally scrambling around D.C. trying to get The Washington Post to publish this stuff, and then I went to The New York Times.” Manning has said that a reporter at the Post with whom she spoke briefly over the phone wouldn’t commit to a story, which she took as a sign of uninterest. At the Times, she says, she left a message on the voice mail of the ombudsman, confusingly called the Public Editor. The editor and his assistant later said that they had no memory of such a message, but explained that they received hundreds a week. “I did this all on leave,” Manning says. “I had only twelve days.” The approaching “Snowmageddon” made it harder still. Manning traveled from public phone to public phone, to avoid a traceable line. “I ran out of time,” she says. Before returning to Iraq, she sent files to WikiLeaks.
Even so, Manning continues to take her struggle to find an outlet as proof of a systemic problem. “We need to have more ways to talk about what’s going on in government,” she says. I ask what those ways might look like. “I don’t know what’s right,” she says. “I have certain values. I live by those.”
When it comes to information freedom, those values remain controversial. Many lawmakers bridled at her abbreviated sentence; at the time of the commutation, Paul Ryan said, “Chelsea Manning’s treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation’s most sensitive secrets.” Others argue that her motives, like a public-interest journalist’s, were honorable—or that the actual damage of the leaks was small. Beyond some vocal LGBTQ advocacy (she was a star of the summer’s Pride March in New York, waving from a drop-top Nissan alongside Gavin Grimm), Manning herself has mostly stayed circumspect on issues of politics. Still, in a Guardian column from January 25, a few days following her commutation, she offered a soft criticism of President Obama’s tactical approach: “The one simple lesson to draw from President Obama’s legacy: Do not start off with a compromise. They won’t meet you in the middle.” President Trump, newly elected, lambasted Manning over Twitter: “Ungrateful TRAITOR Chelsea Manning, who should never have been released from prison, is now calling President Obama a weak leader. Terrible!”
Manning has avoided a rejoinder to the president’s tweet. And to the extent that WikiLeaks of 2017 (which seems to have pursued specific electoral outcomes in France and America and is dogged by the troubled reputation of its leader, Julian Assange) has a different public reputation than the 2010 organization (which claimed more categorical anti-secrecy principles), she has avoided opinions there, too. “I’ve been in prison for seven years! I’ve been completely disconnected from all of that,” she tells me. Her plan is to live in New York until late summer, then move to suburban Maryland, not far from where she was before.
By then, she hopes to be acclimated to a new life. For the moment, certain habits of this decade strike her as weird. Our phone fixation, for example. “We’re sitting in the same room as each other but looking at our phones constantly,” she says. “Before I was in prison, I was one of the only people on social media. I was a novelty. Now everybody’s on social media all the time!” It’s too much. “I think that’s where a lot of this miscommunication, polarization, friction, and chaos is coming from.”
Thus, though she tweets and Instagrams, Manning has tried to focus on more in-the-moment pursuits. She still loves video games, though she has forsworn the violent ones. Soon after leaving prison, she began teaching herself the programming language Rust. (“It has a lot of features that weren’t available seven years ago,” she says.) She hopes to begin dating—“I’m not planning to be single!”—but intends to wait until her life settles, in Maryland.
She is also at work on a memoir. “I’m trying to tell the story as if it was happening now and you’re with me,” she explains. Hawkins, the documentarian, says he plans to stop shooting soon, as Manning’s personal narrative finds its own way in the world: “She’s too young for this film to attempt to be the definitive story of her life.”
Manning does not know what her career will be. While living as Bradley Manning, she expressed an interest in running for political office. I ask whether that’s still on her mind. “I’m certainly not going to say no, and I’m certainly not going to say yes,” she says. “My goal is to use these next six months to figure out where I want to go.
“I have these values that I can connect with: responsibility, compassion,” she goes on. “Those are really foundational for me. Do and say and be who you are because, no matter what happens, you are loved unconditionally.” It’s the lesson, she says, that she wishes she learned earlier. “Unconditional love,” she says. “It is OK to be who I am.”
In front of an apartment building in the East Seventies, near Central Park, Manning meets up with Strangio to pay a visit to a hero of New York’s LGBTQ past. It’s 90 degrees, clear, and sticky. Manning arrives late, looking addled and a little faint. She had a subway snafu, she explains, and then a long walk. Strangio takes her shoulders and gives them a shake. “Oh, my God—hi!” he says with get-ahold-of-yourself astringency. Inside, they board a tiny elevator that seems as old as the building.
“Everybody in!” Strangio says merrily as it begins groaning upward. “We’ll just get stuck in here a few days.”
“I’ve got a flashlight,” Manning deadpans.
At a time when drag queens were widely shunned, Jack Doroshow, better known as Flawless Sabrina, blazed a trail across Philadelphia and New York with her high-profile drag pageants, forcing the cities to acknowledge and accept their androgyne and transgender communities. Bobby Kennedy helped her book a venue. Andy Warhol helped secure funding for a film on the pageants, The Queen (1968), which went to Cannes. Flawless posed for Diane Arbus, acted for John Waters, and dated William S. Burroughs. Along the way, she was arrested several times and came to be known as a “mother” figure in the queer community. Now in her late 70s, she suffers from various age-related ailments. There are good days and bad days, but today is good.
The long wall of Flawless’s sitting room is mirrored, floor to ceiling. A desk near the window supports pineapple-esque lamps and on the far wall is a framed canvas that looks like—is assumed to be—a late-period Picasso. Scattered through the room are heads: mannequin heads, papier-mâché heads, other heads, one sporting a costume-ball mask and feather headpiece, another wearing a wig and sunglasses, a third stabbed at the scalp with hypodermic syringes.
Just then, Flawless enters the room. “Gorgeous!” she says, looking at Manning. “Girl, that’s what I’m talking about.”
She is sitting in a wheelchair pushed by Curtis Carman, an artist who is Flawless’s partner. She looks old, alert, and not unlike Picasso herself: bald, with a striped shirt and a big, knitted navy cardigan. Carman helps her climb into a thronelike chair behind the desk. “Now, how’s your family?” she asks Manning.
“They’re all right,” she says. “They’re laying low a little bit.” She hasn’t seen her mother yet, Manning explains. She lives in the care of her family and cannot travel.
“But you’ll do that,” Flawless says. It’s not a question. “You’re young, aren’t you?”
“Twenty-nine. I hope that’s young.”
“You bet.” Flawless allows herself a smile. “I mean, as I look at it, everybody’s pretty new.”
Flawless brings her palms together. “All I see is a very natural, very beautiful little girl,” she says. “The only jarring thing is that there’s so much power. This is somebody who has changed history.”
Manning thanks her and keeps talking—about her move to Maryland, and then about her writing. Flawless starts shaking her head. “I can’t get over how beautiful you are,” she says.
Through the next half-hour, they discuss the military, the Tonys, the past. Before Manning leaves, Flawless is keen to pass on some wisdom. “Think about your story,” she says.
“I’m not done yet!” Manning protests.
“No,” Flawless says slowly.
Strangio says they should let Flawless rest.
“It’s not easy to change the world,” Flawless chirps. She draws Strangio close. “I am so proud of you,” she says, and gives him a tight hug.
Manning comes next. Flawless wraps her aged arms around her small frame. “Thank you so much,” she whispers, so softly that Manning may not hear. “Thank you so much.” When Manning stands, she moves briskly toward the door. Flawless’s eyes are wet with tears.
In this story: Fashion Editor: Phyllis Posnick. Hair: Jimmy Paul for Bumble and Bumble; Makeup: Alice Lane. Tailor: Maria Del Greco for Christy Rilling Studio. Set Design: Mary Howard ||||| Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier released in May after serving seven years in prison for leaking government documents to WikiLeaks, is featured in a bathing suit in the upcoming issue of Vogue.
"Guess this is what freedom feels like," Manning tweeted with an image, shot by Annie Leibovitz.
Manning, who was granted clemency in the final days of President Obama's presidency, has been living in New York City since her release.
The article details Manning's life in the army and after she was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. She came out as transgender one day after the sentencing, and publicly came out to NBC's "Today."
"I was honestly a bit surprised by the outpouring of love and support that I got," she told Vogue.
Manning has become somewhat of a social-media celebrity since being released from prison. She told the magazine that she is not sure about her future career plans, but she said she is at work on a memoir.
The photos and accompanying article, unsurprisingly, lit up social media. Some praised Manning's photo shoot ("simply lovely" and "brave"), but others criticized the magazine for both featuring a trans woman and for featuring a person who was controversially released from prison early.
This @voguemagazine profile of Chelsea Manning is simply lovely https://t.co/pwbtBHd156 — Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) August 10, 2017
Chelsea Manning Is A Hero, And We Don't Deserve Her — Avery Edison (@aedison) August 10, 2017
VILE: Vogue Magazine To Feature Transgender Traitor Chelsea Manning https://t.co/e8Upe29Ris #tcot — super czar (@Kristokoff) August 10, 2017
While the September issue of Vogue is traditionally one of the most ad-packed and profitable issues of the magazine, this year's issue was already creating controversy online the same day it was published. The cover featured Jennifer Lawrence by the Statue of Liberty, which some conservative activists took as a criticism of President Trump. In response, one of the editors tweeted that it was shot in June. ||||| If Bradley Manning had stayed Bradley Manning, would he still be in prison? If Bradley Manning had stayed Bradley Manning, would he be basking in celebrity, enjoying fawning photo shoots? Given the magnitude of his crimes, I dare say that he’d be in prison today if he still identified as a man. Then he’d be nothing but what he actually is, a garden-variety traitor — a faithless soldier who should count himself fortunate not to face capital punishment.
It’s worth remembering what he did. He disclosed, in a gigantic document dump, more than a million pages of classified information, including information about American military operations, American diplomacy, and American allies. The Obama administration was forced to rush to safety foreign friends whom Manning had outed as helping Americans. He broke faith with every relevant provision of the Army’s warrior ethos — he abandoned his mission, he actively aided the enemy, and he acted with stunning disregard for the lives of his comrades. He did so because, acting on his own authority, he decided he wanted to stimulate “worldwide discussion, debate, and reforms.”
To be clear, this wasn’t whistleblowing. He didn’t identify a specific wrong and expose it responsibly while taking care to minimize the harm of disclosure. He just disclosed documents without regard for their contents. He didn’t know if anyone would die because of his actions. He didn’t know to what extent vital missions or programs would be compromised. He just did what he wanted to do. There was no honor in his action. None.
And now look at him. He’s the subject of a fawning Vogue profile and photo shoot:
Chelsea Manning will be featured in Vogue magazine’s September issue https://t.co/zARmVhCca5 pic.twitter.com/SMRR2EAhLT — CNN (@CNN) August 10, 2017
In fact, he’s an LGBT celebrity now, swarmed at public events and even featured at New York’s Pride March, where he waved “from a drop-top Nissan alongside Gavin Grimm.” When Trump issued a series of tweets declaring a ban on transgender soldiers in the military, media outlets flocked to cover Manning’s response. But one wonders, do the transgender soldiers actually serving look at Chelsea Manning as a poster child for trans service?
But no matter. For many leftists, Manning offers the irresistible combination — radical criminal acts combined with revolutionary identity. It’s “Radical Chic” all over again, this time through the lens of latest civil-rights fashion, transgender rights
The radical quarters of the Left have a long history of excusing and celebrating even the most vile of criminals so long as they have the right revolutionary politics. Disturbingly, that celebration leaks even into organizations that are billed as “meanstream.” Recall, it was just last month the Women’s March tweeted its appreciation for convicted cop-killer and FBI most-wanted terrorist Assata Shakur:
Earlier this summer, New York’s Puerto Rican Day Parade sought to honor convicted terrorist Oscar Lopez Rivera as a “National Freedom Hero.” Under pressure, he decided to “forgo” that honor, but he was featured in a float anyway — and parts of the crowd gave him a “hero’s welcome.”
This is what radical identity politics does.
These kinds of celebrations are not just morally abhorrent; they’re deeply polarizing. They represent the idea that the rule of law — even when the subject is murder or treason — is contingent upon the politics and racial or gender identity of the lawbreaker. Americans on opposing sides of the ideological divide are given a signal — that when it comes to advancing the radical cause, not even human life or national security can stand in the way. There are no lines that can’t be crossed.
This is what radical identity politics does. It twists and distorts normal moral analysis. It declares that the ends justify the means, and then goes even farther to say, “By any means necessary.” This is an unacceptable ethic not just for a constitutional republic but for any form of civil society. Allegedly “mainstream” media outlets, politicians, or organizations that honor or respect the likes of Manning, Rivera, or Shakur cover themselves in shame.
READ MORE:
NR Editorial: The Injustice of Commuting Manning’s Sentence
Chelsea Manning Is Not a Whistleblower
Chelsea Manning and the Problem with Pronouns
— David French is a senior writer for National Review, a senior fellow at the National Review Institute, and an attorney. | – If you've ever wanted to know the effect that liberation has on a person, Chelsea Manning is glad to show you. ABC News reports that the transgender soldier released from prison earlier this year posted a photo Thursday to her social media accounts that shows her smiling at the beach in a red one-piece swimsuit, with the caption, "Guess this is what freedom looks like." The picture was taken by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, who documented Manning for an article appearing in the September issue of Vogue. In that interview, Manning talks about how she's adjusting to being out of jail, her regrets that she didn't come out as transgender earlier in her life, and her future plans, which may or may not include running for political office. "My goal is to use these next six months to figure out where I want to go," she notes. Online reaction to the Vogue coverage has been mixed, CBS News notes, with some offering support and others blasting the magazine for highlighting both a transgender woman and someone who many believe should still be behind bars. "This ugly whatever should be in prison, forever," one non-fan tweeted, to which Manning replied, "And here I am," accompanied by her trademark slew of positive emojis. The conservative National Review also weighed in, with a column by David French that asks: "If Bradley Manning had stayed Bradley Manning, would he be basking in celebrity, enjoying fawning photo shoots?" The Guardian notes that Manning's appearance in Vogue isn't the magazine's first transgender presence: Models Hari Nef and Andreja Pejic have both appeared in its pages, and model Valentina Sampaio has graced the cover of the publication's French version. |
The 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships took place March 28 – April 3, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. Figure skaters competed for the title of World champion in men's singles, ladies' singles, pairs and ice dancing. This marked the first time Boston was host to the World Figure Skating Championships.[1] The competition determined the number of athlete slots for each federation at the 2017 World Championships.
Background [ edit ]
The World Figure Skating Championships is the sport's most important annual competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU). In June 2013, the city of Boston was announced as the host city of the 2016 event.[2] The competition was organized by U.S. Figure Skating, and the Skating Club of Boston served as the local organizing committee. Founded in 1912, it is the third-oldest skating club in the United States and is a founding member of U.S. Figure Skating.
Venues [ edit ]
2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships media day at TD Garden
The TD Garden was the primary arena for the 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. The venue hosted all competitions and several practice sessions. The second official practice venue for the event was DCR Steriti Rink.
TD Garden [ edit ]
The TD Garden is a multipurpose arena located in Boston, Massachusetts. The arena hosted a maximum capacity of approximately 15,000 seats for the event. The TD Garden also serves as the home arena for two of Boston's professional sports teams, the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins.
DCR Steriti Rink [ edit ]
DCR Steriti Rink is a local area rink managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. It is located in the North End neighborhood of Boston and is a short distance from the main venue. This rink served as the practice venue and was open only to credentialed participants of the event.
Records [ edit ]
The following new ISU best scores were set during this competition:
Argentina was represented by a skater at the ISU World Championships for the first time in history.[5]
Qualification [ edit ]
Skaters were eligible for the event if they represented an ISU member nation and had reached the age of 15 before 1 July 2015 in their place of birth. National associations selected their entries according to their own criteria but the ISU mandated that their selections achieved a minimum technical elements score (TES) at an international event prior to the World Championships.
Minimum TES [ edit ]
Minimum technical scores (TES)[6] Discipline SP / SD FS / FD Men 34 64 Ladies 27 47 Pairs 25 43 Ice dance 29 39 Must be achieved at an ISU-recognized international event
in the ongoing or preceding season.
SP and FS scores may be attained at different events.
Number of entries per discipline [ edit ]
Based on the results of the 2015 World Championships, each ISU member nation can field one to three entries per discipline.[7]
Entries [ edit ]
Member nations began announcing their selections in December 2015. The ISU published a complete list of entries on March 8, 2016.
Changes to initial assignments [ edit ]
Results [ edit ]
Men [ edit ]
The Men's short program was held on March 30. The free skate was held on April 1.[25]
Ladies [ edit ]
The Ladies short program was held on March 31. The free skate took place on April 2, 2016.[26] Gracie Gold took a 2.45 point lead after the short program. Anna Pogorilaya edged out Evgenia Medvedeva for second place by 0.22. Ashley Wagner, the US Nationals bronze medalist, was just out of medal position, 0.60 behind Medvedeva. The 2015 World bronze medalist Elena Radionova was in fifth, while former World champion Mao Asada was in ninth. Defending world champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva was not selected by her federation for the event after finishing 8th at the Russian Championships. In the free skate, Medvedeva had a record-setting score of 150.10 to win the gold medal. Wagner moved into second place to win the United States' first World Championship ladies medal since 2006. Pogorilaya finished third ahead of Gold.
Pairs [ edit ]
The pairs short program was held on April 1 and the free skate on April 2.
Ice dancing [ edit ]
The short dance was held on March 30.[27] 2015 World champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France obtained a small gold medal for the short dance for the first time in their career. They were followed by two American teams. 2011 World bronze medalists Maia Shibutani / Alex Shibutani placed second (-1.59) while 2015 silver medalists Madison Chock / Evan Bates took the third position, 2.24 behind the Shibutanis.
The free dance was held on March 31, 2016. Papadakis/Cizeron set a new world record for the free dance (118.17 points) and they won their second consecutive world title. The Shibutanis returned to the world podium four years after their first medal. Chock/Bates took the bronze medal, marking the third time that the U.S. has finished with two ice dancing teams on the World podium (earlier: 1966, 2011). Cappellini/Lanotte rose to fourth while Weaver/Poje finished fifth.
Medals summary [ edit ]
Medalists [ edit ]
Medals for overall placement:
Small medals for placement in the short segment:
[28]
Small medals for placement in the free segment:
By country [ edit ]
Table of medals for overall placement:
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 Russia 1 0 1 2 2 Canada 1 0 0 1 France 1 0 0 1 Spain 1 0 0 1 5 United States 0 2 1 3 6 China 0 1 1 2 7 Japan 0 1 0 1 8 Germany 0 0 1 1 Total 4 4 4 12
Table of small medals for placement in the short segment:
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 United States 1 1 1 3 2 China 1 0 0 1 France 1 0 0 1 Japan 1 0 0 1 5 Russia 0 1 2 3 6 Canada 0 1 1 2 7 Spain 0 1 0 1 Total 4 4 4 12
Table of small medals for placement in the free segment:
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 Canada 1 0 0 1 France 1 0 0 1 Russia 1 0 0 1 Spain 1 0 0 1 5 United States 0 2 1 3 6 China 0 1 1 2 Japan 0 1 1 2 8 Germany 0 0 1 1 Total 4 4 4 12 |||||
Gracie Gold is believed to be the first U.S. figure skater in recent memory to take time off so close to the Olympics. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
If all goes as planned for Gracie Gold, she’ll be one of three female Team USA skaters to compete at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The 22-year-old, however, who picked up a bronze medal at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, appears to have an uphill battle to get there.
Citing “recent struggles on and off the ice,” Gold said in a statement (via USA Today) on Friday that she will take some time off “to seek some professional help.”
Gold did not elaborate on what exactly her struggles have been “off the ice,” but recent performances have revealed some of her on-ice issues.
The two-time national champion has found herself uncharacteristically missing out on the podium at the U.S. Championships last year. She finished in sixth place, which was just the start of her season-long rut.
“I just never felt so disappointed in myself,” the Missouri native said about the performance (via the Kansas City Star).
Gold would go on to compete in two Grand Prix events, where she continued to be unable to execute jumps that used to look simple to the star. The 2016 Trophee de France proved a low point for the skater. She finished in eighth place — her worst Grand Prix result ever.
[Olympic runner found dead at the bottom of a condo complex swimming pool in Arizona]
In her statement on Friday, Gold said her “passion for skating and training remains strong,” and that she had no intention of retiring.
She said the time she plans to take off as she prepares for her Grand Prix assignments in November “will help me become a stronger person, which I believe will be reflected in my skating performances as well.”
According to USA Today, Gold will now miss at least one scheduled event, the Japan Open on Oct. 7.
Gold, who has always been quick to give public emotional responses to her performances, came down particularly hard on herself last year as she struggled. She made her biggest headlines, however, when she addressed the topic of weight after her poor Skate America performance in October.
“You don’t often see — there aren’t that many — you just don’t see overweight figure skaters for a reason,” Gold said (via USA Today) just minutes after exiting the ice. “It’s just something I’ve struggled with this whole year and in previous seasons. It’s just difficult when you’re trying to do the difficult triple jumps. It’s something that I am addressing but it’s obviously not where it should be for this caliber of competition.”
Gold, of course, is not “overweight” by usual standards, which one reporter pointed out to her. Gold thanked the journalist, but added, “It’s a lean body sport and it’s just not what I have currently.”
Former U.S. figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski seconded Gold’s concerns, noting weight is something “every skater’s thinking about.”
“I think you don’t [see skaters] talk about it because in reality saying you need to lose weight when you’re already thin is a bit crazy,” Lipinski added (via NBC Sports), noting figure skating isn’t unlike gymnastics or ballet where “there is always this pressure to be very thin, not only for aesthetics, but just for your actual sport and how you use your body.”
[Olympic cross-country champion’s lip-balm ban will keep her out of PyeongChang]
If expectations are not properly managed, there can be dire consequences for skaters. Russian Olympic champion Yulia Lipnitskaya announced her retirement in a statement to the Russia’s TASS news agency earlier this week, citing a struggle with anorexia. The 19-year-old, who won gold at the 2014 Olympics when she was just 15, recently completed a three-month treatment program to address her eating disorder.
Former U.S. figure skater Jenny Kirk, who also suffered from the disorder, told the HuffPost in 2010 that she suspects up to 85 percent of top skaters suffer from “various forms of disordered eating.”
Kirk, a former world junior champion, puts part of the blame on coaches and fans, but most on the skating system itself, which updated its scoring agenda to reward technical moves, jumps and spins, that she said are “a lot harder … when one’s body is more womanly.”
“Until this system is tweaked, I don’t see a change in the number of injuries and the pressure for skaters to stay an unusually small size.”
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Flock of confused birds brings baseball game to a halt in Japan ||||| CLOSE Olympic medalist Gracie Gold confirmed to People that she will be taking a break from figure skating to “seek some professional help.” Time
Gracie Gold of the USA performs in the short program during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace on Feb. 19. (Photo: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Gracie Gold, a two-time U.S. figure skating champion and 2014 Olympic team bronze medalist whose last name and movie star looks have captivated her sport, said Friday morning in a statement released to USA TODAY Sports that she will be taking time off five months before the next Winter Olympics "to seek some professional help.”
She did not say what kind of professional help she will be receiving.
“My passion for skating and training remains strong,” Gold said in the statement. “However, after recent struggles on and off the ice, I realize I need to seek some professional help and will be taking some time off while preparing for my Grand Prix assignments. This time will help me become a stronger person, which I believe will be reflected in my skating performances as well.”
Gold was scheduled to open her 2018 Olympic season at the Japan Open, an invitational team competition in Saitama, Japan, on Oct. 7, but she now will not attend that event. Her Grand Prix assignments, in Beijing and Grenoble, France, are both scheduled in November.
The 2018 U.S. Olympic figure skating trials are in early January, now just four months away. The 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, start Feb. 9. At no time in recent memory has a skater voluntarily taken time away from her sport at such a crucial moment. There are three women’s spots available on the 2018 U.S. Olympic figure skating team.
2018: Shaun White changes his approach for run to Pyeongchang Olympics
More: Shibutani siblings are ambassadors for sport in South Korea
Gold, 22, has found herself on a precipitous and alarming 17-month-long slide since performing poorly in the long program at the 2016 world championships in Boston, falling from first place to fourth. Her decline culminated this spring and summer in a disheartening inability to land even the simplest jumps in skating shows and a U.S. Figure Skating preview camp.
Gold’s announcement comes just four days after Russian 2014 Olympic team gold medalist Julia Lipnitskaia announced her retirement at 19 after a battle with anorexia. Lipnitskaia’s mother, Daniela, told the Russian news agency Tass on Monday that her daughter was retiring after three months of treatment for the eating disorder.
Sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you have ever been, to stand up taller than you ever were 👊🏼 Feb 1st is National #GetUp day. Let's go @usfigureskating A post shared by Gracie Gold (@graciegold95) on Feb 1, 2017 at 10:18pm PST
Gold herself has struggled with her weight. After a disappointing fifth-place finish at Skate America last October, she spoke boldly and admirably about the pressure she felt.
“You don’t often see – there aren’t that many – you just don’t see overweight figure skaters for a reason,” she said. “It’s just something I’ve struggled with this whole year and in previous seasons. It’s just difficult when you’re trying to do the difficult triple jumps. It’s something that I am addressing but it’s obviously not where it should be for this caliber of competition.”
A journalist picked up immediately on her use of the word “overweight,” saying correctly and appropriately that Gold looked slim.
“Oh, that’s lovely, thank you,” she replied. “It’s just not what’s required for this sport. It’s a lean body sport and it’s just not what I have currently, but, thank you.”
Upheaval and uncertainty have followed her since. She could never regain her footing on the ice, finishing a dismal sixth at the 2017 national championships in January just a year after winning her second U.S. title. She missed the world championships for the first time in five years.
Gracie Gold has won two U.S. national figure skating titles. Here she's shown competing Oct. 21, 2016, at Sears Center Arena. (Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Spor)
“When she was skating well, she was magical,” long-time U.S. Olympic coach Frank Carroll, who coached Gold for four seasons before an abrupt split at the end of the 2017 national championships, said in a phone interview earlier this week.
“You said to yourself, ‘Oh my God, she’s gorgeous. She looks like a movie star. She has such joie de vivre.’ Then you ask yourself what happened to that. I hope she can find happiness.”
Gold is one of the most financially successful figure skaters of her era, with various sponsors including Red Bull, Smucker’s and Nike.
After leaving Carroll’s training site in Los Angeles, she moved to Detroit to train with coaches Marina Zoueva and Oleg Epstein in suburban Canton, Mich.
In addition to Gold's personal struggles, her father Carl, a Springfield, Ill., anesthesiologist, has been dealing with unwelcome attention. His medical license was suspended in February, according to the State Journal-Register in Springfield. The suspension, which prevents Carl Gold from practicing medicine for at least a year, was triggered by what state officials said was a violation of a June 2016 consent order that said the state was informed by the U.S. Department of Justice that Carl Gold “diverted Schedule II Controlled Substances” from a Decatur, Ill., hospital “for personal use.” | – Popular figure skater Gracie Gold is taking time off from her sport "to seek some professional help," she announced in a statement Friday. Gold is a two-time US figure skating champion, was a member of the 2014 US Olympic team that won the bronze medal, and is an expected member of the 2018 US Olympic team, per the Washington Post. But she has been on what USA Today calls "a precipitous and alarming 17-month-long slide" since she fell from first place to fourth at the 2016 world championships; she continued to flail at competitions, and in appearances this spring and summer, she found it difficult to land simple jumps. She ultimately finished sixth at the 2017 national championships, missing this year's world championships. Her statement does not specify what sort of help she's seeking but only mentions "recent struggles on and off the ice." The 22-year-old has spoken in the past about her struggles with her weight, saying last October that she didn't currently have the "lean body" required for her sport. Longtime US Olympic coach Frank Carroll coached Gold for four seasons, but the two "abruptly" split after the 2017 national championships; he tells USA Today he wonders "what happened" to Gold's "joie de vivre" and hopes she "can find happiness." Her announcement comes four months before the 2018 US Olympic figure skating trials; Gold will skip the Japan Open on Oct. 7 but said in her statement she plans to be back in time for her Grand Prix assignments in China and France in November. |
How the Internet reacted to Steve Bannon's growing power in the White House
CLOSE The hashtag #StopPresidentBannon hit the top of Twitter's U.S. trending chart as thousands sought to protest President Trump's chief strategist. Time
Twitter is demanding the nation #StopPresidentBannon.
As confusion and anger swirled over President Trump's executive order to restrict people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, the president signed another order giving chief strategist Steve Bannon a seat on the National Security Council.
The #StopPresidentBannon hashtag exploded Sunday as users deplored the ex-Breitbart News chief's increased influence in the White House. Bannon — who was considered a controversial choice for chief strategist because of Breitbart's tendency to share views many perceive as racist, sexist and anti-Semitic — can now regularly attend meetings that deal with policy issues affecting national security.
What Twitter is saying:
Since when does the Breitbart guy know more about national security than the Joint Chiefs and the CIA? Never! #StopPresidentBannon — Ed Turner (@papabear7533) January 29, 2017
I wouldn't trust Steve Bannon to run the Tilt-A-Whirl, let alone the country I live in and love. #StopPresidentBannon — John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) January 29, 2017
We know who's really in charge. Trump is an illegitimate president who's also letting a Nazi run the country.#StopPresidentBannon — blackpridebrownlove (@KaylinWinters2) January 29, 2017
Steve Bannon's influence on Trump is America's greatest threat to national security. But we haven't lost yet. Let's #StopPresidentBannon! pic.twitter.com/UEspca1edf — #NotMyPresident (@France4Hillary) January 29, 2017
People voted for a man who they thought was good businessman and ended up a w/ puppet controlled by white nationalist #StopPresidentBannon — akash chittari (@sanju_akas) January 29, 2017
Without immigration Trump would have no wives. #MuslimBan#StopPresidentBannon — Matthew Kick (@MatthewKick) January 29, 2017
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2jL27GM ||||| WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Sunday said the addition of President Donald Trump's chief strategist, Steve Bannon, to regular meetings of the country's top national security officials was essential to the commander in chief's decision-making process.
Trump took steps Saturday to begin restructuring the White House National Security Council, adding the senior adviser to the principals committee, which includes the secretaries of state and defense. At the same time, Trump said his director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would attend "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed."
Bannon served in the Navy before attending Harvard Business School, working at Goldman Sachs, starting his own media-focused boutique investment banking firm and later heading the ultraconservative outlet Breitbart News.
"He is a former naval officer. He's got a tremendous understanding of the world and the geopolitical landscape that we have now," White House press secretary Sean Spicer told ABC's "This Week."
Spicer said "having the chief strategist for the president in those meetings who has a significant military background to help make — guide what the president's final analysis is going to be is crucial."
But to Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, the NSC "sadly has some really questionable people on it," he told NBC's "Meet the Press," citing Bannon among them.
Breitbart has been condemned for featuring racist, sexist and anti-Semitic content. | – Amid President Trump's flurry of actions Saturday was some restructuring at the National Security Council. White House chief strategist Steve Bannon now has a permanent seat on the principals committee of the NSC, reports the Washington Post, which notes that "the changes affirm the ascent of Bannon" in giving a political adviser a seat at the military table. At the same time, Trump ordered that the director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former members of the principals committee, would be invited only when "issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed." The move is contrary to former President George W. Bush, reports CBS News, who banned Karl Rove from interactions with the NSC; former President Obama, however, occasionally sent David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs to NSC meetings. Bannon, however, "is a former naval officer. He's got a tremendous understanding of the world and the geopolitical landscape that we have now," says press secretary Sean Spicer, per the AP. Meanwhile, USA Today notes that the shakeup started #StopPresidentBannon trending. (Bannon had some succinct advice for the media on Saturday.) |
Remember the chimp at a Dutch zoo who emphatically swatted a TV crew's drone out of the sky with a tree branch? Researchers who dissected Tushi's actions have concluded she planned the attack, sort of like a human would.
In a study recently published in the journal Primates, Jan van Hooff and Bas Lukkenaar re-examine the events of April 10, when a Dutch TV crew was using a camera-equipped drone to film a documentary of chimpanzees at a 1.7-acre enclosure at the Royal Burgers Zoo in Arnhem.
Some of the chimps grabbed branches or twigs from willow trees and two females, Tushi and Raime, climbed up on scaffolding.
As the drone got close, Tushi swatted at it twice with a 6-foot-long branch she brandished in her left hand. The second swipe made contact, knocking the drone to the ground. The camera continued to film, capturing the inquisitive faces of the chimps as they inspected and toyed with the perplexing gadget.
Related: Chimps Might Have More Evolved Hands Than Humans
The study's authors note that Tushi grimaces just before and during the act of striking. "The precise coincidence of the facial grimace with the strike suggests that it is a concomitant of an assertive and determined exertion of force, homologous to what humans do in comparable situations."
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The researchers note that Tushi collected the stick before the drone approached, and carried it to a place where the drone might be swatted. The sequence of events, they say, suggests the attack was "planned" and "deliberate."
"This episode adds to the indications that chimpanzees engage in forward planning of tool-use acts," they write. ||||| Incident shows that chimps are able to plan ahead and use tools as weapons
New York | Heidelberg, 3 September 2015
Cool. Calm. And oh, so calculated. That’s how a chimpanzee living in the Royal Burgers’ Zoo in the Netherlands set out to swat an aerial drone that was filming her group. In an article in the journal Primates published by Springer, Jan van Hooff and Bas Lukkenaar explain it as yet another example of chimpanzees’ make-do attitude to using whatever is on hand as tools.
The incident happened earlier this year, on 10 April, when a Dutch television crew was filming at the zoo in Arnhem. The idea was to use a drone to film the chimpanzees in their compound from different close-up angles. The drone already caught the chimpanzees’ attention during a practice run. Some grabbed willow twigs off the ground, while four animals took these along when they climbed up scaffolding where the drone was hovering. This behavior is not frequently observed among these chimps.
Filming started when the next drone flew over. It zoomed in on two chimpanzees, the females Tushi and Raimee. They were still seated on the scaffolding holding on to twigs that were about 180 cm (ca. six feet) long. Tushi made two long sweeps with hers – the second was successful in downing the drone and ultimately broke it. Before and during the strike, she grimaced. Although her face was tense and her teeth were bared, she showed no signs of fear. This suggests that she quite deliberately and forcefully struck at the drone, rather than fearfully or reflexively.
“The use of the stick as a weapon in this context was a unique action,” comments van Hooff. “It seemed deliberate, given the decision to collect it and carry it to a place where the drone might be attacked.”
“This episode adds to the indications that chimpanzees engage in forward planning of tool-use acts,” Lukkenaar says, explaining the broader significance of the filmed event. This incident also shows the apes cautiously inspecting the contraption and even throwing it around before they lose interest in it.
According to van Hooff and Lukkenaar, the chimpanzees housed at the Royal Burgers Zoo have never explicitly been taught how to use different tools, but have had ample chance to watch humans handle all kinds of implements. Previous studies showed that the chimps at this Dutch zoo spontaneously and innovatively use up to 13 types of tools in a variety of ways, especially utilizing sticks of different sizes. The apes appear to choose the size, shape and weight of the tools with a particular use in mind. Sticks are, for instance, used to gather fresh leaves from overhead branches, while heavy pieces of wood and stones are chosen as throwing weapons.
References:
1. Van Hooff, J.A.R.A.M. & Lukkenaar, B. (2015). Captive chimpanzee takes down a drone: tool use toward a flying object, Primates. DOI 10.1007/s10329-015-0482-2
2. Primates is the official journal of the Japan Monkey Centre.
3. The article has been made freely available online for everyone under the Springer Open Choice program.
Caption:
A female chimpanzee named Tushi uses a stick to “attack” the drone. Behind her Raimee is sitting also with a long stick | © Royal Burger’s Zoo
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Katrin Petermann | Springer | Corporate Communications
tel +49-6221-487-8414 | katrin.petermann2@springer.com | – A chimpanzee that famously knocked a flying drone out of the air with a stick earlier this year wasn't reacting out of fear or annoyance but rather executing a pre-planned and deliberate attack. That's according to a new study in Primates. "This episode adds to the indications that chimpanzees engage in forward planning of tool-use acts," researcher Bas Lukkenaar says in a press release. The Christian Science Monitor reports a Dutch TV crew was using the drone to film a documentary on the chimps at the Royal Burgers' Zoo in April. After a test-run with the drone, the chimps started collecting sticks and climbing scaffolding. When the drone returned, a chimp named Tushi was ready, swiping it out of the air with a 6-foot branch. While studying footage from the busted drone, researchers focused on Tushi's facial expression during the attack, NBC News reports. They found the grimace she makes before and during the incident is similar to what humans do while carrying out a predetermined use of force. According to the press release, the lack of fear in Tushi's expression means she wasn't simply attacking out of reflex. The Monitor explains it's the difference between a calculated plan and swatting at a mosquito. This isn't unusual behavior for the chimps at Burgers' Zoo; they've taught themselves to use 13 different types of tools, the press release states. (Now find out how chimps are more advanced than humans.) |
During last night’s surprise appearance by Barack Obama at the third night of the Democratic National Convention, we totally did a double-take when we saw the dashing Senator from Illinois plant a big one on Jill Biden, the wife of his running mate, Joe Biden. Was it on purpose and platonic mouth kisses are suddenly the new show of affection in Washington, or was it an accident? Who knows, but certainly the accidental mouth kiss is something we’ve all endured…
You’re at a party greeting a million people and instead of grazing someone’s cheek with your lips, you accidentally go mouth-to-mouth. This can make for a very awkward situation, unless you luck out with a totally close friend who would immediately laugh it off. There’s a few ways this can go.
1. Your Crush: This is a pretty perfect opening to say, “Oops, I’ve always wanted to do this” or “This is what it feels like to be this close to me.” Thus this may help advance things to another level or get him or her thinking of you as more than just a friend. Come to think of it, I once had an “accidental” goodnight peck with a crush before things heated up between us. And one of my friends recalls an accidental kiss with a crush that confused her so much, she thought maybe he really was trying to kiss her but drunkenly messed it up.
2. The Family Friend: Laugh this incident off. “I kissed my best friend’s mom on the mouth by accident once. I initially felt very awkward , but when I said, ‘Oops’, we immediately both started laughing.” If you both acknowledge that it was a complete accident, crack a joke about being hot for them for years, you can have a giggle and move on.
3. Your Boss, Your Boyfriend’s Father, A Family Member: If you accidentally smooch someone really inappropriate, you can either apologize firmly once or deny, deny, deny. But having had my fair share of accidental mouth kisses with truly mortifying people, you will most likely be too shocked and embarrassed to handle this with grace. Bite the bullet, smile politely, and move on. ||||| Mediate has made a shocking discovery: Obama smooched Diane Sawyer during an ABC News Interview tonight! It was like a current events-themed Harlequin novel over there. What's more, Obama has a history of stealing kisses from powerful ladies.
First, take a look at Sweet Lips Obama as he makes the kiss-y face at Diane Sawyer before their interview on ABC World News because he LOOOOOVES HER SOOOO MUCH:
Here is our impression of Diane Sawyer: "Hello Mr. Pres—" *SMOOCHY* *SMOOCHY*. "Well, heavens me!" *BLUSH* "Of course I will ask you softball questions. Whatever you want, just keep me tapped into that sweet lip action... oh, Lordy, I haven't felt a man's touch since 20/20." *FAINT*
Mediaite hints that the smooch worked: Obama and Diane Sawyer sitting in a tree, conducting an unremarkable interview that will air between car insurance ads to overmedicated seniors—I-N-G.
But were you aware that our president has frequently deployed his lips to win over potential adversaries and reward friends alike? (Lady friends only, please.) Here is Obama snogging with Hilary Clinton at his health care address to congress last year:
SEXXXY
And then Fox & Friends had some fun over the time Hil apparently snubbed Bill Clinton's leathery smackers in favor of Obama's velveteen speechmakers:
Grass is always greener... we feel you, Hil.
And, of course, there was the time Obama "accidentally" sucked face with Dr. Jill Biden:
"Hey, Jill, I know this great podium where we can stand and watch the sun set."
But even Obama was stymied by French first lady Carla Bruni, who apparently backed away from the dual heat-seeking missiles that are Obama's all-curing lips:
The Gaul! (NY Post: You've got my number. -ED)
As our national love affair with Obama continues to sours, seems he's about one bad Gallup poll from resorting to "7 Minutes In Heaven" with every single American.
[Lukas Ketner drew the picture for Willamette Week.] ||||| Did President Obama dodge a friendly kiss from French First Lady Carla Bruni?
Segrette/AP France's first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy shakes President Obama's hand instead of a customary kiss, like the one exchanged between Michelle Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Forget NATO, world peace or the global recession - it was The Kiss, or the lack of one, that was the talk of Europe Friday.
The international kiss-ident unfolded as President Obama and his wife, Michelle, met French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his supermodel wife, Carla Bruni, in Strasbourg, France, as part of this weekend's NATO summit.
Everything seemed to be going swimmingly, in a French kind of way, outside the regal Palais Rohan.
Michelle and Carla shared a warm embrace and a Continental-style peck on each cheek, captured by hundreds of whirring paparazzi.
President Obama and the prime minister shook hands heartily and even two-stepped through an awkward French man-hug.
The much smaller Sarkozy even managed to land a double-kiss on Michelle - pausing only to glide his hand across his wife's celebrated derriere with a giddy, look-what-I-got grin plastered on his face, dutifully caught on camera.
But when Bruni leaned in to kiss President Obama, something happened.
Maybe he balked, perhaps imagining all the late-night fodder a picture of him smooching a fashion model might inspire. Maybe she pulled back. Whatever.
There was no kiss, just a prim handshake, sending the British press in particular into a spasm of forensic investigation that included a frame-by-frame analysis of the Kiss That Wasn't.
It would be hours before the situation was rectified - at a dinner last night, when Bruni and Obama finally managed to seal their relationship with a polite double kiss.
Perhaps by then Bruni had gotten the green light from Michelle during a lunch of marinated scallops with caviar they enjoyed inside the palace, after which the ladies resolved to work together to battle AIDS (Bruni lost a brother to the disease).
The day included plenty for fashion mavens to chew on as well.
Michelle Obama, having stuck for most of the week to price-conscious ensembles from J. Crew, broke out the big guns for her first tete-a-tete with Bruni, a.k.a. "The Chanel Gazelle."
Obama wore a brilliant magenta dress with a metallic sheen by Thakoon, a Thai-born designer who grew up in the U.S. The double-hemmed, Italian-silk dress cost about $1,500 - a major price upgrade for the first lady.
Bruni, on the other hand, opted for a cropped-sleeve Dior coat in a soft, plain grey - stylish but very simple.
"Carla actually looks a bit washed out and (we can't believe we're about to say this) prim and proper," said The Guardian of London. "A flash of color or a fashionable statement accessory could have taken this outfit to another level - but that's just not Carla's style." | – When you're the president of the United States, a kiss, apparently, is never just a kiss. Yesterday, the president pecked Diane Sawyer on the cheek before an interview. "It was like a current events-themed Harlequin novel," writes Gawker's Adrian Chen. And it wasn't the first time! A brief history of the president's "public smooching rampage:" The "Accidental" Kiss: During the presidential campaign an enthusiastic Obama "accidentally" kissed Jill Biden on the lips. "This can make for a very awkward situation," the Frisky notes. The "Diss" Kiss: When Barack and Michelle met Carla and Sarko, the president skimped on smooching France's first lady. It caused a major diplomatic kiss-ident, reports the Daily News. The Reward Kiss: The president puckered up to Hillary Clinton at his health care address this fall. It showed, as Gawker put it, that he can "deploy his lips" to "reward friends." Find a complete kiss and tell here. |
In an effort to resonate more with younger consumers, handbag maker Coach is buying its smaller rival, Kate Spade & Co., for $2.4 billion, the companies announced on Monday, putting many M&A rumors to rest.
"Kate Spade has a truly unique and differentiated brand positioning with a broad lifestyle assortment and strong awareness among consumers, especially millennials," Coach CEO Victor Luis said in a statement.
The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2017 and add to adjusted earnings in fiscal 2018, Coach added.
Shares of Kate Spade closed more than 8 percent higher Monday following this announcement, while Coach's stock ended the day up almost 5 percent.
" ... this is a sensible deal both in terms of the brand fit and the premium that Coach is paying," GlobalData Retail analyst Neil Saunders said in a statement about the transaction. "Ultimately the aim for Coach is to become a business with a portfolio of distinct and compelling luxury brands. Today's announcement is the solid step on that journey."
Coach has made no secret of its desire to create a global, multi-brand luxury company.
M&A rumors were already stirring last week, when Coach reported better-than-expected earnings. There were reports surfacing that in addition to Kate Spade, Coach was considering an acquisition of luxury shoe manufacturer Jimmy Choo.
Earlier in the year, Kate Spade said it was actively considering strategic alternatives, and JAB Holding, the owner of Jimmy Choo, made a similar announcement about that brand recently.
"Now that Coach is on a clear path to recovery, we believe it is right for the company to explore options for future growth," Saunders had said last week.
"Some of this will come from the core brand which has the potential to become more of a lifestyle destination," Saunders wrote. "However, Coach needs to be conservative in this push, if only to avoid the previous pitfalls of ubiquity. ... This is one of the reasons why the company is exploring options to buy other brands."
Saunders predicted an acquisition of the Kate Spade brand could have a lot of potential for Coach as Kate is "in the early stages of developing its own lifestyle brand and would benefit from Coach's sourcing and distribution expertise, as well as some fresh thinking on the design front."
Coach's latest strategy to cut back on discounting products in the U.S. is finally paying off, as evidenced by the retailer's financials and a stronger bottom line. Making the shift from turnaround mode to growth mode, Coach hopes to boost sales in the coming quarters and better-position its brand in the mind's of shoppers.
As of Monday's close, shares of Coach have risen 12 percent over the past 12 months and are up 27 percent for the year-to-date period. Kate Spade shares are down more than 22 percent over the past year, and down more than 1 percent for the year-to-date period.
—Reuters contributed to this report. ||||| Coach has just bagged itself a deal.
The luxury handbag maker has announced plans to buy competitor Kate Spade in a deal worth $2.4 billion.
Coach (COH) will pay $18.50 in cash for each Kate Spade share -- an increase of nearly 30% from where the stock was trading prior to rumors of a sale.
Coach said it expects the transaction to close by the end of the third quarter. It plans to preserve Kate Spade's (KATE) "brand independence" and retain key staff.
Mickey Chadha, an analyst at Moody's, said the purchase is the latest effort by Coach to "broaden its customer base to a younger, trendier millennial shopper."
Coach said it expects to eventually generate $50 million in annual savings by combining the firms' inventory management and supply chains.
That should help boost profitability, but it's bad news for purse-loving bargain hunters.
Coach chief financial officer Kevin Wills said the cost savings will allow Kate Spade to have fewer "online flash sales," a change that would help bolster the brand's image as maker of true luxury products.
Coach and Kate Spade make most of their money in the U.S., but both have been working to expand their international presence.
Coach sales hit a peak during its heyday in 2013, but the brand lost some of its luster and revenue slumped in 2014 and 2015.
The company is now working to turn things around. In May of last year, Coach splashed out on popular shoe maker Stuart Weitzman.
Kate Spade has also seen better days. Its shares hit a three-year low in December before takeover rumors began to swirl. ||||| FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, file photo, shoppers wait in line outside a Coach factory outlet store at the Cincinnati Premium Outlets, in Monroe, Ohio. Coach is buying rival luxury handbag, clothing... (Associated Press)
FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, file photo, shoppers wait in line outside a Coach factory outlet store at the Cincinnati Premium Outlets, in Monroe, Ohio. Coach is buying rival luxury handbag, clothing and accessories company Kate Spade in a deal valued at $2.4 billion as it looks grab more millennial... (Associated Press)
FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, file photo, shoppers wait in line outside a Coach factory outlet store at the Cincinnati Premium Outlets, in Monroe, Ohio. Coach is buying rival luxury handbag, clothing and accessories company Kate Spade in a deal valued at $2.4 billion as it looks grab more millennial... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, file photo, shoppers wait in line outside a Coach factory outlet store at the Cincinnati Premium Outlets, in Monroe, Ohio. Coach is buying rival luxury handbag, clothing... (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Coach will spend $2.4 billion for Kate Spade, tying together two premier brands in the luxury goods sector that have fought to snare younger shoppers.
Noting that crucial demographic, Coach Inc. CEO Victor Luis said in a company release Monday that Kate Spade has a "strong awareness among consumers, especially millennials."
Coach will pay $18.50 per share of Kate Spade & Company. That's a 9 percent premium to its Friday closing price of $16.97.
Coach has made an aggressive push to polish its image as a purveyor of opulence, ending many of the promotions it had used to ramp up sales. But to power future growth, it's begun to build an empire of luxury brands.
In 2015, Coach acquired the high-end footwear company Stuart Weitzman.
Last month the company hired Joshua Schulman, the president of Neiman Marcus's Bergdorf Goodman division, and put him in the newly created position as president and CEO of the Coach brand. Many took that as a step toward a new company structure with a number of distinct brands under one umbrella, with each brand chief reporting to Luis.
Schulman officially begins his job on June 5.
Kate Spade's stock surged more than 8 percent before the opening bell. | – Coach will spend $2.4 billion for Kate Spade, tying together two premier brands in the luxury goods sector in a bid to snare younger shoppers. Noting that crucial demographic, Coach CEO Victor Luis says in a company release Monday that Kate Spade has a "strong awareness among consumers, especially millennials." Coach will pay $18.50 per share of Kate Spade, a 9% premium to its Friday closing price of $16.97. It follows another recent millennial-minded deal on Coach's part: engaging Selena Gomez (and, it likely hopes, her 120 million Instagram fans) in a deal that will put her in Coach ads and across its social media, reports CNBC. But the brand isn't just going younger, it's going luxe-er, reports the AP: Coach has made an aggressive push to polish its image as a purveyor of opulence, ending many of the promotions it had used to ramp up sales. To power future growth, it's begun to build an empire of luxury brands. In 2015, Coach acquired the high-end footwear company Stuart Weitzman. Last month the company hired Joshua Schulman, the president of Neiman Marcus's Bergdorf Goodman division, and put him in the newly created position as president and CEO of the Coach brand. In CNN Money's view, the acquisition is "bad news for purse-loving bargain hunters." It cites Coach's CFO as saying that Kate Spade will likely reel in the number of "online flash sales" it has. |
As far as basehead mayor memorabilia goes, the tie Rob Ford wore when he admitted to smoking crack cocaine is hardly a museum piece. It is, however, something you can actually buy and own, one of several personal items Ford put on eBay Wednesday night.
Under the less-than-inspired handle "torontorobford," the former mayor also put some moose print jammie pants, a size 4XL football jersey and a poster that looks like it came from Spencer's Gifts up for auction.
Each item, it seems, has a special connection to the Ford administration. The listing for the pants, for instance, boasts, "These are the print patterned pants that Councillor Rob Ford was seen wearing on a shopping trip to Wal-Mart."
But caveat emptor, eager Rob Ford collectors: torontorobford currently has a feedback score of 0.
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Bid ##3## | – You can buy many things on the Internet, and one of them is now the garish tie Rob Ford wore to the press conference in which he confessed he might be more than abstractly familiar with a substance we like to call crack cocaine, albeit only in a "drunken stupor." The former Hizzoner, who is battling an aggressive cancer, has as of yesterday listed various such treasures on eBay, including aforementioned tie, which is currently going for nearly $2,600. Per the listing: "You are bidding on an original piece of memorabilia from former Toronto Mayor, and current Toronto Councillor Rob Ford." It comes with a "Certificate of Authenticity from Councillor Rob Ford himself." Also up for grabs: Some kind of weird moose-print jammies Ford apparently "was seen wearing on a shopping trip to Wal-Mart"; a "Keep Calm and Carry On" sign that Ford "added as a decoration to the Mayor's Office in January, 2014"; and a Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey that "he got while attending a game in July of 2013 (Size 4XL)." But as Gawker notes: "Caveat emptor, eager Rob Ford collectors: torontorobford currently has a feedback score of 0." |
Mercedes-Benz is tapping into the popularity of ultra-luxurious all-terrain vehicles, with a new Maybach SUV that can ferry passengers over desert dunes with an open top and thermal cupholders.
The Mercedes-Maybach G-Class 650, shown at the Geneva auto show, will be the world’s most expensive sport utility vehicle with a price of about $500,000. It’s Daimler AG’s latest extension of the top-of-the-line Maybach marque that it resurrected amid surging demand for higher-end models. Limited to a run of 99, the SUV will have a V12 engine and a landaulet style, with a front row that’s covered and a retractable fabric roof in the back.
The Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet in Geneva on March 8. Photographer: Luke Macgregor/Bloomberg
“This car meets the highest demands for luxury and yet still has all the elements that make the G-Class a real off-roader,” said Gunner Guethenke, who heads Mercedes’s SUV business. Customers who buy the marque’s G-Class -- the segment is named for Gelaendewagen, the German term for all-terrain vehicles -- are looking for something “unique,” he said.
Under pressure to foot the soaring bill of developing electric cars, autonomous-driving features and ride-sharing platforms, Daimler is more aggressively targeting ultra-wealthy customers with high-margin models on the one hand, while also adding more affordable cars that sell in large volumes. That strategy helped Mercedes unseat rival BMW AG as the world’s best-selling luxury marque last year and allowed Daimler to boost its research and development budget by almost a quarter.
After struggling for years to sustain a niche for Maybach, Mercedes revived the 1930’s-era sub-brand in 2014 and has since expanded it with more opulent and spacious adaptations of popular models, such as convertible and three-row stretch limousine versions of the Mercedes S-Class sedan.
The Maybach G650, which will test customers’ appetite for a full-production SUV from that marque, will have an electric -- and dimmable -- glass partition to separate passengers from the driver, retractable footrests and folding tables stashed in the middle console. To master truly rugged terrains, the vehicle is positioned almost half a meter (1.6 feet) above the ground. It’ll be available for sale after September.
Exotic Versions
Daimler isn’t alone in chasing after the lucrative cash cow of luxury SUVS. Volkswagen AG’s Bentley marque introduced the $229,100 Bentayga last year, currently the industry’s priciest off-roader in regular production. BMW’s Rolls-Royce is set to release its first 4x4 conveyance with an anticipated price tag of more than $400,000 next year.
The boxy G-Class has been around since 1979. With a rugged exterior that’s reminiscent of Land Rover’s now discontinued Defender, the iconic car is Stuttgart-based Daimler’s most expensive passenger vehicle, priced from $122,400. Production last year surpassed 20,000 units for the first time.
Mercedes has a history of launching exotic versions of the G-Class. There’s a sporty version sold by the performance-focused AMG sub-brand, which makes up half of all sales. The G63 AMG 6x6, a three-axle show car unveiled in 2013, had a pick-up load area behind a cabin that housed four electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated individual seats. Almost 200 of the 379,000-euro car were built.
The carmaker “has already pushed the boundaries pretty far with the standard G-Class,” said Ian Fletcher, a London-based analyst with forecaster IHS Automotive. “Every time it does, customers just seem to lap it up.”
Read our complete coverage of the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. ||||| You read that model designation correctly: The team working under Dr. Gunnar Güthenke, CEO of Mercedes-Benz G (yep, the Geländewagen platform has its very own CEO), started out with a basic G-wagen, took the portal axles of the ultra-aggressive 4×4² version, stuffed the G65 AMG’s twin-turbocharged V-12 under the boxy hood, stretched the wheelbase by 22.8 inches, and added the “first-class” rear seats from the Mercedes-Maybach S-class. For good measure, the rear portion of the standard fixed roof has been replaced by a power-operated fabric top (last available nearly four years ago). Sure, it’s a parts-bin production—but using only parts from the shelf above the top shelf. Cars don’t get much more extreme. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche reacted with enthusiasm when he first saw the project and jacked up the production target, originally planned to be minuscule, to 99 units. ||||| Off-road driving is set to become more luxurious—and expensive—than ever before, thanks to the new Mercedes-Benz Maybach SUV unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.
Passengers aboard the V12-powered Mercedes-Maybach G-Class 650 will enjoy massages from designer leather chairs, warm drinks courtesy of thermal cup holders and a sunroof that opens to reveal the great outdoors, Bloomberg reports.
All that pampering won’t come cheap, though. At $500,000, the 99 units parent company Daimler AG ddaif plans to roll out will be the most expensive sports utility vehicles ever produced.
These extravagant gas-guzzlers also represent a Faustian pact for the automaker: by targeting ultra-rich customers with high-margin models such as the Maybach, Bloomberg suggests, Mercedes is able to bankroll the development of electric cars, autonomous-driving features and ride-sharing platforms.
For more on the Geneva Auto Show, see Fortune’s video:
So far, the strategy is working. Last year Mercedes surpassed BMW bmwyy as the world’s best-selling luxury marque, allowing Daimler to step-up its research and development budget by almost a quarter. ||||| Oh, the Maybach brand! Remember when Mercedes-Benz relaunched it as its Rolls-Royce in 2002, only to lose a ton of money because seemingly nobody cared? Well, after the Maybach 57 and 62 were both killed off in 2012, Mercedes gave it another go, bringing the name back in 2015 as a sub-brand positioned above the top of the Mercedes range. And now, Daimler says one in every ten vehicles sold in the S-Class segment wears a Mercedes-Maybach badge. That's not bad, given that Maybach only offered variants of the S-Class sedan and the S 650 cabrio ... up until the arrival of this: the G 650 Landaulet.
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The last time a Maybach was this capable off-road, Germany was invading Poland, but this G 650 Landaulet is more of a toy than a tank. Mercedes quietly discontinued the open-top G Wagen roughly three years ago, and while the AMG G63 6x6 was an absolute masterpiece, it only had a twin-turbo V8 under the hood, where clearly there's room for four more cylinders. Therefore, humanity needed a long-wheelbase version with an electric soft-top and a twin-turbo V12. Frankly, it was the logical step forward.
The 22.75 inches added to the wheelbase (now 135 inches) allowed Mercedes to fit the G 65 Landaulet with individual rear captain's chairs, wrapped in the finest calf leather and able to fully recline. The occupants are held gently in place on any terrain by inflatable air chambers, while heated massage programs take care of their tense muscles. It's S-Class time in the G, and if the party gets even wilder, the electrically operated glass partition can be changed from transparent to opaque at the press of a button:
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While the heated and cooled cupholders, the fancy seats, the premium stereo, the high-resolution displays and the entire open top experience all sound fun, it's not like the G65 Landaulet's driver will get bored. He or she will have 630 horsepower and 737 ft.-lb. of torque to play with, and 17.7 inches of ground clearance thanks to the portal axles. Like all G Wagens, this open-top bruiser has three locking differentials and a shift-on-the-fly low range. And let's not forget about the side pipes—the G 65 Landaulet is a riot front, rear, and on both sides.
Limited to just 99 units, production starts in Graz, Austria this autumn. If you can't wait that long, go and spec a private jet while you wait—because while Mercedes hasn't announced a price, we're assuming it'll be even more costly than the $500,000-plus G 63 AMG 6x6.
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Cool? Sure. But you know what's even cooler? The frozen 2018 G Wagen: | – If you'd like your passengers to be able to sip from silver champagne flutes in comfort while being transported across rugged terrain—and you have at least $500,000 to spare—look no further than the Mercedes-Maybach G-Class 650 Landaulet. The ultra-high-end SUV, described by Road and Track as the ideal vehicle for the world's extravagant dictators, was introduced at the Geneva auto show as the latest addition to parent company Daimler AG's luxury Maybach brand. Only 99 of them will ever be made, and while the final price tag hasn't been settled, it is expected to be the most expensive SUV ever produced, Fortune reports. With features like massage seats and thermal cup holders, "this car meets the highest demands for luxury and yet still has all the elements that make the G-Class a real off-roader," Mercedes SUV chief Gunner Guethenke tells Bloomberg, which notes that the company may be trying to offset the costs of developing electric cars and self-driving vehicles with its top-end ventures. So how does it handle? Car and Driver took the "most over-the-top vehicle imaginable" for a spin and found that "craggy rocks, nasty holes, and muddy swampy bogs are simply nonissues," and while speed is not the primary goal, "if the order arrives from the rear seat, the chauffeur can hurl it forward with gusto." |
Cindy McCain arrives for a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, in Phoenix, escorted by her sons Jimmy, left, and Jack. (AP Photo/Matt York) (Associated Press)
Cindy McCain arrives for a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, in Phoenix, escorted by her sons Jimmy, left, and Jack. (AP Photo/Matt York) (Associated Press)
PHOENIX (AP) — The Latest on the first of two days of services in Arizona to honor Sen. John McCain (all times local):
12:10 p.m.
Even Democrats are waiting outside in Phoenix's summer heat to honor the late Sen. John McCain at a public viewing.
Kassandra Morales stood in line Wednesday at the Arizona Capitol with her sons, ages 8 and 2½. The Democrat brought a bouquet of flowers and said she has always looked up to the Republican senator.
The 44-year-old says she's been following the longtime senator since she was 18 and always voted for him despite her party affiliation.
Morales says she brought her children "to show them what a real hero was."
Volunteers are filling coolers with ice and water bottles for the crowds gathered under canopies to wait for the 2 p.m. viewing to begin on what would have been McCain's 82nd birthday.
He died Saturday of an aggressive form of brain cancer.
___
11:45 a.m.
Two groups who traveled to Arizona from San Diego to pay their respects to John McCain had been waiting outside in the heat since early morning.
Mike Foley bought a plane ticket to Phoenix so he could honor McCain after hearing the public could view the senator's casket Wednesday at the state Capitol.
Barry and Linda Vittori separately made the roughly five-hour drive Tuesday night. Linda Vittori says McCain "epitomizes what I think our forefathers we're hoping our country would be."
Ahead of them was 17-year-old Regina Akerson, a Phoenix high school senior who wrote a report on McCain her freshman year and needs to attend a government ceremony for class.
She decided she could wait seven hours in the sun to pay her respects to McCain and fulfill that requirement, calling him "a legend."
___
11:15 a.m.
Electronic signs on freeways in the Phoenix area paid tribute to the late Arizona Sen. John McCain.
The signs said, "Country First Rest In Peace Senator McCain."
It comes as more than 100 people are waiting under canopies in 90-plus degree heat to pay their respects to McCain during a public viewing Wednesday afternoon at the Arizona Capitol.
Earlier, family and politicians attended an emotional private ceremony at the Capitol with the senator's flag-draped casket.
The 81-year-old Republican died Saturday of an aggressive form of brain cancer. Wednesday would have been his 82nd birthday.
___
10:30 a.m.
The late Sen. John McCain's wife, Cindy, has walked up to the flag-draped casket holding her husband's body at the Arizona Capitol and patted it, then laid her cheek on it.
The rest of his children then filed past the casket and touched it Wednesday, including his sons in uniform and daughter Meghan McCain who was weeping.
Gov. Doug Ducey and his wife bowed and McCain's former colleagues, Sen. Jeff Flake and former Sen. Jon Kyl, both touched the casket.
Flake gave a prayer at the ceremony that preceded a public viewing for the 81-year-old Republican who died Saturday of an aggressive form of brain cancer.
___
This item has been clarified to show that Cindy McCain laid her cheek on the casket.
___
10:25 a.m.
Arizona's governor says Sen. John McCain was one of the only politicians who could get people to set aside politics.
Gov. Doug Ducey said at a private ceremony Wednesday at the state Capitol that imagining Arizona without McCain is like imagining the state without the Grand Canyon, two things it's known for.
The governor called McCain one of Arizona's favorite adopted sons.
Ducey said Arizona residents knew they could follow McCain, who served in Vietnam as a Navy pilot and was captured as a prisoner of war, because he was trusted and tested, qualities that are in short supply.
The ceremony with McCain's wife, Cindy, children and other politicians came ahead of a public viewing for the 81-year-old Republican who died Saturday of an aggressive form of brain cancer.
___
10:15 a.m.
John McCain's daughter, Meghan McCain, wept as her family stood in front of the Arizona senator's flag-draped casket at the Arizona Capitol.
His colleague, former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, opened comments at a ceremony Wednesday for the 81-year-old Republican who died Saturday of an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Kyl says he has been with McCain all around the world and that he had better instincts on when to assert U.S. power than anyone else he knew.
He said he would miss McCain and that his greatest contribution was national security.
___
10 a.m.
A motorcade with Sen. John McCain's body has arrived at the Arizona State Capitol for a private ceremony and afternoon and evening public viewing on the day that would have been his 82nd birthday.
State troopers on motorcycles led the black hearse on the eight-mile (13-kilometer) route that took the procession on southbound lanes of a highway closed to other traffic. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey embraced McCain's wife, Cindy, when the motorcade arrived.
Flag-bearing military honor guards were lined up outside the State Capitol waiting to honor the 81-year-old Arizona Republican who died Saturday of an aggressive form of brain cancer.
A memorial service will be held Thursday at North Phoenix Baptist Church before McCain's body is flown to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony Friday at the U.S. Capitol and a memorial service Saturday at Washington National Cathedral, followed by a private memorial service and burial Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
___
9:48 a.m.
A black hearse carrying Sen. John McCain's body has left a Phoenix mortuary and is traveling to the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix for a Wednesday morning private ceremony and public viewing in the afternoon and evening.
Flag-bearing military honor guards are lined up outside the State Capitol waiting to honor McCain. The Arizona Republican died Saturday of an aggressive form of brain cancer.
A memorial service will be held Thursday at North Phoenix Baptist Church before McCain's body is flown to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony Friday at the U.S. Capitol and a memorial service Saturday at Washington National Cathedral, followed by a private memorial service and burial Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
___
9:25 a.m.
Black curtains dressed up the rotunda Arizona State Capitol Museum, which on a typical day hosts tourists and history buffs as well state capitol workers bustling from one office to another.
But on this day, Arizona and U.S. flags encircled the room.
A few dozen white folding chairs were reserved for family and dignitaries beside a wreath of white roses. Outside the building, where McCain will be retrieved by a team from the Arizona National Guard, military members in uniform began to congregate on the Capitol plaza to line the route where McCain's casket will be carried.
___
8:05 a.m.
Veterans and constituents are already lining up around the Arizona State Capitol to pay their respects to Sen. John McCain.
He will lie in state Wednesday for a private formal ceremony and a public viewing. McCain died of brain cancer last Saturday at age 81.
The sun was already beating down on a quiet Capitol as security officers began to patrol the grounds and prepare for the procession with the hearse bearing McCain's body from a funeral home to the Capitol.
By 8 a.m., several dozen veterans and active military members had taken spots on the sidewalk to watch it.
Judith Hatch, a veteran from Phoenix, started the day by handing out flags to those who were assembled. She says Arizona lost a champion for the military.
Hatch says: "We definitely have lost a strong advocate, so we'll need someone who is going to step up to the plate."
___
12 a.m.
Family, friends and constituents will gather Wednesday at Arizona's Capitol to pay their respects to Sen. John McCain, the first of two days of services here before he departs the state he has represented since the 1980s.
A private ceremony will be held Wednesday morning at the Arizona State Capitol Museum rotunda, where McCain will lie in state.
That ceremony will include remarks from Gov. Doug Ducey and former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, plus a benediction from Sen. Jeff Flake. It will also mark the first appearance of McCain's family members since the longtime Arizona senator died of brain cancer on Saturday at age 81.
Later that afternoon, the Capitol will be open to members of the public who want to pay their respects.
McCain's former presidential campaign manager Rick Davis says the viewing will go on as long as people are waiting in line.
For some Arizona residents, McCain has been a political fixture in the state for their entire lives. He took office in Arizona in the early 1980s, first as a congressman and then as a senator in the seat once held by Sen. Barry Goldwater. ||||| Jack McCain, son of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. touches the casket during a memorial service at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool) (Associated Press)
Jack McCain, son of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. touches the casket during a memorial service at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool) (Associated Press)
PHOENIX (AP) — Cindy McCain pressed her face against the flag-draped casket of her husband, U.S. Sen. John McCain, on Wednesday and several of his children sobbed during the first of two services for the statesman and former prisoner of war before he is taken for the last time from the state he has represented since the 1980s.
The private service at the Arizona Capitol marked the first appearance of McCain's family members since the senator died Saturday of brain cancer.
During the service, Gov. Doug Ducey remembered McCain as a senator and internationally known figure as well as a major figure in the history of Arizona.
While Barry Goldwater was an Arizona native, McCain was "Arizona's favorite adopted son," the governor said on would have been the 82nd birthday of McCain, who was born in the Panama Canal zone while his father served in the military.
"Imagining an Arizona without John McCain is like picturing Arizona without the Grand Canyon," Ducey said.
Former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl said he has been with McCain all around the world and he had better instincts on when to assert U.S. power than anyone else he knew.
Kyl said he would miss McCain, whose greatest contribution was national security.
Sen. Jeff Flake offered the benediction at the service.
Later in the afternoon, the Capitol will be open to the public to pay their respects.
Arizona National Guard members carried the casket into the Arizona State Capitol Museum rotunda, where McCain will lie in state. Black curtains hung in the rotunda. U.S. and Arizona flags encircled the room.
By the time the service ended and the rotunda was cleared, at least 100 people had already gathered outside to wait for the public viewing.
They took shelters from the hot sun under tents erected by security teams while volunteers filled coolers with ice and water bottles.
Chasity Pullin, whose husband and father are both veterans, was among those in line. She said she liked how McCain didn't act like he was above others, and praised all he did for veterans.
"It feels like you're losing part of your family, as much as he did," she said
Kassandra Morales, 44, stood with her sons, 8 and 2 years old. The single mom and Democrat brought a bouquet of flowers and said she had always looked up to McCain.
"Yesterday I asked my son who his hero was. He gave me a rapper's name," Morales said. "I brought my children here to show them what a real hero was."
Veteran Judith Hatch handed out flags to those assembled, saying Arizona lost a champion for the military.
"We definitely have lost a strong advocate, so we'll need someone who is going to step up to the plate," Hatch said.
The viewing later in the day will go on as long as people are waiting in line, said Rick Davis, McCain's former presidential campaign manager.
For some Arizona residents, McCain has been a political fixture in the state for their entire lives. He took office in the state in the early 1980s, first as a congressman and then as a senator in the seat once held by Goldwater.
Thursday morning will feature a procession through Phoenix on the way to a memorial service at North Phoenix Baptist Church, with the public invited to line the route along Interstate 17.
The memorial service will include tributes, readings and musical performances, including a tribute from former Vice President Joe Biden. Musical choices include a recessional to "My Way" by Frank Sinatra.
From there, McCain will depart Arizona from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Another viewing will be at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, with a final memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral.
___
AP writer Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed to this story. | – Cindy McCain pressed her face against the flag-draped casket of her husband, US Sen. John McCain, on Wednesday and several of his children sobbed during the first of two services for the statesman and former prisoner of war before he is taken for the last time from the state he has represented since the 1980s. The private service at the Arizona Capitol marked the first appearance of McCain's family members since the senator died Saturday of brain cancer, the AP reports. During the service, Gov. Doug Ducey remembered McCain as a senator and internationally known figure as well as a major figure in the history of Arizona. Former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl also spoke, and Sen. Jeff Flake offered the benediction. Arizona National Guard members carried the casket into the Arizona State Capitol Museum rotunda, where McCain will lie in state. Later in the afternoon, the Capitol will be open to the public to pay their respects. By the time the service ended and the rotunda was cleared, at least 100 people had already gathered outside to wait for the public viewing in 90-plus degree heat—even Democrats, one of whom told the AP McCain was a "real hero." The people, some of whom traveled from California to be there, took shelter from the hot sun under tents erected by security teams while volunteers filled coolers with ice and water bottles. The viewing later in the day will go on as long as people are waiting in line, said Rick Davis, McCain's former presidential campaign manager. Thursday morning will feature a procession through Phoenix on the way to a memorial service at North Phoenix Baptist Church, with the public invited to line the route along Interstate 17. From there, McCain will depart Arizona from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Another viewing will be at the US Capitol on Friday, with a final memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral Saturday. |
Amanda Knox traveled to Italy to study writing. A few weeks later, the American college student became a murder suspect. Now nearly a year after she was convicted in a second trial by an Italian court, Knox has returned to writing, as a journalist in Seattle.
Knox has been working as a freelance reporter for the small West Seattle Herald for a few months, according to Web Editor Patrick Robinson. The Herald asked her to be a freelance reporter, but not because of her notorious status.
“We approached her originally to give her the opportunity of a normal life,” Robinson told The Daily Beast. “We simply asked her as we would ask anyone of that age and stage, if they would be interested in writing for us as a qualified writer of that scale and this level of journalism.”
In November 2007, Knox’s roommate, Meredith Kercher, was found dead in the house they shared with two other women. Authorities arrested Knox, boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, and a bar owner and charged them in Kercher’s murder. In 2009, Knox and Sollecito were found guilty of murder. Both spent four years in prison before a court acquitted them in 2011 after evidence was thrown into doubt by independent experts. Knox returned to the U.S. following acquittal, but a court in January 2014 upheld the 2009 guilty verdict and sentenced Knox and Sollecito to more than 25 years. Knox has not been extradited to Italy while the case is appealed.
In 2012, Knox signed a book deal reportedly worth $4 million. A movie based on a book by The Daily Beast’s Barbie Latza Nadeau has been made into a movie starring Kate Beckinsale.
Knox wanted to write under a pen name at first, which the paper allowed her to do.
“That was purposely to give her the protection of that and to give her the opportunity. She showed us writing samples and they were good,” Robinson said. After she “got her feet wet,” Knox began writing under her own name.
Knox is covering everything from human-interest stories to local theater like a high-school production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
“Amanda’s a very bright, very capable, highly qualified writer,” Robinson said, adding he was “flabbergasted” by how good her photography had become over a few months. “She’s certainly been through as lot and been very easy to work with and very interested and eager in doing stories.”
The Herald was obviously aware that their newest freelancer—an international celebrity and convicted murderer—would eventually generate outside attention. There was “some note of caution” attached to hiring Knox, thanks to the negativity from the case, Robinson said. But that wasn’t why the paper hired her, he insisted.
“It doesn’t matter what people say or think—the truth is that she’s a West Seattle resident, she grew up here,” Robinson added. “Why not give her the opportunity to be an actual human being versus a celebrity?”
That celebrity may attract unwelcome visitors, like people with cameras, but Robinson said all meetings with Knox are conducted privately. Though “she’s not hiding,” he added.
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As for the murder charges against Knox and Italy’s request to extradite her, Robinson said that’s not the newspaper’s concern. The outcome of the case has “little to nothing” to do with Knox’s relationship with the newspaper, he said.
“It’s really about giving a young, talented writer an opportunity at a normal life.” ||||| Amanda Knox
Behind the scenes: Cast and crew busy building the set of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at West Seattle High School.
Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to be performed by West Seattle High School’s Drama Club
By Amanda Knox
With just over a week left until opening night, Literature and Drama teacher Andrew Finley and his cast and crew are busy sawing, stacking, and securing old wooden pallets into what looks like a horseshoe formation. Is it a hill? A castle? A balcony? A ship? It will serve as all of the above and be just what it is—none of those things.
Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is notorious for turning Hamlet on its head and questioning everything one takes for granted: time, space, identity, reality, fate, freedom. It’s a major theme that Finley is emphasizing in multiple ways. The set is clearly a construct, begging the audience to exercise their imagination and at the same time recognize the artifice. The characters from Hamlet—the King, Queen, Laertes, Ophelia, the players—will each be played by multiple members of an ensemble cast, so that the audience won’t be able to pin down characters by their most defining human aspect: their faces. As the script suggests, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will be confused one with the other, but Finley emphasizes that confusion by casting a boy and a girl for these principle roles. “It’s this male character who’s played by a female actor. We never try to make her look like a boy, but we don’t make it obvious that she’s a girl either. There are a couple of moments in the play when the head player of the drama troupe that they encounter makes a couple of references to, ‘Oh, I’m always in costume…SIR,’ as if to say, ‘I can see through your costume. You’re clearly a girl, but we’re going to pretend you’re a guy.’ It’s part of this question of what is your identity and how can you tell? What do you know and what do you not know?”
Usually this kind of questioning seems to be a departure from practical, every-day existence. Any single person has a set name, job, friends and family. But Finley argues that high school is a particularly appropriate setting for exploring the questioning of reality and identity. “The other major theme is hopelessness, and I’d rather not hit that one so hard for the people who will largely populate my audience. I’d rather explore identity and how do you know who you are and how do you build an identity, because my target audience is in the process of doing that.”
There are a few things you should remember before seeing the show. “R&G,” as Finley affectionately calls it, is a re-envisioning of the tragedy Hamlet from the perspective of two minor characters. Finley recommends that you have a general understanding of the story and themes of the Shakespearean tragedy so you can get the most out of the references made to it. He’s even considering holding a viewing of the Mel Gibson film version of Hamlet for those underclassmen who haven’t read the play in school yet.
The other thing Finley wants you to remember is that R&G, unlike Hamlet, is a comedy. “If it’s not funny, you’re doing it wrong. If people walk in thinking this is Hamlet, it’s going to take them much of the first act to realize that, ‘Oh, wait, not only was what they said funny, but it’s appropriate for me to laugh.’”
Finley has high hopes for the production and every confidence in his cast and crew. “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead has always been one of my really favorite plays. I’ve always wanted to do this show and I’ve been waiting for the right group of kids. This year we’ve got it.”
Performances are scheduled for November 6, 7, 8 and 12, 13, 14 at 7:30 p.m. at West Seattle High School’s campus, 3000 California Ave SW. Tickets are $12 at the door, $7 with an online reservation. To reserve tickets, contact tickets@westsidedrama.com. | – Amanda Knox may yet be extradited, but for now, the 27-year-old has a new gig: writing for a small Seattle newspaper. Patrick Robinson, web editor for the West Seattle Herald, tells the Daily Beast that Knox has been freelancing for a "few months," covering human interest stories and high school plays—in her recent review, Knox philosophizes about how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead questions "everything one takes for granted: time, space, identity, reality, fate, freedom." "Amanda's a very bright, very capable, highly qualified writer," says Robinson, admitting that she used a pen name at first. "She's certainly been through [a] lot and been very easy to work with and very interested and eager in doing stories." As for Italy's ongoing attempt to get Knox back overseas, Robinson says it has "little to nothing" to do with her standing at the Herald: "Why not give her the opportunity to be an actual human being versus a celebrity?" (Knox's ex-boyfriend changed his story over the summer.) |
ELK RIVER, Minn. — The verdict from Washington last week was swift and bipartisan: Michele Bachmann was out of line.
Accusing two prominent Muslims — State Department aide Huma Abedin and Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota — of being tied to the Muslim Brotherhood was a step too far, even for the conservative firebrand.
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But the Northeast corridor’s stunned disbelief at what it saw as a loony conspiracy theory is replaced with hollers of support among Bachmann’s many devoted fans here in the exurbs north of the Twin Cities that she represents.
(Also on POLITICO: Republicans line up to rip Michele Bachmann)
If anything, the uproar seems to have galvanized her base. And the contrasting reaction demonstrates why Democrats will have a hard time in their latest effort to unseat the GOP lightning rod.
Supporters like Duane Halstad, a 69-year-old who was sitting on a porch watching a parade here, said Bachmann is the “only one telling the truth about this thing.” He also said he believes President Barack Obama vacations on Martha’s Vineyard to observe the Islamic holiday of Ramadan. Obama is a Christian.
Rachel Olson, a 41-year-old from Isanti said flatly that she doesn’t “think [Bachmann] would make something up.”
The theme that emerged in roughly two dozen interviews over the weekend — at parades and a county fair — is echoed within Bachmann’s inner circle.
(PHOTOS: Moments from Bachmann's political career)
Bachmann has long been drawn to the idea that Muslim Brotherhood agents are infiltrating the government — even before she landed a seat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Ron Carey, former chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party and Bachmann’s chief of staff in 2010, said he was present during a private briefing in her office about the group. Bachmann is simply “privy to information that you and I don’t have.”
“It was very sobering, some of the information this individual was sharing in this private meeting about the Muslim Brotherhood,” Carey said. “I think she’s been exposed to a lot of discussion on the Hill, and it’s been an area of tremendous interest with her.”
And just like that, the outlines of the post-presidential profile of Bachmann became abundantly clear. A year ago, the 56-year-old tea party favorite was flying high. Campaigning last year in Iowa, she was, for a time, the front-runner for the presidential nomination.
Her campaign came apart at the seams, and she faded into the background of Republican politics. Many wondered if she’d run for office again.
But now, her political star has risen once again on the far right. She’s become an annoyance for House Republican leaders, who say her conspiracy theories tarnish the party’s brand and run afoul of their economy-focused message.
Meanwhile, the left is again targeting her for defeat.
Democrats spent millions in an unsuccessful bid to beat Bachmann in 2010. They had largely written her off this cycle, thinking a stronger Republican district would make her invincible. But the party seems to be focusing on Democrat Jim Graves, a wealthy Minneapolis businessman who is looking to cast himself as the moderate alternative to the unpredictable Bachmann. The slogan of his campaign is “Getting back to business.” ||||| Police and federal officials have placed security around ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin, after a New Jersey man threatened her, law-enforcement sources said.
An individual, described as a Muslim man, made the unspecified threat after Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) last week claimed Abedin’s family had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and asked for a probe to see if she is helping the Islamist organization.
The man was questioned by the NYPD and the State Department and has not been charged, sources said. ||||| Report cited by Bachmann claims Norquist linked to Muslim Brotherhood
By Eric W. Dolan
Sunday, July 22, 2012 11:11 EDT
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Anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist helped the Muslim Brotherhood infiltrate the U.S. government, according to the report that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) cited in an attack on top State Department aide Huma Abedin.
Earlier this month, Bachmann and four other Republicans sent a letter to inspectors general in the State, Homeland Security, Defense and Justice departments calling on them to investigate “potential Muslim Brotherhood infiltration” of the Obama administration by Abedin, an aide to Secretary Clinton and wife of former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY).
As evidence of their claims, the five Republicans cited “The Muslim Brotherhood in America: The Enemy Within,” a ten-part video course produced by the Center for Security Policy.
The movies claim that the “Muslim Brotherhood was helped in its efforts to achieve information dominance over the George W. Bush administration” by Norquist, a Christian. The influential anti-tax activist is also accused of using “various organizations to promote Islamist agendas.”
Nearly every Republican in Congress has signed Norquist’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, vowing to oppose any and all tax increases. Only 14 Republican members of 112th Congress have refused to sign the pledge.
Bachmann has been widely criticized for her attack on Abedin. Republicans like House Speaker John Boehner, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Bachmann campaign manager Ed Rollins have all condemned the Minnesota congresswoman. But she has insisted the matter needs to be investigated.
“The letters my colleagues and I sent on June 13 to the Inspectors General of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and the Department of State – and the follow up letter I wrote to Rep. Ellison on July 13 – are unfortunately being distorted,” Bachmann said last week.
“I encourage everyone, including media outlets, to read them in their entirety. The intention of the letters was to outline the serious national security concerns I had and ask for answers to questions regarding the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical group’s access to top Obama administration officials.” | – The latest fallout from Michele Bachmann's Muslim infiltration conspiracy theory: Now Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin—whose family, Bachmann claims, is vaguely connected to the Muslim Brotherhood—has been threatened by a New Jersey man. Abedin is under police protection following the threat, and the man—a Muslim—has been questioned, the New York Post reports. Also tangled up in Bachmann's theory: Grover Norquist. The Raw Story reports that a 10-part video cited by Bachmann and her cohorts in their report claims the conservative anti-tax crusader helped the Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, Bachmann may not have found much support in DC—John Boehner, John McCain, and others roundly condemned her call for a probe into Abedin and others in government—but she has quite a bit of backing in her home state of Minnesota, Politico reports. In fact, her supporters seem even more energized now, which is why this incident almost certainly will not be Bachmann's undoing. Politico has quotes like these from about two dozen interviews with Bachmann supporters: Bachmann is the "only one telling the truth about this thing," or Bachmann wouldn't "make something up." |
1 of 4. North Korean soldiers attend military drills in this picture released by the North's official KCNA news agency in Pyongyang March 20, 2013. KCNA said this picture was taken on March 20, 2013.
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea issued an air raid warning on Thursday, South Korea's Unification Ministry said quoting a radio broadcast monitored in Seoul. A news report said the warning appeared to be part of a defense drill.
The warning was issued at 0032 GMT and carried a message to military units to stand ready, but the action appeared to be a drill under an air raid scenario, Yonhap news agency said.
An official at the Unification Ministry, which handles ties with the North and monitors North Korea's news broadcasts, confirmed air raid warning on Thursday morning.
The official could not confirm whether the warning was part of a drill. The two Koreas remain technically at war under a truce that ended their 1950-53 conflict. Tensions have been high with the rivals exchanging verbal barbs.
North Korea has been conducting large-scale military drills coinciding with annual exercises by the South Korean and U.S. forces running to the end of April. The allies have stressed the drills are strictly defensive in nature.
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by David Chance) ||||| Story highlights North Korea is verbally "firing back" at recent moves by the U.S., an analyst says
Pyongyang has expressed anger that the U.S. is flying B-52s over South Korea
The flights are part of annual military exercises
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have flared since the North's latest nuclear test
The North Korean military issued a fresh burst of ominous rhetoric Thursday, warning that U.S. bases in Guam and Japan are within its "striking range."
The statement from the Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army, carried by the North's state-run news agency, follows the announcement by the United States this week that its B-52 bombers were making flights over South Korea as part of annual military exercises.
"The U.S. should not forget that the Andersen Air Force Base on Guam where the B-52s take off and naval bases in Japan proper and Okinawa where nuclear-powered submarines are launched are within the striking range of the DPRK's precision strike means," the North Korean military said Thursday.
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Despite Pyongyang's rhetoric, no U.S. Navy submarines are based in Okinawa or anywhere else in Japan, although they may make calls at U.S. bases there. DPRK is short for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
Citing what it called the United States' "nuclear blackmail and threat," the North said it that it, too, would "take corresponding military actions."
Pyongyang had already reacted angrily to the B-52 flights, warning Wednesday of "strong military counteraction" if the planes made more sorties over the Korean Peninsula.
Angry words after new sanctions
Tensions have spiked in the region since North Korea carried out its latest underground nuclear test last month, the first under its new young leader Kim Jong Un, prompting the United Nations Security Council to respond by toughening sanctions on the secretive regime.
The sanctions enraged the North further, and during the week when the Security Council was voting on them, it ratcheted up its threats, suggesting it could carry out a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the United States and South Korea.
Although analysts and American officials say Pyongyang is still a long way from being able to carry out such an attack on the U.S. mainland, the United States' bases in Japan and Guam appear to be within range of the North's conventional weapons.
In its comments Thursday, "the Kim Jong Un regime is just firing back" at its enemies in response to the B-52 flights and the military exercises of which they're a part, said Lee Jung-hoon, a professor of international relations at Yonsei University in Seoul.
He said that the U.N. sanctions were also likely to be fueling the North's ire, but that the regime's threats were largely driven by domestic concerns.
"They're doing all this to prop up the regime," Lee said.
The military first strategy
Since Kim took over from his father as the head of the North Korean government in late 2011, he appears to have maintained the pursuit of a stronger military deterrent rather than adopting a more conciliatory approach to relations with South Korea and the United States.
The result has been a major foreign policy headache for U.S. President Barack Obama, with Kim showing more interest in dialogue with the basketball star Dennis Rodman than U.S. diplomats.
As well as the nuclear test, his government has conducted two long-range rocket launches -- one that failed and one that succeeded -- both of which were widely viewed as tests of ballistic missile technology.
Kim has also revamped the military's leadership, ousting some generals and promoting others.
The nuclear test and rocket launches have shattered hopes of any new talks on the North's nuclear program in the near future.
Indeed, Pyongyang has said recently that the program is not up for negotiation and announced that previous nonaggression treaties with Seoul no longer apply.
A new North Korea
The regime's unabashed declarations about its nuclear weapons, which it had been much cagier about in the past, show that "it's not the same North Korea as 10 years ago," Lee said.
The United States and other global powers need to "formulate a whole new strategy" to address the changed situation, according to Lee.
"The way we've been dealing with it for the past two decades has failed," he said of the regime. "It has become close to being able to deploy nuclear weapons."
Although U.S. officials say they don't believe North Korea is in a position to strike the United States at the moment, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last week announced plans to deploy additional ground-based missile interceptors on the West Coast as part of efforts to enhance the nation's ability to defend itself from attack.
"The reason that we are doing what we are doing, and the reason we are advancing our program here for homeland security, is to not take any chances, is to stay ahead of the threat and to assure any contingency," Hagel said at the time. | – After the US announced it's flying B-52 bombers over South Korea, the North is issuing its latest warning: US military bases in Guam and Japan are in its "striking range." Said the country's military: "The US should not forget that the Andersen Air Force Base on Guam where the B-52s take off and naval bases in Japan ... where nuclear-powered submarines are launched are within the striking range of (North Korea's) precision strike means." Pyongyang said it would "take corresponding military actions" over US "nuclear blackmail and threat." The bases do seem to be within the North's conventional-weapons range, CNN notes. Meanwhile, the North announced an air raid warning today, calling on military units to be ready, according to South Korea—but the warning was apparently linked to a defense drill, Reuters reports. |
Jake Bouvy (l.) and Kelsey Halverson squared off to win a summer job in Emmis Digital's "Intern Games." In the end, both were declared victors. View Full Caption DNAinfo/ Mark Konkol
RIVER NORTH — Getting a job after college once entailed padding your resume, writing a witty-yet-professional cover letter and nailing the job interview.
My pal M.L. Elrick once tried to win over a Newsday editor by offering a "free set of steak knives" — a catchy line from a popular infomercial back in the day — in exchange for a job interview.*
These days, however, young adults vying for a shrinking number of white-collar jobs can't rely on a good resume, the power of a well-crafted letter and a charismatic personality alone.
In this age of digital commerce, young folks preparing to enter the workforce must display ninja-type skills in producing viral videos, attracting social media scrums and communicating to customers, clients and anyone who will listen on Instagram, among other things.
There's probably no better example of this than Emmis Digital's recent search for interns that pitted applicants against each other in a "Hunger Games"-themed social media contest for the honor of working for no pay.
More than 25 college kids applied for the one internship available at the River North office. The top 10 candidates were invited in for interviews, and the field was whittled down to three finalists.
Emmis Digital's Rory Foster and Katlyn Hayes created a contest, the "Intern Games," to determine the finest free summer laborer in the land.
"At a digital company, innovation is key. We're looking for candidates with a wide variety of skills, and we wound up with three really qualified people on paper," Foster said. "We thought that it would be fun to pit them against each other, test their mettle and see who was the hungriest."
Plus, Foster said, the contest turned an otherwise boring intern selection process into an event with potential to at least incrementally increase the social media reach of the company's collection of websites.
Each of the three "tributes" — potential interns, that is — was assigned to drive social media by pushing their friends, family and fans to follow Emmis Digital pages and create a video explaining why they've proved themselves worthy.
Every day for two weeks they battled for social media supremacy under the hashtag banners — #TeamJake, #TeamKelsey and #TeamKatie.
Jake Bouvy, a marketing major at Indiana University, was ready to rumble.
"Once I knew it was a competition I knew I had to give everything," he said. "I'm a competitive guy. I don't like to lose."
At first, Kelsey Halverson, a journalism major at Iowa State, wasn't really sure what to make of the Intern Games.
"I hadn't competed in anything since sports in high school, so it was unexpected," Halverson said. "I've never had to do anything like this before."
Emmis Digital's "Intern Games" master Katlyn Hayes (r.) declared Kelsey Halverson and Jake Bouvy winners of the social media contest to earn a summer job. View Full Caption DNAinfo/ Mark Konkol
For two weeks, the three finalists battled by constantly pestering everyone in their social media networks — and sending out quirky posts, photos and short videos aimed at driving traffic to Emmis websites — in hopes of avoiding elimination.
After a week, #TeamKatie had been felled.
In the end, Halverson and Bouvy went head to head.
Bouvy appeared to gain an edge with a slick video to a hip-hop beat that showed off his technical skill and social media success promoting indie music videos online.
But Halverson's #TeamKelsey still had the edge in driving traffic and attracting Facebook "likes" for Emmis.
"When I saw that she was beating me, and I had been on Twitter and Facebook begging my friends and family to please like this page, I started to think I was doing too much work to end up losing," Bouvy said.
All the while, Hayes was back at the office keeping tabs on the successes and setbacks of their potential intern tributes in preparation for a final decision.
"I think it was definitely more fun for me than it was for them," she said. "I got to watch them battle it out every day."
When time ran out on the Intern Games, #TeamKelsey was the clear winner.
"Kelsey was the true winner. She had the higher impact on social media," Foster said. "But in the end we decided, much like the 'Hunger Games,' to keep both finalists."
Hayes said the decision was easy — and not because having two unpaid interns instead of one cost exactly the same. (The interns receive college credit for their summer labor.)
"I loved how creative Jake was, and loved how professional Kelsey was," she said. "I knew a mix of them would make a super intern, so I wanted both of them to be here."
On a recent workday, Bouvy reflected on how fortunate he was to be spared elimination and what he learned during the Intern Games.
"I was worried, but it all worked out. But it speaks to the state of the job market. You have to stand out in the pack," he said. "It's a message to kids coming out of college that you can't just send out a resume, and hope for the best like your parents did."
* Elrick didn't get that interview at Newsday, but went on to a stellar investigative reporting career that resulted in a Pulitzer Prize, getting Detroit's corrupt former mayor thrown in jail, among other things.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: ||||| Katlyn Hayes held no fewer than six internships at various agencies during her college career. Today, the ad ops specialist at Emmis Digital explains her thinking succinctly: “Competition breeds excellence.” Like a growing number of companies these days — especially in the digital space — Emmis recently hired a few new interns using some unorthodox social media-heavy methods.
The potential interns at Emmis had to compete in a “Hunger Games” social media style competition. In the end, a field of 25 was pared down to 10, then to three. Every day for two weeks, the candidates liberally deployed the hashtags #TeamJake, #TeamKelsey, and #TeamKatie in tweets, videos and Facebook posts in order to impress the folks at Emmis.
The two finalists, Kelsey Halverson and Jake Bouvy, were eventually both offered unpaid internships due to their creative skills in different areas, combining to create what Hayes called “a super intern.”
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It was a bit surprising to hear about unpaid, often cutthroat, internships in an exciting and positive light, especially in light of the fact that Condé Nast recently settled a lawsuit brought by underpaid interns and ditched their unpaid internship program.
“Experience is so important in today’s world. Resumes won’t even get glanced at if students don’t leave school with decent real-world experience,” Hayes lamented. “You learn in a very different way than you would in a classroom. Therefore, unpaid internships are, in fact, very important. Everyone has to start somewhere.”
Employers are even looking beyond the internship when it comes to filling jobs through social media channels. Increasingly, they will engage with potential employees on various online platforms before they even ask them to fill out an application. The days of filling out a piece of paper while you sweat under your tie are disappearing.
National Public Radio, for example, has created hiring managers out of all their employees, giving prospective hires a better idea of what they are going into. For instance, having employees use a hashtag to talk openly about their jobs.
“I came up with the idea of #NPRlife at NPR as a simple hashtag employees could use when tweeting, Instragramming, etc. about work-related things that fans or prospects might be interested,” says Lars Schmidt, the Founder of Amplify Talent. “The intent was to create a platform where employees could share their experience, helping prospects get a sense of the culture and people they’d work with if they joined NPR.”
What this interaction led to was over 2,500 Instagrams and 10,000 tweets from the current NPR staff, a $100,000 a year savings in job board postings and the Twitter handle @NPRjobs becoming one of their top sources of hiring. Not to mention a dedicated Twitter chat (#NPRTwitterChat) that evolved to assist job seekers with their use of social media.
Schmidt has recently taken this to SpaceX, a current client.
“I wanted to find a way to capture the excitement of a rocket launch,” Schmidt tells me. “So we decided to record audio of the launch countdown and employee reaction and load it to SoundCloud. We’ll be embedding this in some of our recruiting materials to help prospects get a sense of the excitement surrounding a launch, and they’ll be a part of that cheer.”
In the social media age of recruiting, all senses are engaged. The choice between using blue or black ink on an application has been replaced by the picking either six- or 15-second video platforms. Employers, especially in the digital space, know that the best talent isn’t just words on a piece of paper. The best talent is 140 characters or less. ||||| Internships have always been competitive, but at one company, they've gotten downright cutthroat.
Media company Emmis Digital's Chicago branch decided to do something a little different with its intern recruitment process this year, according to DNAinfo. It received over 25 applications from college students for its one unpaid internship spot. The 10 best applicants were interviewed, and then the final three entered the "Intern Games," a contest to land the internship that would earn them some college credit.
"We thought that it would be fun to pit them against each other, test their mettle, and see who was the hungriest," Emmis Digital's Rory Foster told DNAinfo.
Every day for two weeks in late April and early May, #TeamJake, #TeamKelsey, and #TeamKatie took to social media with tweets, videos, and Facebook posts to get the most attention for themselves and Emmis.
In the end, the Emmis team decided to call it a draw between two of the potential interns and recruited both Jake Bouvy and Kelsey Halverson.
Internships for college students and recent college graduates have been under more scrutiny in the past couple years, after several interns sued their former employers for back pay. Unpaid internships by law are required to provide education and experience that benefits the interns. (The Emmis interns do receive college credit.)
The research firm Intern Bridge told the Boston Globe that surveys show about a 20% decrease in the number of unpaid internships across the country since the U.S. Department of Labor defined what constituted an unpaid internship in 2010.
Unpaid internships may be scarcer in 2014, but if Emmis is any indicator, the market is still tough enough that college students are willing to intensely compete for them. | – In today's world, if you want to work for free, you'd better be ready to do a lot of free work—even before you're hired. Especially if you're looking to intern at Emmis Digital in Chicago, DNAinfo reports. The media company narrowed down its pool of applicants to three college students, then made them compete in a Hunger Games-inspired "Intern Games." OK, they weren't trying to kill each other, but the "tributes" faced off against one another to see who could bring the most traffic to the company's social media. They also had to make videos to prove they deserved the unpaid job. "We thought that it would be fun to pit them against each other, test their mettle, and see who was the hungriest," says one of the employees who came up with the idea. In the process, he notes, Emmis stood to boost its social media following; would-be interns were told to badger their friends, family, and followers to follow the company. Two of the three finalists were ultimately given internships. One of the creators of the Intern Games herself had at least six internships during college, Digiday reports. The kids get college credit for their work; as Business Insider points out, unpaid internships legally must offer beneficial "education and experience." (Even Oprah was once an intern.) |
J.J. Abrams has assembled an eclectic cast for his take on 'Star Wars.'
Actors Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill have been included in the cast for 'Star Wars: Episode VII', which has been announced today. (Photo: Vince Bucci, Getty Images)
Long ago in a galaxy far, far away — or, more like two years ago when Disney purchased Lucasfilm — Star Wars fans maybe could have guessed that original stars such as Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher would be returning to the universe that George Lucas built.
The Jedi faithful probably weren't prescient enough, however, to predict some of the other arrivals to the ways of the Force: Andy Serkis from The Lord of the Rings movies, Oscar-nominated legend Max von Sydow and Adam Driver, a former Marine best known for his role in the HBO comedy series Girls.
The main cast of the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII movie (due out Dec. 18, 2015) was revealed on Tuesday, and with his first Star Wars film, director J.J. Abrams has gathered an eclectic group of actors for the franchise's future.
"They have a good group of people who have a mix of demonstrated talent and fresh resumes. (These are) people who can fill into any role they need to and who won't be recognized for something they've done that will take audiences out of the movie," says Eric Geller of the Star Wars fan site TheForce.net.
But fans were also excited when Lucas put a talented group including Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor together for 1999's first Star Wars prequel, the much-maligned The Phantom Menace, reminds Mike Ryan, senior editor for Screencrush.com.
The big difference with the new crew? "Han Solo is sitting right there with them," Ryan says.
Ford, Fisher and Hamill have been rumored for months to reprise their roles as Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker — arguably the most famous sci-fi trio in history.
That wasn't good enough for Abrams, though. He also signed on stalwarts such as Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker to play droids C-3PO and R2-D2, plus Peter Mayhew as Han's Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca.
One notable snub, though, is Billy Dee Williams, notes Geller, who expected Williams to return as Cloud City huckster-turned-hero Lando Calrissian.
While Williams might still have a cameo, "Abrams has to make a movie that features Han, Luke and Leia, while handing the movie off to the newcomers," Ryan adds. "Perhaps there just wasn't enough room for Lando."
The returning six actors are fan favorites yet are getting up in age — Ford is 71, Hamill 62, Fisher 57 — and this is most likely Abrams' way to send them off in style while also passing the torch to a younger generation of potential icons.
Like Lucas with his original Star Wars in 1977, Abrams balanced slim resumes with vaunted ones to fill out his cast. And while no characters, good or bad, Jedi or Sith, have been assigned to any of the actors, Abrams cast a trio of youngsters much like Lucas' core three.
When they joined the first Star Wars, Ford was a veteran of TV roles and had a credit in Lucas' American Graffiti in 1973; Fisher boasted of a supporting role in Shampoo and a TV movie with her mom Debbie Reynolds; and Hamill hadn't even been seen on a big screen.
Similarly, Episode VII cast members John Boyega, Domhnall Gleeson and Daisy Ridley are all relative unknowns in the U.S. Boyega starred in the cult British alien-invasion flick Attack the Block and is "an excellent choice," Ryan says; Gleeson is the son of Irish actor Brendan Gleeson and had roles in the last two Harry Potter films; and Ridley's first big-screen credit is for a yet-to-be-released movie from last year, according to the TV/movie database IMDb.
"This is going to make her career," Geller says of Ridley, whom he guesses may play Han Solo's daughter. "If that's the case, I think it's a great choice to pick someone in her position."
Driver and Oscar Isaac may be more familiar to audiences. Isaac had a breakout role as a folk musician in last year's Coen brothers movie Inside Llewyn Davis, while Driver is famous for Girls.
Meanwhile, Abrams adds some geek royalty in Serkis and von Sydow.
Fans are probably wondering if Serkis will be seen as himself or whether he'll don the motion-capture suit for which he's become famous. He's helped bring life to the creepy, computer-generated Gollum in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies, as well as Caesar the ape in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and July's sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Lucas brought in Hollywood thespians in Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing for that first Star Wars movie, and 85-year-old von Sydow fills that role in Episode VII and is famous for his role in 1980's Flash Gordon.
"It's funny that Lucas originally wanted the Flash Gordon rights, couldn't get them, then made Star Wars instead," Ryan says. "Now, Star Wars has Ming the Merciless.
Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Shannon Rae Green reveals what Star Wars fans are saying on social media about the cast list for Episode VII. Find out what some think is missing. (USA TODAY, USA NOW)
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1iEIFaz ||||| The official title for the new 'Star Wars' film has been revealed. (Photo: Lucasfilm)
Star Wars Episode VII officially has a name to go with that number.
The movie will be called Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disney announced Thursday. In a post on the official Star Wars Facebook page, they unveiled the title and revealed that the movie has finished its principal photography.
Although there has been plenty of speculation about the film's plot, very few official details have been released. Fans will look for any clues they might be able to discern from this announcement. The title, like the film's casting, calls on both the old and new parts of the franchise. The "force" is, of course, the element that the Jedi knights in the films derive their power from, introduced in the very first Star Wars movie. The fact that it's "awakening" could refer to the new characters the film will introduce.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens will hit theaters on Dec. 18, 2015.
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1qrJGD9 ||||| See more of Star Wars on Facebook ||||| If you feel a disturbance in the Force, it’s millions of voices suddenly crying out the new title of Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens.
The reveal comes as the movie finishes its final day of shooting (with many more months of post-production to come).
Now the heavy-duty fans will weigh in, and their judgment tends to be far less forgiving than The Emperor or Darth Vader. The one thing we can all agree on is it beats the hell out of The Phantom Menace, and although it strikes a little close to the vanilla side, it may be reassuring to some who are glad the new trilogy is going tried-and-true rather than skewing campy, vague, or avant-garde.
It does raise one question: Has the Force been … slumbering? We certainly saw it help Luke Skywalker launch those proton torpedoes into the thermal exhaust port of the original Death Star, and as “Weird Al” Yankovic sang in his immortal Kinks spoof Yoda “I picked up a box / I lifted some rocks / While I stood on my head.” The Force was certainly at work there, right. And the Dark Side was getting a workout helping Darth Vader crush windpipes of the people who disappointed him.
But remember Han Solo dismissing talk of the Force with “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” Maybe this energy that binds the galaxy together has only been visible to a select few, while the denizens of the galaxy put their faith in the science and technology of interstellar travel?
Whatever the case, the Force is hitting the snooze button for now. We won’t know the full story until 13 months from now.
The cast and crew of the J.J. Abrams film already celebrated their wrap party last weekend, although sources told EW there were still a few days left before the cameras at Pinewood Studios outside London. The shoot — spanning from the deserts of Abu Dhabi to the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England — was anything but smooth, having been thrown into crisis after Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford, broke his leg on set in an accident involving a falling door on the Millennium Falcon.
The set was also plagued by spoiler leaks — or was it? The flow of rumors and apparent concept images has been non-stop, but how much of it is accurate remains an open question. The grapevine got the title wrong, with some fan sites such as Ain’t It Cool News grabbing headlines by reporting that it had confirmed the film would be called The Ancient Fear.
Of course, Return of the Jedi was filmed under the fake title Blue Harvest, a common technique on high profile films to remain slightly more low-key. (The Avengers, for instance, was nicknamed Group Hug.)
The new Star Wars film, which picks up three decades after the events of Return of the Jedi, is headlined by original trilogy stars Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), with new additions including Lupita Nyong’o (the best supporting actress Oscar-winner from 12 Years a Slave) and Gwendoline Christie, the 6-foot-3 British actress best known as the female knight Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones.
Other new additions include Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis), John Boyega (Attack the Block), newcomer Daisy Ridley, performance-capture maestro Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Domhnall Gleeson (About Time), and the imperious Max von Sydow from The Exorcist.
Hype is already underway. C-3PO star Daniels recently tweeted this expectation-setter:
"No movie sequel is better than The Empire Strikes Back." You might eat those words for Xmas dinner in 2015. Joy & Indigestion to the world! — Anthony Daniels (@ADaniels3PO) November 3, 2014
Episode VII, er … The Force Awakens, produced by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and veteran Abrams collaborator Bryan Burke, is set for release Dec. 18, 2015.
So do you like this title, or would you rather kiss a Wookiee?
Follow @breznican ||||| Add a location to your Tweets
When you tweet with a location, Twitter stores that location. You can switch location on/off before each Tweet and always have the option to delete your location history. Learn more | – The next Star Wars movie has an official title. Episode VII of the classic franchise will be titled Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disney announced today on Facebook. The post also revealed that principal photography is now complete. The movie opens Dec. 18 of next year, USA Today reports, and very few other details are officially known other than the fact that it reportedly takes place three decades after Return of the Jedi. The cast was announced earlier this year, and in addition to old favorites (Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew), the movie will star Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Max von Sydow, and Lupita Nyong'o, plus a number of young, little-known actors. The original movies, of course, also featured a trio of relative unknowns, and USA Today speculates on the meaning of the title: "The fact that [the force is] 'awakening' could refer to the new characters the film will introduce." Entertainment Weekly notes that the title raises a question: "Has the Force been … slumbering? ... Maybe this energy that binds the galaxy together has only been visible to a select few, while the denizens of the galaxy put their faith in the science and technology of interstellar travel?" OK, so that may not tell us much, but at least one important person has high hopes for the new film: Daniels, perhaps better known as C-3PO, tweeted Sunday: "'No movie sequel is better than The Empire Strikes Back.' You might eat those words for Xmas dinner in 2015. Joy & Indigestion to the world!" |
Image caption Researchers were surprised to see liquid water coming up through the drill hole as temperatures were below freezing
Researchers say they have discovered a large reservoir of melt water that sits under the Greenland ice sheet all year round.
The scientists say the water is stored in the air space between particles of ice, similar to the way that fruit juice stays liquid in a slush drink.
The aquifer, which covers an area the size of Ireland, could yield important clues to sea level rise.
The research is published in the journal, Nature Geoscience.
The melting of the Greenland ice sheet has been a significant contributor to a rise in sea levels over the past 100 years.
The water is stored in the air space between the ice particles, like the juice in a snow cone Prof Rick Forster, University of Utah
According to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the ice sheet lost 34 billion tonnes of ice per year between 1992 and 2001 - but this increased to 215 billion tonnes between 2002 and 2011
Scientists still have many unanswered questions about the direction and speed and ultimate destination of this melted water.
Ice free liquid
This new research finds that a significant amount is stored in partially compacted snow called firn.
In the spring of 2011, researchers drilled deep into this slushy layer and to their surprise, found liquid water flowing back to the surface even though air temperatures were -15 degrees C.
As this was well before the onset of the summer melt, the team concluded the water had persisted in a liquid state through the Greenland winter.
"This discovery was a surprise," said Prof Rick Forster from the University of Utah.
"Instead of the water being stored in the air space between subsurface rock particles, the water is stored in the air space between the ice particles, like the juice in a snow cone."
The scientists have also come up with a rough estimate for the amount of water that is contained in the aquifer which itself covers an area of 70,000 sq km.
Image caption The researchers drilled in areas with large accumulations of snow on the surface
They believe that it holds roughly 140 billion tonnes of water, which is the equivalent to 0.4mm of sea level rise per year - about half of what Greenland contributes to the sea every year.
But crucially the scientists don't know the ultimate destination of the water in the reservoir.
"It depends on whether it is currently connected to a system that is draining into the ocean or if it is a bit isolated and completely acting as a storage source without a current connection," said Prof Forster.
"We don't know the answer to this right now. It's massive, it's a new system we haven't seen before - we need to understand it more completely if we are to predict sea level rise."
The scientists say the water is prevented from freezing by the large amounts of snow that fall on the surface of the ice sheet late in the summer.
This insulates the water from the air temperatures which are below freezing, allowing the water to persist as liquid all year long.
Other researchers believe this discovery may help explain disparities between projections of mass loss by climate models and observations from satellites.
"The large mass of liquid water in firn also represents a heat sink that could be playing a role in Greenland's interaction with the climate system," wrote Dr Joel Harper from the University of Montana, in a comment piece published alongside the study.
"As the intensity of surface melt in Greenland increases and expands upwards to the higher elevations that are covered by firn, liquid water storage may play an expanding role in the ice sheet's future response to climate change."
Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc. ||||| A drill rig was used to extract old snow (firn) cores from within the Greenland snow aquifer.
Big surprises still hide beneath the frozen surface of snowy Greenland. Despite decades of poking and prodding by scientists, only now has the massive ice island revealed a hidden aquifer.
In southeast Greenland, more than 100 billion tons of liquid water soaks a slushy snow layer buried anywhere from 15 to 160 feet (5 to 50 meters) below the surface. This snow aquifer covers more than 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) — an area bigger than West Virginia — researchers report today (Dec. 22) in the journal Nature Geoscience.
"We thought we had an understanding of how things work in Greenland, but here is this entire storage system of water we didn't realize was there," said Richard Forster, lead study author and a glaciologist at the University of Utah.
The discovery will help scientists better understand the fate of Greenland's annual surface melt, which contributes to sea level rise. When the summer sun warms the Arctic island, a giant water world of stunning blue lakes and streams appears atop the ice. Tracking this surface runoff helps scientists account for ice lost to melting each year. Until now, researchers thought most of this water went to the ocean or refroze on the ice. Now they've found a new hiding place.
"This throws an additional complexity into the system," Forster told LiveScience.
There is enough water in the snow aquifer to raise global sea level by 0.015 inches (0.4 millimeters), according to a separate study by the same team published Nov. 30 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters (GRL). Every year, Greenland adds 0.03 inches (0.7 mm) of water to global sea level rise from melting snow and ice, Forster said. [Top 10 Surprising Results of Global Warming]
Where water flows
No one yet knows how old the water in the aquifer is, and whether it stays trapped in the snow or reaches the ocean in slow streams or catastrophic floods. However, the top of the water table rose after Greenland's huge surface melt in 2012, the researchers report in their GRL study.
Water from the Greenland snow aquifer draining from a drill core extracted 40 feet (12 meters) below the surface of the ice sheet in April, before the summer surface melt, with air temperatures of 5 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 15 degrees Celsius). Credit: Ludovic Brucker
The group will return to southeast Greenland in the coming years to answer these and other questions, Forster said. "Just seeing how old it is would answer a lot of questions," he said.
The final destination of Greenland's melt water is also key to understanding how the ice sheet ebbs and flows, because water under the ice sheet lubricates flowing glaciers. Researchers know some melt water goes to the bottom of the ice, trickling through cracks and racing through vertical pipes called moulins. Some of the water also simply refreezes on the surface when winter comes. Liquid water sitting in buried snow layers can also slowly warm and melt the ice sheet.
"The existence of this rather flavorless natural snow cone has many implications for the future of the ice sheet, some that may make the ice go away faster and others that help keep the ice a little longer," said Richard Alley, a glaciologist at Pennsylvania State University, who was not involved in the study. "We would like to understand these implications better so we can help reduce the uncertainties about future changes."
Soppy surprise
Forster and his colleagues discovered the aquifer in 2011, when a drill punched into sopping wet snow, as mushy as a summer snow cone treat or a Slurpee. (This was a year before the big surface melt of 2012.) "Water was pouring out of the core," Forster said — not what one wants to find when all the electronics are mounted outside the drill. A video of the event reveals both excitement and a few choice words among the scientists. [Watch: Discover Greenland's Hidden Aquifer]
The water was stored in hard, compacted snow called firn — the remains of the previous year's snowfall. Forster thinks the aquifer went undiscovered because so much snow falls in this corner of Greenland.
In Southeast Greenland, frequent storms crash into tall mountains, dumping more winter snow there than anywhere else on the icy island. The thick, insulating snow blanket keeps the watery firn liquid during the freezing winter, like a down coverlet, Forster said.
Many drillers have skipped over this part of Greenland because the snow layers are so thick, Forster said, and most people who are drilling cylinders of ice from the ice sheet are looking to see the layers compacted over hundreds and thousands of years. "People who extract ice cores don't want to go through high accumulation layers," he said. But Forster's team was interested in the past 10 years of snowfall, so the southeast was a good research spot, he said.
Ground-penetrating radar, towed by snowmobile, helped the researchers locate more water nearby, which the group confirmed by drilling in 2011 and 2013. When the researchers returned home, they searched airborne radar data from NASA's Operation IceBridge and discovered the true extent of the buried snow aquifer, all in areas with heavy snowfall. Most of the water is in the southeast, but a few pockets appeared in the south and southwest, Forster said. "It all corresponds to these areas of high snow accumulation," he said.
Greenland's future
Researchers estimate Greenland has lost more than 200 million tons of ice and snow each year since 2003. The ice sheet will completely disappear when the planet's average temperature rises by 2 to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 4 degrees Celsius) above preindustrial temperatures, as predicted by the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released in September.
Earth's surface temperatures are already up 1.3 F (0.7 C) from preindustrial temperatures, with average temperatures rising faster in Greenland.
"This doesn't change our knowledge that too much carbon dioxide in the air will melt Greenland's ice, but it will help us make better estimates of how much and how fast," Alley said.
Email Becky Oskin or follow her @beckyoskin. Follow us @livescience, Facebook& Google+. Original article on LiveScience. | – As far as discoveries go, this one is literally huge: An aquifer holding more than 100 billion tons of water that covers an area larger than West Virginia has been discovered beneath Greenland's snow-covered ice sheet. And it caught the researchers who stumbled on it in 2011 off-guard, with lead study author Richard Forster telling LiveScience, "We thought we had an understanding of how things work in Greenland, but here is this entire storage system of water we didn't realize was there." As for the "where," the aquifer was identified in the southeast part of the country, ranging from 15 to 160 feet beneath the surface, whose snow acts as an insulator, keeping the water liquid year-round. Forster gives this great description of how the water is stored, per the BBC: "in the air space between the ice particles, like the juice in a snow cone." But the find has raised plenty of questions, like: How old is the water? Does it stay where it is, or trickle to the sea ... or rush toward the sea in a flood? In a separate study, the team determined that if released, the aquifer's water could push global sea levels up 0.015 inches. And in terms of sea level rise, LiveScience explains that scientists have long assumed that most of the water produced in the country's annual surface melt streams toward the ocean, or eventually refroze; the aquifer is essentially a "new hiding place," one that researchers can study to get a better grasp on the annual melt. Says Forster, "We need to understand it more completely if we are to predict sea level rise." |
French soldiers patrol at Charles de Gaulle airport, outside of Paris, Friday, May 20, 2016. The search continued on Friday for missing EgyptAir flight 804, which disappeared from the radar while carrying... (Associated Press)
CAIRO (AP) — Smoke was detected in multiple places on EgyptAir flight 804 moments before it plummeted into the Mediterranean, but the cause of the crash that killed all 66 on board remains unclear, the French air accident investigation agency said on Saturday.
Agency spokesman Sebastien Barthe told The Associated Press in Paris that the plane's automatic detection system sent messages indicating smoke a few minutes before the plane disappeared from radar while flying over the east Mediterranean early on Thursday morning.
The messages, he explained, "generally mean the start of a fire," but he added: "We are drawing no conclusions from this. Everything else is pure conjecture."
Looking for clues to whether terrorists may have brought down the Airbus A320, investigators have been poring over the passenger list and questioned ground crew members at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, from which the plane took off.
The aircraft had been cruising normally in clear skies on a nighttime flight to Cairo early Thursday when it suddenly lurched left, then right, spun all the way around and plummeted 38,000 feet (11,582.4 meters) into the sea, never issuing a distress signal.
Search crews are scouring for further wreckage of the aircraft. Experts said answers will come only with an examination of the wreckage and the plane's cockpit voice and flight data recorders, commonly known as black boxes.
Planes and vessels from Egypt and five other countries — Greece, Britain, France, the United States and Cyprus — continued searching a wide area of the eastern Mediterranean on Saturday, a day after the Egyptian military found debris from the passenger jet in the sea 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of the Egyptian port city of Alexandria.
The waters in the area are 8,000 to 10,000 feet deep (2,440 to 3,050 meters), and the pings from the black boxes can be detected up to a depth of 20,000 feet (6 kilometers).
On Saturday, the Egyptian military released photographs of the debris from EgyptAir flight 804. The photos were posted on the Facebook page of the chief military spokesman. They appear to show the heavily-damaged remains of plane seats, life jackets — one of which was seemingly undamaged — and a scrap of cloth that looks to be part of a baby's purple and pink blanket or sleeping bag.
The spokesman's Facebook page later posted a brief video that showed more debris, including what appeared to be a piece of blue carpet, seat belts, a shoe and what looked like a woman's white handbag. The short clip opened with aerial footage of an unidentified navy ship followed by a speed boat with five service members aboard heading toward floating debris.
Egyptian authorities said they believe terrorism is a more likely explanation than equipment failure, and some aviation experts have said the erratic flight suggests a bomb blast or a struggle in the cockpit. But so far no hard evidence has emerged.
No militant group has claimed to have brought down the aircraft. That is a contrast to the downing of a Russian jet in October over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula that killed all 224 on board. In that case, the Islamic State group's branch in Sinai issued a claim of responsibility within hours. On Friday, IS issued a statement on clashes with the Egyptian military in Sinai, but said nothing about the plane crash.
Three European security officials said on Friday that the passenger manifest for Flight 804 contained no names on terrorism watch lists. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. The manifest was leaked online and has not been verified by the airline.
Further checks are being conducted on relatives of the passengers.
French aviation investigators have begun to check and question all baggage handlers, maintenance workers, gate agents and other ground crew members at Charles de Gaulle Airport who had a direct or indirect link to the plane before it took off, according to a French judicial official. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Whatever caused the aircraft to crash, the tragedy will most likely deepen Egypt's difficult predicament as it struggles to revive a battered economy and contain an increasingly resilient insurgency by Islamic militants.
In the five years since the country was first mired in turmoil caused by a popular uprising against longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, the lucrative tourism sector has been decimated, the value of the local currency has progressively fallen and domestic debt has mushroomed.
While the latest tragedy may not reflect directly on security at Egypt's airports, as the Russian jet crash did in October, the country's association with another air disaster will impact negatively on tourism and the flow of foreign investment.
In Paris, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Saturday that he and other officials — including representatives of Paris Aeroport, the French prosecutor, EgyptAir, and the Egyptian ambassador to Paris — had met with about 100 family members to express "our profound compassion" over the crash.
In a statement delivered to reporters following the meeting, he said: "All the hypotheses are being examined — none are being favored."
"In the name of France, once more, I am expressing my solidarity, but also our affection ... for all those people who learned that a loved one, or even an entire family, have drowned in the sea — and who want to know, to know to be able to grieve. It's a difficult moment, a painful moment. I wanted to say it again: We're on their side."
___
Satter reported from Paris. Associated Press writers Angela Charlton and Philippe Sotto in Paris and Paisley Dodds in London contributed to this report. ||||| The January 25th Revolution Web sites collection provides access to blogs, Twitter feeds, local and regional media coverage, and other sites related to the January 25th Revolution. It is maintained by the American University in Cairo Rare Books and Special Collections Library and features Web sites suggested by AUC students, faculty, and staff as well as other contributors to the University on the Square: Documenting Egypt's 21st Century Revolution project. | – Smoke was detected in multiple places on EgyptAir Flight 804 moments before it plummeted into the Mediterranean, but the cause of the crash that killed all 66 on board remains unclear, the French air accident investigation agency says. Agency spokesman Sebastien Barthe tells the AP that the plane's automatic detection system sent messages indicating smoke a few minutes before the plane disappeared from radar while flying over the eastern Mediterranean early on Thursday morning. The messages, he says, "generally mean the start of a fire," but he adds: "We are drawing no conclusions from this. Everything else is pure conjecture." The aircraft had been cruising normally in clear skies early Thursday when it suddenly lurched left, then right, spun all the way around, and plummeted 38,000 feet into the sea. Aviation experts have said the erratic flight suggests a bomb blast or a struggle in the cockpit. But so far no hard evidence has emerged. Search crews found floating debris and human remains on Friday, and photos posted on the Facebook page of Egypt's chief military spokesman appear to show the remains of plane seats, life jackets, and a scrap of cloth that looks to be part of a baby's blanket. Search crews from Egypt and five other countries—Greece, Britain, France, the US, and Cyprus—are searching a wide area of the eastern Med for further wreckage. |
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Healthcare facilities face unique challenges. Learn more about water management programs in healthcare facilities.
Take this free training on creating a water management program. ||||| Increased cases of Legionnaires Disease Investigated in Genesee County
Angela Minicuci 517-241-2112
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is reporting an increase of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in Genesee County in summers of 2014 and 2015. While the MDHHS cannot conclude that the increase is related to the water emergency in Flint, the State of Michigan is treating this situation with the same urgency and transparency as the lead response in the city of Flint.
MDHHS has confirmed data through March 2015, and is finalizing preliminary data through November 2015, which indicates an additional increase in cases. From June 2014 to March 2015, 45 LD cases were confirmed in Genesee County, including seven associated fatalities. From May 2015 through November 2015, 42 LD cases, including one case of Pontiac Fever, were reported in Genesee County. There were three associated fatalities. The age range of these individuals was 26–94, with illness onset dates from June 6, 2014 to March 9, 2015 and May 4, 2015 to October 29, 2015.
Legionella is a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment that grows best in warm water, such as hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, potable water systems, and decorative fountains. When people are exposed to the bacteria, it can cause Legionellosis, a respiratory disease that can infect the lungs and cause pneumonia. The bacteria can also cause a less serious infection called Pontiac fever. Legionella cannot spread from one person to another person.
“While Legionellosis cases are not uncommon, we are concerned about the increase in cases seen in Genesee County,” said Eden Wells, M.D., chief medical executive with the MDHHS. “We are releasing this report and continuing surveillance and investigations to ensure that appropriate actions are being taken to protect the health of the residents of Flint.”
During LD outbreak investigations, clinical specimens are often evaluated against environmental specimens to aid in determining an infection source. One reason that the increase in cases cannot be directly related to the change in Flint water supply is due to the lack of clinical Legionella isolates from case patients. Clinical isolates are necessary to interpret the findings of an environmental investigation in an outbreak.
In the fall of 2014, MDHHS noticed an increase in people with LD and offered assistance to Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) with case investigations to determine exposures. In January of 2015, MDHHS stepped in to coordinate GCHD’s response. By April 2015, MDHHS had developed an interview questionnaire and began conducting case investigations to look at travel, work, and locations visited during the two weeks prior to symptom onset. These two weeks are considered the incubation period for LD.
Of the confirmed first 45 cases, the source of water at the primary residence was City of Flint water for 47 percent of cases. When looking at additional community sources, more than half of the individuals had a healthcare facility exposure in the two weeks prior to their illness onset and the facility has since implemented multiple environmental and procedural measures to alleviate the situation. Preliminary data from May through November 2015 regarding case investigation information is being finalized and will be released soon.
Ten people had no exposure to a Flint hospital in the two weeks prior to illness nor were their homes on the Flint water system. Other possible exposures were evaluated and no other known community exposures were identified. Enhanced surveillance has continued for the remainder of 2015 and into 2016.
MDHHS has been and continues to work with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on this matter. MDHHS shared an initial report with federal partners in June 2015, and initiated and has continued to facilitate regular communication with our federal partners and GCHD to monitor cases.
Vigilant legionellosis awareness and surveillance is occurring in Genesee County. MDHHS informed hospitals in Genesee County of the increase of cases in January 2015, as well as recommended actions on their part throughout all of 2015. MDHHS has also recommended that the GCHD work with the clinical community in Genesee County to assist in LD surveillance through accurate identification, testing, and reporting of all suspect cases.
Most people exposed to Legionella do not become ill. People at higher risk of getting sick include: individuals over 50 years old; current or former smokers; those with chronic lung disease; people with a weakened immune system from diseases like cancer, diabetes, or kidney failure; and individuals who take medications that weaken the immune system, such as steroids or chemotherapy.
MDHHS is releasing the summary report which was shared in December 2015.
For information about the Flint water emergency, visit www.michigan.gov/flintwater.
# # # ||||| (CNN) Residents of Flint, Michigan, already reeling because of lead contamination in their drinking water, got more disturbing news on Wednesday.
Gov. Rick Snyder announced the number of cases of Legionnaires' disease has spiked in Genesee County in the two years since Flint switched its water supply from the Great Lakes to the Flint River.
But the increase cannot be directly attributed to the switch, said Nick Lyon, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Not all the people who got Legionnaires' were exposed to Flint water, he said.
From June 2014 to November 2015, at least 87 county residents developed Legionnaires' disease, compared to between six and 13 cases in the four preceding years, Lyon said. Ten patients died, he said.
The water looked smelled and tasted funny
Health officials are not changing recommendations about how Flint residents should deal with the water crisis. They should keep drinking bottled water and use water filters, Snyder said.
Legionnaires' disease is a respiratory bacterial infection usually spread through mist that comes from a water source. It is not transmitted person to person. Symptoms of the disease include fever, chills and a cough. The CDC estimates 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaire's disease in the United States every year.
Flint, an economically depressed city of about 100,000 people, started getting its water from the Flint River about two years. It previously bought Lake Huron water through the city of Detroit. The state government made that change to cut costs.
Soon after the switch, the water started to look, smell and taste funny. People complained.
On January 5, Snyder declared a state of emergency for Genesee County as a result of the water crisis.
He apologized for the state's actions, but residents and officials are furious. The state denied the problem existed for months and failed to use anti-corrosive treatment on the river water, which might have reduced the iron.
'Flint residents are victims in this crisis'
"Flint needs more action and less talk from Governor Snyder," U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee said in a press release. "It is important to remember that this crisis was created by a state-appointed emergency financial manager, and it is the state's ultimate responsibility to act and make it right. Flint residents are the victims in this crisis, and they deserve a more urgent response equal to the gravity of this crisis."
Flint switched back to Detroit water in October.
"It will require more time and effort before the water is safe to drink again," the city of Flint website said . "Until that time, residents and water customers are urged to continue using water filters and bottled water."
Dr. Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech researcher who studied Flint water and found high levels of lead, said it would be almost impossible to make a definitive link between the water source and Legionnaires' disease. To do so, he said, would require matching the strain of Legionnaires' in someone's body to the strain in the water.
"What's clear is that there's an association, which means that the increase of the Legionnaires increased pretty dramatically," he said. "And there's a strong likelihood that it's related to the water supply.
"We'll never know for sure, but we did find very high levels in the time period when they were on the Flint River water."
Edwards said this might be the first case of Legionnaires' associated to lack of corrosion control.
"This is already a tragedy," he said. "It's a crisis of conscience in government. This could potentially just add to it. But they're being very forthcoming about it at this point. There are just so many places where you wish people had done things differently."
National Guard activated
Snyder activated the state National Guard on Wednesday to assist with the water crisis.
Seven guardsmen arrived in the town Wednesday, and up to 30 are expected by Friday, Snyder said in a news release.
They will help distribute bottled water and water filters at fire stations and other public buildings, he said. That will allow Red Cross volunteers to go door-to-door to hand out water, filters and testing kits.
FEMA announced that it approved Snyder's request for federal assistance, according to agency spokesman Rafael Lemaitre. The governor had asked FEMA to step in to coordinate with other federal agencies. ||||| An investigative science reporting series by Flintwaterstudy.org
The Flint Water Crisis (FWC) and its aftermath as revealed in the ongoing legal cases (Wells, Lyon, Edwards vs Wayne State, Edwards versus Schwartz et al.) and this FlintWaterStudy blog series is destined to become a historic and instructive engineering ethics case study. We continue to document our efforts to navigate ethical dilemmas and hold “public safety paramount” as embodied in ethical codes of conduct such as that of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
After FlintWaterStudy first made the startling claim that a few engineers had primary responsibility for the Flint Water Crisis, our position was affirmed December 2015, and finally reached closure when two of the engineers pled guilty December 26, 2018. In 2015, Governor Snyder apologized for their mistakes and took actions promoting reform at MDEQ (and EPA). His appointment of independent and knowledgeable truth-speakers to the Flint Water Advisory Task Force in 2015 was critical — this Task Force’s reports withstood the test of time and their recommendations effectively guided the disaster response. Snyder also invited critics Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Dr. Edwards to work on the recovery alongside the agencies they were previously fighting against, worked to close loopholes with Michigan’s tough new Lead and Copper Rule, and funded FACHEP to investigate the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak.
And while it is true that every level of government had some responsibility for creating the FWC, it should also be noted that every level of government came together in an unprecedented and exemplary fashion after January 2016 to help fix the Flint water system. After President Obama declared a Federal Emergency, Dr. Edwards participated in over a dozen FWC data summits and hundreds of interagency teleconference calls focused on controlling lead and Legionella. The National Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Genesee County Health Department (GCHD), City of Flint (COF), United Way and others played exemplary roles. Whistleblower Miguel Del Toral was released from effective house arrest and became the public face of the Environmental Protection Agency emergency response, while hundreds of EPA and MDEQ employees worked tirelessly for Flint.
By mid-2016 it was obvious that these extraordinary efforts, along with the switch back to treated Lake Huron water purchased from DWSD/GLWA on October 16, 2015, had produced major improvements in water quality. Chlorine disinfectant levels rose after switching back to Detroit water, EPA implemented enhanced corrosion control and boosted chlorine, and financial credits supported a “Flush for Flint program.” The 90th percentile lead level was dropping below the EPA action level and every reasonable recommendation made to control Legionella was implemented. While the system had not yet fully restabilized, the trends were promising and the Flint Federal Emergency designation officially ended August 14, 2016.
FACHEP’s Toxic Mindset
FACHEP was funded in February 2016 under emergency procedures and their Phase 1 study results were published in late June 2016. Their Phase 2 work had a primary goal to “Reduce the occurrence of Legionellosis-associated cases, hospitalizations and deaths to levels at or below those seen in years prior to 2014.” It took a few months to negotiate and fund the substantial $3.4 million FACHEP Phase 2 budget and vet a correspondingly expansive scope of work, and the work was slow because Professor Shawn McElmurry was inexperienced with human subjects research–he literally had to complete the most basic training before he could even conduct the work.
The behavior of FACHEP collaborators and emails between May and August 2016 reveal an increasingly toxic and unscientific mindset, suggesting a growing sense of frustration that Flint’s rapidly improving water quality would leave them with no urgent problems to solve. In this series we argue that those who took the public mantle of FACHEP leadership considered themselves to be the sole entity worthy of the residents’ trust and who had the expertise to solve the FWC. This mindset may have arisen from McElmurry’s touching story of FACHEP’s “divine conception” due to his myth of work in Flint from 2010-2015 and Wayne State’s public proclamation of “unique expertise.”
Consider testimony from Drs. McElmurry, Kilgore, and Zervos (WSU) about a May 2016 meeting discussing the FACHEP Phase 2 work plan with Mr. Lyon. During that meeting, they argued that if FACHEP’s requested $11-13 million in funding was not immediately granted, “people will die” due to delays in engaging their expertise. A witness attending this meeting with FACHEP faculty stated:
Dr. Kilgore turned red and pounded his hand on the table and said, “People are going to Fucking die” if the research was not able to proceed immediately and as planned.
To their chagrin, all the data that came in during summer 2016 proved that those diligently working on the water emergency since October 2015 were not the uncaring incompetents from which FACHEP imagined they would save Flint residents. Moreover, FACHEP Phase 1 documented increasing chlorine levels and no detectable Legionella in samples collected from homes during January 2016. The incidence of Legionnaires Disease had plunged dramatically through September 2016, compared to the 2014-2015 outbreaks, without any help from FACHEP whatsoever.
A set of revelatory emails was exchanged just two days before the Federal Emergency ended, after an upbeat Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee meeting and as McElmurry was finally completing his last required human subjects paperwork. After arguing that certain disagreements with the team’s ideas (to be discussed in future blogs) were due to “purely political” reasoning, McElmurry noted:
We really are running out of time. With summer nearly complete….I can’t tell you how furious I am with the state, they have completely screwed us and the people of Flint…
This statement echoed the prior false claim that “people will die” unless FACHEP funding was immediately granted. McElmurry expressed further angst that “Marc Edwards also gave (sic) presentation saying legionella detected in residential households was low,” raising fears that a primary FACHEP goal had already been achieved before their work even began, and there were concerns that the State was “pulling out of Flint.”
The email discussion concluded with Dr. Zervos appropriately suggesting that FACHEP should consider “working totally independently from the <GCHD and MDHHS> health departments,” a point that McElmurry immediately agreed with:
I am fine with working outside of health department (sic), their conflict of interest is even worse than the State…it will just be extremely difficult for some aspects of the project.
At this point, we raise a critical ethical question. If the circumstances were truly as noxious as expressed, was it ethical for FACHEP faculty to accept research funding from MDHSS in the first place? For example, codes of ethics state that engineers “shall act for each employer as faithful agents or trustees,” “shall advise their clients or employers when they believe a project will not be successful,” and “shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest that could influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of their services.” It strikes us as fundamentally unethical and unfair to all parties, to accept research funding from a client who you believe has just “completely screwed us,” particularly for a project that you felt would not be successful. And how it is possible that the personal conflicts would not affect FACHEP’s judgment or quality of services? Unfortunately, rather than seeking out other sponsors as was discussed, or even going to the media with their complaints which was also mentioned, they decided to take the funding.
Not surprisingly given FACHEP’s toxic attitude, three exemplars of unethical tactics and incompetence, were to reach a crescendo almost immediately after their Phase 2 launch including: 1) Low chlorine alerts, 2) Claims to have discovered “dangerous” bacteria on Flint’s point of use filters, and 3) Implying Flint water was causing a Shigella outbreak. We will first review the “low chlorine” issue, because it illustrates the maddening position of Dr. Eden Wells and how the only FACHEP team member with significant drinking water experience (Dr. Susan Masten, Michigan State University) eventually became alienated from the rest of the team.
Meet the whistleblower from Michigan State University
We have come to know Dr. Masten as a quiet, knowledgeable, humble, and highly ethical professor, characteristics destined to clash with some other collaborators selected by McElmurry. Dr. Masten has remarkable moral humility and a healthy respect for the second canon of Civil Engineering ethics, which, to the present day, compels her to be the first to acknowledge the limitations of her own expertise and her own shortcomings. She considers her core expertise to be drinking water treatment with some experience in monitoring municipal water distribution systems. The topics of building plumbing, Legionella and chlorine regulation are not within her expertise. Dr. Masten was also McElmurry’s teacher when he attended MSU, and she once considered him a friend and colleague. These factors make the events described herein all the more painful, yet laudatory.
In the interest of full disclosure, through February 2018, Dr. Edwards and Dr. Masten respected but did not really like each other. It was only after Dr. Faust informed Dr. Edwards that McElmurry had gone out of his way to malign Edwards with her, that he recalled some ill feelings about Dr. Masten had similarly originated from McElmurry. Edwards decided to reach out to Dr. Masten to better understand what happened and apologize for hard feelings based on hearsay, when he learned Dr. Masten had anger about Dr. Edwards that also originated from McElmurry. Both Masten and Edwards then went to Dr. Faust, who confirmed McElmurry had also bad mouthed Masten. Confused? Well, to put it simply, three people who once disliked each other for no good reason, were now fast friends, and a pathological rumor-mongerer had been exposed. As we dug deeper, we found that strategically maligning others was a habit of McElmurry and other FACHEP leaders. In this case, the false statements effectively prevented Drs. Faust, Edwards, and Masten from exchanging revelatory information, whereas in other cases, these tactics morphed into something even more twisted.
Before we finally dive into this story, we must once again remind readers about the difficult tightrope water utilities walk in terms of controlling the levels of chlorine in distributed drinking water. Specifically, if chlorine levels in distributed water are too low, there is concern that the incidence of some waterborne diseases might increase. Conversely, if chlorine levels are too high, consumers may get itchy skin, complain of “swimming pool” smells and tastes in water, and the levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) can exceed regulatory limits. Based on her extensive experience and analysis, Dr. Masten co-authored an excellent paper highlighting all these problems and trade-offs for Flint in late 2016 from a perspective of water treatment.
How much chlorine is “too low” or “too high” in a given Michigan home? In terms of the minimum, Michigan law states that:
The residual disinfectant concentration in the distribution system, measured as total chlorine…shall not be undetectable in more than 5% of the samples each month for any 2 consecutive months that the supply serves water to the public.
In other words, 95% of samples collected at defined monitoring points of the distribution system, must have detectable (≥ 0.1 mg/L according to MDEQ) levels of chlorine. The maximum chlorine is set by the U.S. EPA Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) of 4 mg Cl 2 /L. Hence, according to the chlorine balancing act as defined by Michigan law, a chlorine level of 0 to 4 mg/L is perfectly acceptable at a given home. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has the same recommendation, but with a recommended minimum of 0.2 mg/L (instead of 0.1 mg/L) for 95% of sampling sites. It is also worth noting that millions of Michigan residents use ground water with no chlorine residual at all (including MSU) as is common all over the U.S.
FACHEP’s First Press Release: Lower Chlorine Than Recommended
The “low chlorine” fiasco started when FACHEP prepared their first press release October 16, 2016, just after McElmurry returned from three weeks in Australia. McElmurry claimed he completed a “literature review” on chlorine recommendations, and inserted the following concerning statement into the press release about levels of chlorine in Flint homes.
So far we’ve also found chlorine levels in about 20 percent of the homes to be less than current recommendations. The American Water Works Association recommends maintaining a residual chlorine level between 0.2 mg/L and 2.0 mg/L at all times. We’ve identified some homes that are below 0.2 mg/L.
Upon review of the draft release, Dr. Wells immediately noticed a key concern, stating “we advise you repeatedly that controls were needed—this appears again to be results without context.” This meant FACHEP should show data from other cities (i.e., controls), to make sure they would never make it falsely appear to Flint residents that they were in some kind of unique danger when that was not the case. FACHEP had already collected data showing many homes outside of Flint had non-detectable levels of chlorine as allowed under Michigan law, but McElmurry ignored Dr. Wells and did not put that information in the press release. Dr. Edwards also reviewed a copy of the press release and explicitly noted the statement on the AWWA chlorine recommendation was highly misleading. He subsequently sent Wells a direct web link to a 2015 AWWA reference about chlorine levels. For whatever reason, Edwards’ input was also not reflected in the final press release.
After the statement was published, Flint consumers received sampling results with worrisome statements that chlorine should always be 0.2 – 2.0 mg/L to protect them from Legionnaires disease. FlintWaterStudy then received phone calls from Flint residents who were very concerned that their chlorine was “too low” (i.e., 0-0.2 mg Cl 2 /L) or “too high,” (i.e., 2.1-4.0 mg Cl 2 /L), even though Michigan law allows chlorine to be anywhere between 0 – 4 mg/L. Lawyers at the state immediately jumped at the claim 20 percent of Flint homes were failing to meet AWWA recommendations, and Dr. Wells urgent efforts to get information from McElmurry on what to do about this problem were unsuccessful. Wayne State’s risk communication “expert” Dr. Matt Seeger was the first to respond to Wells urgent request:
As I indicated earlier, FACHEP is making no public health recommendations. We are not a health department and whatever we say would be inappropriate. We are trying very hard to stay in our lane. We referenced existing documents in the release
By “existing documents,” Seeger was apparently referencing McElmurry’s use of a citation from a 1990 AWWA book that was written before distribution monitoring of TTHMs were required. (i.e., Pontius, AWWA, 1990, p 1194). It took us a few weeks to obtain this hopelessly outdated reference, and it turns out there is no such recommendation on page 1194, nor could we find it anywhere else in the book. In fact, there were many statements about residual chlorine in the book contradicting McElmurry’s quote.
Considering that there were two other FACHEP train wrecks in progress at the exact time (to be described in future blogs), Dr. Wells was being too kind when she wrote back the evening of October 19, 2016:
Your group today seems to want to throw out some vague information about finding some cases, without controls, with no context and THEN throw your hands up and say “oh we have nothing to do about it, that is a public health issue”. Your statements stating that you have no role exemplifies your lack of knowledge or sensitivity to public health issues when producing early unconfirmed and uncontrolled results from your studies… (such as what you are telling residents about their chlorine levels) that THEN has to be dealt with by the local and state health department, if not also the DEQ, the City, federal CDC and EPA, …. The questions we are getting from our attorneys were for whether the any of these issues indicated a boil water alert!…These experiences …have taken up an INORDINATE amount of time from local state and federal agencies who are already stressed to the maximum to try to deal with responses for important day-to-day issues in our state. We are funding you to be responsible research partners for a PUBLIC HEALTH issue. While you are independent, you do not operate in isolation, and you are responsible for the impact that your statements may cause in the population that you deliver them to.
On the morning of October 20 2016, McElmurry finally emailed a response to Wells, repeating his quote that supposedly came from the 1990 AWWA book, which he was interpreting to mean that every resident with chlorine less than 0.2 mg/L in their water was in danger. He then asked Wells to figure out what to do about this “problem,” and suggested that Wells should consider issuing a warning to residents with less than 0.2 mg/L chlorine and point of use filters to “boil water” before consumption.
McElmurry drags others into the debacle
At that point, Dr. Wells directed McElmurry to the chlorine subject matter experts (SME) at EPA, Dr. Jonathan Pressman and Mr. Mark Durno, who had been intensively working on improving the chlorine situation in Flint for almost a year. Over the next week they also grew frustrated with McElmurry, who admitted he had errors in residential addresses, some of the low chlorine results were from homes with whole house filters designed to remove chlorine, and he therefore could not help EPA help the State solve the problem he supposedly had uncovered. While they waited for McElmurry to get the addresses, on October 24th, Dr. Pressman point blank asked McElmurry the same question Dr. Edwards had in mind when he first read the press release:
I’m curious to know the reference of the quote…from your press release…The sources of chlorine residual advice that I am most immediately familiar with, such as the AWWA partnership for safe water, use a 95% of the time statement, not “at all times.”
Incredibly, although McElmurry must have known that he personally inserted that erroneous phrase into the press release just a week earlier, he emailed Dr. Masten:
I feel like he is splitting hairs here but I’ll have to respond. I can’t remember how this sentence made it in….if we had a real quote to reference or not. Do you?
What? McElmurry had needlessly created a false alarm amongst Flint residents and disrupted multiple agencies working to protect public health, and he now wanted Dr. Masten to bail him out and find a real quote to support his mistake? Over the next few days, Dr. Masten looked hard to find something, but in the end she could did not find a “real quote to reference.” As was typical whenever McElmurry was confronted with an important question that demanded a response, and providing an honest answer would expose his mistakes and ignorance, he simply never responded to Pressman at all. McElmurry also refused to answer Dr. Edwards when asked the same direct question months later.
When McElmurry finally got around to providing EPA the addresses, the expert chlorine response team with representatives from Flint, MDEQ, and EPA was dispatched to investigate. On October 31st, 2016, they reported back that hydrant sampling near the “low chlorine” sites reported by FACHEP had good chlorine at > 0.61 mg/L. Dr. Pressman then requested that if McElmurry was going to keep telling residents that they had “low chlorine,” he should immediately inform the city of Flint so they could respond.
By this point McElmurry knew, or should have known, that his scientific basis for providing “low chlorine” alerts to residents and the agencies were bogus. So why on earth did he keep issuing them? The emails suggest he even derived satisfaction from continuing to raise alarms with the agencies for no good reason. For instance, after sending an email alerting EPA and the city to “low chlorine” in a Flint home November 29, 2016, he proudly forwarded it to Dr. Seeger with a statement: “They are going to love me.” Dr. Seeger responded “Wow.”
And as McElmurry continued to sample for chlorine around the State of Michigan, getting the control data that Wells had repeatedly requested, he not surprisingly found many other homes meeting the Michigan standard but violating the McElmurry standard. He was issuing low chlorine letters and email alerts to residents and government officials in Ecorse and River Rouge, MI through late November 2017.
FACHEP makes a mockery of ethical codes
It was around November 2017 when Dr. Masten’s growing concern over what she considered unethical behavior by FACHEP’s leaders, reached a breaking point. FACHEP was trying to rush out a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) publication concluding that the 2014-2015 Legionella deaths in Flint were due to chlorine levels dropping below 0.2 mg/L in consumer’s homes. In the text of the accepted paper the team had a misleading statement that claimed (bold emphasis added):
To reduce the risk associated with bacterial growth in water distribution systems, regulatory agencies recommend a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.2 to 0.5 mg/L. …chlorine residual is the most widely reported measure of water quality within distribution systems…
Dr. Masten emailed the lead author Dr. Michelle Swanson to explicitly point out what all of FACHEP should have known:
This is still factually incorrect. Chlorine residual is NOT the most widely measure of water quality. In fact, it is NOT a measure of water quality at all. It is a measure of the amount of disinfectant that remains in water. One can have a low chlorine residual and the water can be of excellent quality. One could have a high chlorine residual and the water could be of poor quality.
After Swanson refused to give Masten time to correct this and other errors in the manuscript, Masten made a very difficult decision to remove her name from the accepted publication. Immediately after this PNAS paper was published, it was used to support FACHEP in their now public disagreement with Mr. Lyon and Dr. Wells, and in court to support criminal charges brought against them. At that point, Dr. Masten decided she was ethically obligated to write the journal editors about her concerns with the document. The erroneous text that Dr. Masten called out was not changed in the final manuscript. In fact, the PNAS paper does not even acknowledge that the present day Michigan law had a standard for detectable chlorine (0.1 mg Cl 2 /L) at 95% of test sites.
Throughout this ordeal, FACHEP’s engineering faculty (other than Masten) repeatedly lectured anyone questioning miscues like their “low chlorine” alert, that the engineering code of ethics mandate to “hold public safety paramount” justified their every action. But those same faculty repeatedly violated that same code of ethics, by working outside their core area of expertise, which did not include Legionella, chlorine measurements, Shigella or lead. It seems as if FACHEP leadership had created an alternative universe, in which they were the true heroes of the FWC, fighting against villains, real or imagined, such as Dr. Wells, Mr. Lyon or even Dr. Masten. This mindset is revealed in several illustrative statements, some of which are delusional considering that their real work started AFTER the Federal Emergency and Legionella outbreak had ended.
Illustrative and highly dubious claims of FACHEP faculty heroism
Source/ Date Statement Wayne State Press Release on PNAS article 2/6/2018 “This abandonment of basic human and civil rights by those who once had the public trust led to water quality, safety and access issues that endangered the public health. In the midst of this maelstrom, a group of engineers along with medical, public health and social scientists assembled a research team to pursue answers to problems that others would rather leave unexamined. The authors of these papers from several universities and members of the research team — which included community members in meaningful roles — affirmed the higher purpose of science — to expand knowledge and serve the common good. As this FACHEP team developed, the key underpinning was the attention to clear, honest communication and careful listening to disenfranchised, marginalized Flint residents.” Dr. Sullivan (FACHEP) 10/20/2016 Thanks, all, for the integrity you’ve already demonstrated to Flint. History will show that in the aftermath of tragedy at the hand of opportunists, you were among the first to demonstrate the nobility of great men. Dr. Ben Pauli (FACHEP) 11/24/2016 Of all the people and groups that are doing or have done testing in Flint, I think our team stands out for demonstrating that a commitment to the residents need not preclude a commitment to good science, and vice versa. Dr. McElmurry
2/7/2018 Responding to a Facebook post that said: Thank Shawn McElmurry for Standing Up for Flint During the Legionella Outbreak…You Rock! *
McElmurry wrote “all of this would have been swept under the rug <without FACHEP>”
* There is no evidence that McElmurry and FACHEP did anything of substance during the Flint Legionella outbreak.
If anyone on FACHEP is to be considered ethical and heroic, in our opinion it will be Dr. Masten, who gave up authorship on a PNAS paper and made other sacrifices as a matter of principle. As her reward for doing the right thing, she was subsequently locked out of future FACHEP conference calls and shunned by the other faculty.
An enlightening conference call and FACHEP crybullying
As noted in our previous blog, the relationship between FACHEP and the State was without normal checks and balances. Specifically, because government failures created the FWC, FACHEP was fully aware that the press would always take the side of presumably noble and independent faculty in any disputes. Based on media coverage since 2016, it is apparent that they were correct in this assumption. In their emails, FACHEP faculty openly discussed that special prosecutors were looking to charge high ranking public officials within MDHHS for the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak, and there is even some evidence these faculty had been speaking with the prosecutors. FACHEP repeatedly exploited that power imbalance.
In evaluating the evidence against Wells and Lyon related to FACHEP, we must give special weight to situations that do not involve he-said /she-said recollections. The last communication between Dr. Zervos (FACHEP) and Dr. Wells came March 3, 2017, when he wrote an angry email accusing her of being unethical (emphasis added):
Dr Wells, your comments to us at earlier meetings such as, “Do you know who is funding you?” or your more recent mandate to us to put a stop to the retrospective epidemiologic component of the project, can only be interpreted as a threat, and a clear attempt to influence our independent work and scientific integrity.
The “earlier meeting” in question, was a teleconference call on October 21, 2016, where the issue of the “low chlorine” alerts described herein was discussed. To our knowledge, even as of today, Dr. Wells is probably completely unaware that FACHEP’s written statements in the press release were based on McElmurry’s use of a now 28-year old AWWA citation that does not agree with modern AWWA recommendations or Michigan law. And that FlintWaterStudy, or even McElmurry for that matter, cannot even find a reference for the recommendation that caused so much trouble.
At the start of the call, Wells ethically informed everyone it would be recorded and transcribed for all parties. The call starts in typical FACHEP fashion — Dr. McElmurry announcing that FACHEP can only spare 30 minutes to work through concerns raised by his research sponsor. The MDHSS employees whose life had been upended by multiple FACHEP train wrecks currently in progress, can be heard to say “What the hell?” while the phone was muted, in obvious reference to McElmurry’s misplaced priorities.
Listen
Wells started by noting the awkward position that FACHEP had placed the State in with the “low chlorine” press release claims. McElmurry then made a false statement to Wells, based on what was possibly his zero years of experience measuring chlorine in Flint homes (despite claims of 5 years work) that the data:
was far beyond what it normally–what would normally be expected within a water distribution system and that’s why we thought it was important to relay that information to the public and the water utility
Wells reinforced the need for appropriate controls and sharing critical data immediately with their public health partners before going public, which is something McElmurry was not set up to do as mentioned previously. McElmurry then referred to FACHEP’s policy of communicating results to the public before they even have a chance to do quality control or analyze what they mean (i.e., “real time” reporting):
I am concerned about the values, that’s why I reported it as soon as I realized that we had this problem. I’m reporting to real time (??).
As we will repeatedly see in future blogs, what FACHEP’s leaders would most consistently reveal in “real time,” was that they were incompetent and operating outside their expertise. But Wells then informs McElmurry about the ethical obligation to not just report problems, but to also provide vetted information to residents on what to do about them. She then stated “apparently you have done this type of research before,” and asked how he had ethically handled it, to which McElmurry stated:
So the answer to that is I have done this kind of thing, we’ve measured chlorine before and we found it low. And I reported that back to the EPA and DEQ. In, you know, about the same time that I’m doing now. You know, I have not had the same level of urgency from the DEQ and the EPA regarding the data I’m showing.
When this all comes out at trial, we certainly hope that evidence is demanded from McElmurry to document exactly when, where, and how he previously reported “low chlorine” data back to EPA and DEQ. Especially when a “low chlorine” measurement at a home does not violate Michigan law and he cannot find the reference in his press release. Call us skeptical, but by this point, his statement to Dr. Wells sounds like other unsupported McElmurry claims about his work in Flint.
The transcript goes on and on in this manner, with Dr. Wells bending over backwards to try to be understanding and work with FACHEP, when she makes the following statement:
And so there’s been some feeling that perhaps while academia is, you know, collecting all this data and may be able to sort of talk about this in the press–and, again, I’m not faulting you on the press release, but the impression was is oh, well, you know, MDHHS will go figure out what to do about this, and I–and so I just want, I plead that, you know, public health, to us in our world reigns supreme, and we will–we will continue to advocate for your role as an independent, as independent as can be, but remember we’re funding you, and our IRB is with you, but we want you to be as independent, we want you to find anything with the system that had anything to do with the Legionella outbreaks would be great, but to please understand our passion and some of our knowledge when it comes to trying to do these studies in the public sector. All right?
Listen
According to Zervos, this mention of funding, “can only be interpreted as a threat, and a clear attempt to influence our independent work and scientific integrity.” Interestingly, after the transcript of the call was finally admitted at trial, Zervos still insisted “I took it as intimidation.” We take Zervos’ claim as an example of “crybullying,” a tactic that FACHEP truly excels at and which they deployed repeatedly. We have attached 77 pages of Zervos trial testimony, a highlighted 45 page transcript of the conference call, and the conference call recording itself to provide supporting documentation for readers that allow their own conclusions to be drawn about FACHEP’s credibility when it comes to “threats” and “intimidation” from Dr. Wells (and by extension Mr. Lyon). Our own perspective is that she was bravely trying to do her job, as best she could, given the power imbalance in the face of repeated unethical and incompetent behavior by FACHEP.
The DHHS call transcript ends, with the State employee’s, justifiably mocking the warped engineering code of ethics as embraced by FACHEP’s inept leadership as follows:
(Many thank you’s and goodbyes) Phone all hang up MS. HANLEY: Wow, that’s concerning. I mean–- DR. WELLS: He still hasn’t gotten that household data. MS. HANLEY: What the heck? Seriously. Those of us here around the table could be doing what–it doesn’t take a rocket scientist. DR. WELLS: No, it doesn’t. MS. HANLEY: Really? Hand entering? DR. WELLS: Yeah. MS. HANLEY: I can’t believe it. And it’s like—I mean, what do you need for it to be a public health emergency? I don’t get it. I mean, we talked about, not just Ebola, but the Zika and whatever else. I mean, there aren’t a lot of people who have it, but there’s the threat that it could spread, right? And so I just don’t understand why it is that they’re slicing hairs like that, and they’re sitting there spending the time to make these determinations. MS. CALLO: Right, when they’re telling us that, oh, it’s my ethics, my engineering code of ethics, remember that? Anyway, at one point I got this big speech they have this engineering code of ethics <indistinct> it was Nancy Love (fades out and recording stops)
Listen
All emails, testimony and relevant documents cited in the article above can be downloaded below:
Oct 20, 2016 Conference Call in FULL (audio)
Primary Author: Dr. Marc A. Edwards ||||| Buy Photo Governor Rick Snyder addresses questions about a spike in a form of pneumonia in Genesee County. (Photo: Daniel Bethencourt Detroit Free Press)Buy Photo
Since Flint switched its water source to the Flint River, officials have seen a spike in the number of cases of a severe form of pneumonia, called Legionnaires' disease — but officials say they're still looking for the cause.
There have been 87 cases in Genesee County from June 2014 to November 2015 — and 10 of those cases resulted in death, said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, or MDHHS.
That number is a jump from previous few years, when the county saw between 6 and 13 cases. It’s not clear how many were fatal.
While state officials said they couldn’t make a connection between the water and the spike in disease, a drinking water expert who studied Flint said the rise in cases was “dramatic,” and added there’s a “very strong likelihood” the river’s water played a role.
“I applaud the state for releasing this (report),” said Marc Edwards, who heads the Virginia Tech Research Team which was a key player in exposing lead contamination in the city's water.
Officials with the MDHHS say they noticed the spike in the fall of 2014. Months later, in April, MDHHS said they began interviewing residents who were affected.
That summer, Edwards and his team noticed that in some large buildings, which can have older plumbing systems, there were high levels of the bacteria that can cause the illness.
“Our hypothesis is that something about the Flint River and lack of corrosion control, plus big buildings, is creating these problems,” Edwards said Wednesday.
Though officials held a news conference Wednesday to alert the public about the spike, they made clear that there were no changes in recommendations for bathing or showering. Edwards also noted that the water is safe for residents to shower in.
“There’s every reason to believe (the spike) is something in the past,” he added.
Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection caused by Legionella, a type of bacteria that grows best in warm water. The bacteria usually enter the body from a person breathing it in, but it can't spread between people. The most vulnerable are those with weakened immune systems.
Gov. Rick Snyder said he learned of the disease cases only “a few days ago," and acknowledged during questioning that the increase in Legionnaires' disease “just adds to the disaster we are already facing.”
Flint’s water became contaminated with lead in 2014, once its supply source was switched from Lake Huron to the Flint River water, which was treated at the city water treatment plant.
The state downplayed and largely ignored the immediate complaints about the smell, color and taste. In October, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality acknowledged it had failed to ensure the necessary safeguards for corrosion. That failure resulted in lead leaching into the water.
Lead causes permanent brain damage in children and is linked to other health and behavior problems.
The crisis became even more apparent this month, when Snyder declared a state of emergency, and Michigan State Police joined others in distributing bottled water and water filters. The state has also urged all Flint parents with children younger than 6 to have their children’s blood tested for exposure to lead.
In response to Snyder’s announcement Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, demanded that national infectious disease specialists arrive in Flint “tomorrow” and added, “We need an investigation into the past outbreak so we know what happened, whether there is any ongoing threat, and how to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Flint’s water is still unsafe to drink. Officials on Wednesday did not give a firm time estimate as to when the water might be drinkable once again, though Edwards noted that lead levels in a few homes have already gone down dramatically.
At the news conference on Wednesday, Snyder fielded questions about his administration’s handling of the crisis. He said that a good portion of the fault “could lie” with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and welcomed the federal investigation already under way.
“We’re taking every action within reason, and going beyond reason to address this,” he said. He also said, “This is something you wish that never happened, and let’s see that it never happens again in the state of Michigan.”
Contact Daniel Bethencourt: dbethencourt@freepress.com or 313-223-4531. Follow on Twitter at @_dbethencourt.
Fund established for Flint children
A fund has been established to address the short- and long-term needs of Flint children exposed to lead through contaminated drinking water, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint announced Monday.
“Our Flint children deserve every opportunity to be healthy and successful," said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the Hurley Medical Center pediatrician who helped expose the tragedy. "The creation of this Fund will further ensure that our children are afforded the resources and interventions to overcome this population-wide exposure to lead.”
Donations can be made online at www.flintkids.com
Read or Share this story: http://on.freep.com/1UPCf8i | – Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced a new development Wednesday in Flint's water crisis that "just adds to the disaster we are already facing": specifically, a marked increase in cases of Legionnaires' disease that could be linked to the area's tainted water, reports the Detroit Free Press. From June 2014 to November 2015, there were 87 cases in Genesee County, 10 of them fatal, per the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In the previous four years, Legionnaires' cases ran from six per year to 13, CNN notes. And while the MDHHS isn't able to definitively tie the spike to Flint's water, it's taking the news seriously, and a drinking water expert who's been studying Flint's water tells the Free Press there's a "very strong likelihood" that it played a role. MDHHS officials first observed the rise in Legionnaires' cases in the fall of 2014, per the Free Press, and researchers found the bacteria to blame was proliferating in larger buildings, many with older plumbing. "Our hypothesis is that something about the Flint River and lack of corrosion control, plus big buildings, is creating these problems," Marc Edwards, head of an independent Virginia team looking into the crisis, tells the Free Press. Speaking Wednesday, Snyder said he learned of the issue just "a few days ago" and appeared to place some blame on the state's Department of Environmental Quality, the paper notes. "We're taking every action within reason, and going beyond reason to address this," he said. State health officials say it's OK for residents to shower and bathe, though they still can't drink the water. Edwards' team agrees, though he laments how it's all been handled. "It's a crisis of conscience in government," he tells CNN. "There are just so many places where you wish people had done things differently." |
A 16-year-old is on the mend after falling 3,500 feet during a skydiving accident.
That first time jumper was 16 year old Mackenzie Wethington.
"Nobody survives that," said Holly Wethington, Makenzie's mother.
But Mackenzie is surviving. She’s in ICU right now, in and out of sleep, each time she's awake, remembering bits and pieces of her horrifying experience. But her father Joe Wethington remembers much more.
He says only half of the parachute opened as Mackenzie spiraled to the ground,
"The guy with the radio on the ground is trying to talk her out of what's going on and telling her what to do and she can’t do it,"
"She's going too fast and in different directions she can’t reach up and grab it anyway and then when she goes into the spiral he keeps telling her to cut away to release the shoot and to pull the reserve."
But the owner of Pegasus Air Sports Center in Chickasha, Bob Swainson says the parachute opened completely.
"The jumper left the airplane. The parachute appeared to open ok. Soon after the opening the parachute started to rotate. There are a number of technical reasons why that could have happened possibly caused by the jumper herself. The jumper didn't sought out the rotation in accordance with the training she received earlier and contented to rotate to the ground and hurt herself,"
Mackenzie hit the ground, a 3,500 feet fall.
"She would scream and arch her back and ask me to rub her back," Joe Wethington told NBC.
Paramedics soon arrived and Mackenzie was airlifted to OU medical center.
"It was like somebody has sit on my chest really an elephant and it did not come off until I got here....not knowing if she was going to be ok or not," Holly Wethington explained.
And doctors are telling the Wethingtons Mackenzie is going to survive.
"She's a miracle child, that she's doing well and she's going to be alright," Joe Wethington said.
||||| falls A lot of luck: How teen survived parachuting accident Jan. 28, 2014 at 7:32 PM ET
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When Texas teen Mackenzie Wethington survived a parachuting accident Saturday, her father Joe called the 16-year-old “a miracle.” Doctors who treat traumatic injuries aren’t disagreeing.
“Considering the bone and soft tissue damage that would occur from a fall from this height, the fact that she is alive and seemingly doing well really is quite miraculous, ’ said Dr. Michael Anderson, a pediatric critical care specialist at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland.
Wethington is one lucky teen. The trauma surgeon who first treated Mackenzie in the ER didn't expect her to survive. "I'm glad to be wrong about that," Dr. Jeffrey Bender of the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City said Tuesday at a news conference.
Currently, Wethington is awake and breathing on her own and is listed in fair condition. “We see worse injuries routinely from car and ATV accidents,” said trauma surgeon Dr. Jason Lees, who is part of the Oklahoma team treating Wethington. “There’s a reason we wear parachutes when we step out of a plane.”
Amazingly, Wethington, who suffered a lacerated liver and kidney, broken teeth and multiple fractures throughout her body, is expected to fully recover within about six to eight weeks, Bender said Tuesday. Her injuries are "consistent with someone hit by a car going 40-50 mph," although that doesn't mean she hit the ground at that speed, he said.
According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide. Each year an estimated 424,000 individuals die from falls globally. And it doesn’t have to be a 3,500-foot mishap.
“A person can take a fall from a standing height and the neck can break, so this young girl is exceptionally fortunate in how the circumstances and force of the fall dissipated throughout her body,” said Dr. Ryan Goodwin, director of the Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Orthopedics at the Cleveland Clinic. “She is young, and in seeming good health, so she has that going for her.” But, he adds, she also had a lot of luck and physics on her side, too.
When an individual falls from a great height, survival often depends on a lot of luck, as well as air resistance, or drag.
“You can think of a fall as a form of energy,” explained James Kakalios, the Taylor Distinguished Professor in the school of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota. “Basically, if a person steps out of a plane you have no velocity. Gravity will start to pull you down and you accelerate.”
But as you gain speed, air resistance comes into play and acts as a kind of brake slowing you down and reducing the amount of kinetic energy, or in other words, the force in which your body slams into the ground, said Kakalios, author of the Physics of Superheroes.
He thinks the teen may have done some things accidentally to increase air drag, slowing her fall, and leading to a potentially softer, yet still serious, landing.
“She’s creating a lot of turbulence as she falling, and therefore she’s maximizing the time it takes for her to hit the ground,” he said, citing that reducing the rate in which an object, or person, comes to a stop is critical for safety. “That’s why we have airbags,” Kakalios said, citing other instances of people surviving long falls such as I- 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis in which 13 people were killed, but 145 survived the 115-foot fall and the case of man who survived after he fell 500 feet from a New York skyscraper.
“It’s noteworthy that people don’t usually survive these things, but some people do in the right set of circumstances,” he said. “Many people buy lottery tickets and don’t win, but there’s always someone who does win.”
Tweet email | – An absolutely amazing story out of Oklahoma, where a Texas 16-year-old survived a 3,500-foot fall in a skydiving mishap—and didn't even require any surgery for her injuries. Mackenzie Wethington, who went skydiving Saturday as a birthday present from her parents, slammed into the ground, yet somehow only suffered a lacerated liver and kidney, broken bones, and a broken tooth; she's already communicating with her parents in writing and doctors say she's in good condition and should suffer few long-term effects. "I have no idea how she survived," one tells Today. Experts are calling it a miracle; one suspects the teen somehow decreased her air speed and thus landed somewhat more softly—in other words, she was incredibly lucky. The teen was supposed to do a tandem jump with an experienced skydiver, but was told when she arrived that Pegasus Air Sports Center wasn't doing tandem jumps, so her first jump after six hours of training was on her own—and went horribly awry. It's not clear exactly what happened: According to MyFox DFW, the family says Mackenzie's primary parachute didn't open properly (it was supposed to open automatically) and may have gotten tangled, and Mackenzie couldn't open the emergency chute. Mackenzie's dad (who says the main chute only half-opened, according to CNN) blames Pegasus Air Sports Center, claiming it offered inadequate training and didn't properly maintain its equipment. The owner of Pegasus, however, blames Mackenzie and denies any problem with her equipment: "She didn't do what she was supposed to do," he says, though it's not clear what she did wrong; the owner says she didn't take a "corrective counter action" to make her parachute "stop turning." He claims the chute did open fully but somehow, "maybe ... initiated by her," started a rotation that caused the problem. The family has hired a lawyer, Fox News Insider reports. |
Worldwide Cost of living index 2014 report
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The Worldwide Cost of Living is a twice yearly Economist Intelligence Unit survey that compares more than 400 individual prices across 160 products and services. These include food, drink, clothing, household supplies and personal care items, home rents, transport, utility bills, private schools, domestic help and recreational costs.
The survey itself is a purpose-built internet tool designed to help human resources and finance managers calculate cost-of-living allowances and build compensation packages for expatriates and business travellers. The survey incorporates easy-to-understand comparative cost-of-living indices between cities. The survey allows for city-to-city comparisons, but for the purpose of this report all cities are compared to a base city of New York, which has an index set at 100. The survey has been carried out for more than 30 years.
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The Economist Intelligence Unit helps business leaders prepare for opportunity, empowering them to act with confidence when making strategic decisions. We are renowned for our comprehensive global coverage and use the best analytical minds to examine markets, countries and industries with a level of insight you cannot find elsewhere. Uncompromising integrity, relentless rigour and precise communication underpin everything we do. We are meticulous with every analysis, every study, every projection and every commentary that carries the EIU brand. Our reputation for trusted business intelligence depends on it. Crystallise your thinking and see greater possibilities with business intelligence from the EIU–the most assured way to prepare for opportunity. ||||| Singapore is now the most expensive city in the world, according to the latest study by the Economist Intelligence Unit. -- ST FILE PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Singapore is now the most expensive city in the world, according to the latest study by the Economist Intelligence Unit. This is mainly due to the strong Singapore dollar and the high cost of cars, utilities and clothes, the research firm said.
"Singapore's rising price prominence has been steady rather than spectacular. The city-state was 18th most expensive ten years ago and has actually seen the cost of living compared with New York City decline over the last 12 months," it said in its report on Tuesday.
"However, over the last decade a 40 per cent currency appreciation, coupled with solid price inflation, has consistently pushed Singapore up the ranking."
The EIU Worldwide Cost of Living survey compares the cost of living in various cities around the world against that of New York. | – Tokyo, rated the world's most expensive city last year by the Economist Intelligence Unit, has dropped out of the top five thanks to the soaring cost of living in other cities, including the new No. 1, Singapore. The city-state was sent to the top of the list by its strong currency and the sky-high cost of running a car, reports the BBC, which notes that Singapore is also the most expensive place in the world to buy clothes. Paris, Oslo, Zurich, and Sydney also made the top five out of 131 cities ranked, with Tokyo falling to sixth place. Researchers say Singapore's rise to the top from 18th most expensive a decade ago has been "steady rather than spectacular," the Straits Times reports. The cheapest cities included major Indian cities like Mumbai and New Delhi, as well as Damascus, Syria, where civil war has apparently caused prices to plunge. |
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) with Jang Song Thaek, who was the vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission, at a cemetery for Korean War veterans in Pyongyang in July. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE execution of Jang Song Thaek, the No. 2 man in North Korea, took Beijing by surprise and will adversely affect bilateral relations.
Beijing's displeasure is expressed through the publication of a detailed account of Jang's brutal execution in Wen Wei Po, its official mouthpiece, in Hong Kong, on Dec 12.
According to the report, unlike previous executions of political prisoners which were carried out by firing squads with machine guns, Jang was stripped naked and thrown into a cage, along with his five closest aides. Then 120 hounds, starved for three days, were allowed to prey on them until they were completely eaten up. This is called "quan jue", or execution by dogs.
The report said the entire process lasted for an hour, with Mr Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader in North Korea, supervising it along with 300 senior officials.
The horrifying report vividly depicted the brutality of the young North Korean leader. The fact that it appeared in a Beijing- controlled newspaper showed that China no longer cares about its relations with the Kim regime.
Two days later, the Global Times, associated with the People's Daily, a Chinese Communist Party organ, followed up with a sternly worded editorial saying that the abrupt political change epitomised the backwardness of the North Korean political system. It warned the Chinese government not to coddle North Korea any longer, saying that the majority of Chinese were extremely disgusted with the Kim regime.
The incendiary story, plus the stern editorial, provided a measure of the extent of Beijing's loathing, which is quite understandable.
In purging a top official known for his close ties with Beijing in such a brutal manner, Pyongyang did not hide its antagonism towards China.
The official litany of Jang's treason implicated China three times. Jang was accused of underselling coal and other natural resources for which China was virtually the sole customer. He was also charged with "selling off the land of Rason economic and trade zone to a foreign country for a period of five decades under the pretext of paying debts". Finally, he was accused of selling precious metals, thus disrupting the country's financial stability. In fact, China purchased some of North Korea's gold reserves several months ago.
He was also accused of aiding Chinese businessmen in securing low prices for North Korean goods and commodities.
The purge of Jang reflected the longstanding suspicion and apprehension of the North Korean regime towards China, which dates back to the time of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder.
Although China fought the Korean War to preserve the Kim regime, he was less than grateful. Once the war was over, Kim started purging the Yan-an faction within his party. This faction received its training in Yan-an, the capital of the Chinese Communist Party in the 1940s.
Stanford University research fellow David Straub recalled that when he accompanied former United States assistant secretary of state James Kelly to North Korea in 2002, the North's then Vice-Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju made comments that minimised Chinese assistance during the Korean War.
When the son, Kim Jong Il, took over the helm, he did not hide the fact that his nuclear weapons could be used against China.
Dr Xue Litai, a research fellow at Stanford University's Centre for International Security and Cooperation at the time, disclosed that he received further confirmation from an American source who accompanied former US president Bill Clinton in his visit to Pyongyang in 2009. According to the source, a North Korean senior official told Mr Clinton that their nuclear weapons could not reach the US but could be "pointed West" in the direction of the Chinese mainland.
The North Korean official also reportedly suggested that if the US changed its policy towards Pyongyang, the latter could become a strong bastion against China.
The Korean peninsula was a vassal state of China in the 17th century. A deep-rooted suspicion remains among the North Korean leadership that China wants to make North Korea its satellite state. Pyongyang also resents Beijing establishing ties with Seoul, which it sees as an act of betrayal.
Nuclear-armed China is seen as having double standards when it exerts pressure on Pyongyang to halt the latter's nuclear programme.
So when the grandson, Mr Kim Jong Un, took over the helm, this family tradition of suspecting China prompted the young leader to take drastic action to cleanse the party of any pro-China elements.
Recent developments have posed a number of issues for China.
First, China's own security is at risk. The erratic and ruthless behaviour of Mr Kim Jong Un suggests that China should not underrate the likelihood of a nuclear threat from Pyongyang.
The Internet version of the Global Times carried an article last Monday by Lieutenant-General Wang Hongguang, former deputy commander of Nanjing Greater Military Region, saying that the recent incident showed North Korea had become increasingly provocative and was getting out of (Chinese) control. He urged a complete reassessment of security threats originating from that direction.
Second, China's political and strategic influence on the Korean peninsula has been drastically reduced. China was widely considered to be able to rein in the unruly Kim regime, thus acting as a force for peace in the region. But it now appears China's influence over its neighbour is close to zero.
This is clear from the fact that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi telephoned his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for urgent consultation on Dec 13. This was followed by Ambassador Wu Dawei's trip to Moscow. Both moves suggest that Beijing realises it can no longer tame the Kim regime by itself.
Third, China had hoped to nurture a less belligerent neighbour by encouraging reform, open- door policies and economic development in North Korea. Jang had been working closely with China to bring about a Chinese-style transformation in his own country. With Jang brutally executed, the idea of a peaceful transformation seems unrealistic.
chingcheong@gmail.com ||||| These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. | – What's a fitting way to execute a man labeled "worse than a dog"? If an unconfirmed newspaper report is to be believed, by stripping him naked, throwing him in a cage, and feeding him alive to 120 hungry hounds. NBC News picks up Hong Kong-based paper Wen Wei Po's account of how Kim Jong Un did away with his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, last month. Its report claims Jang and his five closest aides were set upon by a pack of hunting dogs that hadn't eaten in days as Kim and his brother, flanked by 300 officials, watched; the report hasn't been verified. Wen Wei Po, which has close ties to China's Communist Party, added Jang and his allies were "completely eaten up" in the "quan jue," or execution by dogs—a break from the usual execution by firing squad—over the course of an hour, the Straits Times notes. Though Kim has championed the execution, there's been no official word from Pyongyang on how it was carried out. The Times sees the publication of the account as an indication that Beijing is none too pleased with North Korea in the wake of the execution and "no longer cares about its relations with the Kim regime." This follows a previous report that claimed that two of Jang's top men who were killed prior to his own death were executed using antiaircraft machine guns. |
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — The San Francisco home made famous in the 1993 movie “Mrs. Doubtfire” was apparently the target of a suspicious fire on Monday night.
Authorities were called to the home on Broadway and Steiner Street around 8 p.m. after someone reportedly tried to set fire to the home’s garage door and front door. An accelerant, such as gasoline, was possibly used.
Police remained on the scene until shortly past 11:00 p.m. Monday. No suspects have been identified.
The home, which was the setting for the film starring Robin Williams, regained notoriety last August after the actor and comedian’s death. The front of the home became a memorial to Williams, as fans dropped off flowers and placed notes.
Dr. Douglas Ousterhout, a plastic surgeon, currently owns the home.
The doctor told police that he is having problems with a former client, but is not sure who is responsible for the fire. ||||| An arsonist targeted a San Francisco home used in the comedy blockbuster "Mrs. Doubtfire," police said early Tuesday. Officials launched an investigation after the iconic Pacific Heights residence had its doormat set ablaze at 8 p.m. local time (11 p.m. ET) on Monday night, a San Francisco Police official told NBC News. The home was used in the filming of the 1993 movie starring actor Robin Williams, who took his own life in August last year.
The home is now owned by a doctor who has been a pioneer in facial feminization surgeries. However, a police department official said the incident did not appear to be a hate crime.
The Pacific Heights home used in the filming of the movie "Mrs. Doubtfire" served as a makeshift memorial site following the death of Robin Williams. Eric Risberg / AP
In-Depth
- Andrew Blankstein ||||| Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close
Image 1 of 30 Buy photo Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire. less Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 2 of 30 Buy photo Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire. less Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 3 of 30 Buy photo Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire. less Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 4 of 30 Buy photo Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire. less Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 5 of 30 Buy photo Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire. less Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 6 of 30 Buy photo Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire. less Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 7 of 30 Buy photo After a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire, a fading message from a fan sits in front of the house on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif. After a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire, a fading message from a fan sits in front of the house on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 8 of 30 Buy photo Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire. less Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 9 of 30 Buy photo After a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire, a fading message from a fan sits in front of the house on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif. After a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire, a fading message from a fan sits in front of the house on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 10 of 30 Outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA.
Outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Photo: Craig Hudson / The Chronicle
Image 11 of 30 Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire." Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire." Photo: 20th Century Fox, Getty Images
Image 12 of 30 Robin Williams was 'Mrs. Doubtfire' on a cable car and locations all over S.F. Robin Williams was 'Mrs. Doubtfire' on a cable car and locations all over S.F. Photo: Handout
Image 13 of 30 This large San Francisco Victorian was the family’s home in "Mrs. Doubtfire,” directed by S.F. resident Chris Columbus. Shown is star Mara Wilson there in 2000. This large San Francisco Victorian was the family’s home in "Mrs. Doubtfire,” directed by S.F. resident Chris Columbus. Shown is star Mara Wilson there in 2000. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle
Image 14 of 30 Mrs. Doubtfire: Robin Williams plays an eccentric dad who dresses up as a female nanny. Mrs. Doubtfire: Robin Williams plays an eccentric dad who dresses up as a female nanny.
Image 15 of 30 The house that was used in the movie "Mrs. Doubtfire." The house that was used in the movie "Mrs. Doubtfire."
Image 16 of 30 Buy photo People stand outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. People stand outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 17 of 30 Buy photo Flowers and letters line the steps of the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Flowers and letters line the steps of the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 18 of 30 Buy photo pay respects to comedian and actor Robin Williams outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. pay respects to comedian and actor Robin Williams outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 19 of 30 Outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Photo: Craig Hudson / The Chronicle
Image 20 of 30 Buy photo Caitlin Kerton adjusts her flowers after taking a picture with friend Samantha McMullen outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. less Caitlin Kerton adjusts her flowers after taking a picture with friend Samantha McMullen outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in ... more Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 21 of 30 Buy photo Flowers and letters line the steps of the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Flowers and letters line the steps of the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 22 of 30 Buy photo A woman lays flowers and a card on the steps of the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. A woman lays flowers and a card on the steps of the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 23 of 30 FILE - This Nov. 8, 2012 file photo shows Robin Williams performing at the 6th Annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit concert for injured service members and veterans in New York. Williams, whose free-form comedy and adept impressions dazzled audiences for decades, has died in an apparent suicide. He was 63. The Marin County Sheriff's Office said Williams was pronounced dead at his home in California on Monday, Aug. 11, 2014. The sheriff's office said a preliminary investigation showed the cause of death to be a suicide due to asphyxia. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, FIle) less FILE - This Nov. 8, 2012 file photo shows Robin Williams performing at the 6th Annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit concert for injured service members and veterans in New York. Williams, whose free-form comedy ... more Photo: Charles Sykes, Associated Press
Image 24 of 30 FILE - This June 15, 2007 file photo shows actor and comedian Robin Williams posing for a photo in Santa Monica, Calif. Williams, whose free-form comedy and adept impressions dazzled audiences for decades, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2014, in an apparent suicide. Williams was 63. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File) less FILE - This June 15, 2007 file photo shows actor and comedian Robin Williams posing for a photo in Santa Monica, Calif. Williams, whose free-form comedy and adept impressions dazzled audiences for decades, died ... more Photo: Reed Saxon, Associated Press
Image 25 of 30 Buy photo Samantha McMullen takes a photo of flowers as her friend Caitlin Kerton looks on outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. less Samantha McMullen takes a photo of flowers as her friend Caitlin Kerton looks on outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his ... more Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 26 of 30 Buy photo Jordan Ansell pays respects to comedian and actor Robin Williams outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Jordan Ansell pays respects to comedian and actor Robin Williams outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 27 of 30 Buy photo People pay respects to comedian and actor Robin Williams outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. People pay respects to comedian and actor Robin Williams outside the Mrs. Doubtfire house on August 11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Robin Williams was found dead this morning in his Tiburon home. Photo: Craig Hudson, The Chronicle Buy this photo
Image 28 of 30 Robin Williams was 'Mrs. Doubtfire' on a cable car and locations all over S.F. Robin Williams was 'Mrs. Doubtfire' on a cable car and locations all over S.F. Photo: Handout
Image 29 of 30 2640 Steiner, Pacific Heights This large San Francisco Victorian was the family’s home in "Mrs. Doubtfire,” directed by S.F. resident Chris Columbus. Shown is star Mara Wilson there in 2000. 2640 Steiner, Pacific Heights This large San Francisco Victorian was the family’s home in "Mrs. Doubtfire,” directed by S.F. resident Chris Columbus. Shown is star Mara Wilson there in 2000. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle | – The home used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire had a close call with an arsonist last night, say police in San Francisco. Someone used gasoline to set fires at the front door and the garage, but the homeowner smelled smoke and was able to quickly douse the flames, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Damage was said to be minimal. The Pacific Heights home not only became famous in the movie, it turned into an impromptu memorial for Williams after his death, as fans left flowers and mementos, notes CBS Local. Investigators don't seem to think the attempted arson has anything to do with Williams or the movie, however. The current owner is Douglas Ousterhout, a surgeon renowned for his facial feminization procedures for transgender patients. A police official tells NBC News that the incident doesn't appear to be a hate crime. Ousterhout reportedly has had trouble with a former client, and police are investigating whether there's a link. |
A 12-year-old jaguar is being sent back from New Delhi zoo after he was found “too fat to breed,” zoo officials said, adding that he just “lies in a corner and refuses to respond” to females enticing him.
Salman the jaguar was brought from the Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden in Kerala, southern India in October 2014. In the year that has passed since he has shown “complete disinterest” in females, Delhi zoo officials told the Indian Express.
In fact he “reached out for its meals more keenly” than for the passionate embrace of Kalpana, his female would-be partner, Delhi zoo curator Riaz Khan said.
“He was brought on a breeding loan but it has been over a year and Salman has shown no interest in mating. In fact, the female is seen trying to entice him but he lies in a corner and refuses to respond. He is too fat to breed.”
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Now the Zoo officials have given up hope that the jaguar will ever get interested in Kalpana. Jaguars have no breeding season and can mate at any time, but Salman seems to be ignoring the calls of mother nature, zoo staff said.
“He is lazy, a glutton, just loves to eat and relax. Every morning, we find leftovers in the cages of the other jaguars but this one polishes off his entire food. I am sure if we gave him more food, he would finish off that too. He has a bigger appetite than the tigers here,” said one of Salman’s keepers.
Tigers are usually much bigger than jaguars. While the weight of a Bengal tiger can vary from 180kg to 258kg, a jaguar’s normal weight is considered to be in the 56-96kg range.
Jaguar Salman to be Sent Back to Kerala as he is 'Too Fat to Breed' http://t.co/1Csj3Ifuxapic.twitter.com/vNv5X4aGkS — New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) October 10, 2015
According to the zoo, the approximate weight of the lazy jaguar who doesn’t want to cope with his sexual responsibilities is more than 100kg.
READ MORE: Penguin missing from flood-ravaged Tbilisi Zoo found hiding in debris
The zoo officials tried to fight the jaguar’s love for food – they put him on a strict diet and released it into the larger enclosure, so that the animal would get more exercise.
Delhi zoo to return jaguar named Salman from Kerala because it is ‘too fat to breed’ http://t.co/XJuFDqIxpApic.twitter.com/BVianfpJEQ — TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) October 10, 2015
However, all attempts failed – he wouldn't abandon his two favourite sins, gluttony and sloth, for that of lust. He still “would stroll for a bit, then lie in a corner,” according to the keeper.
“So it is best that we send him back home… if he is not fulfilling that purpose then what is the point in keeping him here?” Khan said. ||||| Image copyright AFP Image caption This jaguar in Hyderabad does not appear to suffer from Salman's "gluttony" (file photo)
A jaguar on a breeding loan to Delhi zoo in India is being sent back as he is too fat to mate, keepers say.
Twelve-year-old Salman was borrowed from a zoo in Kerala a year ago, but has shown little interest in their female jaguar, Kalpana, the Indian Express reports.
Keepers say he reaches out for his meals "more keenly than for Kalpana".
"The female is seen trying to entice him but he lies in a corner and refuses to respond," Riaz Khan told the paper.
The Delhi zoo says it feeds its jaguars 6kg of buffalo meat a day in the summer, six days a week.
Salman eats more than a tiger, keepers claimed, and efforts to reduce his weight with a strict diet were unsuccessful.
Image copyright AFP Image caption The jaguar is found in the wild in the Americas (file photo)
"He is lazy, a glutton, just loves to eat and relax," they said.
Releasing him into the larger enclosure did not prompt him to take exercise or trigger an interest in mating.
However, the portly big cat's supporters at the zoo point out that Delhi's two male jaguars have also failed to provide Kalpana with offspring - and say that it may be the trauma of the relocation that caused his lethargy.
Salman is not the only big cat in an Indian zoo whose lack of mating interest has drawn criticism.
Earlier this year experts at Alipore zoo in Kolkata said Vishal, a white tiger, had spurned the advances of a tigress - despite being de-wormed and given libido-enhancing vitamins.
Jaguars are native to the Americas and are listed as "near threatened" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list. ||||| Lazy, obese and now lonely, Salman on Thursday. Amit Mehra
Obesity has been identified as a life-threatening condition among human beings. But as officials in the Delhi zoo have realised over the last year, it can stall life in the animal kingdom too. That’s why they are returning Salman, a 12-year-old jaguar, to Kerala with this stinging verdict: “he’s too fat to breed”.
Salman was borrowed on a “breeding loan” from the Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden last October, but has since shown “complete disinterest” in pairing up with the lone female jaguar in the National Zoological Park here, say Delhi zoo officials. They say Salman has “reached out for its meals more keenly than for Kalpana”, the female jaguar.
“He was brought on a breeding loan but it has been over a year and Salman has shown no interest in mating. In fact, the female is seen trying to entice him but he lies in a corner and refuses to respond. He is too fat to breed,” Delhi zoo curator Riaz Khan told The Indian Express.
“Now we know for sure nothing is going to happen. So it is best that we send him back home. He was brought for a purpose and if he is not fulfilling that purpose then what is the point in keeping him here?” Khan said.
Although no scientific tests have been done to establish the case against Salman, some zoo officials are inclined to take his side, arguing that the two other male jaguars, Mohan and Shankar, have also failed to give Kalpana a cub.
“It’s not necessarily about obesity. In some cases, animals that are proven breeders stop after relocation,” said a wildlife expert at the Delhi zoo, who did not wish to be named.
But the counter-argument from Khan and the others is that unlike the other two, Salman has not even shown any interest in mating after reaching Delhi on October 20, 2014. “He is lazy, a glutton, just loves to eat and relax,” said one of Salman’s caretakers.
“Every morning, we find leftovers in the cages of the other jaguars but this one polishes off his entire food. I am sure if we gave him more food, he would finish off that too. He has a bigger appetite than the tigers here,” he said.
All the four jaguars in Delhi’s zoo are given approximately 6 kg of buffalo meat daily, and for a while zoo staff tried their best to win this battle of the bulge.
“Salman was put on a strict diet but showed no signs of losing weight and had to be brought back to the usual ration,” said the caretaker. They also tried releasing him into the larger enclosure more often, hoping he would play around and get some exercise. “But he would stroll for a bit, then lie in a corner,” the caretaker said.
Salman’s weight has not been officially measured yet, but at the time of relocation, the Thiruvananthapuram zoo had certified that he was “fit”.
Last month, officials from the Thiruvananthapuram zoo offered to take Salman back with them when they were in Delhi to accept a white tiger as part of another programme. But the Delhi zoo decided to hold him back till the one-year loan period ends — “hoping against hope”.
For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App now | – A jaguar is being sent home to Kerala, India, from a New Delhi breeding program after being accused of having a dad bod without the "dad" part. Salman had been borrowed by the Delhi Zoo to mate with Kalpana, its female jaguar, but there were problems: Salman turned out to be too corpulent and lethargic to mate, the BBC reports. Salman has "reached out for its meals more keenly than for Kalpana," a zookeeper complains to the Indian Express, adding that "the female is seen trying to entice him but he lies in a corner and refuses to respond. He is too fat to breed." Salman, who RT.com notes is said to weigh around 220 pounds, does have his defenders, who point out to the Express that two other male jaguars also didn't produce offspring with Kalpana and that breeding cats sometimes just don't feel like mating after being relocated. But workers at the zoo say Salman is a different animal altogether than the previous competition. "He is lazy, a glutton, just loves to eat and relax," one of the caretakers tells the paper. (Maybe Vin Diesel needs to have a heart-to-heart with Salman.) |
The girl has had regular visits with her out-of-state relatives for some time now, Heimov said. In Utah, she will live with one of her biological sisters. Another sister lives within walking distance, Heimov said.
"There are two families that love her," she said. "The court has made a decision. We need to follow the law, and we need to enforce the court orders."
In a statement, Philip Browning, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, said that "when a court makes an order, we must follow it."
On Monday, a hush fell over the crowd of protesters when social workers came to the Pages' front door. A few silent minutes passed before the door was finally opened.
Rusty Page carried the youngster outside. The girl, wearing a pink shirt and a braid in her hair, clutched a brown teddy bear. Placed in the backseat of a social worker's car, she cried.
Page said that he was ordered by the court not to discuss the situation with the girl and that she had no idea she would be taken away. The protesters gathered a few houses away so she wouldn't hear or see them. ||||| A 6-year-old girl was removed from the California home of the foster family she has lived with for four years because she has a tiny sliver of Native American heritage — despite resistance from her foster parents and their tens of thousands of supporters.
Rusty and Summer Page of Santa Clarita, California, have long fought to gain custody of Lexi, 6, who is 1.56 percent Choctaw Native American. That figure means that Lexi's home placement is dictated by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.
Rusty Page carries Lexi while Summer Page, in the background, cries as members of family services, left, arrive to take Lexi away from her foster family in Santa Clarita, Calif., on March 21. David Crane / Los Angeles Daily News via AP
That law "seeks to keep American Indian children with American Indian families," according to its own language.
The child's birth parents struggled with substance abuse, according to court documents. Her father, who had a criminal history, never lived on a Choctaw reservation and didn't have any social, political, or cultural ties to the tribe, according to the court documents. But officials determined that Lexi is 1/64th Choctaw based on his ancestry.
Lexi was placed with the Pages — who have three other children — in December 2011 after two unsuccessful foster homes, including one where she was taken out of because of a black eye and a scrape on her face, the court documents said.
In 2011, "extended" family in Utah became aware that Lexi was with a foster family and expressed "interest in adopting" her, according to the documents. The documents said that Lexi is related to the Utah couple, who are not Native American, through her step-grandfather.
The California Court of Appeals originally ruled in August of 2014 that Lexi could stay with the Pages and they could continue to fight the Utah family for custody of the child.
But a decision earlier this month ordered the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (LA DCFS) to place Lexi with the Utah family "in accordance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act," the department said in response to inquiries about Lexi's case.
In the days after losing their legal battle, the Pages addressed an online petition called "Keep Lexi Home" to several California and LA DCFS officials.
"There is a 6-year-old little girl who is going to be ripped away from the only family that she has ever known. Her name is Lexi," the petition said. "To Lexi this family is her everything — her mommy, daddy and brother and sisters." By Monday afternoon, more than 40,000 people had signed the petition.
Dozens of supporters also surrounded the Page's home Monday in an attempt to block LA DCFS officers. Many of those gathered had been camped out in the street — singing and praying — since Sunday, when the officers were originally expected to arrive.
Their efforts weren't successful.
Lexi was taken from the Page home on Monday afternoon, Armand Montiel, a public affairs director with LA DCFS, told NBC News.
The emotional scene played out on a Facebook live stream — watched by more that 1,000 people — which showed a teary child, wearing a pink shirt and grasping a teddy bear while Rusty Page carried her out of the home and loaded into a black sedan as his wife wailed "I love you Lexi" from the driveway.
They are taking her! Live footage on our Facebook page. — Save Lexi (@SaveOurLexi) March 21, 2016
"They fought for you," supporters screamed at the car, as officers prepared to pull away. "The Page family loves you."
"Our family is so incredibly devastated. Our hearts are broken and we are trying to make sense of everything that has happened with our three other children who witnessed their sister Lexi forcefully ripped away from our family by strangers," the Page family said in a statement Monday night.
"But nobody could possibly be more devastated than our 6-year-old daughter who found herself restrained in a car and driven away to go and live in a foreign place hundreds of miles from her family, friends, teachers, home and life," the statement said.
The Page's lawyer said in a statement Sunday that they had been willing to offer the Utah family visitation rights, but they "never responded to offers of compromise."
"They are not interested in anything except full custody, and they are not thinking about this little girl's best interests," the lawyer's statement said.
The LA DCFS said in a statement that the department always seeks to act in the best interest of the children it serves. "Often there are no easy solutions, but when a court makes an order, we must follow it," said the department's director, Philip Browning.
The National Indian Child Welfare Association argues that the decision to re-place Lexi was the right one because "the purpose of foster care is to provide temporary care for children ... not to fast-track the creation of new families when there is extended family available who want to care for the child."
"The foster family was well aware years ago this girl is an Indian child, whose case is subject to the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act," the National Indian Child Welfare Association said in a statement.
"The Pages were always aware that the goal was to place Lexi with her family, and her permanent placement has been delayed due to the Pages' opposition to the Indian Child Welfare Act," the Choctaw Nation echoed in a statement. "We believe that following the Choctaw Nation's values is in Lexi's best interest." ||||| Graham, center, and Lena Kelly, rear, Lexi's foster aunt and uncle, break down on the street after family services came to take Lexi away from her foster family in Santa Clarita, Calif., Monday, March... (Associated Press)
Graham, center, and Lena Kelly, rear, Lexi's foster aunt and uncle, break down on the street after family services came to take Lexi away from her foster family in Santa Clarita, Calif., Monday, March 21, 2016. Lexi, who spent most of her life with California foster parents, was removed from her home... (Associated Press)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California family appealed Tuesday to the state's highest court in their fight to keep a 6-year-old foster child who was removed from their home after a lower court said her 1/64th Native American bloodline requires that she live with relatives.
The family's lawyer, Lori Alvino McGill, filed the request for the California Supreme Court to hear the appeal.
McGill also requested that custody of the child named Lexi be returned to Rusty and Summer Page until the appeal is decided.
The Pages have fought efforts under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act to place Lexi with relatives of her father, who is part Choctaw. The Pages argued that Lexi has lived with them since the age of 2 and considers them her family.
However, a court found that the Pages have not proven Lexi would suffer emotional harm by the transfer.
The Pages have three children and want to adopt Lexi, who was 17 months old when she was removed from the custody of her birth parents. Her mother had substance abuse problems, and her father had a criminal history, according to court records.
Dozens of cases involving foster families have gone to court around the country after the Indian Child Welfare Act was passed in the late 1970s.
Lawmakers found that Native American families were broken up at disproportionately high rates, and that cultural ignorance and biases within the child welfare system were largely to blame.
Lexi cried and clutched a stuffed bear on Monday as Rusty Page carried her out of his home near Los Angeles and Los Angeles County social workers whisked her away in a waiting car.
"How is it that a screaming child, saying, 'I want to stay, I'm scared,' how is it in her best interest to pull her from the girl she was before that doorbell rang?" Rusty Page told KNX-AM radio.
A crowd of friends and neighbors wept, prayed or sang hymns.
Under the transfer, Lexi will live with a Utah couple who are not Native Americans but are related by marriage to her father.
The girl's sister is living with the couple, and another sister will be living down the street, said Leslie Heimov of the Children's Law Center of California, Lexi's court-appointed legal representatives.
"The law is very clear that siblings should be kept together whenever they can be, and they should be placed together even if they were not initially together," Heimov told the Los Angeles Daily News (http://bit.ly/1pYtXlg ).
She said Lexi and the Utah family had traded messages and had monthly visits during the past three years.
"She has a loving relationship with them," Heimov said. "They are not strangers in any way, shape or form."
The National Indian Child Welfare Association said in a statement that the Pages were aware for years that the girl was an American Indian but chose to "drag out litigation as long as possible, creating instability for the child."
The Choctaw Nation said it "desires the best for this Choctaw child."
In 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs issued guidance on implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act — clarifying that tribes alone are responsible for determining who is a member.
Wenona Singel, a law professor at Michigan State University, said membership requirements vary among tribes, with some being more restrictive than others.
"The issue is not what degree of Choctaw ancestry a child has," Singel said. "Rather the issue is whether the child is a citizen of the tribe in question or eligible for citizenship."
Singel is a member of a tribe in Michigan.
There is still considerable disagreement over the application of the law and whether it serves children's best interest, said Ralph Richard Banks, a professor at Stanford Law School.
Once a child is placed with a Native American family, it is highly unlikely that the decision would be reversed, he added.
"It would be fairly extraordinary for an appeals court to reverse that," he said.
___
Associated Press writer Christine Armario contributed to this report. ||||| Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978
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The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a federal law that seeks to keep American Indian children with American Indian/Alaska Native families. Congress passed ICWA in 1978 in response to the alarmingly high number of Indian children being removed from their homes by both public and private agencies. The intent of Congress under ICWA was to "protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families" (25 U.S.C. § 1902). ICWA sets federal requirements that apply to state child custody proceedings involving an Indian child who is a member of or eligible for membership in a federally recognized tribe.
ICWA is an integral policy framework on which tribal child welfare programs rely. It provides a structure and requirements for how public and private child welfare agencies and state courts view and conduct their work to serve tribal children and families. It also acknowledges and promotes the role that tribal governments play in supporting tribal families, both on and off tribal lands. However, as is the case with many laws, proper implementation of ICWA requires vigilance, resources, and advocacy.
Resources for Families
If you have questions regarding an ICWA case or other Indian child welfare issues, please review the following online resources and the Frequently Asked Questions before contacting the NICWA office. Please be aware that NICWA cannot provide any legal advice. Also note that NICWA is not a direct service provider. We do not provide case management. If you contact us, our staff will do our best to answer your questions within a reasonable timeframe and direct you toward helpful resources.
Finding Legal Help
Many families benefit from having a lawyer on their case. Under ICWA, parents and Indian custodians are entitled to have the court appoint them an attorney if they can't afford one. Families can also look up legal aid offices that can provide free or low-cost legal help by going here and entering their zip code. You can also find a list of legal aid offices that specialize in Indian law topics like ICWA here.
ICWA Technical Assistance and Training
NICWA and ICWA Compliance
NICWA strives to support tribal governments in these efforts, especially where tribes do not have the resources or information to respond as they would like. NICWA can partner with tribes to effectively address ICWA compliance; through our relationships with key policymakers, state and federal officials, media representatives, and non-Indian organizations, we provide tribes with additional resources to address the systemic issues that arise in ICWA implementation. Below are some of the services that NICWA can provide tribes and their partners to assist in the proper implementation of ICWA.
Training about the basic legal requirements and social work practice tips on how to best implement the law in both social service and court settings. Development of tribal-specific program models to help tribes increase their capacity to respond effectively in ICWA cases and increase their ability to provide care for their member children and families. Enhance tribal-state relations through technical assistance to develop intergovernmental agreements and contracts as well as to identify opportunities for collaboration with state agencies and contracted providers. Increase knowledge of existing funding opportunities and the steps needed to secure federal funding to support child and family related services. This includes strategies tribes can use for adapting federal requirements while maintaining compliance and emphasizing tribal cultural practices. Advocate for policy solutions, legislative and regulatory, to implementation problems that practitioners experience while implementing ICWA. Provide case consultation to tribal family members, agencies, social work practitioners, attorneys, and courts on the proper implementation of ICWA in particular cases. Monitor and consult with tribal litigants in precedent-setting cases in state and federal courts that are reviewing ICWA policy and implementation. Follow media accounts of ICWA implementation and provide reliable and accurate information about the law. NICWA provides a national perspective of ICWA implementation through op-eds, news articles, media interviews and content, research for media outlets, and support of tribal efforts to address media requests for information on specific cases or program issues. Assist tribes and states in the development and implementation of ICWA data gathering and evaluation efforts. Provide regular updates to tribal leadership and representatives at national and regional tribal organizations to keep Indian Country’s leadership apprised of the most current information on ICWA and strategize about appropriate solutions to address challenges.
ICWA Reports and Documents
Tools for ICWA Compliance
| – A 6-year-old California girl whose birth parents were plagued by substance abuse and criminal infractions was taken in at age 2 by a foster family. But Alexandria (aka Lexi) is also 1/64th Choctaw Native American, which means where she ends up is dictated by 1978's Indian Child Welfare Act—a law that "seeks to keep American Indian children with American Indian families." Rusty and Summer Page had long fought to retain custody of Lexi, but on Monday the girl was removed from their home by the LA Department of Child & Family Services, NBC News reports. "Our family is so incredibly devastated," the Pages said in a statement, "but nobody could possibly be more devastated than our 6-year-old daughter." By court order, the Pages weren't allowed to tell Lexi beforehand she'd be taken, the Los Angeles Times reports. Lexi is now with a Utah couple related by marriage to Lexi's biological dad, who has Choctaw blood but has never lived on a reservation himself. The move came after "reunification efforts" with Lexi's biological dad went south, and he, the tribe, and DCFS recommended Lexi go to Utah—even though that couple is "non-Indian" and Summer Page actually does have "American Indian heritage," per the Pages' Change.org petition. The National Indian Child Welfare Association says in a statement that foster care is meant to be "temporary," not to "fast-track the creation of new families when there is extended family available"; a Choctaw Nation statement says the Pages always knew the goal was to place Lexi with "family." On Tuesday, the Pages appealed to California's highest court to reverse the decision, reports the AP. (This London mom sued NYC after her child was put in foster care.) |
Your move, Ron Swanson.
Matt 'Megatoad' Stonie, one of Major League Eating's top two eaters in the world, just set the bacon-eating record by housing 182 slices in five minutes.
That's a lot of pig; Stonie estimates that he ate more than six pounds of cooked bacon, which sports more than 28,000 milligrams of sodium, according to Smithfield, which sponsored the event in Daytona, Florida.
"The bacon was cooked just the way I like it -- a little crispy because I don't like having to chew it," Stonie told HuffPost Weird News after the feat. "I don't feel that bad. I'm used to 10 or 12 minute contests, where I'm eating 10 or 15 pounds of food. I came into this prepared."
Just as bacon hits its prime on the world stage, so has its champion. Stonie told HuffPost that he'll never lose his craving for the breakfast behemoth. Eating competitively is his job, and when he's stuffing his face on stage, he doesn't taste food the same.
"I feel the texture, I taste the saltiness, and I focus on getting it all down," he said. "But I love bacon, it goes with everything."
He added that he's picky about how his pork product is prepared: "It needs to be cooked perfectly. It can't be too crispy and if it's not warm when I get it, the fat coagulates into lard."
Going in, the new Baron of Breakfast didn't have much competition. MLE hasn't ever sponsored a true bacon-eating contest before, and for comparison's sake, unofficial eating groups show a measly 54 pieces of bacon as the previous "record." But Stonie needed to set the bar high today. After all, Megatoad is second only to Joey "Jaws" Chestnut on MLE's list of gustatory greats, and Stonie admits that the two waste no time in eating each other's records. EatFeats shows that the two are gut-and-gut in most competitions.
It wasn't immediately clear whether Chestnut would try to pilfer the pork record, but Stonie can rest easy knowing that today is his day. In fact, it has been his month -- he has set several records in Florida, including today's in Daytona and a 14.5-pound birthday cake eating record set in West Palm Beach on Feb. 14.
He also went chew-for-chew with Chestnut in the 2014 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, though Chestnut edged him out in the final minutes, winning 61-56. ||||| Your move, Ron Swanson.
Matt 'Megatoad' Stonie, one of Major League Eating's top two eaters in the world, just set the bacon-eating record by housing 182 slices in five minutes.
That's a lot of pig; Stonie estimates that he ate more than six pounds of cooked bacon, which sports more than 28,000 milligrams of sodium, according to Smithfield, which sponsored the event in Daytona, Florida.
"The bacon was cooked just the way I like it -- a little crispy because I don't like having to chew it," Stonie told HuffPost Weird News after the feat. "I don't feel that bad. I'm used to 10 or 12 minute contests, where I'm eating 10 or 15 pounds of food. I came into this prepared."
Just as bacon hits its prime on the world stage, so has its champion. Stonie told HuffPost that he'll never lose his craving for the breakfast behemoth. Eating competitively is his job, and when he's stuffing his face on stage, he doesn't taste food the same.
"I feel the texture, I taste the saltiness, and I focus on getting it all down," he said. "But I love bacon, it goes with everything."
He added that he's picky about how his pork product is prepared: "It needs to be cooked perfectly. It can't be too crispy and if it's not warm when I get it, the fat coagulates into lard."
Going in, the new Baron of Breakfast didn't have much competition. MLE hasn't ever sponsored a true bacon-eating contest before, and for comparison's sake, unofficial eating groups show a measly 54 pieces of bacon as the previous "record." But Stonie needed to set the bar high today. After all, Megatoad is second only to Joey "Jaws" Chestnut on MLE's list of gustatory greats, and Stonie admits that the two waste no time in eating each other's records. EatFeats shows that the two are gut-and-gut in most competitions.
It wasn't immediately clear whether Chestnut would try to pilfer the pork record, but Stonie can rest easy knowing that today is his day. In fact, it has been his month -- he has set several records in Florida, including today's in Daytona and a 14.5-pound birthday cake eating record set in West Palm Beach on Feb. 14.
He also went chew-for-chew with Chestnut in the 2014 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, though Chestnut edged him out in the final minutes, winning 61-56. | – "I aimed to eat 150 slices, but when I … got to 182 slices, I knew it must be because I'm fueled by bacon!" Words of victory to WXIA from 22-year-old Matt Stonie, who consumed 182 slices of bacon in five minutes at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Mashable reports. Stonie, ranked second in competitive eating by Major League Eating (the sanctioning organization for the "sport"), has very specific preferences for how his breakfast meat is prepared. He tells the Huffington Post that "it needs to be cooked perfectly. It can't be too crispy, and if it's not warm when I get it, the fat coagulates into lard." Stonie also holds the records for eating the most gyros, birthday cake, fro-yo, and pumpkin pie, WXIA notes. The Huffington Post has more on Stonie and his insane birthday-cake record. |
El Tiempo Cantina shuts down social media accounts amid backlash over Jeff Sessions photo
A photo of AG Jeff Sessions at the restaurant was posted on the now deleted social accounts of El Tiempo Cantina Friday. The chain appears to have deleted their social media accounts Saturday amid growing backlash. less A photo of AG Jeff Sessions at the restaurant was posted on the now deleted social accounts of El Tiempo Cantina Friday. The chain appears to have deleted their social media accounts Saturday amid growing ... more Photo: El Tiempo Photo: El Tiempo Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close El Tiempo Cantina shuts down social media accounts amid backlash over Jeff Sessions photo 1 / 32 Back to Gallery
Houston chain El Tiempo Cantina appears to have deleted its social media pages, a day after a photo of the restaurant's owner with Attorney General Jeff Sessions drew outrage and calls for a boycott.
El Tiempo did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the chain's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages were down Saturday afternoon.
On Friday, owner Roland Laurenzo posted a photo with a caption saying it was an "honor" to serve Sessions, who was in town to discuss immigration enforcement with law enforcement officers. The post was quickly condemned by customers, some of whom called for a boycott.
ON THE RECORD: Houston Latino Trump Coalition films campaign song at an El Tiempo restaurant with owner's endorsement
Laurenzo soon after responded, writing that the photo "does not represent us supporting (Sessions') positions."
"El Tiempo does not in anyway support the practice of separating children from parents or any other practices of the government relative to immigration," Laurenzo wrote, according to CultureMap. "The posting of a photograph of the Attorney General at one of our restaurants does not represent us supporting his positions. The secret service contacted us that a government official was coming to dinner at our establishment and his identity was not know until he walked through the door."
READ MORE: AG Jeff Sessions has breakfast at Houston mainstay La Mexicana before speech on immigration
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"The man came to dinner and he was served without us even thinking about the political situations. We were preoccupied with the secret service and catering to their wants and needs. The only thing on our minds was serving great food and giving great customer service. It was posted without review or approval by ownership and this has lead to everyone jumping to conclusions that somehow we are involved in this political matter. We don't approve of anyone separating parents and children." ||||| UPDATE: Since the publication of the post, all El Tiempo social media accounts have been deactivated, according to CultureMap content partner ABC13.
"People are insulting us in such a dramatic fashion, and we feel like we don't deserve it," El Tiempo Cantina owner Roland Laurenzo tells ABC13. "At least temporarily I had it taken down because I don't want to be insulted, my children to be insulted, my family to be insulted."
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Attorney General Jeff Sessions' visit to Houston has put one local restaurant in the crosshairs of the national debate about how restaurants should treat members of the Trump administration.
Sessions, in town on Friday, August 10, to address a meeting of federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials about the need to crackdown on violent crime and illegal immigration, dined at an El Tiempo Cantina in the Inner Loop after his speech. In turn, the restaurant posted a photo on Facebook of Sessions standing with chef-owner Domenic Laurenzo and a caption that read as follows:
"We had the honor to server [sic] Mr. Jeff Sessions, Attorney General of the United States. Thank you for allowing us to serve you."
Sessions' key role in the Trump administration's immigration policies, including increased deportation and the practice of separating parents and children who attempt to cross the border illegally, has made him a controversial figure.
People immediately called for a boycott of any restaurant that considered serving him "an honor," and the original post was quickly deleted. In its place, the restaurant posted the following statement from owner Roland Laurenzo:
El Tiempo does not in anyway support the practice of separating children from parents or any other practices of the government relative to immigration. The posting of a photograph of the Attorney General at one of our restaurants does not represent us supporting his positions. The secret service contacted us that a government official was coming to dinner at our establishment and his identity was not know until he walked through the door. The man came to dinner and he was served without us even thinking about the political situations. We were preoccupied with the secret service and catering to their wants and needs. The only thing on our minds was serving great food and giving great customer service. It was posted without review or approval by ownership and this has lead to everyone jumping to conclusions that somehow we are involved in this political matter. We don’t approve of anyone separating parents and children.
Of course, that did little to stem the criticism, except that it now included Trump administration supporters who disagreed with the restaurant's new statement and Trump administration opponents who asserted the damage had already been done. Others suggested that a restaurant should always feel honored to serve a senior government official regardless of whether the restaurant's staff agrees or disagrees with the person's policies and that El Tiempo had done nothing wrong by thanking the Attorney General for his visit.
How restaurants should treat Trump administration officials has been a hot topic since June, when Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders reported that she has been asked to leave The Red Hen in Lexington, Virginia. Danny Meyer, the legendary New York restaurateur and founder of Shake Shack, told CBS This Morning that refusing service based on someone's beliefs constituted a slippery slope.
"The minute you see me checking people's political registration at the door, that's a bad future, I think, for our business," Meyer said.
Curiously, El Tiempo isn't the only Tex-Mex restaurant that Sessions dined at during his visit. He ate breakfast at La Mexicana, the popular Montrose Tex-Mex restaurant. Unlike El Tiempo, La Mexicana did not promote that Sessions had visited; rather, a reddit user spotted his security detail standing guard in front of the restaurant.
Zulema Gonzales, La Mexicana's general manager, confirmed the visit to the Houston Chronicle. She said that Sessions seemed unsure about what to order and settled on huevos rancheros at the suggestion of Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who also attended the breakfast.
"We treat everybody the same," Gonzales told the newspaper. ||||| HOUSTON — A Houston culinary dynasty has come under fire after a photo with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions began circulating online.
Sessions is pictured with El Tiempo restaurant co-owner Dominic Laurenzo during a recent visit to Houston.
Sessions' tough stance on immigration, coupled with the perceived endorsement by the Tex-Mex restaurant, has resulted in a hailstorm of complaints and even death threats.
Laurenzo's Restaurants president Roland Laurenzo says in no way does the social media post equate to an endorsement of Sessions' politics. He says the company feels quite the opposite.
Laurenzo says the photo was taken with his son Dominic at the El Tiempo restaurant on Navigation Boulevard after Sessions finished his dinner.
He says they discussed fajitas and Sessions was treated like any other guest -- with kindness and hospitality.
It wasn’t until later, when the photo was passed on to the company’s social media manager, that things took off.
Laurenzo says she wrote the caption on the post.
“In retrospect, it was a mistake because it angered so many people," Laurenzo said. "We have gotten so many complaints and comments. And threats, death threats. This has been extremely shocking to our family.”
Laurenzo says his company is not in favor of separating families and do no agree with Sessions' views on gay rights.
The post was pulled Saturday.
Laurenzo says he's hopeful customers will see what the family has represented for Hispanic Houstonians for decades.
© 2018 KHOU | – A longtime Tex-Mex restaurant in Houston has been caught up in the volatile politics of the day, with some calling for a boycott of El Tiempo Cantina. And it's all because Jeff Sessions came to dinner, explains CultureMap. After the attorney general ate there Friday, the owner posted a since-deleted photo online of his son posing with Sessions, saying it had been an "honor" to serve him. Those opposed to White House policies on immigration quickly pounced, with calls for a boycott and worse, reports KHOU. "Death threats," says owner Roland Laurenzo. The restaurant then posted an apology to those it offended and tried to distance itself from White House policies. "El Tiempo does not in [any way] support the practice of separating children from parents or any other practices of the government relative to immigration," Laurenzo wrote. "The posting of a photograph of the Attorney General at one of our restaurants does not represent us supporting his positions." Of course, that prompted supporters of the White House to join the debate, and now El Tiempo is taking flak from both sides. Meanwhile, the restaurant's Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages went dark over the weekend, notes the Houston Chronicle. (A restaurant in Virginia also entered the political fray.) |
By Brian Hiatt
The following is an excerpt of an article from the August 5, 2010 issue of Rolling Stone. This issue is available now on newstands, as well online via All Access, Rolling Stone’s premium subscription plan.
What DiCaprio really sweats is the small stuff. As he prepares to head home one night, he gives himself a ritual pat-down: "Phone in my hand, cigar case in my hand, wallet and car keys there," he mumbles, ever so slightly evoking his performance as Howard Hughes in The Aviator. His stomach churns over "really stupid stuff, things that shouldn't make you anxious whatsoever. It's crazy how your mind will become this database to make you worry about things that are so arbitrary. I have a well-organized life, and I've put a lot of thought into the things that I do, and then, you know my stomach will be... I'll just be sitting there, totally anxious about something ridiculous. You have to stop yourself during the day and say, 'It's just not worth it.'"
To read this story in full and hear DiCaprio talk more about his career, love life, and the nightmares that keep him up at night, you must be a subscriber to All Access. Already a subscriber? Continue on to The Archives. Not a member and want to learn more? Go to our All Access benefits page. ||||| Hot off the success of his new sci-fi thriller Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio opened up to Rolling Stone magazine in their upcoming issue about his personal anxieties, his wild youth and the premature deaths of his childhood peers – and RadarOnline.com has the inside scoop.
Underneath his confident movie star exterior, DiCaprio admits that he stresses just as much as the rest of us. “”[My stomach churns over] really stupid stuff,” says Leo, currently playing a skilled thief who steals secrets from deep inside people’s subconscious while they are sleep.
“Things that shouldn’t make you anxious whatsoever. It’s crazy how your mind will become this database to make you worry about things that are so arbitrary…I’ll just be sitting there, totally anxious about something ridiculous.”
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The 35-year-old actor, who was catapulted to fame in 1997’s record-breaking hit Titanic, admits that he “got to be wild and nuts” for a couple of years following its phenomenal success.
“I didn’t suffer as much as people do now, where they have to play it so safe that they ruin their credibility. I didn’t care what anyone thought…It was also about avoiding the tornado of chaos, of potential downfall,” he told the magazine in the exclusive interview.
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While he enjoyed the Hollywood lifestyle and club scene, Leo says avoided the “tornado of chaos, of potential pitfalls,” unlike some of his acting peers.
“It was, ‘Wow, how lucky are we to not have hung out with that crowd or done those things?’”
Sadly, fellow young stars Jonathan Brandis and River Phoenix weren’t so fortunate.
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“My two main competitors in the beginning, the blond-haired kids I went to audition with, one hung himself and the other died of a heroin overdose…” reveals DiCaprio. “I was never into drugs at all. There aren’t stories of me in a pool of my own vomit in a hotel room on the Hollywood Strip.”
On a lighter note, the heartthrob says his breakout role was a surprising roadblock in his romantic life. “I had better success meeting girls before Titanic. My interactions with them didn’t have all the stigma behind it, not to mention there wasn’t a perception of her talking to me for only one reason.”
Leonardo Di Caprio: From Teen Dream To Hollywood Hunk
The new issue of Rolling Stone hits newsstands nationwide on Friday. | – Leonardo DiCaprio is the new cover boy for Rolling Stone, and the magazine has snippets of its interview: Dating: "I had better success meeting girls before Titanic. My interactions with them didn't have all the stigma behind it, not to mention there wasn’t a perception of her talking to me for only one reason." Growing up: "I was essentially a dwarf with the biggest mouth in the world. I would talk back to anyone and be up for any fight." Nerves: "(My stomach churns over) really stupid stuff. Things that shouldn't make you anxious whatsoever. It's crazy how your mind will become this database to make you worry about things that are so arbitrary." Wilder days: "I got to be wild and nuts, and I didn't suffer as much as people do now, where they have to play it so safe that they ruin their credibility." Drugs: "My two main competitors in the beginning, the blond-haired kids I went to audition with, one hung himself and the other died of a heroin overdose... . I was never into drugs at all. There aren’t stories of me in a pool of my own vomit in a hotel room on the Hollywood Strip." (Radar says he's speaking of Jonathan Brandis and River Phoenix.) |
A Huffman High School student is in custody in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Courtlin Arrington inside the east Birmingham school.
Police have not identified the student but issued this statement Thursday morning: "Detectives of the Birmingham Police Department have been working through the night reviewing evidence, video and statements on the tragic incident that took place at Huffman High School yesterday. Due to their diligent work a person of interest has been taken into custody. Charges are pending a review of the case by the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. Because the charges are pending we will not be releasing any information on the individual in custody. Further information will be released as it becomes available."
Was the shooting an accident?
Initially Birmingham police officials said the deadly shooting, which happened inside a classroom as school was dismissing for the day, appeared to be accidental.
"At this particular time, we consider it accidental until the investigation takes us elsewhere,'' Acting Birmingham Police Chief Orlando Wilson said. "We have a lot of unanswered questions. There are so many unknowns at this time."
We learned Thursday that the shooting was captured on video and led authorities to pursue the charges against the student.
Were metal detectors being used at the school?
Dr. Lisa Herring, Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, said Huffman High School does have working metal detectors in use but declined to comment further as it is part of the ongoing investigation.
We don’t know if the metal detectors are the kind that students walk through or if they are the wand type often used in secondary inspections.
Are there cameras in the school?
Acting Birmingham Police Chief Orlando Wilson said Wednesday that there were surveillance cameras in the school.
Who was the third person that was injured?
A third person, who is not a student, was injured, but it is unknown to what extent.
What does “person of interest” mean?
A person of interest is someone the police are “interested” in during the proceedings of a criminal investigation
Terms like “suspect,” “target,” and “material witness” are more clearly defined, and even have formal definitions given to them by the Department of Justice. However, “person of interest” remains undefined formally. It does not show up in formal manuals like the Associated Press Stylebook, which reporters use to aid them in writing their stories, and it has never been officially defined by police, prosecutors, or journalists. The term is more of a colloquialism, rather than an official definition.
Were parents notified of a lockdown?
We have asked Adrienne Mitchell, Birmingham City Schools Strategy and Communications Officer, but have not received a clear answer. When asked if parents were notified, she referenced a recorded message sent to parents hours after the shooting. We have asked if an alert was sent to parents alerting them to a lockdown and subsequent shooting. We have not received a response to that question.
Students interviewed by WBRC said the bell rang at 3:40 p.m. and the gunshots occurred around 3:45 p.m. The school was placed on lockdown at that time.
Copyright 2018 WBRC. All rights reserved. ||||| A Huffman High School student is in custody in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Courtlin Arrington inside the east Birmingham school.
Police have not identified the student but issued this statement Thursday morning: "Detectives of the Birmingham Police Department have been working through the night reviewing evidence, video and statements on the tragic incident that took place at Huffman High School yesterday. Due to their diligent work a person of interest has been taken into custody. Charges are pending a review of the case by the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. Because the charges are pending we will not be releasing any information on the individual in custody. Further information will be released as it becomes available."
Initially Birmingham police officials said the deadly shooting, which happened inside a classroom as school was dismissing for the day, appeared to be accidental. The shooting, however, was captured on video and led authorities to pursue the charges against the student.
There was a bit of confusion on police radios at first with reports of an active shooter. An officer then clarified the situation. "Listen. We've had an accidental shooting, not an active shooter. We have the gun, we have the one who had the gun. We just need two paramedic vehicles to get these two kids out."
The shooting happened at 3:45 p.m. Arrington was given CPR at the scene and en route to UAB Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival at 4:16 p.m.. The other teen suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg. He was treated in the emergency room and quickly released into police custody where he was questioned and held overnight in the Birmingham City Jail.
A woman at the police station who said she was the boy's mother, said she had not been told his condition, but she did not believe he had a gun. She and other family members gathered there declined further comment. Friends of the student said he had been robbed on campus the previous day, and that likely is why he had a gun at school.
Arrington was going to graduate in May, had already been accepted into college and had dreams to become a nurse. "We're not just talking about some person, we're talking about losing a part of our future,'' said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. "Our hearts are heavy."
On Thursday, the mayor asked that all flags at city facilities be flown at half-staff. "My thoughts and prayers remain with this young lady's family, friends, Huffman family, and community,'' he said via Twitter.
School officials announced late Wednesday night that school will be closed on Thursday. The delay will provide an opportunity for the system to conduct a thorough safety sweep of the school, and also allow the system to collaborate with organizations in the community to provide counseling support to both students and staff, said Superintendent Lisa Herring.
"The magnitude of this event causes us to pause," Herring said. "However, we want to assure our parents, students, staff and community that safety and security are a top priority for Birmingham City Schools."
On Thursday, Herring met with Acting Police Chief Orlando Wilson and his staff to come up with a safety plan for heightened security when students return to school on Friday. In addition to the school resource officers already assigned to the school, additional officers will patrol both the inside and outside of the school. A number of other undisclosed safety measures also will be put into place, she said.
The superintendent also said school district administrators are meeting with United Way, area pastors, local teacher association representatives, mental health counselors and others to devise a counseling plan for students and staff.
"We recognize that as the students return on Friday, that will not be an instructional day,'' Herring said. "We recognize that this is a time of crisis and students are processing emotions that many have never dealt with. It is important to understand that Friday, and the coming days, will be a day of comfort and support."
Many have questioned the use of metal detectors at the school, and whether they were in use Wednesday. Herring said she wouldn't comment on any part of the ongoing investigation, but said there are working metal detectors at the school.
Herring said she knows there are many tough days and tough questions ahead.
"Our goal is to reassure our parents that, as much as we can, we will work to keep our schools safe. But our hearts and our minds are on the families tonight,'' she said. "How do we tell parents that their school is safe after an event like this and how do we reassure our children? That is the work we will take on every single day."
Herring said Huffman High School does have working metal detectors in use but declined to comment further as it is part of the ongoing investigation. In addition to increased security at the school Thursday, the superintendent said said there will be a full crisis team on hand to help students and faculty.
She praised the school officials on hand during Wednesday's shooting. "For as much as they've had to tackle on a very difficult day, they have done an exceptional job of trying to provide care and concern for those who were in the building and for those who had exited out,'' she said.
"We had two victims today, regardless of the circumstances,'' Herring said of both students. "We are most concerned about our families and the child who is no longer with us. We will not only pledge every effort to support the family, but we will do that for every child in Birmingham City Schools."
"I think it's really important we find a way to mourn with the family. That we wrap our arms around the Huffman High School community,'' Woodfin said. "Our entire Birmingham community is in mourning and grief right now. While there are many questions ...we need to take to the time realize that a life was lost. "
Dozens of police officers gathered at the school Thursday morning, as the investigation into yesterday's fatal shooting continues. A small memorial of red balloons and flowers were placed on the fence, near the school's driveway.
Birmingham City Councilor Lashunda Scales, who represents the Huffman area, was also present Thursday. She commented on what she thinks the school can do to increase security, and said Arrington had a "beautiful, radiant smile."
Denise Kendricks, who lives in Huffman, stopped by the school Thursday morning to voice her concerns about security measures in place. "These kids are out here crying for our help," she said through tears. "Something has to happen. Somebody's got to be held accountable."
Kendricks has a son, who serves in the military and lives in Florida, a daughter who recently graduated from Auburn University, and a six-year-old who goes to school nearby. None of her children went to Huffman High. "I expect my child to come home [from school]. I never expect my child to not make it home," she said. "I can't even wrap my brain around that."
The woman also said she's frustrated with others offering prayers and setting up vigils. She said, "We're past candlelight vigils. It's too late for that. Where were you yesterday? Where were you the day before yesterday?"
"These are the things [students] are seeing every single day.... I'm tired of people waking up and losing their lives over something that could be handled," Kendricks said. "If it's affecting our community, it's affecting me." ||||| A person of interest has been taken into custody after a 17-year-old girl was shot dead at an Alabama high school Wednesday, police said.
Charges are pending a review of the case by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office, the Birmingham Police Department said today.
A 17-year-old boy was also shot and survived in the Wednesday afternoon incident during dismissal at Huffman High School in Birmingham, police said. He was taken to a hospital where he was treated and released, police said.
Carol Robinson/AL.com via AP
Carol Robinson/AL.com via AP
The cause of the shooting remains under investigation, Peter Williston of the Birmingham Police told ABC News today.
The gun involved was recovered, police said.
Carol Robinson/AL.com via AP
Brynn Anderson/AP
Police today did not release any information about the person in custody.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said on Twitter Wednesday, "I'm praying for the family of this young lady who tragically lost her life way too early."
ABC News' Rachel Katz and David Caplan contributed to this report. | – A 17-year-old student is in custody as a person of interest in Wednesday's fatal shooting at an Alabama high school, AL.com reports. According to ABC News, police are pursuing charges against the teen but aren't releasing any additional information on his or her identity until charges are filed. The person of interest was also one of the two students injured in the incident, which happened during dismissal in a classroom at Huffman High School in Birmingham. The teen reportedly shot themselves in the leg. They were released from the hospital and into police custody. The 17-year-old killed in the shooting has been identified Courtlin Arrington. She was set to graduate in May, had been accepted to college, and hoped to become a nurse. A third, non-student person was injured in the shooting and treated at the scene, WBRC reports. Police initially called the shooting "accidental," though the cause is still under investigation. Officials decided to pursue charges after watching video of the incident. "At this particular time, we consider it accidental until the investigation takes us elsewhere,'' acting Birmingham police chief Orlando Wilson says. "We have a lot of unanswered questions. There are so many unknowns at this time." |
There are abundant anecdotes and warnings of inappropriate behaviors on social networking sites, particularly about Facebook. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether individuals obsessively monitor or harass their ex-partners on Facebook (related to general "Facebook stalking") and, if so, whether those individuals would also engage in cyber obsessional pursuit (COP) and obsessive relational pursuit (ORI), which are categories of cyberstalking and stalking. A total of 411 valid participants answered questions about the ways they communicated with their ex-romantic partners using Facebook, resulting in three factors: Covert Provocation, Public Harassment, and Venting. Each category of Facebook harassment was related to perpetration of COP and ORI. Additionally, participants who engaged in COP were almost six times more likely to also perpetrate ORI. If participants admitted to engaging in some types of stalking behaviors, they did so online, offline, and on Facebook. Implications for social networking site usage and stalking laws are discussed. There is a kernel of truth to the popular term "Facebook stalking." ||||| To cite this article:
Tara C. Marshall. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. October 2012, 15(10): 521-526. doi:10.1089/cyber.2012.0125.
Previous research has found that continuing offline contact with an ex-romantic partner following a breakup may disrupt emotional recovery. The present study examined whether continuing online contact with an ex-partner through remaining Facebook friends and/or engaging in surveillance of the ex-partner's Facebook page inhibited postbreakup adjustment and growth above and beyond offline contact. Analysis of the data provided by 464 participants revealed that Facebook surveillance was associated with greater current distress over the breakup, more negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the ex-partner, and lower personal growth. Participants who remained Facebook friends with the ex-partner, relative to those who did not remain Facebook friends, reported less negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the former partner, but lower personal growth. All of these results emerged after controlling for offline contact, personality traits, and characteristics of the former relationship and breakup that tend to predict postbreakup adjustment. Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to an ex-partner through Facebook may obstruct the process of healing and moving on from a past relationship.
The present study examined whether online exposure to a former romantic partner contributed to breakup recovery and growth above and beyond offline exposure. Previous research has established that offline contact is associated with poorer postbreakup functioning; for example, almost half of university students who have experienced a breakup continue to see or talk with their former partner, 8 , 9 even though this contact is associated with greater sadness and love for the ex-partner. 10 From the perspective of social network analysis, 11 maintaining offline contact with an ex-partner may preserve a strong-tie contact—frequent, reciprocal, and close contact—that ultimately inhibits breakup recovery. On the other hand, remaining Facebook friends with an ex-partner and/or engaging in surveillance of his or her Facebook page may maintain a weak-tie contact—infrequent, nonreciprocal, and casual contact. Weak ties can provide access to information that may not be obtained through strong ties, 12 such as information obtained through Facebook about the ex-partner's current activities. Such weak-tie contact may therefore sustain exposure to the ex-partner even in the absence of offline contact, potentially prolonging distress and longing for the former partner. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether weak-tie contact through Facebook sufficiently contributed to postbreakup functioning beyond strong-tie contact. This study also examined whether online contact was negatively related to breakup recovery and growth over and above certain personality traits (self-esteem, attachment style) and characteristics of the former relationship and breakup (e.g., feelings for the partner before the breakup, time since the breakup occurred) that consistently predict postbreakup adjustment. 8 , 13 The following hypotheses were tested:
Other research suggests, however, that Facebook may facilitate behaviors associated with obsessive relational intrusion—the unwanted pursuit of an intimate relationship, particularly with an ex-romantic partner. 7 Although Facebook surveillance falls on the mild end of the spectrum of relational intrusion, 3 research has found that monitoring an ex-partner's Facebook photos and other forms of covert provocation (such as writing a status update to make an ex-partner jealous) is associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in offline obsessive relational intrusion (e.g., showing up at the ex-partner's classroom or workplace). 4 Even for individuals who do not engage in relational intrusion, monitoring an ex-partner's online behavior may increase distress over the breakup and prolong pining for the former partner. For example, looking at an ex-partner's Facebook photos may renew desire for the former partner, or it may be upsetting to discover through Facebook that an ex-partner is involved in a new relationship.
Many of the features that make Facebook attractive to its users—easy, free, and anonymous access to information about others—can also facilitate online monitoring behavior. Excessively checking others' Facebook profiles has been variously referred to as interpersonal electronic surveillance, 5 Facebook surveillance, 2 or, more colloquially, as “Facebook stalking.” In particular, people may use Facebook to keep tabs on an ex-partner's current activities by checking his or her status updates, wall posts, comments, and photos; even if one is no longer Facebook friends with an ex-partner, publicly available information—such as a profile photo and list of friends—can still provide a rough approximation of the ex-partner's ongoing activities. Recent estimates have suggested that one-half to two-thirds of people have made contact with an ex-partner through Facebook, 3 , 4 and that over half admit to having looked through an ex-partner's photos to find pictures of an ex-partner with a new romantic partner. 4 Not only is Facebook surveillance of ex-partners relatively common, then, but people who engage in it tend to perceive it as harmless. 6
W ith more than 900 million active users, Facebook is currently the world's most popular social networking website. The two most cited reasons for using Facebook are to keep in touch with others and to surreptitiously monitor their activities. 1 Not only do people use Facebook to monitor the activities of current romantic partners, 2 but as many as one-third use Facebook to keep tabs on former romantic partners. 3 While Facebook surveillance of ex-partners has been linked to negative outcomes such as online and offline relational intrusion, 4 the potential for Facebook contact and surveillance to disrupt emotional recovery and growth following a breakup has received little research attention. The current study sought to fill this research gap by examining whether remaining Facebook friends with a former partner and checking his or her Facebook profile is associated with continuing breakup-related distress, negative feelings, desire for the ex-partner, and inhibited personal growth.
Current distress over the breakup was assessed with six items (e.g., “How much distress do you currently feel concerning the breakup?” and “How heartbroken are you when you think about the breakup?”). Participants indicated the extent of their negative feelings toward the ex-partner by rating how much anger, disappointment, confusion, hate, betrayal, hurt, frustration, and sadness they currently felt (selected in part from other work 10 , 17 ). Sexual desire for the ex-partner included items measuring lust, sexual arousal, and desire. All of the items measuring current distress, negative feelings, and sexual desire were rated on a 5-point Likert scale anchored with Not at all (1), A moderate amount (3), and A great deal (5). Longing for the ex-partner was assessed with four items 18 (e.g., “I am still in love with my ex-partner”) combined with three additional items 13 (e.g., “Everything seems to remind me of my ex-partner”). These items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly Agree (5). Finally, personal growth was measured by modifying the instructions of the 21-item Post-traumatic Growth Inventory 19 , 20 to ask participants how much life change they had experienced in different areas as a result of their breakup (e.g., “I developed new interests”). These items were rated with a 5-point Likert scale anchored with Not at all (1) and A great deal (5).
Participants were asked if they currently had offline contact with the ex-partner and were Facebook friends with the ex-partner. These two variables were effect coded (1=Yes, −1=No). Facebook surveillance was assessed with two items that were equally applicable to people who were currently Facebook friends with the ex-partner and those who were not: “How often do you look at your ex-partner's Facebook page?” and “How often do you look at your ex-partner's list of Facebook friends?” These items were rated on a 9-point scale ranging from Never (1) to Several times a day (9). Participants were also asked how many Facebook friends they had and how much time in minutes they spent on Facebook on a typical day.
Participants were asked to recall a distressing romantic breakup with someone whom they knew had a Facebook account. They indicated the status of the relationship before the breakup (nonexclusive dating, exclusive dating, cohabitating, engaged, or married), the length of the relationship, and how much time had passed since the breakup occurred. To assess feelings for the ex-partner right before the breakup, participants completed the six-item short-form of the Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory, 16 which assesses satisfaction, intimacy, trust, commitment, passion, and love. Two additional items were included that measured the degree of emotional involvement and sexual desire felt for the partner right before the breakup. Participants then indicated which partner initiated the breakup (“I did,” “My partner did,” or “We both did”). In the following analyses, initiator of the breakup was included as an effect-coded variable (1=partner initiated, −1=I initiated/we both initiated). Next, they wrote a description of the circumstances surrounding the end of the relationship, and completed the 16-item Breakup Distress Scale. 8 The instructions of this scale were modified to ask participants to recall the emotional distress they experienced immediately after the breakup occurred. Responses to this scale and to the measure of feelings for the partner before the breakup were rated on a 5-point Likert scale anchored with Not at all (1), A moderate amount (3), and A great deal (5).
It was stated at the beginning of the survey that participants must have a Facebook account and have experienced at least one relationship breakup with someone who also has a Facebook account to be included in the study. Several questions at the end of the survey addressed demographic variables and current relationship status. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the following scales are reported in Table 1 .
Four hundred and sixty-four participants (84 percent female; M age =21.36, SD =5.49) were recruited by posting links to an online survey on several psychology survey-hosting websites (Social Psychology Network Online Social Psychology Studies, Psychological Research on the Net, and the intranet at the author's university). Eighty-seven percent were American, 7 percent were European, 2 percent were Canadian, 2 percent were Latin American, and the remainder were an international mix. Sixty percent of participants were currently working toward an undergraduate degree, 8 percent had completed an undergraduate or higher degree, and the remaining 33 percent had completed high school or A-levels. Forty-eight percent of participants were currently single; of those involved in a romantic relationship, 71 percent were exclusively dating their current partner, 8 percent were cohabitating, 8 percent were married, 7 percent were engaged, and 7 percent were nonexclusively dating. Current relationship status was included in the following analyses as an effect-coded variable (1=currently involved, −1=single).
As seen in Table 3 , many of the personality traits and characteristics of the past relationship and breakup entered at Step 1 significantly contributed to variance in the dependent variables. Additionally, offline contact was positively associated with current distress, desire, and longing for the ex-partner. More pivotal to the present study, the two Facebook variables entered at Step 2 significantly contributed to variance in the dependent variables over and above the predictors entered at Step 1. Contrary to Hypothesis 1, remaining Facebook friends with the ex-partner was negatively associated with negative feelings, desire, and longing for the ex-partner. In support of Hypothesis 1, however, remaining Facebook friends was associated with lower personal growth. Consistent with Hypothesis 2, Facebook surveillance was positively related to current distress, negative feelings, desire, and longing for the ex-partner, and negatively related to personal growth.
Table 3 reports the results of a series of hierarchical regression analyses that tested the predictors of current distress, negative feelings, sexual desire, longing for the ex-partner, and personal growth. For each analysis, the demographic and personality variables (age, sex, anxiety, avoidance, self-esteem), characteristics of the former relationship and breakup (length of the past relationship, feelings before the breakup, initiator status, breakup distress, length of time since the breakup, and current involvement), indices of Facebook usage (number of Facebook friends, average time per day in minutes spent on Facebook), and offline contact with the ex-partner were entered in Step 1. Average time per day spent on Facebook did not significantly contribute to any of the models, and was therefore removed. The key Facebook variables—whether participants were currently Facebook friends with the ex-partner and Facebook surveillance—were added in Step 2.
Means and standard deviations are reported in Table 1 , and Pearson's correlations in Table 2 . Additional analyses revealed that 82 percent of participants had been exclusively dating their former partner before the breakup, 38 percent indicated that their partner had initiated the breakup, and 44 percent indicated that they continued to have some offline contact with the ex-partner. Of the latter participants, 73 percent described themselves as close or casual friends with the ex-partner, suggesting a strong-tie contact. Fifty-seven percent of all participants reported that they were still Facebook friends with the ex-partner; of these participants, over 90 percent indicated that the ex-partner's Facebook wall, photo albums, profile photo, status updates, and list of friends were visible to them. Forty-six percent of participants who were still Facebook friends with the ex-partner indicated that they exchanged Facebook messages and comments with this former partner (81 percent of whom also maintained offline contact); of the 54 percent who remained Facebook friends with the ex-partner, but did not exchange any Facebook-mediated communication, 53 percent did not maintain offline contact, suggesting a weak-tie contact. Of the people who were not Facebook friends with the ex-partner, 25 percent reported that they had defriended the ex-partner, 12 percent reported that the ex-partner had defriended them, and 6 percent reported that they had never been Facebook friends with the ex-partner at any point in time. Less than 50 percent of these participants had access to their ex-partner's Facebook wall, photo albums, and status updates, but 86 percent could see their ex-partner's profile photo, and 72 percent could see their ex-partner's list of friends. That the measure of Facebook surveillance was based on the frequency of checking the ex-partner's Facebook page (which includes the profile photo) and friends list is therefore consistent with the visibility of these elements even for those participants who were not currently Facebook friends with the ex-partner.
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Taken together, these findings suggest that continued online exposure to an ex-romantic partner may inhibit postbreakup recovery and growth, even after accounting for the contribution of offline exposure and well-established personality and relational predictors. Notably, frequent monitoring of an ex-partner's Facebook page and list of friends, even when one was not a Facebook friend of the ex-partner, was associated with greater current distress over the breakup, negative feelings, sexual desire, longing for the ex-partner, and lower personal growth. These findings mirrored the correlates of offline contact, which was associated with greater current distress, sexual desire, and longing for the ex-partner, consistent with previous research.10 Facebook surveillance, therefore, accounted for aspects of postbreakup adjustment—negative feelings toward the ex-partner and lower personal growth—that offline contact did not. Importantly, these findings suggest that weak-tie contact with an ex-partner through Facebook contributed to poorer postbreakup functioning over and above strong-tie contact. Consistent with the view that weak-tie contact can supply information beyond strong-tie contact,12 Facebook may furnish information about an ex-partner that only intensifies heartbreak, such as news that the former partner is involved in a new relationship.
Contrary to expectations, people who remained Facebook friends with an ex-partner were lower in negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the former partner than people who were not Facebook friends. Although it seems likely that people who remained Facebook friends may have had weaker feelings for their partner before the breakup or experienced a more amicable split than people who had defriended the ex-partner, remaining Facebook friends was not significantly correlated with previous feelings for the ex-partner or breakup distress. An alternative possibility is that unbidden exposure to the potentially banal status updates, comments, and photos of an ex-partner through remaining Facebook friends may have decreased any residual attraction to the ex-partner. Former partners with whom we are no longer in contact, by contrast, may remain shrouded in an alluring mystique, suggesting that remaining Facebook friends with an ex-partner may actually help rather than harm one's postbreakup recovery.
Even so, people who remained Facebook friends were lower in personal growth than were those who had defriended the ex-partner, suggesting that even weak-tie contact with an ex-partner through remaining Facebook friends might disrupt the process of moving on. Although one might expect that the lower negativity, sexual desire, and longing for the ex-partner reported by participants who remained Facebook friends would be accompanied by greater, not lesser, personal growth, the former variables were not significantly correlated with personal growth. This lack of association is consistent with research that has found weak or nonsignificant relationships between indices of adjustment and personal growth following a traumatic event,21,22 suggesting that recovery and growth may be relatively independent processes. Indeed, healing from a relationship loss entails a process of recovering from negative emotions and detaching from the former partner, but also of developing a meaning-making narrative that enables personal growth.23 Thus, while remaining Facebook friends may benefit the breakup recovery process by mitigating negative emotions, desire, and longing for the ex-partner, it may simultaneously impede the construction of a personal growth-enhancing narrative.
The most notable limitation of this study is that the correlational design did not allow conclusions to be drawn about casual direction. Although these results suggested that offline contact and Facebook surveillance lead to poorer postbreakup adjustment and lower personal growth, it is just as plausible that people who were hung up on an ex-partner were more likely to seek them out in person and engage in greater Facebook surveillance, which in turn sustained the pining for the former partner. Likewise, people who stagnated after a breakup rather than experienced personal growth may have been more likely to retain the ex-partner as a Facebook friend. An experiment that compares participants who are encouraged not to check their ex-partner's Facebook page for a period of time with other participants who may check freely could shed light on whether Facebook surveillance is causally related to poorer postbreakup adjustment and growth. Furthermore, while it was beyond the scope of the current article to examine the motives behind remaining Facebook friends with an ex-partner and engaging in Facebook surveillance, these motives could be profitably explored in future research. For example, people who feel betrayed by an ex-partner tend to experience heightened breakup distress,8 and the current findings linked breakup distress with a greater likelihood of engaging in Facebook surveillance (see Table 2). Perhaps, then, people are more likely to engage in Facebook surveillance if a former partner has been unfaithful.
In spite of the need for further research, the take-home message from the present study is that keeping tabs on an ex-partner through Facebook is associated with poorer emotional recovery and personal growth following a breakup. Therefore, avoiding exposure to an ex-partner, both offline and online, may be the best remedy for healing a broken heart. ||||| It was in a weak moment of newfound singlehood that I thought, “Hmm, I wonder what he’s up to now.” Having severed our Facebook friendship, along with our romance, a few years ago, I clicked over to Flickr, the one place I knew could give me a glimpse into his life. And there it was: a self-portrait of him wearing a wedding ring.
Ignoring the gender dictates of marital tradition, I irrationally rationalized that it was merely an engagement ring. “No, he’s not married,” I thought. “Is he married? No way he’s married.”
Internet-stalker style, I found further proof on Twitter: Someone had live-tweeted a photo from the wedding. There he was in his tux at the end of the aisle during the sunny, outdoor ceremony. There were shots too of the bride and the happy couple’s Lego-people cake-topper. The term “TMI” is sorely overused, but this was the definition of it. It’s one thing to realize that the man you once wanted to marry and have babies with is on that path with someone else, and another to be a virtual witness to it.
Conventional wisdom, and even science, has it that cutting off contact with an ex makes for a smoother recovery. But nowadays — said in my best granny voice — it’s much more difficult to get distance from an ex. (Funnily enough, my married ex is thousands of miles away — and it was the Internet that allowed our long-distance relationship to exist in the first place.) It isn’t as easy as tearing your rotary phone from the wall. It isn’t even as simple as deleting an ex’s number from your cellphone. There’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the rest of the Internet with which to contend.
My ex’s live-tweeted marriage reminded me of this. So did my most recent breakup with a man whom I remain connected to via three social media platforms. But then there came yet another reminder this week — a study with a finding that will surprise no one: “Facebook stalking” an ex “may obstruct the process of healing and moving on from a past relationship.” You can no longer pretend that hitting “refresh” on your ex’s profile is helping you “process.”
The study by Tara C. Marshall, a psychology professor at Brunel University, found that “Facebook surveillance was associated with greater current distress over the breakup, more negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the ex-partner, and lower personal growth.” More surprisingly, those who stayed Facebook friends with their ex “reported less negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the former partner” — but they were “lower in personal growth.” Marshall suggests this may be because “unbidden exposure to the potentially banal status updates, comments, and photos of an ex-partner through remaining Facebook friends may have decreased any residual attraction to the ex-partner,” whereas defriended exes “remain shrouded in an alluring mystique.” | – What with Facebook, Flickr, and other fine venues for stalking "exes," breakups aren't nearly as final as they once were. But for your own good, please stop following them around cyberspace. "Conventional wisdom, and even science, has it that cutting off contact with an ex makes for a smoother recovery," writes Tracy Clark-Flory at Salon. And she knows the struggle all too well, having tracked an ex from Flickr to Twitter until she realized that the ring on his finger wasn't "merely an engagement ring." Not only was he already married, but Clark-Flory had to see a live-tweeted photo of him standing in the aisle. "It’s one thing to realize that the man you once wanted to marry" has moved on, she writes, "and another to be a virtual witness to it." Clark-Flory digs up studies to make her case, like one that finds "Facebook stalking ... may obstruct the process of healing" and another in which 30% of college students admit to posting status updates "to taunt or hurt" an ex. The only problem: "It’s never been easier to secretly keep tabs on exes," writes Clark-Flory, "and it’s never been harder not to." |
Military members, retirees and veterans have a few more reasons to be wary of politicians who say their top priority is to cut federal spending.
The Congressional Budget Office on Wednesday released a report of more than 100 options for reducing budget deficits. It's a timely product as House and Senate conferees strive to negotiate by mid-December a new debt-cutting deal to replace automatic budget cuts of sequestration.
More than a few of the CBO options are fresh ideas to roll back compensation for categories of veterans or to raise TRICARE fees for military retirees, on suggestions that the government is being too generous.
To be fair, CBO is not singling out veterans here. There are options in the report to make nervous many segments of society dependent on federal payments, from social security recipients to drug manufacturers.
But for select veterans' programs, CBO makes some hard-edged points that lawmakers bent on cutting spending might find compelling, if not persuasive, to help address the nation's debt crisis.
Here are some of those ideas:
Cap Military Pay Raises – From 2000 through 2010, Congress approved basic pay raises that averaged a half percentage point above private sector wage growth. The military could save $25 billion from 2015 to 2023 by reversing course, capping raises yearly at .5 percent below civilian wage growth. CBO predicts only a "minor" effect on force retention.
Evidence in favor of this move are data showing cash compensation for enlisted members now exceeds wages of 90 percent of civilian counterparts, well above the Defense Department's goal of keeping service pay ahead of 70 percent of civilians of similar age and educational background. CBO says officer compensation exceeds 86 percent of private sector peers.
The case against capping raises is that recruiting and retention goals could be compromised, CBO says, and smaller raises also dampen other elements of military compensation including retirement annuities.
Raise TRICARE Fees – CBO floats two options to have military retirees pay more for health care. One is to have TRICARE-for-Life users -- retirees, spouses and survivors age 65 and older -- pay the first $550 of costs not covered by Medicare and then 50 percent of the next $4950. CBO says this would slow TRICARE costs by $31 billion from 2015 to 2023 but also save Medicare dollars as older beneficiaries seek fewer health services.
The drawback is some TLF users might not seek needed preventive care or manage their chronic conditions as closely as they do now.
The second option targets "working age" retirees and families enrolled in TRICARE Prime by raising fees, deductibles and co-pays in a complex combination too detailed to describe here. The Prime changes for retirees could save from $2 billion to $11 billion by 2023, depending on final details.
Concurrent Receipt – Until 2003, military retirees who drew tax-free compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for service-connected disabilities saw retired pay reduced by an equal amount. Congress phased out this ban on "concurrent receipt" over several years to for retirees with disability ratings of 50 percent or higher. As a result, last year 420,000 retirees received $7 billion in concurrent receipt payments.
Lifting this ban, CBO suggests, encouraged many more retirees to seek a VA disability rating. In 2005, only 33 percent who served 20 or more years received VA disability pay. By 2012, that proportion of longevity retirees drawing disability pay had climbed to 45 percent.
CBO says $108 billion could be saved from 2015 to 2023 if the ban on concurrent receipt were restored for current and future retirees. They "would still receive higher after-tax payments than would retirees who are not disabled," CBO noted.
The argument against is that retired pay and VA pay compensate for "different characteristics of military service: rewarding longevity in the former case and remunerating for pain and suffering in the latter…Moreover, some retirees would find the loss of income financially difficult."
That CBO floated such an option could dampen hope among military retirees with disabilities rated 40 percent and less that Congress someday will lift the concurrent receipt ban for them too.
Narrow Eligibility for VA Compensation – The law requires VA to define "service-connected" ailments broadly so if symptoms occur in service the condition usually is compensable. Last year, CBO says, VA paid 520,000 veterans a total of $2.9 billion "for seven medical conditions that…are generally neither caused nor aggravated by military service."
VA could save $20 billion, from 2015 to 2023, if it stopped compensating veterans for the following: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; arteriosclerotic heart disease; hemorrhoids; uterine fibroids; multiple sclerosis; Crohn's disease and osteoarthritis.
Indeed, if Congress eliminated "compensation for all disabilities unrelated to military duties," CBO says, the savings would be far greater, though, admittedly, this "would be more difficult to administer."
The argument in support is that VA disability pay should be more comparable to civilian systems, which "do not typically compensate individuals for all medical problems" that develop during employment.
The opposing argument is that military service "imposes extraordinary risks" and hardships, which justify current pays and benefits including compensation for those who become disabled in any way while in service.
Tighten VA "IU" Benefits – VA will supplement regular disability compensation for veterans not rated 100-percent disabled if they are deemed "unable to engage in substantial work," CBO explains. The "Individual Unemployability" (IU) benefit is paid today to 300,000 veterans, boosting monthly incomes by an average of $1800 a month.
A third of IU veterans, however, are over 65, the age by which many American workers are retired and drawing full social security benefits. CBO said VA could save $15 billion by 2023 if it stopped IU to older veterans.
These are not recommendations, CBO says, only options intended to inform lawmakers.
To comment, write Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA, or email milupdate@aol.com or twitter: Tom Philpott @Military_Update ||||| SIMI VALLEY, Calif.—The U.S. military's top commanders, groping for ways to cope with a shrinking Pentagon budget, have agreed to a plan that would curb the growth of pay and benefits for housing, education and health—prized features of military life that for years have been spared from cuts.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a weekend interview that without such changes, the cost of military... | – It's long seemed unthinkable, but US military personnel could soon see cuts to their pay and benefits. Top commanders are considering such cuts as they deal with a decreasing budget, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chair said this weekend. While acknowledging that "we can't pay [soldiers] enough," Gen. Martin Dempsey added, "We also have an institution to manage." No specifics have been revealed; details will be released along with the proposed military budget in February, the Wall Street Journal reports. Dempsey did say benefits wouldn't be immediately cut, no changes will be made to the retirement system, and that the plan is a multi-year effort to slow down compensation. Pay and benefits will soon make up 60% of the military budget (currently, the cost of military personnel is about 50% of the budget), meaning that if they're not curbed, there won't be enough money for new weapons or training within the decade, Dempsey said. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and President Obama must approve the plan, then Congress, and so far it's not looking too popular with lawmakers. The news comes days after a Congressional Budget Office report that said cutting military pay is one of many options to reduce the budget deficit, Military.com reports. |
President Obama makes a statement on the situation in Iraq and in Ferguson, Mo., at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., on Aug. 14, 2014. (Photo: Nicholas Kamm, AFP/Getty Images)
Addressing crises both domestic and foreign, President Obama appealed for calm Thursday amid violent protests in a St. Louis suburb, and said a rescue operation for religious minorities in Iraq will not be necessary.
Obama, speaking from his vacation at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., called the weekend death of 18-year-old Michael Brown a tragedy, and urged police and protesters in Ferguson, Mo., to "take a step back" and consider how to best move forward.
"Now's the time for healing," Obama said. "Now's the time for peace and calm on the streets of Ferguson."
STORY: Governor vows a 'different tone' on Ferguson's streets
STORY: Michael Brown had no criminal record, police say
The president called on local police to be "open and transparent" about their investigation of Brown's death. He said there is never an excuse for looting and violence toward police officers, and "there's also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests, or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights."
In particular, Obama criticized police for detaining two journalists during protests Wednesday, and for threatening others. Officers "should not be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying to do their jobs and report to the American people on what they see on the ground," he said.
Police have used tear gas and smoke bombs on crowds who gathered to protest the death of Brown on Saturday; some protesters have thrown Molotov cocktails.
Obama called the teenager's death "heartbreaking and tragic," and said the Department of Justice is working with local officials on the investigation. The president said he made it clear to Attorney General Eric Holder that "we should do what is necessary to help determine exactly what happened and to see that justice is done."
The president also said he spoke with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, calling him "a good man."
While "emotions are raw right now" and "there are certainly passionate differences about what has happened," Obama asked citizens to remember that all Americans remain united by common values.
"That includes belief in equality under the law, a basic respect for public order and the right to peaceful public protest," Obama said. "A reverence for the dignity of every single man, woman and child among us and the need for accountability when it comes to our government."
As for Iraq, Obama said there has been progress with the limited military mission he announced last week.
Earlier in the week, the Obama administration began considering a rescue operation for members of the Yazidi religion who were trapped atop Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq, surrounded by Islamic State fighters.
On Wednesday, a Pentagon assessment team reported that most of the Yazidi have escaped, and a full-scale rescue operation would not be needed.
"We broke the ISIL siege of Mount Sinjar," Obama said. "We helped vulnerable people reach safety; and we helped save many innocent lives."
He added, "I could not be prouder of the men and women of our military who carried out this humanitarian operation almost flawlessly."
Obama said airstrikes would continue against militants who are threatening U.S. personnel and others in northern Iraq. Humanitarian relief to displaced Iraqis will also continue.
The president praised development of a new government in Iraq, saying it will be better able to eventually take control of the fight against militants.
Said Obama: "We are modestly hopeful that the Iraqi government situation is moving in the right direction."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/VpCRbA ||||| McCulloch blasts Nixon
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch Thursday night blasted the decision by Gov. Jay Nixon to replace St. Louis County Police control of the Ferguson situation with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
“It's shameful what he did today, he had no legal authority to do that," McCulloch said. "To denigrate the men and women of the county police department is shameful."
McCulloch noted that no one was seriously injured in the effort led by County Police Chief Jon Belmar until Nixon handed control of the Ferguson over to the state agency on Thursday.
“For Nixon to never talk to the commanders in the field and come in here and take this action is disgraceful," McCulloch said.
"I hope I'm wrong, but I think what Nixon did may put a lot of people in danger."
Paul Hampel, 8:33 p.m.
Two assaults reported
A Washington University student was reportedly assaulted near the Ferguson McDonald's in what one witness said appeared to be a knock-out game.
Restaurant employees gave the unidentified victim ice to ease face swelling. Acquaintances subsequently transported him to a hospital.
The victim praised the "many people here (who) rushed to help me."
Eli Rosenberg, a reporter for KMBC in Kansas City, meanwhile tweeted that an unknown assailant delivered four punches to the face of his cameraman.
"Paramedics say (the cameraman) will feel it in the morning, but should be okay," Rosenberg tweeted.
Paul Hampel at 12:05 p.m.
Black Panthers help Ferguson head in the right direction
A half-dozen members of the New Black Panther political movement were out on West Florissant Avenue Thursday night as night fell. Not a police officer was in sight. The New Black Panthers directed traffic.
"If you want the police to stay away, somebody has to do it. Nobody is doing it," said Jarren Brown, aka "Brother Genius," as he signaled to cars, stopping some so others could turn on side streets, stopping others so some can turn off side streets.
The group, wearing all black and at least one with a small New Black Panthers pin on his lapel, worked up a sweat as they moved. They exuded a friendly but firm stance, urging the slowing, honking cars on West Florissant to move along.
Koran Addo at 8:55 p.m.
No police presence on West Florissant Avenue
A cheer went up as police departed the area near the Ferguson QuikTrip looted and burned during a night of unrest Sunday night.
Demonstrators remained on the sidewalk after the departure and did not attempt to block traffic on West Florissant Avenue. Motorists signaled their support for the protesters by honking their horns and the chant of "Hands Up! Don't Shoot!" occasionally filled the air.
But the scene near the site where Michael Brown was gunned down last Saturday remained calm.
Paula Lotts of St. Louis, came to Ferguson Thursday night to support her three boys.
“It's sad our children have to live like this," she told a reporter. "We're not scared of people in the community, we're afraid of the police. The police stop our kids everywhere they go. Every black child is not doing wrong. Please don't put our children in that category. It's not a black-white thing - it's a police thing."
Koran Addo at 7:10 p.m.
Peaceful march
As many as 300 marchers made their way along West Florissant Avenue late Thursday afternoon in the most peaceful demonstration since the shooting death of Michael Brown five days ago.
Capt. Ronald Johnson, the Missouri State Highway Patrol officer Gov. Jay Nixon placed in charge of the Ferguson situation Thursday afternoon led the procession.
Johnson marched in shirtsleeves - a stark contrast with the para-military uniforms that have become the symbol of the Ferguson police presence during nearly a week of unrest.
In an impromptu discussion with reporters, Johnson allowed that he has "a big dog in this fight."
Johnson grew up nearby, close to the intersection of Halls Ferry and Chambers Roads.
"I occasionally go to Red's Barbeque," he said, giving a shout out to a popular Ferguson restaurant. "And I've had a few beers in this town, too."
Well-wishers and residents handed the marchers bottles of water, pizza, homemade dishes and cookies as they passed.
"I'm out here hoping for peace for the protesters and the police," said Bridgett Norise of Dellwood. “It's nice to see no divisions. This is the most unity I've seen in years."
Her friend, Regina Carter, agreed.
“It's very nice to see white and black people marching together peacefully," she said.
But the presence of Johnson was clearly the difference between Thursday and the four nights of turmoil that preceded it.
“I love this man so much,” said Angela Whitman of Berkeley. "He's been here since the beginning,giving us encouragement and letting us know we'll get through this."
Marchers under Johnson's eye picked up debris along the demonstration route - another sign that perhaps tensions are at at last easing in the troubled North County community.
Paul Hampel and Koran Addo at 6:40 p.m.
Nixon turns police control over to Missouri State Highway Patrol
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has given police oversight of the Ferguson situation to the Missouri State Highway Patrol under the command of Capt. Ronald S. Johnson, a St. Louis area native.
Nixon said the change in command will include a softening in "tone" and "amplitude" regarding protective force.
"Clearly you'll see as the afternoon and evening starts, a little different picture," Nixon said, adding, "We should all know there will be resources out there if things get difficult, that people will be safe."
Nixon addressed questions from the press at the University of Missouri-St. Louis after touring areas of Ferguson. He was flanked by Johnson, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.
Johnson pledged to protect Ferguson while allowing protesters and marchers to have their say. He said he wants to rebuild trust and respect in the community.
"I grew up here and this is clearly my community and my home. Therefore, this means a lot to me personally," he said. "I understand the anger and fear that the citizens of Ferguson are feeling, and I understand and respect both of those."
Earlier today at a gathering at Christ the King United Church of Christ Nixon pledged to make an "operational shift" in the way Ferguson protests are being handled by police and had promised to reveal his plans later today.
"We will have a different approach today," Johnson said. He planned to go to the burned out QuikTrip that has been a center for protesters and visit with them.
•••
McCaskill calls to "demilitarize the police response"
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill got a standing ovation inside Christ the King United Church of Christ this morning when she told a crowd the county should "demilitarize the police response" in Ferguson.
McCaskill spoke moments after Gov. Jay Nixon told the same crowd there would be an "operational shift" in the handling of Ferguson.
Afterward she told reporters, "The police response has been part of the problem."
McCaskill told reporters, "It is my understanding that the county police will be taken off the investigation."
But when pressed on it, she didn't elaborate.
Nixon got loud applause from the crowd when he talked about the media. "If people in the newspapers want to cover things and take pictures and stuff," he said. "They ought to do it. It's a free country."
-Kevin McDermott at 11:10 a.m. with updates
•••
Obama calls for "peace and calm" in Ferguson
President Barack Obama today called again for "peace and calm on the streets of Ferguson," addressing for the second time the police shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown and the violent clashes between police and protesters that have ensued.
"Let us remember we are all part of one American family," Obama said in a short address from Martha's Vineyard, where he is vacationing. "We are united in common values and that includes belief in equality under the law, basic respect for public order and the right of peaceful protest."
Obama also notably gave a vote of confidence to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. Obama said he talked with Nixon this morning and "I expressed my concern over the violent turn of events" in Ferguson.
"He is a good man and fine governor," Obama said.
Obama said he was briefed this morning on the situation in Ferguson by Attorney General Eric Holder. He criticized the arrest of journalists, said there is no excuse for police use of force against peaceful protesters, and that there is "never an excuse for violence against police or those who would use this as a cover for vandalism or looting."
- Chuck Raasch at 12:10 p.m. Thursday
•••
Ferguson Chief outlines plan to "reduce tensions"
Calling the situation a "powder keg," Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson signaled a change of strategy this afternoon, describing a plan to try to "reduce tensions" by allowing protesters to use sidewalks while keeping streets open to traffic.
He said officials want to tone down the confrontations and will talk about "not only the tactics but the appearance" of police in riot gear. He said tactical units would remain on standby in case of trouble.
Pressed about use of tear gas on non-violent demonstrators, Jackson suggested that people need to distance themselves from those who provoke police with aggressive acts or threats.
"There is gunfire. There are fire bombs being thrown at the police," he said.
Jackson said police were devising a plan to make sidewalks around West Florissant available to the protesters, and that they were going to put up cones so people would stay out of the street. Port-A-Potties would also be provided
"We'll allow them to freely protest for as long as they want," he said. "We want to facilitate their ability to protest because it's a constitutional right."
He acknowledged last night's police response did not look good and said, "there are several meeting going on to evaluate tactics."
"We're going to talk about not only the tactics but the appearance. We're having conversations."
Jackson said decisions regarding dispersing crowds with tear gas were made by tactical commanders at the scene "based on the threat of violence."
"We can't individually go in and say, 'Are you peacefully protesting? Are you throwing rocks? Are you throwing Molotov cocktails?'"
An Al-Jazeera reporter asked why police shot tear gas at their camera crew on a block with no protesters nearby. Jackson said he wasn't sure who made the decision to do that and would look into it. "The media is not a target," he said.
He also said he didn't know why two reporters were arrested at a McDonald's Wednesday night.
- Pat Gauen and Walker Moskop at 12:35 p.m. Thursday with updates
•••
Area clergy plan 5 p.m. peace march with Ferguson youth
The St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition has planned a 5 p.m. community march "to stand in solidarity with the peaceful youth of Ferguson so their voices can be heard in the wake of the killing of Michael Brown," said The Rev. Michael Kinman of Christ Church Cathedral, in a written release.
"This is a nonviolent action and our goal is not so much to raise our voices but to make sure the voices of the young people of Ferguson are heard," Kinman said in the statement.
Marchers plan to gather at 5 p.m. today at the Mobil station on the corner of West Florissant Ave. and Chambers Road. Clergy were asked to bring their Bibles, "so that we are marching with the power of the Word of God."
Participants were also asked to bring a care package in a clear plastic bag containing toiletries and other items for people who have been unable to go to the store because of the protests and police action.
"So we take this action not just out of love for the young people of Ferguson and Michael Brown and his family," Kinman wrote in the release. "We take this action out of love for the Ferguson Police Department and all the officers of the many Metropolitan Police Departments who have pledged to protect and serve and who put their lives on the line for this community."
- Nancy Cambria at 2:40 p.m. Thursday
•••
Two injuries reported from last night's unrest in Ferguson
Christian Hospital treated one 23-year-old male for rubber bullet-related injuries Wednesday evening following the demonstrations in Ferguson, said hospital spokesman Bret Berigan. The patient was released shortly after treatment.
Police also reported an officer injured an ankle when a brick was thrown at him.
- Samantha Liss at 2:45 p.m. Thursday with updates
Moment of silence prior to Cardinals game
Fans at the first St. Louis Cardinals home game since the Saturday shooting of Ferguson teen Michael Brown observed a moment of silence Thursday in honor of the recent Normandy High School graduate.
"For over a century Cardinals baseball has been an integral part of the fabric of St. Louis – bringing us together as a community and enriching our lives in so many important ways. St. Louis is a good community with good people who care about one another, our neighborhoods and our region. In recent days we have all been heartbroken by a series of violent events that do not reflect who we are as a people. We ask that you join us tonight in taking a stand against violence as we unite as one community," the field announcer told fans prior to the Cardinals contest with the San Diego Padres.
Derrick Goold at 9:50 p.m.
•••
Sharpton back to St. Louis on Sunday
Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network is heading back to St. Louis to lead a rally in support of Michael Brown. Brown's parents, Attorney Benjamin Crump, the family's lawyer, and Martin Luther King III are all expected to speak at the event. The rally is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Greater Grace Church in Ferguson. Sharpton spoke at Greater St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church earlier in the week, drawing more than 1,000 supporters.
- Lilly Fowler at 1:50 p.m. Thursday with update of new location
•••
St. Charles County swat team releases statement regarding handling of media camera equipment
Amid international criticism of the way law enforcement treated media covering Ferguson last night, the St. Charles County Regional SWAT Team released the following statement this afternoon saying its officers were helping reporters last night:
"Over the last few days, the St. Charles County Regional SWAT Team has assisted in Ferguson at the request of the St. Louis County Police Department to help respond to looting and for protection of the property of Ferguson citizens and businesses. On Wednesday, August 13th, video footage was taken of St. Charles County SWAT officers handling media camera equipment. The position of the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department is that the media has the right to cover these events and supports the freedom of the press, and the SWAT Team has not been any part of attempting to prevent media coverage. In fact, last night the SWAT Team officers were assisting the media in moving their camera equipment and media personnel to a safer area with their consent so that they could continue to cover the event. The Sheriff has notified St. Louis County Police that the St. Charles County Regional SWAT Team is available to protect life and property but does not have a continued role in crowd control during this time of civil protest."
SWAT teams were heavily criticized on social media after video emerged showing tear gas being lobbed directly at a camera crew for the news organization Al-Jazeera. The SWAT officers were later filmed dismantling the camera equipment.
- Nancy Cambria at 2:05 p.m. with updates
•••
McCaskill says riot equipment amplifying tensions
Sen. Claire McCaskill followed Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson to the microphone at a press conference this afternoon, suggesting that the riot equipment used by police has amplified the tension -- and lauding officials' apparent recognition of it. "I think the demilitarization of the response is going to help a lot," she said.
She said most police officers are good people eager to keep the community safe, and could relate better to the protesters as people. "I’d love it if some of the officers would go over and have a bottle of water with them."
As for law enforcement officials' refusal to release information about the case, McCaskill said that letting out information "in dribs and drabs" can hamper the quality of the investigation and compromise justice in the end. McCaskill, a Democrat, is a former prosecutor.
- Pat Gauen at 1 p.m. Thursday
•••
Ferguson situation resonates at international United Nations conference on civil rights
Delegations of American civil rights officials and activists are in Geneva, Switzerland this week for a United Nations conference on racial equality, and the shooting death of Michael Brown is reverberating there.
"Clearly this issue is resonating here... and they knew about it before we got here," said Hilary O. Shelton, director of the NAACP Washington Bureau. The story "continues to run in circulation over and over again (on Geneva television). The world is watching what is happening in Ferguson, Missouri."
- Chuck Raasch at 1:45 p.m. Thursday
•••
Nixon will tour West Florissant Avenue area this afternoon, meet with press at UMSL
Misouri Gov. Jay Nixon will take a tour of the the area where rioting and protests have taken place since Micheal Brown was shot and killed by a police officer on Saturday. He is touring the area without media. At 3 p.m. he is scheduled to take questions from the press at the J.C. Penney Conference Center on the campus of University of Missouri-St. Louis.
- Kevin McDermott at 12:50 p.m. Thursday
•••
Town and Country Rep. urges Nixon to declare state of emergency, impose curfew
House Majority Leader John Diehl, R-Town and Country, said today that Gov. Jay Nixon should declare a state of emergency in Ferguson and impose a curfew in the St. Louis County "corridor" that has seen violence.
"Whether it's eight o'clock or nine o'clock, whenever it hits, law-abiding people would know they need to be off the street at that time," Diehl said in an interview. "Curfews are routinely and legitimately used as a law enforcement technique in situations like this.
- Virginia Young at 1:20 p.m. Thursday
•••
Ferguson situation creates rift between St. Louis city and county police
The militarized police response to protests in Ferguson has become so divisive that it has driven a rare wedge between two forces that often work closely together – the two largest police departments in the area – St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis County Police.
Terry Kennedy, alderman of the 18th Ward, emailed St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson on Wednesday night to discourage him from sending city police officers into Ferguson. A copy of the email exchange was posted on Twitter by community activist John Chasnoff; Dotson could not immediately be reached, but Kennedy confirmed it was authentic.
Kennedy wrote to Dotson: “The possibility of having St. Louis Police Department personnel present with the Ferguson Police in what appears to be a racially-charged and possibly discriminating environment could make it appear that the St. Louis Police Department supports racial discrimination and disenfranchisement.”
Dotson’s response: “I agree and removed our tactical assistance. We did not send tactical resources to Ferguson on Tuesday or Wednesday. Our only assistance was that of four traffic officers to help divert traffic and keep both pedestrians and motorists safe. On Thursday we will have no officers assisting Ferguson.”
Dotson said in an interview this afternoon that he does not support the county police tactics in Ferguson, and has decided to keep his officers in the city.
He said he made the decision earlier this week, long before the confrontation between police and protesters on Wednesday night that saw officers responding to the protests on armored vehicles carrying military weapons.
“My gut told me what I was seeing were not tactics that I would use in the city and I would never put officers in situations that I would not do myself,” he said.
- Jeremy Kohler at 12:45 p.m. Thursday with updates
•••
Hacker group claims it has name of cop who killed Brown
The hacker group Anonymous has released the name of the person it says is the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown.
The Post-Dispatch has not been able to verify the information. Police and the Ferguson mayor have both said the name Anonymous has released is wrong.
Twitter suspended the account that Anonymous was using to release the information.
Twitter suspended the account of the Anonymous-associated operative who released the name of the officer. The person or persons tweeting under the handle @TheAnonMessage confirmed via email that the account was suspended, “for practicing free speech,” the person wrote.
He said Anonymous indeed was responsible for the St. Louis County web crash.
- David Hunn at 11:15 a.m. with updates.
•••
St. Louis alderman released from jail
St. Louis Alderman Antonio French emerged Thursday morning from a night in jail after his arrest at the Ferguson protests to say that the police officers' "heavy-handed" approach on the streets is making the situation worse.
French said police pulled him from his car Wednesday night and arrested him. Police say he didn't listen to their orders to disperse. Police gave him no documentation that says why he was arrested. He was released about 7 a.m. today without having to post any bail.
French said he should never have been locked up, nor should the dozen or so others at the jail overnight.
"Inside that jail is nothing but peacekeepers," he said. "They rounded up the wrong people ... reverends, young people organizing the peace effort."
Police arrested about a dozen people Wednesday night, including French and Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery and Huffington Post reporter Ryan Reilly.
Police used tear gas and sonic cannons to disperse the crowds. Today, President Obama will mention the Ferguson troubles in a speech. Also today, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is scheduled to visit Ferguson in the wake of the growing protests.
"The worsening situation in Ferguson is deeply troubling, and does not represent who we are as Missourians or as Americans,” Nixon said in a statement.
As French walked out of the Ferguson Jail this morning, he wore his signature oxford button-down shirt -- slightly wrinkled from sleeping in it on a jail cot, and with a burnt orange color on the shoulder from where a fellow inmate had wiped his eyes from the burning tear gas.
French talked with reporters about his experience. He said he was near the burned-out QuikTrip on West Florissant Avenue at about 9 p.m. Wednesday when police in riot gear ordered protesters to disperse. Several hundred people were there.
"Police had just given a final warning to disperse and released smoke bombs, people scattered and ran," French said. "Police started to move forward with riot gear and tear gas started to come."
"I moved away when it looked like they were throwing what I thought was tear gas ... it turned out to be smoke bombs," French added. "I realized the best place (to be was in my) car with the windows rolled up. That's where I was."
He said he was in car recording video of what was happening outside. When the line of police officers came to French's car door, an officer opened the door and pulled him out, French said. French asked why, and the officer told him, "Because you didn't listen."
When a reporter asked French today how he went from being in his car to being arrested, he said: "They open your door and drag you out."
"They just rounded up anybody they could see," he said.
He had no complaints about the way the officer treated him, other than how securely the officer wrapped his wrist with the plastic handcuffs.
"I don't think I was mistreated," he said. "The roughest things were those zip ties ... pretty tight."
He said he was treated well inside the jail and offered a honey bun at 6 a.m. for breakfast, which he declined. He was told he'd be held 24 hours on a charge of unlawful assembly, but then he was inexplicably released without bail or any paperwork at 7 a.m.
French is in his first term as alderman of the 21st Ward in St. Louis. His ward includes the Mark Twain, Penrose and O'Fallon neighborhoods. After the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson on Saturday afternoon, French has been attending protests and rallies, posting updates on social media.
French said he will continue to document the protests and police response as long as the protesters are on the streets. He wasn't able to post anything for the nine hours he was in jail because they took his phone from him. At 8 a.m., French said he was ready to log back in. "I've gotta find a charger somewhere," he joked.
He said he was also heading to an ATM to get cash to bail out two of his staffers who were arrested after being pulled from their cars. Police told his staffers, two women, that they were arrested for a noise violation, French said.
"In an American city, people are being tear-gassed and snipers are pointing rifles at them," he said. "Everybody should be upset ... heavy-handed police approach is actually making the situation worse.
"Before they arrived heavy-handedly, it was a peaceful situation."
French said the city is wrong to try to limit protests to daylight-only.
"We have a right to protest 24 hours a day," French said. "Our constitutional rights don't expire at 9 p.m."
- Kim Bell, 7:25 a.m. Thursday
•••
Twitter hashtag calls for moment of silence to honor victims of police brutality
The hashtag #NMOS14 has been gaining speed on Twitter. The tag stands for "National Moment of Silence" and is intended to honor victims of police brutality, according to people who have been using it. Twitter users are using the hashtag in tweets to plan gatherings and rallies. (Hashtags are used in tweets to create easily searchable words or phrases.)
The moment of silence vigil will start at 6 p.m., according to a Facebook page for the event.
- Beth O'Malley at 10:40 a.m.
•••
ACLU sues St. Louis County for police reports
The American Civil Liberties Union sued St. Louis County and the county police this morning to obtain copies of initial police reports surrounding the fatal shooting of Mike Brown by Ferguson police.
The ACLU filed the lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court after their open records request for the initial incident report of the shooting was rejected by police Wednesday, the suit says.
- Robert Patrick, 11:30 a.m. Thursday
•••
Libertarian Party says police should stand down in Ferguson
The National Libertarian Party said in a statement that America's war on drugs is frequently used to justify police who accost minorities engaged in peaceful behavior.
"This may have been what precipitated the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown over the weekend, leading to riots and another shooting on Wednesday," the statement said. "Although all the facts of this case are not yet known, the War on Drugs can be blamed for breeding the tension and resentment that has led to the dangerous rioting we now see in Ferguson."
"The militarization of our domestic police forces must end," said Nicholas Sarwark, chair of the Libertarian National Committee.
•••
Unrest in Ferguson impacting businesses
Sales are off by $6,000 this week at the Papa John's Pizza on West Florrisant, in Dellwood, four blocks from the burned-out QuikTrip in Ferguson, said a store manager, who halted late-night deliveries this week because of the unrest in the area.
“I think that drivers are scared because it's just crazy,” said the manager, who declined to be identified.
Papa John's normally delivers pizzas until midnight but has closed five hours earlier each night this week. Protesters have caused no damage at the shop but the manager said she was threatened over the phone on Monday.
“They told me I should get beat up because I'm white,” the manager said.
Early closings this week have cost Papa John's workers about $1,000 in wages, said the manager, adding that all the affected employees live in Ferguson and neighboring Jennings. - Tim Bryant at noon
•••
National news organizations condemn treatment of journalists
The American Society of News Editors, based in Columbia, Mo., released a statement this morning on the arrests of the two journalists and the police handling of events in Ferguson last night.
“From police physically assaulting citizens engaged in peaceful protest to arresting without cause reporters from The Washington Post and The Huffington Post, it is clear that there is a concerted, top-down effort to restrict the fundamental First Amendment rights of the public and the press,” the release said.
ASNE President David Boardman said, “From the beginning of this situation, the police have made conscious decisions to restrict information and images coming from Ferguson....Of course, these efforts largely have been unsuccessful, as the nation and the world are still seeing for themselves the heinous actions of the police. For every reporter they arrest, every image they block, every citizen they censor, another will still write, photograph and speak.”
Later, the Associated Press Media Editors association and the National Association of Black Journalists also released a statement in partnership with ASNE on the same issue.
"The withholding of information by law enforcement, the unlawful detainment of journalists and the censoring of the unfolding story is unacceptable," said APME President Debra Adams Simmons. "We join with ASNE in calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to protect the First Amendment rights of everyone involved."
Two reporters were arrested Wednesday night while covering the situation in Ferguson. One of them, Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery, is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
“Journalists have a constitutionally protected right to work without the government interference,” NABJ President Bob Butler said. “We call on -- and fully expect -- the authorities to investigate what appears to be a violation of the First Amendment and to hold the officers involved to account, if necessary."
- Nancy Cambria at 11:05 a.m. with updates
•••
Police suspect hackers took down county websites
St. Louis county government websites have been down since Wednesday and officials are trying to find out why. Police think it is the work of Anonymous, an international group of unnamed computer hackers.
In an email to the Post-Dispatch, an Anonymous-associated operative took credit for the county computer hack.
Police say they are aware of the problem but don't know the extent of it. The St. Louis County government website, the police website, parks and revenue are among those that weren't coming up this morning.
A county source says they have limited access to external email and internet.
A woman at the county executive's office said she was able to access the website internally this morning after 8 a.m. but would report the troubles for others trying to get on the websites to the county's IT staff. A parks employee said they are working on the problem and that "sometimes they're up and sometimes they're down."
In the hours after 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on Saturday, the group Anonymous urged residents to the streets.
Ferguson's city website went dark Tuesday morning and the phones died. Anonymous also started releasing information about police officers.
And the hackers vowed retribution if police harmed protesters.
“We are watching you very closely,” Anonymous’ distinctive electronic voice rasped in a video posted Monday on Twitter. “If you abuse, harass or harm the protesters in Ferguson we will take every Web-based asset of your departments and federal agencies offline.” - Kim Bell, Joel Currier and Steve Giegerich at 8 a.m. with updates
•••
NAACP demands Attorney General take action in Ferguson
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. called on Attorney General Eric Holder this morning to take immediate action to address the unjustified use of lethal and excessive force against unarmed African Americans by police forces throughout the country.
“The recent killings of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Ezell Ford, like the killings and beatings of other unarmed African Americans by police officers, are unconscionable,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. “The depravity demonstrated by law enforcement in these recent events must be met with immediate reform.”
“Today we call upon the Department of Justice to undertake a comprehensive federal review of each instance of excessive police violence against African Americans,” Ifill said. “All involved officers and other public servants must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
- Nancy Cambria at 11:20 a.m.
•••
Business, civic leaders decry unrest in Ferguson
St. Louis business leaders are denouncing violence and police actions in Ferguson following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown last Saturday.
Maxine Clark, founder of the Build-A-Bear Workshop, started the chain of 400 retail stores in Overland and retired as CEO last year. Wednesday night, after two national reporters covering the Ferguson story were arrested while inside a McDonald's, on her Twitter account @ChiefExecBear, Clark Tweeted to her nearly 6,000 followers: “REALLY???? Arresting visitors/news at McD?? This is not the STL I know and love. Stop! This behavior is absurd and unnecessary.”
Clark's other Tweets reference the worldwide spotlight now on the region, including this Tweet from Wednesday: “Three conf. calls today & everyone asked 'what is going on in STL?' These aren't proud moments. Someone tell Ferg Police honesty matters!”
Chris Sommers, owner of the Pi Pizzeria chain in St. Louis, also has been active on social media throughout the week, mostly retweeting news accounts of the unfolding events in Ferguson on his Twitter account, @sommerscm, to his more than 800 followers. Sommers said the protests following Brown's death have been mishandled by authorities. “It's devastating to our town,” said Sommers, who's opened six Pi restaurants in the region since 2008. “Many of us have been working really hard to build our city back up, and the St. Louis County and Ferguson police are undoing that in a manner of days.”
Sommers has two new Pi restaurants opening in Miami and Cincinnati, and said the current unrest here and the attention it's garnering worldwide will have a negative impact the region's economy for a long time. “It's going to suffer,” Sommers said. “I'm grateful that our immediate expansion is not in the St. Louis area. I would certainly think twice about an investment here now. What's infuriating is a lack of leadership and the result of that is a devastation to the economy.”
Lisa Brown, 9:55 a.m. Thursday
•••
Vigil planned tonight in St. Louis
A vigil is planned in downtown St. Louis city this evening to commemorate Michael Brown and other victims of police-involved shootings. The National Moment of Silence vigil will be held at Luther Ely Smith Square, between the main Arch grounds and the Old Courthouse, said a representative with the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
A local Twitter user, @TheMegaChloe, has been instrumental in organizing the vigil. Several similar vigils are planned for cities around the country, according to tweets using the hashtag #NMOS14. - Beth O'Malley at 10:30 a.m.
•••
OUR EARLIER STORY
Law enforcement officials on Wednesday asked for patience to allow the investigation into the shooting of Michael Brown to take its course as tension over the teenager’s death continued for a fifth straight day.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch said his office will take as much time as necessary to review circumstances that led a Ferguson police officer to fatally shoot the 18-year-old Brown on a street Saturday afternoon.
“The timeline on this is there is no timeline,” McCulloch told an afternoon news conference. “We will do this as expeditiously as possible. But we won’t rush.”
Resisting pressure from street demonstrators and public officials for answers that show why the unnamed officer confronted Brown and a companion shortly after noon on Saturday, McCulloch said the details may not emerge until the process of collecting evidence and presenting it to the grand jury is complete.
“I know that’s not the answer anybody wants to hear at this point,” he said. “Everybody wants to know what happened.”
McCulloch called the problem twofold. First, he said, ethical rules prevent prosecutors from disseminating the physical evidence. He also said he won’t do anything to corrupt the integrity of the investigation.
NAMING OFFICERS FAR FROM ROUTINE
VOLUNTEERS CLEAN UP AFTER LOOTING
MAYBE THE CLOSEST EYEWITNESS TO FATAL SHOOTING
PEACEFUL DAYS, DEFIANT NIGHTS
In response to a reporter’s question, McCulloch said it will certainly take more than two weeks to complete the investigation. He offered no specific estimate of the timetable. He cited a heavy volume of information that is being gathered in the case.
“We want to test the veracity and accuracy of anybody who comes to us,” McCulloch said.
McCulloch said a lot of information has come forward through social media, “some of it good, some of it bad.”
He stressed that the medical examiner’s report, 911 tapes and other investigative material will be withheld at this point.
One new detail of Saturday’s shooting did emerge Wednesday when Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson in another news conference said the officer who shot Brown suffered facial injuries and was taken to a hospital.
Jackson also acknowledged that mending the strained relationship between his department and the African-American community is imperative for the city and region to move ahead following nearly a week of outrage, violence and looting.
“We have always had real good relations with all of the neighborhood associations,” Jackson said. “Apparently, there’s been this undertow that now has bubbled to the surface, and it’s our first priority to address it, to fix what’s wrong.”
The first step, he added, is working with the community relations office on race relations that the U.S. Justice Department has dispatched to Ferguson.
The chief defended the racial makeup of the Ferguson department. Three of the agency’s 53 officers are African-American in a community where two-thirds of the population is black.
Jackson said he has worked to improve the diversity of the police department, adding it is a “constant struggle to hire and retain personnel.”
In the past few years, Jackson said, he has tried not only to recruit but improve quality of life in the department, including pay levels, to retain officers longer.
The comments from law enforcement in a week that has seen forums, prayer vigils and a clergy-led parade Wednesday that passed many of the looted West Florissant Avenue businesses did little to quell the outrage spawned by Brown’s death.
As has been the case since Monday, the parking lot of a QuikTrip looted and burned Sunday evening has been the epicenter of hostility between protesters and police.
The animosity for the most part was verbal Wednesday until a thrown bottle prompted police to fire smoke bombs at the crowd shortly before 9 p.m.
When police then ordered demonstrators to evacuate the area or face arrest the protesters responded that “we are not going anywhere.”
Police a short time later chased protesters into nearby neighborhoods after dispersing the crowd for the third straight night with tear gas grenades.
On Wednesday, police also used piercing-sound sonic cannons to scatter the crowd.
As they have since Saturday, demonstrators throughout the evening taunted and threatened police.
“If I’m going to go, I’m taking one of you with me,” warned one demonstrator.
Another shouted, “We’re not dogs, so what the hell you’ve got those whipping sticks for? Because you want to whip us like dogs.”
A county police tactical operations armored vehicle was deployed at the demonstration site for most of the night.
Protected by body armor, police sat atop the vehicle methodically fitting high-caliber automatic weapons into tripods which were then trained on the crowd.
“You are being ordered to leave now!” police announced frequently through a public address system. “If you don’t leave peacefully there will be arrests.”
The crowd ignored the demand until the tear gas was fired.
As of midnight there were reports of sporadic gunfire.
At 2 a.m., several dozen police officers riding inside and on three armored tactical vehicles pulled up in front of the Ferguson police station. Forming a skirmish line, they faced the last of the night's protesters, a group of about 100 gathered across the street on the parking lot of the Andy Wurm Tire & Wheel shop.
A booming voice from a police loudspeaker ordered the crowd to disperse.
The protesters complied but not before some of them cursed the cops.
But 2:15 a.m., a tense quiet had fallen over Ferguson.
SHOOTING CHARGES
Prosecutors filed felony charges Wednesday against a man shot by police in a confrontation earlier in the day near the scene of the protests.
Esrail Britton, 19, was charged with second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and armed criminal action. He remained hospitalized, and earlier in the day was reported to be in critical condition.
Officials said they have two addresses for Britton, both of them vacant dwellings in the St. Louis area.
The shooting occurred about 1 a.m. at West Florissant Avenue and Chambers Road, in an unincorporated area of St. Louis County, as county police responded to a report of four of five men with masks and shotguns in an area where shots were heard.
ALDERMAN French, JOURNALISTS ARRESTED
St. Louis Alderman Antonio French was among about 10 people arrested Wednesday night.
French was being held at the Ferguson Police Department but no details of his arrest were being released.
Wesley Lowery, a reporter with the Washington Post, was arrested Wednesday evening along with Ryan Reilly of the Huffington Post, according to a Twitter post by Lowery.
He wrote that police came into the McDonald’s on West Florissant where the two were working, and tried “to kick everyone out.”
“Officers decided we weren’t leaving McDonald’s quickly enough, shouldn’t have been taping them,” he tweeted.
“Officers slammed me into a fountain soda machine because I was confused about which door they were asking me to walk out of,” he wrote.
He said that he was detained, booked, “given answers to no questions. Then just let out.”
Reilly tweeted that a SWAT team invaded the McDonald’s where he was working and recharging his phone, and asked for identification when he took a photo. They tried to kick everyone out, he wrote. He wrote that he was “assaulted” by an officer.
SCHOOL START DELAYED
The continuing unrest forced the Ferguson-Florissant school district to postpone the start of school from today to Monday.
“In order to allow additional time for the situation to stabilize and for all of our students and their families to resume normal routines, we will reschedule the first day of school,” district officials said in a statement. “We believe that this change will help ensure a strong start to the new school year.”
Paul Hampel, Stephen Deere, Valerie Schremp Hahn, Joel Currier, Kim Bell, Koran Addo, Ken Leiser, Jessica Bock and Steve Giegerich of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
•••
Tense moments between members of crowd
After the bigger crowds dispersed, some members of the crowd began to fight among themselves. At one point, at about 11:15 p.m., about two dozen people stood around at Lang Drive and West Florissant Avenue, near the Quik Trip site. A German shepherd traipsed through the crowd, with a leash on, but with nobody holding it. People began shouting about the dog, and the owner eventually found the dog and took the leash.
The owner appeared to be intoxicated, and about three or four men surrounded him, telling him to let his dog go. The man refused and tried to walk away. Suddenly, one of the men hit the man with the dog hard in the chest. Some from the crowd shouted, “Let's shoot this dog and knock this guy out!”
The man with the dog started walking away, and the crowd shouted out.
Police, who had returned to the original protest line closer to the gas station, arrived on the scene and trained a spotlight down Lang. Somebody picked up an unexploded sound canister and threw it towards officers, and the canister exploded, spewing smoke. Police got out of their patrol cars and ran, continuing their chase into the dark neighborhood.
The crowd stood watching, holding their hands in the air.
--Stephen Deere, 11:57 p.m.
Police dispense tear gas into crowd
Shortly after 9 p.m., police dispensed tear gas at the crowd standing on West Florissant Avenue. About 50 demonstrators stood in the middle of the street near the Quik Trip, with several hundred people on the side streets.
After giving people several verbal warnings to leave the area or face arrest, somebody hurled a bottle at the police line. Police then threw more than a dozen sound canisters at the crowds. The canisters exploded close to people, emitted a loud boom and smoke and sparks. They made an ear-splitting noise.
Some people picked up the canisters and threw them back at police. Then the police deployed tear gas.
One young woman screamed to fleeing members of the crowd not to be cowards. "We have to stand and fight here right now!" she screamed.
Police inched closer and closer to the crowd until they dispersed into side streets. The protesters were reduced to several small, scattered pockets, talking quietly among themselves.
Some people had no way to get home.
----Paul Hampel and Stephen Deere, 9:20 p.m.
•••
Body released to family
Authorities released Michael Brown's body to his family on Wednesday. Funeral arrangements were pending at the Austin A. Layne Mortuary.
-Michael Sorkin, 5 p.m.
•••
Officer who shot Michael Brown has retained attorney
The officer who shot Michael Brown has retained a lawyer.
- Robert Patrick, 2:45 p.m.
•••
Daytime-only rallies and protests please, Ferguson says
Ferguson city leaders are trying to stem the riots by urging anyone who wants to protest the shooting death of Michael Brown to assemble only during daylight hours.
Mayor James Knowles III and the Ferguson City Council posted the request on the city website, following several nights of unrest.
The announcement says the city mourns the loss of Brown and wants to give people an opportunity to "voice frustrations through prayer vigils and peaceful protests."
It goes on to say: "We ask that any groups wishing to assemble in prayer or in protest do so only during daylight hours in an organized and respectful manner." Participants should disperse well before the evening hours, the city says.
"Unfortunately, those who wish to co-opt peaceful protests and turn them into violent demonstrations have been able to do so over the past several days during the evening hours," the city says. "These events are not indicative of the City of Ferguson and its residents."
The city leaders' post says Ferguson has been through tough situations before — "albeit nothing to this magnitude, but will continue to display resilience and fortitude."
-Kim Bell, noon
•••
Surveillance of St. Louis shoe store looting released; gas station also hit
St. Louis police have released video of the looting of a Shoe Carnival store in a shopping center on Gravois Avenue in St. Louis shortly before midnight Monday.
St. Louis police also are investigating a break-in at a Phillips 66 gas station and convenience store in Lafayette Square early Tuesday.
Police are asking anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.
- Ken Leiser, 1:30 p.m. ||||| A police officer holds his riot gun while demonstrators protest the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 13, 2014.
Demonstrators hold signs during a protest against the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 13, 2014.
A police officer aims his weapon at a demonstrator protesting the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 13, 2014.
Demonstrators raise their hands while protesting the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 13, 2014.
A sign and a pin are pictured on the back of a demonstrator during a protest against the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 13, 2014.
A mother and daughter raise their hands in front of riot police while protesting the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 13, 2014.
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a statement on the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri and the situation in Iraq from his vacation on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts August 14, 2014.
FERGUSON Mo. Missouri's governor moved on Thursday to calm days of racially charged protests over the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager, naming an African-American captain of the Highway Patrol to oversee security in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson.
Captain Ron Johnson, who grew up in Ferguson, told reporters he would take a new approach after complaints that police have used heavy-handed tactics, arresting dozens of protesters and using teargas and pepper pellets to break up crowds.
Ferguson, a mostly black town of 21,000 with a predominantly white police force that has been accused of racial profiling in the past, was bracing for a fifth straight night of protests on Thursday after a police officer shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown last weekend.
Since Sunday, there have been peaceful vigils and demonstrations - with hundreds of protesters holding their hands in the air and chanting "hands up, don't shoot" - as well as episodes of looting, vandalism and violence.
U.S. President Barack Obama, seeking to defuse tensions in Ferguson, called on police to respect peaceful demonstrations.
"There is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting," Obama said.
"There's also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protesters or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights," he said in remarks broadcast from Edgartown, Massachusetts, near where he is vacationing with his family.
The protests have cast a spotlight on racial tensions in greater St. Louis, where civil rights groups have complained in the past that police racially profiled blacks, arrested a disproportionate number of blacks and had racist hiring practices.
Governor Jay Nixon praised Ferguson on Thursday for being a diverse, hard-working community, but he said, "lately it has looked a little bit more like a war zone, and that is unacceptable."
Police have pledged to do better but have also justified the tactics, saying they have responded to the threat of violence during protests.
"We are going to have a different approach," Johnson said at the news conference where Nixon announced his role in directing Ferguson's security. He said he would go to "ground zero" on Thursday evening, the area where Brown was killed and also where a convenience store was burned down on Sunday in riots.
Additionally, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement that police had accepted an offer of technical assistance from the Justice Department "to help conduct crowd control and maintain public safety without relying on unnecessarily extreme displays of force."
The Justice Department, the FBI and the St. Louis County prosecutor's office are all investigating Brown's death.
HANDS IN THE AIR
Protesters have decried what they say is a lack of transparency by police investigating the incident - including the refusal to release the officer's name. And some have called for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCullough to be removed from the case.
Early on Thursday, a member of the Anonymous hacker activist collective tweeted the name of a person alleged to be the police officer who shot Brown. But police and other Anonymous tweeters said the activist had named the wrong person.
Police said threats from cyber activists were one reason they continued to be reluctant to release the officer's name. But Nixon said on Thursday that authorities should be expeditious about identifying the officer.
There is little clarity on what occurred during Saturday's incident.
Police have said that Brown struggled with the officer who shot and killed him. The officer involved in the shooting was injured during the incident and was treated in a hospital for swelling on the side of his face, they said.
But some witnesses have said that Brown held up his hands and was surrendering when he was shot multiple times in the head and chest.
(Reporting by Nick Carey; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee, David Bailey in Minneapolis, Carey Gillam in Kansas City and Jeff Mason in Edgartown, Mass.; Writing by Fiona Ortiz; Editing by Eric Beech) | – The unrelenting protests in Ferguson, Mo., after the police shooting of Michael Brown clearly have the full attention of Washington now. Both President Obama and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill weighed in today, while Anonymous claimed to ID the officer who did the shooting. Details: McCaskill: Speaking at a local church, she got a standing ovation when she said St. Louis County must "demilitarize the police response," reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Afterward, she told reporters that the "police response has been part of the problem." Obama: The president called for "peace and calm" and a transparent investigation, reports USA Today. He said there's no excuse for police to use excessive force against protesters, but nor is there "an excuse for violence against police or those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting." He also criticized police for arresting journalists at the protests. Gov. Jay Nixon: Speaking after McCaskill at the same church, he promised an "operational shift" in police tactics. "You will see a different tone," he said, promising details later. Anonymous: The hacker collective claimed to identify via Twitter the officer who shot the unarmed Brown last weekend, though police say the name is wrong, reports Reuters. Anonymous is standing by its post, while authorities are standing by their decision to keep the officer unidentified for safety reasons. "We can't let anonymous groups or even public groups pressure us into doing anything we don't think we should do," said a spokesman for the St. Louis County prosecutor's office. (Anonymous previously released police audio from the night of the shooting.) |
The first day of McDonald's national roll-out of its all-day breakfast is here, but before you get your hopes up, here's what you can and can't order.
The long-awaited menu for breakfast fans will vary by location. For those who love McGriddle sandwiches, you're out of luck. That item isn't a part of the all-day breakfast menu in any markets, so you'll be skipping on those 450 to 570 calories. Bagel sandwiches, cinnamon melts and "Big Breakfast" platters aren't included in the all-day menu either.
1. In most markets, you can order:
- sausage burrito
- "Fruit ‘N Yogurt" parfait
- "Fruit & Maple" oatmeal
- hash browns
- hotcakes
- hotcakes with sausage
Susanna Kim/ABC News
2. In markets that offer McMuffins, you can't get the Egg White Delight or the steak, egg and cheese McMuffin, but you can get:
- egg McMuffin
- sausage McMuffin with egg
- sausage McMuffin
3. In markets that offer biscuits, you can't order the "southern style" chicken biscuit, but you can order:
- bacon, egg and cheese biscuit
- sausage biscuit with egg
- sausage biscuit ||||| Breakfast
With so many options, breakfast has never been tastier. We know you've been asking, so the All Day Breakfast menu is here. You can enjoy Hotcakes, a savory Sausage McMuffin with Egg or Sausage Biscuit any time you want.* You can still enjoy our full breakfast menu every morning, which includes favorites like the signature Egg McMuffin or the sweet McGriddles.
* Menu items vary by location. Deliciousness doesn't. | – The highly anticipated all-day breakfast menu at McDonald's is debuting nationwide Tuesday, but not everyone's morning favorites have made the cut, ABC News reports. Those who are jonesing for the chain's hash browns, hotcakes, fruit and yogurt parfaits, oatmeal, and sausage burritos are in luck—as are those who want a plain egg or sausage McMuffin and most egg-and-biscuit sandwiches. What aren't included: two specialty McMuffins (the Egg White Delight and the steak-egg-cheese variety), the "Southern style" chicken biscuit, bagel sandwiches, cinnamon melts, and, alas, the maple-infused concoction known as the McGriddle. And those who have a huge appetite may need to supplement their breakfast sandwich with a Big Mac as the day drifts by: "Big Breakfast" platters aren't an all-day offering, either. (There's something else you should know about McMuffins.) |
We've seen this movie before: a frenzied buildup punctuated by constant speculation. And then Apple actually announces the object behind all the fuss — in this particular sequel the latest iPad, which goes on sale Friday.
Then the mood shifts. People bummed out by the features that Apple did not put into its freshly baked tablet computer weigh in. No extra storage or expansion options, no smaller-screen model to compete against the likes of Amazon's Kindle Fire. Still no Adobe Flash, and no camera flash, either. Not even Siri, the chatty personal assistant who, depending on where you are coming from, either charms owners of the iPhone 4S or bugs them.
No big deal.
Apple may have left a few things out. But Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster estimates Apple will sell up to 60 million iPads this year. And that's on top of the 55 million collectively Apple has sold since the original iPad was introduced in 2010, spawning imitators and redefining an entire category of computing.
And nearly everyone who lands the brand new iPad on Day 1 — or more likely sometime afterward, since preorders are sold out — will be delighted.
Apple's latest tablet strongly resembles the iPad 2. At 0.37-inches and 1.4-pounds, it's ever-so- slightly thicker and heavier (though Apple says most cases and accessories should fit). But the new iPad snatches the crown from its predecessor as the finest tablet you can buy. Period. Similar scenes played out last year with the iPad 2.
So it goes with the tablet born in 2012, which Apple for reasons not altogether clear did not name iPad 3 but simply the new iPad. On the surface, the leap from the second-generation iPad to the third-generation would appear to be relatively modest. But all Apple did was again distance itself from the competition:
•An overview. The display is spectacular. Apple also improved the camera, added dictation and, on some models, the ability to tap into the speediest available cellular networks. Apple did all this without sacrificing much battery life or jacking up prices. The iPad 2 stays in the lineup and is cheaper.
An iPad 2 with 16 gigabytes of storage now fetches $399, $100 less than a week ago. An iPad 2 with 3G wireless capabilities from AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless goes for $529, plus a data plan if you choose to add one.
Meanwhile, new models with just Wi-Fi cost $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB and $699 for 64GB. Same capacity models with Wi-Fi and 4G wireless capabilities command $629, $729 and $829.
•Fast wireless. The new iPads are the first iPads that access the 4G or 4th generation data networks being deployed nationally (but not everywhere) by AT&T and Verizon Wireless, each with variations on how wireless is delivered.
The test machine, a Verizon model that taps into the company's 4G LTE network, was really zippy in a week of testing in San Francisco and Austin. Downloading apps was quick, including previously purchased apps that had to be accessed through Apple's iCloud service. Web pages loaded much faster than on an older iPad running 3G.
The new iPad can work as a personal hotspot that lets you share your speedy wireless connection with up to five other devices, though for now only Verizon has turned on the feature.
Verizon's monthly data plans begin at $20 for 1 GB, go to $30 for 2 GB and climb to $80 for 10 GB. AT&T offers a 250 MB plan for $14.99; 3 GB for $30; and 5 GB for $50. Keep in mind that with 4G you might well consume more data.
To some degree, Apple is playing catch-up, because many of the tablets built around Google's Android mobile operating system have had 4G for some time.
Where Apple continues to claim a huge advantage over Android and other tablet rivals is in the apps ecosystem. The iPad runs almost all of the 585,000-plus apps sold or available free in the App Store, and more than 200,000 apps now are designed specifically for the iPad. Android still has comparatively few tablet-specific apps.
•A screen to die for. The display becomes your window into all those apps. And the brilliant screen on the new iPad is the thing that will have you salivating.
You're probably thinking the displays on the first iPad and the iPad 2 were pretty sweet, and you'd be right. Watching movies, reading books, surfing the Web, playing games and admiring photos on the older tablets is not an unpleasant experience.
But then you have a look at what Apple calls the "retina display" on the new iPad, technology first applied to recent iPhones, and you're blown away.
Examine the new screen side-by-side with one of its near-10-inch predecessors, and you'll swear you just had Lasik surgery. Text on Web pages or in books is so crisp and sharp that you don't want to go back to reading on an older iPad. Movies and photographs reveal rich detail.
Apple explains that with a resolution of 2048x 1536, and 3.1 million pixels (four times the number on the iPad 2) the screen on the new iPad is sharper than your high-definition television. The company's marketers are using the word "resolutionary."
Apple helps drive the spectacular display with a new version of one of its chips, the A5X, with quad-core graphics. Even Apple goes all geeky on you every now and then.
•Photos and video. Last time around, Apple added those two cameras to the iPad 2; this time Apple souped-up the optics.
There's an autofocus, 5-megapixel iSight camera, which unlike the camera on the iPad 2 can capture high-definition video up to the 1080p standard. (Movies also play back in full high-def.) The camera has face detection, a sensor that performs well in low light, a fixed f/4 aperture and other optical enhancements.
Taking a lot of pictures or videos with the iPad is a matter of preference. It's not exactly a point-and-shoot replacement and is a little awkward for shooting. Held a certain way, you can sometimes inadvertently cover the lens when pressing the onscreen shutter button. The alternative is to take pictures by pressing a volume button on the side.
But the still images and video shot are generally pleasing, despite the absence of a flash. You can do minor edits inside the built-in Photo app and easily tweet images you've shot from within the app. Apple is also pushing a custom $4.99 iPad version of the iPhoto software that is familiar to Mac owners
If you shoot video and are prone to shake, you'll appreciate the built-in video-stabilization feature that helps steady your footage. And even if you don't plan on shooting much, many apps take advantage of the cameras on the iPad.
•Dictation. Apple may have kept Siri off the iPad's roster for now, but it did add a dictation feature that lets you use your voice to create notes, e-mails or to write something in Apple's optional Pages word-processing app, or for that matter any Apple or third-party app in which you summon the virtual keyboard.
You tap a microphone icon and start speaking, then tap again when you're done. The iPad almost always spits out results right away, but doesn't always hear correctly. For example, the word "maybe" was heard as "baby."
But more often than not the accuracy was decent enough that it wouldn't take long to manually fix errors. Even the commas were typically put in the right places.
•The battery. Apple claims up to 10 hours for the Wi-Fi-only models, same as before, and nine hours for 4G and about an hour less for Wi-Fi + 4G.
The iPad got through an entire day of being worked hard with no battery problem. Inside the device is a larger capacity (and physically larger) sealed battery than the one in the iPad 2.
The third-generation iPad may not be the game-changer that Apple's original tablet was, but you know how this movie is going to end. Apple is going to rake it in on the heels of its latest matinee idol.
Should you buy the new iPad?
If you purchased the original iPad all of two years ago and have money to spare, I'd say go for it. Though a tad bigger than the iPad 2, the new iPad is smaller and lighter than the original iPad. You'll appreciate the increased speed, the lovely screen and the presence of cameras.
If you have an iPad 2, it's a little harder to justify springing for the latest model now, much as you might want to. Yes, the new screen is spectacular, and 4G and the improved cameras are welcome upgrades. But you would have purchased that iPad 2 much more recently and it may be difficult to plunk down extra cash this soon, unless you have a family member who can inherit your current model.
If you're a tablet newbie, there's no better choice on the market than an iPad, provided — and this is a pretty big if — price isn't an issue and you don't want a tablet that would fit in your pocket, such as the $199 Amazon Kindle Fire.
The bottom line
www.apple.com
$499 on up.
•Pro. Stunning screen, 4G speeds (on certain models), decent dictation and improved camera optics. Strong battery. Apps galore.
•Con. Shooting with camera can be awkward. No Adobe Flash. No camera flash. No expanded storage.
Follow @edbaig on Twitter; e-mail: ebaig@usatoday.com
Disclosure: Baig is co-author of iPad For Dummies, an independent work published by Wiley. ||||| The new iPad offers fast speed and one of the most spectacular displays ever seen in a mobile device, Walt Mossberg discusses on digits. Photo: Getty Images.
Apple's iPad could be described as a personal display through which you see and manipulate text, graphics, photos and videos often delivered via the Internet. So, how has the company chosen to improve its wildly popular tablet? By making that display dramatically better and making the delivery of content dramatically faster.
There are other changes in the new, third-generation iPad—called simply "iPad," with no number, which goes on sale on Friday at the same base price as its predecessor, $499. But the key upgrades are to those core features—the 9.7-inch screen and the data speed over cellular networks. These upgrades are massive. Using the new display is like getting a new eyeglasses prescription—you suddenly realize what you thought looked sharp before wasn't nearly as sharp as it could be.
Boosting those particular features—the screen and the cellular speed—usually has a negative impact on battery life in a digital device. But Apple has managed to crank them up them while maintaining the long battery life between charges that has helped give the iPad such an edge over other tablets.
Enlarge Image Close Walter S. Mossberg/The Wall Street Journal Objects, like the trees in this photo of Glacier National Park in Montana that Walt made his screen wallpaper, look sharper on the new iPad.
That doesn't mean there aren't other trade-offs. Mostly to make room for a larger battery, the new iPad weighs about 8% more and is about 7% thicker than the prior model. That means the company can't claim to have the thinnest and lightest tablet, as it boasted last year with the iPad 2. (It's still thinner and lighter than the original iPad.)
I've been testing the new iPad, and despite these trade-offs, its key improvements strengthen its position as the best tablet on the market. Apple hasn't totally revamped the iPad or added loads of new features. But it has improved it significantly, at the same price.
It has the most spectacular display I have ever seen in a mobile device. The company squeezed four times the pixels into the same physical space as on the iPad 2 and claims the new iPad's screen has a million more pixels than an HDTV. All I know is that text is much sharper, and photos look richer.
If you already own an iPad 2, and like it, you shouldn't feel like you have to rush out to buy the new one. However, for those who use their iPads as their main e-readers, and those who use it frequently while away from Wi-Fi coverage, this new model could make a big difference.
The optional, extra-cost, 4G LTE cellular-data capability made it feel like I was always on a fast Wi-Fi connection. I loved the photos and videos I took with the greatly improved rear camera. And the battery life degraded by just 11 minutes, a figure that is still much better than on any tablet I've tested.
Along with the unmatched collection of 200,000 third-party programs designed for its large screen, and the large catalogs of music, books, periodicals and video content available for it, I can recommend the new iPad to consumers as their best choice in a general-purpose tablet.
The exceptions would be people who prefer a smaller size for one-handed use, or those who find the weight a burden. While the weight gain was noticeable, I didn't find it a problem even for long reading or video-watching sessions. The extra thickness was barely discernible.
For the weight conscious, and for those who can't swing the $499 entry cost, there is an out. Apple for the first time is making and selling the prior iPad model at a reduced price. The iPad 2 will now be available starting at $399, with just one choice of storage capacity—16 gigabytes. The new iPad can be bought in 16, 32 or 64 GB capacities, at prices up to $829. The optional cellular capability costs the same as the slower 3G capability, both up front and in monthly fees from Verizon and AT&T .
The Display
It's not as if people are complaining about the screens on their iPads, a device so attractive and useful that Apple sold about 55 million of them in two years. But this display is a big leap forward.
Enlarge Image Close Apple Letters that seemed sharp on the iPad 2, far left, suddenly felt fuzzier when compared with the new iPad's 'retina' display, left. (It's hard to reproduce on a web page.)
It's hard to illustrate on a Web page or in print how brilliant this new display is. You have to see it. Apple calls it a "retina" display because, at normal viewing distance, there are so many pixels per inch, the human eye can't pick them out individually. This display packs 264 pixels into every inch, twice as many as on iPad 2. Overall, the resolution is 2048 x 1536, versus 1024 x 768 for the iPad 2.
My epiphany came when I placed my iPad 2 next to the new model, with the same text on the screen. Letters and words that had seemed sharp on the older model five minutes earlier suddenly looked fuzzier.
As I tested the new model over five days, I found I was able to use smaller font sizes to read books and email. The same photos I had enjoyed on the older model looked much better on the new one, not only because of the increased resolution, but because Apple claims it increased color saturation by 44%. One thing Apple hasn't fixed: like all glossy, LCD color displays, this one still does poorly in direct sunlight.
The Speed
Walter S. Mossberg/The Wall Street Journal The new iPad's 4G LTE cellular speeds are faster than many home Internet connections, as seen in this speed test showing how fast it would take to download data.
The new iPad is hardly the first device to use 4G LTE cellular technology, but it marks a huge difference from the iPad 2. On Verizon's network in Washington and Austin, Texas, I averaged LTE download speeds of over 17 megabits per second, faster than most home wired networks. A colleague using a new iPad on AT&T's LTE network averaged over 12 mbps. My iPad 2 running Verizon's 3G network averaged just over 1 mbps. Of course, you can get a Wi-Fi only model, at $130 less. The base $499 model is Wi-Fi only.
There is another dimension to speed: the overall responsiveness of the device. The new iPad is just as buttery smooth to use as the iPad 2. Apple beefed up the processor, especially its graphics capabilities.
The Battery
Apple claims up to 10 hours of battery life between charges, and up to nine hours if you are relying strictly on cellular connectivity. In my standard battery test, where I play videos back to back with both cellular and Wi-Fi on, and the screen at 75% brightness, the new iPad logged 9 hours and 58 minutes, compared with 10 hours and 9 minutes for the iPad 2. Other tablets died hours sooner in the same test. In more normal use, the new iPad lasted more than a full day, though not as long as the iPad 2 did.
The Rear Camera
Like the iPad 2, the third-generation iPad has front and rear cameras. The front camera, meant mainly for video chats, hasn't changed. But the rear camera, which was awful for photos on the iPad 2, and was estimated at less than a single megapixel of resolution, has greatly improved. It's now a 5-megapixel shooter with improved optics. I loved the photos and videos it took, indoors and out.
Other features
The new iPad is the first that can be used, like many smartphones, as a personal hot spot—a base station to connect laptops and other devices to the Internet. In my tests, this worked fine.
It also allows you to dictate, rather than type, emails and other text. I found this surprisingly accurate. And Apple now has a brilliant new version of its iPhoto software that has been rewritten for the iPad.
Bottom Line
Since it launched in 2010, the iPad has been the best tablet on the planet. With the new, third-generation model, it still holds that crown.
— Find all of Walt Mossberg's columns and videos at walt.allthingsd.com. The Personal Technology column will return to Wednesdays next week.
Write to Walter S. Mossberg at mossberg@wsj.com ||||| But apps that haven’t been rewritten don’t benefit as much. In most apps, text is automatically sharpened, but not in all of them. After enjoying the freakishly sharp text in Mail and Safari, you’ll be disappointed in the relatively crude type in, for example, the non-updated Amazon Kindle app. (Amazon says that a Retina-ready update is in the works.)
Similarly, high-definition videos look dazzling. This is the world’s first tablet that can actually show you hi-def movies in full 1080p high definition. But Netflix’s streaming movies don’t come to the iPad in high definition (yet, says Netflix), so they don’t look any better.
There’s another price you’ll pay for all this clarity, too: in storage. Tests performed by Macworld.com revealed that the graphics in Retina-ready apps consume two to three times as much of the iPad’s nonexpandable storage than pre-Retina apps. To update their apps for the new display, software companies must redo their graphics at much higher resolution, which means much larger files.
(Worse, each app is usually written in single, universal version for all iPad models. So those apps will eat up the same extra space, pointlessly, on older iPads, too — and even on iPhones, since many apps are written to run on both the tablet and the phone. In other words, iPhone owners, too, will wind up losing storage space because of this graphic-bloat ripple-down effect.)
The resolution revolution isn’t the only change in the iPad That Shall Not Be Numbered. Another big change is 4G LTE.
That is, the cellular iPad models can now hop onto the very fast 4G wireless networks for data that Verizon and AT&T have built in big American cities.
(Apple has not changed the prices and configurations for the new iPad. The base model still costs $500, has only Wi-Fi and holds 16 gigabytes. The top-of-the-line model still costs $830, has 64 gigabytes of storage and can also get online via a cell network. You have to choose either the AT&T or the Verizon model, in that case, and pay a monthly fee — $15 to $50 a month, no contract required. These iPads can also get online overseas, although only at 3G speeds; LTE uses different frequencies in other countries.)
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Being on LTE flavor of 4G is really, really nice. Apps download quickly. Web pages appear fast. You don’t have to wait for videos to load before they start playing. The Verizon iPads offer tethering — a feature that converts that cellular Internet connection into a Wi-Fi hot spot — so nearby laptops can now enjoy the same high Internet speeds. (AT&T says it’s working to get tethering.)
My Verizon test unit got download speeds ranging from 6 to 29 megabits a second in San Francisco, Boston and New York — in many cases, faster than home cable-modem service. According to tests by PC Magazine and others, AT&T’s 4G network is smaller, but often faster. No doubt about it: life begins at 4G.
Photo
Now, 4G is a notorious battery hog. It scarfs down electricity like a football team at a hot dog eating contest.
Apple, however, was determined to keep the iPad’s battery life unchanged from the last model: nine to 10 hours on a charge. In my all-day nonstop-usage test, it did manage nine hours.
To pull that off, Apple adopted a three-prong strategy. First, it developed or adopted components that use less power (Bluetooth 4.0, for example). Second, it came up with various software and circuitry tricks.
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Third, it incorporated a fatter, heavier battery. The new iPad is one millimeter thicker, and 1.8 ounces heavier, than the iPad 2. It’s a very slight difference, but fingers used to handling the old iPad will feel it, and that’s too bad.
Interestingly, you can turn off the LTE antenna in the Settings app. Without that power hog, you’ll probably get even better battery life.
So what else is new? A 5-megapixel back camera that takes far better photos than the iPad 2 did. (Which isn’t saying much.) You can capture 1080p hi-def videos now, and a stabilization feature lends a hand when yours is shaky or moving.
A tiny microphone now appears on the on-screen keyboard. Tapping it lets you speak to type, exactly as on the iPhone 4S.
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For most people, that’s a huge blessing; typing on glass has never been a joyous activity. The recognition is fast and accurate, at least when you have a strong Internet connection (the transcription is actually performed by faraway servers).
Weirdly, though, speech-to-text is the only piece of Siri, Apple’s smart voice-control software, that the new iPad inherits from the iPhone 4S. You don’t get the rest of Siri’s features: the ability to set alarms, send text messages, look up calendar appointments and snag facts from the Web just by asking out loud. That the full Siri isn’t available smacks more of a marketing department holdback than technical limitations.
The world has changed since the iPad 2 came out. Stripped-down, smaller and far less magical rivals like the Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet cost only $200. (That, probably, is why Apple still sells the iPad 2 at $100 less than the new models.)
Dozens of would-be iPads have come — and, in many cases, gone. (Shall we have a moment of silence for the Hewlett-Packard TouchPad and the flailing BlackBerry PlayBook? Nah.)
But the surviving rivals still sell in minuscule numbers compared with the iPad, and that’s not likely to change now.
The new iPad doesn’t introduce anything that we haven’t seen before, either in the iPhone or in rival tablets. There’s no Steve Jobs “one more thing” moment here; Apple just took its white-hot iPad and added the latest screen, battery and cellular technologies.
If you’re in the market for a tablet, here’s the bright side: For the same price as before, you can now get an updated iPad that’s still better-looking, better integrated and more consistently designed than any of its rivals.
And if you already have the iPad 2, here’s an even brighter side: At least this time around, you don’t have to feel quite as obsolete as usual. | – Tech reviewers are seeing the light when they check out the eye-popping high-definition display of the new iPad. Lucky columnists with preview models of the iPad's third version are gushing about the screen's brilliant display—with a million more pixels than HDTV—and its processing speed. "These upgrades are massive," writes Walter Mossberg in the Wall Street Journal. "Using the new display is like getting a new eyeglass prescription—you suddenly realize what you thought looked sharp before wasn't nearly as sharp as it could be. It has the most spectacular display I have ever seen in a mobile device." The new iPad even manages to keep its long battery life despite the upgrades. Some of the tradeoffs? The new iPad weighs about 8% more, and is about 7% thicker than the last version. And the high-def displays eat up lots of storage. But it hardly seems to matter. "The display is spectacular. Apple also improved the camera, added dictation and, on some models, the ability to tap into the speediest available cellular networks," notes Edward Baig for USA Today. If you still don't get the picture, here's what the New York Times' David Pogue says: "It's a very, very sharp screen, four times as sharp as the iPad 2," making maps, photos, videos, and text in apps rewritten for the new device look "jaw-droppingly good." The public was sold even before the reviews: Apple expects to sell at least a million new iPads the first day. |
Image copyright Antarctic Gurkha Image caption Scott Sears arrived at the South Pole on Christmas Day
Tennis star Andy Murray's brother-in-law believes he has become the youngest person to reach the South Pole solo.
Scott Sears, a lieutenant in the First Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, pulled a sled and supplies for 38 days through 150mph winds in temperatures of -50c.
His 702-mile trek ended at the South Pole on Christmas Day, more than 12 days sooner than he had anticipated.
The Guinness Book of Records has yet to confirm whether the 27-year-old's feat will make it into the record books.
Lt Sears, from east London, is the brother of Murray's wife, Kim.
From a family of tennis players, he played the sport on the international circuit until the age of 19. Several years later, he went on to join the Army.
'Not one more step'
The first part of the journey from Hercules Inlet where sea ice meets land in Antarctica is considered the most dangerous part, as the ground is riddled with crevasses.
Travelling alone meant Lt Sears was not roped up to a teammate who could stop him falling down them, and he used skis to cross the ice instead.
In a blog post from his five-week expedition, he described unexpectedly hitting a wall with just 38km (24 miles) to go on Christmas Eve, his penultimate day.
"I couldn't have asked for better weather but well and truly hit a wall midway through the day," he wrote.
"I've never experienced anything like it, I would take a couple of steps and just stop, everything was just saying 'no more, not one more step'.
"It was bizarre as I've genuinely been feeling pretty good."
But after some juice, biltong, chocolate and music on his iPod, he was back on his way.
That night, Lt Sears hung his socks up as makeshift stockings, but said he feared Santa might give them a miss because of the "state and stench" of them.
The following day, he reached the pole in blue skies, and wrote saying he was "absolutely chuffed to pieces".
He told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday that he expected it would take a few weeks for the experience to sink in.
"I've been alone in a tent for nearly six weeks so it's all a bit overwhelming," he said.
"I can't wait to have a shower and get some food in me. I've been dreaming about it since day three!"
Image copyright PA Image caption Scott Sears with his sister, Kim
Judy Murray, Andy's mother, congratulated him, tweeting: "Well done Scott Sears - (brother of Andys wife Kim) youngest person to reach the South Pole on a solo mission. Got there on Christmas Day......"
Lt Sears has raised more than £33,500 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust to help rebuild schools in Gorkha, Nepal, which was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. ||||| A serving British Army officer has become the youngest person to reach the South Pole on his own and unsupported, after trekking for more than five weeks.
Lt Scott Sears, the brother-in-law of Andy Murray, reached his destination on Christmas Day after negotiating 700 miles of Antarctic plateau, crevasse fields and glaciers.
The 27-year-old officer with 1st Bn Royal Gurkha Rifles raised over £30,000 for The Gurkha Welfare Trust and schools destroyed in the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Waiting on Tuesday night for a plane to take him off the pole to Union Glacier, he said: “The last 5 weeks have been a huge challenge but I’m proud to be standing here now after 2 years of planning and training.
“It’s going to take a few weeks for everything to sink in, I’ve been alone in a tent for nearly 6 weeks so it’s all a bit overwhelming”. | – While many people were unwrapping gifts on Christmas Day, the brother-in-law of tennis star Andy Murray was wrapping up a 700-mile, 38-day journey through brutally cold temps and blistering winds—and, he hopes, setting a world record. Scott Sears, 27, reached the South Pole on Monday, and he says he's the youngest person ever to do so solo, though Guinness has yet to offer its final seal of approval, the BBC notes. "MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SOUTH POLE! Absolutely chuffed to pieces," he wrote on his blog, where he documented his unassisted adventure, which included temperatures of minus 58 degrees and wind gusts of up to 150mph. Sears said he was so tired when he finally took a rest after his trek that he fell asleep "within about 2 minutes of my head hitting the mat." Sears, whose sister, Kim, is married to the tennis star, describes a grueling expedition with icy, crevasse-marred terrain and an isolation made worse when the "iPod poltergeist" would occasionally strike, causing his music player to stop working. He says he "truly hit a wall" on Christmas Eve, where "everything was just saying 'no more, not one more step.'" But he devoured some dried meat, juice, and chocolate and pushed through, even hanging up his stinky socks as "makeshift stockings" for Santa that night. Sears' message from Andy Murray's mom once he arrived at his destination: "Well done Scott Sears." If Guinness confirms Sears' feat, he'll be three years younger than the previous record-holder, per the Telegraph. (Prince Harry drank champagne out of a prosthetic leg when he arrived at the South Pole.) |
Story highlights Immigration agency's "Operation Sunflower" identified 123 child victims of pornography, abuse
Some victims were as young as 3; others were abused as children and are now adults
Law enforcement officials in six other countries also made arrests in the operation
An international operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aimed at child pornography and sexual abuse has resulted in the arrest of 245 suspects, officials announced Thursday. All but 23 of the suspects were apprehended in the United States.
The agency said that during the course of Operation Sunflower, law enforcement officers identified 123 victims of child exploitation and removed 44 of those children from their alleged abusers with whom they were living. The other cases involved victims who were exploited by people outside their homes or children who were harmed years ago and are now adults.
Several of the children were shockingly young. Five were under age 3. Nine were between the ages of 4 and 6. Of the 123 victims, 110 lived in the United States in 19 different states. ICE officials did not identify the six other countries where victims were identified or where some of the arrests were made, citing the need to work discreetly with international law enforcement partners.
According to ICE, some of those arrested during Operation Sunflower were registered sex offenders.
Operation Sunflower was conducted in November and December, but efforts are continuing on other cases. During a news conference, ICE Director John Morton said the agency was calling on the public to provide tips and mentioned several open investigations. One of those cases involves the sexual molestation of an unidentified girl thought to be around 13.
Investigators believe the abuse took place about 11 years ago, but the pornographic images were widely circulated. ICE has posted pictures of an unidentified woman and man suspected of abusing the girl on its website. The woman has some distinctive tattoos that investigators hope will lead to tips about her identity.
Based on a forensic analysis of the pornographic images in that case, investigators think the abuse occurred in the Los Angeles or San Fernando Valley area of California. Although the girl may now be an adult, ICE officials want to identify and prosecute the suspects and prevent them from harming new victims.
"Forensic analysis technology has become critical in the fight against child exploitation," Morton said. "We are coming across these images on the Internet. They are being produced in one country but shared literally around the world, often in real time."
Morton said ICE works with other law enforcement agencies and with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to look for clues in the pictures of abuse to identify where the acts occurred and track down the victims and perpetrators.
The name Operation Sunflower was chosen to commemorate a case from 2011 in which Danish law enforcement officials shared images and chat board information about a 16-year-old boy who allegedly planned to rape an 11-year-old girl. One image taken from a moving car showed a road sign with a sunflower on it. ICE's Homeland Security Investigations determined that the road sign was unique to Kansas. Agents were then able to find the exact stretch of road where the picture was taken and to locate the girl. ||||| Federal agents identified 123 sexually exploited children -- some as young as 2 -- and arrested 245 suspected child porn producers in a five-week operation that spanned 46 states and six countries and includes the Bay Area, a federal official announced Thursday.
Of the more than 100 abused children identified in Operation Sunflower, 44 were directly rescued from their abusers and 79 were identified as being exploited by others outside their homes or are now adults who were victimized as children. The arrests -- 37 in California, the most of any state -- were mostly executed during the first week of December, but agents are still working on rescuing and identifying victims.
In the Bay Area, agents procured five indictments for individuals from their early 20s to early 50s. The four arrested were from San Jose, San Leandro, San Francisco and Sonoma County, and one remains on the lam.
Fourteen Fresno-area residents were also arrested and three children from that region rescued, including a 7-year-old girl with disabilities.
"Whenever our investigations reveal the production and distribution of new child pornography online, we will do everything we can to rescue the victim and prosecute the abuser even if takes us years or (going) around the world to do it," said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton at a Washington D.C. news conference Thursday.
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One of the suspects is Michael Lindsay, 53, of San Jose, arrested Nov. 8 at San Francisco International Airport on suspicion of engaging in child sex tourism. He was boarding a flight to Manila, Philippines. Two months earlier, Lindsay returned from a trip to the Philippines and that country issued a criminal complaint alleging he had sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl.
Agents continue to search for additional victims, as evidence suggests Lindsay had sexual contact with additional children, according to ICE.
Of the 123 victims (70 female, 53 male) identified in the operation, five were under the age of 3; nine were 4 to 6; 21 were 7 to 9; 11 were ages 10 to 12; 38 were 13 to 15; and 15 were ages 16 to 17. Twenty-four victims were found to be adults now.
ICE's Homeland Security Investigations agents dubbed the worldwide investigation "Operation Sunflower" to commemorate the anniversary of a successful operation that rescued an 11-year-old Kansas girl from rape. It was the agency's first case in their new Victim Identification Program.
In the 2011 case, Danish police alerted American authorities to a 16-year-old boy soliciting advice on a pedophile chat room and posting images of the 11-year-old girl, saying he planned to rape her. Agents had no idea where the suspect and victim were.
Working with high-tech video equipment, law enforcement was able to extrapolate a sunflower-shaped road sign in a video from a moving car that the suspect posted. The yellow freeway sign was determined to be unique to Kansas.
For days, pairs of ICE agents drove the Kansas freeways before finding the sign on a rural freeway. From there, with the help of local police, they identified a swimming pool featured in another video and then tracked down the victim before any crime was committed. Last fiscal year, 292 victims were identified or rescued from ICE investigations and 1,655 child predators were arrested.
"We are defending the defenseless," Morton said.
Morton asked for the public's help in identifying three men and a woman in three unsolved Operation Sunflower cases. In the first case, investigators believe the photographs were taken about 11 years ago with an adult man and woman sexually molesting a girl who looks to be about 13 years old. Agents believe the images may have been taken in Los Angeles, or possibly the San Fernando Valley area.
The other two cases involve white male adult suspects abusing pre-pubescent toddlers. Their whereabouts are unknown.
Anyone with information or tips that can assist in these investigations can call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or visit www.ICE.gov/tips. Tips may be reported anonymously.
Contact Matthias Gafni at 925-952-5026. Follow him at Twitter.com/mgafni. | – A massive child-porn bust has led to 245 arrests and the identification of 123 exploited children, some as young as two, reports the Contra Costa Times. The crackdown, dubbed Operation Sunflower, began Nov. 1 and ran for five weeks, and extended to 46 states and six countries, officials revealed yesterday. Of the 123 children, 44 were living with their alleged abusers. Five of the children were three or younger, and 41 were between the ages of four and 12. California led the way with 37 arrests, and all but 23 of those arrested were in the United States, reports CNN. "Whenever our investigations reveal the production and distribution of new child pornography online, we will do everything we can to rescue the victim and prosecute the abuser, even if takes us years or (going) around the world to do it," said ICE's director. Investigators say the are continuing to make arrests and attempting to identify further victims. The operation's name is a nod to the impressive 2011 rescue of an 11-year-old in Kansas; click for the fascinating story of how ICE agents tracked her down. |
One of two nuclear bombs that fell near Raleigh, N.C., during a military accident more than 50 years ago came frighteningly close to detonating, newly-released documents reveal.
It has long been known that a pair of 4-megaton hydrogen bombs fell from a stricken B-52 as it broke apart over Goldsboro, N.C., on Jan 24, 1961, at the height of the Cold War. But documents just released by the National Security Archive show that one bomb's arming mechanism switched from "safe" to "armed" on impact, while the other bomb fluttered under a parachute and would have exploded in the sky if two cockpit wires had happened to touch as the plane disintegrated.
"This bomb had the potential to make the one used in Hiroshima look like the work of a cap gun," said Eric Schlosser, who obtained the documents approximately a year before they were obtained by the National Security Archive at George Washington University.
"It behaved as though it was dropped over the Soviet Union at the time." - Eric Schlosser, author of book on "The Goldsboro Incident"
Schlosser, who wrote about the incident in his 2013 book, "Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety," said the bomb brought to Earth by parachute, dubbed "Weapon I," was actually the one that came closest to detonating, even though its arming mechanism remained on "safe." The explosive performed just as a nuclear weapon is designed to function in wartime, completing five of the six steps to detonation, and only a single low-voltage switch prevented the explosion.
"It behaved as though it was dropped over the Soviet Union at the time," Schlosser said.
Other experts agree.
"When the B-52 disintegrates in the air it is likely to release the bombs in a near normal fashion," wrote Parker Jones, who analyzed the incident at the time for the Sandia National Laboratories and wrote a report entitled "How I learned to mistrust the H-Bomb."
As it turned out, the bomb that fell to the ground at 700 miles per hour did the most damage, burrowing some 12 feet into the ground. Unlike the other bomb, it was never in danger of detonating despite the impact moving its arming mechanism to the "armed" position. Jack ReVelle, who was an Air Force weapons disposal specialist in charge of disarming the two 11 1/2 -feet bombs, remembered when his men reported seeing the switching device as they dug their way down into the crater formed on impact.
“Until my death I will never forget hearing my sergeant say, ‘Lieutenant, we found the arm/safe switch,’” ReVelle told students at East Carolina University in 2013. “And I said, ‘Great.’ He said, ‘Not great. It’s on arm.”
The fact that the arming mechanism on the second weapon moved on impact prompted the military to order new switches immediately.
“So even though weapon 2 was further from detonation, the fact that the switch used to arm the weapon could be altered by an impact, shows its safety shortcoming,” William Burr, an analyst from the National Security Archive said.
The B-52 had been on a routine 12-hour mission and suddenly lost 19 tons of fuel pressure within minutes, according to local reports. The pilot was able to straighten the plane at 10,000 feet and aimed it for nearby Seymour Johnson Air Force Base until its right wing broke off. One witness described the plane as streaking through the sky like a Roman candle.
The pilots survived, and no one was killed on the ground. But had either bomb detonated, history would have been made in the worst possible way.
"It would have created a crater eight football fields wide," ReVelle said. "It would have destroyed every structure within a four-mile radius. There would have been a 100-percent kill zone for eight and a half miles in every direction." ||||| In a scenario that could’ve been extremely devastating, the United States narrowly averted a nuclear disaster in 1961 when an atomic bomb nearly detonated after falling out of a B-52 bomber that broke up in the sky.
According to the Washington Post, the incident took place on January 21, 1961 – less than 20 years after nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – and is explained further in a recently declassified report published by the National Security Archives.
When the US Air Force aircraft went into a tailspin and broke up, the two bombs fell towards Goldsboro, North Carolina. The parachute for one of the weapons failed to deploy, and the plane crash had actually pushed the bomb into “armed” mode by the time it hit the ground. Luckily for North Carolina, the plane’s destruction also damaged the switch necessary to trigger detonation
“The report implied that because Weapon 2 landed in a free-fall, without the parachute operating, the timer did not initiate the bomb’s high voltage battery (“trajectory arming”), a step in the arming sequence,” wrote Bill Burr of the National Security Archives.
“For Weapon 2, the Arm/Safe switch was in the “safe” position, yet it was virtually armed because the impact shock had rotated the indicator drum to the “armed” position. But the shock also damaged the switch contacts, which had to be intact for the weapon to detonate.”
Burr noted in his report just how fine the line was and is between safety and destruction.
“Perhaps this is what Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara had in mind, a few years later, when he observed that, ‘by the slightest margin of chance, literally the failure of two wires to cross, a nuclear explosion was averted,” he wrote.
These details are just the latest to surface about the incident, which was first revealed by nuclear weapons expert Eric Schlosser last year in a book titled, “Command and Control.” Through a Freedom of Information Act request, Schlosser was able to obtain documentation regarding the incident for the first time, and helped shed light on just how close the Air Force came to witnessing an atomic bomb explode on US soil.
As RT reported last year, the documents revealed that three of the four safety switches on the other bomb failed to work properly, meaning, as Schlosser noted, that only "one simple, dynamo-technology, low voltage switch stood between the United States and a major catastrophe.” The parachute on this one deployed, but when the bomb struck the ground the final firing signal triggered, only to be halted by that fourth safety switch.
The bombs contained a payload of four megatons each and could have generated explosions 260 times more powerful than the one that occurred in Hiroshima.
Before the documents related to the Goldsboro incident surfaced, the US government had denied that its nuclear weapons stockpile had ever put the nation at risk.
“The US government has consistently tried to withhold information from the American people in order to prevent questions being asked about our nuclear weapons policy,” Schlosser told the Guardian. “We were told there was no possibility of these weapons accidentally detonating, yet here’s one that very nearly did.” ||||| Story highlights Goldsboro one of 32 pre-1980 accidents involving nukes
Weeks after Goldsboro, there was another close call in California
The weapons came alarmingly close to detonation
They were far more powerful than the bombs dropped in Japan
On a January night in 1961, a U.S. Air Force bomber broke in half while flying over eastern North Carolina. From the belly of the B-52 fell two bombs -- two nuclear bombs that hit the ground near the city of Goldsboro.
A disaster worse than the devastation wrought in Hiroshima and Nagasaki could have befallen the United States that night. But it didn't, thanks to a series of fortunate missteps.
Declassified documents that the National Security Archive released this week offered new details about the incident. The blaring headline read : "Multi-Megaton Bomb Was Virtually 'Armed' When It Crashed to Earth."
Or, as Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara put it back then, "By the slightest margin of chance, literally the failure of two wires to cross, a nuclear explosion was averted."
It's difficult to calculate the destruction those bombs might have caused had they detonated in North Carolina.
A mushroom cloud rises above Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945, after an atomic bomb was dropped on the city. The bombing by American forces ended the second world war.
A picture taken in 1971 shows a nuclear explosion in Mururoa atoll.
What might've been
The website, nuclearsecrecy.com , allows users to simulate nuclear explosions. It says that one bomb the size of the two that fell in 1961 would emit thermal radiation over a 15-mile radius. Wind conditions, of course, could change that.
The blast today, with populations in the area at their current level, would kill more than 60,000 people and injure more 54,000, though the website warns that calculating casualties is problematic, and the numbers do not include those killed and injured by fallout.
It's also worth noting that North Carolina's 1961 total population was 47% of what it is today, so if you apply that percentage to the numbers, the death toll is 28,000 with 26,000 people injured -- a far cry from those killed by smaller bombs on the more densely populated cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.
University of California-Los Angeles researchers estimate that, respectively, Hiroshima and Nagasaki had populations of about 330,000 and 250,000 when they were bombed in August 1945. By that December, the cities' death tolls included, by conservative estimates , at least 90,000 and 60,000 people.
Wayne County, North Carolina, which includes Goldsboro, had a population of about 84,000 in 1961. The state capital, Raleigh, is 50 miles northwest of Goldsboro, and Fayetteville -- home of the Army's massive Fort Bragg -- is 60 miles southwest.
The Goldsboro incident
The B-52 was flying over North Carolina on January 24, 1961, when it suffered a "failure of the right wing," the report said.
As the plane broke apart, the two bombs plummeted toward the ground. The parachute opened on one; it didn't on the other.
"The impact of the aircraft breakup initiated the fuzing sequence for both bombs," the summary of the documents said.
In other words, both weapons came alarmingly close to detonating.
Weapon 1, the bomb whose parachute opened, landed intact. Fortunately, the safing pins that provided power from a generator to the weapon had been yanked -- preventing it from going off.
Weapon 2, the second bomb with the unopened parachute, landed in a free fall. The impact of the crash put it in the "armed" setting. Fortunately -- once again -- it damaged another part of the bomb needed to initiate an explosion.
While it's unclear how frequently these types of accidents have occurred, the Defense Department has disclosed 32 accidents involving nuclear weapons between 1950 and 1980.
There are at least 21 declassified accounts between 1950 and 1968 of aircraft-related incidents in which nuclear weapons were lost, accidentally dropped, jettisoned for safety reasons or on board planes that crashed. The accidents occurred in various U.S. states, Greenland, Spain, Morocco and England, and over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.
Another five accidents occurred when planes were taxiing or parked.
Two months after the close call in Goldsboro, another B-52 was flying in the western United States when the cabin depressurized and the crew ejected, leaving the pilot to steer the bomber away from populated areas, according to a DOD document . The plane crashed in Yuba City, California, but safety devices prevented the two onboard nuclear weapons from detonating.
Catastrophe averted
The Goldsboro incident was first detailed last year in the book " Command and Control " by Eric Schlosser. The documents released this week provided additional chilling details.
Eight crew members were aboard the plane that night. Five survived the crash.
"I could see three or four other chutes against the glow of the wreckage," recounted the co-pilot, Maj. Richard Rardin, according to an account published by the University of North Carolina
"I hit some trees. I had a fix on some lights and started walking."
The MK39 bombs weighed 10,000 pounds and their explosive yield was 3.8 megatons. Compare that to the bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki: They were 0.01 and 0.02 megatons.
But Rardin didn't know then what a catastrophe had been avoided.
"My biggest difficulty getting back was the various and sundry dogs I encountered on the road." | – A part of North Carolina came dangerously close to being obliterated in 1961. A newly declassified report discusses a US bomber that broke in half while flying over the state in January of that year, causing the two nuclear bombs it was carrying to plummet to the ground near Goldsboro—and reveals that those bombs came much closer to detonation than was previously known. A parachute opened for one of the bombs, which landed intact; the safing pins that conducted power from a generator had been pulled, preventing a blast. Still, it completed five of the six steps to detonation, Fox News reports. Had two cockpit wires touched as the plane disintegrated, it could have exploded. As for the second bomb, it landed in a freefall, which caused the switch to flip to the "armed" position, RT reports. What kept it from going off? "The shock also damaged the switch contacts, which had to be intact for the weapon to detonate," the National Security Archive's Bill Burr explains. The incident was first mentioned in a book by Eric Schlosser last year, but the report confirms just how close the US came to devastation. As CNN points out, the MK39 bombs had an explosive yield of 3.8 megatons; the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 0.01 and 0.02 megatons, respectively. "There would have been a 100% kill zone for 8.5 miles in every direction," said the Air Force weapons specialist tasked with disarming the bombs. "By the slightest margin of chance, literally the failure of two wires to cross, a nuclear explosion was averted," Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara said at the time. (This scientist's mathematical model could help you survive should a nuclear bomb strike.) |
PARIS (AP) — About 15 gunmen ambushed two vans carrying millions in jewels Wednesday on a French highway, forcing out their drivers in the middle of the night and speeding off into the Burgundy countryside, police said. It was the latest in a string of big jewel heists in France.
Burnt out vans are seen near the Avallon motorway exit, central France, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. A police official says 15 armed assailants attacked two vans on a French highway carrying millions of... (Associated Press)
Burnt out vans stand near the Avallon motorway exit, central France, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. A police official says 15 armed assailants attacked two vans on a French highway carrying millions of euros... (Associated Press)
Burnt out vans are seen near the Avallon motorway exit, central France, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. A police official says 15 armed assailants attacked two vans on a French highway carrying millions of... (Associated Press)
French gendarmes and other authorities were combing the forests and towns in the region southeast of Paris for the attackers. No one was injured in the attack on the A6 highway connecting Paris and Lyon, and the drivers of the two vans were left at the scene unharmed, a police official said.
The perpetrators escaped in four cars and the two vans, which police later found burned and abandoned near the site of the attack, the official said. Forensic investigators in white suits examined the area around the charred vans amid vineyards in the town of Quenne.
The jewels remain missing and it's unclear where the attackers were heading. After hours of searches failed to locate them, another police official said authorities were concentrating efforts on the investigation into the attack, which was handed to the French police agency overseeing organized crime.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be publicly named.
No possible suspects have been named in Wednesday's theft, although the case was reminiscent of heists by the Pink Panther gang of jewel thieves. The Pink Panther network has been credited with a series of thefts that Interpol says have netted more than 330 million euros since 1999.
France has seen repeated jewelry thefts. In November, two gunmen robbed a Cartier jewelry boutique in a tony, tourist-filled Paris neighborhood, fled a police chase across the Seine River, took a hostage — and then surrendered.
Last month, eight people were convicted in connection with a spectacular 2008 jewel theft at a Harry Winston boutique in Paris, when three cross-dressing gunmen stole about $92 million in goods.
In 2013, southeast France was hit with a spate of jewelry thefts, including two in Cannes during the city's famed film festival. In one, a gunman walked into a jewel show at the Carlton International Hotel, stole $136 million in loot, and disappeared down a side street in one of the most lucrative jewelry heists ever. ||||| Police in France are hunting a group of “battle-hardened” armed thieves who attacked two secure vans carrying jewels at a motorway toll in the dead of night and made off with a haul worth €9m (£6.3m).
Gendarmes and other authorities are combing the Burgundy region south-east of Paris for the gang, after the latest in a string of big jewel heists in France in recent years.
A police source, who wished to remain anonymous, said there were about 15 robbers, all “heavily armed and battle-hardened”.
No one was injured in the attack on the A6 highway connecting Paris and Lyon. The drivers of the two vans were forced out of the vehicles by the attackers, who made off with the jewels, according to sources close to the investigation.
“They are probably men who stem from organised crime and who are well informed. There were no shots fired and everything happened at lightning speed,” a police source said.
The large vans, which were transporting jewels for a planned sale in the eastern city of Besançon, were found burnt and abandoned not far from the toll station. One of them was completely ripped apart. The jewels remain missing.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to be publicly named.
Cannes jewellery heist takes shine off stars on red carpet day Read more
Attacks on special vehicles carrying jewels or cash often require equipment such as explosives or assault rifles, and while they occurred regularly at the beginning of the 2000s in France, they have dwindled in recent years.
The last major heist was in 2009 when armoured van driver Toni Musulin escaped with his vehicle after two of his colleagues stepped away, making off with at least €11.5m in cash collected from a Bank of France building.
Musulin became an overnight internet sensation at a time when the super-rich were resented during the financial crisis.
Investigators soon found packets of cash totalling €9.11m in a lockup garage in the south-eastern city of Lyon near where the abandoned van was found, and after 10 days on the run Musulin gave himself in.
The rest of the cash was never found.
When it comes to jewellery, the country’s most spectacular heist was a double robbery at a Harry Winston shop in an upmarket part of Paris in 2007 and 2008.
In the first holdup in October 2007, four masked gunmen wearing decorators’ overalls robbed the store.
The thieves had spent the night in the jewellery shop with the help of a security guard at the store, who let them in the previous evening.
The robbers made off with 120 watches and 360 pieces of jewellery worth more than €32m.
Then just over a year later, in December 2008, four men – including three wearing women’s clothes and wigs – entered the same store, again with the help of the guard.
In less than 20 minutes, they took 104 watches and 297 pieces of jewellery worth €71m and fled in a car.
Last month eight men were sentenced to up to 15 years in jail for their role in the double heist. | – Finesse can help in a jewel heist, but brute force is handy, too. Police in France say about two dozen "heavily armed and battled-hardened" robbers attacked two armored cars at a highway toll booth, securing a payday of $9.5 million in jewels, reports the Guardian. Not a single shot was fired in the midnight heist near Auxerre. The robbers let the drivers go and drove off with the vans, whose burnt-out shells were found nearby. The AP says the caper bears the hallmarks of the Pink Panther gang, which has made off with hundreds of millions in thefts over the last 15 years. |
Russia's Alexander Tretiakov won gold in the men's skeleton at Sochi - before being banned for life by the IOC
XXIII Olympic Winter Games Venue: Pyeongchang, South Korea Dates: 9-25 February Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, Red Button, Connected TVs, BBC Sport website and mobile app.
A decision to overturn the Olympic life bans of 28 Russian athletes "may have a serious impact on the future fight against doping", says the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) overturned the IOC suspensions - for doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics - partially upholding 11 other appeals.
Cas said that in 28 cases evidence was "insufficient" to prove doping.
The IOC said it would consider its own appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
Cas said that for the 11 athletes whose appeals had been partially upheld, evidence "was sufficient to establish an anti-doping rule violation" had taken place.
It said they would be "declared ineligible" for this month's Games "instead of a life ban from all Olympic Games".
The IOC said that the Cas ruling "does not mean that athletes from the group of 28 will be invited" to this month's Games in Pyeongchang.
It expressed its "satisfaction on one hand and disappointment on the other" at Thursday's decision, made eight days before the 2018 Winter Olympics begin in South Korea.
"On the one hand, the confirmation of the anti-doping rule violations for 11 athletes because of the manipulation of their samples clearly demonstrates once more the existence of the systemic manipulation of the anti-doping system at Sochi 2014," a statement added.
"On the other hand, the IOC regrets very much that - according to the Cas press release - the panels did not take this proven existence of the systemic manipulation of the anti-doping system into consideration for the other 28 cases.
"This may have a serious impact on the future fight against doping.
"Therefore, the IOC will analyse the reasoned decisions very carefully once they are available and consider consequences, including an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal."
Britain in line for another bronze?
The Cas decision makes it likely that Britain's four-man bobsleigh team from Sochi will be upgraded to a bronze medal.
John James Jackson, Bruce Tasker, Stuart Benson and Joel Fearon finished fifth, but the IOC disqualified two Russian sleds who finished first and fourth following re-examination of the doping tests conducted at the time.
Athletes from both Russian sleds were included in the 11 whose doping violations were confirmed by Cas.
The IOC is yet to officially reallocate the medals from that event, but if confirmed it would raise Britain's medal count to five and make Sochi 2014 their most successful Winter Olympics.
Jackson told BBC Sport: "Do I feel like an Olympic bronze medallist? I think it's starting to sink in, but I think once we have the medal it will feel more real.
"It's been a long waiting game since the McLaren report came out to get to a decision. I wasn't expecting the final outcome of the 28 appeals being upheld, but always thought a life-time ban wouldn't be upheld either way."
Analysis
BBC sports editor Dan Roan
Once again, just as in Rio two years ago, the Olympic movement is in chaos on the eve of its showpiece event.
The IOC had already received huge criticism for banning Russia, but then allowing as many as 169 athletes to compete as neutrals, but with the word 'Russia' emblazoned on their kit.
The Cas decision now means that the 28 Russian athletes who have had their bans overturned could take legal action against the IOC and fight to be allowed to join their compatriots in Pyeongchang, along with many others excluded from the Olympics, causing last-minute havoc.
At a time when there are fresh concerns that the new-generation bottles used to collect samples could be tampered with, this will be seen as yet another blow for anti-doping, undermining the entire case built against Russia for state-sponsored doping, and fuelling those who portray the scandal as a Western conspiracy.
However, many will wonder why the IOC issued these lifetime bans in the first place when legal precedent shows that such sanctions are always doomed to fail once appealed.
'A get out of jail free card'
Cas said it considered testimony from experts including former Russian anti-doping official and whistleblower Dr Grigory Rodchenkov and Canadian lawyer Professor Richard McLaren, who authored a damning 2016 report into doping in Russia.
A statement from Dr Rodchenkov's lawyers said: "This panel's unfortunate decision provides a very small measure of punishment for some athletes but a complete 'get out of jail free card' for most.
"The Cas decision only emboldens cheaters, makes it harder for clean athletes to win, and provides yet another ill-gotten gain for the corrupt Russian doping system generally, and [President Vladimir] Putin specifically.
"Clean sport is dead. The Cas decision proves that certain countries can get away with anything and everything. Today's decision will forever stand as the low point in sports integrity."
How many Russians were banned and why?
Media playback is not supported on this device IOC president: An 'unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympics'
In total 43 Russians were banned for life from the Olympics following the conclusion of an IOC investigation into evidence of state-sponsored Russian doping at their home Games in Sochi in 2014.
Bobsleigher Maxim Belugin was the only athlete not to lodge an appeal with Cas, while three other cases - biathletes Olga Zaytseva, Olga Vilukhina and Yana Romanova - have been "suspended".
The IOC investigation - known as the Oswald Commission, tasked with looking into individual cases of doping - was opened following the findings of the McLaren report.
The McLaren report said Russian athletes benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015, speaking of "a cover-up that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy".
The IOC also set up another investigative body - the Schmid Commission - to investigate this wider evidence of institutional doping.
As a result it banned Russia from competing in Pyeongchang, but 169 Russians have since been invited to take part as neutrals.
'A puzzle' and 'circumstantial evidence'
In November, the IOC described the "puzzle" of investigating something that was "by nature and purpose elusive" as it published decisions explaining its first wave of Russian bans.
With reference to Alexander Legkov, one of two Russian skiers banned on 1 November, the IOC said the athlete had "sought to argue that no evidence could be drawn from the McLaren report" but it had "come to a different conclusion".
It said that the authority of the report's findings was "unquestionable" and it "can and will rely" on its findings.
Legkov is one of the 28 athletes whose suspensions were overturned by Cas on Thursday.
In the statement explaining its decision, Cas said its mandate "was not to determine generally whether there was an organised scheme allowing the manipulation of doping control samples in the Sochi laboratory".
It said it was "strictly limited to dealing with 39 individual cases and to assess the evidence applicable to each athlete on an individual basis".
Cas secretary general Matthieu Reeb said there was only "circumstantial evidence" that supported individual claims of doping.
He added: "It is a matter where there is no direct evidence, such as positive test or a voluntary admission.
"This does not mean that the 28 athletes are declared innocent, but due to insufficient evidence the appeals are upheld, the sanctions annulled and their results in Sochi are reinstated."
'We expect to compete' - reaction in Russia
By BBC Monitoring
Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said: "Our guys and all of us are happy that justice has finally triumphed. Today's rulings confirm that many of those who were accused are clean athletes."
The Interfax news agency quoted Russian Olympic Committee head Alexander Zhukov as saying: "We are simply happy now that the court has restored the athletes' good name and returned their awards."
Interfax also quoted Kolobkov as saying: "The athletes who fought for their rights have finally won, and are, naturally, happy and looking forward to continuing their careers.
"They expect the International Olympics Committee to accept the Cas ruling and allow them unconditional rights to take part in the upcoming Olympic games."
Alexander Zubkov, president of the Russian bobsleigh federation, Sochi gold medallist and one of 11 athletes confirmed to have committed a doping offence, told Reuters he was "partly satisfied" with the decision as "a large number of athletes were exonerated".
But he was puzzled as to why he was not among them, adding: "I have said many times that I have never doped and do not dope now. What am I being accused of? What anti-doping rule violation do they want to slap against me?" ||||| The International Olympic Committee has reacted with dismay after 28 Russian athletes had their lifetime bans from the Olympics dramatically overturned by the court of arbitration for sport and warned that the ruling could have serious consequences for the fight against doping.
As Russia’s sports ministry celebrated the decision, saying that “justice had finally triumphed”, the IOC was bracing itself for a fresh legal challenge from some of the athletes who now want to compete in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang which begin next Friday.
Russians hail 'triumph of justice' as IOC doping bans are overturned Read more
Cas’s ruling also means the 28 will have their results reinstated from the 2014 Winter Olympics, returning Russia to the top of the medal table. They include the skeleton medallists Alexander Tretyakov and Elena Nikitina, who have already indicated they want to compete in Pyeongchang.
British IOC member Adam Pengilly said he was “appalled and angry” at the decision, adding that it was “a desperate and dark day for sport, with cheats and thieves allowed to triumph.”
“We need to take a long, hard look at sport’s leading administrators and sport’s legal system when we see the greatest fraud at an Olympic Games and years of institutional doping conspiracy pass by with only minor punishment,” he said.
“Today I have found myself apologising to individual athletes who have had dreams, medals, money and most importantly, faith in sport, stolen from them. They now think that you are better off cheating or getting your nation to establish a doping system because even if it is discovered, the consequences are minimal. Or, if you don’t want to cheat, avoid elite sport like the plague.”
The ROC remains suspended from Pyeongchang because of state-sponsored doping in Sochi. However, as things stand, around 160 Russians have been granted permission to compete as “neutral” athletes under the banner of Olympic Athlete from Russia after being cleared of doping by an IOC anti-doping panel.
That figure could yet rise, although for now the IOC is insisting it will not automatically allow any of the Russians cleared by Cas late entry into the Games. “The result of the Cas decision does not mean that athletes from the group of 28 will be invited,” it said in a statement. “Not being sanctioned does not automatically confer the privilege of an invitation.”
The IOC was also unusually critical of Cas’s ruling, suggesting the court had not taken enough account of evidence of “the proven existence of the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping system” at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Quick guide Why were the Russia doping bans overturned? Show Hide Why did Cas overturn the lifetime Olympics bans on 28 Russians? It says there was “insufficient” evidence to establish that an anti-doping rule violation had been committed in 28 of the 39 cases it investigated. But haven’t the IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee from the Winter Olympics for state sponsored doping in Sochi? Indeed. The Russian whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov provided testimony and thousands of documents to support his claims, which were accepted by the IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency. However Cas says it did not look at systematic doping – just the 39 appeals against lifetime bans from Russian athletes. What is the International Olympic Committee’s reaction? It expressed surprise that Cas had used a higher standard of proof than in previous doping cases, and said the rulings damaged the fight against doping. What are the immediate consequences? The Sochi medal winners among the 28 “cleared” Russians get their medals back - returning Russia on top of the medal table. And in the longer term? As things stand, around 160 Russians have been granted permission to compete as neutral athletes under the banner of Olympic Athlete from Russia after being cleared of doping by an IOC anti-doping panel last week. However some of the 28 “cleared” athletes are preparing an appeal so that figure could rise. What is the IOC’s response? Resistance - for now. The result of the Cas decision does not mean that athletes from the group of 28 will be invited,” it said. Russia’s lawyers may be able to barge the door open regardless.
Much of the evidence was provided by Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Russian anti-doping, who detailed how he gave cocktails of banned steroids to athletes and then swapped tainted samples for clean urine on orders from Russian officials.
His testimony – along with thousands of supporting documents and statements from other whistleblowers – led to the Russian Olympic Committee being suspended in December and 43 Russians being given life bans from the Olympics after an IOC investigation led by Denis Oswald. At the time the IOC president, Thomas Bach, called it an “unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport”.
However, on Thursday Cas ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond doubt the 28 Russians had each committed an anti-doping rule violation.
“The Cas required an even higher threshold on the necessary evidence than the Oswald Commission and former Cas decisions,” the IOC said in a statement. “This may have a serious impact on the future fight against doping.”
The news was also greeted with frustration by Jim Walden, the lawyer for Rodchenkov, who remains in hiding after fleeing Russia in 2015.
“Dr Rodchenkov testified fully and credibly at Cas,” he said. “His truth has been verified by forensic evidence, other whistleblowers and, more recently, recovery of the Moscow lab’s secret database, showing thousands of dirty tests that were covered up.
“This panel’s unfortunate decision provides a very small measure of punishment for some athletes but a complete ‘get out of jail free card’ for most. Thus, the Cas decision only emboldens cheaters, makes it harder for clean athletes to win, and provides yet another ill-gotten gain for the corrupt Russian doping system generally, and [Vladimir] Putin specifically.”
Another 11 Russians were convicted of having committed anti-doping rule violations in Sochi by Cas but had their life bans cut to a ban from the Pyeongchang Games alone. Among them were members of the Russian four-man bobsleigh team that won medals in Sochi – meaning the GB team, which originally finished fifth, will be promoted into the bronze-medal position.
Philippe Bärtsch, a lawyer for Russian athletes, said the high salt levels in the 11 athletes’ samples were accepted as evidence of tampering.
Of the 43 Russian athletes banned by the IOC Maxim Belugin, a bobsleigher, was the only one not to lodge an appeal with Cas. Three other cases – biathletes Olga Zaytseva, Olga Vilukhina and Yana Romanova – have yet to be heard.
IOC accused of 'backroom deals' with Russia over doping scandal Read more
Match TV, a Kremlin-funded sport channel, celebrated the court’s decision by broadcasting in full the almost two-hour-long men’s 50km freestyle cross-country skiing competition from the Sochi Olympics, in which Russia swept the podium. The TV channel also described the ruling as a “bang on the nose” for the IOC.
In a statement explaining its decision Cas said its panels had looked at individual cases and not whether state-sponsored doping had taken place. ||||| Matthieu Reeb, CAS Secretary General, speaks during a press conference about Russian athletes who are challenging the decisions taken by the Disciplinary Commission of the International Olympic Committee... (Associated Press)
Matthieu Reeb, CAS Secretary General, speaks during a press conference about Russian athletes who are challenging the decisions taken by the Disciplinary Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC DC) ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.... (Associated Press)
MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest on Russian doping (all times local):
___
2:15 p.m.
The head coach of the Swedish ski team says the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the disqualifications of 28 Russians who competed at the 2014 Sochi Olympics was "very messy."
Rikard Grip told Sweden's tabloid Expressen the ruling was "very surprising (and) the process long and strange."
Two Swedish cross-country skiers, Emil Jonsson and Teodor Peterson, had moved up on the podium after some Russians were banned from the team sprint.
Peterson told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter that "it does not matter if we are back as bronze medalists."
___
1:30 p.m.
U.S. skeleton veteran Katie Uhlaender says she is "heartbroken" by the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to overturn the disqualifications of 28 Russians who competed at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Uhlaender finished fourth in Sochi, one spot behind Elena Nikitina of Russia. Nikitina had been one of the athletes who had her results from Sochi stripped, which would have meant Uhlaender would be in line to move up to bronze and claim her first Olympic medal.
Nikitina is one of the 28 who had bans overturned and results reinstated by CAS. It's still unclear if Nikitina will be allowed to compete in Pyeongchang.
Uhlaender says what will happen next is bigger than a medal. She says "the integrity of sport is on the line, and I'm looking to the leaders of a movement to do something to save it."
___
1:25 p.m.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko says the country plans to file more legal action to ensure athletes who won their doping appeals can compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting, Mutko says "the athletes have been given back their good names. We never had any doubt in them."
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned bans on 28 Russians, citing insufficient evidence. Eleven more remain disqualified from the 2014 Sochi Games but had their lifetime Olympic bans cut to a ban only from the Pyeongchang Games.
Mutko called on the IOC to allow them to enter, saying "we assume that those athletes who are ready, who have qualified, who have quotas in their sport, will all be entered for the Olympics," and that "if the IOC does not accept them, then we will support them in cases which could be filed at CAS and other legal instances."
___
1:20 p.m.
Russian skeleton competitor Elena Nikitina says she wants to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned her doping ban.
Nikitina tells The Associated Press "we were hoping for justice and it has prevailed," adding "now everything has returned to normal and I hope we can compete at the Olympic Games."
The International Olympic Committee has been ordered to reinstate Nikitina as a bronze medalist from the 2014 Sochi Games. Had she remained banned, the medal was due to pass to American slider Katie Uhlaender.
However, the IOC is resisting calls to allow Nikitina and the other Russians entry to the Pyeongchang Olympics, which start next week.
Nikitina says "now I'm going to train in a different mood today, because ... you would think, what should I be preparing for, the Russian national championships which is two months away, or the Olympic Games? Now we have the purpose to train for the Olympic Games."
___
12:45 p.m.
The IOC says it will not necessarily invite the 28 Russian athletes who won their Sochi Olympic doping case appeals to compete at the Pyeongchang Games.
The International Olympic Committee says "not being sanctioned does not automatically confer the privilege of an invitation" to the games, which open in South Korea next week.
The statement was issued soon after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the disqualifications and Olympic life bans of 28 Russians from the 2014 Sochi Games.
The IOC notes that CAS said the urgent ruling "does not mean that these 28 athletes are declared innocent."
A further 11 Russians lost their appeals, which the IOC says "clearly demonstrates once more the existence of the systemic manipulation" of the Sochi anti-doping system.
The IOC says it could challenge the CAS rulings at Switzerland's supreme court.
___
12:30 p.m.
Twenty-eight Russian athletes have had their Olympic doping bans overturned, throwing the International Olympic Committee's policy on the country into turmoil.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling was set to reinstate seven Russian medals from the 2014 Sochi Olympics, including gold in men's skeleton and men's 50-kilometer cross-country skiing.
Eleven more Russians were ruled to have been guilty of doping but had lifetime bans imposed by an IOC disciplinary panel two months ago cut to a ban only from the Pyeongchang Games, which open next week.
CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb says "this does not mean that these 28 athletes are declared innocent, but in their case, due to insufficient evidence, the appeals are upheld, the sanctions annulled and their individual results achieved in Sochi are reinstated."
The IOC says it has taken note of the CAS decision "with satisfaction on the one hand and disappointment on the other," adding the decision "may have a serious impact on the future fight against doping." | – In a bombshell ruling just a week before the Winter Olympics open in Pyeongchang, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the lifetime Olympic bans of 28 out of 43 Russian athletes accused of doping at the Sochi Games in 2014. The athletes can now keep medals they won in Sochi and could theoretically compete in Pyeongchang—though the International Olympic Committee says the ruling doesn't mean they are automatically invited, the Guardian reports. The CAS also reduced the bans of 11 Russians found guilty of doping from lifetime to this Olympics only. The IOC banned Russia for sanctioning doping, but at least 164 Russian athletes will compete in the "Olympic Athlete of Russia" team. In a ruling that the IOC warned "could have a serious impact on the future fight against doping," the CAS said the bans were being overturned not because the athletes were being "declared innocent, but in their case, due to insufficient evidence," the BBC reports. The IOC also said the upholding of sanctions against some athletes "clearly demonstrates once more the existence of the systemic manipulation of the anti-doping system at Sochi 2014." Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko says Moscow plans to file legal action to allow the athletes involved to compete in Pyeongchang, the AP reports. Veteran American skeleton athlete Katie Uhlaender, meanwhile, says she is "heartbroken" by the decision, which means she will lose the bronze medal she was awarded after the Russian who finished third in Sochi was disqualified. |
New York's Republican candidate for governor, Carl Paladino, on Monday attempted to clarify remarks he'd made the previous day about homosexuality, telling Matt Lauer on NBC's "Today" show that discrimination against gays "is horrible. It's terrible."Paladino, a Tea Party favorite, on Sunday had sharply attacked homosexuality in a speech to Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn even as the tragedy of gay bullying has riveted the nation and a day after three gay men were tortured in the Bronx because of their sexual orientation.Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at Congregation Shaarei Chaim in the trendy and traditional Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, where hipsters live cheek by jowl with Hasidic Jews, Paladino was talking about the importance of not "pandering to the pornographers and perverts" when he continued on to the issue of gay rights, which he opposes."I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don't want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option -- it isn't," said Paladino, who has a reputation for being frank to the point of volatility.Paladino also had controversial remarks that he did not deliver, writing at one point in his prepared speech: "There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual" and being homosexual "is not how God created us."In the "Today" show interview, Paladino said he is not anti-gay and that he would "absolutely" recruit gays to work in his administration. "You name it. Wherever their expertise may be, we'll put them in our government."Asked about the "brainwashed" remark, he said that comment had "to do with schooling children. My feelings on homosexuality are unequivocal. I have absolutely no problem with it whatsoever. My only reservation is marriage."He said that "children should not be exposed to that at a young age. They don't understand this. It's a very difficult thing. And exposing them to homosexuality, especially at a Gay Pride parade, and I don't know if you've ever been to one, but they wear these little Speedos and they grind against each other. It's just a terrible thing."When interviewer Matt Lauer noted that some of the content in Paladino's speech was written by the people he was addressing -- a group of Orthodox Jews -- Paladino said, "That section of my presentation was written, okay, and it was handed to a staffer and it was put into the [text]. I crossed it out. ""That group gets to write the comments they want you to make?" Lauer asked?"No," Paladino responded. "It was with a discussion, but then they went too far in the discussion and I crossed all that stuff out. The only part that I said was what you just quoted me" on about children being brainwashed.Asked to clarify the reference to homosexuality equating with "dysfunction," he replied, "I did not say that. It's unacceptable." Click play below to watch Paladino on the "Today" show:In his remarks Sunday, the Republican also had harsh words for his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, for marching in this year's gay pride parade. "[T]hat's not the example we should be showing our children," he said to applause.He added: "And don't misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way. That would be a dastardly lie. My approach is live and let live."In his "Today" interview, Paladino took another swing at his opponent: "I was trying to define myself very clearly, as oppposed to Mr. Cuomo. Mr. Cuomo took his daughters to a Gay Pride parade. Is that normal? Would you do it? Would you take your children to a Gay Pride parade? . . . I don't think it is proper for them to go there and watch a couple of grown men grinding against each other. I don't think that's proper. It's disgusting."Paladino's campaign manager, Michael R. Caputo, told The New York Times on Sunday that the candidate employs a gay man on his campaign staff and said his views reflect those of the Catholic Church."Carl Paladino is simply expressing the views that he holds in his heart as a Catholic," Caputo told The Times . "Carl Paladino is not homophobic, and neither is the Catholic Church."Caputo continued that line in remarks to CNN."Carl Paladino's position on this is exactly equivalent to the Catholic Church," Caputo said . "And if Andrew Cuomo has a problem with the Catholic Church's position on abortion and homosexuality, he needs to take it up with his parish priest."Paladino's comments drew a harsh rebuke from the gay community."His words foster a climate of hatred and intolerance instead of helping heal the city of its wounds," Michael Silver, executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, told the Daily News. Silver called on Paladino to apologize immediately.Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto blasted Paladino's comments."Mr. Paladino's statement displays a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality," Vlasto said in a statement. "These comments along with other views he has espoused make it clear that he is way out of the mainstream and is unfit to represent New York."Caputo disagreed. "The majority of New Yorkers agree with him," he said of Paladino's views on homosexuals and gay rights.Polls have shown 58 percent of New Yorkers favor gay marriage, which Paladino says he opposes. Polls have also shown Cuomo expanding his lead on Paladino after the gap had closed last month to six points.Paladino's own personal life has been an issue in the campaign. He has raised charges about Cuomo's sex life that he now admits are unsubstantiated, while Paladino is married but has a 10-year-old daughter from an affair with a former employee of his. He has also admitted to sending out obscene and racist e-mails. ||||| Web wide crawl with initial seedlist and crawler configuration from March 2011. This uses the new HQ software for distributed crawling by Kenji Nagahashi.
What’s in the data set:
Crawl start date: 09 March, 2011
Crawl end date: 23 December, 2011
Number of captures: 2,713,676,341
Number of unique URLs: 2,273,840,159
Number of hosts: 29,032,069
The seed list for this crawl was a list of Alexa’s top 1 million web sites, retrieved close to the crawl start date. We used Heritrix (3.1.1-SNAPSHOT) crawler software and respected robots.txt directives. The scope of the crawl was not limited except for a few manually excluded sites.
However this was a somewhat experimental crawl for us, as we were using newly minted software to feed URLs to the crawlers, and we know there were some operational issues with it. For example, in many cases we may not have crawled all of the embedded and linked objects in a page since the URLs for these resources were added into queues that quickly grew bigger than the intended size of the crawl (and therefore we never got to them). We also included repeated crawls of some Argentinian government sites, so looking at results by country will be somewhat skewed.
We have made many changes to how we do these wide crawls since this particular example, but we wanted to make the data available “warts and all” for people to experiment with. We have also done some further analysis of the content.
If you would like access to this set of crawl data, please contact us at info at archive dot org and let us know who you are and what you’re hoping to do with it. We may not be able to say “yes” to all requests, since we’re just figuring out whether this is a good idea, but everyone will be considered. | – Carl Paladino may have implied yesterday that homosexuality is not as “valid or successful” as heterosexuality, but that’s only because being gay is “a very, very ugly experience for those that are discriminated against,” he explains today. “And it shouldn’t be. Our society should be more accepting of them.” The New York gubernatorial candidate defended his remarks on Today, telling Matt Lauer that, far from being a homophobe, he actually believes “the discrimination against homosexuals is horrible. It’s terrible … I have a nephew and I have many workers who suffer that.” He also defended his comment about children being “brainwashed” into homosexuality, saying his only concern is that “children should not be exposed to that at a young age. Exposing them to homosexuality, especially at a Gay Pride parade, and I don't know if you've ever been to one, but they wear these little Speedos and they grind against each other … Would you take your children to a Gay Pride parade? I don't think it is proper for them to go there and watch a couple of grown men grinding against each other. I think it's disgusting." For more, including the original video of his controversial remarks, click here. |
After first testing the idea of using drones to deliver packages to extra remote locations, UPS is making its move into more residential skies with octocopters that can be launched from roving trucks.
The company says it successfully tested the HorseFly drone yesterday in Lithia, FL, along with the company that built both the drone and the electric UPS vehicle that launches it, Workhorse Group.
The drone docks on the roof of the delivery truck, and a cage suspended beneath it extends through a hatch into the vehicle. A driver on the inside loads a package into the cage, presses a button on a touch screen, and sends the drone flying on a preset autonomous route to its destination.
The battery-powered HorseFly drones recharge during docking, and have a 30-minute flight time limit, carrying a package weighing up to 10 pounds.
For this test, UPS launched the vehicle from the roof of a truck about a quarter mile away to a blueberry farm. The octocopter delivered its payload at a home on the property and then flew back to the truck, which had moved down the road to allow its driver to make another delivery.
UPS says the system is different from its other drone work thus far, and could make the company’s network more efficient while reducing emissions.
“It has implications for future deliveries, especially in rural locations where our package cars often have to travel miles to make a single delivery,” said Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president of global engineering and sustainability. “Imagine a triangular delivery route where the stops are miles apart by road. Sending a drone from a package car to make just one of those deliveries can reduce costly miles driven.”
As always with these tests, it’s worth noting are still obstacles to drone deliveries: Federal Aviation Administration regulations don’t allow commercial drones to fly over any humans not involved in operating them, and requires them to stay within line of sight of their pilots at all times — something drivers could ostensibly do from their trucks in this case, depending on how far away the destination is.
Elsewhere in the delivery-drone-filled skies, Amazon completed its first residential drone-delivery in England in December, and recently filed a patent for a drone that could drop off packages by way of parachutes, electromagnets, or spring coils. ||||| On a blueberry farm outside of Tampa, Florida, on Monday, UPS tested the use of drones for residential delivery for the first time.
The logistics juggernaut specifically launched an octocopter, or multi-rotor drone, from the top of a delivery van. The drone delivered a package directly to a home, then returned to the van which had now moved down the road to a new location. The van pulled the drone down with robotic arms, to dock on its roof.
The drone used in Monday’s test was made by Ohio-based Workhorse Group Inc., already a UPS technology supplier. Workhorse builds commercial, hybrid electric trucks, batteries and develops aerospace technologies as well. UPS has purchased 350 of its electric hybrid trucks, 125 of which are already on the road today. The company’s new HorseFly UAV Delivery system used in the UPS test was tailored to work with its vehicles.
The truck for the test was custom-built to be able to launch the HorseFly drone from its roof, then grab it upon its return with robotic arms. A cage suspended beneath the drone extends through a hatch in the truck, where the drone can be lowered down and loaded up with another package. While docked, the drone recharges through a physical connection between its arms and the truck’s electric battery.
The concept of delivery vans that launch drones is not new. Mercedes Benz and drone tech startup Matternet revealed plans to develop “Vision Vans,” which launch Matternet’s delivery drones from Mercedes-Benzs trucks, back in September of 2016. They unveiled a real world version of the delivery vans at CES, as well.
According to UPS Vice President of Engineering, John Dodero, the company’s goal is to have drones work off of any type of vehicle, whether gas-powered or electric, to make last-mile deliveries. “That nest that we have on top of the car would be able to be put on any car, but we have to make sure it has the capabilities and it’s set up to do the charging,” he explains.
As for the HorseFly itself, the 9.5-pound drone features a carbon fiber construction, is powered by a proprietary lithium 18650 battery pack, and capable of a 30-minute flight time at a top speed of 45 miles per hour, the company says. By contrast, most consumer drones will only fly for about 22 minutes. The HorseFly can carry a package up to 10 pounds, allowing UPS to handle a wide range of residential deliveries. | – Don't be too nervous if you were in Lithia, Fla., earlier in the week and spotted a UPS truck launching a device from its roof to a nearby blueberry farm. It was all part of a test of a new drone-delivery feature the company hopes to bring to residential areas, Consumerist reports. The Workhorse Group's HorseFly unit—which can buzz along for about a half-hour, carrying packages that don't exceed 10 pounds—traveled a quarter-mile or so from the truck to the farm, dropped off its package, then circled back to find the UPS truck, on its way to a new destination. TechCrunch reviewed the test runs and said the process "still needs work," noting that interference caused one launch to be aborted. Reuters reports the experiment followed on the tail of a UPS announcement that automation and new technology were high on the company's priority list. Mark Wallace, a UPS senior VP, explains to Consumerist that rural areas could be a particularly viable place for the truck-launched drones, as a truck could settle in the middle of a "triangular delivery route" and send the drone to different destinations. Another UPS exec, John Dodero, tells Reuters that there's no set timeline for getting the drones into wider circulation because federal regulations are in flux. FAA rules, for example, currently require commercial drones to stay in operators' view, and they can only buzz over their operators, not other people. (Inc. notes the risk to those below if the drone malfunctions and drops the package.) One thing Dodero can speak clearly to: "UPS is never looking to replace our UPS drivers," he tells Reuters. (Amazon has also been experimenting with drone delivery.) |
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What do beards and toilets have in common? Fortunately, for fans of facial growth, the answer, and the good news, is nothing
No need for men to get flush-faced about faeces in beards
According to multiple news sites, beards can contain more poo than a toilet. Here are a few of the headlines:
“Some beards contain more poo than a toilet shocking study reveals” – the Mirror
“Shock new research reveals some beards contain more poo than a toilet” – news.com.au
“Some beards are so full of poo they are as dirty as toilets” – metro.co.uk
I was curious to read the original study to see what the basis was for the investigation and the actual results.
However, as far as I can tell there was no proper study, no team of microbiologists and no poo in beards. The origin of the story appears to be this segment from a TV news network in New Mexico, which involved a reporter swabbing a “handful” of men’s beards and then sending the swabs to a microbiologist in a lab to culture any microbes present.
The reporter then interviewed the microbiologist, John Golobic, who identified a few of the bacteria present as “enterics”, that is they are bacteria that normally live in the intestines.
“Those are the types of things you’d find in faeces,” he said.
And that’s all. Somehow, from this story other media organisations have managed to get poo in beards.
While it is true that human faeces are partially composed of gut bacteria, it’s not accurate to describe those bacteria on their own as faeces.
Further, even if this was a properly conducted scientific study with a large number of samples and published in a reputable journal, there wouldn’t necessarily be any cause for concern.
Human skin is home to great diversity of microbes, and it’s not unheard of for types of bacteria normally found in the gut, such as E. coli, to be also found on the skin.
So, if the stories aren’t right, are there any actual proper studies into microbes in beards?
I could only find a couple in a short amount of time, but there was one study in the journal Anaesthesia which looked at whether facial hair had any effect on the ability of surgical face masks to prevent transmission of bacteria.
The study found that bearded men shed more bacteria than clean-shaven men. The study did have a relatively small sample size though, with only 10 people in each category.
Another study in the Journal of Hospital Infection examined how facial hair affects the prevalence of potential pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (golden staph).
It found that having a beard actually reduced the likelihood of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and S. aureus being present on the skin. It also found that hospital workers with beards shed more bacteria than those without beards, supporting the earlier study mentioned.
However, the unbearded workers still shed enough bacteria to emphasise the importance of everyone wearing face coverings for sterile procedures, regardless of your facial hair situation.
So in summary: there is more crap in these stories about poo in beards than there is in beards. So chaps, you can all relax. ||||| Beards are big -- literally and figuratively.
A handful of brave men allowed Action 7 News to swab their beards, and the results showed some beards are as dirty as toilets.
Quest Diagnostics microbiologist John Golobic tested the swabs, and the results blew his mind.
“I'm usually not surprised and I was surprised by this,” Golobic said.
Several of the beards that were tested contained a lot of normal bacteria, but some were comparable to toilets.
“Those are the types of things you'd find in (fecal matter),” Golobic said, referring to the tests.
Even though some of the bacteria won’t lead to illness, Golobic said it’s still a little concerning.
“There would be a degree of uncleanliness that would be somewhat disturbing,” Golobic said.
Golobic recommends a thorough beard scrubbing and lots of hand-washing.
“(Also), try to keep your hands away from your face, as much as possible,” he said.
If the city were to find similar samples in the water system, Golobic said it would need to be shut down for disinfecting.
RELATED: 7 ways to stop germs in their tracks
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| – Beard hygiene is important unless you want to have the equivalent of a dirty toilet seat growing out of your face, according to a microbiologist who swabbed a bunch of beards and was shocked by the results. "I'm usually not surprised and I was surprised by this," Quest Diagnostics expert John Golobic tells KOAT, explaining that some samples yielded the "types of things you'd find in" fecal matter, signaling a "degree of uncleanliness that would be somewhat disturbing" even if the beard matter probably won't make people sick. Golobic says that similar results in a public water system would close it for disinfecting. He urges the bearded to keep their beards—and hands—clean, and "to keep your hands away from your face, as much as possible." Nick Evershed at the Guardian, however, notes that this wasn't exactly a scientific study—and even if it was, the diversity of microbes found on human skin means it wouldn't have to be cause for concern. Evershed checked out a few more serious studies on beard bacteria, which were conducted in hospitals, and found that while bearded workers do appear to shed more bacteria than others, even clean-shaven workers shed enough to show the importance of "face coverings for sterile procedures, regardless of your facial hair situation." (A bank robber in Pittsburgh disguised his beard with another beard.) |
Yes, of course, presidents have no direct control over gas prices. But the American people know something about this president and his disdain for oil. The “fuel of the past,” he contemptuously calls it. To the American worker who doesn’t commute by government motorcade and is getting fleeced every week at the pump, oil seems very much a fuel of the present — and of the foreseeable future.
President Obama incessantly claims energy open-mindedness, insisting that his policy is “all of the above.” Except, of course, for drilling:
●off the Mid-Atlantic coast (as Virginia, for example, wants);
●off the Florida Gulf Coast (instead, the Castro brothers will drill near there);
●in the broader Gulf of Mexico (where drilling in 2012 is expected to drop 30 percent below pre-moratorium forecasts);
●in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (more than half the size of England, the drilling footprint being the size of Dulles International Airport);
●on federal lands in the Rockies (where leases are down 70 percent since Obama took office).
But the event that drove home the extent of Obama’s antipathy to nearby, abundant, available oil was his veto of the Keystone pipeline, after the most extensive environmental vetting of any pipeline in U.S. history. It gave the game away because the case for Keystone is so obvious and overwhelming. Vetoing it gratuitously prolongs our dependence on outside powers, kills thousands of shovel-ready jobs, forfeits a major strategic resource to China, damages relations with our closest ally, and sends billions of oil dollars to Hugo Chavez, Vladimir Putin and already obscenely wealthy sheiks.
Obama boasts that, on his watch, production is up and imports down. True, but truly deceptive. These increases have occurred in spite of his restrictive policies. They are the result of Clinton- and Bush-era permitting. This has been accompanied by a gold rush of natural gas production resulting from new fracking technology that has nothing at all to do with Obama.
“The American people aren’t stupid,” Obama said (Feb. 23), mocking “Drill, baby, drill.” The “only solution,” he averred in yet another major energy speech last week, is that “we start using less — that lowers the demand, prices come down.” Yet five paragraphs later he claimed that regardless of “how much oil we produce at home . . . that’s not going to set the price of gas worldwide.”
So: Decreasing U.S. demand will lower oil prices, but increasing U.S. supply will not? This is ridiculous. Either both do or neither does. Does Obama read his own speeches?
Obama says of drilling: “That’s not a plan.” Of course it’s a plan. We import nearly half of our oil, thereby exporting enormous amounts of U.S. wealth. Almost 60 percent of our trade deficit — $332 billion out of $560 billion — is shipped overseas to buy crude.
Drill here and you stanch the hemorrhage. You keep those dollars within the U.S. economy, repatriating not just wealth but jobs and denying them to foreign unfriendlies. Drilling is the single most important thing we can do to spur growth at home while strengthening our hand abroad.
Instead, Obama offers what he fancies to be the fuels of the future. You would think that he’d be a tad more modest today about his powers of divination after the Solyndra bankruptcy, the collapse of government-subsidized Ener1 (past makers of the batteries of the future) and GM’s suspension of production — for lack of demand — of another federally dictated confection, the flammable Chevy Volt.
Deterred? Hardly. Our undaunted seer of the energy future has come up with his own miracle fuel: algae.
Why, explained Obama, “we can grow it right here in the United States.” (Sounds like a miraculous local find — except that it grows just about everywhere on earth.) Accordingly, yet another $14 million of taxpayer money will be sprinkled on algae research by Steven Chu’s Energy Department.
This is the very same Dr. Chu who famously said in 2008 that he wanted U.S. gas prices to rise to European levels of $8-$10 a gallon — and who on Tuesday, eight months before Election Day, publicly recanted before Congress, Galileo-style.
Who do they think they’re fooling? An oil crisis looms, prices are spiking — and our president is extolling algae. After Solyndra, Keystone and promises of seaweed in their gas tanks, Americans sense a president so ideologically antipathetic to fossil fuels — which we possess in staggering abundance — that he is utterly unserious about the real world of oil in which the rest of us live.
High gasoline prices are a major political problem for Obama. They are not just a pain at the pump, however. They are a constant reminder of three years of a rigid, fatuous, fantasy-driven energy policy that has rendered us scandalously dependent and excessively vulnerable.
letters@charleskrauthammer.com ||||| To be a modern Republican in good standing, you have to believe — or pretend to believe — in two miracle cures for whatever ails the economy: more tax cuts for the rich and more drilling for oil . And with prices at the pump on the rise, so is the chant of “Drill, baby, drill.” More and more, Republicans are telling us that gasoline would be cheap and jobs plentiful if only we would stop protecting the environment and let energy companies do whatever they want.
Thus Mitt Romney claims that gasoline prices are high not because of saber-rattling over Iran , but because President Obama won’t allow unrestricted drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Meanwhile, Stephen Moore of The Wall Street Journal tells readers that America as a whole could have a jobs boom, just like North Dakota , if only the environmentalists would get out of the way.
The irony here is that these claims come just as events are confirming what everyone who did the math already knew, namely, that U.S. energy policy has very little effect either on oil prices or on overall U.S. employment. For the truth is that we’re already having a hydrocarbon boom, with U.S. oil and gas production rising and U.S. fuel imports dropping. If there were any truth to drill-here-drill-now, this boom should have yielded substantially lower gasoline prices and lots of new jobs. Predictably, however, it has done neither.
Why the hydrocarbon boom? It’s all about the fracking. The combination of horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing of shale and other low-permeability rocks has opened up large reserves of oil and natural gas to production. As a result, U.S. oil production has risen significantly over the past three years, reversing a decline over decades, while natural gas production has exploded.
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Given this expansion, it’s hard to claim that excessive regulation has crippled energy production. Indeed, reporting in The Times makes it clear that U.S. policy has been seriously negligent — that the environmental costs of fracking have been underplayed and ignored. But, in a way, that’s the point. The reality is that far from being hobbled by eco-freaks, the energy industry has been given a largely free hand to expand domestic oil and gas production, never mind the environment.
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Strange to say, however, while natural gas prices have dropped, rising oil production and a sharp fall in import dependence haven’t stopped gasoline prices from rising toward $4 a gallon. Nor has the oil and gas boom given a noticeable boost to an economic recovery that, despite better news lately, has been very disappointing on the jobs front. | – The US president may not directly control gas prices, but Barack Obama's "disdain" for oil is still hurting Americans terribly, writes Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post. Restricting drilling, vetoing the Keystone pipeline, and similar anti-oil moves are killing thousands of local jobs, hurting relations with Canada, and sending billions of dollars to Venezuela, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Trying to develop alternative fuels of the future is a waste of time and resources. "Drilling is the single most important thing we can do to spur growth at home while strengthening our hand abroad," writes Krauthammer. High gas prices are "a constant reminder of three years of a rigid, fatuous, fantasy-driven energy policy that has rendered us scandalously dependent and excessively vulnerable." But calls for more drilling are just "intellectual bankruptcy," argues Paul Krugman in the New York Times. America is already in a "hydrocarbon boom," with oil and natural gas production on the rise, but that has not stopped oil prices from soaring. That's because increasing demand from developing countries and Mideast war worries "easily outweigh any downward pressure on prices from rising US production." The hydrocarbon boom has also had little effect on jobs—the 70,000 jobs gained since the middle of the last decade represent just .05% of total US employment. So why the GOP focus on fossil fuels? One, the oil and gas lobby. And, two, conservatives have no other ideas. "And intellectual bankruptcy, I’m sorry to say, is a problem that no amount of drilling and fracking can solve." |
Kellyanne Conway, President Trump Donald John TrumpMike Huckabee: If Trump nominated Moses to the Supreme Court Dems would still be unhappy Trump admin likely to detain migrant families for months during immigration proceedings: report ICE chief to protesters: We're not the ones separating families MORE's senior adviser, promoted Ivanka Trump's line of clothing and accessories during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" early Thursday, imploring viewers to "go buy Ivanka's stuff."
"Go buy Ivanka's stuff, is what I would tell you." Conway said. "I hate shopping but I'm going to go get some for myself today."
"Go buy Ivanka's stuff!" Kellyanne Conway tells "Fox & Friends" viewers from the White House briefing room. pic.twitter.com/noIhnVgcAk — Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) February 9, 2017
The hashtag #BuyIvanka is widely circulating on Twitter on Thursday.
Stand with Ivanka Trump!
We will never shop at #Nordstrom#BuyIvanka pic.twitter.com/IvK1mEPEi6 — Texas Lone Star (@SouthLoneStar) February 9, 2017
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"I'm going to give it a free commercial here, go buy it today," Conway said.
Chris Lu, former deputy secretary of Labor, on Thursday tweeted a screenshot of the federal ethics law he believes Conway broke with her comments.
"This is the federal ethics law that @KellyannePolls just violated," Lu tweeted, tagging the U.S. Office of Government Ethics and Rep. Jason Chaffetz Jason ChaffetzTucker Carlson: Ruling class cares more about foreigners than their own people Fox's Kennedy chides Chaffetz on child migrants: 'I’m sure these mini rapists all have bombs strapped to their chests' After FBI cleared by IG report, GOP must reform itself MORE (R-Utah), the chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Lu highlighted a portion that says: "An employee shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives."
The law applies to employees of an "agency," which is defined as "an Executive department, a Government corporation, and an independent establishment."
Conway's comments on Fox News's morning show come after President Trump on Wednesday lashed out at Nordstrom for dropping his daughter’s clothing line.
"My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!" Trump tweeted.
My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017
Former President Obama's ethics czar said Thursday that Trump’s criticism of the retail giant for dropping his daughter’s apparel brand is "an abuse of the office of the presidency."
"It is an example of why Donald Trump and his family needed to step away, needed to make a more definitive break," Norm Eisen, who later served as U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic under Obama, told MSNBC's Katy Tur.
"And I think it's an abuse of the office of the presidency. He's putting the bully in the bully pulpit."
This report was updated at 10:06 a.m. ||||| President Trump's adviser Kellyanne Conway was unrepentant Thursday night for using her White House position to promote first daughter Ivanka Trump's fashion brand, despite a backlash from ethics experts and public officials.
Her comment to "go buy Ivanka Trump stuff" was made from the White House Thursday morning while talking to Fox News.
The White House said later in the day that Conway had been "counseled" about the matter.
And in a remarkable rebuke to the White House, a bipartisan letter was sent to the Office of Government Ethics Thursday, asking that office to determine whether she should receive a stronger disciplinary response, including suspension, demotion or dismissal.
Conway appeared again on Fox Thursday evening and, when asked about the uproar, said, "I'm not going to comment on that... I have nothing more to say about it." She said that the president "supports me 100%."
"At some point, I hope American women work for a boss that treats them the way President Trump treated me today," Conway said.
Conway said that the White House is "aware of the letter" to the ethics office and is "reviewing it internally."
The letter was authored by Representative Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, and Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee.
It warned, "In this case, there is an additional challenge, which is that the President, as the ultimate disciplinary authority for the White House employees, has an inherent conflict of interest since Conway's statements relate to his daughter's private business."
"For this reason, we request that you use authority Congress granted to you...to 'recommend to [Trump] the appropriate disciplinary action (such as reprimand, suspension, demotion or dismissal) be brought against'" Conway.
A day earlier, the president had attacked Nordstrom department stores for dropping his daughter's line of clothing and accessories.
Ethics lawyers, lawmakers and government watchdog organizations called for investigations into Conway's endorsement, and suggested or said outright that she had violated government ethics law.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that Conway has been "counseled on that subject, and that's it." He did not elaborate.
Conway was appearing on "Fox & Friends" when an interviewer raised the subject of Ivanka Trump. Conway praised the president's daughter as a "very successful businesswoman" and a "champion for women empowerment," and offered statistics about how many stores sell her merchandise.
"Go buy Ivanka's stuff, is what I would tell you," Conway said. "It's a wonderful line. I own some of it. I fully -- I'm going to just, I'm going to give a free commercial here: Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online."
Related: Trump's Nordstrom blast retweeted by @POTUS
Federal law says that public employees may not use their positions "for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity."
Cummings earlier called Conway's TV plug "a textbook violation of government ethics laws and regulations enacted to prevent the abuse of an employee's government position." Chaffetz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Larry Noble, the general counsel of the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan organization of election law experts, said that in his opinion, Conway "may have violated the law."
An ethics group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, asked for the Office of Government Ethics and the White House counsel's office to look into the "apparent violation of law" and to "take any necessary discipline against her."
The Office of Government Ethics advises executive branch officials on how to avoid conflicts of interest. Its director harshly criticized Trump last month for his decision to not divest ownership of his business interests.
Related: Is Ivanka Trump's brand losing its bling?
The office did not return a request for comment, but it said in a series of tweets that it was fielding an "extraordinary volume" of phone calls, emails and web traffic from citizens in response to "recent events."
The ethics office stressed that it does not have enforcement power, like Congress or the FBI. When it learns of possible ethics violations, it said, it contacts the relevant agency and provides guidance.
1/OGE's website, phone system and email system are receiving an extraordinary volume of contacts from citizens about recent events. — U.S. OGE (@OfficeGovEthics) February 9, 2017
Richard Painter, who served as chief ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, said he would not address whether any White House official was violating the law.
But he said public officials, when giving speeches or interviews in an official capacity, may not promote the products of "a particular private business belonging to the employee's own family, the President's family, a friend, a campaign contributor or anyone else."
"That was strictly forbidden in the Bush administration because it is illegal," he said.
Stan Brand, a former chief legal officer for the House of Representatives, said that Conway's endorsement appeared to be "technically a violation."
He suggested it was doubtful that any law enforcement official would pursue "a single statement like this," but he said "a pattern or practice of such conduct could become a problem."
Related: Nordstrom stock defies Trump
Nordstrom said last week that it would no longer carry Ivanka Trump's line of clothing ando accessories because of "brand performance." An online campaign called #GrabYourWallet has encouraged shoppers to boycott Ivanka Trump merchandise.
In addition, the company that owns TJ Maxx and Marshalls said that it recently sent a memo to workers instructing them not to highlight the Ivanka Trump brand in stores. It did not provide a reason for those instructions.
And the Belk department store chain said it plans to pull Ivanka Trump products from its website, but will continue to offer them in stores. Belk said the decision was a response to customer feedback.
On Wednesday, Trump tore into Nordstrom for mistreating his daughter.
"My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!" he tweeted.
The message was retweeted by the official presidential Twitter account, @POTUS, and raised eyebrows among ethics lawyers.
Noble said the president's tweet was "totally out of line."
Related: Ethics office swamped with calls after Conway plugs Ivanka Trump line
"He should not be promoting his daughter's line, he should not be attacking a company that has business dealings with his daughter, and it just shows the massive amount of problems we have with his business holdings and his family's business holdings," Noble said Wednesday.
The rules on endorsements by public officials exempt the president and vice president.
Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, defended the president's use of the @POTUS handle to discuss his daughter's business.
"This was less about his family's business and an attack on his daughter," he told reporters on Wednesday.
--CNNMoney's Cristina Alesci and CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. ||||| poster="http://v.politico.com/images/1155968404/201702/2333/1155968404_5317511643001_5317498399001-vs.jpg?pubId=1155968404" true Kellyanne Conway under fire for promoting Ivanka's brand White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Conway had 'been counseled on that subject, and that's it.'
Kellyanne Conway used her platform Thursday to urge Americans to “go buy Ivanka’s stuff,” prompting a wave of backlash for potentially violating ethics rules governing the executive branch.
Standing in the White House press briefing room, Conway, a counselor to the president, encouraged Americans to purchase Ivanka Trump’s products, one day after President Donald Trump himself lashed out at the luxury retailer Nordstrom for dropping his daughter’s clothing line.
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“It’s a wonderful line. I own some of it,” Conway told “Fox & Friends.” “I fully — I’m going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online.”
Conway’s remark appears to violate the executive branch’s ban on staff endorsing products or companies. The regulation, from the Office of Government Ethics, also prohibits using public office for private gain of oneself or friends or relatives.
Under the regulation, OGE’s director can notify the employee of the violation and ask the agency to investigate. The director can recommend discipline, including suspension, loss of pay or termination, but would probably just issue a warning for a first offense.
Conway said Thursday night on Fox News that she had spoken with the president about the controversy and said it was a “very heartening moment.”
“I am just really happy that I spent an awful lot of time of the president of the United States this afternoon and that he supports me 100 percent,” she said.
At his daily briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Conway had "been counseled on that subject, and that's it," declining to further elaborate on whether the White House believed the counselor to the president had crossed a line.
But lawmakers suggested that it did. Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, respectively, wrote in a letter to OGE Director Walter Shaub that Conway’s interview “raised extremely serious concerns.”
“As the director of OGE, you have authority to review potential ethics violations and notify the employee’s agency, which in this case is the White House,” they said. “In this case, there is an additional challenge, which is that the President, as the ultimate disciplinary authority for White House employees, has an inherent conflict of interest since Conway’s statements relate to his daughter’s private business.”
They asked that OGE “review Conway’s statement and act promptly on the basis of your findings,” as well as report back to the House panel with a recommendation for disciplinary action, if necessary.
Cummings earlier Thursday had said in a letter to Chaffetz, “This appears to be a textbook violation of government ethics laws and regulations enacted to prevent the abuse of an employee’s government position,” and asked for a committee “review and potential disciplinary action.”
Chaffetz seemed to agree, telling The Associated Press that Conway’s remark was “wrong, wrong, wrong, clearly over the line, unacceptable.”
"It needs to be dealt with," Chaffetz had said. "There's no ifs, ands or buts about it."
A host of liberal, progressive and nonpartisan advocacy groups filed complaints against Conway, including the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which filed its complaint with both OGE and the White House Counsel’s Office.
“Ms. Conway appears to have violated both the letter and the spirit of these rules when she used her position to endorse the accessories and clothing line of Ms. Trump, the daughter of the president,” the CREW complaint says. “Furthermore, we are concerned about what appears to be a pattern developing of the use of official offices, particularly the White House and the Executive Office of the President, to benefit business interests of relatives and supporters of the president; Ms. Conway’s comments appear to be just the latest example of this trend.”
Ordinarily, a violation in the White House would be dealt with by the White House counsel. But it’s not clear how the regulation will be enforced under a president who, based on his own statement Wednesday, seems likely to approve of what Conway said. (The president himself is technically exempt from the regulation, but White House policy has long applied it to him.)
Likely sparked by Conway's remark, web traffic to the OGE's website surged Thursday to the point that it became inaccessible for much of the day. On Twitter, the office wrote that "OGE’s website, phone system and email system are receiving an extraordinary volume of contacts from citizens about recent events.” The office later added that it "does not have investigative or enforcement authority.”
An OGE spokesman said the agency was "looking at ways to redirect traffic and add capacity" to make its website accessible again.
Citing declining sales for Ivanka Trump’s label, Nordstrom announced earlier this month that it would no longer carry her line, a move that sparked anger from Donald Trump, who tweeted Wednesday that his daughter had “been treated so unfairly” by the department store.
Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, have been highly visible members of the administration since Donald Trump took office just under three weeks ago. The president’s daughter accompanied him to Dover Air Force Base last week for the return of the remains of a Navy SEAL killed during a raid in Yemen and has advised him on policy issues, including the environment and parental leave.
Conway told Fox News she found it “ironic that you’ve got some executives all over the internet bragging about what they’ve done to [Ivanka] and her line.”
“Yet, they’re using the most prominent woman in Donald Trump’s — you know, most prominent — she’s his daughter, and they’re using her, who has been a champion for women empowerment, women in the workplace, to get to him,” she continued. “I think people could see through that. Go buy Ivanka's stuff is what I would tell you. I hate shopping. I’m going to go get some myself today.”
While Nordstrom claimed that the decision to drop Ivanka Trump’s line of clothing and shoes was based solely on business, at least some of the decline in sales of her products could be attributed to the #GrabYourWallet campaign urging consumers to boycott Trump products.
Nordstrom also hasn’t shied away from voicing opposition to Trump’s policies, releasing a statement in support of immigrants in the wake of the president’s executive order temporarily banning individuals from certain Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S. in the name of national security. The retailer announced its decision to drop Ivanka Trump’s line three days after releasing that statement.
On Fox News, Conway called Ivanka Trump a “very successful businesswoman” and an “incredibly confident, creative, talented woman” and indicated that should be welcomed into a role at the White House to work on women's empowerment issues, if she so chooses.
“Obviously, she’s stepped away from it now, but in the past she’s helped to run her family’s real estate empire, and on the side she developed another fully, unbelievably, entrepreneurial, wildly successful business that bears her name,” Conway added. “And I think she’s gone from 800 stores to 1,000 stores or 1,000 places where you can buy — you can certainly buy her goods online. She’s just at a very good place.”
Kyle Cheney contributed to this report. ||||| Tweet with a location
You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| The White House on Thursday said that a top adviser to President Trump had been “counseled” after using a television appearance from the West Wing to promote the clothing and jewelry line sold under the brand of Trump’s daughter.
The endorsement, in which Kellyanne Conway told Fox News Channel viewers to “go buy Ivanka’s stuff,” appeared to violate a key ethics rule barring federal employees from using their public office to endorse products. The White House reaction was a rare acknowledgment of an ethical misstep.
Conway’s remarks drew a sharp and unusual rebuke from a top Republican lawmaker, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who said that Conway’s comments were “absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong” and “clearly over the line.”
Chaffetz, who has resisted calls by Democrats to investigate potential conflicts related to President Trump’s businesses, joined with the Oversight Committee’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (Md.), in sending a letter to the Office of Government Ethics calling Conway’s comments “unacceptable.” The letter asked the agency to recommend discipline given that Trump, who is Conway’s “agency head,” holds an “inherent conflict of interest” due to the involvement of his daughter’s business.
In a terse comment to reporters Thursday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that Conway had been “counseled on the subject” but did not say whether she would be disciplined. Spicer did not say why Conway’s statements had required the intervention, and the White House declined to answer further questions.
President Trump’s counselor Kellyanne Conway at the White House on Jan .24. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
Speaking on Fox News Thursday evening, Conway declined to comment but said Trump supports her “100 percent.”
Conway said she advised all women to, at some point in their life, have a boss who treats them “the way the president of the United States treated me today.”
The incident was the latest illustration of how the Trump White House has struggled to grapple with long-established ethics rules as the president has attempted to balance the potentially competing interests of his new public position and his family’s vast business holdings.
The matter has grown politically thorny in recent weeks as many opponents of Trump’s policies have waged a campaign to boycott the family’s brands and protest at its properties. The tensions underscore the difficulty Trump faces in carrying through on his vow to separate his presidency from his businesses — particularly given that he and his daughter have refused to divest their ownership stakes.
The president has faced criticism from ethics experts and Democratic lawmakers who have warned that his public power could be misused to enrich him and his family. Trump has turned over the management of his businesses to his two adult sons and a longtime executive.
Although Trump has said that most ethics laws and rules do not apply to the president, Conway’s stumble Thursday served as a reminder that staffers are nonetheless subject to those provisions.
The Conway episode followed other instances in which Trump’s political rise and his presidency have provided a promotional platform for the family businesses.
1 of 10 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Controversial comments from Kellyanne Conway that made headlines View Photos Conway, counselor to President Trump, coined the term “alternative facts” and referred to a “Bowling Green massacre” that never happened. Caption Conway, counselor to President Trump, coined the term “alternative facts” and referred to a “Bowling Green massacre” that never happened. The government has many ways to surveil “What I can say is there are many ways to surveil each other now, unfortunately,” including “microwaves that turn into cameras, et cetera,” Conway told the Bergen Record in an interview Sunday. “So we know that that is just a fact of modern life,”Conway told ABC’s “Good Morning America.” READ THE STORY Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.
On Monday, first lady Melania Trump filed a lawsuit accusing a British news company of publishing an inaccurate story that hurt her ability to take advantage of a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to build her brand of jewelry and accessories. The lawsuit said that the August 2016 article, which falsely suggested that Melania Trump had once worked for an escort service, damaged her ability to build “multimillion dollar business relationships for a multi-year term” and damaged her brand during a time when Trump “is one of the most photographed women in the world.”
A day later, after ethics experts criticized the notion of Melania Trump attempting to make money from her public role, her attorney and a spokeswoman issued statements saying that the first lady “has no intention” of using her position for profit.
The first family has struggled to cleanse its public appearances of private entanglements.
In his official biography on the White House website, Donald Trump boasts of the success of the business he still owns and cites his book “The Art of the Deal,” which remains for sale.
Melania Trump’s initial online biography referenced her jewelry line, once sold on the cable television channel QVC, and noted its trademark, a registration now overseen by a federal office led by her husband.
Ivanka Trump, whose brand includes dresses, shoes, skirts, handbags, jewelry and accessories, much of which is sold online and at dozens of the United States’ largest retailers and department-store chains, mixed her business and newly elevated political profile shortly after the election.
Hours after she was interviewed by CBS’s “60 Minutes” about her father’s victory, her jewelry line alerted journalists to the fact that she was wearing an Ivanka-brand diamond bracelet, which viewers could buy for $10,800.
Conway’s endorsement of Ivanka Trump’s brand followed a tweet Wednesday by President Trump complaining that his daughter had “been treated so unfairly” by the department store Nordstrom, which dropped her clothing line, citing slow sales.
Conway touted Ivanka Trump’s “wonderful line” of clothing and shoes during an interview Thursday morning with “Fox & Friends” from the White House briefing room.
Responding to national boycotts of Ivanka Trump merchandise, Conway said, “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff is what I would tell you.”
“I’m going to give a free commercial here,” she added. “Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online.”
Experts quickly seized on Conway’s remarks as a direct violation of Office of Government Ethics rules. Don W. Fox, a former OGE acting director and general counsel, said Conway’s statements were “jaw-dropping” and “a clear violation of rules prohibiting misuse of public office for anyone’s private gain.”
Peter Schweizer, who has worked closely with Trump chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon and wrote a book, “Clinton Cash,” that was critical of donations to the Clinton Foundation, said, “They’ve crossed a very, very important, bright line, and it’s not good.”
“To encourage Americans to buy goods from companies owned by the first family is totally out of bounds and needs to stop,” Schweizer added. “Clearly, the Trumps feel some of this is related to politics. But whether that’s true or not, these marketing battles need to be fought by Ivanka and her company. They cannot and should not be fought by government employees and the White House.”
Schweizer said that it was time for Trump “to move beyond the mind-set and the role of a businessman and assume the mantle of commander in chief.”
Federal law states that the director of the Office of Government Ethics can advise the White House and Conway of the violation and recommend disciplinary action. But the OGE’s recommendations are nonbinding, and the ultimate decision resides with the White House.
OGE officials did not respond to requests for comment. By midmorning, the agency’s website had crashed, and the OGE’s official Twitter account said that the office’s phone and email systems were receiving “an extraordinary volume” of citizen input about “recent events.”
The office tweeted that its role is to help prevent ethics violations but not to investigate allegations that rules have been broken — a job reserved for the FBI, inspectors general and other watchdogs. Still, the OGE notifies agencies of possible ethics violations and asks for reports on any action taken, a process the office indicated it is “actively following,” according to the OGE’s tweets.
Experts said that a typical executive-branch employee who violated the endorsement rule could face significant disciplinary action, including a multi-day suspension and loss of pay. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees, for instance, face a five-day suspension or termination for using public office for private gain.
But enforcement measures are largely left to the head of the federal agency — in Conway’s case, the White House. Conway’s counseling, independent lawyers said, could have included a meeting with members of the White House counsel’s office, but it remained unclear what disciplinary steps would be taken.
Independent ethics groups and Trump critics targeted the endorsement as a make-or-break moment for how the White House will address future ethical concerns.
Noah Bookbinder, director of the liberal Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which filed an official ethics complaint, called Conway’s comments “just another example of what looks like a disturbing pattern of this administration acting to benefit the businesses of the president’s family and supporters.”
Conway’s endorsement of Ivanka Trump’s business also highlighted an awkward reality for a White House threatening U.S. companies seeking to move jobs or operations overseas. Nearly all Ivanka-brand merchandise is manufactured in low-cost-labor countries, including China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The president and his daughter have taken steps to put distance between their private companies and public ambitions. Both resigned their official leadership roles in the Trump Organization.
Ivanka Trump retains a financial interest in her separate business. The Trump company says the president does not have a financial interest or ownership stake in the Ivanka brand.
[Fact Checker: Trump’s claim Ivanka is being ‘treated so unfairly’ by Nordstrom] | – "Go buy Ivanka's stuff." That was Kellyanne Conway's message to viewers during an interview with Fox & Friends on Thursday after Nordstrom pulled Ivanka Trump's clothing line from its stores. The problem? She might have violated federal ethics rules with the plug. Government workers aren't supposed to endorse products, and Conway not only did so, she wasn't shy about it: "I'm going to give a free commercial here," she said. "Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online.” Per the Hill, this is the rule from the Office of Government Ethics she appears to have run afoul of: "An employee shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service, or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives." It's not clear whether the OGE will investigate, but someone who violates this rule can be suspended or even fired, though the person is likely to receive only a warning for a first offense, reports Politico. "This is jaw-dropping to me," a former acting director of the office tells the Washington Post. It "would seem to be a clear violation." President Trump, of course, has also addressed Nordstrom's move, tweeting, "Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom." White House spokesman Sean Spicer says Trump's tweet "was less about his family's business and an attack on his daughter," per CNNMoney. Nordstrom has said the decision was about declining sales, not politics. |
SALT LAKE CITY -- A sex offender parolee who killed a University of Utah student whom he briefly dated allegedly threatened to post compromising pictures of the couple online. Melvin Rowland, 37, demanded that Lauren McCluskey send him money to stop him from doing so, authorities said Thursday.
Rowland, 37, had been lurking on campus for days trying to confront the woman who had broken up with him weeks earlier when she discovered his criminal background, university police chief Dale Brophy said. Rowland spent the hours before the fatal shooting Monday in McCluskey's dorm building socializing with her friends, university police chief Dale Brophy said.
He later confronted the 21-year-old McCluskey in the parking lot, dragged her into a car and shot her multiple times in the back seat, Brophy said at a news conference.
Rowland killed himself hours later in a church as police closed in.
The killing of McCluskey, a track athlete at the school, came weeks after she broke off her month-long relationship with Rowland and filed a complaint with campus police alleging he had demanded money in exchange for not posting compromising pictures of the couple online. She had sent $1,000 to an account in hopes of preserving her reputation, Brophy said.
Police were investigating the case as sexual extortion and knew Rowland was a sex offender but not that he was on parole, Brophy said.
NEW in @UUtah student death
Police say...
-Lauren McCluskey paid Melvin Rowland $1000 to keep compromising photos private
-He was on campus Fri to Mon, looking for McCluskey
-He texted her, posing as cop Monday AM to lure her outside
-He went on date (dinner, shower) after murder — Michael Locklear (@MichaelLocklear) October 25, 2018
McCluskey reported receiving numerous emails and messages using different names trying to lure her to locations. Investigators now believe they all came from Rowland, who Brophy called a master manipulator.
After shooting McCluskey, Rowland was picked up on campus by a woman he met online. They went to dinner, visited the state Capitol and went to her apartment where Rowland took a shower.
Later that night, after the woman dropped Rowland at a coffee shop, police tracked him to the church where he killed himself.
The woman had called police when she saw photos of the man being sought for the campus shooting.
Rowland got the gun by telling an acquaintance that his girlfriend wanted to learn to shoot.
Brophy said it appears the woman who picked up Rowland on campus and the person who loaned him the gun had been duped and are not expected to face charges.
"Rowland was a manipulator. If his lips were moving, he was lying," Brophy said. "I don't think he told the truth to anybody based on our investigation."
Kaitlin Felsted, a spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Corrections, said police didn't make parole officers aware of the complaint filed by McCluskey.
Brophy said police didn't start the formal extortion investigation until six days after her Oct. 13 report due to workload issues.
In the early stages of the investigation, they didn't have enough information to pass on to any other law enforcement, Brophy said, adding that there were no indications from McCluskey that Rowland was threatening physical violence.
University of Utah president Ruth Watkins said outside investigations are being launched to assess campus security and police protocols to determine if improvements can be made to prevent future shootings.
Watkins said so far she has found no mistakes in how police handled the case. Brophy said he welcomes the reviews.
Gov. Gary Herbert said corrections and parole officials had approved independent investigations into the handling of Rowland's parole.
"Clearly in hindsight, we're going to say, 'You should have done this, you should have done that,'" Herbert said during his monthly televised news conference at KUED-TV
He noted, however, "You never know when these things are going to occur."
Rowland was paroled in April when he told the parole board that he was a changed man after being a peer leader in prison had helped him tap into his empathy and learn to follow the rules.
He spent nearly a decade in prison after pleading guilty in 2004 to trying to lure an underage girl online and attempted sex abuse charges, according to court records.
After he was charged, a woman came forward to report he had sexually assaulted her after a separate online meeting a few days earlier.
Rowland, a native of New York, was twice sent back to prison for parole violations that included possessing pornography and failure to complete therapy.
He blamed his "thinking errors" for the actions that kept sending him back in prison, according to recordings of parole hearings from 2010 to 2018 released this week by the Utah Board of Parole and Pardons.
Rowland said at a hearing in 2012 that he was a womanizer who manipulated women to get what he wanted.
Brophy offered the same assessment. He said McCluskey met Rowland at a bar where he was working security and started dating him. He visited her often in her dorm and made friends with other students in the building.
"He was very, very good at getting people to trust him," Brophy said. "Lauren was no different."
Watkins said she gave McCluskey's parents a posthumous degree for their daughter, a senior from Pullman, Washington, who was majoring in communication.
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell paid tribute to McCluskey by writing her name on his sneakers before Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets.
"It was a scary feeling to be close to that. It's just so sad," Mitchell told NBA TV after the game. "I have a little sister. My mom raised me. Women have to be protected more. She was being harassed for two straight weeks. That's so tough. She was defenseless. She couldn't do anything about it. For a man to do that, that's terrible. For me, I just wanted to be able to dedicate this game to her and her family." ||||| In the wake of the fatal shooting of student-athlete Lauren McCluskey on campus Monday evening, the University of Utah will initiate a pair of separate reviews into campus safety and how the university police department responded to a complaint from McCluskey about her killer earlier this month.
"Let me be clear: I have great faith that our university police department worked diligently on this incident," university president Ruth Watkins said. "They too welcome an independent review. We will leave no stone unturned in determining anything we can do to prevent something like this from happening again on our campus."
Melvin Rowland, 37, a convicted sex offender who was free on parole, dated McCluskey, a member of the Utah track and field team, for about a month after they met at a bar where he worked as a bouncer, University of Utah police chief Dale Brophy said Thursday at a news conference. McCluskey ended the relationship Oct. 9, after learning about Rowland's criminal background. In the days following the breakup, Rowland attempted to extort McCluskey and stalked her residence before assaulting her in a parking lot and shooting her several times in the back seat of a car, Brophy said. She was 21.
Rowland killed himself hours later in a church as police closed in.
Rowland was convicted of forcible sexual abuse and enticing a minor, both felonies, in 2004 in Utah. On Oct. 9, when McCluskey became aware of his background, she invited him to her dorm to confront him and end the relationship, Brophy told reporters. He said McCluskey allowed Rowland to stay with her that night and borrow her car the next day.
Lauren McCluskey, a member of Utah's track and field team, was shot and killed Monday evening on campus. University of Utah Athletics
On Oct. 10, McCluskey's mother, Jill McCluskey, a professor at Washington State University, contacted campus police dispatch because she was worried her daughter would be forced to go alone to retrieve her car from Rowland.
Police made contact with Lauren McCluskey, but she told them she did not feel uncomfortable having Rowland drop off her car, Brophy said. Police later provided an escort for McCluskey after Rowland dropped her car off in a parking lot several blocks from her dorm.
Two days later, McCluskey began receiving suspicious messages she believed were from Rowland and/or his friends, and she contacted police, Brophy told reporters. She told police the messages didn't make her feel uncomfortable, but told them Rowland's friends were trying to lure her somewhere and she didn't know why, Brophy said. Police later determined Rowland likely was responsible for all the messages McCluskey received.
Then, on Oct. 13, she received a demand for money in order to prevent compromising photos of her and Rowland from being published on the internet, and she met the demand by depositing $1,000 in an account, Brophy said. McCluskey filed a report and university police opened an extortion case against Rowland, but the formal investigation did not begin until Oct. 19 due to workload issues, Brophy said.
Brophy also said the department knew Rowland was a registered sex offender but was not aware Rowland was on parole. In the early stages of the investigation, the police did not have enough information to pass on to any other law enforcement agency, Brophy said, adding that there were no indications from McCluskey that Rowland was threatening physical violence.
Editor's Picks Utah track athlete McCluskey shot and killed University of Utah track athlete Lauren McCluskey was shot and killed Monday night, the school announced.
Utah athlete's killer a self-described manipulator The man who killed Utah track athlete Lauren McCluskey said he sought to manipulate those he met in person or online, according to a recording of his 2012 parole hearing. 1 Related
Rowland was granted parole on Feb. 20 and released in April, public records show. Rowland's address was available on the sex offender database and he was required to check in monthly, according to Kaitlin Felsted, a public information officer for the Utah Department of Corrections. Rowland was last in touch with his parole officer by phone on Oct. 16, and the conversation did not raise any red flags, Felsted said.
Rowland was granted parole on two prior occasions -- in 2012 and 2016 -- but violated the conditions of his release on both occasions and was returned to prison, according to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. During one parole hearing, he described himself as a womanizer who manipulated women to get what he wanted and said he was attracted to teenage girls and vulnerable women, and sought to manipulate those he met in person or online, according to a recording of the 2012 hearing released by Utah state authorities.
Gov. Gary Herbert said corrections and parole officials had approved independent investigations into the handling of Rowland's parole.
On the day of McCluskey's killing, Rowland spent several hours hanging out near her residence and attempted to lure her out of her dorm by sending a text message posing as a police officer, Brophy said. When she returned to her dorm, Rowland attacked McCluskey in the parking lot while she was on the phone with her mother and dragged her to the car, where he shot her several times, the chief said.
According to Brophy, Rowland obtained the gun from an acquaintance, whom he told his girlfriend wanted to learn how to shoot. The acquaintance reached out to police voluntarily upon seeing news reports about the shooting and is cooperating with police, Brophy said, but it remains possible the individual could face criminal charges down the line.
After shooting McCluskey, Rowland was picked up by a woman he had recently met on a dating website, Brophy said. They had dinner and went to her apartment, where Rowland showered before leaving. That woman contacted police when she saw Rowland's name in news reports about the shooting and is not expected to face charges, Brophy said.
The external, independent reviews of campus safety measures and the police department's handling of the case will begin as soon as possible, Watkins said. As of Thursday evening, the university had not announced who would lead those reviews. ||||| A University of Utah student who police say was murdered by her ex-boyfriend told officers she wired $1,000 to an account earlier this month to prevent the release of "compromising pictures" of the pair, investigators said Thursday.
University Police Chief Dale Brophy told reporters that Lauren McCluskey, 21, reported the extortion to his officers on Oct. 13, nine days before she was found shot dead outside an on-campus dormitory. The suspect in her murder, 37-year-old Melvin Rowland, was found dead that same evening of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a Salt Lake City church.
Brophy said that McCluskey had ended her relationship with Rowland on Oct. 9 after she discovered that he had lied to her about his age and was a registered sex offender. McCluskey initially declined police assistance in dealing with Rowland, but later reported receiving numerous emails and messages using different names trying to lure her to locations in addition to the extortion attempt. Investigators now believe the messages all came from Rowland, who Brophy called a master manipulator.
"If his lips were moving, he was lying," Brophy said of Rowland. "I don't think he told the truth to anybody based on our investigation."
Rowland was spotted on surveillance video at various locations around the University of Utah's campus during the weekend before McCluskey's murder. Authorities believe he was trying to confront her. Hours before the killing, Rowland was in McCluskey's dorm building socializing with some of her friends. He later confronted McCluskey in the building parking lot, dragged her into a car he had driven to campus, and shot her multiple times.
After shooting McCluskey, Rowland was picked up on campus by a woman he met online. They went to dinner, visited the state Capitol and went to her apartment where Rowland took a shower.
The woman later called police when she saw photos of the man being sought for the campus shooting.
Later that night, after the woman dropped Rowland at a coffee shop, police tracked him to the church where he killed himself.
Rowland got the gun by telling an acquaintance that his girlfriend wanted to learn to shoot.
Brophy said it appears the woman who picked up Rowland on campus and the person who loaned him the gun had been duped and will not face charges.
Police knew Rowland was a sex offender but not that he was on parole, Brophy said. He added that police didn't start the formal extortion investigation until six days after her Oct. 13 report due to workload issues.
Kaitlin Felsted, a spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Corrections, said police didn't make parole officers aware of the complaint filed by McCluskey.
In the early stages of the investigation, officers didn't have enough information to pass on to any other law enforcement, Brophy said, adding that there were no indications from McCluskey that Rowland was threatening physical violence.
University of Utah president Ruth Watkins said outside investigations are being launched to assess campus security and police protocols to determine if improvements can be made to prevent future shootings.
Watkins said so far she has found no mistakes in how police handled the case. Brophy said he welcomes the reviews.
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH STUDENT WAS ON PHONE WITH PARENTS BEFORE DEADLY SHOOTING
Earlier in the day, Gov. Gary Herbert said corrections and parole officials had launched investigations into the handling of the case.
"Clearly in hindsight, we're going to say, 'You should have done this, you should have done that,'" Herbert said during his monthly televised news conference at KUED-TV
He noted, however, "You never know when these things are going to occur."
Rowland was paroled in April when he told the parole board that he was a changed man after being a peer leader in prison had helped him tap into his empathy and learn to follow the rules.
He spent nearly a decade in prison after pleading guilty in 2004 to trying to lure an underage girl online and attempted sex abuse charges, according to court records.
After he was charged, a woman came forward to report he had sexually assaulted her after a separate online meeting a few days earlier.
Rowland, a native of New York, was twice sent back to prison for parole violations that included possessing pornography and failure to complete therapy.
MARRIED COUPLE FOUND DEAD AT INDIANA HOME IDENTIFIED AS TEACHERS
He blamed his "thinking errors" for the actions that kept sending him back in prison, according to recordings of parole hearings from 2010 to 2018 released this week by the Utah Board of Parole and Pardons.
Rowland said at a hearing in 2012 that he was a womanizer who manipulated women to get what he wanted.
Brophy offered the same assessment. He said McCluskey met Rowland last month at a bar where he was working security and started dating him. He visited her often in her dorm and made friends with other students in the building.
"He was very, very good at getting people to trust him," Brophy said. "Lauren was no different."
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The Associated Press contributed to this report. | – Lauren McCluskey's killer was a master manipulator who penned messages under various names—even posed as a police officer—in an effort to lure and extort the 21-year-old University of Utah student before her death, according to police. Nine days before she was fatally shot on campus by an ex-boyfriend later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, McCluskey told university police she'd wired $1,000 to an account to prevent the release of "compromising" photos of her and the killer, 37-year-old Melvin Rowland, says University Police Chief Dale Brophy, per Fox News and ESPN. McCluskey had ended her relationship with the registered sex offender days earlier after discovering he'd lied about his background. "If his lips were moving, he was lying," Brophy says of Rowland, who described himself as a manipulator of women at a 2012 parole hearing. Rowland told an acquaintance, for example, that he needed a gun because his girlfriend wanted to learn to shoot, reports CBS News. After shooting McCluskey multiple times in the backseat of a car he’d driven to campus, Rowland was picked up by a woman he'd met online. Before she recognized him as the murder suspect and called police, the pair went to dinner and back to the woman's apartment where Rowland showered before leaving, Brophy says. Meanwhile, the investigation into McCluskey's extortion complaint had been delayed by workload issues, and the Utah Department of Corrections had yet to be notified. Gov. Gary Herbert announced an investigation into the handling of the case on Thursday. Hindsight is 20/20, but "you never know when these things are going to occur," he said. (McCluskey was on the phone with her mom at the time.) |
ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey's state-run news agency says prosecutors are seeking more than four years in prison for NBA player Enes Kanter on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Anadolu Agency says an indictment prepared by the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office accuses the New York Knicks center of insulting the president in a series of tweets he posted in May and June 2016.
Kanter, who is in the United States, would be tried in absentia.
Turkish prosecutors are seeking a four-year prison term for Knicks player Enes Kanter, who sent a series of tweets that the government deemed insulting. John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Kanter said on Wednesday that he isn't bothered by the potential indictment.
"You guys were seeing today that I was just out there having fun, playing basketball and practicing with my teammates," Kanter said. "... You guys are going to say, 'How do you get used to, like, prison, this and that, whatever?' I think it's just nothing to me, man, because I'm in America. I'm good. My focus right now is just going out there, playing basketball, having fun with my teammates and just winning, and just thinking about playoffs. I don't really think about all this stuff, whatever. They can do whatever they want to do."
Kanter, who grew up in Turkey, is a vocal supporter of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric blamed by Turkey for last year's failed military coup. Kanter was detained in Romania on May 20 because his Turkish passport was canceled. He said he was able to return to the United States after American officials intervened.
The Knicks center said he found out about the indictment on Wednesday morning.
"I was like, 'Oh, four years.' I was like, 'That's it? Only four years? All the trash I've been talking?' I said I promise you guys, it doesn't really bother me a little, even one bit," he said. "My thing is just going out there and just playing basketball."
Kanter was asked Wednesday if he hopes the situation in his country can change.
"The only thing you can do is just pray for all these innocent people in Turkey," he said. "People don't understand. They're saying your family is still back in Turkey -- why are you doing all of this? Why are you talking? I'm just trying to be the voice of all of these innocent people, man. Because all of these innocent people are just going through really tough times. Journalists, innocent people in jail getting tortured and killed and kidnapped. And it's pretty messed up."
He added that the Knicks' success on the court would be a good way to answer back to the government.
"If we make playoffs, then that will drive him crazy, so that's what I'm really focused on right now, just make the playoffs and drive this dude crazy," he said.
Of Erdogan, Kanter added: "That dude is maniac. Think about it. I mean, America ... you've got freedom of whatever you want to say. I mean, it's a free country. But it's not like that in Turkey. You cannot criticize or you cannot even say nothing bad about the dude, Erdogan. Just, like, say he's a bad guy and you're in a prison. It's politics. People can choose or say whatever they want to say. I think right now the situation there is pretty messed up."
ESPN's Ian Begley and the Associated Press contributed to this report. ||||| Enes Kanter is one of the more outspoken players in the N.B.A., riffing about LeBron James or Kevin Durant or just about anything else that grabs his attention.
But the Knicks center is never more passionate than when speaking out about his home country of Turkey. And in recent years, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has amassed more and more power, Kanter has emerged as one of Erdogan’s louder and more prominent critics.
Kanter’s decision to be vocal has come at a cost. Out of caution, he has not visited Turkey in years, and in May he was detained for hours at an airport in Romania after the Turkish government canceled his travel documents.
On Wednesday, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported that prosecutors were seeking more than four years in jail for Kanter on charges that he has insulted Erdogan on Twitter. It should be noted that Kanter has 526,000 followers on Twitter, giving him a sizable audience when he has something to say. | – New York Knicks center Enes Kanter took news that prosecutors in Turkey want to imprison him about as well as a person could. "Four years? That's it?" he said on Wednesday, per the New York Times. "For all of the trash I've been talking?" Turkish media reported earlier Wednesday that the "fugitive" would be tried in absentia on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with prosecutors seeking four years in prison, reports Hurriyet Daily News. Kanter—who was born to Turkish parents in Switzerland and grew up in Turkey before moving to the US—is a vocal supporter of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who's been blamed for last year's failed military coup in Turkey, reports ESPN. He continued to bash the leader Wednesday, telling reporters he's a "maniac." "I'm just trying to be the voice of all of these innocent people," said Kanter, who hasn't visited Turkey in years, per the Times. "Journalists, innocent people in jail getting tortured and killed and kidnapped. And it's pretty messed up." The first sign of Turkey's displeasure at his comments came in May, when Kanter's Turkish passport was canceled. He was temporarily detained in Romania before US officials intervened. Kanter has said his family home in Turkey was also raided. The New York Daily News reports Kanter's father publicly disowned him while apologizing to Erdogan in August. The charges now laid against Kanter are "just nothing to me, man, because I'm in America. I'm good," Kanter said. "It's a free country. But it's not like that in Turkey." Acknowledging laws banning criticism of Erdogan, he added, "They can do whatever they want to do." |
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The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the IDF thwarted a large, transnational Hamas terrorism network that was preparing to carry out an array of attacks against Israelis, the domestic intelligence agency announced on Thursday.
In recent weeks, some 30 Hamas members have been arrested in raids led by the IDF’s Duvdevan undercover unit.
Two M-16 rifles, ammunition and bomb-making equipment were seized.The network planned to target the Teddy soccer stadium and the light rail system in the capital, to carry out car bombings and kidnappings of Israelis in Judea and Samaria as well as overseas, the Shin Bet said.The nerve center of the network was situated in Hamas’s headquarters in Turkey, the Shin Bet added.Additional intended targets included infiltrations of Israeli communities, shooting and bombing attacks against Israeli traffic and military targets in the West Bank, and setting up terrorist cells in Jordan to carry out cross-border attacks into Israel.The plot, uncovered in September, involved the assembly of multiple terrorist cells in the West Bank, as well as the training of Hamas members overseas.Members of the network planted two bombs in Samaria on August 31. Neither of the attacks, which involved time-detonated explosives, resulted in injuries.The second explosive was timed to kill emergency responders, according to the Shin Bet’s investigation.Following that attack, the agency arrested dozens of suspects, and learned during subsequent interrogations that some had joined Hamas as far back as 2012, in Jordan.“They received military training, and were given missions. At the start of 2014, they moved in and began taking action. Their missions included meetings with operatives, preparing [terrorist] infrastructure, and gathering intelligence on targets,” the Shin Bet said.In Jordan, the network sought to recruit students who were friends of Hamas operatives.The network identified students who supported the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, and had highly developed skills in various areas.Eventually, recruiters turned to selected prospective operatives with formal requests to join Hamas. Those who accepted came under the command of Hamas’s Turkey-based headquarters, which oversaw their military training.They were trained under the supervision of Hamas’s overseas and Gaza-based branches, in Jordan, Turkey, Syria and the Gaza Strip.Recruits reached Gaza through smuggling tunnels from Egypt, and were instructed in weapons, terrain analysis, navigation and how to keep information secret.In Turkey, they learned about various “spheres of operations, aimed at carrying out terrorist attacks within Israel, the West Bank and overseas,” the Shin Bet said.In Jordan, training included weapons handling, bomb-making and briefings ahead of attacks.At the end of their training, recruits joined various terrorist plots, in line with guidance from senior Hamas members in Turkey.Instructions arrived from Hamas commanders in Turkey to field operatives, via “forward operatives in Turkey and Jordan, who were responsible for executing the plans.”Subsequently, Hamas operatives arrived in the West Bank to carry out the attacks, as well as coordinate the smuggling of weapons and money.The operatives received instructions to recruit local terrorist cells and train more operatives, as well as to locate sites for bomb-making labs and apartments that could serve as operations centers.In August, the Shin Bet thwarted an earlier large-scale plot, headed by senior Ramallah- based Hamas commander Riad Nasser, who is under arrest.That plot was also directed by Hamas’s Turkey-based headquarters, specifically by Saleh Aruri, who commands the movement’s “West Bank sector.”Hamas funneled more than NIS 1m. into that network and purchased weapons, before the Shin Bet thwarted the initiative.Both plots “point to the high motivation of Hamas, and of Saleh Aruri, who seek to reconstruct Hamas’s military infrastructure in the West Bank, and to carry out attacks against Israeli targets,” the agency said.Such attacks would have enabled Hamas to “move the spotlight” away from the Gaza Strip, and drag Israel into a harsh response in Judea and Samaria, resulting in the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, which is one of Hamas’s central goals, it said.The Shin Bet named several key suspects under arrest, including Manaf al-Rahman Ajabara, 28, a Jordanian resident, who was recruited to Hamas while studying engineering.During questioning, he told the Shin Bet of how he underwent military training and received mission assignments from Hamas leaders to set up an infrastructure in the West Bank, recruit additional members, and carry out attacks on Israeli targets. He confessed to playing a role in setting up the bomb attacks in Samaria on August 31.Another suspect is Rajai Mustafa Amuri, 30, from Tulkarm. Amuri, who was in prison five previous times for security offenses, confessed to working with a Jordanian Hamas operative to carry out the bomb attacks in the northern West Bank, according to the Shin Bet.The agency named six additional suspects, some from the West Bank and others from Jordan, who allegedly played roles such as bomb-making, funneling funds, and setting up terrorist cells.
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||||| Story highlights Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praises work of security services, military
Israeli security forces say they have broken up a network planning terror attacks
At least 30 Hamas members have been arrested, Israel's security agency says
Intended targets include a football stadium and a light rail station, it says
Israeli security forces said Thursday they have broken up a wide-ranging terror plot, which would have included attacks on a football stadium, abductions and car bombings.
Authorities arrested at least 30 members of Palestinian militant group Hamas and seized rifles, ammunition and explosives, said the Shin Bet, the country's security agency.
The terror cells were getting orders from Hamas leaders in Turkey, while the operatives got their training outside Israel and were then smuggled back in to carry out the attacks, the Shin Bet said.
The arrests were made in September after explosive devices were detonated on August 31 in the West Bank, leading to a full investigation.
Among the targets selected were the Teddy football stadium and a light rail station in Jerusalem, the Shin Bet said. There were also plans to carry out attacks and abductions in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, it said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Shin Bet and Israel Defense Forces "for foiling very dangerous terrorist actions that could have claimed many victims in our country."
While this operation has been made public, many other counter-terror actions against Hamas remain secret, he said, while visiting the Sde Boker kibbutz in southern Israel.
"We are operating day and night in order to maintain the security of Israel's citizens; the people who do this are deserving of all praise and support," he said.
Israel demolishes home as killers' families pay price for terror attacks ||||| Members of a Hamas terror ring in the West Bank, run from the organization’s headquarters in Turkey, sought to carry out an array of major attacks, including on Jerusalem’s main soccer stadium and its light rail line, the Shin Bet security service said Thursday.
The Shin Bet announcement confirmed a Times of Israel report last week that said Israel had arrested dozens of members of a Hamas terror network operating throughout the West Bank. The network, Palestinian officials said, was funded and directed by Hamas officials in Turkey who have set up a de facto command center in the Muslim country.
More than 30 Hamas operatives were arrested during the month of September, the Shin Bet said Thursday. The majority were recruited while studying in Jordan and trained in either Syria or the Gaza Strip, which they entered via tunnels from Sinai.
The Shin Bet said the ring was preparing to kidnap Israelis in Israel and abroad, enter Israeli villages, detonate car bombs, perpetrate roadside attacks, and execute a major terror attack in Teddy Stadium, where the Israeli soccer team Beitar Jerusalem plays its home games.
The Shin Bet asserted that the plan was evidence of an “indefatigable” desire on Hamas’s part to rehabilitate its terror infrastructure in the West Bank and to tug Israel into a sharp military response, which might indirectly lead to the toppling of PA President Mahmoud Abbas’s regime, which is “one of Hamas’ goals.”
The network was similar in its operational characteristics to one uncovered in August during the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian officials said last week, adding that according to information received from Israel, this terror ring was even larger. Its operatives had already attempted several attacks against Israel, they added, but they had all failed.
As with the previous network, the man behind the terrorist grouping was Saleh al-Arouri, a Hamas leader who was deported from the West Bank to Turkey in 2010, the sources said.
Arouri, they said, built up and funded the network, and has effectively established a Hamas command post in Turkey which is leading terror efforts in the West Bank. Arouri is reportedly aided by dozens of operatives, some of whom were deported by Israel in the wake of the Gilad Shalit prisoner deal in 2011.
The officials accused Turkey as well as Qatar — the current home of Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal — of enabling Hamas to operate freely within their territories to carry out attacks against Israel and undermine the Palestinian Authority.
In response to Thursday’s announcement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the Shin Bet and IDF for thwarting the attack, saying it was only one of multiple covert operations “against terrorists, against Hamas, which poses a threat to the existence of the nation state of the Jews and is in essence a threat to the existence of Jews in general.”
“We act day and night to protect the security of Israeli citizens and the people who are engaged in this work are deserving all praise and support,” he said in a statement.
In August, the Shin Bet said it had arrested over 90 operatives and thwarted a Hamas coup attempt in the West Bank aimed at toppling PA President Mahmoud Abbas and starting a third intifada uprising.
The Palestinian sources, however, maintained that the two networks were more concerned with carrying out attacks against Israeli military and settler targets in the West Bank. A rough Israeli response and the consequent weakening of the PA was a secondary objective, they said.
The officials added that several Hamas operatives connected to the recently uncovered network were also being held in PA detention facilities.
It appeared that the ring announced by the Shin Bet on Thursday began to unravel with a failed roadside attack on August 31, 2014. A series explosive devices that its members allegedly placed near the settlement of Reheilim were set to detonate one after another, in order to kill as many Israelis as possible, including the first responders on the scene. The Shin Bet said that intelligence work done in the wake of that failed attack enabled the organization to arrest the perpetrators and some 30 other suspects, revealing “a wealth of information about the infrastructure.”
The first recruits were chosen already in 2012 while studying in Jordan. The Shin Bet described the process of drafting, training, and organizing the recruits: At first the men were approached based on their religious ideology and individual skills, and, at times, personal acquaintance. Fresh recruits were passed on to headquarters, which decided where they should undergo training.
Abdullah Zitawi, a resident of Jordan, admitted under interrogation that he, for instance, had been inserted into Gaza three times between 2012 and 2013 and underwent weapons and explosives training there before being told, in 2014, to relocate to the West Bank and wait for further orders. Others were trained in Jordan, the Shin Bet said.
Once the operatives were inserted into the West Bank, the Shin Bet added, the Hamas officials in Turkey split them into cells and planned their deployment, with orders coming in to the West Bank via forward operatives in Jordan and Turkey.
The Shin Bet uncovered several safe houses, materials to be used for explosives, two M-16 rifles, and ammunition.
On November 20, the security organization revealed that it had arrested a Hamas cell in the Bethlehem area that sought to buy a rocket-propelled grenade and fire it at Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, a plan that, if successful, would have sent tremors through the region.
Avi Issacharoff contributed to this report. ||||| JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's Shin Bet security service said Thursday it had uncovered a vast Hamas network in the West Bank that was planning large-scale attacks against Israelis in Jerusalem.
The Shin Bet said it arrested more than 30 Hamas militants who planned to kidnap Israelis and carry out attacks against Jerusalem's light rail and its largest soccer stadium, among other targets. It said the men were trained and recruited in Jordan and Turkey and that various arms and explosives were recovered.
While the Islamic militant group Hamas rules the Gaza Strip, the West Bank is run by Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The arrests come amid Israel's worst sustained bout of violence in nearly a decade. Eleven Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks over the past month, including five people who were killed with guns and meat cleavers in a bloody assault on a Jerusalem synagogue last week. Most of the violence has occurred in Jerusalem, along with deadly attacks in Tel Aviv and the West Bank.
Hamas did not immediately comment on the arrests.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the Shin Bet for thwarting the attacks, saying that if carried out they could have exacted a heavy toll of casualties.
"This is one operation that has been published but there are many more that remain secret," he said of Israel's intelligence work. "These foiling activities are against terrorists and against Hamas, which challenges the existence of a Jewish nation-state and the existence of Jews in general." | – Car bombings, kidnappings, and attacks on railway stations and Jerusalem's Teddy soccer stadium were just some of the items on Hamas' checklist, according to Israeli officials who today say they foiled a major West Bank terror plot by the group, the AP reports. The Shin Bet security service confirms it arrested in September more than 30 militants who reportedly were recruited and trained in Jordan, Turkey, Syria, and the Gaza Strip to carry out their missions, the Jerusalem Post reports. Their orders came directly from Hamas leaders who had set up shop in Turkey, and a stash of weapons and explosives was found as well, CNN reports. Other intended plans: sneaking into Israeli communities, targeting Israeli traffic and military hubs, and establishing Jordanian terror cells, the Post notes. The operation apparently started to fall apart after a failed roadside attack at the end of August, the Times of Israel reports: Info gathered after that incident offered "a wealth of information about the infrastructure." "This is one operation that has been published, but there are many more that remain secret," PM Benjamin Netanyahu says, per the AP. "These foiling activities are against terrorists and against Hamas, which challenges the existence of a Jewish nation-state and the existence of Jews in general." Hamas, meanwhile, has offered no comment so far. (A reported member of Hamas drove right into an Israeli crowd in October and killed a baby.) |
Malaysia Airlines confirms 6,000 job losses in restructure; CEO says carrier 'technically bankrupt'
Posted
Malaysia Airlines has outlined plans for a major restructure that will see the carrier slash around 6,000 jobs as it struggles to stay in business.
The plan, released on Monday by email, said the airline would begin operations under a new brand on September 1.
About 14,000 of the roughly 20,000 existing employees are expected to receive offer letters to remain with the restructured airline, it said.
Malaysia's national carrier is also expected to pull back drastically from unprofitable long-haul routes such as to Europe, and focus instead on regional traffic as it regroups.
The announcement marks the first concrete move by newly-appointed CEO Christoph Mueller as he seeks to repair the embattled airline's reputation following the loss of two jets in separate disasters in 2014.
"We are technically bankrupt ... the decline of performance started long before the tragic events of 2014," Mr Mueller said, speaking at a news conference.
In March of last year, flight MH370 disappeared with 239 passengers and crew aboard and remains missing.
Four months later, flight MH17 was destroyed by a suspected ground-to-air missile over Ukraine.
The tragedies were the final straw for an airline that analysts say had already been poorly managed for years, slipping further into the red.
Mr Mueller was making his first public appearance as CEO since being hired last month by the carrier's owner, Malaysian state fund Khazanah, to lead the restructuring.
The state investment fund said last year that around 6,000 jobs would be lost.
Monday's announcement said the airline planned to "stop the bleeding" in 2015, stabilise next year, and seek to start growing again by 2017.
Analysts have long blamed the airline's failure to compete on poor management, unwise business decisions, government meddling, and unfavourable service and supplier contracts stemming from Malaysia's crony capitalism.
The blueprint called for the renegotiating or resetting of major contracts, and a major revitalisation of technology, training, and business operations.
Mr Mueller warned last month a major overhaul was necessary as the airline was weighed down by "uncompetitive cost levels" that he said were 20 per cent higher than its rivals.
AFP
Topics: air-transport, business-economics-and-finance, air-and-space, disasters-and-accidents, malaysia, asia ||||| Image copyright Elvis Image caption The restructuring comes after years of losses and the twin disasters of MH370 and MH17
Malaysia Airlines is "technically bankrupt", its chief executive has said, as he announced a restructuring programme and plans to cut about 6,000 jobs.
The announcement follows the twin air disasters which forced its nationalisation last year.
The airline said it had "offered jobs" to 14,000 of its 20,000 workforce.
The move was expected and follows the appointment of new chief executive Christoph Mueller in May.
"We are technically bankrupt," Mr Mueller told a news conference. "The decline of performance started long before the tragic events of 2014."
The airline is operating as normal and no flights are currently affected.
In March last year, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared with 239 passengers and crew aboard. The plane is still missing.
Four months later, flight MH17 was shot down by a suspected ground-to-air missile while in Ukrainian airspace, with the loss of 298 passengers and crew.
The two disasters proved to be the final straw for the already struggling business, which had reported losses for several years as a result of strong regional competition.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Flight MH370 went missing in March last year
Rebranding
Mr Mueller was making his first public appearance as chief executive since being hired by the carrier's owner, Malaysian state fund Khazanah, to lead the restructuring.
He has previously had senior roles at Ireland's Aer Lingus, Belgium's Sabena and Germany's Lufthansa airlines. Famed for slashing jobs at the airlines, he has earned the nickname "the Terminator".
Analysis: Jennifer Pak, BBC Malaysia correspondent:
For more than a decade, Malaysia Airlines lurched from one restructuring to the next, but it was hard for many Malaysian taxpayers to understand the extent of the problem.
In-flight service remained one of the best in the region and up until the twin tragedies of MH370 and MH17, the carrier had a good safety record.
The new chief executive, Christoph Mueller, detailed the structural issues today.
For example, he said Malaysia Airlines management staff were spread out across more than 12 buildings, which meant departments were spending a lot of time to communicate with each other.
He also stated that the airline was "technically bankrupt".
Mohshin Aziz, an aviation analyst at Maybank, told the BBC that no management official "had the balls to admit that" in the past.
He said the slashing of a third of the work force was a promising sign of real change.
But Mr Mueller doesn't have much time to revive Malaysia's national icon.
British Airways, for example, recently restarted flights from London to Kuala Lumpur, which is Malaysia Airline's flagship route.
I recently flew that route and had a row of four seats to stretch my legs. The staff told me there were plenty of empty seats in the double-decker Airbus A380 aircraft.
Malaysia Airlines faces stiff competition from legacy carriers, as well as low-cost carriers, such as AirAsia X.
Malaysia Airlines had previously disclosed plans to cut 6,000 jobs, shrinking its workforce to 14,000.
Mr Mueller said the airline could not expect that all of the job offers it had made to existing staff would be accepted. He said this was because the company expected staff to have received offers from rival carriers.
"We will embark on a second round in two weeks' time and that will allow others to accept our offers and that may change the numbers," he added.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Flight MH17 came down near the village of Grabove in Ukraine
Malaysia Airlines plans to announce a rebranding on 1 September. Mr Mueller would not be drawn on whether this would mean a change to its name, but said "all constellations were open".
He admitted that in certain markets Malaysia Airlines was a tarnished brand, but he would not say whether the rebrand would involve a change in name, logo or other alterations.
He also would not be drawn on whether the airline would withdraw from some costly long-haul flights to Europe.
In more general terms, he said it was possible the airline might reduce the frequency of flights on certain routes, or reduce the size of aircraft on those routes.
The carrier would look at joint ventures before closing routes, Mr Mueller said, and would be having conversations with potential partners in the coming weeks.
The airline considered long-haul flights to and from London to be among its flagship routes, he said, so would not be altering them.
In a statement, the airline said its immediate priority was to "stop the bleeding" in 2015, then to stabilise next year and start growing again by 2017. ||||| Malaysia Airlines will have a rebrand in September after a disastrous 2014
The new boss of Malaysia Airlines has claimed the carrier is "technically bankrupt", following two plane accidents in 12 months.
Christoph Mueller has confirmed that 6,000 jobs will be cut at the troubled airline - ahead of a rebrand in September which aims to repair the damage caused by the losses of MH370 and MH17.
CEO Christoph Mueller has turned around other airline brands in the past
Consumer confidence was badly affected when Flight MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board in March 2014, and just four months later, Flight MH17 was downed by a suspected ground-to-air missile over Ukraine - killing 298 people.
The tragedies led to Malaysia Airlines being taken into state ownership and delisted from the stock market, but analysts claim the company has been mismanaged for years - a sentiment echoed by Mr Mueller.
Play video "2014: Can Malaysia Airlines Endure?" Video: 2014: Can Malaysia Airlines Endure?
"The decline of performance started long before the tragic events of 2014," he said.
Stiff regional competition has led the company to post losses for several years - and in a statement, the airline pledged to "stop the bleeding" in its finances by the end of 2015, in the hope it will return to growth by 2017.
Mr Mueller, nicknamed The Terminator in Ireland for the job cuts he implemented at Aer Lingus, is expected to reduce the number of long-haul routes offered from Malaysia to Europe, and focus on regional services.
However, a "profitable" twice-daily service from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur is set to continue.
Under the new CEO's plans, Malaysia Airlines' workforce would shrink to 14,000.
The challenges facing the company come amid low jet fuel prices, which are expected to make this year one of the most profitable for the industry since the start of the century.
It is expected that the 12-month restructuring plan for Malaysian Airlines will cost £1.1bn - and last week, an administrator was appointed to oversee the transferral of the carrier's assets to a new company.
Mr Mueller said it was "business as usual" despite the disruption - and told passengers all reservations would be honoured, with scheduled flights going ahead as planned. | – The promised overhaul at Malaysia Airlines has begun. New CEO Christoph Mueller—dubbed "the Terminator"—says 6,000 of 20,000 jobs at the "bleeding" airline will be slashed. "We are technically bankrupt," says Mueller, who developed a reputation for laying off workers during restructuring at Ireland's Aer Lingus, Belgium's Sabena, and Germany's Lufthansa airlines, per the BBC. "The decline of performance started long before the tragic events of 2014." Before MH370 disappeared and MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, the airline suffered from what AFP calls "poor management, unwise business decisions, government meddling, and unfavorable service and supplier contracts stemming from Malaysia's crony capitalism." Though 14,000 workers were offered jobs, Mueller says some may be fielding offers from competitors. Noting the Malaysia Airlines brand has been blemished in some markets, Mueller, hired last month by state investor Khazanah, adds the airline will rebrand in September, but he remains vague on the details. The airline may also reduce the frequency of flights or the size of aircraft on long-haul routes to Europe to focus more on regional flights, though a flagship route to London will be unaltered. The hope is that the airline can "stop the bleeding" in 2015, per today's announcement, and see growth by 2017. Sky News reports the yearlong restructuring plan will cost $1.7 billion. |
"Live, from New York, it's Dennis Rodman."
Saturday Night Live doesn't often do that well with sports heroes in the hosting gig, so why not a cameo from the antithesis of sports heroes?
During a sort of rambling, pieced together sketch mocking Kim Jong-un (played in the sketch by Bobby Moynihan), former NBA star and current best friend of the North Korean dictator, Dennis Rodman, came to... well, we're not really sure what he came to do. See below.
I'm not really sure what the point of Rodman's appearance is. Is he satirizing his recent standing as a buddy of North Korea's Supreme Leader, pointing out that he's paid to hang out with a dictator? What's the joke here? I wonder if he's in on the joke or not, to be honest. Anyway, he gets a reaction from the crowd and gets to deliver the "Live, from New York, it's Saturday night!" line. A very baffling appearance, to say the least.
SNL continued on a sports theme a little bit later, with host Melissa McCarthy taking on a more violent version of Rutgers coach Mike Rice. This, however, will be the one that everyone is talking about tomorrow morning, I reckon. ||||| She sang, she danced, she fell, she picked up a punch bowl and drank from it. Melissa McCarthy pulled off stellar physical comedy in hosting "Saturday Night Live" a second time.
The "Mike & Molly" star is a natural for "SNL" because she loves performing. She goes all out to get laughs, not worrying about political correctness. She stoops to conquer, if that's what it takes, and viewers appreciate the no-holds-barred approach.
She had a string of funny sketches that any "SNL" host would envy. In a nod to the Rutgers scandal, she was a bullying basketball coach who threw a toaster at a player. She was a fair contestant who promoted her honey-baked ham by dancing with men dressed as pigs.
She was a shameless loan applicant who wanted money to eat pizza. She was a socially inept date who drank from a punch bowl. She spoofed Vanna White by playing a daft letter-turner on a game show.
McCarthy was a bad singer who had the take-anyone judges on "The Voice" fighting over her, and "SNL" took some well-aimed jabs at the fellow NBC show.
Even the bits without McCarthy seemed better than usual. "SNL" opened with a topical sketch ridiculing North Korean leader Jim Jong-Un (Bobby Moynihan), who talked about his sexual prowess. "Weekend Update" loaded up on guests: Bar Mitzvah Boy (Melissa Bayer), Charles Barkley (Kenan Thompson) and Drunk Uncle (Moynihan again). Drunk Uncle had help from "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage.
But it was McCarthy's show. She fell in her monologue, by design, because of bad shoes. But she soared once again as host because her brand of physical comedy never goes out of style. ||||| All of the elements for a truly terrific "SNL" were there -- great host, spirited audience, refreshed cast -- but it wasn't a terrific "SNL." It was a good show, fueled mostly by the physical efforts of host Melissa McCarthy, but, overall, the material wasn't there. The thing about McCarthy is that not everything has to involve her falling down or saying weird things -- she can play subversive, too (as we saw at times during the "Outside the Lines" sketch).
The first time McCarthy hosted, it was the "McCarthy and Wiig" show, playing off the success of "Bridesmaids." Thankfully (for the sake of being too obvious), there was no cameo from Kristen Wiig, which left McCarthy open to do different types of sketches. It's just a shame that, for the most part, the writers didn't take full advantage of that. Here is your SNL Scorecard:
Sketch of the Night
"Outside the Lines" (Melissa McCarthy, Bill Hader, Tim Robinson, Bobby Moynihan, Jay Pharoah, Cecily Strong) Mike Rice, until recently, was the head coach for Rutger's men's basketball team. He lost that job after a video surfaced of Rice abusing players physically and verbally. It's a quite disturbing video, and "SNL" was wise to directly lampoon Rice, but instead, put McCarthy in a character who is "worse" than Rice: Not only did Shelia Kelly throw basketballs at players, as Rice was wont to due, Shelia Kelly will throw toasters and drive over players with a golf cart. This was by far the best use of McCarthy during the show.
Score: 8.5
The Good
"Bathroom Businessman" (Kenan Thompson, Nasim Pedrad) Admittedly, I was initially rolling my eyes during "Bathroom Businessman," thinking, Oh, wonderful, here's a lazy commercial parody for a computer in a bathroom stall that ends with a poop joke. Lovely. Then, the rug was pulled out from underneath the segment, transforming the entire message into a plea to stop working on your electronic equipment from the bathroom because it's disgusting. "Brought to you by Decency."
Score: 7.8
"Weekend Update" (Seth Meyers, Vanessa Bayer, Keenan Thompson, Bobby Moynihan, Peter Dinklage) It's always nice seeing Peter Dinklage pop up somewhere, but that was a waste of a Peter Dinklage appearance. Put it this way: If someone had told me that Dinklage was going to be on the show last night, "appearing for the last two minutes of Drunk Uncle" would have been low on my wish list for him. Alas. Regardless: Hey, Peter Dinklage!
Seth Meyers seemed refreshed and extremely sharp (perhaps rumors of getting your own late night talk show will do such things). I may be in the minority, but I love Vanessa Bayer's Jacob -- yes, she somehow does look like a 13-year-old boy. And Kenan Thompson's Charles Barkley was, like always, OK.
Score: 7.0
"Ham Bake-off" (Melisa McCarthy, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson, Cecily Strong, Nasim Pedrad, Taran Killam, Bobby Moynihan) The best part about McCarthy's "Ham Bakeoff" dance routine was that the word "ham" being relentlessly repeated over and over during the performance. In the end, this was certainly fine, but not quite as special as it seemed like it was going to be on first viewing -- meaning that McCarthy really sells this one.
(Not online due to song rights issues.)
Score: 7.0
"Melissa McCarthy Monologue" (Melissa McCarthy, Taran Killam) It's hard to do something "different" during the monologue. Melissa McCarthy struggling to get down the stairs in her new high heels, coupled with her purposely lame jokes, was certainly different.
Score: 6.8
"Pizza Business" (Melissa McCarthy, Jason Sudeikis) This one grew on me. To be fair, it aired right after "Million Dollar Wheel" and I was still annoyed -- but, by the end of the sketch, I'd invest in a leftover pizza eater myself. Also of note, if this is Jason Sudeikis' last season, I will miss him playing the "normal" character. Somehow he still makes it funny.
Score: 6.5
"Art of the Encounter" (Cecily Strong, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, Taran Killam, Bobby Moynihan, Tim Robinson) Well, this was certainly weird -- and certainly fit the bill for a "10 to 1" sketch. I think that my favorite part was that it was set in the 1990s, even though there really was no reason for it to be set in the 1990s. And I do like it when Cecily Strong plays "weird," something she's been doing more of lately, instead of just relying on "funny accents."
Score: 6.0
The Bad
"The Voice" (Taran Killam, Melissa McCarthy, Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Jay Pharoah, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson) I feel "SNL" has really wanted to do a sketch based on "The Voice" -- other than that quick hit they did during Adam Levine's monologue -- for some time. (It's been killed at dress rehearsal in the past.) Of course, it appears that they didn't really know quite what to do in that sketch. Regardless, Bill Hader's Levine is fantastic -- not fantastic enough to carry an entire sketch, but it's fantastic.
Score: 4.5
"Cold Open: C-Span North Korea" (Bobby Moynihan, Dennis Rodman) OK, enough is enough with this sketch. Who is it that just loves this sketch so much that it just keeps on opening "SNL" and killing all momentum right off the bat? Seriously? Oh, what a change up, instead of Fred Armisen speaking gibberish underneath a translator, this time it's Bobby Moynihan Kim Jong Un. I'm sure these will continue because someone obviously loves them, but they have more than run their course. And, no, in 2013 a Dennis Rodman cameo isn't edgy or the least bit interesting.
Score: 2.5
The Ugly
"Million Dollar Wheel" (Melissa McCarthy, Bill Hader, Nasim Pedrad, Fred Armisen, Tim Robinson) And, in direct comparison with "Outside the Lines," this was the worst use of McCarthy during the show. I kept waiting and waiting for the punchline. But, no, McCarthy's character really was just dumb and didn't know where the "D's" were.
Score: 2.0
Average Score for this Show: 5.86
Mike Ryan is senior writer for Huffington Post Entertainment. You can contact him directly on Twitter. Click below for this week's "SNL," Not Ready For Primetime Podcast featuring Mike Ryan and Hitfix's Ryan McGee.
Follow Mike Ryan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeryan | – Melissa McCarthy stormed Saturday Night Live a second time last night, falling down (literally and intentionally) in her opening monologue before proceeding to lead a hysterical tour de force in "stellar physical comedy," writes Hal Boedeker at the Orlando Sentinel. Perhaps most notably, McCarthy ripped on disgraced Rutgers coach Mike Rice, taking a turn as a neurotically violent women's basketball coach who threatens her players with flying toasters and golf carts. Added bonus to a solid show: Dennis Rodman dropped by the Cold Open, which featured Bobby Moynihan as Rodman's BFF, Kim Jong Un. "I wonder if he's in on the joke or not, to be honest," muses Steve Lepore at SBNation. Over at the Huffington Post, Mike Ryan has his SNL scorecard. |
A service dog who attends school with her owner in Louisiana is getting plenty of attention online after the boy's school included the female golden doodle in its yearbook.
Joseph "Seph" Ware, 14, of West Monroe, La., has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a diagnosis he was given at the age of 3. The genetic condition causes progressive muscle weakness and muscle wasting, with most patients confined to wheelchairs by the time they are teens.
Ware's service dog, Presley, has been with him for the past four years, including when Seph attends classes at Good Hope Middle School. When picture day came around, school officials decided to include Presley - who has a canine sibling named Elvis - in the yearbook with all the other students.
Seph's mother, Lori Ware, told AL.com on Wednesday that her son's reaction was, "Why not," when school officials asked his permission to include Presley in the yearbook.
"Seph says that it took about 10 minutes to get Presley to look at the camera - and who knows how many shots," Ware said.
Ware said she thinks the administrators' gesture was a great one since, in the past, Presley has not been welcomed as openly at school.
"We have had issues with his elementary school accepting Presley, so to come to Good Hope and her to be welcomed has been very refreshing," Ware said. "The kids adore her and she loves the attention."
The administrators' gesture has also gained traction on social media.
A recent story in the News-Star, Monroe's local newspaper, highlighted the work that Presley does for Ware. The 5-year-old Presley and her canine sibling, Elvis, reunited last month for a visit after years apart. Elvis lives and works as a service dog in Wisconsin, also for a young boy with muscular dystrophy.
Both dogs help their young owners by doing things for them that their weakened muscles no longer allow, like picking up things they drop, hitting light switches and opening drawers, the news story reported.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy, one of nine types of the disease, is caused by a missing protein that, in most people, helps keep muscle cells intact. According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, it affects primarily boys.
Besides the muscle deterioration leading to physical impairment, the disease also affects the heart and respiratory muscles. Advances in cardiac and respiratory care in recent years has expanded patients' life spans, making survival into their 30s more common.
There are also cases of those affected living into their 40s and 50s, the MDA reports. ||||| Among all the headshots of smiling students in a Louisiana middle school’s new yearbook, one photo clearly sticks out.
It shows Presley, a service dog, and the photo in West Monroe’s Good Hope Middle School yearbook has been drawing a lot of attention since it started bouncing around the internet last week.
The 5-year-old golden doodle shows up in the yearbook next to her owner Joseph “Seph” Ware, a 14-year-old Good Hope seventh-grader diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The student relies on Presley to help him get around.
“We’re kind of stunned at all the attention,” the boy’s mom, Lori Ware, told FoxNews.com Friday. “It’s humbling. I’m glad Presley is making the world happy.”
Ware, 52, said her son has been drawing a paw print when classmates ask him to sign their yearbooks on behalf of Presley.
“He’s loving it,” she said of her son.
Presley has been at Seph’s side since she was a small puppy.
When picture day came around, school officials wanted to include the dog in the yearbook with the other students, Al.com reported this week.
Ware said her son's response was, “why not.”
“Seph says that it took about 10 minutes to get Presley to look at the camera - and who knows how many shots,” she told Al.com.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness, AL.com reported. People diagnosed with the condition are usually confined to a wheelchair by the time they are teens.
Good Hope students love having Presley around, Ware said.
“They aren’t supposed to pet her, but they sneak pets in the hallways after classes,” she told FoxNews.com. “And if Presley hears someone say, ‘Oh, look at the pretty puppy,' she perks right up because she knows she’s pretty.” | – The cutest yearbook photo ever was just taken by Presley at Good Hope Middle School in Louisiana. In fairness to everyone else's not-quite-as-cute yearbook photos, Presley is a 5-year-old golden doodle. She's also a service dog for seventh-grader Joseph "Seph" Ware, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was 3 years old, Al.com reports. Presley has been attending class with Seph for a few years, so it only seemed right for the school to give the dog her own yearbook photo, right next to Seph's. "Seph says that it took about 10 minutes to get Presley to look at the camera—and who knows how many shots," his mother, Lori Watkins-Ware says. Presley's yearbook photo went viral, and Ware says Seph is his having his "15 minutes of fame," Good Morning America reports. Though she tells Fox News her family can't believe all the attention the photo is getting. “It’s humbling," Ware says. "I’m glad Presley is making the world happy.” Presley helps Seph with everything from turning on light switches to opening doors. Now Seph is returning the favor. Ware says other students have been asking Presley to sign their yearbooks, so Seph helpfully draws a paw print for her. |
These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. ||||| Sabrina: 'They need therapy and condoms'
Best-selling author Sabrina Lamb is wearing many hats these days. Not only is she the CEO of a non-profit organization for children, she’s also the woman behind the nationwide petition to put a stop to Shawty Lo’s “All My Babies’ Mamas” reality show on Oxygen.
After viewing the pilot for the impending reality show that a friend sent her, Sabrina said she was horrified and saddened.
“He didn’t remember the names of his children, then the mothers of his children were sparring against each other in these juvenile, catty fights, [and] he has a 19-year-old girlfriend…that’s not cute, people,” she said.
And after a brief moment of thought, she logged into Change.org.
Sabrina’s petition currently has over 27,000 signatures (and counting), but she said she had no idea that her petition would have swept the nation in two weeks.
“I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be. You can never say, ‘Well, I have to have this certain outcome in order to stand up and say something is wrong.’ This is wrong, no matter what the outcome is,” she told S2S. “When children are involved, I say no more, enough is enough!”
Last month, Oxygen Media released a press release that stated the show would “be filled with outrageous and authentic over-the-top moments that our young, diverse female audience can tweet and gossip about.”
Sabrina said she thinks reality TV has created a dangerous precedent and is sending the wrong message, especially to young, impressionable females.
“[Oxygen] is saying to these young women, it's okay to have unprotected sex, it's okay to be a 'babies’ mama' and the other baby mama is your enemy,” she said. “You can’t exploit these innocent children and then tell your viewers to tweet and gossip about them. It offers really dangerous stereotypes about us.”
Sabrina went on to say that the term “babies’ mama” is a slur and an insult to children.
“They didn’t ask to come into your chaos, they didn’t ask to be born into your situation,” she said. “Those women don’t need a TV show, they need therapy and condoms.”
She said she had no idea that volumes of people all around the world would stand beside her, and she thinks the signatures will keep rolling in. But if Oxygen does decide to air the show, Sabrina said it would be like watching children sold at a slave auction.
“A modern-day minstrel, that’s what it is,” she said.
You can check out Sabrina’s petition here.
—Kimberley Glascoe
Do you agree with Sabrina? Are you for or against the show? Leave your comments below. ||||| Shawty Lo is no stranger to drama. Whether it's in the street or in rap, the Atlanta representative has held his own when things got troublesome, so what's a couple of baby mothers to him?
The premise of Lo's upcoming reality show "All My Babies' Mamas" got critics in a tizzy, but it doesn't seem like the "Dey Know" rapper is sweating things very much.
In an exclusive interview with MTV News, L-O made it clear that he was not at liberty to discuss the upcoming Oxygen show, but he did spell out his life story for us, including his role as a father of 11 and the balancing act he must maintain among his 10 baby mamas.
"You can hate all you want to, I didn't ask for it. It just happened. Now that it happened, I'm supposed to turn my back against it?" Shawty Lo told MTV News about his 11 children and untraditional family structure. "If I wasn't taking care of my kids then you would really dog me out, but I'm taking care of my kids, providing for my family. I don't know what else to say."
Growing up, the ATL trap rapper faced many hardships. His mother was hooked on drugs, his dad wasn't around and his grandmother who raised him died from cancer by the time he turned 17. Having to fend for himself, Shawty Lo turned to the streets to make ends meet.
"I came to be one of the largest drug dealers to come from Atlanta, Bankhead area and I started havin' kids. When the money came, a lot of women came," he said, estimating he was a millionaire by the time he turned 21. "Once you feel like a girl was your girlfriend or whatever, the rubber probably came off," he said candidly. "They wouldn't have an abortion. They used to take the money and run with it, and they'd have a baby by the most popular guy in the street, and that's how I had all them kids."
After the pilot for "All My Babies' Mamas" hit the Net in late December, Lo and show producers came under a ton of scrutiny, with some even calling for a boycott. But Shawty Lo insists he is a good dad, and contrary to what people may feel, he doesn't have as much baby-mama drama as folks think.
"I take care of all my kids. ... Outta all the 10 baby mamas, I just have problems outta one. That's it," he said. "She has two kids by me, and she feel like I'm supposed to do more for her kids, and she don't wanna work. She just want me to straight take care of them, but it's all love. I handle it."
The proud papa doesn't want people to focus on the amount of kids he has, but the fact that he takes care of all of his offspring. "It's a lot of fathers don't take care of one; I gotta deal with 11. I gotta deal with nine girls and two boys," he said.
It isn't just about spending money either, Shawty Lo advises all fathers to spend time with their children.
"Even if you ain't got the money, you gotta be a father to your child. You need to be in your child's life, 'cause that means a lot to them," he said. "Comin' up, we didn't have Thanksgiving, we didn't have Christmas, but if I had my father there, if I even had my mother there, I probably wouldn't have been that person I was in the streets."
Do you agree with Shawty Lo's take on fatherhood? Let us know in the comments. ||||| Just when you thought reality television couldn’t go any lower…
Advocacy group the Parents Television Council (PTC) has this week turned its attention to Oxygen’s in-development reality television special “All My Babies’ Mamas,” which features rapper Shawty Lo and the 11 children he has fathered with ten different women.
“Hollywood doesn’t think there is such a thing as ‘too low,’ so it will continue to find even more base material.,” Dan Isett, director for public policy at the PTC, told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “The premise of this show is crass, irresponsible and exploitative. Oxygen should be more responsible. And, yes, we (will) hold advertisers publicly accountable for their sponsorship of this program.”
A separate petition calling for the Comcast/NBCUniversal network to halt any further development of the show has since been launched by Sabrina Lamb at Change.org, and has attracted almost 28,000 signatures.
“Enough is enough! This is not just an attack on African-American parents and children....but all parents and children,” Lamb states on the petition. “As dysfunctional and violent as so-called reality shows are, could you ever imagine a one hour spectacle where 11 children are forced to witness their 10 unwed mothers clamor for financial support, emotional attention and sexual reward from Shawty-Lo, the apathetic ‘father’? Could you imagine that Oxygen Media, known for violent programming targeting young women with stereotypical images, would consider the embarrassment that these children will experience, being used as entertainment?”
However, it seems the network has no intention of backing away from the controversial production.
“Oxygen’s one-hour special in development is not meant to be a stereotypical representation of everyday life for any one demographic or cross section of society,” an Oxygen rep stated. “It is a look at one unique family and their complicated, intertwined life. Oxygen Media’s diverse team of creative executives will continue developing the show with this point of view.”
Others, independent of the production, have also defended its right to air.
“Clearly it’s offensive and awful to promote anyone as a role model who has eleven with ten different women, but it is reality and let’s hope that parents teach their kids that just because someone is on TV doesn’t make them a role model,” added Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR. “As one who owns a PR firm and works in marketing, I make sure that my kids understand that just because something is on TV doesn’t mean it is good – and I hope all others educate their kids the same way.” | – Move over Honey Boo Boo, a new reality show is coming along to rile up critics. Oxygen is developing one called All My Babies' Mamas, featuring rapper Shawty Lo along with the 10 women with whom he has fathered kids, and, of course, the 11 kids themselves. The Parents Television Council is already threatening advertiser boycotts, and black author Sabrina Lamb has a petition on Change.org calling for its cancellation, reports Fox News. The show has yet to air. Lamb: Oxygen "is saying to these young women, it's OK to have unprotected sex, it's OK to be a 'babies’ mama,' and the other baby mama is your enemy,” she tells S2Smagazine. “You can’t exploit these innocent children and then tell your viewers to tweet and gossip about them. It offers really dangerous stereotypes about us.” Rapper Lo: "You can hate all you want to, I didn't ask for it. It just happened. Now that it happened, I'm supposed to turn my back against it?" he tells MTV News. "If I wasn't taking care of my kids then you would really dog me out, but I'm taking care of my kids, providing for my family. I don't know what else to say." Oxygen spokeswoman: It's "not meant to be a stereotypical representation of everyday life for any one demographic or cross section of society. It is a look at one unique family and their complicated, intertwined life." |
A feisty Dutch grandmother was 'arrested' by local police after her niece notified them she wanted to be handcuffed and locked up by authorities before she died.
The woman, known only as Annie, was pictured grinning as local police arrested her and she was photographed being taken into custody.
Grandma Annie has been ticking items off her bucket list, and police at Nijmegen Zuid were happy to help.
She had told her family she always wanted to know what it would be like to be arrested. ||||| A nearly 100-year-old Dutch woman fulfilled a wish on her bucket list by getting arrested.The woman named Annie says she had always wanted to "experience a police cell from within."Police arrested and booked her into a jail cell in the Netherlands town of Nijmegen-Zuid last week.They posted the story on the department's Facebook page and included several pictures of the smiling centenarian.------ ||||| Most people dream of avoiding trouble with the law over the course of their lives. But for a nearly 100-year-old woman in the Netherlands, her bucket list —the list of things she wants to do before "kicking the bucket," as it were—included an unusual item. While many turn to experiences like skydiving or traveling to the seven wonders of the world to fill out their lists, the elderly woman named Annie had expressed that she wanted to spend time in a jail cell to see what it was like from the inside, according to ABC Action News.
So the very accommodating police force of the Nijmegen area made good on her wish, sharing the pictures of the experience to their Facebook page. It looks like she's having an absolute blast. She even got to test out handcuffs. As the caption notes (in Dutch), it was a "day to remember" for all involved in making this particular dream come true. And that's certainly another box checked off of her bucket list. | – Cops handcuffed and arrested a 99-year-old grandmother who's never committed a crime, the Telegraph reports, and yet there were no protests or outraged blog posts. That's because Annie, who lives in the Netherlands, wanted to "experience a police cell from within" as part of her bucket list, according to WPVI. Last week, police in the town of Nijmegen-Zuid happily obliged. Officers put handcuffs on Annie and closed her in a jail cell, posting photos on the department's Facebook page. Time says "it looks like she's having an absolute blast." And officers say it was a "day to remember." |
Are you affected by the flooding? Please share your images with CNN iReport if you can do so safely.
(CNN) The ferocious Blanco River surged into the Perez family's vacation home, blowing the door off its frame.
"Oh no!" Sarah Perez cried from the second floor.
The torrent of brown water filled the Texas house, creating a whirlpool of chairs and tables.
"It turned the living room into a gigantic washing machine," Ernie Perez said.
His wife wondered aloud whether she should call 911.
"911 is not going to be able to get to us," he replied.
The Blanco River gushed into Sarah and Ernie Perez's vacation home in Wimberley, Texas.
Fortunately for the Perez family, firefighters were already in that part of Wimberley, Texas, to check on an elderly neighbor.
"We see flashing lights in the distance. We saw a fire crew with two trucks and a boat," Ernie Perez said. "My brother whistles and gets their attention."
The rescue Saturday night was like a movie, he said, with boats, lines and emergency workers ferrying his family into the dark.
The Perez family managed to survive, but many did not.
At least 37 people have died in the severe weather over the past five days, from either tornadoes or flooding brought on by epic rainfall. Those deaths include 17 in Texas, 14 in northern Mexico and six in Oklahoma.
Nine people remain missing in Texas.
And it's not over yet.
More downpours, possible flooding on the way
Houston, one of the hardest-hit cities in the flooding, could see more storms for at least the next five days, the National Weather Service said.
JUST WATCHED Race to find survivors after Texas flood Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Race to find survivors after Texas flood 02:38
What's worse: Areas farther north, including Dallas, could get another 2 to 4 inches of rain through Sunday, and parts of eastern Oklahoma will get deluged with 4 to 6 inches of rain. That means runoff could rush downstream to Houston, inundating parts of the city once again.
Southwest of Houston, officials in Wharton, Texas, called for a voluntary evacuation on the western side of the city Wednesday as forecasters warned that the Colorado River was likely to rise above flood stage by Thursday.
Many homes on Wharton's west side are already flooded with up to 3 feet of water, the National Weather Service said.
In Parker County, west of Fort Worth, authorities issued a voluntary evacuation order for 250 homes along the Brazos River, which is expected to crest 3 feet above flood stage in the coming days.
And in flood-stricken Hays County, where eight people remain missing, officials are bracing for more havoc.
"We're very vulnerable right now," Hays County Commissioner Will Conley said. "If we were to receive a small amount of rain, we could be right back into an emergency situation."
Tornado hits oil rig
In the Texas Panhandle, another storm Wednesday night spawned a tornado that hit an oil rig, Julie Boydston of the Hemphill County Sheriff's Office said.
Three people were injured, but bad weather has made it difficult to get them to hospitals.
"We had tornadoes dropping everywhere," Boydston said. "Ambulances (are) driving through the mud."
More bodies found
While the mammoth flooding from this week slowly subsides, the death toll continues to rise.
JUST WATCHED Rescuers risk their lives to save flood victims Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Rescuers risk their lives to save flood victims 03:53
On Wednesday, crews found a boy's body on the banks of the Blanco River, Hays County officials said.
The body of Michelle Carey Charba was identified Wednesday, police said.
Charba was last seen near the Blanco River, as were her husband, son and parents -- all of whom remain missing, Kellye Burke, a friend of Charba's, said at a press conference Thursday.
In Houston, after using water pumps, crews found a 31-year-old man in a car parked along an entrance ramp to U.S. 59, the city said.
That marked the sixth death in Houston, where one person is still missing.
In nearby Fort Bend County, deputies found a body Wednesday believed to be a 73-year-old woman who'd been missing since she failed to show up to work at a convenience store Monday night.
The next day, her daughter spotted her car submerged in a creek. The body was found 50 yards from that spot, Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office spokesman Bob Haenel said.
1,400 structures in Houston damaged
In addition to hundreds of stranded vehicles, some 1,400 structures in Houston suffered severe damage as waters crept up.
JUST WATCHED Wall of water demolished parts of Texas Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Wall of water demolished parts of Texas 02:47
Saundra Brown recalled her daughter waking her early Sunday with news that "the bayou was rising."
As the family rolled up their rug, someone knocked on the door asking for shelter after getting stranded in a vehicle. Soon, it became apparent nobody was going anywhere.
"We just told everybody, 'Get on the couches,' " Brown said. "Then we put the family on the dining room table. (We moved to) the counters next. And if it was going to rise more, we'd go on the roof."
Six hours later, it was finally safe to get their feet back on the soaked ground. The days since have been spent bunking with friends and cleaning up.
"It wasn't fun," Brown said. "We're lucky to have a big support structure." ||||| AUSTIN, Texas Hundreds of people fled areas near Texas rivers that overflowed their banks on Thursday as the state reeled from severe storms this week that killed at least 16 people, flooded cities and set a record for the wettest month.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch on Thursday stretching from south of San Antonio to Dallas, through Oklahoma, where severe weather this week killed an additional six people, and into Kansas. Thunderstorms pelted large parts of the affected region on Thursday.
The city of Wharton, about 60 miles (100 km) southwest of Houston, issued a voluntary evacuation notice for about 300 homes along the Colorado River, where water began spilling over the banks on Thursday afternoon and was expected to rise through Friday.
The Brazos River has flooded about 30 miles (50 km) west of Fort Worth and is expected to crest on Thursday evening. Hundreds left their homes on Wednesday as the waterway began breaching its banks, Parker County officials said.
State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon said on Thursday the average rainfall across the state was 7.54 inches (19 cm) in May, breaking the record of 6.66 inches (17 cm) set in June 2004, according to records that date to 1895.
"It has been ridiculous," Nielsen-Gammon said.
The body of a boy was recovered on Wednesday near the central city of San Marcos, Hays County officials said. The boy, who has not been identified, was thought to have been swept away in Blanco River floods that ripped houses off their foundations, county officials said.
There were eight people missing in the county after the flooding, which started on Monday.
The new storms could hinder rescue workers who have been searching for days for those washed away in floods along the Blanco River.
"We are not expecting another surge of the river but it is going to shift debris piles," Kharley Smith, the county's emergency management coordinator, told a news conference.
President Barack Obama has pledged federal support and said the U.S. government had been working with local officials.
"They appear to have the assets they need at this stage to respond, but there’s going to be a lot of rebuilding," Obama said in Miami on Thursday during a tour of the National Hurricane Center.
There was no damage estimate available for Texas, which has a $1.4 trillion-a-year economy and is the country's leading domestic source of energy.
(Additional reporting by Jim Forsyth in San Antonio and Roberta Rampton in Miami; Editing by Eric Walsh and Peter Cooney) ||||| Play Facebook
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Scores of people were rescued from flash flooding in central Texas early Friday, as emergency responders throughout the state struggled to cope with another round of storms during the wettest May on record.
In Dallas alone, more than 200 people — all believed to be in cars — were rescued from flooding in the city overnight, according to the Dallas Office of Emergency Management. Nearly 7 inches of rain fell on the city, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, assistant emergency management coordinator Kevin Oden told NBC News.
Full coverage from NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
Waterlogged highways and roads around Dallas became parking lots through the morning for drivers trying to get to work. The local Red Cross delivered Girl Scout Cookies and water to stranded drivers, reported NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
Officials have been closely watching rising rivers and creeks in Texas after heavy rains last weekend. At least 27 people have died and 13 went missing in flooding across the state this week. Another victim was identified Friday as Jack Howard Alter, 87, who disappeared in Houston following an attempted water rescue by emergency responders.
The latest flooding alerts have been widespread, extending nearly 800 miles from southern Texas to central Missouri, according to The Weather Channel.
Tarik Hawkins, a 30-year-old who works for a Dallas freight company, said he became stranded while trying to drive to work.
Flash #flood emergency from Garland to Allen Texas until 7:15 am CDT. Travel has become impossible in many areas. pic.twitter.com/QeDUL1Yp05 — The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) May 29, 2015
Speaking to NBC News from the side of the road, Hawkins said it had taken him two hours to drive about a mile and described the situation on the road as "very chaotic."
He added: "It's extremely dangerous out there. I drive a Mustang and in some areas the water has been coming up to the hood. The people who have tried to drive through have become stuck, so there are tow trucks and fire trucks rescuing people.
"I've never seen anything like this before. I have seen some severe weather, but this extremely dangerous."
5 cars submerged in water on Northwest Hwy at Harry Hines Blvd. @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/tO0ZWugiO9 — Ellen Bryan (@EllenBryanNBC5) May 29, 2015
Tow-truck driver Robert Levtzow, was stranded on a flooded Dallas street after responding to a police call.
"I was trying to put in reverse to get out and it died off and the water started rising immediately," he told The Weather Channel. "I was scared, didn’t know really what to do [so] I called my wife immediately."
Israel Ramos, 32, a tower inspector at a communications company in Dallas, said there was 3 inches of water inside his home and the street outside resembled "a river."
He said his neighbor called the police after seeing an SUV floating down the street with a person trapped inside. "They had to be rescued by the fire department," he said.
Officials in Johnson County, about 54 miles south of Dallas, said they had evacuated about 12 people caught in flooding overnight — including some rescued from "homes inundated with water."
Other incidents involved vehicles and authorities instructed residents to stay off the roads for their own safety.
Johnson County emergency management coordinator Jamie Moore told NBC News that 45 roads had been closed in the area by 3:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET). About an hour earlier, his agency tweeted that "rescue requests continue to flow in."
Serious flooding ongoing from Johnson into SE Tarrant & Dallas Co. Very dangerous situation! #dfwwx pic.twitter.com/idmjzZ5z31 — NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) May 29, 2015
In the Austin suburb of Volente, emergency workers recovered a houseboat with 16 people aboard that went adrift in the record floodwaters. There were no injuries, fire officials said.
Flood warnings were issued for 21 communities and flash flood warnings for six, including western Dallas, according to NBC Dallas Fort-Worth. Hail, tornadoes and thunderstorms also remained a possibility.
About 6,700 people in Dallas County were without power as of 10 a.m. local time, with another 1,000 customers in the dark in Collin County, 1,600 in Tarrant County and 181 in Denton County.
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The hardest-hit area on Thursday night was the corridor running from Laredo on the border with Mexico up through Dallas and over into Oklahoma City, according to The Weather Channel's Michael Palmer.
Palmer added that the past month had been the wettest May since records began in the late 1800s.
There has been enough rain across #Texas during May to cover the entire state nearly 8 inches deep. That's over 35 trillion gallons! #txwx — NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) May 29, 2015
More than 100 flights were canceled or delayed going in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Friday, according to FlightAware.com.
Dallas officials warned commuters to be extremely cautious while driving.
"If you see water on the roadway even if you think it is 1 inch don’t attempt to drive through it ... if there are barricades up on the road, they're there for a reason," Oden told NBC News. ||||| Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period. | – An Anheuser-Busch brewery in Georgia began filling its cans with something other than beer late Wednesday night to help those affected by flooding in Texas and Oklahoma. "Right now our production line is running emergency drinking water," the Cartersville brewery manager told NBC News. The brewery—one of 12 Anheuser-Busch operates in the US—has directed about 2,000 cases of 24 cans to the battered states. It's not exactly a novel move for the brewery, which partners with the American Red Cross to produce emergency water a few times each year. "There are a lot of folks in need," a Red Cross rep says. And their ranks could swell: CNN reports battered Houston could be in for five more days of storms, and up to 6 inches is expected in some areas of Oklahoma through Sunday. Flood and flash flood warnings were issued yesterday for more than 20 communities, including the Dallas area, where up to 6 inches overnight caused major flash floods; more than 100 flights in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth were canceled yesterday and today. Some 50 miles south in Johnson County, a dozen people had to be rescued overnight, in some cases from "homes inundated with water," NBC News reports. Reuters reports this month has been the wettest May on record in Texas, with the average rainfall hitting 7.54 inches to beat June 2004's 6.66 inches. The bit of good to come from the bad: As of Tuesday, only 5% of Texas was experiencing drought conditions, per the US Drought Monitor; one year ago, that figure was 71%. |
Security was tight at the opera house, with many uniformed police in sight and all bags checked. Mr. Gelb, the Met’s general manager, addressed the performers and musicians at Friday’s final dress rehearsal to tell them about enhanced security measures. The large rally across from Lincoln Center drew some Jewish leaders, and current and former elected officials like former Gov. David A. Paterson, a Democrat, and Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney, a Democrat, and Peter T. King, a Republican.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended the opera, Met officials said.
Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld, who was the rally’s master of ceremonies, said he did not expect protesters to react inappropriately. “But you can’t be responsible when the Metropolitan Opera advocates terrorism and incites violence — you can’t know what will happen,” he said. “And anything that happens, that has besmirched this Metropolitan Opera, and besmirched Lincoln Center, is to be laid at the foot of Peter Gelb.”
One protester at the rally, Hilary Barr, 55, a pediatric nurse from Westchester County, said she believed the opera made excuses for terrorism. “By putting this on a stage in the middle of Manhattan, the message is, ‘Go out, murder someone, be a terrorist and we’ll write a play about you,’ ” she said.
Some people held a counterdemonstration. James Saslow, 66, a professor of theater history at Queens College, had a sign: “A work of art about a subject is not a work in favor of that subject.”
The opera, and the Met, were also defended by some artistic figures.
“It is not only permissible for the Met to do this piece — it’s required for the Met to do the piece,” Oskar Eustis, the artistic director of the Public Theater, said in an interview. “It is a powerful and important opera.”
The protests were initially led by several smaller Jewish groups and conservative religious organizations. The larger Anti-Defamation League brokered a compromise with the Met, which pleased few on either side, in which plans to show the opera to a wider audience in movie theaters were dropped, but the New York production would otherwise go on. Leaders in the more liberal Reform Judaism movement have condemned the opera, but did not call for its cancellation. ||||| Since its premiere in 1991, The Death of Klinghoffer has been decried as anti-Semitic and as Zionist propaganda. That makes sense—the opera, created by composer John Adams and librettist Alice Goodman, is based on the 1985 hijacking of a cruise ship by the Palestinian Liberation Front and subsequent murder of 69-year-old wheelchair-bound American Jew Leon Klinghoffer. Tonight, New York City's Metropolitan Opera will mount a production that's already mired in controversy. "The really ironic and sad fact," Adams has said, "is that the content of this opera is more relevant in 2014 than it was even in 1991."
October 7, 1985 –Four men from the Palestinian Liberation Front hijack the MS Achille Lauro, an Italian liner, as it departs Egypt for Israel. They round up the passengers and crew and demand that the ship sail to Syria, ordering the release of 50 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. When denied, they kill retired, wheelchair-bound American Jew Leon Klinghoffer, 69, with shots to the chest and head. The ship's barber and waiter are made to throw him overboard.
April 29, 1990 –The three-hour made-for-TV movie Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair premieres, starring Burt Lancaster as Leon Klinghoffer. The previous year, Karl Malden played the same role in another TV movie, The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro. Both films were supervised by Klinghoffer's daughters and made little news.
March 19, 1991 –The Death of Klinghoffer premieres in Brussels. Originally scheduled for January, the Belgian interior minister asked that it be rescheduled until the end of the Gulf War. The opera garnered lots of attention prior to its debut, but ultimately reviews were lukewarm and focused more on problematic staging and diction than any incendiary messages. "People come expecting machine-gun fire and bodies being thrown overboard," said director Peter Sellars, "and what they get is a bunch of art."
September 5, 1991 –The Death of Klinghoffer makes its American premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Klinghoffer's daughters attend and later say "the juxtaposition of the plight of the Palestinian people with the cold-blooded murder of an innocent, disabled American Jew is both historically naive and appalling." (Critics from the New York Times and Newsday have a similar take.) Following protests from Jewish organizations and the Los Angeles Opera and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, two of five companies that co-commissioned the show, decide not to perform the work as scheduled.
November 7, 1992 –Amid picketing by the Jewish Information League, the San Francisco opera runs six performances of Klinghoffer, the second-best-selling production of the season.
April 1996 –PLF leader Muhammed Zaidan accepts responsibility for Klinghoffer's death. The following year, the Palestinian Liberation Organization reaches a financial settlement with the Klinghoffer family.
November 4, 2001 –A month after the September 11 hijackings, the Boston Symphony Orchestra pulls performances of choruses from Klinghoffer. "It seems inappropriate to perform excerpts from an opera about a terrorist act right now," said conductor Robert Spano. One of the members of the BSO chorus had lost her husband on AA Flight 11, which crashed into the northern tower of the World Trade Center. Music professor Richard Taruskin applauds the decision in the New York Times, arguing that defeating terrorism means "no longer romanticizing terrorists as Robin Hoods."
January 18, 2002 –England's BBC Barbican retrospective on the works on John Adams opens with a concert performance of Klinghoffer. In contrast to the Boston decisions, no one considers canceling the piece while planning for the festival. "If anything," Adams said, "people were more committed."
May 13, 2003 –British filmmaker Penny Woolcock's film version of Klinghoffer premieres at Lincoln Center. It's later scheduled to be screened at the Ramallah International Film Festival but was banned because some members of the Palestinian Authority deemed it "too pro-Israeli."
June 17, 2011 –The Opera Theatre of St. Louis mounts the first new U.S. production of Klinghoffer since its 1991 premiere. A month in advance, it hosts an interfaith dialogue among local Jewish, Christian, and Islamic leaders. The response to the opera is overwhelmingly positive.
February 24, 2012 –In a co-production with the Metropolitan Opera, the English National Opera performs a new production of Klinghoffer, under the direction of Tom Morris (Warhorse). After weeks of anticipated protests, only one picketer stands outside the theater.
June 17, 2014 –Under pressure from the Anti-Defamation League, Met general manager Peter Gelb decides to cancel HD and radio simulcasts of Klinghoffer, insisting that "the opera is not anti-Semitic," but that the broadcast "would be inappropriate at this time of rising anti-Semitism." Composer John Adams says the change "goes far beyond issues of "artistic freedom" and ends in promoting the same kind of intolerance that the opera's detractors claim to be preventing."
• • •
Also on Details.com:
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A Sneak Peek at the First Major Biography of John Updike, the Man Who Made Rabbit Run ||||| NEW YORK (AP) — Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani joined demonstrators outside the Metropolitan Opera on Monday for an emotional protest against a musical work about the death of a Jewish man they say glorifies his Palestinian killers.
People, some in wheelchairs, gather at Lincoln Center as they protest "Death of Klinghoffer" Monday, Oct 20, 2014, in New York. American composer John Adams' opera has been a lightning rod since February,... (Associated Press)
FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2014, file photo, protestors attend the arrivals at the Metropolitan Opera 2014-15 Season Opening in New York to register their disapproval of the Met's decision to premiere... (Associated Press)
A long line of people in wheelchairs gather at Lincoln Center as they protest "Death of Klinghoffer" Monday, Oct 20, 2014, in New York. American composer John Adams' opera has been a lightning rod since... (Associated Press)
People, some in wheelchairs, gather at Lincoln Center, with the Metropolitan Opera House in the background, as they protest "Death of Klinghoffer" Monday, Oct 20, 2014, in New York. American composer... (Associated Press)
A protest participant calls out near Lincoln Center as she and others protest the opera "Death of Klinghoffer" Monday, Oct 20, 2014, in New York. American composer John Adams' opera has been a lightning... (Associated Press)
Beverly Wulliger, center, of New York, and her husband Rabbi Solomon Wulliger stand near Lincoln Center as they protest the opera "Death of Klinghoffer" Monday, Oct 20, 2014, in New York. American composer... (Associated Press)
People, some in wheelchairs, gather at Lincoln Center, with the Metropolitan Opera House in the background, as they protest "Death of Klinghoffer" Monday, Oct 20, 2014, in New York. American composer... (Associated Press)
People, some in wheelchairs, gather at Lincoln Center as they protest "Death of Klinghoffer" Monday, Oct 20, 2014, in New York. American composer John Adams' opera has been a lightning rod since February,... (Associated Press)
About 400 people stood behind police barricades chanting "Shame on the Met!" and carrying signs saying "The Met glorifies terrorism" before the company's first performance of "The Death of Klinghoffer."
The opera is based on the 1985 killing of passenger Leon Klinghoffer on the Achille Lauro, an Italian cruise ship hijacked by four members of the Palestinian Liberation Front. The 69-year-old was shot in his wheelchair and pushed overboard.
American composer John Adams' opera has been a lightning rod since February, when it was scheduled for this season. The first large demonstration came on the Met's Sept. 22 season opening night, featuring a Mozart work, when protesters jeered at arriving spectators.
Standing across the street from Lincoln Center, Giuliani said he wanted to warn people that this opera "is a distorted work."
"If you listen, you will see that the emotional context of the opera truly romanticizes the terrorists," he said.
But opera expert Fred Plotkin said Adams depicts the Klinghoffers as his work's moral spine.
"Does this opera present the killers in a favorable light? No," Plotkin said. "Are the Klinghoffers far and away the most sympathetic characters in the opera, the ones we care about most? I believe so."
Monday's performance went on with a few orchestrated disruptions: Boos were shouted from scattered seats, and a voice kept yelling from a balcony, "The murder of Klinghoffer will never be forgotten!" The evening ended with a standing ovation that drowned out any heckling.
Earlier in the day, a rabbi led Jewish teens in a prayer vigil. Youths sat at their makeshift prayer spot opposite the Met, discussing Hebrew scriptures.
"We're here because the Met is glorifying the killing of a Jew, and we must speak out — we're the next generation," 15-year-old Shabbos Kestenbaum said.
Rabbi Avi Weiss said the opera's music "extols" the terrorists, beginning with the "Chorus of Exiled Palestinians," while the Klinghoffers come off as shallow, frivolous characters who enter after the lyrics, "I've got no money left. I gave all my money for the taxi."
"The language is explosive. It's radioactive. It's dangerous," the rabbi said. "It inspires violence."
In fact, it is exiled Jews arriving in Palestine who've spent their last savings to reach their new home in the desert.
The Met canceled the international movie theater and radio broadcasts in November amid pressure from Jewish groups, especially the New York-based Anti-Defamation League. Met general manager Peter Gelb, whose father was Jewish, said the decision was made "as a compromise gesture."
The Met issued a statement this week saying "the fact that 'Klinghoffer' grapples with the complexities of an unconscionable real-life act of violence does not mean it should not be performed. ... 'Klinghoffer' is neither anti-Semitic nor does it glorify terrorism."
The Klinghoffers' daughters, Lisa and Ilsa Klinghoffer, released comments through the ADL to be included in the Met program. They say they believe the arts "can play a critical role in examining and understanding significant world events. 'The Death of Klinghoffer' does no such thing. It presents false moral equivalencies without context, and offers no real insight into the historical reality and the senseless murder of an American Jew."
Plotkin noted many "Klinghoffer" opponents, including Weiss, have never seen it performed live. Weiss said he has read the libretto.
Advertising for the opera comes with the slogan: "See it. Then decide."
"The Death of Klinghoffer" premiered in Brussels in 1991, with little controversy, then in various European cities and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where it was greeted with praise and anger.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who hasn't seen the opera, said the rights of cultural institutions to put on works of art have to be respected.
"We don't have to agree with what's in the exhibit, but we agree with the right of the artist and the cultural institution to put that forward to the public," he said.
"The Death of Klinghoffer" runs through Nov. 15. ||||| Tags: music
The Death of Klinghoffer, John Adams’s 1991 opera about the hijacking of the Achille Lauro by the Palestine Liberation Front in 1985, has achieved a rare distinction in contemporary classical music: it’s considered so dangerous by its critics that they’d like to have it banned. For its opponents – the Klinghoffer family, Daniel Pearl’s father, conservative Jewish organisations, and now the former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and former New York governor George Pataki, who took part in a noisy demonstration outside the Met last night – Klinghoffer is no less a sacrilege than The Satanic Verses was to Khomeini and his followers. They haven’t issued a fatwa, but they have done their best to sabotage the production ever since the Met announced it.
Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager, capitulated in the summer to pressure from the Anti-Defamation League (and, according to the New York Times, from ‘three or four’ major Jewish donors), cancelling a live broadcast to cinemas around the world. The rationale for the decision, made against the backdrop of the Gaza offensive, was that the opera might be exploited by anti-semites. How, they didn’t say. For some reason the opera’s enemies don’t seem concerned that its unflinching portrayal of the murder of an elderly Jew in a wheelchair might be ‘used’ to foment anti-Muslim sentiment.
The notion that Adams and his librettist, Alice Goodman, are justifying terrorism is absurd. The hijacking is depicted in all its horror, chaos and fear. The scene that raised accusations of anti-semitism, a dinner table conversation among ‘the Rumors’, an American-Jewish family, was excised from the libretto long ago. The Klinghoffers come off as typical American tourists, and are drawn with wry affection. In a particularly tense scene, Leon Klinghoffer baits his attackers, reciting a litany of attacks by Palestinian commandos. His version of Middle Eastern history could have been lifted from Leon Uris’s Exodus, but in the circumstances it’s a nervy speech: from his wheelchair, he isn’t afraid to confront the men who end up killing him.
Another complaint against Klinghoffer – one that Giuliani, the self-styled saviour of New York after 9/11, has predictably raised – is that it ‘humanises’ the hijackers. But the hijackers were human, and one of the opera’s chief strengths is its refusal to portray them as a collection of monsters. They are certainly not ‘glorified’ – another charge that’s been levelled at the opera. One is a brute who relishes the job, gleefully humiliating the passengers. But another takes pains to tell the ship’s captain about his family’s expulsion from Palestine. And then there is Omar, the reluctant hijacker who – as a British dancer on board describes in a hilarious aria – socialises with the passengers and always ‘kept us in ciggies’. Omar is given the task of killing Klinghoffer: part of the drama of the opera turns on his silent, anguished attempt to steel himself for this act. He dances, he writhes, he imagines himself lying in his mother’s arms, a Palestinian pietà, before finally pulling the trigger. In the words of the journalist Elizabeth Rubin, with whom I saw the dress rehearsal, he’s the Michael Corleone of the opera, who to prove himself in the eyes of tougher men has to transform himself into a ‘soldier’.
Still, you could make the case that if The Death of Klinghoffer caricatures anyone, it’s Palestinians, not Jews. The ‘Chorus of Exiled Palestinians’ that opens the opera features a group in Afghan-style clothes, evoking the vanished paradise of pre-1948 Palestine and the Nakba that robbed them of their land and future. Dressed in black and virtually indistinguishable, they’re designated mourners of Palestine, an undifferentiated mass united in suffering and thirsty for revenge. The women are all covered in full abayas, which is unusual among Palestinian women today, and was even more unusual in 1985. The men wear Afghan-style beards that, outside the Gaza Strip, are rare in Palestine. They wave the green flag of Islam, not the Palestinian red green, white and black flag that even Hamas prefers. The effect of the set design is to frame the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as an episode in a larger clash of civilisations between Islam and the West. The libretto, too, accentuates the ‘civilisational’ dimensions of the conflict. With their incantatory talk about Islam and their love of martyrdom, the hijackers sound more like members of Hamas (which emerged only in 1988) than of Abu Abbas’s secular nationalist PLF.
The ‘Chorus of Exiled Jews’ which follows is a much sweeter, more intimate piece of music. Their suffering has not been poisoned by anger, but is suffused with sorrow and the hope of renewal. The Jews wear different kinds of clothing; one lyric refers to Hassidim protesting against a cinema opening in Israel, a reminder that Jews aren’t a monolith. Perhaps Goodman’s implication is that after 1948 – when, for those who follow the Zionist narrative, their ‘exile’ ended – Jews could be individuals rather than history’s victims; Palestinians, still under occupation or in exile, have no such luxury. Still, the collective depiction of Palestinians in the opera looks like a failure of imagination.
In 2001, Richard Taruskin accused The Death of Klinghoffer of ‘romantically idealising criminals’: the Palestinian hijackers, he said, are moved by higher ideals than their victims, ideas of collective struggle and sacrifice. It’s a fair description of the libretto, but it also misses the point: it’s precisely those noble ideals that lead the hijackers to murder an unarmed civilian. I suspect that what disturbs the opera’s critics is that Palestinian suffering is expressed with such eloquence and compassion, not only in the libretto but in the score. Taruskin and others have complained that some of the most stirring music occurs in the ‘Chorus of Exiled Palestinians’. It’s a telling criticism, an example of what Talking Heads called the ‘fear of music’: the anxiety that musical beauty might act on its listeners in transgressive ways, and lead to forbidden forms of pleasure or sympathy. What appears to trouble Klinghoffer’s enemies most is that, through the force of his music, Adams has put Western listeners in the shoes of Israel’s victims.
Yet there’s also something unsettling about the chorus, something that causes us to stop short of identification. (The character it’s easiest to identify with is the reasonable and ineffectual ship’s captain, who is neither Jewish nor Palestinian.) The beauty of the Palestinian chorus is stark, brooding and threatening; in Klinghoffer, Palestinians appear condemned to inhabit a realm of perpetual struggle, where life is a battlefield and mundane pleasures are but a memory. And because life is a battlefield, the hijackers see themselves as ‘soldiers’, not terrorists, when they storm the ship – and when they execute Klinghoffer. The comparative superficiality of the passengers on the Achille Lauro – which, in the case of the Klinghoffers, has been misconstrued as anti-semitic caricature – is a mark of their innocence, their freedom and their privilege. Oblivious to the history that connects them to their tormentors, they naturally see the attack by these ‘meshugganah’ (as Marilyn Klinghoffer calls them) as an inexplicable accident: their reaction makes them more recognisable, and more believable. The contrast is perhaps too neatly drawn, but it captures a clash in perception that is arguably a strong feature of the encounter between kidnapper and captive.
Those who are afraid of The Death of Klinghoffer because Palestinians have been awarded some of its most beautiful music haven’t listened very carefully – or haven’t stayed in their seats until the end. The heartbreaking aria that closes the opera belongs to Marilyn Klinghoffer, mourning her husband with controlled anguish. The loss that The Death of Klinghoffer invites us to experience most acutely is personal, not political. | – Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined hundreds of demonstrators last night to protest an opening-night opera performance at the Met, the New York Times reports. Protesters shouted "Shame on the Met!" and sported signs that read "The Met glorifies terrorism," and it's all thanks to The Death of Klinghoffer, the AP reports. The opera, penned by composer John Adams, focuses on the murder of Leon Klinghoffer, an American Jewish man in a wheelchair killed by the Palestine Liberation Front during the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship. Some believe the opera makes excuses for terrorism, is too sympathetic to the Palestinian plight, and "humanizes the hijackers," writes Adam Shatz in the London Review of Books. One man inside the theater yelled, "The murder of Klinghoffer will never be forgiven!" a few times before being removed, while a woman cursed loudly and walked out with an usher escort. Even NYC mayors past and present can't agree on whether the opera should be performed. Giuliani—known for previous attempts to shut down art installations he didn't like, according to the Times—told the paper that the opera gives "a distorted view of history," while current Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "I think the American way is to respect freedom of speech. Simple as that." One protester proclaimed, "Go out, murder someone, be a terrorist, and we'll write a play about you," while another person at a "counterdemonstration" held a sign that said, "A work of art about a subject is not a work in favor of that subject." Meanwhile, composer Adams says, "The really ironic and sad fact is that the content of this opera is more relevant in 2014 than it was even in 1991," per Details. |
A team of archaeologists has claimed that William Shakespeare's skull was "probably" stolen from its final resting place in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
The conclusion brings new credence to a long-discredited claim that the skull was stolen from the playwright's grave by trophy hunters in 1794.
"We came across this very odd, strange thing at the head end," lead archaeologist Kevin Colls, of Staffordshire University, told The Guardian. "It was very obvious, within all the data we were getting, that there was something different going on at that particular spot. We have concluded it is signs of disturbance, of material being dug out and put back again."
Shakespeare's grave famously bears the poetic admonition, "Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear, / To dig the dust enclosed here. / Blessed be the man that spares these stones, / And cursed be he that moves my bones."
Holy Trinity Church vicar Patrick Taylor told Sky News he is not so sure about the grave robbery theory.
"We now know much more about how Shakespeare was buried," Taylor said. "We are not convinced, however, that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that his skull has been taken.
"We shall have to live with the mystery of not knowing fully what lies beneath the stone."
Colls' team was permitted to examine the grave at Stratford's Holy Trinity Church because ground-penetrating radar technology permitted them to do so without disturbing the remains of the famous playwright.
The archaeologists have also determined that Shakespeare was not buried standing up, contrary to tradition, and that he was laid to rest wrapped in a shroud rather than in a coffin.
The claim that the skull was stolen was first published in a magazine in 1879. Colls said the team investigated a skull held at a church 15 miles from Stratford and found it could not be Shakespeare's.
Their findings will be part of a television program broadcast in the U.K. Saturday to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death.
Click for more from The Guardian.
Click for more from Sky News.
||||| William Shakespeare’s skull is likely to have been stolen by trophy hunters, a new documentary claims.
An archaeological survey of the playwright’s grave at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon appears to give new credence to theories that Shakespeare’s grave was looted in 1794—rumors of which have been debunked as myth until now. The theory was first published in The Argosy magazine in 1879.
Archaeologist Kevin Colls of Staffordshire University led the investigation of Shakespeare’s grave for a new documentary on the U.K.’s Channel 4 to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death in April. Colls and his team conducted a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) search using state-of-the-art technology.
Key among their discoveries was an apparent repair to the head end of Shakespeare’s burial site, indicating a previous disturbance to his final resting place.
“We have Shakespeare’s burial with an odd disturbance at the head end and we have a story that suggests that at some point in history someone’s come in and taken the skull of Shakespeare. It’s very, very convincing to me that his skull isn’t at Holy Trinity at all,” said Colls in the documentary.
The televised investigation led Colls and his team to look into another legend: that Shakespeare’s skull was sealed in a crypt inside St. Leonard’s church in Worcestershire, some 15 miles away from his gravesite. However, a forensic anthropological survey conducted by Colls and his team found the skull in the crypt in fact belongs to an unknown woman, thought to be in her 70s when she died.
Colls also discovered that Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway had been buried in one-meter-deep shallow graves beneath the church’s floor, and not further below ground in a family vault as previously thought.
The GPR scan found no indication of metal, such as nails used for coffins, indicating Shakespeare was simply wrapped in a shroud rather than buried in a casket.
“It was a great honor to be the first researcher to be given permission to undertake non-invasive archaeological investigations at the grave of William Shakespeare,” said Colls.
“The amazing project team...has produced astonishing results which are much better than I dared hoped for, and these results will undoubtedly spark discussion, scholarly debate and controversial theories for years to come,” he added. “Even now, thinking of the findings sends shivers down my spine.”
Secret History: Shakespeare’s Tomb airs on Saturday at 8 p.m. on Channel 4. | – It looks like Shakespeare's skull really is missing from his grave. That's what an archaeologist has concluded after researchers were allowed to use ground-penetrating radar to scan the Bard's final resting place, Reuters reports. "We have Shakespeare's burial with an odd disturbance at the head end and we have a story that suggests that at some point in history someone's come in and taken the skull of Shakespeare," says Staffordshire University archaeologist Kevin Colls, who says the findings are "very very convincing" that the long-standing rumors of a missing skull are true. He tells Fox News that analysis shows the "odd, strange" disturbance at the head end of the grave is a sign "of material being dug out and put back again." Per those rumors, grave-robbers took the skull from Shakespeare's grave at the Church of the Holy Trinity in England's Stratford-upon-Avon in 1794. At the time, trophy hunters believed a person's genius would be apparent in his skull. Rumors also claimed that Shakespeare's skull might be hidden in a sealed crypt at another church nearby, but Colls' team investigated and found the skull there was that of a woman in her 70s. The team also discovered that Shakespeare was buried in a simple shroud, not a coffin, and that he and his wife were buried in shallow graves, not a deeper family vault as had been believed, Newsweek adds. Researchers, who ignored a curse in Shakespeare's epitaph in order to do their non-intrusive analysis, present the findings in a documentary airing in Britain Saturday. (Click to see Shakespeare's entreaty for refugees, in his own hand.) |
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Order the Book for your Hometown. For a $25 donation, we'll send a copy of the It Gets Better book to your local library or school. | – No, Doritos and Skittles haven't made a baby. Doritos is declaring its support for the LGBT community with its new bag of chips, Doritos Rainbow. The chips are actually Cool Ranch-flavored but in the colors of the Pride flag: green, blue, purple, red, and orange, reports Yahoo. Don't go looking for them on store shelves, though. The limited-edition bags will be shipped free of charge only to those who donate at least $10 to the It Gets Better project, which supports LGBT youth around the world. "There's nothing bolder than being yourself," reads the chip package. (Then there's Doritos-flavored soda.) |
Go to the Legal Help page to request content changes for legal reasons. ||||| BEIJING (AP) — A car plowed into a crowd of children outside a primary school in northeastern China on Thursday, killing five people and injuring 18, a local government spokesman said.
The driver was taken into custody after the crash around noon in the coastal city of Huludao in Liaoning province, said the spokesman for Jianchang county in the city's suburbs, who declined to give his name as is standard with Chinese bureaucrats.
He described the crash as "a major traffic accident" and that the cause was under investigation.
Security camera footage showed a line of children crossing the street in front of their school when a car approaches, which then changes lanes and swerves into the crowd of children.
It wasn't clear if the crash was a deliberate attack or whether the driver was swerving to avoid obstacles in front of him.
Last month, a knife-wielding man drove a vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians in the eastern city of Ningbo, killing two people and wounding 16.
And in September, 11 people were killed and 44 hospitalized after a man drove an SUV deliberately into people at a plaza in the central province of Hunan, before jumping out and attacking victims with a dagger and shovel.
Other deadly attacks have occurred at schools, including several in 2010 in which nearly 20 children were killed, prompting a response from top government officials and leading many schools to beef up security.
However, in June, a man used a kitchen knife to attack three boys and a mother near a school in Shanghai, killing two of the children. Last year, police said a man set off an explosion at the front gate of a kindergarten in eastern China, which struck as relatives gathered to pick up their children at the end of the day, killing eight people.
The attackers' most common motivations are identified as mental illness or alienation from society and a desire to settle scores. | – A car plowed into a crowd of children outside a primary school in northeastern China on Thursday, killing five people and injuring 18, a local government spokesman said. The driver was taken into custody after the crash around noon in the coastal city of Huludao in Liaoning province, the spokesman said. He described the crash as "a major traffic accident" and that the cause was under investigation. Disturbing security camera footage showed a line of children crossing the street in front of their school when a car approaches, which then changes lanes and swerves into the crowd of children, the AP reports. It wasn't clear if the crash was a deliberate attack or whether the driver was swerving to avoid obstacles in front of him. (Last month, 14 children were injured in a stabbing attack in Chongqinq.) |
Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, speaks at a press conference at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang, North Korea Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. North Korea on Sunday presented to the media the American who... (Associated Press)
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea on Sunday presented to the media an American man who says he illegally crossed into the country but has not been put into custody and is seeking asylum in Venezuela.
Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, of El Paso, Texas, said he entered North Korea by crossing the river border with China. Details of how and when he got into the country were not immediately clear.
In his comments to reporters, Martinez strongly criticized the U.S. for alleged human rights violations.
Martinez's mother, Patricia Eugenia Martinez of El Paso, told CNN that her son was bipolar and earlier had tried to enter North Korea by swimming across a river, but was stopped and shipped back to the United States, where he was placed in a California psychiatric hospital.
"Then he got out," she told the network. "He is very smart and he got the court to let him out, and instead of coming home to us he bought a ticket and left for China. He took out a payday loan online and left for China."
She said the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was looking for him.
Martinez made his comments at the People's Palace of Culture, which North Korean authorities have used in recent years for press conferences where they present North Korean defectors who have returned to North Korea, or on at least one occasion, a South Korean citizen who was detained in North Korea. It is also used for signing ceremonies between North Korea and other countries.
His comments came amid North Korea's own loud protests of a resolution in the United Nations that could open the door for its leaders to face charges of crimes against humanity for human rights violations, raising questions of whether Martinez was trotted out to the media for propaganda purposes.
North Korea recently released three Americans — two who had entered the country on tourist visas and Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary who had been convicted of "anti-state" crimes. ||||| Story highlights The man is identified as Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, of El Paso, Texas
His mother says her son is bipolar and has been in a psychiatric hospital
In a statement, he says he crossed illegally into North Korea
He denounces the American political and economic system in the statement
An American who said he crossed illegally into North Korea denounced the United States political and economic system Sunday morning at a press conference in that country.
The man said he was Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, a U.S. citizen raised in El Paso, Texas.
Martinez's mother, Patricia Eugenia Martinez of El Paso, said their son was bipolar and earlier tried to enter North Korea by swimming across a river, only to be stopped and shipped back to the United States, where he was placed in a California psychiatric hospital.
"Then he got out," she said. "He is very smart and he got the court to let him out and instead of coming home to us he bought a ticket and left for China. He took out a payday loan online and left for China."
Arturo Pierre Martinez, 29, delivers his statement at a press conference he said he requested.
She said the U.S. Embassy in Beijing is looking for him.
"My son is very intelligent," she said. "He said he wanted to protect Latinos and he worried about the world and about people. At 15 he obtained his computer certificate. He loves to read and write and work on the computer. He loved to help poor people. He is our only child."
Later she released a statement that said: "I'm glad and relieved that my son is safe. I am appreciative to the North Korean authorities for pardoning my son and releasing him. I look forward to spending Christmas with him after they release him."
When asked how she knew her son was being released, she said it was from reading the press conference statement.
But the legal status of Martinez in North Korea is unclear and it's unknown if he's free to leave the country.
In his 4,000-word statement, Martinez admitted committing a crime by illegally entering the country but said he was "extremely grateful for having been pardoned from the punishments given to violators of these laws, and for the most generous reception I have received."
He delivered his statement at a press conference he said he requested. Images released by North Korea showed him wearing a suit and sitting in a room facing a large group of people.
North Korea said in a separate statement that Martinez entered the country in November, two days after American diplomat James Clapper arrived. Clapper negotiated the release of Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller, the last two American citizens known to be held by North Korea. They arrived back in the United States on November 8.
Martinez said he first tried to cross over from South Korea's Han River and tried again from China's Yalu River in Dandong.
He went on to criticize American politicians and police as well as the electoral and prison systems.
"The illegal war carried out against the nation of Iraq serves as a perfect example of how the U.S. government acts much like a Mafia enterprise, but criminally plundering entire nations of their resources, strategic reserves and economies instead of smaller scale business and individuals, and does so without a code of ethics," he said.
He said the electoral system in the United States "is unfairly built for the benefit of the wealthy through the necessity of costly fundraising for political candidates seeking office. The democracy of this nation is an illusion and its representatives act as nothing more than power brokers for those who can offer them."
Of the wealthy people in the United States, he said, "These billionaires in power are nothing short of sociopathic megalomaniacs on the path to absolute world domination."
He also talked about unidentified flying objects, CIA involvement in the cocaine trade, "ultrasonic" devices that cause people to hear voices and experience bodily discomfort and how the Western news media unfairly portrayed North Korea. | – North Korea has within its borders one Arturo Pierre Martinez, and both are currently making some noise, with the latter slamming the United States' human rights record at a press conference this morning. The 29-year-old is an American from El Paso, and he says he's in the country illegally, having crossed over via its border with China, reports the AP. Martinez says he's not being detained and that he's seeking asylum in Venezuela. Complicating matters is his apparent mental health status: His mother tells CNN that he is bipolar and that an earlier attempt to cross over into North Korea ended in Martinez being returned to the US and placed in a California psych ward. "Then he got out," she says. "He is very smart and he got the court to let him out and instead of coming home to us he bought a ticket and left for China. He took out a payday loan online and left for China." In a lengthy and rambling statement, Martinez says he's "extremely grateful for having been pardoned ... and for the most generous reception I have received." He goes on to address a laundry list of injustices, ranging from the American electoral system to its prison system and its billionaire "sociopathic megalomaniacs on the path to absolute world domination." Then, as CNN puts it: "He also talked about unidentified flying objects, CIA involvement in the cocaine trade, 'ultrasonic' devices that cause people to hear voices and experience bodily discomfort and how the Western news media unfairly portrayed North Korea." It's the latest salvo since the UN last month said Pyongyang's leaders should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. |
Image copyright AFP Image caption Schoolgirls staged a protest rally on 8 May after the first two rape and burning attacks
A teenage girl in India has been raped and burned alive by her attacker - the third instance of such an attack in the same week.
The 16-year-old girl died after being soaked in fuel and set on fire at her home in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh.
Police said she was killed after telling her attacker she would inform her family about the rape.
Two other similar attacks, one fatal, took place in Jharkhand this week.
A 17-year-old girl remains in critical condition after being set on fire by a suspect who allegedly said he wanted to marry the victim, but had been rejected.
The earlier case involved a 16-year-old who was burned alive after her parents complained to village elders about her rape. The accused had been ordered to do sit-ups and pay a fine as punishment, prompting them to beat the girl's parents and kill her.
In the most recent attack, the victim was at home alone in Jujharpur village when she was attacked. Police said they had arrested a suspect, named as 28-year-old Ravi Chadhar.
Widespread outrage
India is facing renewed public outrage over the number of violent sexual assaults in the country.
BBC India correspondent Soutik Biswas recently wrote that "rape is increasingly used as an instrument to assert power and intimidate the powerless in India".
Image copyright Reuters Image caption The rape of an eight-year-old girl prompted a number of protest rallies in April
Recent public anger over sexual assaults was sparked by the rape and murder of an eight-year old girl in January.
The girl, a member of a Muslim nomadic tribe, was found dead in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Eight Hindu men were arrested, and there was an outcry when two ministers from the Hindu BJP party attended a rally in support of the accused. In April, Hindu right-wing groups staged protests over the arrests.
Another BJP politician has also been accused of raping a 16-year-old girl - a charge he denies.
Public outrage over sexual violence in India rose dramatically after the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus.
Four of the accused were given a death sentence, recently upheld on appeal, and the case led to new anti-rape laws. ||||| New Delhi (CNN) Police in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh are investigating the death of 16-year-old-girl who was allegedly raped and set on fire, in the third such case reported in India this month.
The attack is alleged to have been carried out by a 28-year-old man, Sagar district Superintendent of Police Satyendra Kumar Shukla said.
The girl's family alleges that she was raped and set on fire at her home in Jhujharpura village on Thursday after her cousin told the man accused of the crime that the victim was home alone, police said.
The girl's cousin and the 28-year-old have been arrested.
Following a post-mortem report, local police confirmed the girl died from burns sustained in the fire, Shukla told CNN. Police have not yet been able to confirm the rape but are preserving all evidence in the case for final confirmation, Shukla said. | – A horrifying incident is becoming somewhat of a trend in India, where a third teenager has reportedly been raped and then burned alive, with all the incidents happening in the span of one week. The BBC reports the 16-year-old was allegedly killed after informing her attacker, a man police have named as 28-year-old Ravi Chadhar, she wouldn't stay mum about the rape. She was reportedly doused with fuel and set on fire in her Madhya Pradesh home. CNN reports that the girl's cousin allegedly told her attacker she was home alone; both the cousin and Chadhar have been arrested. The other attacks occurred in Jharkhand, with one of the girls, 17, surviving in critical condition with burns to 70% of her body. Her attacker allegedly had wanted to marry her but had been denied. The first case involved a 16-year-old who was killed after her parents reported her rape to village leaders. Enraged by the punishment the elders imposed—100 sit-ups and a fine of roughly $750—police say Dhanu Singh Bhuiyan stormed into the girl's house in the village of Chatra, attacked her parents, and fatally set the girl on fire. |
The last batch of documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy were released Thursday by the National Archives.
The 19,045 documents — the largest batch to date — represent the final release under a directive from President Trump Donald John TrumpAvenatti ‘still considering’ presidential run despite domestic violence arrest Mulvaney positioning himself to be Commerce Secretary: report Kasich: Wouldn’t want presidential run to ‘diminish my voice’ MORE.
The federal government hit an Oct. 26, 2017, deadline to release thousands of documents related to the 1963 assassination in compliance with the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992.
Trump actively encouraged the release of the long anticipated files last year to “put any and all conspiracy theories to rest.”
Trump then provided agencies with temporary certification until this Thursday to allow for re-review of all documents withheld to release "as much as possible."
Ultimately, at the request of the FBI and CIA, Trump blocked the release of some of the original records. Those records were not part of the final batch released Thursday and may never be released.
The administration released all related JFK documents other than the names and addresses of any mentioned person who is still living.
"I have no choice today but to accept those redactions rather than allow potentially irreversible harm to our Nation's security," Trump said in October. ||||| Updated at 2 p.m. to clarify the number of documents remaining under seal.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued an order Thursday, keeping some of the most sensitive records from the Kennedy assassination files sealed for another 3 1/2 years, as the National Archives released a final batch under a law meant to force most of the records into the light by last fall.
In 1992, Congress set a 25-year deadline for releasing remaining documents stemming from John F. Kennedy's murder in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.
When the deadline arrived — Oct. 26 last year — Trump gave federal agencies a six-month extension to plead the case for keeping selected records sealed, if they could assert a vital national security interest. The FBI and CIA in particular had pressed for more time.
Some 15,884 records that have now been partially released, some with heavy redactions, will be subject to yet more review over the next three years under Trump's order.
The National Archives released 19,045 documents Thursday. Those can be downloaded here, along with previously released records, such as secret 1978 testimony from a former CIA station chief in Mexico City, David Atlee Phillips, a Fort Worth native.
He called assassin Lee Harvey Oswald "loony" and insisted that as far as he could tell, Oswald had acted alone.
"God knows I would like for it to come out that Fidel Castro was responsible or that the Soviets were responsible," Phillips testified before the House Select Committee on Assassinations, under questioning by Rep. Floyd Fithian, an Indiana Democrat. "But I know of no evidence to show that the Cubans or the Soviets put him up to it, and I just have to go along on the side that he was a kind of loony fellow who decided to shoot the president, and he did."
The transcript of the four decade-old testimony was in the batch of documents released Dec. 15. Historians, assassination buffs and conspiracy theorists are still digging through those and other previously secret files for insights into the investigation and countless unrelated topics, from the U.S. escalation in Vietnam to assassination plots and meddling with unfriendly regimes in Cuba, Chile and other nations.
(Hat tip to Bud Kennedy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for flagging the Phillips testimony.) ||||| JFK Assassination Records - 2018 Additional Documents Release
The National Archives is releasing documents previously withheld in accordance with the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act. The vast majority of the Collection (88%) has been open in full and released to the public since the late 1990s. The records at issue are documents previously identified as assassination records, but withheld in full or withheld in part. Learn more
These releases include FBI, CIA, and other agency documents (both formerly withheld in part and formerly withheld in full) identified by the Assassination Records Review Board as assassination records. The releases to date are as follows:
* Note: There are instances where multiple record identification numbers are associated with the same pdf. This is due to the fact that the files were scanned in batches.
Accessing the Release Files
The table below displays metadata about all the released documents. You can also download the spreadsheet as an Excel file (4.7MB).
To view or download a specific document, follow the link in the "Doc Date" column. The files are sorted by NARA Release Date, with the most recent files appearing first. The previous withholding status (i.e., formerly withheld in part or formerly withheld in full) is identified in the “Formerly Withheld Status” column.
Bulk Download of PDF and WAV files
You can access individual files by browsing the webpage above and selecting the link in the "Doc Date" column. You may also download the Excel spreadsheet above, which includes links to all of the files. If you need copies of all PDF and WAV files, you can request a compressed bulk download by emailing bulkdownload@nara.gov with “JFK Bulk Download” in the subject line. ||||| WASHINGTON (AP) — Back in October, President Donald Trump blocked the release of hundreds of records on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, agreeing to appeals from the CIA and FBI.
Now, Trump has accepted a recommendation from the National Archives to keep the lid closed, more than five decades after the 35th president was killed.
Trump writes in memo issued Thursday that some of the classified documents are "of such gravity that it outweighs the public interest in immediate disclosure." The FBI and CIA had said the release could jeopardize national security.
The president ordered agencies to review the remaining documents in the next three years to determine which should be released.
Congress ordered in 1992 that all records be released in 25 years to put consistent conspiracy theories to rest. | – The can has been kicked a little farther down the road. When President Trump in October approved the release of previously classified or redacted documents on the JFK assassination, he blocked the release of others over national security concerns and gave federal agencies 180 days to re-review the withheld documents. The review in some cases turned up "identifiable national security, law enforcement, and foreign affairs concerns," per a memo written by Trump, who on Thursday said some files would now be kept under wraps until Oct. 26, 2021. He wrote that some files are "of such gravity that it outweighs the public interest in immediate disclosure," per the AP, but he ordered that they be reviewed over the next three years, and that any that can be released be made public immediately. The Dallas Morning News reports roughly 19,000 documents were released Thursday by the National Archives—the largest batch thus far, notes the Hill; 520 remain fully sealed. In his memo, Trump included a hopeful note for the curious: "The need for continued protection can only grow weaker with the passage of time from this congressional finding." (Some were hoping files would be released this week that would shed light on a 1971 suicide.) |
We’re welcoming one more face to kiss in 2018! Wishing you #MásBesos in the New Year! #babybesos #HappyNewYear 😘
A post shared by America Ferrera (@americaferrera) on Dec 31, 2017 at 4:54pm PST ||||| Story highlights Stamos shared the news with People
He joins other A-listers who became dads later in life
(CNN) It's about to be a "Fuller House" for John Stamos.
The actor shared with People magazine that he is set to become a first-time father at the age of 54.
The actor, who became everyone's favorite uncle with his role on the hit 1990s sitcom "Full House," joins other celebs, including George Clooney, to welcome fatherhood in their 50s.
Photos: A-list dads over 50 Photos: A-list dads over 50 John Stamos announced in December that at the age of 54 he will become a dad as his fiancée actress Caitlin McHugh is pregnant. Other male celebs have become fathers in their later years, too. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 At 56, George Clooney became a father to twins. He and Amal Clooney welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney in June. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 Alec Baldwin had his second child at 55. He has gained recent notoriety for his "Saturday Night Live" impersonations of Donald Trump, who had his youngest son, Barron, at 59. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 "Parenthood" actor Steve Martin became a first-time dad at 67 with wife Anne Stringfield. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 Clint Eastwood was 66 when he had his seventh child, Morgan, with his second wife, Dina Ruiz. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 Television and radio personality Larry King had two children in his mid-60s with wife Shawn Southwick. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 Double Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro was 68 years old when he and Grace Hightower had daughter Helen Grace. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 Rod Stewart was 66 when he welcomed his seventh child, Aidan Patrick Stewart. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 Playboy founder Hugh Hefner was 65 when son Cooper was born to his then-wife Kimberley Conrad. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 Director Woody Allen is about 65 years older than his youngest daughter, Manzie, whom he adopted with wife Soon-Yi Previn, who is the adopted daughter of Allen's former partner, Mia Farrow. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: A-list dads over 50 At 56, former "Late Show" host David Letterman announced that he would be having a child with longtime partner Regina Lasko. Hide Caption 11 of 11
Stamos told People he and his fiancée, actress Caitlin McHugh, had discussed starting a family.
"We have the same morals and the same values, that all clicked nicely," Stamos said. "So we said, 'Oh, well, maybe we should have a family.'"
Read More ||||| Have mercy — John Stamos is going to be a dad! The beloved Fuller House star opens up about expecting a baby with fiancée Caitlin McHugh. Subscribe now for the exclusive baby news — only in PEOPLE.
John Stamos‘ house is about to get a little fuller!
The actor, 54, and his fiancée Caitlin McHugh are expecting their first child, Stamos reveals to PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s cover story.
In the latest episode of The Jess Cagle Interview (streaming now on People TV), Stamos tells PEOPLE’s Editor-in-Chief Jess Cagle that he and McHugh “talked about” having a baby in the past — and everything just fell into place.
John Stamos Brian Bowen Smith
“We have the same morals and the same values, that all clicked nicely. So we said, ‘Oh, well, maybe we should have a family,’ ” says the Fuller House star.
McHugh suggested, “‘Maybe we should have a kid [before we get married]’ and I said, ‘Why?’” Stamos recalls, revealing his fiancée jokingly responded, “Because you’re old.”
John Stamos
Watch the full episode of The Jess Cagle Interview: John Stamos, streaming now on PeopleTV. Go to People.com/peopletv, or download the app on your favorite streaming device.
After almost two years of dating, Stamos and the model and actress, 31, were engaged Oct. 22 at Disneyland — one of Disney Parks super fan McHugh‘s favorite places.
The actor made a short film of romantic moments from animated Pixar and Disney films, ending the display with The Little Mermaid — which encouraged Stamos to “just ask the girl.”
Want all the latest pregnancy and birth announcements, plus celebrity mom blogs? Click here to get those and more in the PEOPLE Babies newsletter.
RELATED VIDEO: John Stamos and Caitlin McHugh Are Engaged!
RELATED: 11 Completely Swoon-Worthy Stories Behind Stars’ Proposals
“The [pregnancy] happened. Then I said, I better have a ring on her finger because it’s the right thing to do, and I wanted to marry her anyway,” Stamos tells PEOPLE. “So I called her parents to ask, and it was like, ‘You better!’ “
“The look on John’s face when I told him we were pregnant was priceless,” adds McHugh. “It was the look of a man who has wanted a family of his own but wasn’t sure it was going to happen for him. Now it is!”
Caitlin McHugh and John Stamos Michael Buckner/Variety/REX/Shutterstock
RELATED: John Stamos on Cloud 9 Now That He’s Engaged to Caitlin McHugh: “I’ve Been Waiting for the Perfect Girl for a Decade”
The couple are overjoyed to be adding to their family — though they’re keeping mum on the baby’s sex for now — with Stamos admitting that he “always wanted to be a dad” but wasn’t sure it was in the cards. “People would say, ‘You should have a child,’ ” he tells PEOPLE. “I was like, ‘That ship has sailed.’ “
Luckily for Stamos, that ship is anchored quite steadily — and the star can’t wait for its next voyage, during which his feet will be planted firmly on board.
“I’ll be a fun dad. I’ve been practicing for a long time,” he says, joking, “I’ve done every schtick you can do with a baby on TV … all the bits and jokes and diaper gags. I’ll probably just do all that stuff.”
For more coverage, follow our babies magazine on Flipboard.
FROM PEN: TV Revivals We Want to See
The mom-to-be couldn’t agree more about Stamos being ready for fatherhood, praising her fiancé for having “the biggest, most loving and generous heart of anyone I know.”
“I greatly admire his originality, creativity, ambition, work ethic and humor — all qualities I’m sure he’ll pass down to his child,” McHugh tells PEOPLE. “He’s always been wonderful with kids, and I’m sure he will be an amazing father.”
For a closer peek into John Stamos and Caitlin McHugh’s happily ever after, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
John Stamos on the cover of PEOPLE
RELATED: John Stamos and Fiancée Caitlin McHugh’s Love Story Is Straight Out of a Disney Movie
Will Stamos’ natural gift translate to continuing to expand his family after baby No. 1 is born next year? “I think so,” says the Grandfathered alum. “Caitlin wants to have other kids too.” | – John Stamos asked girlfriend Caitlin McHugh to marry him less than two months ago, but it looks like they'll soon be calling each other mom and dad in addition to husband and wife. The 54-year-old Fuller House actor tells People he and the 31-year-old McHugh are expecting their first child, and his age may have played a role in expediting their household's expansion. It appears it was McHugh's suggestion that they have a kid before they tied the knot, and when Stamos asked her why, he says she teased: "Because you're old." "We have the same morals and the same values, that all clicked nicely," Stamos explains. "So we said, 'Oh, well, maybe we should have a family.'" Stamos says he's "always wanted to be a dad," but he figured "that ship has sailed." He's now eager to apply all the parenting "practicing" he did on TV. "I've done every schtick thing that you can do ... saying every song, bits and jokes and diaper gags. I'll probably just do all that." He also predicts the baby, whose gender will remain a secret until birth, "is gonna look like Don Rickles," per the Los Angeles Times. Stamos was previously married to actress Rebecca Romijn from 1998 to 2005. More on why he's now ready to be a dad in a People follow-up. |
UPDATED: Megyn Kelly’s two-day bad streak just got worse. Deadline hears that the NBC News host who caused such a ruckus with her on-air remarks about blackface and her ensuing apology is no longer a client of CAA and will not be repped by UTA. Kelly has hired leading Hollywood attorney Bryan Freedman as she is heading to likely settlement talks with NBC. She is not expected to be hosting her 9 AM show for the rest of the week.
The news comes as the backlash continues over her comments during Megyn Kelly Today on Tuesday about why it’s not OK for people to wear blackface as a Halloween costume. Fallout from the comments continued today as NBC News chief Andy Lack criticized Kelly during a town hall with staffers and praised the work done by his Today, Nightly News and late-night teams.
Kelly reportedly had plotted a move from CAA to UTA shortly before the controversy erupted earlier this week. She had left CAA and was close to signing with UTA but the agency now would not proceed with bringing her in as a client under the circumstances. She instead has retained an attorney in Freedman.
NBC
It also was revealed this afternoon that cast members and EPs of Netflix’s House of Cards pulled out of guesting on Megyn Kelly Today amid the controversy.
On her show Tuesday, Kelly and a panel were discussing campus attempts to discourage “inappropriate and offensive costumes” during the trick-or-treat season when Kelly asked: “What is racist? … You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween.”
The outcry on social media was swift, and Kelly was forced to apologize later in the day. In a note to colleagues, she wrote: “Today is one of those days where listening carefully to other points of view, including from friends and colleagues, is leading me to rethink my own views.” Kelly added that she “now” realizes that it is “indeed wrong” and that “the history of blackface in our culture is abhorrent, the wounds too deep.” ||||| New York (CNN Business) Two years of pent-up bitterness and backbiting about Megyn Kelly have finally come to a head at NBC News.
Her exit from the 9 a.m. hour of the "Today" show appears to be imminent. Variety reported on Wednesday evening that Kelly and NBC News executives have been holding conversations about a new role for her.
Two people familiar with the matter confirmed that to CNN Business and said Kelly's show will be ending. Negotiations about the end date and other details are still underway. But Kelly will not be hosting Thursday's program, and she is unlikely to return later, one of the people said. So "Megyn Kelly Today" may end very soon.
Kelly has parted ways with her talent agency, CAA, according to two sources, and she has hired attorney Bryan Freedman.
Kelly's offensive remarks about blackface Halloween costumes on Tuesday have raised more questions about her future at NBC. Spokespeople for NBC News declined to comment, and most staffers at the news division remain in the dark.
Tuesday's controversy made national news and stoked disappointment and resentment within NBC, according to multiple sources at the network.
Kelly started her show on Wednesday by apologizing for comments made the previous day. Her audience gave her a standing ovation, but disappointment inside NBC News runs deep and isn't likely to fade anytime soon.
NBC News chair Andy Lack condemned her racially insensitive comments during a town hall meeting with staffers on Wednesday morning. (The meeting was scheduled well before the controversy ensued.)
Lack spearheaded Kelly's hiring and championed her 9 a.m. show. But this week his news division has covered the Kelly controversy on multiple programs. Instead of promoting the "Today" show as a happy family, NBC has aired the family's fight — giving time to Al Roker and others who strongly criticized Kelly's comments.
Tuesday's blackface talk — featuring an all-white panel of guests — was a major misstep. But the Kelly rancor is about more than one segment.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday evening that Kelly and Lack "discussed a possible winding-down of her portion of the 'Today' show by the end of the year," meaning the conversations pre-dated this week's controversy.
Kelly has many critics and rivals within the famed news division — people who say she never should have been hired from Fox News, certainly not for such a huge salary, and certainly not for a morning show like "Megyn Kelly Today."
These NBC staffers routinely call Kelly's show a "disaster" and other disparaging terms.
Most of the anger isn't directed at her, exactly, but at the management of NBC News — the men who hired her away from Fox in January 2017.
"We're lucky to have her," Lack said on the day her new deal was announced.
At the time, some other TV executives agreed. After all, there had been a bidding war for Kelly when it became clear that she wanted to leave Fox.
Lack called her an "exceptional journalist and news anchor."
But Kelly was best known for fiery segments on Fox's staunchly conservative prime time schedule. There was widespread concern that she was being miscast at NBC.
The network said she would have two main jobs: A 9 a.m. talk show and a Sunday night newsmagazine. Her reported salary of $23 million a year for three years, totaling $69 million, became a bit of a scandal inside NBC, even before she started on the air.
Kelly's morning show premiered in September of 2017. Television critics found a lot to criticize. And Kelly had some early stumbles, like an awkward exchange with Jane Fonda that made headlines for a long time afterward.
Some of the controversies stoked curiosity about her new show, but mostly it just caused embarrassment and snickering about how long she would last at NBC. Most importantly, the 9 a.m. show did not meet ratings expectations.
As the Wall Street Journal put it in a headline earlier this year, "NBC bet $69 million on Megyn Kelly — then viewers vanished."
Kelly's rivals noted that the earlier iteration of the 9 a.m. hour was more profitable back when Roker and Tamron Hall were the hosts. That's partly because they were paid a lot less.
Some people in the TV business said Kelly was given bad career advice. Others said NBC was unrealistic about expectations for her show. And still others said Kelly's talent was not easily transferable from Fox to other networks.
NBC introduced Kelly's Sunday newsmagazine, but the program didn't last long. As predicted, it suffered in the ratings versus long-running competitors like "60 Minutes," and it was hobbled by scheduling issues.
On the air, Kelly's morning show has notched some wins — her show has been full of fascinating conversations and candid interviews. But it is still a ratings laggard. And the blackface controversy reinforces the perception — to the public at large — that Kelly is a Fox News personality, not a member of the "Today" show family.
During the offending segment on Tuesday, Kelly said it was OK when she was growing up for white people to dress up as black characters, and she spoke out against a controversy that erupted last year over a reality star who portrayed Diana Ross.
"But what is racist?" Kelly asked. "Because you do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface on Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character."
Later in the day, Kelly said sorry to her colleagues in an email: "Today is one of those days where listening carefully to other points of view, including from friends and colleagues, is leading me to rethink my own views."
On Tuesday evening, "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt" covered the Kelly story when few other networks paid it much attention. Roker, Melvin and other members of the "Today" show cast had a remarkably candid conversation about the controversy during the 7 a.m. hour of the show on Wednesday.
The situation demonstrates the continuing unease about and disarray within NBC News over Kelly, whose hire and installation in the network's morning hours was controversial.
Roker said "she owes a bigger apology to folks of color across the country."
His blunt words expressed a point of view shared by many within the news organization.
"Today" colleague Craig Melvin also called out Kelly's comments for being "stupid" and "indefensible." He pointed out that this controversy is an opportunity to inform people — but said most people already knew how offensive blackface is. ||||| Megyn Kelly and NBC News have engaged in conversations about her taking a new role at the news division, according to a person who has spoken with the anchor, suggesting both sides have grown weary of the intense scrutiny being placed on her morning program, “Megyn Kelly Today” and casting significant doubt on its future.
Word of the shift comes after Kelly stirred outrage on Tuesday during a segment in which she questioned why it was wrong for people to don “blackface” for Halloween costumes. The backlash contributed to CAA dropping Kelly as a client on Wednesday, according to an industry source (and first reported by the Hollywood Reporter).
But the conversations about ending the 9 a.m. daytime show began before the controversy, the latest since the anchor joined NBC News in March of 2017.
”Where do you think Megyn Kelly would be happier, as part of big breaking news or forced to cover light-hearted stories that traditionally work at 9 a.m.?” the source close to Kelly said. Kelly participated in NBC News’ coverage of the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh and is slated to take part in NBC News’ election-night coverage on Nov. 6.
Related NBCUniversal Chief on Megyn Kelly, Andy Lack and Future of NBC News Megyn Kelly, NBC Reach Agreement on Exit
NBC News declined to comment.
After Tuesday’s segment, social-media opprobrium came quickly, as did an apology from the anchor. NBC News has continued to cover the fallout for Kelly over the incident on “NBC Nightly News” and “Today,” prompting speculation about the relationship between the high-priced star anchor and others in the news division.
Success in daytime TV has always been elusive. Other famous anchors have tried their hand in mornings and afternoons in the recent past, and met with middling success. Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper and Meredith Vieira are among the personalities who tackled daytime talk programs in the last few years. All three lasted just two seasons before ending their respective efforts.
“Megyn Kelly Today” has been a work in progress. At times, it has garnered good notice for Kelly’s willingness to examine tough issues and the #MeToo social-justice movement. She did not shy away from a discussion about the late-2017 ouster of Matt Lauer after NBC News found allegations of sexual harassment levied at him. The anchor has denied some of the charges made against him. In other instances, however, the show has brought unwanted attention, including Kelly’s scolding of actress Jane Fonda. Media buyers said Wednesday that the program had proven to be a disappointment after NBC hyped Kelly’s arrival to its air.
NBC News Chairman Andy Lack addressed this week’s controversy Wednesday at a town hall meeting with news staffers. “There is no other way to put this but I condemn those remarks, there is no place on our air or in this workplace for them. Very unfortunate,” Lack said, according to people present at the meeting. He added: “As we go forward, my highest priority remains, and as we sort through this with Megyn, let there be no doubt that this is a workplace in which you need to be proud and in which we respect each other in all the ways we know is foundational to who we are.”
Kelly kicked off her morning show in the fall of a 2017 with a stated desire to get away from the political commentary that fueled her rise at Fox News Channel. “I’m kind of done with politics for now,” Kelly told the audience during her first morning broadcast, noting she she hoped instead to help viewers “get yourself through the day, to have a laugh with us, a smile, sometimes a tear – and maybe a little hope to start your day. Some fun! That’s what we want to be doing.”
In recent days, however, the anchor has steered the panel discussions that open “Megyn Kelly Today” toward hotter topics, such as the nomination hearings around Justice Kavanaugh and debates around political correctness. | – The blackface controversy may have sealed the fate of Megyn Kelly Today. Sources tell Variety that Megyn Kelly has been in talks with NBC execs about abandoning the 9am morning show for a possible new role at NBC News. An insider close to Kelly says both sides are ready for a change and discussions about ending the show began even before the latest controversy. "Where do you think Megyn Kelly would be happier, as part of big breaking news or forced to cover light-hearted stories that traditionally work at 9am?" the source says. CNN, citing "two people familiar with the matter," reports that Kelly's show is definitely ending, and probably soon: The sources say Kelly will not be hosting Thursday's show and might not return at all. In another setback for Kelly, she has parted ways with talent agency CAA but a planned move to UTA has fallen through because of the controversy, Deadline reports. She has instead hired Hollywood attorney Bryan Freedman for expected settlement talks with NBC. Sources tell Variety that NBC News chairman Andy Lack, who hired Kelly away from Fox in early 2017, addressed the issue in a town hall meeting with staffers Wednesday, saying: "There is no other way to put this but I condemn those remarks, there is no place on our air or in this workplace for them. Very unfortunate." (On Wednesday's show, Kelly said that she had learned blackface is not OK as part of a costume, "Halloween or otherwise.") |
The Coast Guard is coming down hard on the owners of a broken oil platform that has been allowed to leak off southeast Louisiana for more than 14 years.
New federal estimates put the leak rate at the Taylor Energy Co. well at 10,500 gallons to 29,000 gallons of oil per day. That’s five to 13 times larger than government’s estimate from just a year ago, and would rank the Taylor Energy leak as one of the largest and longest-running oil spills in North America.
Last week, the Coast Guard directed Taylor Energy to decide on a new containment plan and a contractor to do the work. The new method of containment “must eliminate the surface sheen and avoid the deficiencies associated with prior containment systems,” the Coast Guard wrote in an administrative order. The company will be fined up to $40,000 per day for failing to comply.
Full containment of the leak could cost upwards of $1 billion, according to Taylor Energy. The company disputes the new leak estimates and the cause of the chronic sheens that often stretch for miles from the well site. According to scientists employed by Taylor Energy, the sheens are caused by oil and gas bubbling up from the oil-saturated seafloor, and not from leaky wells.
Site of the Taylor Energy platform.
Taylor Energy’s platform, known as MC-20 Saratoga, was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan on Sept. 15, 2004. The storm triggered an underwater mudslide that snapped the 550-foot-tall platform’s legs and buried a cluster of wells. Taylor plugged some of the 28 wells and added three containment domes.
Several environmental groups have for years disputed Taylor’s claim that its multimillion-dollar containment effort had limited pollution to just a trickle.
In 2013, Skytruth, an environmental group based in Shepherdstown, W. Va., that specializes in remote sensing and digital mapping, measured the sheen at more than 20 miles long. The Gulf Monitoring Consortium, made up of Skytruth and other groups, estimated a daily release rate of between 100 and 400 gallons.
It wasn’t until 2016 that federal regulators began investigating how oil and gas was still leaking from the site. That same year, Taylor Energy sued the federal government over the remaining $432 million from a $666 million trust, which the company was required to create to pay for the leak response. Taylor Energy argued that its response worked and that the remaining funds should be returned.
12 years after Gulf oil platform destroyed, feds start investigating environmental damage
In a 2017 legal filing, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement estimated the leak’s range at 42 to 2,300 gallons per day. But this year, the government cited the vastly larger daily estimate of up to 29,000 gallons.
The Coast Guard noted the new rate in its recent order for additional containment work.
“The worst-case estimate of the daily volume of release far exceeds previous estimates and is in the order of hundreds of barrels per day,” the Coast Guard told Taylor Energy in a letter.
The Coast Guard’s order is long overdue, said Dustin Renaud, communications director for the Gulf Restoration Network.
“The time to clean this up was 14 years ago,” he said. “Taylor Energy has shown nothing but negligence all this time.”
Taylor Energy says the government won’t reveal how it arrived at the much larger estimate. The Coast Guard declined to share details on the estimate with NOLA.com | Times-Picayune until it can determine whether the information is “publicly releasable.”
Will Pecue, Taylor Energy president, said the new estimates are “ridiculous” and “based on erroneous science.” He believes the larger estimates are aimed at bolstering the government’s case for retaining the trust’s remaining $432 million.
“There is intent to dismiss the past record,” he said.
The wells at the Taylor Energy site were relatively low in pressure. The former platform’s production of 1,100 barrels, or about 46,000 gallons, of oil per day, the company required pressurized gas injections. It’s unlikely the platform site could leak at the new estimated rates without pressurization, said Christopher Reddy, a marine scientist hired by Taylor Energy to assess the site.
A more likely source of the sheen is the sediment, which Reddy described as “heavily contaminated” with oil. Recent sediment sampling showed traces of drilling fluid, likely used during the work to plug and decommission wells after Hurricane Ivan. The sheen on the water’s surface was also found to have drilling fluid. The fluid’s presence indicates the sheen is coming from the sediment and not subsurface wells, which would be pure crude oil and contain no drilling fluid, Reddy said.
Large sheens on the water’s surface often correspond with disturbances on the seafloor, such as when a remote observation vehicle or divers collect samples.
“When you touch the bottom, you create a sheen,” he said.
Buried oil from Deepwater Horizon disaster still harming wetlands
Reddy cautioned that any restoration or cleanup work at the site could release a large quantity of oil.
Based on the high end of the new leak estimates, the site may have released 150 million gallons of oil over the past 14 years. That would make the total release on par with the estimated 168 gallons spilled during the BP oil oil disaster in 2010. But, as Taylor Energy’s representatives note, the sheen has never been documented reaching the shore, nor has it caused large-scale damage to fisheries or wildlife.
It doesn’t take a BP-level disaster to harm the Gulf of Mexico, said Renaud of the Gulf Restoration Network. While the BP spill’s impact was heavily studied, the environmental damage from the Taylor Energy leak has largely been ignored.
“When you have 10,000 to 30,000 gallons of oil leaking into the Gulf there can’t help but be environmental impacts,” he said. “We just don’t know what they are yet, and we need to change that.” ||||| On April 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, operating in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations. 4 million barrels of oil flowed from the damaged Macondo well over an 87-day period, before it was finally capped on July 15, 2010. On December 15, 2010, the United States filed a complaint in District Court against BP Exploration & Production and several other defendants alleged to be responsible for the spill.
This webpage provides information and materials on EPA’s enforcement response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, settlements with several of the defendants, including the record-setting settlement with BP Exploration & Production for an unprecedented $5.5 billion Clean Water Act penalty and up to $8.8 billion in natural resource damages.
This webpage is limited to EPA’s enforcement-related activities only, and does not cover all legal or other actions against BP Exploration & Production and other parties for the spill, such as private party/class action settlements for medical claims and economic damages, or other actions against those responsible for the spill. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has established the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill website for this purpose. In addition, links for additional information on the spill, cleanup activities and other responses are provided below.
On this page:
You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.
Case and Settlement Information
Top of Page
Additional Information on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Top of Page | – A massive cleanup effort has been ordered on a quietly devastating oil spill that's been contaminating the Gulf of Mexico for 14 years. The Washington Post reports the US Coast Guard has mandated Taylor Energy "institute a … system to capture, contain, or remove oil" from the affected site off the Louisiana coast, infused with up to 30,000 gallons (about 700 barrels) of oil a day since Hurricane Ivan destroyed a company oil platform in 2004, per DOJ estimates. Contractors commissioned by Taylor Energy had previously said the oil spill was minimal, at the most around 2,000 gallons a day. If the company doesn't comply with the Coast Guard's new decree, it could be hit with a fine of up to $40,000 per day. To put it in context, the BP Deepwater Horizon spill dumped 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf before it was capped after 87 days in July 2010; the Taylor spill could be at 3.5 million barrels. The Taylor spill remained hidden from the public by both the company and the Coast Guard for six years after the hurricane. It was discovered only when nonprofits and environmental groups investigating the BP spill came upon oil slicks that didn't appear to be related to that particular incident. Taylor Energy—which contends the oil "sheens" on the surface of the water aren't from leaking wells, but from oil and gas floating up from the oil-heavy seafloor—says full containment of the leak could cost more than $1 billion, the Times-Picayune reports. Still, "the time to clean this up was 14 years ago," a rep for the Gulf Restoration Network says. "Taylor Energy has shown nothing but negligence all this time." (The largest tanker oil spill in three decades happened earlier this year.) |
SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea said it successfully tested a powerful nuclear bomb on Wednesday, drawing threats of further sanctions even though the United States and weapons experts voiced doubts the device was as advanced as the isolated nation claimed.
The underground explosion shook the earth so hard that it registered as a seismic event with U.S. earthquake monitors. It put pressure on China to rein in neighboring North Korea.
The U.N. Security Council said it would begin working immediately on significant new measures in response to North Korea, a threat diplomats said could mean an expansion of sanctions.
North Korea has been under Security Council sanctions since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. After a nuclear test in 2013, the Security Council took about three weeks to agree a resolution that tightened financial restrictions and cracked down on Pyongyang’s attempts to ship and receive banned cargo.
In the United States, Republican presidential candidates seized on the test to accuse President Barack Obama of running a “feckless” foreign policy that enabled North Korea to bolster its nuclear arms capabilities.
U.S. congressional sources said Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives were considering a vote as soon as next week to broaden sanctions against North Korea by imposing stiffer punishments on foreign companies doing business with Pyongyang.
While North Korea has a long history of voicing bellicose rhetoric against the United States and its Asian allies without acting on it, the assertion by Pyongyang on Wednesday that it had tested a hydrogen device, much more powerful than an atomic bomb, came as a surprise.
North Korea also said it was capable of miniaturizing the H-bomb, in theory allowing it to be placed on a missile and potentially posing a new threat to the U.S. West Coast, South Korea and Japan.
The U.S. State Department confirmed North Korea had conducted a nuclear test but the Obama administration disputed the hydrogen bomb claim.
“The initial analysis is not consistent with the claim the regime has made of a successful hydrogen bomb test,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters. He said any nuclear test would be a “flagrant violation” of Security Council resolutions.
The explosion drew criticism, including from China and Russia. Beijing, the North’s main economic and diplomatic backer, said it will lodge a protest with Pyongyang.
‘H-BOMB OF JUSTICE’
Wednesday’s nuclear test took place two days ahead of what is believed to be North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s birthday.
“Let the world look up to the strong, self-reliant nuclear-armed state,” Kim wrote in what North Korean state TV displayed as a handwritten note.
North Korea called the device the “H-bomb of justice.”
While the Kim government boasts of its military might to project strength globally, it also plays up the need to defend itself from external threats as a way to maintain control domestically.
It will likely take several days to determine more precisely what kind of nuclear device Pyongyang set off as a variety of sensors, including “sniffer planes,” collect evidence.
Hydrogen bombs pack an explosion that can be more powerful than an atomic bomb as it uses a two-step process of fission and fusion that releases substantially more energy.
Ko Yun-hwa (L), Administrator of Korea Meteorological Administration, points at where seismic waves observed in South Korea came from, during a media briefing at Korea Meteorological Administration in Seoul, South Korea, January 6, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
A U.S. government source said the United States believes North Korea had set off the latest in a series of tests of old-fashioned atomic bombs of which it has dozens.
The source said the size of the latest explosion was roughly consistent with previous tests believed to have been conducted with A-bombs rather than H-bombs. The latest test occurred in the same geographical location, with the same geological profile, as earlier tests.
The United States had been anticipating a North Korean nuclear test for some time, as intelligence surveillance produced indications of possible preparations, including evidence of new excavations of underground tunnels at the site.
The USGS reported a 5.1 magnitude seismic event that South Korea said was 49 km (30 miles) from the Punggye-ri site where the North has conducted nuclear tests in the past.
South Korean intelligence officials and several analysts also questioned whether Wednesday’s explosion was a test of a full-fledged hydrogen device, pointing to its having been roughly as powerful as North Korea’s last atomic test.
Stocks across the world fell for a fifth consecutive day as the North Korea tension added to a growing list of geopolitical worries and China fueled fears about its economy by allowing the yuan to weaken further.
The Republicans added North Korea to a list of what they assert are Obama’s foreign policy failures, including Syria’s civil war, the rise of Islamic State and the agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program.
They also blamed his former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party front-runner in the race for the November presidential election.
Asked about North Korea, Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump told CNN that “China should solve that problem” or face trade retaliation from the United States. “South Korea should pay us and pay us very substantially for protecting them,” he said.
Clinton condemned North Korea’s action as a “dangerous and provocative act” and said the United States should respond with more sanctions and stronger missile defenses.
Slideshow (25 Images)
North Korea has long coveted diplomatic recognition from Washington, but sees its nuclear deterrent as crucial to ensuring the survival of its third-generation dictatorship.
The North’s state news agency said Pyongyang would act as a responsible nuclear state and vowed not to use its nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty was infringed.
Joe Cirincione, a nuclear expert who is president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security organization, said North Korea may have mixed a hydrogen isotope in a normal atomic fission bomb.
“Because it is, in fact, hydrogen, they could claim it is a hydrogen bomb,” he said. “But it is not a true fusion bomb capable of the massive multi-megaton yields these bombs produce.” ||||| North Korea carries out 'successful' hydrogen bomb test; 'Man-made earthquake' suspected after tremor
Updated
North Korea says it has conducted a "successful" hydrogen bomb test, which is believed to have caused a massive tremor that prompted evacuations as far away as China.
Key points: North Korea claims to have successfully carried out its first hydrogen bomb test
Magnitude-5.1 tremor at surface depth registered near Punggye-ri nuclear testing facility at 12:30pm AEDT
The North has previously conducted tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 at location of latest tremor
South Korea, US and Chinese authorities have scrambled for confirmation of the test, however officials in Seoul have cast doubt on the claim it was a hydrogen bomb saying no radiation had been detected.
If confirmed, the explosion marks a major step forward in the country's nuclear development.
The surprise test was personally ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and came just two days before his birthday.
"Let the world look up to the strong, self-reliant nuclear-armed state," Mr Kim wrote in what North Korean state television displayed as a handwritten note.
"The republic's first hydrogen bomb test has been successfully performed ... based on the strategic determination of the Workers' Party," a news reader announced on Wednesday.
"With the perfect success of our historic H-bomb, we have joined the rank of advanced nuclear states.
"The latest test, completely based on our technology and our manpower, confirmed that our newly-developed technological resources are accurate and scientifically demonstrated the impact of our miniaturised H-bomb."
A magnitude-5.1 tremor was earlier detected by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and South Korean officials said they suspected it was an explosion.
H-bomb or A-bomb? Sorry, this video has expired Video: Fact box: H-bomb or A-bomb? (ABC News) Simply put, atomic bombs' nuclear fission is the process of splitting atomic nuclei, while hydrogen bombs' fusion is joining them
In H-bombs, TNT ignites an A-bomb to detonate adjacent to a fusion fuel such as tritium, deuterium or lithium deuteride, compressing them at extreme pressures and at a very rapid rate to start a fusion reaction
Nuclear fusion is the process that occurs in the heart of the sun, and requires immense temperatures to ignite
H-bombs, thermonuclear bombs and fusion bombs can be thousands of times more powerful than atomic bombs, atom bombs, A-bombs, or fission bombs
Source: ABC/AFP
Source: ABC/AFP
"We suspect a man-made earthquake, and are analysing the scale and epicentre of the quake with the geoscience and mineral resource institute of South Korea," a Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) official said.
A revised location of the tremor by the USGS put it at the same location as previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, and at surface depth.
Chinese border residents, however, were evacuated from buildings after feeling the tremors, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said on a verified social media account.
The areas included Yanji, Hunchun and Changbai in Jilin province, some of the counties closest to the North's nuclear test site.
Students at a senior high school were dismissed during an examination after its recreation ground cracked, it added.
Last month, Mr Kim suggested Pyongyang had already developed a hydrogen bomb, although the claim was greeted with scepticism by international experts.
The North's miniaturisation claims have also not been independently verified.
A hydrogen, or thermonuclear, device uses fusion in a chain reaction that results in a powerful explosion.
Unexpected test draws immediate condemnation
The nuclear test drew condemnation abroad, with China, the North's chief ally, expressing "resolute opposition" and saying it would lodge a protest with Pyongyang.
The United Nations Security Council is planning to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday (New York time) to discuss the test, three council diplomats have said.
It was not immediately clear what action, if any, the 15-nation council was planning to take in response to the statement.
Analysis: North Asia correspondent Matthew Carney in Beijing
The last bomb, in 2013, was about magnitude 4.9 on the Richter scale. This time, it was only 5.1.
Experts have said if this really was a true H-bomb, then you could expect up to 10 times this on the Richter scale, which obviously leads us to two conclusions.
One, the regime is actually lying about it. A couple of weeks ago, we had North Korea's leaders saying that they would do it and that they did have the capacity, so maybe he is carrying on that threat.
Or secondly and probably more likely, it was perhaps a failure to ignite this H-bomb and start this two-stage thermonuclear process.
What they are trying to do is miniaturise the technology, to put the device on top of their inter-continental ballistic missiles, to hit the coast of America.
This is the fourth test and in 10 years, they're really just still at the stage of a Hiroshima-style bomb that America dropped in Japan.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has called on international bodies, including the council, to provide a strong response to North Korea's actions.
"[The] nuclear test confirms North Korea's status as a rogue state and a continuing threat to international peace and security," Ms Bishop's statement said.
While vowing to stick by a no-first-use policy, North Korea said it would continue to pursue an advanced nuclear strike capability.
"As long as the vicious anti-North policy of the US persists, we will never stop development of our nuclear program," its state television news reader said.
The White House said it could not confirm the claims of miniaturisation and a hydrogen bomb test, but added the United States would respond appropriately to provocations and defend its allies.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan would make a firm response to North Korea's challenge against nuclear non-proliferation.
"North Korea's nuclear test is a serious threat to our nation's security and we absolutely cannot tolerate it," Mr Abe told reporters.
"We strongly denounce it."
South Korea's intelligence agency said the device may not have been a hydrogen nuclear bomb, Yonhap news agency reported.
Its meteorological agency said separately that it had not detected any radiation.
In Seoul, the presidential Blue House called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council as officials scrambled to confirm the precise nature of the tremor.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the country will take decisive measures against any additional provocations by the North, and work with the international community to make sure the isolated country pays the price for its latest nuclear test.
China's Xinhua state news agency said a new test runs counter to the goal of denuclearisation, and warned that any practice that disrupts stability in northeast Asia is "undesirable and unwise".
A nuclear test is as a major slap in the face to its chief ally China, and extinguishes any chance of a resumption of six-country talks on North Korea's nuclear program that Beijing has been pushing for.
ABC/wires
Topics: nuclear-issues, earthquake, korea-democratic-peoples-republic-of, asia
First posted ||||| SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a powerful hydrogen bomb test, a defiant and surprising move that, if confirmed, would be a huge jump in Pyongyang's quest to improve its still-limited nuclear arsenal.
People watch a TV news program showing North Korea's announcement, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb... (Associated Press)
People watch a TV news program showing North Korea's announcement, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb... (Associated Press)
In this Oct. 10, 2015, file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers remarks at a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea said on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, it has conducted a hydrogen... (Associated Press)
People watch a TV news program showing North Korea's announcement, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb... (Associated Press)
North Koreans watch a news broadcast on a video screen outside Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb... (Associated Press)
In this image made from video from KRT, the North Korean state broadcaster, a North Korean woman speaks during a broadcast aired on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea says it has conducted a hydrogen... (Associated Press)
North Koreans react as they watch a news broadcast on a video screen outside Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a... (Associated Press)
North Koreans watch a news broadcast on a video screen outside Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb... (Associated Press)
People walk by a screen showing the news reporting about an earthquake near North Korea's nuclear facility, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. South Korean officials detected an "artificial... (Associated Press)
A television anchor said in a typically propaganda-heavy statement that the North had tested a "miniaturized" hydrogen bomb, elevating the country's "nuclear might to the next level" and providing it with a weapon to defend against the United States and its other enemies.
The statement said the test was a "perfect success," and the announcement was celebrated on the streets of Pyongyang.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye ordered her military to bolster its combined defense posture with U.S. forces and called the test a "grave provocation" and "an act that threatens our lives and future."
There has long been skepticism by Washington and nuclear experts about past North Korean claims about H-bombs, which are much more powerful, and much more difficult to make, than atomic bombs. A confirmed test, however, would be seen as extremely worrying and lead to a strong push for new, tougher sanctions on North Korea at the United Nations, which quickly announced an emergency Security Council meeting on North Korea. It would also further worsen already abysmal relations between Pyongyang and its neighbors.
North Korean nuclear tests catch global attention because each new blast is seen as pushing North Korea's scientists and engineers closer to their goal of building a bomb small enough to place on a missile that can reach the U.S. mainland.
A successful H-bomb test would be a big step for the North, and the announcement prompted skepticism. Fusion is the main principle behind the hydrogen bomb, which can be hundreds of times more powerful than atomic weapons that use fission. In a hydrogen bomb, radiation from a nuclear fission explosion sets off a fusion reaction responsible for a powerful blast and radioactivity.
Writing in December, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un bragged of H-bomb capabilities, nuclear expert Jeffrey Lewis noted that building such a bomb "would seem to be a bit of a stretch for the North Koreans."
But, he wrote on the North Korea-focused 38 North website, "The North has now had a nuclear weapons program for more than 20 years. This program has yielded three nuclear tests. North Korean nuclear scientists have access to their counterparts in Pakistan, possibly Iran and maybe a few other places. We should not expect that they will test the same fission device over and over again."
One expert in Seoul said the 5.1 magnitude of the quake set off by Wednesday's test was likely too small to be an H-bomb test. However, the North could have experimented with a "boosted" bomb that uses some nuclear fusion fuel along with more conventional uranium or plutonium fuel, said Jaiki Lee, a professor of nuclear engineering at Seoul's Hanyang University.
In Pyongyang, meanwhile, the announcement was greeted with an expected rush of nationalistic pride, and some bewilderment.
A large crowd gathered in front of the city's main train station to watch the special bulletin announcing the news of the test on a big screen in the station's plaza. Some took videos or photos of the screen on their mobile phones. Others applauded and cheered as the TV announcer, wearing a pink traditional Korean gown, announced the news.
One of the people in the plaza, Kim Sok Chol, 32, told The Associated Press that he doesn't know much about H-bombs, but added that "Since we have it the U.S. will not attack us."
University student Ri Sol Yong, 22, said, "If we didn't have powerful nuclear weapons, we would already have been turned into the slaves of the U.S."
Just how big a threat North Korea's nuclear program currently poses to the outside world is something of a mystery. North Korea is thought to have a handful of rudimentary nuclear bombs and has spent decades trying to perfect a multistage, long-range missile to eventually carry smaller versions of those bombs.
Some analysts say the North hasn't likely achieved the technology needed to manufacture a miniaturized warhead that could fit on a long-range missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. But there is a growing debate on just how far the North has advanced in its secretive nuclear and missile programs.
North Korea needs nuclear tests for practical military reasons. To build a credible nuclear program, the North must explode new nuclear devices — including miniaturized ones — so its scientists can continually improve their designs and technology. Nuclear-tipped missiles could then be used as deterrents, and diplomatic bargaining chips, against its enemies — and especially against the United States, which Pyongyang has long pushed to withdraw its troops from the region and to sign a peace treaty formally ending the Korean War.
Strong condemnation of the announced test rolled in from around the world, including from Lassina Zerbo, the head of the Vienna-based CTBTO, which has a worldwide network of monitoring stations to detect nuclear testing. Zerbo told AP by phone, "This is indeed a wakeup call ... and I am convinced it will have repercussions on North Korea and international peace and stability."
On Wednesday, the first indication of a possible test came when the U.S. Geological Survey measured an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1. An official from the Korea Metrological Administration, South Korea's weather agency, said the agency believed the earthquake was caused artificially, based on an analysis of the seismic waves; it originated 49 kilometers (30 miles) north of Kilju, the northeastern area where North Korea's main nuclear test site is located. The country conducted all three previous atomic detonations there.
The announcement came as a surprise.
North Korea hadn't conducted a nuclear explosion since early 2013, and leader Kim Jong Un did not mention the country's nuclear weapons in his New Year's speech. Some outside analysts speculated that Kim was worried about deteriorating ties with China, the North's last major ally, which has shown signs of greater frustration at provocations and a possible willingness to allow stronger U.N. sanctions.
Pyongyang says its nuclear weapons program is necessary to defend itself against the United States. North Korea under Kim Jong Un has pledged to bolster its nuclear arsenal unless Washington scraps what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy.
Washington sees North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles as a threat to world security and to its Asian allies, Japan and South Korea.
The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war, as the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice. Washington stations more than 28,000 troops in South Korea as a buttress against any North Korean aggression. Tens of thousands more are in nearby Japan.
The test announcement comes amid failed diplomatic efforts to persuade the North to give up its nuclear ambitions. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for aid were last held in late 2008 and fell apart in early 2009, when North Korea was led by Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011.
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AP writer Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul and George Jahn in Vienna contributed to this story.
Follow Foster Klug on Twitter: @APKlug ||||| North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gives a new year’s address for 2016 in Pyongyang, in this photo released Friday. (Kyodo/Reuters)
North Korea claimed Wednesday that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, a claim that, if true, would mark a huge step forward in its nuclear capability.
“We’ve carried out a hydrogen bomb test,” a newsreader on the state-run Korean Central Television station announced in a special broadcast from Pyongyang.
“North Korea was forced to develop its nuclear arsenal because of the U.S.’s hostile policy against North Korea,” she said. “However, as a peaceful nation and a nuclear powered-nation, North Korea will be a responsible state and will not use its nuclear power before [an attack] and will not transfer the technology to others.”
There was some skepticism about the claim, with nuclear experts noting that the yield appeared to be similar to North Korea’s three previous atomic tests, rather than the “enormous” yield that would be expected if it had been a thermonuclear test.
“We are aware of seismic activity on the Korean Peninsula in the vicinity of a known North Korean nuclear test site and have seen Pyongyang’s claims of a nuclear test,” said John Kirby, a spokesman at the State Department. “We are monitoring and continuing to assess the situation in close coordination with our regional partners.”
Either way, Pyongyang’s provocative action will present a new challenge to the outside world, which has struggled to find ways to end North Korea’s nuclear defiance.
“North Korea’s fourth test — in the context of repeated statements by U.S., Chinese, and South Korean leaders — throws down the gauntlet to the international community to go beyond paper resolutions and find a way to impose real costs on North Korea for pursuing this course of action,” said Scott Snyder, a Korea expert at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Kim Jong Un’s regime hinted in December that it had built a hydrogen bomb to “defend its sovereignty and the dignity of the nation.” Some analysts were doubtful, saying the young leader appeared primarily concerned with trying to bolster his legitimacy.
But on Wednesday, North Korea said in a special broadcast that it had carried out a “successful” hydrogen bomb test. “With this hydrogen bomb test, we have joined the major nuclear powers,” the newsreader said.
Hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bombs are exponentially more powerful and destructive than atomic devices. An atomic bomb uses fission to break up the atomic nucleus and release energy, while a hydrogen or thermonuclear bomb uses fusion to add to the nucleus. This leads to an enormous explosion resulting from an uncontrolled, self-sustaining chain reaction.
Kim has repeatedly asserted North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed country and has resolutely refused to return to multilateral talks aimed at persuading it to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
North Korea had conducted three nuclear tests since 2006 but only one during Kim’s reign, in February 2013.To the surprise of many analysts, there had been no fourth test.
Then, there were signs of unusual seismic activity around North Korea’s main nuclear test site Wednesday morning, sparking fears that Pyongyang ordered the detonation of another atomic device two days before Kim’s birthday.
“We have consistently made clear that we will not accept [North Korea] as a nuclear state,” Kirby said. “We will continue to protect and defend our allies in the region, including the Republic of Korea, and will respond appropriately to any and all North Korean provocations.”
Earthquake agencies in China, Japan and the United States all recorded unusual seismic activity in the northeastern corner of North Korea at 10 a.m. local time Wednesday.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a shallow 5.1-magnitude quake about 20 miles from the facility at Punggye-ri, where North Korea has carried out its three previous nuclear tests. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said that it appeared to be some kind of artificial explosion and that the waveform was very similar to the ones detected at the past nuclear tests, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Many analysts have been surprised that such a long period has passed without another test, because it is by testing that North Korea can advance its program.
“I think they have a technological path in mind,” said Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif.
In December, Lewis noted that satellite pictures showed North Korea appeared to be building a new tunnel at its nuclear test site, warning that the Pyongyang regime might be preparing to conduct a fourth atomic test. “There is a lot of tunneling at the test site, which could mean they have a bunch of tests planned,” he said.
Although analysts were still awaiting more data, Lewis said that Wednesday’s explosion looked very similar to past tests and was not enormous, suggesting it was not a hydrogen bomb.
In Seoul and Tokyo, the governments called emergency national security meetings to discuss the possibility of a nuclear test.
“This nuclear test by North Korea is a major threat to our country’s security, and I absolutely cannot accept it,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday. “Also, it is clearly a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions so . . . we will take strong measure, including steps within the U.N. Security Council.”
Joel Wit, a former U.S. diplomat who runs the 38 North website dedicated to North Korea, said that the purpose of the test remained unclear.
“What is clear is that North Korea is moving forward with its nuclear weapons program and that the United States, China and the international community need to come up with more effective ways to deal with this growing threat,” he said.
Yoonjung Seo in Seoul and Yuki Oda in Tokyo contributed to this report. | – A tense 2016 lies ahead on the Korean Peninsula after a North Korean nuclear test that could mark an alarming leap forward in the country's technology. Pyongyang claims that it successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb for the first time, though experts say the Wednesday morning explosion— believed to have caused a 5.1-magnitude quake—was closer in size to North Korea's three previous nuclear tests than to a hydrogen bomb explosion, reports the Washington Post. Kim Jong Un claimed last month that the country had an H-bomb, a weapon much more powerful and harder to make than an atomic bomb, and a confirmed test would almost certainly lead to tough new sanctions against North Korea, the AP reports. North Korean state media reported that the test of the "miniaturized" H-bomb was a "perfect success." It could be weeks before an H-bomb test can be confirmed by outside experts, who seem skeptical of Pyongyang's claims. "Given the scale, it is hard to believe this is a real hydrogen bomb," a rep from the Korea Defense and Security Forum tells Reuters. "They could have tested some middle stage kind [of device] between an A-bomb and H-bomb, but unless they come up with any clear evidence, it is difficult to trust their claim." The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that the United Nations Security Council plans to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss the nuclear test. (At the start of 2016, Kim said he was ready for war.) |
Russell Brand's Secret Weapon -- Katy Perry's Skirt
isn't making it up ... law enforcement sources tell TMZtold LAX cops immediately after he attacked paparazzi that he did it because a photog was trying to shoot up his fiancée's skirt.As we first reported, Brand and Perry were going through Delta security when he allegedly attacked photogs . He was arrested for misdemeanor battery.In addition to telling cops about the upskirt shot, we're told Brand and his lawyer raised the issue at LAPD's Pacific Division, where Brand was booked.Katy herself tweeted, "If you cross the line & try an put a lens up my dress, my fiancé will do his job & protect me."Fun fact ... It's not a legal defense to a battery that someone tried to shoot up your girlfriend's dress. But prosecutors know any jury would be extremely sympathetic to a celeb under these circumstances and venomous toward the paparazzi. ||||| Russell Brand Arrested
Comedian hit photographers while trying to protect Katy Perry...
Russell Brand was arrested and questioned by Los Angeles police after allegedly attacking several photographers.
The comedian was making his way through LAX airport on September 17 when the incident took place. Reports suggest Brand lashed out at paparazzi after they got too close to fiancée Katy Perry, pushing one photographer and striking several others.
A victim performed a citizen’s arrest on Brand and he was interviewed by airport police before being taken into custody for a misdemeanour charge of simple battery. He was released after posting $20,000 bail.
After the incident Katy tweeted: "If you cross the line & try and put a lens up my dress, my fiancé will do his job & protect me." Katy also added two hash tags: #standbyourman and #don’t****withtheBrands. Russell has not commented on the incident.
The former VMAs host had travelled to the west coast of America to spend time with Katy on their first anniversary as a couple; the altercation meant they missed their flight to Las Vegas. Russell is based in New York for several months while he films the remake of Arthur.
| – Russell Brand is free on bail today on charges of simple battery after he allegedly roughed up members of the paparazzi at LAX airport. The reason? He told cops upon his arrest that photographers were trying to shoot up fiancée Katy Perry's skirt, reports TMZ. Katy herself confirms the line of defense, via tweet, of course: "If you cross the line & try and put a lens up my dress, my fiancé will do his job & protect me." MTV has more details. |
Based on reporting by RFE/RL, AP, and dpa
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has assigned a team to investigate claims by the United Nations that prisoners in government custody were being tortured and abused.A presidential office statement on January 22 said the delegation will "fully investigate the claims of torture, mistreatment, death threats, and sexual abuse" in detention facilities.The statement said the delegation should report back to Karzai within two weeks "so that follow-up measures can be taken."In a report issued on January 20, thethat "torture persists and remains a serious concern in numerous detention facilities across Afghanistan."The report said that such practices continue despite efforts by the United Nations and international forces during the past year.Afghan authorities have denied the UN report's claims. ||||| The Afghan government has set up a delegation to investigate reports of torture in Afghan-run detention facilities.
The delegation, which was announced on Tuesday, was created two days after the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan published a report on the "ill-treatment of conflict-related detainees in Afghan custody."
The fact-finding team - including advisors from the interior ministry and the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan intelligence agency, which were both implicated in the report - will be "tasked to fully investigate the claims of torture, mistreatment, death threats and sexual abuse in prisons, and any faults or misconduct during questioning and trial of detainees."
The UN report, based on interviews with hundreds of detainees held in 89 facilities between October 2011 and October 2012, details 14 abusive practices, including the twisting of genitals, extracting fingernails and electric shock.
Perhaps most damning is a statement by an unnamed operative within the agency, who is quoted as saying "NDS has several secret places in which they detain and torture people."
Conflicted relationship
The response to the allegations has highlighted the conflicted relationship that Afghan officials have with international agencies.
The initial response upon the report's January 20 publication was denial. An NDS official, speaking to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, called the claims against the intelligence agency baseless.
"People say they were beaten, but where are the bruises? If we rip out people's fingernails, then show the scars. Prove it," the official said, adding that the NDS only detains "the enemies of Afghanistan."
"When people manage to speak to them alone, the stories change. They are looking to defend themselves, so they make up these false stories."
The official argued that the 635 detainees interviewed by the UN were duped by a "welcoming war" of words by critics of the Afghan government, an increasingly common narrative in Kabul.
These doubts were echoed by Aimal Faizi, a presidential spokesman. "While the Afghan government takes very seriously the allegations made in the UN report, we also question the motivations behind this report and the way it was conducted," he said.
When asked about the claim in the report that "all tortured detainees were taken out of their cells... and they were transferred to another building inside the same compound to hide them," the NDS official said countless groups have observed the agency's practices. "Anyone we interrogate, we document it all. Everything we've done is in writing."
Both the official and Faizi pointed to "numerous groups" that have observed the conditions in Afghan-run detention facilities to question the findings of the report.
A tweet sent by Faizi only hours after the report's publication said "the Red Cross and human rights groups have full access to all our detention facilities and the detainees within these facilities."
"Why would we torture? It doesn't work. I was arrested by the communists. The more they tortured, the less it made me want to speak. " - NDS official speaking to Al Jazeera
In a statement to Al Jazeera, the International Committee of the Red Cross said they have "good access to detention facilities in Afghanistan and good collaboration with Afghan and international military forces in the country."
Robin Waudo, a communications coordinator, said "if the [Red Cross] delegates witness ill-treatment first-hand while being present at a detention facility anywhere in the world, they would in every case intervene immediately and urge the authorities to put an end to it."
But Sayed Mohammad Saeeq Shajjan, a Harvard law graduate now running a law firm in Kabul, said when legal and rights groups observe the conditions in the facilities, it is a closely monitored and guided process.
The president's commission, which will conduct a two-week investigation, will "also not find anything," Shajjan said. "They will only speak in front of NDS authorities, to people they are confident will not speak up against the detention authorities."
A Kabul-based judge, speaking on condition of anoymity, because he is not authorised to speak to the media, agreed.
"The NDS utilises not one, but several abusive methods to obtain information. But there is nothing we can do, no one is allowed to interfere, especially in terrorism-related cases," the judge said.
Arrest first
Shajjan said he has heard repeated stories of torture methods being used for false confessions in cases based on false accusations.
He recalled one client, Shah Mahmood, who turned to show Shajjan where the blood would drip from on his back after being lashed by ropes. "During his detention in Takhar, he was tortured badly, he was beaten with ropes, slapped and punched," Shajjan said.
Unarmed at the time of his arrest, Shah Mahmood, an Uzbek, was accused of being a member of the Taliban by a district governor in northern Takhar province.
"The district governor wanted Shah Mahmood to divorce his wife, who was known for her beauty. After demanding he divorce his wife three times, the district governor, who wanted to marry Shah Mahmood's wife, accused Shah Mahmood of being part of the Taliban."
Shah Mahmood spent nine months in NDS detention where he was beaten on a daily basis until he would confess to being a member of the group.
In another case, Shajjan said, Asef, a Kabul resident, "was deprived of his sleep, beaten with cables, received electric shocks and hanged from his hands for anywhere from three to 12 hours at a time" while in NDS custody.
The torture led to a false confession and a 16-year sentence on allegations Asef had planted explosives in the house of a neighbour he was having a civil dispute with.
Another detainee reported threats of sexual abuse using bottles if they do not confess, a practice documented in the latest UNAMA report.
Like Shah Mahmood and Asef, Shajjan said many in NDS custody are innocent, but "they always arrest first and ask later".
Follow Ali M Latifi on Twitter: @alibomaye | – Hamid Karzai has ordered an investigation into reports of torture at Afghanistan's prisons, in the wake of a UN report claiming that nearly a third of detainees NATO had transferred into Afghan custody had been abused or tortured. But the team Karzai appointed includes advisers from the interior ministry and the National Directorate of Security, both of which were implicated in the UN report, al-Jazeera reports. Afghanistan's initial response to the report was to deny it. "If we rip out people's fingernails, then show the scars. Prove it," one official was quoted as saying. Now Karzai is promising the team will "fully investigate" the claims, and report back in two weeks "so that follow-up measures can be taken," according to Radio Free Europe. But one Kabul lawyer predicts the panel will conveniently find nothing. "They will only speak in front of NDS authorities, to people they are confident will not speak up." |
A police car is parked outside the Josef-Koenig-Gymnasium high school in Haltern am See, March, 24, 2015.
A police tape is stretched outside the Josef-Koenig-Gymnasium high school in Haltern am See, March, 24, 2015.
Students gather in front of lit candles outside the Josef-Koenig-Gymnasium high school in Haltern am See, March, 24, 2015.
Lit candles are placed outside the Josef-Koenig-Gymnasium high school in Haltern am See, March, 24, 2015. The text reads: 'In silent sympathy.'
Students embrace in front of lit candles outside the Josef-Koenig-Gymnasium high school in Haltern am See, March, 24, 2015.
HALTERN AM SEE, Germany Students and teachers at a small-town German high school broke down in tears once they realized that 16 classmates and two teachers were on board an ill-fated Germanwings airplane that crashed in France on Tuesday on a flight to Duesseldorf.
The 10th grade students from the Joseph-Koenig-Gymnasium high school were on their way home after a week-long Spanish exchange program at the Institut Giola in Llinars del Vallès near Barcelona. It was a reciprocal visit after 12 Spanish students had spent a week at their school in December.
"It was a Spanish language exchange program and they were flying home after having what was probably the most wonderful time of their lives," said Sylvia Loehrmann, the education minister for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
"It's so tragic, so sad, so unfathomable," she said. Most of the students were about 15 years old.
The Airbus operated by Lufthansa's Germanwings budget airline crashed in the French Alps, killing all 150 on board. Germanwings confirmed its flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf went down with 144 passengers and six crew.
Haltern am See mayor Bodo Klimpel said that word spread quickly through the school about reports that a plane from Barcelona had gone missing and the students began researching on their own to try to find out more about the plane's fate.
"And then when the plane didn't land and they were unable to make contact with their friends and classmates by cell phone, that's when they assumed the worst had happened," said the mayor, who was also fighting off tears at a news conference.
"The students were informed that there was a sufficient probability that the plane would not be landing in Duesseldorf," Klimpel said. "Classes were then called off."
CANDLES AND TEARS
The students were sent home but many returned in the afternoon with candles in their hands and tears in their eyes to mourn with each other at the school.
"It's the darkest day in this town's history," said Klimpel, who added some parents nevertheless drove to the airport and some to the school. "We're in a state of shock. It's the worst thing ever imaginable."
He said the school would be opened on Wednesday but there wouldn't be any normal lessons. "It'll be a chance for the students to talk about the horrible thing that happened."
The town lies about 30 km (20 miles) to the north of Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen - homes of two major German soccer clubs and former mining towns. It is 50 km (30 miles) north of Duesseldorf.
Haltern am See's history dates back to 1289 and perhaps its most famous son in soccer player Christoph Metzelder, a former Germany defender who also played for Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. Germany defender Benedikt Hoewedes, who plays for Gelsenkirchen's Schalke 04 club, is also from Haltern am See.
The nearby Sixtus church and another local church opened their doors for students, teachers and local residents to mourn and flags in the town of 37,000 that lies just north of the Ruhr River Valley industrial area were lowered to half-mast.
The mayor of the Spanish town Llinars del Valles, Marti Pujol, told Reuters that these kinds of exchanges had been organized for several years with German towns including in the Duesseldorf, Cologne and Hamburg areas. Spanish children had spent a week in December in Haltern am See with German families.
"The whole village is distraught, Pujol said of his town with 9,000 residents. "The families knew each other... The parents had been to see them off at 6 this morning."
(Additional reporting by Sarah White in Madrid; Writing by Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin; Editing by Giles Elgood) ||||| SEYNE-LES-ALPES, France (AP) — A black box recovered from the scene and pulverized pieces of debris strewn across Alpine mountainsides held clues to what caused a German jetliner to take an unexplained eight-minute dive Tuesday midway through a flight from Spain to Germany, apparently killing all 150 people on board.
Debris of the Germanwings passenger jet is scattered on the mountain side near Seyne les Alpes, French Alps, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings passenger jet carrying at least 150 people crashed Tuesday... (Associated Press)
Rescue workers and gendarme gather in Seyne-les-Alpes, French Alps, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, as search-and-rescue teams struggle to reach the remote crash site of Germanwings passenger plane. A Germanwings... (Associated Press)
Crying people arrive at Barcelona airport in Spain, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings passenger jet carrying 150 people crashed in the French Alps region Tuesday as it traveled from Barcelona to... (Associated Press)
People comfort each other as they arrive at the Barcelona airport in Spain, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings passenger jet carrying 150 people crashed in the French Alps region as it traveled from... (Associated Press)
Rescue workers and helicopter stand at La Seyne les Alpes, French Alps, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, as search-and-rescue teams struggle to reach the remote, snow-covered crash site of Germanwings passenger... (Associated Press)
A rescue helicopter takes off from La Seyne les Alpes, French Alps, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, as search-and-rescue teams struggle to reach the remote, snow-covered crash site of Germanwings passenger plane.... (Associated Press)
France's President Francois Hollande after giving a speech during a visit at the ìLigue Contre le Cancerî (League Against Cancer), in Paris, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A passenger jet carrying over 140... (Associated Press)
A man who appears to have waited for the missing flight 4U 9525 covers his face at the airport in Duesseldorf, Germany, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, after a Germanwings passenger jet carrying more 140 people... (Associated Press)
Two girls hug in front of the Joseph-Koenig-Gymnasium in Haltern, western Germany Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings plane from Barcelona crashed on its way to Duesseldorf over the French alps, 16... (Associated Press)
A family of people involved in a crashed plane arrives at the Barcelona airport in Spain, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings passenger jet carrying more than 140 people crashed in the French Alps... (Associated Press)
Rescue workers and helicopters stand at Seyne-les-Alpes, French Alps, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, as search-and-rescue teams struggle to reach the remote, snow-covered crash site of Germanwings passenger... (Associated Press)
An helicopter takes off at Seyne les Alpes, French Alps, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings passenger jet carrying at least 150 people crashed Tuesday in a snowy, remote section of the French Alps,... (Associated Press)
Crying people arrive at Barcelona airport in Spain, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings passenger jet carrying 150 people crashed Tuesday in the French Alps region as it traveled from Barcelona to... (Associated Press)
Crying people arrive at Barcelona airport in Spain, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings passenger jet carrying 150 people crashed Tuesday in the French Alps region as it traveled from Barcelona to... (Associated Press)
Rescue workers prepare at Seyne-les-Alpes, French Alps, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, as search-and-rescue teams struggle to reach the remote crash site of Germanwings passenger plane. A Germanwings passenger... (Associated Press)
A rope hangs from a rescue helicopter flying past debris of the Germanwings passenger jet, scattered on the mountainside, near Seyne les Alpes, French Alps, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. A Germanwings passenger... (Associated Press)
The victims included two babies, two opera singers and 16 German high school students and their teachers returning from an exchange trip to Spain. It was the deadliest crash in France in decades.
The Airbus A320 operated by Germanwings, a budget subsidiary of Lufthansa, was less than an hour from landing in Duesseldorf on a flight from Barcelona when it unexpectedly went into a rapid descent. The pilots sent out no distress call and had lost radio contact with their control center, France's aviation authority said, deepening the mystery.
While investigators searched through debris from Flight 9525 on steep and desolate slopes, families across Europe reeled with shock and grief. Sobbing relatives at both airports were led away by airport workers and crisis counselors.
"The site is a picture of horror. The grief of the families and friends is immeasurable," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after being flown over the crash scene. "We must now stand together. We are united in our great grief."
It took investigators hours to reach the site, led by mountain guides to the craggy ravine in the southern French Alps, not far from the Italian border and the French Riviera.
Video shot from a helicopter and aired by BFM TV showed rescuers walking in the crevices of a rocky mountainside scattered with plane parts. Photos of the crash site showed white flecks of debris across a mountain and larger airplane body sections with windows. A helicopter crew that landed briefly in the area saw no signs of life, French officials said.
"Everything is pulverized. The largest pieces of debris are the size of a small car. No one can access the site from the ground," Gilbert Sauvan, president of the general council, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, told The Associated Press.
"This is pretty much the worst thing you can imagine," said Bodo Klimpel, mayor of the German town of Haltern, rent with sorrow after losing 16 tenth graders and their two teachers.
The White House and the airline chief said there was no sign that terrorism was involved, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged reporters not to speculate on the cause.
"We still don't know much beyond the bare information on the flight, and there should be no speculation on the cause of the crash," she said in Berlin. "All that will be investigated thoroughly."
Lufthansa Vice President Heike Birlenbach told reporters in Barcelona that for now "we say it is an accident."
In Washington, the White House said American officials were in contact with their French, Spanish and German counterparts. "There is no indication of a nexus to terrorism at this time," said U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan.
Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy were to visit the site Wednesday.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said a black box had been located at the crash site and "will be immediately investigated." He did not say whether it was the flight data recorder or the cockpit voice recorder.
The two devices — actually orange boxes designed to survive extreme heat and pressure — should provide investigators with a second-by-second timeline of the plane's flight.
The voice recorder takes audio feeds from four microphones within the cockpit and records all the conversations between the pilots, air traffic controllers as well as any noises heard in the cockpit. The flight data recorder captures 25 hours' worth of information on the position and condition of almost every major part in a plane.
Germanwings is low-cost carrier owned by Lufthansa, Germany's biggest airline, and serves mostly European destinations. Tuesday's crash was its first involving passenger deaths since it began operating in 2002. The Germanwings logo, normally maroon and yellow, was blacked out on its Twitter feed.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr called it the "blackest day of our company's 60-year history." He insisted, however, that flying "remains after this terrible day the safest mode of transport."
Germanwings said 144 passengers and six crew members were on board. Authorities said 67 Germans were believed among the victims, including the 16 high school students and two opera singers, as well as many Spaniards, two Australians and one person each from the Netherlands, Turkey and Denmark.
Contralto Maria Radner was returning to Germany with her husband and baby after performing in Wagner's "Siegfried," according to Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu. Bass baritone Oleg Bryjak had appeared in the same opera, according to the opera house in Duesseldorf.
The plane left Barcelona Airport at 10:01 a.m. and had reached its cruising height of 38,000 feet when it suddenly went into an eight-minute descent to just over 6,000 feet, Germanwings CEO Thomas Winkelmann told reporters in Cologne.
"We cannot say at the moment why our colleague went into the descent, and so quickly, and without previously consulting air traffic control," said Germanwings' director of flight operations, Stefan-Kenan Scheib.
At 10:30, the plane lost radio contact with the control center but "never declared a distress alert," Eric Heraud of the French Civil Aviation Authority told the AP.
The plane crashed at an altitude of about 6,550 feet (2,000 meters) at Meolans-Revels, near the popular ski resort of Pra Loup. The site is 430 miles (700 kilometers) south-southeast of Paris.
"It was a deafening noise. I thought it was an avalanche, although it sounded slightly different. It was short noise and lasted just a few seconds," Sandrine Boisse, the president of the Pra Loup tourism office, told the AP.
Authorities faced a long and difficult search-and-recovery operation because of the area's remoteness. The weather, which had been clear earlier in the day, deteriorated Tuesday afternoon, with a chilly rain falling. Snow coated nearby mountaintops.
French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said the crash site covered several acres, with thousands of pieces of debris, "which leads us to think the impact must have been extremely violent at very high speed."
Search operations were suspended overnight and were to resume at daybreak, though about 10 gendarmes remained in the desolate ravine to guard the crash site, authorities said.
Winkelmann said the pilot, whom he did not name, had more than 10 years' experience working for Germanwings and its parent airline Lufthansa.
Florian Graenzdoerffer Lufthansa Spokesman for North Rhine Westphalia said the company had to cancel seven flights out of Dusseldorf because a number of crew members felt they were unfit to fly following news of the accident.
"I can't tell you any details because this is a personal decision and in our business we have an agreement if a crew feels unfit to fly ... then we respect this," Graenzdoerffer said.
The aircraft was delivered to Lufthansa in 1991, had approximately 58,300 flight hours in some 46,700 flights, Airbus said. The plane underwent a routine check in Duesseldorf on Monday, and its last regular full check took place in the summer of 2013.
The A320 plane is a workhorse of modern aviation, with a good safety record.
The last time a passenger jet crashed in France was the 2000 Concorde accident, which left 113 dead.
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Charlton reported from Paris. Associated Press writers Lori Hinnant, Thomas Adamson and Elaine Ganley in Paris; Claude Paris in Seyne-les-Alpes; David McHugh in Frankfurt; Geir Moulson and David Rising in Berlin; Frank Augstein in Duesseldorf; Al Clendenning in Madrid; Joe Wilson in Barcelona; Kirsten Grieshaber in Haltern, Germany, and AP Airlines writer Scott Mayerowitz in New York contributed to this report. | – As authorities try to figure out why a Germanwings plane went down in the French Alps—there was no distress call before the pilot's eight-minute descent, reports the AP—details are emerging about some of the 150 people aboard who are now presumed dead. That includes 16 kids, all about age 15, who were returning to Germany from a weeklong exchange program in Spain, reports Reuters. They and their two teachers were from the small community of Haltern am See in western Germany, where, as the New York Times notes, many people either knew the victims or were related to them. “This is the darkest day in the history of our city," says Mayor Bodo Klimpel, who was fighting back tears at a news conference. "A feeling of shock can be felt everywhere. It is about the worst thing imaginable." The mayor of Llinars del Valles, where the teens stayed in Spain, says his "whole village is distraught" as well. "The families knew each other," he says. "The parents had been to see them off at 6 this morning." Also on board were two opera singers, Maria Radner and Oleg Bryjak, who were returning from a performance together. Radner was with her husband and baby, and another baby was reportedly killed in the crash. |
Robin Williams, who died unexpectedly today at 63, was hugely admired among his own generation -- the genuine affection in the room, say, when he won his "Good Will Hunting" Oscar speaks to just how well-liked he was in Hollywood. And yet unlike many of his contemporaries, Williams had a particular impact on the slice of the population now in our mid-to-late 20s and early 30s. Through the 1990s, Williams, an established film star, shifted into a new gear in his career; he generously and humbly took on entertainment for kids. Williams will be remembered for his edgy comedy and for dramatic turns, but for people my age, Williams was our childhood.
Williams' filmography in the 1980s and early 1990s is full of prestige projects ("Good Morning, Vietnam," "Awakenings," "Dead Poets Society"), but something shifted with "Hook"; the movie about Peter Pan rediscovering the joy of Neverland had the same effect, perhaps, on Williams, who'd always been wacky and loose on-screen but was suddenly acting like he'd never grown up. It took a fairly humble A-lister to play a supporting role in an animated film at a time when voice acting was an anonymous profession, and a fairly brave comic known for working blue to abandon anything that wasn't safe for young children. And yet Williams' performance as the Genie in "Aladdin" was straightforwardly a triumph, lending one of Disney's grimmer stories its imaginative expansiveness. Without Williams, it's impossible to imagine "Aladdin" becoming the VHS classic it was through the 1990s; people in my age bracket, even those who may not be able to quote chapter and verse, can easily call to mind the sense of fun and comfort Williams' voice conjured. He was generous enough to erase his recognizable face and body entirely, and yet as a blue drawing was more vivid and lifelike than the vast majority of TV characters.
Again and again, Williams went to extremes in his desire to please. In "Mrs. Doubtfire," simply one of the best family films ever made, the actor buried his face under makeup and his body in a fat suit in order to pull off physical comedy that felt, for kids, somehow illicit. We weren't supposed to be seeing something so strangely charged, even if the moral (about parental love) was brought home safely.
Certain themes emerged. In "Mrs. Doubtfire," Williams plays a voice actor who's too childlike to sustain his marriage to Sally Field; in "Jumanji," Williams played a man who'd been trapped inside a board game since childhood and who'd never lived in the real world; in "Jack," he played a boy trapped in the body of a man; in "Flubber," he was a professor unable to deal with the very real pressures of running a lab and bedeviled by magical, fun green goo. It hardly needed to be made this explicit to the children in the multiplex seats or, more likely, watching on Blockbuster rental that Williams was like us. He was strangely innocent of adult-world concerns and, better yet, he was utterly unselfish about lowering himself to the level of kids. What he found funny was funny to his audience, who cared not at all about his Oscar nominations or public profile or past comedy career.
As the century turned, Williams got interested, again, in serious projects, but it didn't help that the mid-budget adult drama was beginning its disappearance. He'd been out of leading-man roles in adult movies for so long that something was off his fastball -- movies like "Jakob the Liar" and "Bicentennial Man" had conceits (a man tries to spread hope among his friends with fanciful lies during the Holocaust; a robot can live forever but just wants to be human) that were two degrees removed from the sunny, high-concept optimism of kids' movies. (He'd lately, fittingly enough, rebooted his children's movie career as Theodore Roosevelt in the "Night at the Museum" movies.)
It hardly mattered, though, to the now-early-teens who'd been raised on Williams' movies. For them -- for me -- Williams has a place in the pantheon simply by virtue of being that rare star who seemed excited to work on projects we cared about. Giving joy is as important as evoking tears or provoking thought, and Williams' legacy, perhaps, can be measured in the imprints his movies left in rec-room carpets, as kids parked in front of the TV rewound his movies again and again. ||||| Fate threw me in Robin Williams' path more than once, and I never forgot any of the encounters. He was such a wired, complex, brilliantly funny individual, no connection with him was anything like ordinary.
Though Williams, who died Monday at age 63, appeared in dozens of films, getting Oscar nominated for four performances and finally winning for 1997's "Good Will Hunting," it was as a dazzling, unknown stand-up comedian that I first met him. In a pair of linked meetings, he made an impression on me that in an unnerving way connects in my mind to the tragic way his life ended.
The year was 1978, I was a freelance journalist newly arrived in Los Angeles when an editor I knew at Rolling Stone called me with a quick last-minute assignment.
A TV show called "Mork & Mindy" was being filmed, and though it hadn't aired yet, the word was already out that its star, a young comedian named Robin Williams, was going to break out.
In addition to filming the show, Williams was doing occasional stand-up at the Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard. Would I catch one of his shows, do a brief interview and write a small story for the magazine? Who could say no to that?
Asphyxia from an apparent suicide is what officials are initially saying is the cause of death for 63-year-old comedian Robin Williams, ahead of an official coroner's report. Asphyxia from an apparent suicide is what officials are initially saying is the cause of death for 63-year-old comedian Robin Williams, ahead of an official coroner's report. See more videos
The Comedy Store was half-asleep and half-empty that night, Williams was the last performer on the bill, and did he wake the place up. The astounding routine he went into would defy description even if I could remember it word for word.
He took on different characters with different accents, roamed to all kinds of locations, both physical and metaphysical, made lightning-fast comic connections in time and space that were at once hysterically funny and like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was no surprise people in the know were buzzing about Robin Williams, no surprise at all.
After the show Williams and I had a quick bite in a bustling place on the Strip called the Copper Kettle. It was jammed with people, and absolutely no one cared or even looked up when he walked into the room. How are you going to handle it, I asked him, when your show airs and everyone knows your name, when you won't be able to walk into a place like this without causing a firestorm.
Oh no, Williams insisted, stubbornly — or perhaps nervously, at this point I can't be sure — refusing to acknowledge the tsunami everyone around him knew was headed his way. That's not going to happen, he said, confidently shaking his head, nothing like that is ever going to happen.
Cut to several months later. "Mork & Mindy" is the hottest show on television, and Williams is the talk of the town. I was covering the AFI Life Achievement Award for the Washington Post and, by pure chance, walked into the hotel entrance right behind Robin and his date.
I tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around and gave me a big surprised grin. So, I asked him, as the line to the ballroom snaked forward, how has this celebrity business turned out for you? He was about to say something when we turned a corner and the mass phalanx of photographers caught sight of him.
"Robin, Robin, look this way, Robin, over here," they screamed in a "Day of the Locust" frenzy as waves of flashbulbs flashed in unison. Robin smiled, waved and mugged and then all of a sudden turned back to me. With the brilliant improvisational mind that defined him, he said something in a stage whisper that was immediately recognizable as a riff on the terrifying plea for help that closes the 1950s science fiction classic "The Fly."
"Help me, Ken," he said in a perfect imitation of the film's tiny, doomed fly voice. "Help me." Then he turned back to the photographers and was gone.
Because it was as stand-up of genius that I first encounter Williams, that's how I always thought of him, even when he transformed into a formidable actor Oscar-nominated for "Good Morning, Vietnam," "Dead Poets Society" and "The Fisher King" before his "Good Will Hunting" triumph.
It always seemed to me that the restlessness, the search for experience and knowledge that characterized his comedy as well as his very physical presence compelled him to go into drama, to take on not only comic roles but also dark ones. Roles that in some ways seemed out of character with his stand-up voice but from another point of view fit right in.
I ran into Williams one more time, several years later at a press lunch at the Cannes Film Festival where he was in full performance mode, keeping a table full of journalists roaring with laughter at the frenzied nimbleness of his attack. But even at those high-octane moments, even when he won his Oscar, I could never get that "Help me" moment out of my mind. When word came in Monday about his death, the thought of it made me shudder, it really did. | – After Robin Williams' sudden death, the tributes are rolling in, with many recalling a comic genius grappling with private challenges. A sampling: When it comes to comedy, "there wasn't a faster brain on the planet," writes Tony Hicks in the Contra Costa Times. We'll be hearing "a litany of tributes about one of the great comedians who ever lived. Much of it will be some of the same adjectives used when any great performer dies—especially before their time. But in Williams' case, most of it will be true." Early in his career, "it was clear that Mr. Williams was one of the most explosively, exhaustingly, prodigiously verbal comedians who ever lived," AO Scott writes in the New York Times. And beyond that, "his essential persona as an entertainer combined neediness and generosity, intelligence and kindness, in ways that were charming and often unexpectedly moving." Williams may have gotten his start long before Aladdin, but he gave a "generous and humble" gift to the millennial generation, writes Daniel D'Addario at Salon. "Williams will be remembered for his edgy comedy and for dramatic turns, but for people my age, Williams was our childhood," from Mrs. Doubtfire to Jumanji to Flubber. In the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan recalls a moment when, facing an onslaught of photographers, Williams asked him—in the voice of a fly from a 1950s sci-fi flick—to "help me, Ken. Help me." The experience stuck with him and seems particularly resonant today, he writes. |
In this Oct. 20, 2016, photo, a highway sign greets motorists heading into the small town of Whiteclay, Neb. The Lakota Hope faith ministry in Whiteclay has started a fundraising campaign to buy out the... (Associated Press)
In this Oct. 20, 2016, photo, a highway sign greets motorists heading into the small town of Whiteclay, Neb. The Lakota Hope faith ministry in Whiteclay has started a fundraising campaign to buy out the four beer stores that sell millions of cans annually in the tiny village next to the Pine Ridge Indian... (Associated Press)
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A faith ministry in Nebraska has started a fundraising campaign to buy out four stores that sell millions of cans of beer each year in a tiny village next to a South Dakota Indian reservation plagued by alcoholism.
The Lakota Hope street ministry in Whiteclay is looking to raise at least $6.3 million to close the stores, which are only about 200 yards from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The officially dry reservation is plagued by high rates of fetal alcohol syndrome and encompasses some of the nation's poorest counties.
Whiteclay only has about a dozen residents, yet the four stores sold 3.5 million cans of beer in 2015. The beer stores have remained opened for decades despite state investigations into alleged liquor law violations, lawsuits and protests that occasionally turned violent.
Ministry founder Bruce BonFleur and his wife have lived in Whiteclay for nearly two decades, feeding people on the streets and launching programs designed to help members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. BonFleur said he has talked with the businesses, and "we believe that the beer store owners are ready to sell out."
The stores have been facing increasing legal and political pressure, and state liquor regulators are meeting next month to discuss the stores' licenses.
Still, some activists have their doubts. Olowan Martinez, an Oglala Lakota activist who has led protests against Whiteclay, said she would be thrilled but shocked if the buyout worked as intended. Martinez said she would support replacing the stores with a roller skating rink, movie theater or a park to help entertain young people.
The idea rang hollow to Frank LaMere, a Native American activist who has fought for 18 years to close the stores. LaMere said the beer store owners shouldn't be rewarded with a payout and wants the state to revoke their liquor licenses.
"Whiteclay sadly continues to be the golden goose to many," LaMere said.
On a recent day in the Whiteclay, some people were passed out on garbage-strewn sidewalks or begging for change. Others loitered on the streets or in abandoned houses littered with dirty blankets and empty beer cans. Some people wandered along the side of the main highway through town, Nebraska Highway 87, which leads into the reservation, past 1970s-era federal housing, decrepit mobile homes and abandoned cars.
Lance Moss, a Whiteclay grocery store owner who does not sell alcohol, said he didn't know if the town would change substantially if the beer stores were sold. Moss said some regular visitors might congregate in Whiteclay and buy beer from bootleggers.
"Obviously, all the beer that's sold in Whiteclay is going to get sold someplace else," he said.
The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission is set to meet March 7 to discuss the stores' liquor licenses amid complaints that the village lacks adequate law enforcement. Last month, the local county board with jurisdiction over Whiteclay recommended that the state renew the licenses, partially amid concerns that closing the stores would lead to an increase of intoxicated drivers in Nebraska.
Representatives of two of the Whiteclay beer stores, Stateline Liquor and Arrowhead Inn, declined to comment because of their pending cases before the liquor commission. Attempts to reach the owners of the Jumping Eagle Inn and D&S Pioneer Service weren't immediately successful.
The ministry's new effort is called "B.O.B.S. Whiteclay P.L.A.N.," short for "Buy out the beer stores" and "Promote the Lakotas as a nation."
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Online: https://whiteclayredo.com/
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Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte ||||| The Solution
Contrasted against the old liquor store buildings, the Makerspace will provide a safe place to work, access to art supplies, and state of the art equipment.
The space will also provide an online store where our local artists can establish a more reliable income and teaching/mentoring opportunities. | – A faith ministry in Nebraska has started a fundraising campaign to buy out four stores that sell millions of cans of beer each year in a tiny village next to a South Dakota Indian reservation plagued by alcoholism. The Lakota Hope street ministry in Whiteclay, Neb., is looking to raise at least $6.3 million to close the stores, which are only about 200 yards from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The officially dry reservation is plagued by high rates of fetal alcohol syndrome and encompasses some of the nation's poorest counties. Whiteclay only has about a dozen residents, yet the four stores sold 3.5 million cans of beer in 2015. The beer stores have remained opened for decades despite state investigations into alleged liquor law violations, lawsuits, and protests that occasionally turned violent, reports the AP. Ministry founder Bruce BonFleur and his wife have lived in Whiteclay for nearly two decades, feeding people on the streets and launching programs designed to help members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. BonFleur said he has talked with the businesses, and "we believe that the beer store owners are ready to sell out." The stores have been facing increasing legal and political pressure, and the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission is set to meet March 7 to discuss the stores' liquor licenses amid complaints that the village lacks adequate law enforcement. Last month, the local county board with jurisdiction over Whiteclay recommended that the state renew the licenses, partially amid concerns that closing the stores would lead to an increase of intoxicated drivers in Nebraska. |
Evidence for carbon cycling or biologic activity can be derived from carbon isotopes, because a high 12 C/ 13 C ratio is characteristic of biogenic carbon due to the large isotopic fractionation associated with enzymatic carbon fixation. The earliest materials measured for carbon isotopes at 3.8 Ga are isotopically light, and thus potentially biogenic. Because Earth’s known rock record extends only to ∼4 Ga, earlier periods of history are accessible only through mineral grains deposited in later sediments. We report 12 C/ 13 C of graphite preserved in 4.1-Ga zircon. Its complete encasement in crack-free, undisturbed zircon demonstrates that it is not contamination from more recent geologic processes. Its 12 C-rich isotopic signature may be evidence for the origin of life on Earth by 4.1 Ga.
Abstract ||||| Oct 19 An ancient zircon crystal unearthed in Western Australia may hold evidence that life appeared on the planet 4.1 billion years ago, or about 300 million years earlier than previously thought, according to a team of U.S. researchers.
Scientists from Stanford University and the University of California, Los Angeles said they recently collected some 10,000 multibillion year-old zircons in Jack Hills, Australia, including one believed to contain a carbon deposit that is 4.1 billion years old, give or take 10 million years.
"Its complete encasement in crack-free, undisturbed zircon demonstrates that it is not contamination from more recent geologic processes ... (and) may be evidence for the origin of life on Earth by 4.1 (billion years ago)," according to a paper published by the team in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.
Scientists have used the fossil record to assert that the history of life on Earth began about 3.8 billion years ago, in the form of single-celled creatures. Humans are believed to have first appeared on Earth only about 200,000 years ago.
The study was authored by Elizabeth Bell, Patrick Boehnke, and T. Mark Harrison of the University of California, Los Angeles along with Wendy Lao of Stanford. (Reporting by Richard Valdmanis in Boston; Editing by Eric Beech) ||||| UCLA geochemists have found evidence that life likely existed on Earth at least 4.1 billion years ago — 300 million years earlier than previous research suggested. The discovery indicates that life may have begun shortly after the planet formed 4.54 billion years ago.
The research is published today in the online early edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Twenty years ago, this would have been heretical; finding evidence of life 3.8 billion years ago was shocking,” said Mark Harrison, co-author of the research and a professor of geochemistry at UCLA.
Reed Hutchinson/UCLA. Mark Harrison at UCLA.
“Life on Earth may have started almost instantaneously,” added Harrison, a member of the National Academy of Sciences. “With the right ingredients, life seems to form very quickly.”
The new research suggests that life existed prior to the massive bombardment of the inner solar system that formed the moon’s large craters 3.9 billion years ago.
“If all life on Earth died during this bombardment, which some scientists have argued, then life must have restarted quickly,” said Patrick Boehnke, a co-author of the research and a graduate student in Harrison’s laboratory.
Scientists had long believed the Earth was dry and desolate during that time period. Harrison’s research — including a 2008 study in Nature he co-authored with Craig Manning, a professor of geology and geochemistry at UCLA, and former UCLA graduate student Michelle Hopkins — is proving otherwise.
“The early Earth certainly wasn’t a hellish, dry, boiling planet; we see absolutely no evidence for that,” Harrison said. “The planet was probably much more like it is today than previously thought.”
The researchers, led by Elizabeth Bell — a postdoctoral scholar in Harrison’s laboratory — studied more than 10,000 zircons originally formed from molten rocks, or magmas, from Western Australia. Zircons are heavy, durable minerals related to the synthetic cubic zirconium used for imitation diamonds. They capture and preserve their immediate environment, meaning they can serve as time capsules.
The scientists identified 656 zircons containing dark specks that could be revealing and closely analyzed 79 of them with Raman spectroscopy, a technique that shows the molecular and chemical structure of ancient microorganisms in three dimensions.
Bell and Boehnke, who have pioneered chemical and mineralogical tests to determine the condition of ancient zircons, were searching for carbon, the key component for life.
One of the 79 zircons contained graphite — pure carbon — in two locations.
“The first time that the graphite ever got exposed in the last 4.1 billion years is when Beth Ann and Patrick made the measurements this year,” Harrison said.
How confident are they that their zircon represents 4.1 billion-year-old graphite?
“Very confident,” Harrison said. “There is no better case of a primary inclusion in a mineral ever documented, and nobody has offered a plausible alternative explanation for graphite of non-biological origin into a zircon.”
The graphite is older than the zircon containing it, the researchers said. They know the zircon is 4.1 billion years old, based on its ratio of uranium to lead; they don’t know how much older the graphite is.
The research suggests life in the universe could be abundant, Harrison said. On Earth, simple life appears to have formed quickly, but it likely took many millions of years for very simple life to evolve the ability to photosynthesize.
The carbon contained in the zircon has a characteristic signature — a specific ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-13 — that indicates the presence of photosynthetic life.
“We need to think differently about the early Earth,” Bell said.
Wendy Mao, an associate professor of geological sciences and photon science at Stanford University, is the other co-author of the research.
The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and a Simons Collaboration on the Origin of Life Postdoctoral Fellowship granted to Bell. ||||| Did life have hellish origins? Carbon with an organic-like signature has been discovered sealed within a crystal that formed during an interval of Earth’s history named after Hades, the underworld of Greek mythology. The find predates other evidence of life by 300 million years.
Our planet formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago, but it’s anyone’s guess exactly when life first appeared. The oldest reliable fossils are about 3.43 billion years old. Chemical signatures in even older rocks suggest life might have been present 3.8 billion years ago.
All of these early fossil signatures belong to the Archaean, which began 4 billion years ago. It is generally thought that conditions on Earth before then were so extreme that life wouldn’t have stood a chance of survival – which is why the pre-Archaean stage of Earth’s history has been dubbed the Hadean.
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Signs of life
But Elizabeth Bell and Mark Harrison at the University of California, Los Angeles, and their colleagues think life might have existed in the Hadean after all.
They analysed more than 10,000 zircon crystals smaller than a millimetre in length that date from the Archaean and Hadean. In one Hadean crystal they found tiny flecks, or inclusions, of graphite, which must have been incorporated into the zircon crystal when it formed some 4.1 billion years ago.
The researchers analysed the carbon isotopes in two of the graphite flecks, and found both graphite flecks had a high carbon-12 to carbon-13 isotope ratio, a characteristic feature of organic origins as life preferentially absorbs carbon-12.
It’s not the first time that people have claimed the discovery of potentially organic carbon in Hadean zircons – but the carbon in those earlier claims turned out to be an artefact of the preparation techniques used to study the zircons, says Harrison. “I think there will be little dispute regarding the primary nature of the inclusions,” he says.
What will be up for discussion is whether the isotopic signature is evidence for the presence of life, says Bell. The general chemical make-up of the zircon crystals suggests that the magma they cooled from was generated by the melting of a mud-rich sediment, which is the sort of environment in which organic remains might accumulate.
Lifeless reactions
But the team points out there are also inorganic ways that isotopically light carbon could have accumulated in Hadean environments, for instance, through some of the Fischer-Tropsch chemical reactions that can turn carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons.
Ultimately, carbon isotope data on its own is too ambiguous to decide whether Hadean carbon is evidence of Hadean life, says Thomas McCollom at the University of Colorado, Boulder. “I know a lot of people want to use such data as evidence of life, but this is governed more by what they want the outcome to be rather than scientific principles,” he says.
It’s always going to be tough to convince everyone to accept that Hadean zircons carry proof of life. “Proof is a realm better suited to mathematics than the natural sciences,” says Steve Mojzsis also at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Even so, he thinks the new study is important. “Harrison and his team have challenged us now to think deeply about just how ancient the biosphere could be and to find new ways to explore for a cryptic record of it.”
Journal reference: PNAS, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1517557112
Read more: “First life: The search for the first replicator”
Image credit: Richard Bizley/SPL
Correction: This article has been updated to clarify that it is the ratio of different carbon isotopes, not just the presence of those isotopes, that is characteristic of organic origin. | – Life of one kind or another has been around on this planet for 300 million years longer than thought, according to US researchers who took a close look at some incredibly ancient crystals unearthed in Australia. The scientists say that the zircon crystals from 4.1 billion years ago contain a telltale carbon deposit that appears to have come from something organic, Reuters reports. That's getting closer to the origin of the planet itself, roughly 4.5 billion years ago. Before now, the earliest hint of life was found in rocks 3.8 billion years old. There's no chance the carbon deposit could be any younger than the zircon because the crystal is crack-free and undisturbed, the researchers write in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The zircon crystals were formed during a geological era known as the Hadean, after Hades, because conditions were thought to be so hellish that no life could have existed, the New Scientist notes. The UCLA and Stanford researchers now dispute that, saying life on Earth may have formed "almost instantaneously"—and restarted quickly if it were wiped out at some point. "The early Earth certainly wasn't a hellish, dry, boiling planet; we see absolutely no evidence for that," study co-author Mark Harrison says in a UCLA press release. "The planet was probably much more like it is today than previously thought.” (Earth's first big predator may have been an enormous sea scorpion.) |
The great political surprise of 2018 will be the size of the Republican victory.
After members of the elite media have spent two years savaging President Trump, lying about Republican legislation, and reassuring themselves that Republican defeat was inevitable, the size of the GOP victory in 2018 will be an enormous shock.
Two very interesting columns (one by Barry Casselman and one by Scott Adams) illustrate how the media is deceiving itself.
Casselman contends that the Democratic victory in Alabama may have blocked a year-long embarrassment and actually strengthened Republican prospects in the Senate. He asserts there may be a new political wave coming, but no one knows whether it will be a red or blue wave.
As I listened to the end of the year "analysts," I was struck by how little they know, how little they have questioned their own mistakes, and how mutually reinforcing their false information has been.
Adams, the author of Dilbert, has a list of 20 political opinions and predictions made about President Trump and his Administration, which were just plain wrong. He suggests if you were wrong about 15 or more of these assertions, you might quit talking about politics while Trump is in the White House. By Adams’s standard, most elite "analysts" would have to be quiet, because they have been so consistently wrong about Trump.
As I listened to the end of the year "analysts," I was struck by how little they know, how little they have questioned their own mistakes, and how mutually reinforcing their false information has been.
These are not analysts. These are liberal propagandists. Much of what they assert is just plain wrong. Fake news is, sadly, an accurate term. And the topic about which they have been the most fake is the GOP’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
First, the media lied about the tax bill in an effort to convince most Americans their taxes would go up.
Then, the media took surveys of people who opposed the GOP bill based on the false information supplied by the media.
Then, the media talked again and again about how unpopular the Republican plan was and how it was going to weaken Republican candidates in 2018.
Then, the bill passed, and unsurprisingly, it turned out to be dramatically better for Americans than the elite media had described.
In fact, the tax cuts will be the 2018 proving ground of media liberal bias and dishonesty.
CBS News just provided a vivid example of the false impressions created by the liberal news media’s lies. They interviewed three families about how they expected the GOP tax bill to affect them. Then they had a CPA tell them, on camera, what they would actually be paying in taxes next year.
Of course, after months of convincing most Americans their taxes would go up, the three families either expected to be paying more in taxes or to not save any money. And you can tell by watching the segment that the liberal hosts expected the same.
Of course, it turned out that all three families would pay less under the GOP tax cuts than under current law.
A North Carolina single mother with an income slightly under $40,000 who didn’t think she would be affected will keep about $1,300 more per year under the GOP bill.
Two college teachers in Rhode Island with a joint income of over $150,000 a year thought they would pay more taxes, but they will actually pay about $650 less under the GOP tax cut.
The biggest surprise in the CBS report was the impact the tax cuts would have on a California couple with three children, a small business, and earning an income of approximately $300,000. The family believed that because California is a high-tax state, that capping state and local tax deductions would really hurt them. Instead, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will save them nearly $13,000 in taxes.
The look on the three families faces as they learned how much they would be saving was remarkable to behold.
The CBS analyst concluded "every one of the families will have more money in their pocket next year."
As my colleague Joe Desantis wrote me: "This segment drove me crazy. As if CBS was incapable of doing math before the tax cuts passed."
The gap between the news media falsehoods and the dramatically better reality of the GOP tax cuts will have three huge effects on the 2018 campaign:
1. The American people will be positively surprised and pleased by the degree to which Republicans kept their word and actually put more money in taxpayer pockets. After 10 months of frustration from trying to repeal Obamacare, Republicans have proven they can get big things done.
2. The news media’s dishonesty will be vivid at a personal level. People will be able to compare their personal experience with the news media's fake reporting and endless bias. As the truth sinks in, the ability of the liberal media to shape opinion will decline even further.
3. Democrats who voted against the bill will live to regret it as people look at their family budgets and realize Democrats in the House and Senate wanted Washington bureaucrats to have more money, rather than hard-working Americans. This will certainly be a losing proposition for the 10 Senate Democrats up for re-election in states President Trump won in 2016.
In fact, the stage is being set for a definitive election.
Do you want higher taxes, bigger bureaucracy, more power in Washington, and a smaller economy with lower take-home pay and fewer jobs? If yes, vote Democrat, because that is what they stand for and will continue to vote for next year.
If you want a bigger economy, more jobs, more take-home pay, less power with Washington bureaucrats, and lower taxes with more money in your pocket, then vote Republican.
If Republicans can learn to tell the truth better than the elite media and Democrats lie, the GOP will win an astonishing victory in 2018. ||||| When candidate Trump first set about the job of redefining politics (and reality) back in 2015, people had lots of predictions about how things would turn out. One year isn’t long enough to know everything we need to know about his presidency, but it’s long enough to to check some of our predictions. As a public service, I put together a list of predictions that various people made about Trump that you can use to evaluate your own predictive powers. Count the number of items on the list that you once predicted would be true. I’ll tell you how to evaluate your score at the end.
Did you once believe…
Trump will never win the GOP nomination.
Trump will never win the presidency.
Stocks will drop if Trump is elected.
President Trump will deport ten million illegal immigrants.
Trump will be gone (impeached, jailed, or quit) by end of 2017.
Trump’s immigration ban on several Muslim countries will be found unconstitutional.
Trump colluded with Russia, and that’s a crime.
Trump obstructed justice (a crime) by firing Comey.
Trump’s skills as a “con man” might get him elected but it won’t transfer into doing the job of president.
Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will cause huge problems.
Trump’s tweeting will cause huge problems.
GOP will never embrace Trump.
Trump will get nothing important done.
Trump will not work effectively with leaders of other countries.
GOP senators will vote against GOP priorities because of President Trump’s mean tweets.
Trump will not nominate qualified judges to the Supreme Court.
Trump is incompetent.
Presidential approval polls are a good predictor of how a president will perform.
The military won’t follow Trump’s orders.
GDP will never stay above 3%.
— end —
I didn’t get any of those predictions wrong. But if you got 15 or more wrong, you might want to consider never saying anything about politics out loud again for the rest of your life. Just a suggestion.
Okay, okay. I know you are quibbling with a few items I included on the list. Maybe you think the bad news for Trump — such as the alleged Russia problems — will sink Trump eventually. We can revisit this list next year. But if you are wrong for three years straight — about almost everything Trump-related — please adjust your confidence in your predictive powers accordingly.
If you got 15 or more of those predictions wrong, please consider reading a copy of my book, Win Bigly, to learn how to use what I call the Persuasion Filter to predict better. | – One common sentiment among political pundits is that Democrats are on track to deliver a political shellacking to Republicans in the 2018 elections. At Fox News, however, Newt Gingrich is predicting the "great political surprise" of the new year: Republicans will not only win, they'll win big. "After members of the elite media have spent two years savaging President Trump, lying about Republican legislation, and reassuring themselves that Republican defeat was inevitable, the size of the GOP victory in 2018 will be an enormous shock," writes the former House speaker. One key reason for his prediction is the newly passed Republican tax plan. Ordinary Americans have been told in the press over and over that the changes will hurt them and benefit the rich, he writes. But when people actually receive fatter paychecks next year, Gingrich argues, they'll see the truth. "In fact, the tax cuts will be the 2018 proving ground of media liberal bias and dishonesty," he writes. What's more, he predicts that Democrats who voted against the measure will pay the price in the midterms, particularly the 10 Senate Democrats up for re-election in states won by Trump. Click for the full column, in which Gingrich references another by Dilbert creator Scott Adams that offers up a list of 20 doomsday political predictions about Trump that Adams says failed to materialize. |
Former prosecutor Marcia Clark is opening up about the recent bombshell that Los Angeles police are currently investigating a knife that was allegedly recovered on property once owned by O.J. Simpson.
"I really don't know what to think of it," Clark tells ET exclusively. "I can't believe someone gave a police officer what appears to be, could be, important evidence in a case -- even if it is closed -- and takes it home. I don't know what to say about that except I can't believe it, but it's apparently what happened."
Of course, she still remains skeptical.
"I don't know whether to say it is truly evidence, none of us knows that yet -- it might be a hoax, it might be somebody who planted it and then just pretended to find it and gave it to the off-duty police officer, you don't know," Clark says. "But, of course, I'm glad the LAPD is taking it seriously and subjecting it to testing so we can find out."
Clark notes that DNA evidence could still be potentially recovered from the knife, if it is indeed not a hoax.
"It's very possible -- I mean, they recover DNA on mummies in Egypt," Clark says. "It's entirely possible that if there is some DNA to be recovered, that it could be found, especially with today's technology, which is much more sensitive."
"I think it's a remarkable development if it does turn out to be connected to the murders of Ron and Nicole," she adds. "It would be interesting if there was some evidence on that knife that pointed to who might have helped to bury it, if indeed someone else did."
Though Clark points out that the chances of this leading to any sort of prosecution is unlikely.
"The likelihood of any prosecution stemming from this evidence is very, very slim," she admits. "But we have to find out what this means -- what the truth of this is."
"I just hope the truth comes out about this situation, as I always do about all situations -- whatever this is, let's find out," she adds. "Let's find out if it's related or not. I really want to say -- my heart goes out to the families. With these kind of things that stir up all these memories and the pain of it all, I just can't imagine how they're feeling right now."
In a press conference on Friday morning, LAPD Capt. Andrew Neiman confirmed that the department is investigating the alleged discovery of a knife on the Rockingham property formerly owned by Simpson. He declined to name the retired officer involved in the discovery of the knife, although according to the Los Angeles Times , a construction worker found the knife years ago and turned it over to the police officer in question.
According to TMZ, the officer informed Robbery Homicide detectives of the knife's existence because he wanted to get it framed.
Clark, 62, was the head prosecutor during Simpson's trial, and ended up taking a leave of absence from her job after the former NFL star was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995. Clark retired two years later, but went on to co-author a book about the case titled Without a Doubt.
Simpson, 68, remains in a Nevada state prison after he was arrested in connection with a robbery at a Las Vegas hotel room in September 2007. He was found guilty on 12 counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery, in October 2008, and was later sentenced to 33 years in jail. Simpson is still eligible for parole in November of 2017 -- at the age of 70 -- his lawyer, Ozzie Fumo, tells ET, unless he receives a sentence reduction through other means.
On Friday, Neiman said that it is his understanding that could Simpson could not be retried on murder charges, as he was previously acquitted.
"I think the series actually makes an effort to acknowledge them and the ways in which that they were forgotten," Clark said. "This is an important series that's beautifully done, very compelling and I can't thank Ryan Murphy enough for what he's done here in terms of raising these issues in a very serious and compelling and very substantive way."
"But at the end of the day, two people lost their lives in a brutal murder," she added. "So we have to remember that. We can't forget them again. Remember Ron and Nicole." ||||| These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. ||||| O.J. Simpson Murder Case Buck Knife Could Produce Fatal Wounds
O.J. Simpson Murder Case: Buck Knife Could Produce Ron and Nicole's Fatal Wounds
EXCLUSIVE
The knife found buried on O.J. Simpson's former estate was more than capable of inflicting the mortal wounds on Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman ... so says the man who examined the wounds of the victims.
Dr. Irwin Golden, who served as the Deputy Medical Examiner, testified in the O.J. Simpson case and performed both autopsies, tells TMZ the folding buck knife could have severely cut both victims. Nicole was brutally attacked with a deep neck wound -- 2 1/2 inches deep and 5 1/2 inches across -- and Golden says a 4" blade could have done the deed. We broke the story ... the knife in question has a 5" blade.
Sources connected with the 1994 investigation and others involved in the evaluation of the knife tell us there was always a wide belief among LAPD cops that Simpson used a buck knife.
TMZ broke the story ... a construction worker found the knife buried on the perimeter of the property in 2002, gave it to a retired LAPD cop who never turned it in, instead taking it home and putting it in his tool box. The cop claims he alerted LAPD when he got it, but they expressed no interest.
Dr. Golden cautioned if the murder weapon was a buck knife it had to be "heavy." A knife expert tells us back in '94 buck knives were made with heavy American-made steel.
The knife is being tested for fingerprints and hair. Next week it goes to the serology unit for DNA testing. ||||| A buried knife was found at O. J. Simpson's estate during construction work, though no one is sure exactly when, TMZ reports. Though the construction worker gave it to a nearby police officer, that cop chose to keep the knife at his own house — and did so for years. It didn't come to official attention until the officer retired and asked a fellow cop for the case number for the Simpson case; he wanted to engrave it on his grim keepsake. The second cop reported the first to superiors, and the knife was turned over to the police forensics experts. It is currently being tested for hair and fingerprints, TMZ says, though those tests may not be of much use. It's hard to know, after so many years, how much forensics experts will be able to find.
Simpson can't be tried again Over the years, several knives have been proposed as the murder weapon — the knife that killed Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald L. Goldman — though none conclusively. This may not be the right knife, either. The knife found on the Simpson property is "a relatively inexpensive, smaller-bladed utility blade typically carried and used by construction workers, gardeners, landscapers or other laborers," NBC reports. Still, the knife must be tested to definitively rule it out.
Even assuming evidence is found linking the knife to the slayings, its discovery is mostly a symbolic event. There's no double jeopardy — even if the knife has Simpson's DNA, or that of the murder victims, Simpson can't be tried again. But this is assuming any evidence will be found on the knife, and that's not a sure thing.
Let's start with fingerprints, though there's no guarantee any will be found. People don't always leave fingerprints, even if they've touched an object, according to the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation. There's also no way to know how long a fingerprint will last — sometimes fingerprints are found on surfaces that haven't been touched in decades, but they're sometimes lost on objects touched recently. And fingerprint residue can be wiped away through cleaning. If the officer who had the knife cleaned it, fingerprint evidence is likely lost.
Samples may have been contaminated through the years Hair is a little trickier. The part of your hair that sticks out of your head doesn't contain nuclear DNA — only the bulb, which produces the hair, does, according to Forensics Magazine. If the bulb is there, though, it may have been contaminated through the years, and time, as well as the environment, may have degraded it — making a single source profile difficult, says Susan Walsh, a forensics professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, in an email.
That doesn't mean it's impossible to obtain DNA from the hair shaft, though. There may be mitochondrial DNA, which can provide information about the mother of the person who produced the hair — though that's not as useful as a typical nuclear DNA profile, says Walsh.
Regardless of the type of DNA forensics experts are trying to work with, it's possible the sample was degraded or contaminated over the years. For instance, if the knife was in a damp environment, that makes it likelier that the DNA won't be useful, says Graciela Cabana, an expert in ancient DNA at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Every environment has contaminants, so it's important that DNA from the sample be in good shape, otherwise, the contaminants can drown out important information. "Was the knife in an evidence bag?" she writes in an email. "If not, I wouldn't trust any evidence on it."
"Was the knife in an evidence bag?" A major question for any kind of forensic analysis is how the knife was handled, and what has happened to it since it was discovered. If it was handled by people not wearing gloves, they probably introduced contaminants, says Cassandra Kuba, a professor of anthropology at the California University of Pennsylvania. Mishandling the knife may mean fingerprints rubbed off, and adds to the likelihood there's contaminant DNA.
But it may be possible to rule out some contaminants — DNA samples from the construction worker who originally found it and from the cop whose possession it was in could help eliminate any contamination from them. Samples from the environment it was found in could also help scientists eliminate additional irrelevant DNA. "We have gotten DNA from buried items, there is really no way to tell which ones will give you meaningful DNA until you test," says Greg Hampikian, director of the Idaho Innocence Project. "Questions about possible contamination are really premature until we see what is recovered from the knife."
A little bit of background for the '90s babies: O. J. Simpson was a tremendously popular football player in the 1970s who parlayed his retirement into an acting career in the 1980s (he's in The Naked Gun, for instance). In June 1994, Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson was murdered, along with Ronald L. Goldman; their wounds indicated a knife, but no weapon was ever found. After leading police on a low-speed chase in his iconic white Ford Bronco, Simpson was arrested and stood trial for the murders. Without the knife, prosecutors relied on a blood-soaked glove — and that wasn't enough to convince a jury. Simpson was acquitted. He is now in prison for armed robbery; he was found guilty of that crime in 2008.
Correction: A previous version of this article characterized O.J. Simpson's police chase as "high-speed." It wasn't; he was driving slowly, but with a gun to his head so that police wouldn't approach. | – Yesterday felt like 1994 all over again, with OJ Simpson grabbing headlines across America after TMZ broke the news that the LAPD is testing a knife that was allegedly found nearly two decades ago on Simpson's former estate. More comments and context as the dust settles: The Los Angeles Times spoke with Mike Weber, whose Weber-Madgwick Inc. construction company demolished the Brentwood mansion in 1998. "I think it's a joke. No one on my crew found anything. I had instructed my people, 'If you find anything, don't keep it,'" he said, though he does concede, "Hundreds and hundreds of people were there after me." TMZ keeps its story going by speaking to Dr. Irwin Golden, the Deputy Medical Examiner who examined Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman's bodies. He believes a knife with a 4-inch blade could have been the murder weapon; the newly found knife has a 5-inch blade. NBC News' report throws plenty of water on the story. Its law enforcement sources tell it the knife is not consistent with the murder weapon but is akin to a small utility knife a gardener might carry, was given to now-retired LAPD officer in 2001 or 2002, and didn't have the appearance of having long-been buried. Former prosecutor Marcia Clark weighed in, too, with comments to Entertainment Tonight. "It might be a hoax ... but, of course, I'm glad the LAPD is taking it seriously and subjecting it to testing so we can find out." As far as those tests go, The Verge explains exactly how the forensic analysis will be carried out. And should the knife actually check out? The Washington Post asks and answers a slew of "tricky legal questions." Read more on the newly found knife here. |
Melissa Gilbert signed her new cookbook, "My Prairie Cookbook" at Barnes & Noble in Brighton, Michigan on December 3, 2014. (Photo: Detroit News file)
Howell — Actress Melissa Gilbert, the "Little House on the Prairie" star whose move to Howell two years ago brought a dash of Hollywood glamour to Livingston County, is more than a half pint short on her federal taxes.
The Internal Revenue Service recently accused her of failing to pay more than $360,000 in federal income taxes, a debt that is emerging one week after Gilbert announced she and her family are moving out of their rented home near downtown Howell.
Gilbert, 51, blamed the tax debt on a stalled acting career, the economy and divorce.
"Like so many people across the nation, the recession hit me hard," Gilbert said in a statement to The Detroit News. "That, plus a divorce and a dearth of acting opportunities the last few years, created a perfect storm of financial difficulty for me."
Gilbert, along with husband and fellow actor Timothy Busfield and two younger boys, are moving into a log house in an unspecified part of Livingston County, or as she wrote in a tweet last week "our own Little House in the Big Woods."
Her husband said the move from Howell is unrelated to the tax debt.
"(The debt) has more to do with the housing crash and divorce in the past," Busfield told The News. "It's a product of what happened with the economy. It's unfortunate and it's been happening a lot. It's not a big deal."
Gilbert said she has negotiated a payment plan with the IRS.
"I've set up an installment plan to fully pay off my debt and will continue to work as hard as I can to erase this debt and dig myself out of this hole," she said. "I am absolutely positive that I can do it."
Gilbert and East Lansing native Busfield — known for television roles in "thirtysomething" and "West Wing" and in the films "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Field of Dreams" — moved to Michigan about three months after they were married in April 2013.
Gilbert has a history of tax problems that followed her from California to Michigan. The state of California has filed $112,527 worth of tax liens against her since 2013.
A tax lien gives the government a legal claim to all of Gilbert's property, everything from vehicles to homes and income.
The IRS filed a $360,551 tax lien against Gilbert on Feb. 3. She owes federal income taxes from 2011, 2012 and 2013, according to the lien, which is filed with the Livingston County Register of Deeds.
According to the IRS, Gilbert owes $219,989 in income taxes from 2011. She owes $99,405 from 2012 — the year she appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" — and $41,157 in taxes from 2013, according to the tax lien.
Gilbert went through a period of change during the three years covered by the tax lien. She filed for divorce from Bruce Boxleitner in 2011 and competed on "Dancing With the Stars" the next year.
Since she and Busfield arrived in Michigan, they have rented a three-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot Victorian home built in 1890 and located two blocks from downtown Howell.
"Oh, my God, they're great," landlord and property owner Brenda Korth said. "It's been fine. It's been fun."
Korth rented the home to Gilbert, thinking the Hollywood couple would stay for one year.
"It turned into two years and that was fine but I'm really ready to move home," the General Motors environmental engineer told The News.
"If they've been having financial problems, that's not known to me," she added. "The rent's always been paid on time. They've been great tenants."
Gilbert and her husband are kind, she said, and have been welcomed by people in Howell.
"I'm so glad they're in town; everybody has been excited about it," Korth said.
Gilbert did not explain what prompted the pending move out of Howell.
"We are moving but we are not leaving," Gilbert tweeted Friday in response to a well-wisher. "We will be around. We love Howell. We love Livingston Co."
While in Michigan, Gilbert has written a cookbook called "My Prairie Cookbook," inspired by the voracious but picky eating habits of her sons. She has done at least one book signing in Livingston County.
The couple also has continued to pursue acting and directing careers. The couple guest starred on a late April episode of the NBC series "The Night Shift" that Busfield also directed.
In January, Gilbert participated in a charity fundraiser in Howell for Yatooma's Foundation For the Kids, a charity that raises money for children who have lost a parent.
"We're thrilled she's here," Bloomfield Hills lawyer Norman Yatooma said. "She's every bit the class act in person that her fans have come to love from the comfort of their couches."
rsnell@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2028
Read or Share this story: http://detne.ws/1JJku94 ||||| Dolce and Gabbana
Even the stars don't always have their finances in order. Click the pics to see seven celebs who've gone up against the IRS with tax troubles.
First up are fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who lost their appeal of their jail sentence for tax convictions in Italy on April 30, 2014, and were sentenced to one year and six months in jail for tax evasion. The designers are accused of failing to pay 40 million euros in taxes owed to the Italian government.
According to the BBC, the judge ruled that the designers moved their brand to a Luxembourg-based holding company Gado in 2004 to avoid declaring taxes on royalties of around 1 billion euros. | – The latest celebrity in trouble with the IRS: Melissa Gilbert. The agency says the former Little House on the Prairie star owes $360,551 in federal income taxes. "Like so many people across the nation, the recession hit me hard," the 51-year-old actress tells the Detroit News. "That, plus a divorce and a dearth of acting opportunities the last few years, created a perfect storm of financial difficulty for me." Her current husband, Timothy Busfield, adds—in a quote that will remind you celebrities are not exactly just like us—that the debt is "not a big deal" and is simply "a product of what happened with the economy"; it dates to the 2011-2013 period. Gilbert says an installment payment plan is in place. California, where the current Michigan resident previously lived, has also filed $112,527 worth of tax liens against Gilbert in recent years. (She's not alone; check out more stars with tax troubles.) |
GOP Eyes Gains As Voters In 11 States Pick Governors
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Cole/AP Jim Cole/AP
Voters in 11 states will pick their governors tonight, and Republicans appear on track to increase their numbers by at least one, with the potential to extend their hold to more than two-thirds of the nation's top state offices.
Eight of the gubernatorial seats up for grabs are now held by Democrats; three are in Republican hands. Republicans currently hold 29 governorships, Democrats have 20, and Rhode Island's Gov. Lincoln Chafee is an Independent.
Polls and race analysts suggest that only three of tonight's contests are considered competitive, all in states where incumbent Democratic governors aren't running again: Montana, New Hampshire and Washington.
While those state races remain too close to call, Republicans are expected to wrest the North Carolina governorship from Democratic control, and to easily win GOP-held seats in Utah, North Dakota and Indiana.
Democrats are likely to hold on to their seats in West Virginia and Missouri, and are expected to notch safe wins in races for seats they hold in Vermont and Delaware.
Holding Sway On Health Care
While the occupant of the governor's office is historically far less important than the party that controls the state legislature, top state officials in coming years are expected to wield significant influence in at least one major area.
And that's health care, says political scientist Thad Kousser, co-author of The Power of American Governors.
"No matter who wins the presidency, national politics is going to be stalemated on the Affordable Care Act," says Kousser, of the University of California, San Diego.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision giving states the ability to opt out of the law's expansion of Medicaid, the federal insurance program for poor, disabled and elderly Americans, confers "incredible power" on the states and their governors, Kousser says.
Just look at what happened when the Obama administration in 2010 offered federal stimulus money to states to begin building a high-speed rail network. Three Republican governors, including Rick Scott of Florida and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, rejected a share of the money citing debt and deficit concerns.
"A [Mitt] Romney victory would dramatically empower Republican governors," Kousser says.
State-By-State View
North Carolina: One-term incumbent Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue, the first woman to hold the state's top office, announced in January that she would not seek re-election after polls showed her with high disapproval ratings and trailing Republican candidate Pat McCrory.
The seat is expected to be won by McCrory, a former Charlotte mayor, who is facing Perdue's lieutenant governor, Walter Dalton. McCrory lost a close race to Perdue in 2008, when then-presidential candidate Barack Obama became the first Democrat to win North Carolina in more than three decades. The Real Clear Politics average for the race has McCrory maintaining a 14.3 percentage point lead.
Montana: Popular Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer — he won his last election with 65 percent of the vote — has reached his two-term limit. The state's Democratic Attorney General Steve Bullock is trying to keep the seat in his party's column by associating himself with Schweitzer's legacy. He's in a tough race with former two-term GOP Rep. Rick Hill.
New Hampshire: Former Democratic state Sen. Maggie Hassan has also promised a continuation of the policies of her predecessor, retiring Democratic Gov. John Lynch. Her opponent is lawyer Ovide Lamontagne, a Tea Party conservative who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1996 and for the U.S. Senate in 2010. The national parties have invested in the campaigns, which have focused on fiscal and women's health care issues.
Washington: The state's governorship has been in Democratic hands for 32 years, and former U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee is in a dead-heat battle to keep it that way. His opponent is the state's Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna. McKenna has a proven ability to win statewide, but working in Inslee's favor are Obama's poll numbers. The Real Clear Politics average shows Obama with an average 13.6 percentage point lead over Romney; Inslee is leading McKenna by an average of 1 percentage point.
Pretty Much Sure Things
Republican Govs. Jack Dalrymple in North Dakota and Gary Herbert in Utah, and GOP Rep. Mike Pence in Indiana are expected to win. So are Democratic Govs. Peter Shumlin in Vermont and Jack Markell in Delaware.
Democrats are also hoping to hold on to the governorship in Missouri, where Jay Nixon is running for a second term against Republican Dave Spence; and in West Virginia, where Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, former state senate president, is running for his first full term after winning a special election in 2011. GOP businessman Bill Maloney is his opponent, as he was last year.
Nixon has been consistently outpolling Spence by an average of about 7 points in Missouri. Tomblin is seen as likely to retain his seat, even in a state where Romney is leading Obama by double digits. ||||| GOP Eyes Gains As Voters In 11 States Pick Governors
Jim Cole / AP i Jim Cole / AP
Voters in 11 states will pick their governors tonight, and Republicans appear on track to increase their numbers by at least one, and with the potential to extend their hold to more than two-thirds of the nation's top state offices.
Eight of the gubernatorial seats up for grabs today are now held by Democrats; three are in Republican hands. Republicans currently hold 29 governorships, Democrats have 20; and Rhode Island's Gov. Lincoln Chafee is an Independent.
Polls and race analysts suggest that only three of tonight's contests are considered competitive, all in states where incumbent Democratic governors aren't running again: Montana, New Hampshire and Washington.
While those state races remain too close to call, Republicans are expected to wrest the North Carolina governorship from Democratic control, and to easily win GOP-held seats in Utah, North Dakota and Indiana.
Democrats are likely hold on to their seats in West Virginia and Missouri; and expected to notch safe wins in races for seats they hold in Vermont and Delaware.
Holding Sway On Health Care
While the occupant of the governor's office is historically far less important than the party that controls the state legislature, top state officials in coming years are expected to wield significant influence in at least one major area.
And that's health care, says political scientist Thad Kousser, co-author of The Power of American Governors.
"No matter who wins the presidency, national politics is going to be stalemated on the Affordable Care Act," says Kousser, of the University of California-Berkeley.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision giving states the ability to opt out of the law's expansion of Medicaid, the federal insurance program for poor, disabled and elderly Americans, confers "incredible power" on the states and their governors, Kousser says.
Just look at what happened when the Obama administration in 2010 offered federal stimulus money to states to begin building a high-speed rail network. Three Republican governors, including Rick Scott of Florida and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, rejected a share of the money citing debt and deficit concerns.
"A [Mitt] Romney victory would dramatically empower Republican governors," Kousser says.
State-by-State View
North Carolina: One-term incumbent Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue, the first woman to hold the state's top office, announced in January she would not seek re-election after polls showed her with high disapproval ratings and trailing Republican candidate Pat McCrory.
The seat is expected to be won by McCrory, a former Charlotte mayor, who is facing Perdue's lieutenant governor, Walter Dalton. McCrory lost a close race to Perdue in 2008, when then-presidential candidate Barack Obama became the first Democrat to win North Carolina in more than three decades. The Real Clear Politics average for the race has McCrory maintaining a 14.3 percentage point lead.
Montana: Popular Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer — he won his last election with 65 percent of the vote — has reached his two-term limit. The state's Democratic Attorney General Steve Bullock is trying to keep the seat in his party's column by associating himself with Schweitzer's legacy. He's in a tough race with former two-term GOP Rep. Rick Hill.
New Hampshire: Former Democratic state Sen. Maggie Hassan has also promised a continuation of the policies of her predecessor, retiring Democratic Gov. John Lynch. Her opponent is lawyer Ovide Lamontagne, a Tea Party conservative who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1996 and for the U.S. Senate in 2010. The national parties have invested in the campaigns, which have focused on fiscal and women's health care issues.
Washington: The state's governorship has been in Democratic hands for 32 years, and former Rep. Jay Inslee is in a dead-heat battle to keep it that way. His opponent is the state's Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna. McKenna has a proven ability to win statewide, but working in Inslee's favor are Obama's poll numbers. The Real Clear Politics average shows Obama with an average 13.6 point lead over Romney; Inslee's leading McKenna by an average of 1 percentage point.
Pretty Much Sure Things
Republican governors Jack Dalrymple in North Dakota and Gary Herbert in Utah, and GOP Rep. Mike Pence in Indiana are expected to win. So are Democratic governors Peter Shumlin in Vermont and Jack Markell in Delaware.
Democrats are also hoping to hold on to the governorship in Missouri, where Jay Nixon is running for a second term against Republican Dave Spence; and in West Virginia, where Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, former state senate president, is running for his first full term after willing a special election in 2011. GOP businessman Bill Maloney is his opponent, as he was last year.
Nixon has been consistently out-polling Spence by an average of about 7 points in Missouri. Tomblin is seen as likely to retain his seat, even in a state where Romney is leading Obama by double digits. | – It's a race for the governor's mansion in 11 states today, and the GOP could end the night at the helm of more than two-thirds of the 50 states. The GOP currently controls 29 of the country's top state offices; it's expected to keep the three Republican ones that are up for grabs (Utah, North Dakota, and Indiana), and wrest North Carolina from the Dems. That brings its toll to 30, with the potential to take three more, reports NPR. Races in Montana, New Hampshire, and Washington are still too close to call, and in all three, Democrat incumbents aren't seeking reelection. The results could have a big impact on health care, since a Supreme Court ruling grants states the ability to opt out of ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion. "A Romney victory would dramatically empower Republican governors," said one analyst. Click for NPR's state-by-state breakdown of what could happen. |
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Google UK Marketing Director Dan Cobley briefly spoke with Bloomberg TV today on Apple’s decision to remove Google Maps from iOS 6, but the most intriguing part about his statement concerned how people could continue to use Google Maps after updating.
Cobley noted folks on iOS 6 can still “use Google Maps by downloading them or going to the Google Maps website.” This is an interesting comment, however, as there is no Google Maps-related app from Google available in the App Store aside from the Google Earth app. It features 3D layers, including roads, borders, places, photos and more, but it is not an adequate Google Maps replacement. There is also no existing option to download a map from Google Maps in mobile Safari.
Therefore, it is currently unclear what Cobley meant by “downloading them.” SearchEngineLand asked Google today when iOS would get a new Google Maps app, though, and if it would feature turn-by-turn navigation. Google replied:
We believe Google Maps are the most comprehensive, accurate and easy-to-use maps in the world. Our goal is to make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser, or operating system.
Those who are missing Google Maps can check out 9to5Mac’s roundup of comparable third-party apps.
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You know you have an issue when someone brews up a Tumblr to mock you: theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com .
Carabiners with built-in USB cables The Nomadclip draws tons of praise from its users; Nomad also make lots of little charge-cable gizmos like straps that open into cables and cable/keychains. Our house is like Game of Thrones for working USB cables as we steal one another’s precious wires. (via Canopy) READ THE REST
Behold the multi-ax For the dwarf who has everything: the $550 Ti-Klax Ax, whose head incorporates 10 tools: Ulu blade, knife, hammer, cutting/gut hook, hex wrench, 1/4″ bit drive socket, bottle opener, lanyard hole and carabiner. (via Bruce Sterling) READ THE REST
Enter now for your chance to win a free iPhone 6S The Apple unveiling has come and gone, and we’ve all gone about our week while visions of rose gold phones danced in our heads. Rather than enter your name at the bottom of the pre-order list, throw your name in the giveaway mix and let us do the work. This is NOT a drill—enter here […] READ THE REST
Pandora One: 6-Month Subscription For 20% Off Sometimes your Pandora station knows you better than you know yourself, and sometimes it’s just so very wrong. Get six months of upgraded Pandora One and never be stuck listening to (insert your least favorite song) again. If you’ve never used Pandora before, you’re about discover new artists and songs based on your specific taste […] READ THE REST | – If you're one of the people wailing and gnashing your teeth because Apple removed Google Maps from iOS 6, take hope: Google's making it pretty clear it wants to make a standalone map app available. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Google UK's marketing director said iPhone users "can still use Google Maps by downloading them." Of course, that's off the mark, 9to5 Mac points out—there is currently no such download in the app store. You can get to Google Maps via the browser, but it's not ideal. SearchEngineLand asked Google to clarify. "Our goal is to make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser, or operating system," the company replied, without elaborating. That seems cagey, so "stay tuned," writes Danny Sullivan. A dedicated app can't come soon enough for many users. Apple's new maps app is so buggy and confoundable that a Tumblr has cropped up for users to post screenshots of its failure, BoingBoing reports. It's derisively titled, "The Amazing iOS 6 Maps." |
These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. ||||| Heinz Ketchup walks the line between humorous and heartfelt in its first Super Bowl ad in 16 years, an extended version of which hit the web Thursday.
The spot (see it below), by Cramer-Krasselt in Chicago, is heavy on images of feel-good Americana, as police officers, campers, bridesmaids and tailgaters hum the tune to "If You're Happy and You Know It"—punctuating each line not by clapping hands but by slapping the bottom of their ketchup bottles, trying to get the ketchup out.
The ad isn't overly sentimental. Rather, it features several comic moments—including one in which a hot-dog vendor appears to end up in a full-body cast after spilling ketchup on some mobsters. And in the final scene, a grandmother looks mildly horrified after making a long farting sound while squeezing the last ketchup out of a plastic bottle.
The tagline is, "Where there's happy, it has to be Heinz." The hashtag is #ifyourehappy.
The ad (it will run as a :30; the online version is a :50) is part of a larger "Show Us Your Heinz" campaign encouraging consumers to send in photos of themselves with Heinz products. Through Feb. 23, specially marked ketchup bottles will have a QR code on the back that links to the campaign page. More than $400,000 in prizes will include five grand-prize trips to five major sporting events over the next year. ||||| News Love it or hate it, mayo gets more popular -- and chefs are divided Jan. 30, 2014 at 4:51 PM ET
FeaturePics.com
Don’t forget the mayo when you’re setting up your Super Bowl spread this weekend—the condiment just overtook ketchup as tops in the nation.
Americans bought $2 billion worth of mayonnaise last year, compared to $725 million in ketchup, according to market-research firm Euromonitor. (While it’s been widely reported in recent years that salsa is now the No. 1 condiment over ketchup, Euromonitor sensibly categorizes salsa as a dip, not a condiment.)
Mustard, which is a complete inverse to mayo, health-wise, came in nearly last on the list, after soy sauce, barbecue sauce and hot sauce, besting only steak sauce.
Mayo has always seemed to be the pet condiment among chefs, most of whom use it liberally and take pride in whisking together their own.
“Mayonnaise is the result of eggs and olive oil. They go out on a date and have a really good time," restaurateur and "Top Chef" alum Fabio Viviani told TODAY.com. “Chefs love olive oil and eggs separately. Of course they would like the combination.”
Viviani has nothing against mayo haters. “It’s a personal preference,” he says, but those who claim to hate the condiment might want to try the ham sandwich with sweet pineapple mayo from his cookbook, "Fabio’s Italian Kitchen." He also suggests trying mixing herbs, sun-dried tomato or pesto into mayo. “Think about mayonnaise as a white canvas and you are the Michelangelo of food,” he said.
But mayo has its staunch detractors, of course, even among kitchen pros.
Mayo-hating chef Stephen Jones, of Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails in Phoenix, gets around his disdain for the condiment by making a flavorful aïoli with whole grain mustard, bacon fat, roasted garlic, shallots and herbs to use in potato salad, for instance.
“I really hate mayo. It’s fatty—not the good fatty—tasteless, and just flat-out gross,” he said. “We do have it at the restaurant, but we never offer it or suggest it. If a guest does request it, we will happily give it to them, but not after we have tried to offer up one of our aïolis first though,” he joked.
“My sous chefs give me the riot act everyday about my dislike of mayo. They think I'm nuts,” he added. “But there a lot of closet mayo-haters out there and we all need to unite!”
Philadelphia-based marketing professional Craig Horwitz hates mayo so much, he started a site eight years ago called holdthatmayo.com, and is even co-directed a mockumentary film called "The Mayo Conspiracy," which will be showing in Philly on March 9 and making the film festival rounds later this year.
“Everything about mayo makes me queasy. The slimy, whitish-yellow color, the consistency, the smell, the fact that it is made from raw eggs!” Horwitz said.
He gets around the mayo issue with a lot of tomato (“extremely under-rated as a sandwich moisturizer,” he said), avocado (“one of our bigger weapons in the war against mayonnaise”) and Greek yogurt (“which solves the whole tuna fish dilemma”).
“It can be challenging at restaurants, since so many people want to slime up sandwiches and salads without first getting our permission,” Horwitz said. “The key is to stay on your toes, ask questions and usually finish the order by saying "absolutely no mayo" at a much higher volume.”
Indeed, Texas-based chef Tim Love—a spokesperson for Hellman’s—says mayo is in a lot of restaurant dishes you might not even be aware of. At his restaurants, it may be the base for a dip, used as a binder in a casserole, or added to roast chicken for moisture.
“I think mayo haters are missing out,” he says. “Haters can be won over by realizing that they've probably eaten it and enjoyed it.” | – You put it on hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, and a whole slew of other stuff, but ketchup doesn't even come close to the king of condiments. That would be mayonnaise—$2 billion of which is sold in the US each year, compared with around $800 million of the red stuff, Euromonitor data shows, per Quartz. In fact, ketchup almost missed out on the number two spot to soy sauce, which came in at $725 million, followed by barbeque sauce at $660 million, hot sauce at $550 million, and mustard at $450 million. (If you're wondering about salsa, it was considered a dip in this case, but would have grabbed the No. 2 spot from ketchup.) While one chef tells NBC News that mayo is "fatty—not the good fatty," the condiment's top spot doesn't necessarily show off America's love of fatty foods. Quartz points out that the low-fat mayo market has doubled since 2005 as Americans look for healthier options. Another reason for its peak position? It's in everything from tuna salad to spicy tuna rolls, plus hidden in plenty of restaurant dishes you're probably not aware of. Meanwhile, amid mayo's success, Heinz is trying to boost its ketchup sales with its first Super Bowl ad in 16 years, which Adweek has here. |
Article Excerpt
RIO DE JANEIRO—Millions of people converged on Copacabana Beach Saturday for an evening vigil with Pope Francis, marking the strongest show of public support yet for the pontiff on his first overseas trip.
Pilgrims from around the world swamped the streets of Rio de Janeiro to attend an evening vigil with the pope. Faithful streamed through city tunnels and byways to reach the shore, where they blanketed miles of the crescent white-sand beach with sleeping bags, tents and national banners. City officials and church organizers estimated the crowd was three million strong.
That turnout, if confirmed, would top some of ... ||||| The first Latin American pontiff has called on Catholics to adopt a more missionary mind-set.
Pope Francis celebrates Mass with bishops, priests and seminarians at the Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. (Photo: Luca Zennaro, AFP/Getty Images) Story Highlights On Friday, Francis issued impassioned plea for the downtrodden
World Youth Day events have drawn more than 300,000 to Rio
Deluge of rain forced organizers to change plans for final Mass on Sunday
RIO DE JANEIRO — An estimated three million Catholics crammed onto the iconic Copacabana Beach Saturday night for a vigil with Pope Francis, whose visit to Brazil culminates tomorrow with a Mass that is expected to convene an even bigger crowd.
The vigil capped a busy day for Francis, who arrived in Brazil July 22 for World Youth Day, a biannual gathering of young Catholics.
Earlier on Saturday, Francis told an assembly of Catholic bishops in the cathedral of Rio de Janeiro to get out of their cathedrals and spread the gospel and serve those most in need.
It was yet another admonishment from the first Latin American pontiff — who has called for a Church focused on the poor — for Catholics to adopt a more missionary mind-set. It also blasted bishops from Brazil, where the number of faithful has shrunk to less than 65% of the population in what is still the world's most Catholic country.
"We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel," Francis said.
"Let us courageously look to pastoral needs, beginning on the periphery (of where we live), with those who are farthest away, with those who do not usually go to church. They, too, are invited to the table of the Lord."
It was message aimed at reviving an institution dating back centuries in Latin America, but one becoming less relevant in the region as people become culturally Catholic or leave the church all together — often for Evangelical congregations. Those congregations have often better identified basic needs in poor Brazilian neighbourhoods and addressed issues like domestic violence and alcohol abuse, instead of speaking about more global ideas like social justice, says Andrew Chesnut, religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and the author of a book on Brazil's Evangelicals
Francisca Martinez, 21, traveled to World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro from Guam. She said the chance to meet other young Catholics was the one of the best parts of attending. (Photo: David Agren, USA TODAY)
Papal spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the speech to the bishops was the longest of his pontificate and outlines his vision for them, Catholic News Service reported.
The pope later took his straight-talking style to a speech for intellectuals and Brazil's political and business leaders. He implored them to open opportunities for everyone in a country rife with inequality, expand dialogue with all sectors of society and work toward "eliminating forms of elitism and eradicating poverty."
Brazil has been beset by demonstrations over protesters' complaints of an unresponsive political class, police repression and irresponsible spending on sports stadiums for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics — while infrastructure remains inadequate and the health and school systems provide poor service.
Francis called for "social humility" and dialogue without directly mentioning the protests.
"When leaders in various fields ask me for advice, my response is always the same: dialogue, dialogue, dialogue," he said. "It is the only way for individuals, families and societies to grow, the only way for the life of peoples to progress."
Francis frequently criticized corruption and the political class in his native Argentina, especially the populist politics of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and politicians forming patronage groups among the poor.
"Politicians hated him, but people love him," said Marina Artese, 23, a schoolteacher from Buenos Aires.
Looking to the wider world, he added, "Peaceful coexistence between different religions is favored by the secularism of the state."
For young people, their Saturday focus was on faith. Many made pilgrimages by walking to the Copacabana Beach.
Once there, they staked out spots on the sand. Some slept, played soccer and build sandcastles under sunny skies as they waited for the pope to arrive for what was to be a solemn event.
"It's a true experience of faith," said Chris Whitson, who help chaperon a group of 86 youths from Georgia and the Carolinas.
"I hope that youth take away the courage to live their faith in a more concrete way," said Jose Luis Hernandez, a priest from Atlanta.
"The community of young people from around the world," said Francisca Martinez, 21, a student from Guam.
"To have something in common helps (overcome) the language barriers."
Many young people planned to camp on the beach Saturday night, pitching tents and spreading out sleeping bags to sleep under the stars. Organizers asked those doing so to donate their sleeping bags afterward to the homeless.
On Friday night, Francis issued an impassioned plea for the downtrodden and oppressed while addressing throngs of young Catholics on Copacabana Beach for a re-enactment of Christ going to his crucifixion.
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1e28CKB | – Pope Francis delivered a simple simple message to Latin American bishops in Brazil today—if you're going to help the needy and keep people from straying from the church, you've got to get outside and actually meet them: "We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel," he said. "Let us courageously look to pastoral needs, beginning on the periphery (of where we live), with those who are farthest away, with those who do not usually go to church. They, too, are invited to the table of the Lord." The speech drove home "a critique of elitism that has become the overarching theme of his first overseas trip," writes the Wall Street Journal, while USA Today sees it "as yet another admonishment ... for Catholics to adopt a more missionary mindset." After speaking to the region's bishops, Francis addressed politicians, business leaders, and intellectuals, and urged them to reach out to all members of society, too. "When leaders in various fields ask me for advice, my response is always the same: dialogue, dialogue, dialogue," he said, per USA Today. "It is the only way for individuals, families, and societies to grow, the only way for the life of peoples to progress." |
Voters in Tuesday's Florida Republican primary chose Mitt Romney as the candidate best able to beat President Barack Obama in the fall, preferring electability over ideology in lifting the former Massachusetts governor to a broad victory despite concerns that his issue positions are not conservative enough.
ROMNEY RECAPTURES ELECTABILTY: A majority of Florida GOP voters said Romney is the candidate best able to beat Obama in a general election matchup; only about 3 in 10 said the same of Newt Gingrich. And Romney carried 6 in 10 votes among those seeking a candidate who could defeat the president in November. Gingrich had a strong showing among those seeking a true conservative and split the vote with Romney among those seeking an experienced candidate.
CONSERVATIVES THEN AND NOW: In 2008, Romney carried the mantle of conservative alternative to eventual Republican nominee John McCain. This time around, about 4 in 10 Florida voters said Romney's issue positions are not conservative enough, and very conservative voters were more apt to back Gingrich than the former governor of Massachusetts. Strong supporters of the tea party movement also favored Gingrich over Romney, but Romney carried 50 percent or more among those who support the movement somewhat, are neutral or oppose it.
THE GENDER GAP: Romney won by a wide margin among women after a deeply negative campaign in Florida raising questions about Gingrich's character. Women were more apt than men to say they were influenced by campaign advertising, and were a bit more likely to say a candidate's "strong moral character" was the most important factor in their vote. In the end, only about half of women in the poll report holding a positive opinion of Gingrich as a person, compared with nearly 8 in 10 who have a positive opinion of Romney.
ECONOMIC CONCERNS TRUMP ALL: About 6 in 10 said the economy was their top issue in choosing a candidate, about half said foreclosures were having a major impact on their community, and 3 in 10 said they were falling behind financially.
SEEKING OTHER CHOICES: Four in 10 voters said they would like to see someone else run for the nomination, more than said so in New Hampshire a few weeks ago, though the window for another candidate to join the field is nearly closed. About half of voters said they would be satisfied if Gingrich or Rick Santorum became the nominee. More, about two-thirds, said they'd be satisfied with a Romney candidacy, including about 4 in 10 who voted for Gingrich and half who backed Santorum.
The survey of 2,739 Republican voters was conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks by Edison Research. This includes preliminary results among 2,139 voters interviewed Tuesday as they left their polling places at 40 randomly selected sites in Florida. In addition, 600 who voted early or absentee were interviewed by landline or cellular telephone from Jan. 23 to 29. The survey has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. ||||| Mitt Romney won a commanding victory in the Florida primary Tuesday night, rebounding from defeat a week earlier and taking a major step toward the Republican presidential nomination. Despite the one-sided result, Newt Gingrich vowed to press on.
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, points to his signature on a quilt he signed earlier, with messages from supporters, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at his campaign office... (Associated Press)
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gives a thumbs up as he greets volunteers at his campaign office in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, during Florida's primary... (Associated Press)
Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, accompanied by his wife Callista, campaigns outside a polling place at the First Baptist Church of Windermere in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday,... (Associated Press)
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney laughs as he speaks with a voter at his campaign office in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, during Florida's primary election... (Associated Press)
Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich meets with campaign workers in view of a cutout of former President Ronald Reagan during a visit to the Polk County campaign office,... (Associated Press)
"Thank you FL!" an exuberant Romney tweeted minutes after the race was called. "While we celebrate this victory, we must not forget what this election is really about: defeating Barack Obama."
Returns from slightly more than half of Florida's precincts showed Romney with 47 percent of the vote, to 33 percent for Gingrich.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had 13 percent, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul 7 percent. Neither mounted a substantial effort in the state.
The winner-take-all primary was worth 50 Republican National Convention delegates, by far the most of any primary state so far.
But the bigger prize was precious political momentum in the race to pick an opponent for Democratic President Barack Obama this fall
That belonged to Romney when he captured the New Hampshire primary three weeks ago, then swung stunningly to Gingrich when he countered with a South Carolina upset 11 days later.
Now it was back with the former Massachusetts governor, after a 10-day comeback that marked a change to more aggressive tactics, coupled with an efficient use of an overwhelming financial advantage. ||||| Story highlights Romney to get Secret Service protection, a source tells CNN
Mitt Romney gets Florida's 50 convention delegates, the biggest primary haul so far
Tuesday's winner will get the GOP nomination, predicts Florida Sen. Rubio
Gingrich's momentum dropped as Romney went on the offensive
Mitt Romney headed west Wednesday to begin campaigning in Minnesota and Nevada after cementing his status as the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination with a solid victory in Florida's bitterly contested primary.
Romney had 46% compared to 32% for Newt Gingrich, 13% for former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and 7% for Texas Rep. Ron Paul, according to the Florida Department of State website.
The victory gave Romney all 50 of Florida's convention delegates, and more importantly, new momentum heading into a series of caucuses and primaries building up to Super Tuesday on March 6, when 10 states will hold nominating contests.
In a sign of Romney's new prominence, a federal law enforcement source told CNN that Romney will receive Secret Service protection "within days."
Appearing to cheers of "Mitt, Mitt, Mitt" just 30 minutes after the last polls closed, the former Massachusetts governor thanked his supporters for what he called a "great victory."
A Florida campaign of vicious personal attacks between Romney and Gingrich, his closest competitor, raised questions about whether the process would damage the eventual winner when it comes time to run against President Barack Obama in November.
"A competitive primary does not divide us, it prepares us, and we will win," Romney said to cheers.
Reflecting the bitter campaign, Gingrich refrained from congratulating Romney when he later spoke to supporters holding signs that read "46 states to go" in reference to the early stage of the GOP nominating process.
Instead, the former House speaker tried to frame the Florida result as a narrowing of the field, saying it was "now clear this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader Newt Gingrich and the Massachusetts moderate."
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Santorum said Tuesday night that the Florida result showed Gingrich was unable to build on his previous victory, and conservatives were coalescing around Santorum's candidacy as the viable right-wing alternative to the more moderate Romney.
"Newt Gingrich had his opportunity. He came out of the state of South Carolina, he came out with a big win and a lot of money. He said, 'I'm going to be the conservative alternative. I'm going to be the anti-Mitt'," Santorum said. "It didn't work. He became the issue. We can't allow our nominee to be the issue in the campaign."
Santorum also told CNN his campaign raised almost $4.5 million in January in what he called a fundraising surge.
Paul, meanwhile, said he was focusing on upcoming caucuses in Maine and other states where his enthusiastic support base can generate more convention delegates. So far, he noted, he was in third place in delegates, adding "that's what really counts, and we've only just gotten started."
No candidate so far has more than 10% of the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination at the August convention.
According to exit poll information, Romney led in most categories in Florida to show his appeal to Republican voters who said their main concern was choosing a candidate who can defeat Obama.
Romney gained significant ground in the Latino community, carrying Hispanics by 23 points. In the 2008 Florida primary, Romney lost Hispanics to eventual GOP nominee Sen. John McCain by 40 points.
In particular, Romney carried Cuban-Americans -- a vital constituency for Republicans in Florida against Obama -- by 24 points.
He lost to Gingrich only among the most hardcore elements of the GOP base -- voters who described themselves as very conservative and evangelical or born-again. However, Romney ran strongly among women voters, getting 51% to 29% for Gingrich, indicating that Gingrich's history of three marriages, two divorces and infidelity might be harming him.
Final polls closed at 8 p.m. ET and Romney jumped out to a strong early lead, buoyed by solid support among more than 632,000 voters who cast absentee or early ballots. His double-digit victory blunted any momentum Gingrich gained from his January 21 victory in South Carolina, the previous primary.
Both Romney and Gingrich focused their speeches Tuesday night on the ultimate goal -- taking on Obama in November.
Romney listed what he called the differing ideologies between himself and the president, promising to balance the budget without raising taxes and saying "together we will build an America where hope is a new job with a paycheck, not a faded word on an old bumper sticker."
"The path I lay out is not one paved with ever increasing government checks and cradle-to-grave assurance government will always be the solution," Romney said. "If this election is a bidding war for who can promise the most goodies and the most benefits, I'm not your president. You have that president today."
Gingrich pledged to compete in every contest in the nomination process, and to repeal Obama policies hated by conservatives -- such as health care reform and Wall Street reform -- on his first day in office.
"This is the most important election of your lifetime," Gingrich said, adding: "If Barack Obama gets re-elected, it will be a disaster for the United States of America. You can't imagine how radical he'll be in a second term."
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Analysts and observers said a Romney victory Tuesday would be important and could be decisive.
"I think the winner of Florida is in all likelihood going to be the nominee of our party," Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio told CNN Tuesday . "Florida is a mini America."
GOP strategist and CNN contributor Alex Castellanos said a Romney victory would not automatically end the Repubican nomination campaign.
"With a win, Romney puts the nomination firmly in his grip. But it appears Gingrich and Santorum will keep trying to rip it from his hand," said Castellanos, who was a Romney media adviser in 2008 but is not taking sides this year.
Gingrich stormed into Florida 10 days earlier on a roll off of his double-digit victory over Romney and the rest of the field in the South Carolina primary.
His momentum quickly faded after Romney's campaign went on the offensive, turning in two strong debate performances in the Sunshine State and unleashing a barrage of ads targeting Gingrich.
Negative ads accounted for 92% of political ads airing in Florida over the last week -- a record rate for political campaigns , according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks advertising content and spending.
"I spent much of my academic career telling reporters, 'Relax, this is not the most negative campaign ever,' " CMAG President Ken Goldstein said. "Well, this IS the most negative campaign ever."
Romney told reporters Tuesday that he had learned his lesson from his South Carolina loss.
"If you're attacked, I'm not going to just sit back," he told reporters in Tampa, repeating a refrain he's used regularly recently. "I'm going to fight back and fight back hard."
On the day before the primary, Gingrich accused Romney of dishonesty but conceded the wave of attack ads had been effective.
"Frankly if all that stuff were true I wouldn't vote for myself," Gingrich said in Jacksonville Monday , referring to what he called "dishonest" Romney ads.
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He later told a crowd in Pensacola that "we will only win if the American people decide that they are sick and tired of the New York and Washington establishment thinking that we are dumb enough to let them try to buy an election by telling us things that we all know are just plain not true."
The Romney campaign and an independent super PAC supporting his bid have greatly outspent Gingrich and pro-Gingrich super PACs on ad buys in Florida.
Gingrich "has been flailing around a bit trying to go after me for one thing or the other," Romney said later Monday to a crowd in Dunedin. "You just watch it and shake your head. It has been kind of painfully revealing to watch."
While Romney and Gingrich were in Florida on Tuesday night to watch election returns, Santorum and Paul, knowing they're out of the running for the 50 delegates, have moved on to the next contests.
Santorum campaigned in Colorado and Nevada on Tuesday, while Paul was in Maine over the weekend and was spending Tuesday in Colorado and Nevada.
Nevada's caucuses take place Saturday, when Maine starts its week-long caucuses.
Minnesota and Colorado hold their caucuses on February 7, the same day that Missouri holds its non-binding primary.
In Lone Tree, Colorado, Santorum called on voters to consider questions that have arisen about the character and discipline of Gingrich, his main rival for support from conservatives.
"It's an issue of trust," Santorum said when a man at his Tuesday event challenged the character of Gingrich, who has been divorced twice and cited for a violation of House ethics rules.
Personal mistakes don't automatically disqualify someone from seeking high office, Santorum said, noting Gingrich has sought forgiveness.
"I don't question his sincerity of his repentance, but as I have said many times there is two areas that are open for concern and that is -- the issue of trust and whether someone who has a record of that is someone you feel comfortable has truly changed and you forgive them," Santorum continued. "That doesn't mean they necessarily have changed their ways."
The Paul and Santorum campaigns are strategically looking to states in which they can pick up delegates.
"Ultimately they're conceding in advance in Florida, while trying to shore up future states," said Doug Heye, a GOP strategist and Republican National Committee communications director. "Unfortunately for Paul and Santorum, that generally has not been a winning strategy. It's not being done out of a position of strength."
Romney's convincing win in Florida, coupled with an unfriendly calendar for Gingrich in February with friendlier Super Tuesday states more than a month away, could put Gingrich in a bind.
"February doesn't look good for Newt Gingrich. He'll lose Nevada, with its large LDS (Mormon) population and lose Michigan (February 28), where Romney's father was governor. Newt will have a long march across the desert with no debates to revive his campaign," Castellanos said.
"Newt has to hold his breath all the way to Super Tuesday, March 6th, raise 30 or 40 million dollars for advertising and fix his problem with female voters to catch Romney. Those are grandiose problems, even for Gingrich." ||||| TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney claimed a powerful victory in Florida’s presidential primary, reasserting himself as the front-runner for his party’s nomination and leaving Newt Gingrich reeling from a likely double-digit defeat and facing an uncertain path to regaining his post-South Carolina momentum.
With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Romney led Gingrich by 16 percentage points, 47 percent to 32 percent. Rick Santorum was a distant third, with 13 percent, followed by Ron Paul with 7 percent.
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reset Winners & Losers in 60 seconds Romney wins in Florida Gingrich after 2nd place finish
In just 10 days, Romney went from limping out of South Carolina — where Gingrich beat him handily — to scoring an almost across-the-board win against the former House speaker with nearly every category of GOP primary voter.
Addressing an energetic crowd of supporters here in Tampa, Romney acknowledged that the primary campaign was not over but predicted the GOP was on its way to victory in the fall.
“A competitive primary does not divide us. It prepares us. And we will win,” Romney said. “When we gather back here in Tampa seven months from now for our convention, ours will be a united party with a winning ticket for America.”
Said Romney: “I stand ready to lead this party and to lead our nation.”
Romney’s final victory margin may tighten as returns come in from Florida’s conservative western Panhandle. But with a majority of votes reported, Romney appeared on the brink of an important symbolic accomplishment: winning more votes than Gingrich and Santorum — the two would-be anti-Romney conservatives — combined.
That won’t put to rest questions about Romney’s ability to connect with and fire up the activist base of the Republican Party. It may, however, deprive his beleaguered opponents of a key argument they’ve used to explain their persistence in the race.
Romney won with both men and women and in every age and income group, according to network exit polls. He won a majority of white voters — 53 percent — and 44 percent of Latinos.
The only conspicuous bright spot for Gingrich was voters who described themselves as “very conservative,” who made up 33 percent of the electorate and broke for Gingrich over Romney, 43 percent to 29 percent.
In his own evening speech in Orlando, Gingrich insisted that Florida had only helped to reinforce the overarching narrative of the campaign.
“It is now clear that this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader, Newt Gingrich, and the Massachusetts moderate,” Gingrich said. “The voters of Florida really made that clear.”
With supporters waving signs that read, “46 States to Go,” Gingrich vowed: “We are going to contest every place and we are going to win and we will be in Tampa as the nominee in August.”
Gingrich will be hard-pressed to keep up with Romney, financially and organizationally — a dynamic already in play in Florida.
The dramatic scale of Romney’s win is in some respects a tale of traditional campaign legwork and preparation paying off. The Bay Stater raised money faster and earlier, built an operation in Florida sooner, and worked aggressively to exploit the state’s early and absentee voting laws. | – The big news organizations couldn't call this one fast enough. The moment the last of the Florida polls closed at 8pm, AP, CNN, and all the usual suspects declared Mitt Romney the winner. It wasn't tough: With all precincts reporting, Romney had 46.4%, Newt Gingrich 31.9%, Rick Santorum 13.4%, and Ron Paul 7%. In their respective speeches, Gingrich made clear that he is in the race for the long run, while Romney put all his focus on President Obama. Click for that. Some exit poll highlights: Electability: 45% said it was the most important attribute in a candidate, a good sign for Romney. Conservatives: Voters who called themselves "very conservative" went for Gingrich 43-29, one of Newt's few bright spots, notes Politico. Anyone else? About 4 in 10 said they would like another candidate in the race. Women: Romney won among female voters 51-29, reports the Daily Caller. Economy: 30% said they were falling behind financially, and half said foreclosures were a big problem in their communities, notes AP. Negative ads: 37% said Romney ran the most unfair campaign, while 34% pinned it on Gingrich. Demographics: About 1 in 7 voters were Hispanic, and 4 in 10 were over age 65. |
Taylor Swift got PUNK’d by Justin Bieber in New First Episode!
The MTV celebrity prank series “Punk’d” is officially back in business and it’s no longer only Ashton Kutcher to be afraid of!
The Punk’d filming its first return episode on Friday in Los Angeles with Taylor Swift as the unsuspecting target, a source has revealed to Access Hollywood. However, it wasn’t Ashton at the scene. Instead, the prankster who “Punk’d” Taylor? Her good friend, Justin Bieber.
While Ashton Kutcher will no longer host, he still serves as executive producer for the hidden camera series “punk’d”, which he first launched back in 2003. The show went on hiatus following its season finale in May 2007.
As previously reported, Justin joined and surprised Taylor Swift onstage on Tuesday night during the Los Angeles stop of her “Speak Now” tour. The duo performed Bieber’s hit “Baby.” No further details on Friday’s “Punk’d” prank were immediately available.
Will you watch Punk’d first episode featuring Justin and Taylor? ||||| Justin Bieber Fine After Minor Collision
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Justin Bieber arrives at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, on August 28, 2011Justin Bieber’s Ferrari is a little less pristine on Tuesday afternoon after the singer was involved in a minor car collision on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Authorities in the Valley area of LA confirmed to Access Hollywood that the Canadian singing sensation was involved in the collision around noon PT.
According to the police, a Honda Civic collided with Justin’s Ferrari.
Justin was driving at the time and he had a passenger in his car, the LA Police Department told Access. Authorities believe the passenger was the Biebs’ assistant.
There was no injury or damage to either car, authorities confirmed.
Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | – Relax, girls. Not a hair on Justin Bieber's head is out of place, even though a Honda Civic collided with the black Ferrari he was driving in Los Angeles yesterday. Neither driver was injured and Bieb's assistant, who was a passenger in his car, was similarly unharmed; no damage was reported, according to Access Hollywood. Maybe he didn't get out of the way fast enough because he was dreaming about winning the award for best male video at the MTV Video Music Awards—and punking pal Taylor Swift while filming the first new episode of Punk'd last week. |
Reuters
Yikes. Rafe Esquith—perhaps the most decorated elementary-school teacher in the country, the only K-12 educator ever to receive the National Medal of the Arts—has been accused of sexual misconduct in shocking documents released Tuesday by Los Angeles Unified School District.
Until he was removed from the classroom this spring, Esquith, 61, had taught fifth grade at Hobart Elementary School, a high-poverty school in Los Angeles with an overwhelming percentage of English-language learners, for more than 30 years. Esquith’s “Hobart Shakespeareans” nonprofit, which puts on a Shakespeare production every year in his classroom, became world-renowned, the subject of a PBS documentary, and a resplendent example of the miracles that committed public educators can work even in challenging school environments. When he wasn’t transforming young lives, Esquith was writing inspirational books and accepting lots of awards: In addition to the National Medal of the Arts, his prizes include Oprah Winfrey’s Use Your Life Award, Disney’s National Outstanding Teacher of the Year award, and even Dalai Lama’s Compassion in Action Award.
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And now for the it-was-all-too-good-to-be-true part: According to the Los Angeles Times, this spring, one teacher reported that Esquith had made an inappropriate joke about Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, saying that if he couldn’t raise enough cash to fund the annual production, the class would have to perform naked. Then there was:
an incident from March 2015 in which Esquith told a student who had completed his work that he could “surf the net for porn. That’s what we do in our spare time.”… Esquith told a student who would appear in an upcoming play that “if the audience doesn’t like his performance, he can perform while nude, or at least wear a fig leaf. And, from what I’ve heard, it would be a small fig leaf.”
These claims kicked off Los Angeles Unified’s investigation into Esquith, who was removed from the classroom pending its findings. In October, he was fired, a move greeted with outrage all over the country. In the Washington Post, education columnist Jay Mathews, who had named Esquith “America’s Best Classroom Teacher” in 2007, wrote that:*
He has been dismissed for murky reasons that appear to be part of a witch hunt against hundreds of other L.A. educators … the result of L.A. school leaders losing touch with reality after being traumatized by a molestation scandal a few years ago.
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But now, with the 66-page document dump, those reasons no longer seem so murky.
While Esquith has not been charged with a crime (though the documents do allege that, even before he became a teacher, Esquith fondled several children in the 1970s), he comes across as a desperate, preening, pathetic predator: the last person you want near your kids. He’s accused of spanking, fondling, and tickling female students; making grossly inappropriate comments (saying, for example, that one student “loved green M&M’s because they made her horny”); and screening movies with sexually inappropriate content to fifth-graders after school.
And then there were the emails. Lots and lots of legitimately grotesque emails, addressed to students who were at most 14 years old, that lay bare the consummate creepiness: He addressed one student as “Supermodel” and signed off to another as “Your Favorite ATM.” The Wednesday Washington Post story about the allegations uses one of his lines as its headline: “How is my favorite Hottie?” And this, from the Los Angeles Times:
In one 2013 email, Esquith praised a former student, who was 14 years old, saying she was “Beautiful. Elegant. Dazzling. Sexy. Gorgeous.” And in the same conversation writes “don’t argue, hottie.” He later writes to her, “you’re soooooooooooooooo fine.”
The conversations include one in which the girl thanks him for giving her lunch money and “for the hundreds and hundreds” he’s given her.
Captain Inappropriate wrote another girl, “You will do WELL wherever you go because you’re great, but I want you to be happy and have lots of guys and beer and drugs and all the things that make high school great!”
Before the documents became public, Esquith’s lawyer accused the school district of constructing a “fraudulent narrative” as part of its “latest effort to smear.” In October, Esquith filed a $1 billion class-action lawsuit on behalf of approximately 2,000 LAUSD teachers who were removed from the classroom for no clear reason—part of an age-discrimination scheme, the suit alleged, to place pressure on teachers approaching retirement age to resign without the full pension and benefits they’d earned. We’ll see how that one works out. ||||| These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. | – The man Slate calls "perhaps the most decorated elementary-school teacher in the country" is facing allegations of "immoral" and "egregious" behavior—including fondling three children—in the wake of an investigation by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The Los Angeles Times reports fifth-grade teacher Rafe Esquith was fired in October and an investigation launched after a fellow teacher accused him of making jokes about nudity to his students. The results of that investigation were released this week. According to the documents, problems for Esquith started in the 1970s, when he was accused of fondling two boys and a girl. And a former student recalled Esquith putting her on his lap and touching her buttocks and spanking other female students in the 1990s. Other details included in the documents: Esquith allegedly had photos of nude women on his work computer, joked about the size of a student's penis, tickled a female student, and told a fellow teacher that a student liked green M&M's because "they made her horny." The Times reports email records indicate Esquith was acting as an ATM for former students while sending them inappropriate messages. He reportedly told a 14-year-old former student she was "sexy," a "hottie," and "soooooooooooooooo fine." To another he allegedly wrote: "I spank really hard!!! Your bottom will hurt for months." According to Slate, Esquith—who specialized in minority and low-income students—received the National Medal of the Arts, as well as awards from Oprah, Disney, and the Dalai Lama. He was even the subject of a PBS documentary. The Times reports Esquith denies doing anything wrong. (Elsewhere, a "teacher of the year" honoree quit after being informed she was not qualified.) |
It will be the first top level meeting of the diplomatic Quartet in six months.
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will attend the meeting at UN headquarters in New York.
EU foreign affairs representative Baroness Ashton will take part by videoconference, diplomats said.
Mrs Clinton, Mr Lavrov and Mr Ban will then join a UN Security Council debate on the Arab Spring.
A wounded Palestinian boy is wheeled into a hospital in Gaza City after an Israeli air strike (REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot)
Israel's air force pounded Gaza overnight with a series of raids which killed three people, raising the death toll to 21 in a wave of tit-for-tat violence that began with Israel's killing of a senior militant on Friday.
The fresh attacks prompted China calling on Israel toh alt its raids.
"China is concerned about the escalation of the situation in Gaza," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
"We call upon the Israeli side to stop air raids against Gaza. We hope parties concerned can stop firing immediately in order to avoid casualties of innocent civilians."
Wounded Palestinian children receive medical atttention at a hospital in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli air raid (MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)
Israel said Palestinian militants had fired a total of 180 rockets from the impoverished territory since the violence erupted, leaving four Israelis wounded.
On Sunday, Israel called on the UN Security Council to take action over the rocket assault.
It criticised the low-key international response to attacks from Gaza and warned in a letter signed by Israeli deputy UN Ambassador Haim Waxman that it would take "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said the Security Council must "act with urgency to address this crisis" accusing Israel of staging an "escalation of deadly violence and terror".
He said women and children were among "dozens" of wounded and the dead also included a farmer killed while working in his field.
Talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been frozen since September 2010 and the decades-old conflict has become overshadowed by the uprising in neighbouring Syria. Quartet efforts to revive the talks have come to nothing.
Angered by Israel's settlement construction in the occupied territories, the Palestinian leadership has stepped up efforts to bring the international spotlight back on their demands for an independent state.
At the UN General Assembly last September, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, made a high profile application for full Palestinian membership of the global body. But the United States has threatened to veto any recommendation for membership made by the UN Security Council.
The United States and Israel say only direct talks can produce an accord that will set up a new state.
The same day as Abbas made his bid at the UN, the Quartet launched a new initiative to press the two sides back into talks, setting a timetable for Palestinians and Israelis to make proposals on the borders and security for a new Palestinian state.
Preliminary contacts in Jordan in January failed to get agreement on new direct talks however.
The Palestinians last year won membership of UNESCO and say they could seek seats with other international agencies. But other measures to increase international recognition and draw attention to the conflict have failed.
Using its powers as a permanent member of the Security Council, the United States last year vetoed a resolution condemning Israeli settlements which the UN and all major powers consider illegal.
The Palestinians last month invited the Security Council to visit the Palestinian territories. The United States has led resistance to that idea. Many observers say there is no prospect for a breakthrough until after the US presidential election in November.
The Quartet held its last top-level meeting at the UN General Assembly in September.
Source: AFP ||||| Photo: YAAKOV LAPPIN
A Grad rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in the Gedera area on Monday, marking the northern-most point hit by terrorists in the current round of escalation that began Friday and has included the launching of some 200 rockets by terrorists targeting southern Israel. A subsequent blast hit a residential area of Ashdod causing extensive damage to homes and lightly injuring two people.
The Grad, which struck in the Gedera area, was one of 31 rockets fired into Israel on Monday. Some damage was caused to a structure in the attack.
At least eight of the 31 rockets fired on Monday were intercepted by the Iron Dome rocket defense system, including several fired toward Ashdod.
However, one Grad rocket not intercepted by the Iron Dome hit a residential area of Ashdod on Monday afternoon, causing damage to homes. One of the injured, an elderly woman, was evacuated to Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot after being struck by flying glass shards. One other person was injured from glass and eight people were treated for shock following the attack.
Another large southern city, Beersheba, was also victimized by rocket fire on Monday. Two rockets landed in an open area outside of the city and a third rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome.
One of seven rockets fired at the Eshkol Regional Council area overnight fell near a kindergarten, causing damage to a building.
The Home Front Command, along with the heads of a number of local authorities in southern Israel, decided Sunday night to cancel school in all towns and cities located between 7 km to 40 km from the Gaza Strip for the second straight day. The decision applied to the cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod, Beersheba, Netivot, Sderot, Kiryat Malachi, Gadera, Rahat, Yavneh, Lakiyeh, and the Gan Yavneh Regional Council.
The IDF continued to respond to the attacks with at least nine airstrikes launched against terror targets in Gaza overnight Sunday and on Monday.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad said that two armed terrorists belonging to the organization were killed in IAF strikes, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed since hostilities began Friday to 20.
Palestinians later reported that three Palestinian civilians had been killed in IAF strikes. Gaza hospital sources added that 25 civilians were hurt when an Israeli rocket hit a house in northern Gaza. The IDF did not confirm the Palestinian reports.
The IAF strikes carried out early Monday morning targeted a weapons-storage site and four rocket-launch sites in the northern Gaza Strip and one rocket-launch site in the southern Gaza strip. The IDF confirmed hits on its targets, and stated that the strikes were in response to rocket fire.
The latest round of violence flared on Friday when an air strike killed two Palestinian terror leaders in Gaza accused by Israel of planning a cross-border attack via Egypt. A salvo of rockets followed, leaving six people wounded in Israel.
Reuters contributed to this report. ||||| Story highlights The agreement was reached with the help of Egyptian mediators, the official says
An Israeli government spokesman did not immedaitely comment on the report
Seven people were killed Monday in Gaza, officials say
The U.N. secretary-general says he is "gravely concerned" by the violence
After days of pounding violence, Palestinian and Israeli authorities have agreed to a truce and to stop all military operations, an Egyptian intelligence official told CNN early Tuesday.
The agreement was reached with the help of Egyptian mediators, the official said.
Israeli government spokesman David Baker did not immediately comment on the reported cease-fire.
Seven people were killed Monday in Gaza, and more than three dozen rockets fell into Israel, the latest events in days of fighting that marked the worst escalation of violence in the coastal territory in months, officials said.
Israel said its airstrikes have targeted militant rocket launching sites across the Palestinian territory in response to more than 200 rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel since Friday. More than 36 rockets were fired into Israel on Monday, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said
In Gaza, at least 25 people have been killed in strikes since Friday, while at least 80 people have been wounded.
"When I was sleeping, all of a sudden I found the entire house falling on top of us," Gaza resident Samer Sukar said from a hospital bed. "What can I say? There was no rocket fire from near our house."
Sukar said he was injured in a blast Monday while he was at home with his wife and six children.
Meanwhile, in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, residents took cover.
JUST WATCHED Israeli airstrikes target Gaza Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Israeli airstrikes target Gaza 01:53
"It's a very difficult time for us," said Eti Ifrah, 23. "It's impossible to live like this -- every time we want a shower or anything we're worried a bomb will fall."
Nearly 1 million people in Israel have sought the safety of shelters during the violence, authorities said.
The fighting is the worst outbreak of violence in Gaza this year and comes as Israel and the world's attention has been largely focused on Iran and Syria.
"I am gravely concerned at the latest escalation between Gaza and Israel, and once again civilians are paying a terrible price," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement Monday. "Rocket attacks out of Gaza against Israeli civilian areas are unacceptable and must stop immediately. I reiterate my call on Israel to exercise maximum restraint."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers Monday that the military "is ready to expand its operations and continue them as necessary."
"The (Israeli military) is continuing to -- strongly and decisively -- attack the terrorists in the Gaza Strip," he said. "Whoever intends to harm our citizens -- we will strike at him."
A spokesman for the militant group Islamic Jihad warned Israeli citizens Monday to stay in their bunkers, vowing the group would fire more rockets into southern Israel.
Speaking at a press conference Monday in Gaza City, Abu Ahmad boasted his group had fired dozens of longer-range Grad rockets into Israel and a larger number of smaller short-range rockets.
He spoke later to the Islamic Jihad radio station, warning Israel "not to test our patience."
Twelve Israeli military tanks have moved some 200 meters inside the Gaza border area, according to Palestinian security forces in Gaza.
Gaza officials cautioned Monday that any further escalation of hostilities would tax the fragile health care system.
"If we face a new war on Gaza, I am sure the health system will collapse," said Bassem Naim, the minister of health in the Hamas-controlled government.
Three civilians and four militants were reported killed in Gaza on Monday, but Israeli and Palestinian officials offered different accounts of the violence.
Palestinian medical officials said an Israeli airstrike killed a civilian man and woman and injured three others Monday afternoon in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Beit Lahia.
The Israeli military said its strike hit a residential area from which militants fired a rocket.
"This incident is a blatant example of how terror organizations use human shields to carry out terror attacks from the heart of urban areas and, as occurred in this incident, lead to the apparent injury of uninvolved persons," the military said.
Israeli and Palestinian officials also offered conflicting accounts of another blast Monday that killed a 15-year-old boy in Gaza.
Palestinian medical and security sources said an Israeli airstrike killed the teen, but the Israeli military said it did not attack the area where the death was reported.
"We did not attack during those hours of the morning in the northern Gaza Strip," Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich told CNN, saying that Israeli military activity during the time was focused on southern Gaza.
"One of the possibilities is that one of the terrorist organizations in Gaza fired a rocket that landed inside Gaza," Leibovich said, noting that some two dozen rockets fired by Palestinians militants in the last four days have landed inside Gaza.
Two militants also were killed in overnight airstrikes in southern Gaza, Palestinian officials said, and 40 people were injured. Later, Palestinian officials said two more Islamic Jihad militants were killed and a third was injured in an airstrike "east of Gaza." An Israeli military spokeswoman said she was looking into the report.
The deaths brought the number of Palestinians killed since Friday afternoon to 25, with more than 80 injured, according to Palestinian medical officials.
Netanyahu suggested Sunday that the new cycle of attacks and counterattacks resulted from a successful Israeli strike on "an arch-terrorist who organized many attacks against the state of Israel."
"Naturally, this led to another round with the Popular Resistance Committees, Islamic Jihad and other groups," Netanyahu said, naming Palestinian militant groups. | – With 23 Palestinians now dead in the latest Gaza conflict, the Middle East Quartet is meeting for the first time in six months in New York. Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and EU diplomat Baroness Ashton will discuss the growing violence after Israeli air raids killed five more people, including three civilians and a pair of militants. Israel yesterday sought UN Security Council action over rocket attacks from Gaza. China has also weighed in on the situation, calling on Israel to halt its air raids, the Telegraph notes. Iran has labeled the raids "war crimes," urging international condemnation against the "abhorrent violation of human rights." Among the reported dead today was a 15-year-old boy, CNN reports, though Israel said it did not bomb the area where he was killed. For its part, Israel says its attacks "destroyed launching pits" for Iranian-built rockets. Some 31 more rockets were launched from Gaza today, bringing the total to more than 200, according to the Jerusalem Post. |
FILE - In this Monday, July 19, 2010 file photo, Muqtada al-Sadr, one of Iraq's most powerful Shiite political clerics, speaks to reporters following a meeting with former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi... (Associated Press)
A Muslim cleric who once used a militia to resist the American invasion positioned himself as a big winner in Iraq's monthslong political deadlock Friday when his party threw its support behind the beleaguered prime minister.
The hard-line Shiite group led by Muqtada al-Sadr called it the start of its ascent to nationwide power _ a specter sure to spook the United States.
Washington considers the cleric a threat to Iraq's shaky security and has long refused to consider his movement a legitimate political entity. But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may be unable to govern without him.
March elections failed to produce a clear winner and left the nation in turmoil _ a power vacuum that U.S. military officials say has encouraged a spike in attacks by Sunni insurgents.
Final agreement on how to form the new government could still be weeks if not months away, but "the Sadrist acceptance of al-Maliki as prime minister could begin to break the logjam," said Iraq expert Daniel Serwer of the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington.
In a late-night appearance on state-run TV, al-Maliki thanked his fellow Shiite allies for the support that will likely hand him another term as prime minister.
"I promise them and all beloved Iraqi people that we will take care with the big, heavy responsibility of serving all Iraqis," al-Maliki said.
It is still too soon for him to declare victory, however, because his chief rival, former prime minister Ayad Allawi, continues to scramble for support.
Shiite leaders from the Fadhila party and the devout Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council met late Friday night to discuss the political developments with Deputy Prime Minister Rafia al-Issawi, a lawmaker with Allawi's Sunni-dominated Iraqiya coalition. Iraqiya won the most parliament seats in the March 7 vote, narrowly beating al-Maliki's coalition, but neither side has the 163-seat majority needed to control the government outright.
Allying with al-Maliki poses a political risk for al-Sadr among his followers, many of whom hate the prime minister, and the cleric's top aides refused Friday to publicly explain why he did it. The most that Sadrist lawmaker Nassar al-Rubaie would say is that both camps now seek to "open dialogue with the other winning political groups to form the government."
But it is clear to Iraqi and U.S. officials that al-Sadr seeks unfettered and increased influence in the next government if al-Maliki comes out on top.
The cleric, whose militia once ran death squads out of the health ministry headquarters in Baghdad to target Sunnis, has been in self-imposed exile in Iran since 2007.
As part of agreeing to back al-Maliki, a leading Sadrist said the movement has demanded key government positions, including deputy parliament speaker and as many as six Cabinet-level ministry posts of the 34 to be filled.
Controlling service agencies like Iraq's health, oil, construction and electricity ministries would allow Sadrists to hire supporters and boost political loyalty. Sadrists also are clamoring to run the trade ministry, which would carry some sway over foreign policy, and at least one of the agencies tasked with Iraqi security missions _ a huge red flag to U.S. officials.
Down the road, after the American military has fully withdrawn in 2011 and U.S. diplomatic influence has waned, Sadrists will make a play for the prime minister's post, said a leading party official who spoke on condition of anonymity because al-Sadr has forbidden his aides from discussing the negotiations.
"In the future, the premiership will be for us," the Sadrist official said. "We will have nominees who will compete when the next elections are held after the departure of the (U.S.) occupation."
Having a Sadrist in power would endanger if not scuttle hopes of establishing a thriving democracy in Iraq that could be a model in the region. There are worries about how much influence Iran now carries over al-Sadr after offering him refuge for more than three years.
While saying it does not have a favorite candidate among those vying to become prime minister, the Obama administration strongly opposes giving power to al-Sadr and his followers. It is largely a moot wish: Sadrists were the only party to gain seats in parliament in the March 7 vote, winning 39 of the 325 in a signal of their rise.
That has put them in the position of being wooed by other Shiite political leaders for support.
"The Sadrists having a key role in the next government of Iraq was one of the few redlines that the Obama administration had," said Ken Pollack, an expert at the Brookings Institute think-tank in Washington who was a key Iraq policymaker in the Bush administration.
"They've staged this major comeback, and the administration is very, very worried about that," Pollack said. "This is something Iran has been trying to do for months. Clearly this is a big win for them and really bad for the U.S."
In Baghdad, U.S. Embassy spokesman David J. Ranz avoided even using the word Sadrist when asked for an official statement Friday about the movement's partnership with al-Maliki.
Ranz said the embassy welcomed actions that would lead to a new government in Iraq, now stalled for nearly seven months. And he said the U.S. hoped to see "an inclusive and legitimate government, responsive to the needs of the Iraqi people."
Al-Maliki has been scrounging for allies since his political coalition fell short in the election to Iraqiya coalition, which is largely backed by Sunnis and led by Allawi, a Shiite.
Pollack, the U.S. expert, said the deadlock between al-Maliki and Allawi allowed the Sadrists to step into the void. "They have played their hand really skillfully," Pollack said.
Senior Iraqiya lawmaker Osama al-Nujaifi said an al-Sadr alliance with the government "will definitely complicate the situation."
Ultimately, Kurdish parties that hold 43 seats are likely to tip the balance, and they are widely expected to throw their weight behind al-Maliki if they sense he can hold on to his post.
Kurdish leaders who control a semiautonomous northern enclave had no immediate comment Friday, and generally have remained on the sidelines in the political maneuvering. Iraqiya would have to win over not only the Kurds, but also some Shiites, to gain control of the government.
And some prominent Shiites have yet to side with al-Maliki, which could open potentially disruptive rifts as Iraq tries to find a political balance.
Conspicuously absent from Friday's announcement was Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council that was earlier aligned with the Sadrists. Aides to al-Hakim said he and about a dozen followers have not yet decided to back al-Maliki.
Al-Sadr's support for al-Maliki marks a turnabout, and is not likely to be embraced by all of his followers. For months, the group has demanded the prime minister be replaced, and Sadrist rallies routinely call for his death.
In 2008, a joint U.S.-Iraqi offensive broke the grip of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia in Baghdad and Basra, routing Shiite death squads that terrorized Sunni neighborhoods and had brought the country to the brink of civil war.
Earlier this week, some Sadrists sent a message to the cleric, asking him why he would support a leader who had fought his army.
Al-Sadr asked them to fall in line.
"You know the policy is give and take," he wrote in an answer posted on his website. "Our goal is to serve you and lift the oppression on you as much we can. I ask you to stand beside (Sadrist political negotiators). Anyone who stands against them is standing against the private and public interests."
___
Associated Press Writers Saad Abdul-Kadir and Brian Murphy in Baghdad contributed to this report. ||||| BAGHDAD - A coalition of Shiite political blocs chose Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for Iraq's top government job on Friday afternoon - a step that could break a months-long standoff over who will govern the country.
Despite the new support, Maliki must still find more votes in the Iraqi parliament if he is to remain in power and form a new government. The fact that the Shiites now supporting Maliki are mostly Sadrists - followers of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who staunchly oppose the American presence here - also has the potential to alarm Washington. At the same time, the possibility that Maliki might be moving closer to claiming power has alienated others in Iraq and threatens to splinter the broader Shiite alliance.
Attention is likely to shift to the Kurds, who have largely remained on the sidelines during months of negotiations but whose support could be decisive for Maliki.
U.S. officials have urged Iraq's political leaders to break their impasse and form an inclusive government, amid fears that further delay could erode security gains made over the past two years.
But in Washington, a senior Obama administration official said he did not expect Maliki to be able to form a government with the Sadrists and suggested that the agreement may end up accelerating negotiations over a broader-based government. A split among Shiites, with major groups refusing to go along with the Sadrists, leaves Maliki "still 30 seats short of a majority," the official said. "He needs to deal."
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid the appearance of interfering in internal Iraqi deliberations, said that "the Kurds are now in the kingmaker position" and that "no agreement that I've seen suggests their requirements have been met yet," including insistence on the inclusion of elements of the Iraqiya bloc - formed by Maliki's main rival, secular Shiite Ayad Allawi - and other Shiite groups.
Maliki has served as prime minister since 2006 and has remained as a caretaker in that role since the March 7 parliamentary elections. As he tries to assemble the coalition he needs to win the support of a simple majority in the 325-member parliament, he has brushed up against the country's many religious and ethnic factions.
The news of support for Maliki from the Sadrists appeared to expose the limits of the backing he can count on from other Shiite groups within the coalition. Late Friday, at least two smaller Shiite groups were meeting with the Iraqiya bloc and threatened to oppose Maliki's nomination.
"We have reservations against Maliki, and we want to come to a compromise candidate to form a strong government of national partnership, not a weak one," said Ali Shabbar, a leading Shiite legislator from the Shiite Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. "Maliki failed in his performance for the last four years, and he gave nothing to the people."
The endorsement of Maliki came on the day Iraq broke the record for the longest time between elections and government formation in a parliamentary system. Both Maliki and Allawi claim the right to form the next government, based on differing interpretations of the constitution. Allawi's Iraqiya bloc, backed largely by Sunni Arabs, won 91 seats; Maliki's slate won 89. Iraqiya has threatened to boycott the next government if Maliki becomes prime minister.
Allawi's bloc instead hopes to broker a deal with some of the Shiite groups to nominate an alternative to Maliki. Iraqi officials said the move would be a blow to neighboring Iran, which has been pressuring the Shiite leaders to stay united despite their disputes.
Maliki is a divisive leader. He has made a slew of enemies, who accuse him of being a strongman who circumvented security ministries, consulted a small circle of advisers and ruled with dictatorial tendencies.
The Sadrist support for him came despite a history of enmity toward Maliki, who led a charge against the militant wing of the Sadr movement in 2008 in the southern port city of Basra. In the last two months, hundreds of Sadrists have been released from Iraqi prisons.
With about 57 seats in the parliament, the Kurdish alliance could give Maliki the backing he needs. But Kurdish officials have balked at the possibility that Iraqiya, which represents a large portion of Sunni Arabs, might not be included in Iraq's next government.
If Iraqiya does not participate, the next government might not be seen as credible. Sunni and secular Iraqis cast their ballots in droves for Allawi's group, and Sunnis have felt marginalized by past Shiite-led governments.
"It's not over until it's over," said Hoshyar Zebari, the foreign minister and an elected Kurdish member of Iraq's new parliament. "Things could get more complicated."
Special correspondent Jinan Hussein in Baghdad and staff writer Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report. ||||| “We are confident that with the cooperation and efforts of honorable and faithful Iraqis, we will, God willing, be able to overcome the difficulties, challenges and problems and complete the construction of the institutions of state of a free, democratic Iraq,” Mr. Maliki said in televised remarks.
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He owes his new support to the extraordinary political resurrection of Moktada al-Sadr, the self-exiled cleric whose fighters once battled in the streets of Baghdad, Basra and other cities with Iraqi and American troops. Until days ago he fiercely opposed Mr. Maliki’s re-election.
Mr. Maliki’s success reflected his tenacity — tinged with authoritarianism — to retain power, despite widespread opposition to his leadership. It also showed his willingness to disregard — for political expediency — American concerns about the return of Mr. Sadr’s followers to the center of political power.
A dour, uncharismatic leader, Mr. Maliki has persisted in arguing that only he can prevent a descent into the sectarian carnage that consumed Iraq when he took office in 2006, even if that means allying with a movement blamed for much of the violence.
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While Obama administration officials insisted over months of quiet diplomacy that they preferred no candidate, only a broadly inclusive government, they made it clear that they did not favor a government that included the Sadrists, who are closely allied with Iran and oppose the presence of American troops.
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This week, a senior American military commander in Baghdad blamed Shiite extremist groups, including one affiliated with Mr. Sadr, for a spike in rocket attacks on the capital’s Green Zone.
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In Washington, officials were noticeably cool to news of the agreement between Mr. Maliki and Mr. Sadr, in no small part because it signaled an ascendant Iranian influence in Iraq.
“An Iraqi government that owes its existence to the Sadrists and lacks strong support from Allawi would necessarily be one that leans in Tehran’s direction, something Washington can little afford at the moment,” Daniel P. Serwer, a vice president at the United States Institute of Peace, said in an e-mail.
Mr. Maliki, who is 60, now has the backing of at least 148 lawmakers in the new 325-member Parliament to form a government, just short of a majority. The Kurds, with 57 seats among several parties, indicated Friday that they, too, would support his re-election, though only with concessions on territorial, economic and political issues.
Photo
“Now he has a great possibility to become prime minister again,” said a prominent Kurdish lawmaker, Mahmoud Othman.
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That would give Mr. Maliki a solid majority, though he must still cobble together a governing coalition among various parties jockeying for control of important positions and ministries, especially those overseeing oil and the security forces.
“What happened now is the best for Iraqis,” said a leader of Mr. Maliki’s party, Ali al-Adeeb.
He called for a swift session of Parliament to elect Mr. Maliki and pledged to continue talks to include other factions, especially Mr. Allawi’s, which includes almost all of the newly elected Sunni lawmakers. Mr. Maliki echoed that in his statement.
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Mr. Allawi’s bloc vowed to oppose the nomination, but despite winning slightly more seats than Mr. Maliki did, 91 to 89, he and his supporters did not appear to have enough votes to do so.
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It was not immediately clear when the new Parliament, known as the Council of Representatives, would meet again. It has convened only once, for 18 minutes, despite constitutional deadlines that have passed unheeded.
By law, the members must first elect a president, who then authorizes the leading bloc to form a government coalition.
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Mr. Maliki’s nomination underscored the ever-shifting alliances of power here. The Sadrists at first backed Adel Abdul Mahdi, one of two vice presidents who is a leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, which was part of a broader Shiite alliance that joined Mr. Maliki’s bloc after the election, only to disagree on who should be prime minister.
That party’s leaders boycotted the nominating session on Friday and met later with Mr. Allawi. A party member, Ali Shubar, said it would oppose Mr. Maliki because “we won’t vote for another failed government.” The outcome of the struggle over the next prime minister showed the ebbing of the power of a party that once dominated Shiite politics after Saddam Hussein’s toppling.
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The Sadrists proved to be more effective and disciplined campaigners, with strong grass-roots support among Iraq’s Shiites. Having embraced politics, they are now poised to wield influence they have not had since they withdrew from the previous government in 2006.
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The Sadrist leaders present on Friday did not explain their drastic and sudden swing toward Mr. Maliki. But in a statement two days ago, issued from Iran, where he is studying theology, Mr. Sadr sounded the pragmatic note of a seasoned politician.
He cited a saying of his father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, a revered Shiite leader who was killed in 1999 under Mr. Hussein’s regime.
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“Politics has no heart,” Mr. Sadr said, in response to a letter from a follower. “Be informed, politics is giving and taking.”
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One of the main issues facing Iraq in the coming year is what, if any, American military presence will continue after a deadline in December 2011 for withdrawing the remaining 50,000 American troops here.
Diplomats and military commanders here have already signaled an interest in maintaining a close security relationship with Iraq as it rebuilds its armed services and solidifies its fragile democratic institutions.
While many Iraqi political and military leaders have expressed support for that, the Sadrists remain opposed to what they call “a foreign occupation.” | – A coalition of Shiite groups supported giving Nouri al-Maliki another term as prime minister, the Washington Post reports. The rare sign of progress came as the country achieved the dubious record of the longest time between an election and the formation of an actual government. Much uncertainty remains, however, and it could take weeks or even months for Maliki to get things in place, notes the New York Times. Today's progress may not be great news for the US because it would give much political clout to an old nemesis, Moktada al-Sadr, adds the AP. It was his followers, known as Sadrists, who reversed themselves and backed Maliki in a bid to get a share of power in the new government. |
Twenty years ago, the Ms. Foundation started Take Our Daughters to Work Day to demystify the workplace for girls. That mission is accomplished. What girls need now is encouragement to become leaders. It's time to take them to the C-suite, where the corporate chiefs work.
Girls also need to understand what leadership is like on a day-to-day basis. The more they understand the specific requirements and rewards of leadership, the better choices they can make about their own careers. How do executives motivate teams, solve complex financial problems, and develop new products? Making the responsibilities, roles, and payoffs of leadership clear from the time girls are in grade-school would help make leadership more tangible.
It would also help resolve another issue the Girl Scouts identified: More than a third of girls said they wouldn’t feel comfortable trying to lead, and nearly 40 percent didn’t think they were cut out for leadership. Hearing directly from both male and female leaders about what they actually do could help close that gap.
Finally, these efforts need to reach beyond a single day in April. Companies and schools need proactive efforts to move women into leadership roles. That’s what Princeton University did when it found that the number of female students winning top academic honors and holding visible leadership roles had declined over the last decade.
President Shirley Tilghman convened a steering committee to investigate and recommend solutions. One immediate result was that the faculty started proactively encouraging female students to apply for academic prizes. In 2011, 3 out of 4 Princeton Rhodes Scholars were women. Ambition did not just appear out of nowhere for these women – encouragement from influential people clearly mattered.
In corporate environments, that kind of support appears as sponsorship. In contrast to mentors, sponsors spend their political capital on behalf of their protégés. They provide opportunities instead of merely advice. A professor who pushes a student to apply for the Rhodes – and offers to write a letter of recommendation – is providing sponsorship. The best companies for diversity have formal sponsorship initiatives to achieve similar results.
Much has changed in the workplace in the 20 years since we first took our daughters to work, but women’s rates of top leadership have barely budged. That disparity is costing our companies talent, hurting the country’s competitiveness, and undermining our ideals of fairness and social equality.
Simply showing our daughters what an office looks like is no longer enough. Real breakthroughs will come when we bring girls inside the halls of power. We need to take our daughters into the C-Suite now so they can lead in the future.
Jennifer Allyn is a managing director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP responsible for retaining and advancing women. ||||| Twenty years ago, the Ms. Foundation started Take Our Daughters to Work Day to demystify the workplace for girls. That mission is accomplished. What girls need now is encouragement to become leaders. It's time to take them to the C-suite, where the corporate chiefs work.
Hewlett Packard CEO and President Meg Whitman smiles as she speaks at a conference on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, Calif. on March 9. Op-ed contributor Jennifer Allyn argues: 'Girls no longer need help picturing themselves in a job; what they do need is encouragement to become leaders.'
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The event, which now includes our sons too, is still a valuable chance to help children understand the workplace. But the problems that face girls and women have changed in the past two decades, and it’s time for the day’s emphasis to change, too.
What we need now is Take Our Daughters to the C-Suite Day – the offices occupied by corporate "chiefs."
Twenty years ago, the Ms. Foundation launched the program to demystify the workplace for girls and inspire them to embrace a wide range of careers. Now that women represent half the US workforce, we can fairly say that mission has been accomplished.
Girls no longer need help picturing themselves in a job; what they do need is encouragement to become leaders. In Fortune 500 companies, women make up just 3.6 percent of CEOs, 14 percent of executive officers, and 16 percent of board directors. Companies need to do much more to inspire women to lead, rather than blaming the lack of women leaders on what Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg calls an “ambition gap.”
Companies that are already committing time and resources to Take Our Children to Work Day can help close that gap by shifting their focus in three ways: introducing girls to female role models; more clearly explaining what leaders of both genders actually do; and supporting programs throughout the year that actively identify and groom female talent.
Introducing girls to a company’s highest ranking women is an easy step any organization can add to their career day programs – and it’s one that can make a huge difference. Marie Wilson, founder of Take Our Daughters to Work Day, often quotes child-rights advocate Marian Wright Edelman on this topic: “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
Girls want to see role models: A recent study by the Girl Scouts found that 80 percent of girls want to interact with successful women, but 60 percent had not been offered the opportunity to see these women in action at the workplace. Boys, in contrast, see a variety of male leaders in all aspects of their lives.
Companies can help girls by using the day to introduce their employees’ daughters to women at the highest level of the company. And highlighting these leaders’ accomplishments will give the women themselves more visibility.
Girls also need to understand what leadership is like on a day-to-day basis. The more they understand the specific requirements and rewards of leadership, the better choices they can make about their own careers. How do executives motivate teams, solve complex financial problems, and develop new products? Making the responsibilities, roles, and payoffs of leadership clear from the time girls are in grade-school would help make leadership more tangible.
It would also help resolve another issue the Girl Scouts identified: More than a third of girls said they wouldn’t feel comfortable trying to lead, and nearly 40 percent didn’t think they were cut out for leadership. Hearing directly from both male and female leaders about what they actually do could help close that gap.
Finally, these efforts need to reach beyond a single day in April. Companies and schools need proactive efforts to move women into leadership roles. That’s what Princeton University did when it found that the number of female students winning top academic honors and holding visible leadership roles had declined over the last decade.
President Shirley Tilghman convened a steering committee to investigate and recommend solutions. One immediate result was that the faculty started proactively encouraging female students to apply for academic prizes. In 2011, 3 out of 4 Princeton Rhodes Scholars were women. Ambition did not just appear out of nowhere for these women – encouragement from influential people clearly mattered.
In corporate environments, that kind of support appears as sponsorship. In contrast to mentors, sponsors spend their political capital on behalf of their protégés. They provide opportunities instead of merely advice. A professor who pushes a student to apply for the Rhodes – and offers to write a letter of recommendation – is providing sponsorship. The best companies for diversity have formal sponsorship initiatives to achieve similar results.
Much has changed in the workplace in the 20 years since we first took our daughters to work, but women’s rates of top leadership have barely budged. That disparity is costing our companies talent, hurting the country’s competitiveness, and undermining our ideals of fairness and social equality.
Simply showing our daughters what an office looks like is no longer enough. Real breakthroughs will come when we bring girls inside the halls of power. We need to take our daughters into the C-Suite now so they can lead in the future.
Jennifer Allyn is a managing director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP responsible for retaining and advancing women. | – Today is the 20th anniversary of Take Our Daughters to Work Day, and Jennifer Allyn at the Christian Science Monitor says it's time to declare mission accomplished and refocus on a bigger goal. Two decades ago, it was enough to get young girls in the workplace and "demystify" the whole concept of women getting a job. Now it's time to introduce girls to the executive suites, to give them role models of women as decision-makers. Girls still tend not to see themselves getting leadership positions as adults, and that's because they don't get to see enough real-life examples. "Simply showing our daughters what an office looks like is no longer enough," writes Allen. "Real breakthroughs will come when we bring girls inside the halls of power. We need to take our daughters into the C-Suite now so they can lead in the future." Click to read her entire column. |
In the immediate aftermath of the targeted killing of Osama bin Laden, President Obama’s approval rating has jumped higher, with big increases in the number of Americans giving him high marks on dealing with terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan.
But the new poll, conducted Monday evening by The Washington Post and the Pew Research Center, also finds virtually no movement in Obama’s numbers when it comes to handling the economy. That suggests that success on one front — even one as important as the death of the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — might not translate easily to other areas.
Overall, 56 percent of those polled say they approve of the way Obama is handling his job as president, an increase of nine percentage points over April polls by Post-ABC News and Pew. That is the highest approval rating for the president in either poll since 2009.
There’s also been a clear increase in public satisfaction with the way things are going in the United States, although by a margin of nearly 2-1, Americans are still dissatisfied with the direction of the country.
The president gets big bounces on dealing with Afghanistan, with his approval rating soaring to 60 percent, and on handling the threat of terrorism, where he recorded a career high of 69 percent.
More than three-quarters of all Americans say the president deserves credit for the killing of the bin Laden in Pakistan on Sunday. Among Republicans, 61 percent say Obama deserves at least some credit for the move. But just 17 percent of them say he deserves a “great deal” of credit for bringing bin Laden to justice after a nearly 10-year pursuit by U.S. intelligence and military forces.
Republicans are more apt to give former president George W. Bush acclaim for killing bin Laden, with 81 percent saying he deserves at least some of the credit for what happened Sunday. Only 35 percent of Democrats share that view, however, with a slender 4 percent giving the former president a lot of credit.
There is more bipartisan agreement that the U.S. military and intelligence deserve a great deal of credit for the killing.
For the president, the nine-point increase in his overall approval rating is on par with the six-point increase in Bush’s numbers in the weeks following the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in December 2003. Then, as now, political independents moved the most.
Compared with the mid-April Post-ABC poll, Obama’s approval rating among independents is now 10 points higher, at 52 percent. Bush got an identical 10-point boost among independents in December 2003. For Bush, that lift proved short-lived, with the entire increase gone within six weeks.
How long Obama’s improved ratings will last is, of course, an open question. The fact that there was no movement in Obama’s approval on the economy — still the top issue by far in the country — offers a reminder of the challenges that remain for the White House. Obama’s 40 percent approval on the economy in this one-night poll is the lowest of his presidency in Washington Post polls, though it has been numerically lower in Pew surveys.
The Post-Pew poll was conducted by conventional landline and cellular telephone Monday evening, and included interviews with 654 randomly selected adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
Polling manager Peyton M. Craighill also contributed to this report. ||||| While the public lauds the president’s performance killing Bin Laden, he got no overall bounce in a new Newsweek/Daily Beast poll. Also: Obama vs. Bush on terror and Obama vs. Trump in 2012. Plus, full coverage of Osama bin Laden.
How much overall boost did President Obama get from the capture of Osama Bin Laden? None, according to an exclusive Newsweek / Daily Beast poll encompassing 1,200 American adults, conducted in the two days immediately before the president’s Sunday announcement about the terrorist leader, and then the two days immediately after.
Specifically, Americans like the way he handled the situation, giving him strong results in strength and decision-making (55 percent now term him a strong leader overall, and 63 percent do so in the area of terrorism). Yet he did not get any overall bump in terms of approval rating, or electoral support. His approval rate was unchanged—48 approve, 49 disapprove, both before and after. There was also no statistical change in whether Obama deserves reelection—40/48 before, 39/49 after.
Photos: Inside bin Laden’s Compound
The clear reason: It's the economy, stupid. Even after Bin Laden’s death, only 30 percent think the country is on the right track, and only 27 percent think the economy is on the right track. Respondents disapprove of President Obama's handling of the economy by a margin of 56 percent to 39 percent.
When compared to President George W. Bush, 48 percent of respondents say Obama deserves more credit for the death of Bin Laden, while 31 percent say Bush. Yet when asked who did better prosecuting the war on terror, even after the killing, the results are nearly reversed: 31 percent say Obama, 45 percent say Bush.
Meanwhile, in terms of the putting the birther issue to rest, while Donald Trump was close to Obama a month ago, the president now crushes the tycoon/reality star, 53 percent to 25 percent. The poll, encompassing 600 people on Saturday April 30th and Sunday May 1st, and a further 600 on Monday May 2nd and Tuesday May 3rd., was conducted by Douglas E. Schoen, LLC on behalf of Newsweek/The Daily Beast, and has a margin of sampling error of +/-3 percent.
Full results below:
APPROVAL RATING
BEFORE: 48% APPROVE, 49% DISAPPROVE
AFTER: 48% APPROVE, 49% DISAPPROVE
COUNTRY HEADING IN THE RIGHT OR WRONG DIRECTION?
BEFORE: Right, 20%, Wrong, 65%
AFTER: Right, 30%, Wrong 55%
ECONOMY HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
BEFORE: Right, 31%, Wrong, 56%
AFTER: Right, 27%, Wrong 60%
HAS OBAMA DONE HIS JOB WELL ENOUGH TO DESERVE RE-ELECTION?
BEFORE: Yes, 40%, No, 48%
AFTER: 39%, No, 49%
WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR (LIKELY VOTERS ONLY IN MATCH-UP BETWEEN:
Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney
BEFORE: 44% Obama/44% Romney
AFTER: 42% Obama/36% Romney
Barack Obama vs. Mike Huckabee
BEFORE: 46% Obama/43% Huckabee
AFTER: 42% Obama/38% Huckabee
Barack Obama vs. Sarah Palin
BEFORE: 53% Obama/35% Palin
AFTER: 50% Obama/29% Palin
Barack Obama vs. Donald Trump
BEFORE: 55% Obama/30% Trump
AFTER: 53% Obama/25% Trump
In the wake of the capture of Osama Bin Laden…
Do you think President Obama is a strong leader overall?
STRONG 55%
WEAK 44%
Do you think President Obama is a strong leader in the war on terrorism?
STRONG 63%
WEAK 34%
Do you think President Obama has made the world more safe or less safe, or no impact?
More safe 38%
Less safe 16%
No impact 40%
Does news that U.S. forces have killed Osama bin Laden make you more favorable, to President Obama less favorable, or does it not impact your opinion?
More favorable 26%
Less favorable 3%
No impact 67%
Do you think President Obama deserves all of the credit, some of the credit, not much of the credit, or none of the credit for this operation?
All of the credit 10%
Some of the credit 59%
Not much of the
credit 13%
None of the credit 14%
Who do you think deserves more credit for Bin Laden's capture - President Obama or President George W. Bush?
President Obama 48%
President George W.
Bush 31%
Who has done a better job at prosecuting the war on terror - President Obama or President Bush?
President Obama 31%
President George W.
Bush 45%
Has news that Osama bin Laden has been killed made you more confident in President Obama's ability to lead America, less confident in President Obama's ability to lead America, or does it not impact your opinion?
More confident 30%
Less confident 3%
No impact 65%
Has news that Osama bin Laden has been killed made you more confident in President Obama's foreign policy, less confident, or does it not impact your opinion?
More confident 27%
Less confident 4%
Does not impact
opinion 64%
Has news that Osama bin Laden has been killed made you feel safer, less safe, or no impact?
Safer 26%
Les safe 14%
No impact 55%
With Osama bin Laden dead, do you feel more or less support for war in Afghanistan?
More support 30%
Less support 23%
The same 38%
Now that Osama bin Laden is dead, should the U.S. continue to fight the war in Afghanistan or should we now move on and focus on problems at home?
Continue to fight 33%
Move on and focus on
problems at home 57%
Do you think that Americans have had to give up too many freedoms in the war on terror?
Yes 49%
No 47%
Has news that Osama bin Laden has been killed changed the way you will vote in the 2012 presidential election from the way you felt before Sunday night.
Yes 5%
No 92%
Like The Daily Beast on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates all day long.
For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com. | – Barack Obama’s approval rating took a pretty significant jump overnight after the killing of Osama bin Laden, with 56% now saying they approve of the job he’s doing overall, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted last night. That’s a 9-point increase from Obama’s April rating. He also notched a career high 69% approval rating for his handling of terrorism, and a 60% approval rating for his work in Afghanistan. Obama’s boost is nearly identical to the one Bush got after Saddam Hussein’s capture in 2003. In both cases, independents moved the most, improving their view of each president by 10 percentage points. But it wasn’t all good news for the White House: The public is as skeptical as ever of Obama’s handling of the economy, with an unchanged 40% approving. That could make sustaining the Osama boost a challenge. (Meanwhile, a Daily Beast/Newsweek poll finds little change in his overall approval rating before and after the raid.) |
Saturday, August 9 2014, 03:10 PM EDT
MUST SEE: Large python that has been eating Port St. Lucie neighborhood's cats captured by cops ||||| Florida cops are reporting the capture of a large snake who neighbors suspect was feasting on their cherished feline pets.
Port St. Lucie police officers nabbed the 12-foot, 120-pound Burmese python Friday after responding to reports of an extremely large snake on a block with homes. Police said the python killed one neighborhood cat and may be responsible for the recent disappearance of several others.
WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach said Sgt. John Holman found a dead cat and then found the snake hidden in waist-high brush. Other officers responded to help him remove the snake.
Florida banned Burmese pythons in 2012. Police said the captured python belonged to an owner who had a license to keep it. | – A giant python's reign of terror may be over. A Port St. Lucie, Florida, police officer found the 12-foot, 120-pound creature two days ago—at the scene of one of its alleged crimes. The snake was discovered in brush not far from a dead cat, WTSP reports. Locals and police believe the cat was one of several feline victims whose disappearance has been blamed on the alleged cat-eating snake, Fox News reports. Though Burmese pythons were banned in Florida two years ago, this snake's owner had a license, police say, per Fox. Experts think pythons have been eating mammals native to the area, WTSP notes, and though this python scare is over, there could be more to come, CBS 12 reports. |
Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon Divorce 'A Done Deal' Separated for Months
Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon: Divorce 'A Done Deal' -- Separated For Months
EXCLUSIVE
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon separated back in May -- and are living apart ... and we're told divorce lawyers have been negotiating a property settlement and custody agreement for months and the divorce is "a done deal."
Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... Mariah and Nick have been living in separate houses in NYC since May. He sees the kids but that's the extent of their contact.Our sources say ... Nick's appearance on Big Boy's radio show in March was the beginning of the end. Nick played Big Boy's game -- name the 5 celebs you've slept with. Nick named 5, but our sources say the one that made Mariah insane wasWe're told Mariah tore into Nick for weeks ... feeling humiliated and the relationship never recovered.We're told it went from bad to worse when Nick went onand talked about Mariah not giving it up before they got hitched. She went nuclear.Our sources say Mariah feels Nick has abandoned her by taking every gig that's on the table ... when they don't need the money. She's especially angry because it keeps him away from their kids.For Nick's part ... we're told he feels Mariah has become impossible because she surrounds herself with "yes men." He says she can't handle it when he dares to disagree with her.We're also told Nick is incredulous Mariah is bitching about his work ethic ... he says he's generated $75 million since 2011 for the family. ||||| Jersey Shore's Ronnie Magro and Sammi Giancola Break Up for Good
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Chris Christie: What You Don't Know About the Jersey Shore
After a tumultuous five-year romance , which played out on MTV's smash hit reality show Jersey Shore, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, 28, and Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola, 27, have called it quits for good , he tells PEOPLE."We were drifting apart and not really spending any time together," Magro told PEOPLE at the premiere of former costar Jenni "JWoww" Farley's new film, Jersey Shore Massacre, out Aug. 22.After splitting and rekindling their romance several times on the show, the couple finally parted ways two months ago, he says."I still care about her," he said, adding that he's not ready to date again. "She's a great girl, but we were growing distant. It was for the best."For now, Magro says, he's getting practice for his own future family playing uncle to JWoww's 5-week-old daughter Meilani , with her fiancé Roger Mathews.Adds Magro: "She's really squirmy and looks just like Roger!" ||||| Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp Split
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Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp have ended their relationship as quietly as they began it The actress, 52, and the rocker, 62, split recently after dating for more than three years , PEOPLE has confirmed."It was the distance," a source tells PEOPLE. "She lives in New York and he resides in Indiana. It was the long distance that ultimately was the cause."The pair – who were last spotted together in May – became an item in late 2010, shortly after Mellencamp's split from wife Elaine after 18 years of marriage.They kept a low profile during the past three years, stepping out together for the occasional industry event and being spotted now and again on the streets of New York. But Indiana native Mellencamp had expressed his unhappiness at calling New York City home."I'm too sensitive to live there," he told Rolling Stone in December. "I can't see poor people. I can't see the suffering. I can't see the trash on the streets." When it comes to paparazzi attention, he added, "I don't like it for [Ryan]. "I'm not leaving Indiana. I'm going to die here."Both stars have big projects coming up: Mellencamp, a father of five, is poised to release his 22nd album, Plain Spoken, in November. Meanwhile, Ryan, who has son Jack, 22, with ex-husband Dennis Quaid, and daughter Daisy, 9, has been busy working on her directorial debut, Ithaca, a WWII coming-of-age drama that's being executive-produced by Ryan's Sleepless in Seattle costar Tom Hanks.The film marks a major return to Hollywood for the very private actress, who has deliberately avoided the spotlight since making her last major film, 2008's The Women. The onetime soap star had been poised to make her small-screen return this fall with a new pilot and the role of the narrator in the planned How I Met Your Mother spin-off, but neither show was picked up.Reps for the pair have not yet commented. Closer Weekly first broke news of the split. | – Is there something in the water? Hollywood has been hit with a rash of break-ups: After more than three years together, Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp are over, People reports. "It was the long distance that ultimately was the cause," says one source; Ryan, 52, lives in New York while Mellencamp, 62, lives in Indiana. Michelle Rodriguez and Zac Efron weren't together nearly so long, but they, too, are finished after almost two months of dating, Us reports. "Michelle is going to do her own thing. Zac knew this about her when he got with her," one source says. "He's very into her though, and perhaps more than she's into him." Rodriguez, 36, and Efron, 26, reportedly had a big fight in Ibiza that prompted the split. In slightly more D-list news, Jersey Shore couple Ronnie Magro and Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola are done for good after an on-again, off-again five-year relationship, Magro tells People. "We were drifting apart and not really spending any time together," he says. "She's a great girl, but we were growing distant." And, though there's no official word on this yet, multiple outlets are reporting that Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are all but divorced. Lawyers have been negotiating property and custody agreements for months, according to TMZ, and the couple has been living separately since May. According to Page Six's sources, Carey, 45, thinks Cannon, 33, might have cheated. |
At a press conference conference in Warsaw on Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry appeared to briefly nod off to the dulcet sounds of his translator earpiece. To make things more awkward for Kerry, he was in the audience of a press conference conducted by his boss, Barack Obama. At least Kerry fell asleep during Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski's response to a question.
Here's the video, via ABC News:
The joint press conference launched Obama's European tour this week, during which Obama announced a $1 billion plan to increase American military deployments to Europe: "Our commitment to Poland's security as well as the security of our allies in central and eastern Europe is a cornerstone of our own security and it is sacrosanct," Obama said. The president more directly addressed the Ukraine crisis on Tuesday, saying that if Putin was willing "I think it is possible for us to try to rebuild some of the trust that has been shattered," but that such a move would take "quite some time," as CNN reported.
Aside from that brief nap, Kerry was actually pretty busy in Poland today: ||||| Transcript for Secretary of State John Kerry Caught Napping in Warsaw
And I stand up for years anti us sentiment increased its defense after it took hold -- we ourselves have to the hospital west in the lineup. For one trip this Oakland fans want to gossip session -- -- partisan member states of NATO if you moved on Abbas and -- anger among them Russians have been modernized issues. Movies so that it was possible so does not funded with a business with the modernizing Russia thought process develop relations it was a neighborhood and cooperation in. Many -- mention -- many areas --
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. | – It's not that weird that a 70-year-old man traveling overseas and working long hours to boot would nod off at an inappropriate time. But when it happens to be Secretary of State John Kerry while attending a news conference with President Obama and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, the cameras are bound to notice. As ABC's did here. At least the brief power nap came during the Polish president's answer, notes the Wire. |
Add a location to your Tweets
When you tweet with a location, Twitter stores that location. You can switch location on/off before each Tweet and always have the option to delete your location history. Learn more ||||| This Baltimore mom saw her son throwing rocks at police on television.
That didn't sit well with her.
The video shows the mother repeatedly striking her boy, chasing him as he tries to walk away.
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The story behind the viral video, told by the photographer who captured the images shared millions of times across the world: ||||| Baltimore TV station WMAR reported that a mother saw her son on television taking part in protests and went to confront him, slapping him. (AP)
A woman seen berating and hitting a black-clad teenager, later confirmed to be her son, has been hailed as “mom of the year” after her intervention on the streets of Baltimore was caught on video. As violence flared up across the city on Monday, the woman, who was identified as Toya Graham on Tuesday afternoon, was filmed telling her child to “take that f—— mask off.”
[I was knocked to the ground by Freddie Gray rioters, then helped to my feet]
Graham spoke to CBS News about the video, which initially went viral with little context. In the interview, the single mother of six tells the network that she intervened out of concern for her 16-year-old son’s safety.
“That’s my only son, and at the end of the day, I don’t want him to be a Freddie Gray,” Graham said. “But to stand up there and vandalize police officers, that’s not justice.”
Fox Business contributor Charles Payne drew attention to the video in a tweet on Monday. (Fair warning, basically every video in this article will contain profanity.)
Mom of the year in Baltimore…my mother would have did same thing…https://t.co/vjxpD7hNwq — Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) April 28, 2015
By late Monday, videos of the incident were so widespread that Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts brought it up in an overnight news conference.
“And if you saw in one scene, you had a mother who grabbed their child who had a hood on his head and she started smacking him on the head because she was so embarrassed,” Batts told reporters. “I wish I had more parents who took charge of their kids tonight. I think these were youth coming out of the high school and they thought it was cute to throw cinder blocks at the police department and address it that way.”
[About that Baltimore mom…]
Baltimore’s ABC affiliate, WMAR, caught the encounter on camera but initially provided only this as an explanation:
This Baltimore mom saw her son throwing rocks at police on television. That didn’t sit well with her. The video shows the mother repeatedly striking her boy, chasing him as he tries to walk away.
The clip emerged alongside widely broadcast images of violence that dotted some sections of Baltimore on Monday afternoon and evening.
https://instagram.com/p/1_jHvQJfGC/
As The Washington Post has reported, it doesn’t appear that the violence stemmed from organized protests over the death of Freddie Gray, who died of a severe spinal injury suffered while in police custody. His funeral was held Monday.
[A Freddie Gray primer: Who was he, how did he die, why is there so much anger?]
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said late Monday that the day’s violence was the result of “thugs who always want to incite violence and destroy our city. Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who, in a very senseless way, are trying to tear down what so many have fought for.”
Although the video of one mom expressing frustration over the violence may stand out as a positive moment in an increasingly grim situation, there have been others. On Tuesday morning, volunteers took to the streets to help clean up the mess left behind.
Large group of volunteers cleaning up that burnt out CVS in Baltimore pic.twitter.com/84BVzu7SWS — justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) April 28, 2015
[This post, initially published at 8:22 a.m., has been updated to include information from a CBS interview with Toya Graham]
For live coverage of the unrest and events in Baltimore, follow The Post’s live blog here.
MORE READING: ‘Wire’ creator David Simon: Baltimore violence ‘needs to cease’
At Freddie Gray’s funeral, outrage over way in which he died
Why didn’t #FreddieGray trend on Twitter?
Friends and neighbors remember Freddie Gray: He ‘was our family’
As Baltimore mayor, critics say, O’Malley’s police tactics sowed distrust ||||| Please enable Javascript to watch this video
BALTIMORE, Maryland -- A woman in Baltimore is being praised for what she did after she spotted her son taking part in the rioting in the streets of Baltimore.
A WMAR news photographer videotaped her berating her son for taking part in the violence.
The woman can be seen repeatedly slapping her son and yelling at him. The woman was reportedly watching TV when she saw her son throwing rocks at police.
The woman got the attention of Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Watts.
"If you saw on one scene, you had one mother who grabbed her child who had a hood on his head and she started smacking him on the head because she was so embarrassed," Watts said. "I wish I had more parents that took charge of their kids out there tonight."
Fox News contributer Charles Payne called the woman "Mom of the year" in a tweet. It was retweeted dozens of times and favorited by more than 100 people. ||||| Police have called on help from the media after seven officers were injured in Baltimore on Monday in riots following the death of Freddie Gray.
But some residents aren’t having it with the protestors, including a woman who is featured in four Instagram videos as she’s removing from the trouble a young man dressed in all black.
Here’s the first video, where she confronts him. (Editor’s note: Strong language and violence):
Another angle:
That awkward moment your mom catches you rioting #baltimore #baltimoreriots #prayforthiskid A video posted by Karla H. (@ine3) on Apr 27, 2015 at 2:07pm PDT
Then there’s this:
Finally:
#prayforbaltimore #baltimorepurge #baltimoreriots A video posted by Keezy (@yaasss_keez) on Apr 27, 2015 at 12:33pm PDT
The first video inspired a Twitter user to comment that the woman was the “Mom of the year”.
More users chimed in:
THIS is how you stop "protests". Call his mama. https://t.co/GmPkUsRseS — Bristradamus (@BHugh_215) April 27, 2015
@sectionsix way to go Lady — Vietnam Veteran (@Seabee40Carl) April 27, 2015
More video from #baltimore #freddiegray mom stopping her child from acting up https://t.co/z9p8b32ytz — andresflava (@andresflava) April 27, 2015
The demonstrations, riots and other fallout after the death of resident Freddie Gray has inspired a hashtag called #PrayForBaltimore. | – A Baltimore woman who reportedly saw a young man she knew (some speculate it's her son) on TV throwing rocks at police during city protests took matters into her own hands—literally, per WMAR. A video shows her yesterday dragging a teen sporting a face-covering sweatshirt away from the crowds, hitting him in the face, and yelling, "Take that f---ing mask off!" and "You wanna be out here doing this stuff?!" The kid skulks away with her hot on his tail, and the video—shown from various angles at Independent Journal Review—went viral on social media, with some, like Fox News contributor Charles Payne, calling her the "mom of the year," per WGN. "My mother would have done the same thing," Payne tweeted. Meanwhile, at a press conference last night, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said, per the Washington Post, "She started smacking him on the head because she was so embarrassed. I wish I had more parents who took charge of their kids tonight." (The Orioles COO has his own controversial take on the protests.) |
Jesse Jackson Jr. and wife Sandi: From power couple to prison inmates BY NATASHA KORECKI AND LYNN SWEET Staff Reporters
Updated:
WASHINGTON — They were congressman and alderman, candidate and campaign chief.
They are also husband and wife, father and mother.
And on Wednesday, in an extraordinary sentencing hearing, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Sandi Jackson added another layer of complexity to their relationship: Both will be prison inmates.
Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was sentenced to 2 1/2 years behind bars for stealing $750,0000 from his campaign fund while former Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) is to serve one year for filing false tax returns.
Sandi Jackson, 49, appeared stunned by the imposition of a prison term, her face frozen and drained of color after the judge ordered a 12-month sentence that offers no ability to earn time off for good behavior.
The former alderman later retreated to her defense chair and dropped her head. Sandi Jackson’s lawyers had vigorously argued for probation.
The former congressman received half of the nearly five years he could have faced. Jackson Jr., 48, who had been blowing his nose and sobbing during his remarks to the judge, appeared to break into a half-grin as the news of the sentence settled in.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson took the unusual step of allowing the Jacksons -- parents of a 13 year old and 9 year old — to stagger their sentences. And in one of the more surreal moments of the proceedings, the judge recessed to allow husband and wife to confer over who would go to prison first. It was determined to be Jesse Jackson, who will report around Nov. 1.
“There may be blurred lines for congressmen to follow when their lives are political. This case did not come near those areas,” said Judge Jackson (no relation). She said to impose no prison time would mean there was one set of rules for the “well-connected and one for everybody else. I cannot do it and I will not do it.”
The judge rejected Jackson Jr.’s mental health issues as a defense saying that his string of accomplishments in life — propped up by a political family dynasty — “points to only one conclusion, and that is that you knew better.”
She said Jackson could not claim his bipolar disorder as a mitigating factor because his series of purchases “were not all sudden and extraordinary purchases.”
“This was a knowing, organized misconduct that was repeated and then covered up over the years,” the judge said.
Still, she lauded Jackson Jr. for his accomplishments as congressman, saying he went beyond just doing his job. That included bringing clean drinking water to Ford Heights. She also praised a record he once held for not missing a vote in Congress in 13 years.
The judge’s remarks came after emotional pleas from both Jacksons.
The former congressman, addressing the court, stopped several times before the judge, to blow his nose in a tissue. At one point, he tried talking but whispered “I can’t see” because his crying was fogging up his glasses.
“I didn’t separate my personal life from my political life, and I couldn’t be more wrong,” he said. “I take responsibility for my actions.” He added: “I am the example for the whole Congress.”
He asked to be sent to a prison camp in Montgomery, Ala.
“I want to make it a little inconvenient for everybody to get to me,” he muttered through tears.
If the judge rejected the mental health defense, she appeared equally unimpressed by Sandi Jackson’s contention that she should escape prison because she needed to be there for her children.
“I stand before you today asking for mercy,” Sandi Jackson said. “I ask to continue to provide for my children.”
Sandi Jackson’s attorney, Dan Webb, implored the judge to allow his client to work off her sentence as community service. “To take the mother away … would be an unbearable burden on these two children,” Webb said.
The judge later addressed the issue.
“The message has not been subtle. The pleadings have laid this on very, very thick,” the judge replied. “It is not the court that put your children in this position. It is not the government that put your children in this position.”
She cited spending of campaign funds that included $5,000 in furs and parkas “in one day,” spa trips, Disney trips and expenses in Las Vegas, then ordered Sandi Jackson to pay $22,000 in restitution separate from what her husband owed.
The judge made clear that Sandi Jackson was not sentenced to a year and a day, which could have qualified her for good time and would have meant she would have effectively served 10 months in prison. Instead, under the rules of federal sentencing, she will serve a longer sentence with the judge sentencing her to one year.
A prison term for the once-powerful Jesse Jackson Jr. marks a spectacular fall from grace for the son of the famed civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Before court, the elder Jackson and his family took part in a prayer circle led by Bishop Gordon Simon of Tri-State Baptist Church in Chicago.
The younger Jackson easily sailed to re-election term after term in his South Side and south suburban 2nd Congressional District.
All told, he spent 17 years serving the district until he resigned in disgrace last November.
On Wednesday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, upon seeing his son in the Washington, D.C., federal courthouse cafeteria, stood up and warmly embraced him. Jackson’s brothers, Yusef and Jonathan, as well as his sister, Santita, also greeted their brother as the family huddled in the cafeteria just before facing a federal judge.
It was clear the day was expected to bring anguish for the incredibly public family: The Jacksons had hired a public relations consultant who was on hand, as was Judy Smith, the crisis counselor who inspired the ABC hit series “Scandal.”
The senior Jackson later issued a statement saying he was proud that his son stood in court and accepted responsibility for his actions.
“He was remorseful. He is recovering. He has highs and lows. I have a greater appreciation for it now,” the reverend said. “He turned to us as a family and said that ‘I let you down.’ ... I think we let him down, I may have missed the signs and I was apologetic to him.”
Even in a state like Illinois, where governors, aldermen and congressmen have routinely gone to prison, the Wednesday hearing was remarkably rare as it involved a powerful couple who together saw their political demise in the same courtroom.
“There’s no exact parallel,” said Dick Simpson, a longtime political observer and former Chicago alderman. The closest parallel is Illinois having four of the last seven governors in prison, he said.
Simpson added that from 1976 to 2011 there were 18,069 corruption cases in Illinois. “There have been a couple of husbands of wives, but I don’t remember any that parallel the Jacksons,” he said. “Jesse Jr. was sort of African American royalty. He was seen as a rising star, who could have been governor, senator maybe mayor.”
The rejection of some of their arguments notwithstanding, the judge did sentence both Jacksons to terms that were less than or at the low end of a federal guideline range. She credited each with admitting to the crimes and pleading guilty, sparing the government the expense of trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Graves took exception to Sandi Jackson’s argument for probation. Graves said considered independently of her husband, Sandi Jackson’s case was one of the worst involving personal use of campaign funds that had “ever been documented.”
Among the items Sandi Jackson purchased with the funds were “thousands of dollars at salons and spa treatments,” a Disney vacation and a subzero freezer for their Chicago home, he said. She spent tens upon tens of thousands of dollars using the credit card of her husband’s congressional funds. She filed falsified reports to the Federal Election Commission and knowingly signed off on IRS tax forms she knew were inaccurate.
Graves noted the Jacksons’ combined income in 2011 was nearly $350,000, putting the couple among the top 10 percent household incomes in the country and giving them no financial need to steal.
Graves also questioned Jackson Jr.’s medical condition, saying: “It’s quite clear there’s no ‘there’ there,” arguing that Jackson Jr. shouldn’t get a lighter sentence because of any medical issues.
“Jesse Jackson Jr.’s journey from the halls of Congress to federal prison is a tragedy of his own making,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen in a statement. “Jackson’s political potential was unlimited, but he instead chose to treat his campaign account as a personal slush fund, stealing from the people who believed in him so he could live extravagantly. He squandered his great capacity for public service through outright theft. The prison sentence imposed today should serve as a wake-up call to other public officials who believe there are no consequences for betraying the public trust.”
Jackson’s attorney Reid Weingarten had argued that Jackson’s campaign spending included gray areas, like that of many congressman with “safe” seats.
“This is not [Bernie] Madoff. This is not a Ponzi scheme. The courthouse is not ringed with victims demanding his head,” Weingarten said. “The goddess of justice would not weep at an 18-month sentence.”
Later, Weingarten characterized it this way: “It’s a tragedy. The fall from grace was complete.”
For his part, Jackson Jr. shied away from cameras as he left court. But he predicted he had yet to write another chapter.
“I still believe in the power of redemption,” Jesse Jackson Jr. said. “Today I manned up and tried to accept responsibility for the errors of my ways, and I still believe in the resurrection.” ||||| The wife of former Illinois congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has been sentenced to one year in prison for filing false joint federal income tax returns that understated the income the couple received.
Sandra Jackson admitted in a guilty plea earlier this year that from mid-2006 through mid-October of last year, she failed to report $600,000 in income that she and her husband earned from 2005 to 2011.
Mrs. Jackson was a Chicago alderman before she resigned during a federal investigation of the couple.
She was sentenced Wednesday along with her husband. Jesse Jackson Jr. was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to engaging in a scheme to spend $750,000 in campaign funds on personal items. ||||| WASHINGTON – The end of the Jackson family political dynasty arrived Wednesday as a Chicago power couple ready-made for the cameras learned the next few years of their lives will be spent taking turns in prison.
Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., the civil rights leader's son who once dreamed of becoming mayor or senator, and his wife, former 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, were tripped up by a taste for luxury that was bankrolled with $750,000 from campaign funds.
On their day of reckoning, the Jacksons brought up a host of personal struggles in an effort to inspire sympathy: his reported mental illness, her series of miscarriages, the plight of their two children if they lost their mother to prison.
In the end, the former congressman got 30 months in federal prison and could end up serving about five months less if he behaves behind bars. The former alderman got a year and stands to serve it all.
Jackson Jr. was given until at least Nov. 1 to begin his prison term.
Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson said supporters of the former congressman — including his own father — had urged her in letters to put him on probation. If she were to do so, she said, it would appear as if there were two systems of justice, "one for the well-connected and one for everybody else."
"I cannot do it," she intoned. "And I will not do it."
She shot down the notion, brought up by the defense, that elected officials once considered campaign accounts to be retirement funds.
While acknowledging the good the Jacksons had done in office, she lambasted Jackson Jr.'s misdeeds as "knowing, organized, joint misconduct repeated and then covered up."
She said Sandi Jackson was not a spouse who passively received the ill-gotten gains of crimes but one who knowingly spent thousands illegally on her personal whims. The judge noted that Sandi Jackson had served variously as campaign treasurer, campaign manager and consultant for the congressman.
"You were a key player in the Jesse Jackson campaign. Together, you were the campaign," the judge told Sandi Jackson.
"You are standing here to be sentenced because of your own significant and illegal conduct," the judge said.
The Jacksons' sentences were lighter than prosecutors had recommended. They wanted four years for him and 18 months for her. Defense lawyers wanted him to serve 18 months.
Sandi Jackson's lawyers did not get the probation they had sought for her, but they did get an order from the judge allowing her to remain free until her husband finishes serving his time.
In another break, Jackson Jr. won't have to return $750,000 to his campaign fund, but must pay a $750,000 forfeiture as agreed when he pleaded guilty in February.
Additionally, her plea deal called for her to pay $168,550, representing unpaid taxes, but the judge ordered her to pay only $22,000 in restitution. The sum represents money she misused from her own political accounts.
The Jacksons cried as they addressed the judge separately before sentencing.
"I didn't separate my personal life from my political activities, and I couldn't have been more wrong," said Jackson Jr., who paused to dry his eyes and blow his nose.
Jackson Jr. apologized for his crimes and expressed regrets to his mother and father.
"Your honor, throughout this process I've asked the government and the court to hold me and only me accountable for my actions," he said.
He said he hoped that his wife could earn enough money in his absence to keep the family together. "When I get back, I'll take on that burden," he said. "By then I hope my children will be old enough that the pain I caused will be easier to bear."
Sandi Jackson addressed the court after her husband. "I am a little nervous," she told the judge, "so I have a written statement that I would like to read to you."
She continued: "I want to begin by apologizing first to my family, to my friends, my community and my constituents for the actions that brought me here today."
She said she had caused "disappointment in my community" and had "put my family unit in peril."
"My heart breaks every day with the pain this has caused my babies," she continued, weeping. "I ask to be parent, provider and support system that my babies will require in the difficult months ahead."
Their children — a girl, 13, and a boy, 9 — were not in court.
When the former alderman lost her bid for freedom, defense attorney Dan Webb said she wished to serve her term in a correctional institution in Marianna, Fla. The minimum-security facility is a prison camp about 65 miles northwest of Tallahassee.
As for Jackson Jr., the judge said she would recommend he be placed in a federal prison camp in Alabama — he had stated that his first choice was one in Montgomery — or a prison in Butner, N.C. But the Bureau of Prisons will make the final call.
Earlier in the hearing, Jackson Jr.'s lawyer, Reid Weingarten, said his client felt "horror, shame and distress" over his wrongs.
But Weingarten also tried to downplay Jackson Jr.'s actions since he took money from his own campaign fund. It's not as if there are widows and orphans outside the courthouse who are victims and asking for his head, Weingarten said.
"This is not Madoff. This is not a Ponzi scheme," the lawyer said. Bernard Madoff, now imprisoned in the Butner facility, is a financier whose Ponzi scheme led investors to lose their fortunes.
Weingarten said Jackson Jr. "suffers from a very, very serious mental health disease." He identified the former congressman's illness as bipolar disorder and said it was relevant even though "we didn't plead guilty by reason of insanity."
Matt Graves, an assistant U.S. attorney, countered that Jackson Jr.'s crimes represented one of the largest cases of theft from a campaign treasury ever prosecuted.
Graves took a shot at Jackson Jr.'s reported bipolar disorder, saying when mental health issues are litigated in court, usually there is expert testimony, discovery and an examination of the defendant — and that none had occurred in the case.
"When one looks at the facts," Graves said, "it's quite clear that there's no there there."
He decried Jackson Jr.'s "wasted talent" and "what he threw away."
Graves said Sandi Jackson's crimes were serious and had occurred over many years. He noted that defendants with children were given prison terms in courts across the country. | – Jesse Jackson Jr. wept in court today, apologized for using $750,000 in campaign funds as his personal piggy bank, and then took his lumps: 30 months in federal prison and three years' probation, reports the Chicago Tribune. “I am the example for the whole Congress,” he said. “I understand that. I didn’t separate my personal life from my political activities, and I couldn’t have been more wrong.” The former Illinois congressman added an unusual request: He wants to serve his time in Alabama because "I want to make it a little inconvenient for everybody to get to me.” His wife, Sandi, then got sentenced to 12 months in prison for filing false tax returns about their income, reports AP. She wept, too. “My heart breaks every day with the pain this has caused my babies,” she said, referring to their two children, ages 9 and 13. Because of the kids, the judge will allow the Jacksons to stagger their sentences and to decide themselves who goes first, reports the Sun-Times. Interesting part noted by the Tribune: The judge made a point to sentence Sandi Jackson to exactly one year, not the more common one year and one day. The latter would have made her eligible for time off for good behavior. Now she must serve her full term. |
Trump: Bezos using 'Washington Post' to protect Amazon monopoly
CLOSE Two of our political reporters sit down for an honest conversation about Donald Trump and all the media coverage he's received.Video provided by Newsy Newslook
Once again Donald Trump has kindled the fires of conspiracy.
The soon-to-be Republican nominee for president says Jeff Bezos, the Amazon CEO who owns The Washington Post, is using the paper to attack him and the other political enemies who would force the massive online retailer to pay more in taxes.
Trump told Sean Hannity in an interview Thursday that Bezos is using the Post "like a toy" and "for power so that the politicians in Washington don't tax Amazon like they should be taxed."
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Lynden, Wash. (Photo: Elaine Thompson, AP)
Bezos believes "I would go after him for anti-trust because he has a huge anti-trust problem," Trump said. In his effort tp keep Trump out of the White House and protect his monopoly, the Amazon founder has assigned more than 20 Washington Post reporters to look at every aspect of his life, Trump said.
"We can't let him get away with it," Trump told Hannity.
"Every hour we're getting calls from reporters from the Washington Post asking ridiculous questions," Trump said. The stories are "bad" and "wrong" and "in many cases they have no proper information," he added.
"They're slopping them together and they're going to do a book," he predicted. "And the book is going to be all false stuff because the stories are so wrong."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/27iCZej ||||| Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump lashed out at Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos Thursday, claiming that the founder of Amazon.com was using the newspaper as a tool to influence corporate tax policy.
"Every hour we're getting calls from reporters from The Washington Post asking ridiculous questions," Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity. "And I will tell you, this is owned as a toy by Jeff Bezos ... Amazon is getting away with murder, tax-wise. He's using The Washington Post for power so that the politicians in Washington don't tax Amazon like they should be taxed."
Trump was responding to Post Associate Editor Bob Woodward's disclosure that the newspaper has assigned 20 reporters to investigate the real estate mogul's life.
"We're going to do a book, we're doing articles about every phase of his life," Woodward told the National Association of Realtors convention Wednesday. The veteran reporter, best known for investigating the Watergate break-in that led to Richard Nixon's resignation, said he had begun investigating Trump's real estate deals in New York, which he called "more complex than the CIA."
Bezos, who bought the Post in 2013 from longtime owners the Graham family, has donated to both Democratic and Republican elected officials. According to the website OpenSecrets, Bezos and his wife gave $4,800 each to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in 2009. The couple also gave $2.5 million to support a 2012 referendum legalizing gay marraige in Washington state.
More recently, however, Bezos donated $2,700 this past September to Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.
"He thinks I'll go after him for antitrust," Trump said Thursday. "Because he's got a huge antitrust problem because he's controlling so much, Amazon is controlling so much of what they are doing.
"He's using The Washington Post, which is peanuts, he's using that for political purposes to save Amazon in terms of taxes and in terms of antitrust."
Neither Bezos nor Amazon had any immediate comment in response to Trump's claims.
Woodward said Wendesday that Bezos had urged the Post to run as many stories as possible about all the presidential candidates so that voters can't say they were uninformed when they select the next president.
"He said, 'Look, the job at the Washington Post has to be tell us everything about who the eventual nominee will be in both parties,'" Woodward said. "'15-part, 16-part series, 20-part series, we want to look at every part of their lives. And we're never going to get the whole story, of course, but we can get the best attainable." | – Donald Trump seems to have a big new target in his sights: Amazon.com and its founder, Jeff Bezos. In a Thursday interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump accused Bezos of using his Washington Post to try to keep Trump out of the White House. Why? He said Amazon has a "huge antitrust problem" and Bezos is afraid that Trump will go after the company as president. He also said the site is "getting away with murder tax-wise" and that Bezos is using the Post "for power so that the politicians in Washington don't tax Amazon like they should be taxed," reports Reuters. As Fox News points out, the allegations stem from what sounds like a major investigation the Post is conducting into Trump. On Wednesday, the newspaper's Bob Woodward told the National Association of Realtors that "we're going to do a book, we're doing articles about every phase of his life," and that 20 reporters have been put on the story. Trump is preemptively attacking the effort, telling Hannity the book would be filled with "false stuff," per USA Today. "Every hour we're getting calls from reporters from the Washington Post asking ridiculous questions," he said. |
Two police reports written the night that George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin said that Zimmerman had a bloody face and nose, according to police reports made public today.
The reports also note that two witness accounts appear to back up Zimmerman's version of what happened when they describe a man on his back with another person wearing a hoodie straddling him and throwing punches.
It has been such a contentious case that even the evidence is being disputed.
The police report states that Trayvon Martin's father told an investigator after listening to 911 tapes that captured a man's voice frantically callling for help that it was not his son calling for help.
But Tracy Martin, Trayvon's father, claims that is not true. The Martin family lawyer Ben Crump told ABC News that Tracy Martin initially listened to a distorted version of the 911 calls and said he could not identify the voice. But when he listened to a second tape that had been "cleaned," "He immediately broke down in tears because he knew it was his son calling for help," Crump said.
The new information is part of a trove of documents released by the Florida State Attorney today in the case against Zimmerman, who is charged with second degree murder for the Feb. 26 killing of Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old African American male.
Surveillance video of Martin in a store purchasing skittles right before the fatal incident was also released today.
Zimmerman, 28, is a multi-racial Hispanic man who volunteered for the neighborhood watch committee who claimed that he shot Martin in self-defense after the 6-foot tall, 160 pound teenager knocked him to the ground, banged his head against the ground and went for Zimmerman's gun.
The documents start with a criticism of Zimmerman's decision to follow the teenager, who Zimmerman said was looking suspicious.
"The encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin was ultimately avoidable by Zimmerman, if Zimmerman had remained in his vehicle and awaited the arrival of law enforcement," an investigating officer wrote.
Zimmerman claims he got out of his vehicle to find a house number to let police know where he saw the allegedly suspicious person, and while returning to his car was knocked down by a punch in the nose and attacked by Martin.
Two police officers reported that when they arrived at the scene of the shooting, Zimmerman seemed to have a battered nose and bloodied face. One wrote that his "facial area was bloodied," and the back of his clothing was soiled with wet grass.
"Zimmerman was also bleeding from the nose and the back of his head," Officer Ricardo Ayala wrote.
Another officer wrote, "I saw that Zimmerman's face was bloodied and it appeared to me that his nose was broken."
Witnesses, whose names were redacted from the report, also lent support to Zimmerman's version of what happened.
"He witnesses a black male, wearing a dark colored 'hoodie' on top of a white or Hispanic male and throwing punches 'MMA (mixed martial arts) style,'" the police report of the witness said. "He then heard a pop. He stated that after hearing the pop, he observed the person he had previously observed on top of the other person (the male wearing the hoodie) laid out on the grass."
A second witness described a person on the ground with another straddling him and throwing punches. The man on the bottom was yelling for help, the witness told police.
The documents state that Zimmerman can be heard yelling for help 14 times on a 911 call recorded during the fight.
Yet another witness described the confrontation in emotional terms.
The witness heard "someone yelling, almost crying. Then I heard a gunshot." The witness wrote that he or she "saw a man on top of a guy laying on the ground. He was putting his hands on his neck or chest."
The man asked the witness to call 911.
"He stood up and took a couple steps away and put his hands on his head and then walked back over to the guy on the ground. He looked at him for a minute, then started to walk away toward the road. That is when the police walked up," the witness wrote.
The lead investigator on the case, Officer Christopher Serino, wrote that Zimmerman could be heard "yelling for help as he was being battered by Trayvon Martin."
Martin's death sparked public outrage after police released Zimmerman without any criminal charges for the killing. Zimmerman was later charged with second-degree murder, and the killing provoked widespread debate about racial profiling.
The autopsy also shows that Zimmerman shot Martin from a distance of between 1 inch and 18 inches away, bolstering Zimmerman's claim that he shot Martin during a close struggle.
Martin's autopsy report also revealed that there was a quarter-inch by half-inch abrasion on the left fourth finger of Martin, another indication of a possible struggle.
The teen, who lived in Miami, was in Sanford while serving a suspension for an empty marijuana bag discovered in his possession. Martin had THC, the drug found in marijuana, in his blood on the night of his death, according to the autopsy. His family told ABC News that it was "trace amounts" of THC. ||||| Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period. ||||| Story highlights Martin would be alive if Zimmerman stayed in his vehicle, police said
Trayvon Martin was pronounced dead 3 minutes after firefighters and EMS arrived
Evidence of THC, an ingredient in marijuana, was found in Martin's blood, tests show
Firefighters find forehead "abrasions" and "bleeding" from Zimmerman's nose
Just over two weeks after the fatal shooting, and less than a month before an arrest was made, police in Sanford, Florida, urged prosecutors to take George Zimmerman into custody after arguing his killing of Trayvon Martin was "ultimately avoidable."
This disclosure came out Thursday, part of a wealth of information released that is related to the case, including the medical's examiner's finding that the 17-year-old Martin had traces of drugs in his system in an autopsy conducted hours after his death.
Overall, the newly released material paints the most complete picture yet of how investigators built the case, as well as its complexity. The police perspective was most succinctly stated in a March 13 "capias request" -- a request that someone be taken into custody -- sent to the state's attorney. It speaks to the fact that Zimmerman ignored a police dispatcher's advice not to chase Martin, as well as his communications with Martin prior to the shooting.
"The encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin was ultimately avoidable by Zimmerman, if Zimmerman had remained in his vehicle and awaited the arrival of law enforcement, or conversely if he had identified himself to Martin as a concerned citizen and initiated dialog (sic) in an effort to dispel each party's concern" the request said. "There is no indication that Trayvon Martin was involved in any criminal activity."
In his 911 call just before the shooting, Zimmerman had speculated that the teen looked like he was "up to no good or he's on drugs or something."
But Martin's defenders have portrayed Zimmerman as the aggressor, accusing him of profiling the African-American teen. Plus, one expert notes the traces of the marijuana-related substance found in the teen's system, as measured hours after his death, don't necessarily speak to any level of intoxication, while another adds that marijuana use typically doesn't make people prone to aggression.
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Martin's blood contained THC, which is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, according to autopsy results released Thursday. The autopsy was conducted February 27, the day after the teenager was shot dead.
Toxicology tests found elements of the drug in the teenager's chest blood -- 1.5 nanograms per milliliter of one type (THC), as well as 7.3 nanograms of another type (THC-COOH) -- according to the medical examiner's report. There also was a presumed positive test of cannabinoids in Martin's urine, according to the medical examiner's report. It was not immediately clear how significant these amounts were.
No precise levels on the urine were released.
Dr. Michael Policastro, a toxicologist, cautioned against reading too much into the blood THC levels, adding that one cannot make a direct correlation between those findings and a level of intoxication.
He also noted levels of THC, which can linger in a person's system for days, can spike after death in certain areas of the body because of redistribution.
And Dr. Drew Pinsky, an addiction specialist who hosts a show on CNN's sister network HLN, added that marijuana typically does not make users more aggressive.
Concentrations of THC routinely rise to 100 to 200 ng/ml after marijuana use, though it typically falls to below 5 ng/ml within three hours of it being smoked, according to information on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.
While some states have zero-tolerance policies for any drug traces for driving while impaired, others set certain benchmarks, the website of California's Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs notes. In Nevada, that equates to 2 ng/ml for THC and 5 ng/ml for THC-COOH, also known as marijuana metabolite. The cutoff level in Ohio is 2 ng/ml for THC and 50 ng/ml for THC-COOH.
According to the medical examiner's report, which was one of several documents on the case released Thursday by the office of special prosecutor Angela Corey, Martin died from a gunshot wound to chest fired from "intermediate range," within 36 inches.
The autopsy report lists the manner of death as a homicide.
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Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second-degree murder for killing Martin in the Sanford neighborhood where the African-American teen was staying.
Martin's father, Tracy, had taken his son with him to Sanford, about four hours away from the boy's home and where the father's fiance lived, after the teen was suspended for 10 days from Michael M. Krop High School in Miami.
According to records obtained by the Miami Herald, Martin had been suspended from school three times: once for writing graffiti on a door, another time for school truancy and the last time due to drug residue being found in his backpack.
Speaking of her son's suspension to CNN's Anderson Cooper, Sybrina Fulton said, "Whatever he had dealings with the school, it was not criminal, it was not violent, he's never been arrested."
Just before the shooting, Zimmerman called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in his neighborhood.
In the call Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, said he was following Martin after the teen started to run, prompting the dispatcher to tell him, "We don't need you to do that."
Zimmerman apparently disregarded that advice.
Much has been made about whether Zimmerman during that call used a racial epithet in referring to Martin. But an FBI analysis, released Thursday, determined that the word could not be definitively identified "due to weak signal level and poor recording quality."
A screaming voice could be heard on other 911 calls placed by neighbors, with some speculating those screams came from Martin and others that they belonged to Zimmerman. The FBI did not make a final determination either way, citing several reasons including the fact they came during "an extreme emotional state," there weren't enough words to make a good comparison and the sound quality was low and distant.
Zimmerman claimed, according a police report released earlier, that he'd been "assaulted (by Martin) and his head was struck on the pavement."
According a report from the Sanford Fire Department , released Thursday, Zimmerman had "abrasions to his forehead," "bleeding/tenderness to his nose," and a "small laceration to the back of his head" when emergency personnel arrived at the scene at 7:27 p.m., six minutes after they were first called.
By that time, Martin had no apparent pulse, according to the fire and EMS report. Emergency personnel attempted mouth-to-mask resuscitation and chest compressions, to no avail. He was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m.
Prosecutors have said Zimmerman, who is a white Hispanic, killed the unarmed teenager unjustly after profiling him. Zimmerman, who has pleaded not guilty, has said that he shot Martin in self-defense.
The start of the trial hasn't been set.
The case put a spotlight on race relations, spurring protests nationwide and drawing prominent civil rights leaders to central Florida denouncing the actions of Sanford police and calling for Zimmerman's arrest. Special prosecutor Angela Corey announced he'd been charged on April 11, weeks after Sanford police initially declined to do so.
It also raised questions about gun laws, as well as the merits of the "Stand Your Ground" law in Florida, and similar laws in other states that allow people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of serious injury or death. | – Get ready for a deluge of information in the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case, as prosecutors today released a cache of related documents. Some early samples: Pro-Zimmerman: His lawyers surely hope lots of attention will be paid to the fact that Trayvon apparently smoked pot at some point before the altercation. (It's not clear when or how much.) The autopsy found traces of the drug THC in his system, the active ingredient in marijuana, reports CNN. Also, ABC News notes that two witness accounts given to police "appear to back up Zimmerman's version" of events. Pro-Trayvon: Prosecutors will no doubt point to the police conclusion that the shooting was "ultimately avoidable," had Zimmerman "remained in his vehicle and awaited the arrival of law enforcement." The Orlando Sentinel leads its story with it. Zimmerman photo: The documents include a grainy copy of a photo police took of Zimmerman after the shooting in which he appears to have a bloody nose, notes AP. See the photo here. Trayvon's belongings: He had $40.15 on him, along with a packet of Skittles, a red lighter, headphones, and a photo pin in his pocket. See for yourself: MSNBC has the documents here in PDF form, and the Sentinel has crime-scene photos here. Click to read about a damning assessment of the Sanford police by the New York Times here. |
BuzzFeed has terminated a deal with the Republican National Committee to run political advertisements in the fall, the company's CEO, Jonah Peretti, informed employees Monday morning.
In an email, Peretti cited Donald Trump's rhetoric and campaign promises as the reason for the decision to terminate the buy, worth $1.3 million according to a source who spoke with Politico.
"Earlier today, BuzzFeed informed the RNC that we would not accept Trump for President ads and that we would be terminating our agreement with them," Peretti said. "The Trump campaign is directly opposed to the freedoms of our employees in the United States and around the world and in some cases, such as his proposed ban on international travel for Muslims, would make it impossible for our employees to do their jobs."
Peretti added later in the email, "We certainly don't like to turn away revenue that funds all the important work we do across the company. However, in some cases we must make business exceptions: we don't run cigarette ads because they are hazardous to our health, and we won't accept Trump ads for the exact same reason."
A spokesman for the RNC did not respond to a request for comment from BuzzFeed, but RNC senior strategist Sean Spicer told CNN that the RNC never intended to use BuzzFeed as a platform.
"Space was reserved on many platforms, but we never intended to use BuzzFeed," Spicer said, adding, "It is ironic that they have not ruled out taking money from a candidate currently under investigation by the FBI."
In a follow-up email, BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith reiterated that the decision was not an editorial call and that coverage of the Trump campaign by BuzzFeed News journalists would go unchanged. "This was Jonah's call, and the prerogative of a publisher," Smith wrote.
Here's Peretti's full email: ||||| On Media Blog Archives Select Date… December, 2015 November, 2015 October, 2015 September, 2015 August, 2015 July, 2015 June, 2015 May, 2015 April, 2015 March, 2015 February, 2015 January, 2015
Getty BuzzFeed pulls out of $1.3M advertising deal with RNC over Donald Trump
BuzzFeed has pulled out of an advertising agreement with the Republican National Committee over objections to Donald Trump's rhetoric.
The buy was for $1.3 million, a source close to BuzzFeed told POLITICO. The source said that the main consideration was the site’s employees – that BuzzFeed could not countenance “having employees make ads, or working at the company and having our site promoting things, that limit our freedom and make it harder for them to live their lives.”
Asked if the site would rule out any Trump advertising, the source said the specifics would matter: “In general, we have taken the position that we won’t take ads for his presidential campaign.”
In an email to staff on Monday, BuzzFeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti explained that in April, the RNC and BuzzFeed signed an agreement to "spend a significant amount on political advertisements slated to run during the Fall election cycle." But since Trump became the nominee his campaign has proven themselves to be "directly opposed to the freedoms of our employees in the United States," because of proposed bans on Muslim immigration and comments about descendants of immigrants, among other policies.
"We don't need to and do not expect to agree with the positions or values of all our advertisers. And as you know, there is a wall between our business and editorial operations. This decision to cancel this ad buy will have no influence on our continuing coverage of the campaign," Peretti said in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO.
"We certainly don't like to turn away revenue that funds all the important work we do across the company," Peretti wrote. "However, in some cases we must make business exceptions: we don't run cigarette ads because they are hazardous to our health, and we won't accept Trump ads for the exact same reason."
In a follow up email, BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith said the decision was from the business side and would not affect coverage of the Trump campaign. "This was Jonah’s call, and the prerogative of a publisher,” Smith wrote.
RNC chief strategist and spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement to CNN that the RNC "never intended" to use the ad space reserved with BuzzFeed.
"Space was reserved on many platforms, but we never intended to use BuzzFeed," Spicer said. "It is ironic that they have not ruled out taking money from a candidate currently under investigation by the FBI."
BuzzFeed has had an at times contentious relationship with the Trump campaign, with their reporters being denied credentials or general entry to Trump rallies and being directly targeted by the campaign and Trump himself. Reporters at the site told POLITICO that the decision likely won't change their relationships with the campaign, which they described as already strained.
It's also far from the first time the site has taken a position on a topic. In early 2012, BuzzFeed blacked out parts of their site in solidarity with the protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act. Following the Supreme Court ruling in 2015 which legalized same sex marriage, the site changed its logo to the rainbow flag colors, which are a symbol of the gay pride movement. Smith said at the time: "We firmly believe that for a number of issues, including civil rights, women’s rights, anti-racism, and LGBT equality, there are not two sides."
Other websites have taken stands against Trump as well. The Huffington Post adds a note to each of its politics articles about the Republican nominee, calling him "serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther."
A spokesperson for The Huffington Post told POLITICO "We've made our stance on Trump clear from the very beginning and will not be running any Trump for President ads," when asked if the site would follow Buzzfeed's decision.
A spokesperson for BuzzFeed declined to comment on the size of the ad buy or on any further details about the ad buy.
We've reached out to the Trump campaign further comment, and will update here accordingly.
Read the full memo below:
"Hello BuzzFeeders,
I wanted to share with you a business decision we have made regarding the Trump for President campaign and why we made it.
In April, the Republican National Committee signed an agreement with BuzzFeed to spend a significant amount on political advertisements slated to run during the Fall election cycle. As you know, we accept advertisements from both republican and democratic candidates and we were pleased to accept this advertising order from the RNC.
Since signing this advertising deal, Donald Trump, as you know, has become the presumptive nominee of his party. The tone and substance of his campaign are unique in the history of modern US politics. Trump advocates banning Muslims from traveling to the United States, he's threatened to limit the free press, and made offensive statements toward women, immigrants, descendants of immigrants, and foreign nationals.
Earlier today Buzzfeed informed the RNC that we would not accept Trump for President ads and that we would be terminating our agreement with them. The Trump campaign is directly opposed to the freedoms of our employees in the United States and around the world and in some cases, such as his proposed ban on international travel for Muslims, would make it impossible for our employees to do their jobs.
We don't need to and do not expect to agree with the positions or values of all our advertisers. And as you know, there is a wall between our business and editorial operations. This decision to cancel this ad buy will have no influence on our continuing coverage of the campaign.
We certainly don't like to turn away revenue that funds all the important work we do across the company. However, in some cases we must make business exceptions: we don't run cigarette ads because they are hazardous to our health, and we won't accept Trump ads for the exact same reason.
Thanks,
Jonah "
Additional reporting by Kelsey Sutton
Hadas Gold is a reporter at Politico.
Mike Allen is chief White House correspondent for POLITICO. | – There've been no shortage of complaints about how the media is handling the candidacy of Donald Trump—but now one media outlet is putting its advertising revenue where its mouth is and axing a deal to run ads this fall from the Republican National Committee. That outlet is BuzzFeed, and in an email to employees Monday morning, company CEO Jonah Peretti outlined the reasons it has nixed what a source tells Politico was a $1.3 million ad buy promoting Trump. "The Trump campaign is directly opposed to the freedoms of our employees in the United States and around the world and in some cases, such as his proposed ban on international travel for Muslims, would make it impossible for our employees to do their jobs," Peretti writes, explaining the deal was originally signed in April, before Trump became the presumptive nominee. Although Peretti notes that BuzzFeed staff "certainly don't like to turn away revenue that funds all the important work we do across the company," he adds that "the tone and substance of his campaign are unique in the history of modern US politics" and that an exception must be made. "We don't run cigarette ads because they are hazardous to our health, and we won't accept Trump ads for the exact same reason," he writes. Ben Smith, BuzzFeed's editor-in-chief, says that editorial coverage of Trump will continue as usual, noting in his own email: "This was Jonah's call, and the prerogative of a publisher." (Read the full email at BuzzFeed.) |
One staple of a Michele Bachmann campaign event is blaring Elvis Presley music. Another is a reference to her intent to make Barack Obama a one-term president. Increasingly, there is a third feature of a Bachmann appearance on the presidential trail: a staffer’s physical confrontation with a reporter.
In less than two months since entering the 2012 race, Bachmann’s campaign staff has become embroiled in at least five unusually hostile encounters with the traveling media marked by pushing, shoving and, in one instance, the allegation of a threat of violence to a reporter.
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reset Allen on Bachmann security POLITICO 44
Some of it has unfolded in full public view: Bachmann aides’ tussles with the press have twice turned into news stories, once when veteran ABC News reporter Brian Ross was shoved and pushed by Bachmann staffers in South Carolina and on a second occasion when Bachmann’s husband and two staffers pushed CNN’s Don Lemon into a cart, producing a furious on-air complaint.
In another incident that did not make the air, a camera captured Fox News correspondent Steve Brown telling a bodyguard in Iowa, “Do not put your hands on me. Don’t ever do it again.”
A foreign reporter also alleged to POLITICO this week that an aide threatened to break his arm — an allegation the Bachmann campaign denied.
Friction between the press and high-profile politicians and celebrities is nothing new. But the number and intensity of incidents is unusual, particularly in Iowa, where reporters and the public are accustomed to almost unlimited access as an early state presidential ritual.
The campaign makes no apologies for its physically aggressive approach to media management, asserting that it is simply doing what it has to do to protect a popular, controversial candidate. The most aggressive aide — a tall, silver-haired man according to reporters — a spokeswoman said, is a former Secret Service agent who has guarded presidents. He and an advance woman frequently make physical contact with reporters.
“The No. 1 priority for us every single day we step out on the campaign trail is the safety and security of Michele Bachmann,” said her spokeswoman, Alice Stewart.
The retired Secret Service agent, whom she declined to name, is “extremely professional.”
“He’s guarded presidents and vice presidents and knows exactly what needs to be done,” she said. “When he gives a warning to whoever it may be, the person needs to heed the warning.”
The conduct seems authentically motivated by security concerns for the popular grass-roots candidate, who tends to draw enthusiastic crowds. But the Minnesota congresswoman isn’t the first celebrity-like figure to run for president, or the biggest. And the contentious encounters with the press has far oustripped that of other high-profile campaigns. Security guards for high-profile candidates like Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin were better able to distinguish between reporters and threats.
The difference was sharply visible over the past week at the Iowa State Fair. Palin wandered the fairgrounds freely with her husband, an advance man, and, at a remove, a handful of Iowa State Police. Rick Perry was guarded by watchful Texas Rangers who gave the press and fair-goers broad latitude to talk and walk next to the governor. Bachmann, in contrast, raced through the fair in a golf cart; in a similar cart in Ames on Saturday, her bodyguard could be seen pushing away the hands of autograph-seeking supporters.
The reporter alleging that a warning crossed over into a threat is a Norwegian correspondent, Are Tagvold Flaten, who is in Iowa on a grant from the Oslo-based Freedom of Expression Foundation. He is covering the race for a Norwegian website about American politics and also wrote about the Ames Straw Poll for the conservative Norwegian Web journal Minerva (recently in the news for its editor’s pained consideration of the fact that the mass murderer Anders Breivik was among the site’s commenters). ||||| Kathy Griffin has, over the past few years, been a persistent thorn in the side of the Palin family, pulling public stunts, taking out Levi Johnston to events and making jokes about Sarah and Bristol a regular part of her stand-up repertoire. Now, with a new religious ultraconservative woman taking the spotlight, the comedienne has a new target in her sights.
Appearing on "Conan" Monday night, Griffin recalled the time she met Bachmann in Washington while researching for her rally to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Perhaps mistaking Griffin for someone else, one of Bachmann's staffers pulled out a video camera to capture their interaction for her website. First, Griffin says she asked the Congresswoman if she'd support an effort to repeal the law that banned homosexuals from the military. When Bachmann declined, Griffin got personal.
"Congresswoman Bachmann, were you born a bigot or did you, like, grow into it?" she asked -- on tape.
As for Bachmann's answer?
"That's a good question. I'm gonna have to get back to ya," she said, perhaps not creating the best of campaign slogans.
WATCH: | – Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign is brash and boisterous—and increasingly rough with the reporters covering it, reports Politico. In less than two months, there have been at least five incidents reporters have called unusually hostile, including a Norwegian reporter who says an aide threatened to break his arm. Bachmann's campaign says security is just doing what it needs to keep their candidate safe, but veteran reporters say her security is going too far, well beyond the norms for bigger and more controversial candidates' security. Bachmann's spokeswoman defended one guard, a retired Secret Service agent, who has particularly come under criticism for his rough style. “He’s guarded presidents and vice presidents and knows exactly what needs to be done,” she said. “When he gives a warning to whoever it may be, the person needs to heed the warning.” On the other hand, with celebrities calling Bachmann a "bigot" to her face—as Kathy Griffin recounted on her Monday appearance on Conan—perhaps her security feels the need to stand up for their candidate. |
NEW YORK (AP) — Academy Award-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino joined hundreds of demonstrators waving signs, shouting through megaphones and marching along the city's streets on Saturday to protest police brutality nationwide.
A demonstrator holds his hands in the air during a rally to protest against police brutality Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in New York. Speakers at the protest said they want to bring justice for those who... (Associated Press)
Marion Gray-Hopkins, speaks about the death of her son, Gary Hopkins Jr. in 1999, during a rally to protest against police brutality Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (Associated Press)
Demonstrators participate in rally against police brutality at Washington Square park in New York, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Speakers at the protest said they want to bring justice for those who were killed... (Associated Press)
Director Quentin Tarantino, center, participates in a rally to protest against police brutality Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in New York. Speakers at the protest said they want to bring justice for those... (Associated Press)
Demonstrators chant slogans during a rally to protest against police brutality Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in New York. Speakers at the protest said they want to bring justice for those who were killed by... (Associated Press)
Dr. Cornel West, right, participates in a rally in New York against violence by police on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Hundreds marched up Sixth Avenue. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison) (Associated Press)
"I'm a human being with a conscience," said Tarantino, who flew in from California for the event. "And if you believe there's murder going on then you need to rise up and stand up against it. I'm here to say I'm on the side of the murdered."
The group gathered Saturday in Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood at Washington Square Park before marching about 2 miles along Sixth Avenue. The protesters walked past lines of police officers who had cordoned off a lane of traffic for them. As they moved, those with megaphones shouted stories of the slain as others waved signs with photos of the dead, mostly young black men, and the dates and places of their deaths.
The event was the last of three demonstrations the group RiseUpOctober organized in New York this week. Speakers at the protest said they want to bring justice for people killed by police.
Temako Williams walked arm in arm with academic and activist Cornel West, one of the organizers. Her son, La-Reko Williams, was killed by police in 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. A federal jury ruled that a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, who did not face criminal charges, had used excessive force, and it awarded her $500,000.
But, she said, the money is no substitute for justice.
"It wasn't worth the price of my son's life," she said. "It's a wound that won't heal."
While police were present all along the protest route, the day was peaceful. No arrests were reported.
The protest came at a time of heightened awareness nationwide of the oft-contentious relationship between police officers and the people they serve. New York's mayor and police commissioner have said they're serious about enacting smart reforms to build trust between police and communities.
But the protest also was days after a New York police officer, Randolph Holder, was shot to death while chasing a bicycle thief. A suspect has been charged with murder and robbery in the case.
The Rev. Al Sharpton dedicated his weekly radio broadcast and rally at his National Action Network headquarters to Holder. Sharpton and others went to the Brooklyn neighborhood where Holder served to lay a wreath and pray for him and his family.
Activist Carl Dix, who helped found RiseUpOctober with West, said that while he sympathized with Holder's family the officer's death did not affect the need to hold Saturday's rally as scheduled.
"That's not what this is about," Dix said. "This is about all the people who are murdered by the police." ||||| The city’s police union is calling for a boycott of Quentin Tarantino films after the “Pulp Fiction’’ director took part in an anti-cop rally less than a week after an officer was killed on the job.
“When I see murders, I do not stand by . . . I have to call the murderers the murderers,” the director — notorious for his violent movies — told a crowd of protesters in Washington Square Park on Saturday, adding that cops are too often “murderers.”
Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, lashed out against the “Reservoir Dogs” auteur Sunday.
“It’s no surprise that someone who makes a living glorifying crime and violence is a cop-hater, too,” Lynch said in a statement.
“The police officers that Quentin Tarantino calls ‘murderers’ aren’t living in one of his depraved big-screen fantasies — they’re risking and sometimes sacrificing their lives to protect communities from real crime and mayhem.
“New Yorkers need to send a message to this purveyor of degeneracy that he has no business coming to our city to peddle his slanderous ‘Cop Fiction.’ ”
Tarantino acknowledged Saturday that the timing of the rally was “unfortunate.” But he said people had already traveled to be a part of the gathering.
Relatives of Police Officer Randolph Holder, who was killed in East Harlem Tuesday night, were far from appeased.
“I think it’s very disrespectful,” his cousin Shauntel Abrams, 27, said of the protest as she and other relatives gathered at the Church of the Nazarene in Far Rockaway ahead of Holder’s funeral Wednesday.
“Everyone forgets that behind the uniform is a person.”
Meanwhile, retired Police Officer John Mangan, who used to work at PSA 5, where Holder had been stationed, took to the streets on Sunday with a sign reading, “God bless the NYPD,” for a one-man march.
He walked the 7¹/₂ miles from the East Harlem station house to City Hall in a show of support for the fallen cop. | – NYPD Officer Randolph Holder was shot dead Tuesday, and by Saturday Quentin Tarantino was in Washington Square Park, protesting "murderers"—not the ones going after cops, but the cops themselves. "When I see murders, I do not stand by … I have to call a murder a murder, and I have to call the murderers the murderers," Tarantino said during the "Rise Up October" rally, per the New York Post, adding too often it is cops who kill. The head of the NYPD's labor union wasn't impressed and responded by asking locals to boycott the director's films, including the upcoming Hateful Eight. "It's no surprise that someone who makes a living glorifying crime and violence is a cop-hater, too," Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said in a statement, via the Post. "New Yorkers need to send a message to this purveyor of degeneracy that he has no business coming to our city to peddle his slanderous 'Cop Fiction.'" About 300 people gathered for the rally, chanting and holding up signs that said things like "Rise Up! Stop Police Terror!" and "Murder with a badge is still murder." Tarantino concedes that the timing so soon after Holder's killing was "unfortunate," but he also says people had already traveled to attend, the Post notes. "I'm a human being with a conscience," Tarantino says, per the AP. "And if you believe there's murder going on, then you need to rise up and stand up against it. … I'm on the side of the murdered." Not everyone sees it that way. "The police officers that Quentin Tarantino calls 'murderers' aren't living in one of his depraved big-screen fantasies—they're risking and sometimes sacrificing their lives to protect communities from real crime," Lynch continues in his statement. One of Holder's cousins tells the Post that the rally was "very disrespectful." "Everyone forgets that behind the uniform is a person," she says. |
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